Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 508 Chen Yu's Obsession

Chen Shanchang, Chen Hongtao's father and the patriarch of the Chen family, sat upright on a throne beside him. He was slightly hunched, his silver hair neatly tied back. His face was lined with wrinkles like the ravines of time, yet he exuded a calmness and composure that came with the vicissitudes of life. He held an ancient cane, occasionally tapping it lightly on the ground, making a dull sound.

"Yu'er has always been ambitious and devoted himself to cultivation since childhood," Chen Shanchang said slowly, his eyes also looking towards the secret room, his eyes full of emotion. "But these six years of seclusion every day have been too hard."

Chen Hongtao nodded slightly, a helpless smile on his face. "Yes, ever since he came back from the no-man's land, he's become a different person. He locks himself in a secret room all day long and hardly goes out except to eat."

Meanwhile, in the dim and silent chamber, Chen Yu was immersed in an arduous journey of cultivation. A faint spiritual aura permeated the room, and the night-shining pearls inlaid on the walls emitted a soft glow, illuminating this small and mysterious space. Chen Yu sat cross-legged on a cushion in the center of the chamber, enveloped in a faint light that alternately brightened and dimmed, reflecting the struggle and surge of his inner strength.

Chen Yu's face, handsome and resolute, was now slightly contorted by pain and concentration. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, trickling down his cheeks and onto the mat. His hands formed strange hand seals, and the zhenqi within him surged like a surging tide, roaring through his meridians, attempting to break free from the sturdy shackles and enter the coveted Grandmaster realm.

"Almost there..." Chen Yu gritted his teeth and whispered softly, his voice trembling with a desire for a breakthrough, yet also a fear of failure. Every push was like climbing a towering mountain, each step filled with hardship and challenge.

Six years ago, after escaping death in the Divine Mansion, Chen Yu returned to the Chen family, carrying the Xuanling Secret Manual given by Lin Feng before his death. Since then, his life has been filled with cultivation. Within his heart, two flames have always burned: one is a deep love for Chen Xiner, the other is an endless gratitude to the Chen family. He knows that with his current strength, he cannot protect Chen Xiner, nor can he repay the Chen family for their kindness in raising him.

Deep in Chen Yu's memory lies the deep care and concern shown by every member of the Chen family. Chen Hongtao, though his adoptive father, offered him unwavering love, guiding him when he was lost and encouraging him when he was down. Chen Shanchang, with his kind smile and gentle words, always provided him with warmth and strength when he was most helpless.

And then there was Chen Xin'er, the girl as bright as the sun. She had grown up with him, and their bond had long since transcended master and servant, becoming more like family. However, Chen Yu always felt like a mere servant of the Chen family. This sense of inferiority and gratitude made him unconsciously keep his distance when facing Chen Xin'er, always calling her "Miss" in a respectful yet distant way.

Chen Shanchang sighed lightly, tapping the ground with the crutch in his hand. "Practice and breakthrough require a natural process. Chen Yu is too anxious and too obsessed." He raised his eyes and looked towards the secret room, his eyes full of worry and helplessness.

Chen Hongtao stopped and nodded slightly, "It should be the influence of Lin Feng. Lin Feng has been protecting Xin'er all the way. Chen Yu is not strong enough, and he must be holding back his energy." Thinking of how Chen Yu has been practicing hard over the years, he felt both relieved and distressed.

Chen Shanchang nodded slightly, his expression solemn, "That's why he can't break through to the Grandmaster level now. His obsession is too strong, his state of mind is unstable, and it's easy for his cultivation to go astray." Chen Yu's persistent and tired face appeared in his mind, and he couldn't help but sigh again.

Chen Hongtao's face was full of anxiety. He took a step forward and said, "What should we do? Just wait like this?" He clenched his hands unconsciously, as if this would provide a solution to the problem.

Chen Shanchang was silent for a moment, and said slowly: "Unless Xin'er is here, maybe he can calm down a little." A hint of expectation flashed in his eyes, as if he had seen the scene where Chen Yu slowly let go of his obsession after Chen Xin'er came back.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hongtao frowned even deeper, and his tone was full of complaints, "That girl, after Lin Feng died in the no-man's land six years ago, she went straight to the Lin family and didn't even come back to see him." He thought of his daughter, his heart filled with helplessness and concern.

Chen Shanchang smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Xin'er understands us. She knows that after she comes back, we will definitely not let her go out again, so she doesn't come back." He knew very well that Chen Xin'er was stubborn, and once she made up her mind, it would be difficult to change it.

Chen Hongtao was a little angry and raised his voice, "Lin Feng is gone, how can we let Xiner go to the Lin family to suffer?" He felt sorry for his daughter and didn't want her to suffer outside.

Chen Shanchang waved his hands helplessly and said, "I can't bear to leave either, but Xin'er knows what we are thinking, so she didn't come back." His eyes were full of love and helplessness. Although he understood Chen Xin'er's decision, he was helpless.

Chen Hongtao was furious, but he had no other choice. He waved his hand and said, "Let's not worry about that girl for now. Does Chen Yu have any other way to solve the problem now?" He turned his attention back to Chen Yu, full of worry.

Chen Shanchang was silent for a long time, then slowly said, "It all depends on him." There was powerlessness in his voice, and he also felt deeply troubled by Chen Yu's predicament.

Chen Hongtao sighed, sat down on the chair, and looked gloomy.

Chen Shanchang went on to say, "I hope Chen Yu can pull through and don't go astray." His voice trembled slightly. Going astray would have extremely terrible consequences for a cultivator.

Chen Hongtao quickly interrupted: "Dad, say something good, it sounds scary." He didn't want to think about those bad consequences, as if this could avoid tragedy.

Looking back on the past six years, Chen Shanchang had gone to great lengths to help Chen Yu break through. Whenever Chen Yu came out of retreat for a meal, Chen Shanchang would always pull him along, sit on a stone bench in the courtyard, and patiently recount his own experience of breaking through to the Grandmaster realm.

"Yu'er, when I broke through that year, I first felt the true energy in my body like a surging river, rushing through my meridians. I tried hard to calm my mind and guide the true energy to gather..." Chen Shanchang described it vividly, his eyes full of memories.

Chen Yu always listened very carefully, without blinking, and raised his doubts from time to time: "Old Patriarch, how did you control your mood at the critical moment? What if your true energy got out of control?" His eyes were full of desire for a breakthrough.

Chen Shanchang patiently explained his thoughts and shared tips for regulating one's mind, such as meditating before a breakthrough to clear one's mind and calm one's heart like a calm lake. But despite Chen Shanchang's generous guidance, Chen Yu still struggled to break through. His obsession with power was too deep, a thick fog that obscured his path to a breakthrough.