Chapter 5

"Xiu'er, did you have a nightmare?" Tang Xiu's惨叫声 woke Su Lingyun from her deep sleep. Seeing Tang Xiu drenched in sweat, Su Lingyun's heart raced to her throat.

The intense pain almost rendered Tang Xiu unconscious. After a long while, Tang Xiu gradually regained his composure. Seeing his mother's worried and caring expression, Tang Xiu hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly, confirming his mother's guess.

Tang Xiu did not want to tell anyone about the matters of the Immortal Realm. A commoner is not guilty for possessing a treasure, but Tang Xiu did not want to put himself in danger. Although he believed his mother would never harm him, he was worried that she might be manipulated by others or that her peaceful life might be disrupted.

"You, my child, are so restless even in your sleep. You're sweating so much, and you smell terrible. I'll go get some hot water to clean you up." Su Lingyun gazed at her son for a moment, then smiled and left.

After confirming that his mother had walked far away, Tang Xiu drew a deep breath and could not help but cry out in pain again, but his face was full of joy.

"Too powerful, it's really too powerful! It turns out that the Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique, which comes from the ancient era of the Immortal Realm where spiritual energy is scarce, actually harnesses the power of the sun, moon, stars, and the universe. I originally did not have the qualifications to practice, but fortunately, in my unconscious state after spitting blood and falling into a coma, I practiced the Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique, barely meeting its conditions, thus gaining the qualifications to practice. Otherwise, with my weak body and my consciousness after waking up, I still would not have been able to practice this miraculous technique!"

I am so lucky!

Feeling the trace of star power and the faint but clear vitality within his body, Tang Xiu could not contain his joy.

However, Tang Xiu's smile soon froze, and he fell into silence.

The pain he had just experienced left an indelible impression on him. That pain was comparable to the world-shattering heart tribulation encountered when becoming a deity in the Immortal Realm—the Primordial Heavenly Demon Tribulation. Tang Xiu did not want to suffer such pain again.

There was a fatal flaw, however: the practitioner must have a sufficiently strong physique to support the abundant cosmic power drawn from the stars.

The founder of the Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique repeatedly emphasized that to practice the first level, the Star Body, one must prepare a sufficient amount of rare herbs, rare minerals, and the internal organs, essence blood, and tendons of fierce beasts for body tempering.

The Star Body realm includes nine steps: Qi cultivation, skin tempering, flesh growth, bone transformation, meridian transformation, marrow transformation, organ transformation, qi and blood circulation, and embracing the elixir. This technique was designed by a genius of the divine race, who, based on the relatively weak physical qualities of the divine race, imitated the principles of the demon race's body. Each small stage of tempering requires countless rare materials, and each is different.

The Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique has extremely high requirements for the practitioner's strength. If the strength is not up to par, even if the cultivation speed of the Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique is fast, the practitioner will end up absorbing too much star power and exploding to death.

"Having finally returned to Earth, I don't want to explode to death. In the Immortal Realm, I wanted to practice the Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique because it was a time of chaos and slaughter, and one must have sufficient strength to survive. On Earth, the emphasis is on law and peace, and there is no need for such high martial prowess."

After a brief moment of joy, Tang Xiu gradually calmed down and decisively abandoned the idea of continuing to practice the Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique.

On one hand, the Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique could lead to an explosive death if continued. On the other hand, the painful memories of his red-faced lover and close friend in the Immortal Realm teaming up against him for this divine technique were too much to bear.

"Since there is no need for such high martial prowess on Earth, and practicing the Ten Thousand Sources Void Universe Heaven-Linking Technique is dangerous, I can practice other techniques and skills."

Putting down the heavy burden he had carried for nearly a hundred years in the Immortal Realm, Tang Xiu felt a great sense of relief.

As the grandson of the sect leader in the Immortal Realm, Tang Xiu had access to countless techniques and battle skills of the Vermilion Bird Holy Sect, and he had also purchased and exchanged countless legacies and secret manuals from other sects.

After becoming one of the few supreme beings in the Immortal Realm, Tang Xiu had almost swept through all the techniques and battle skills of the entire Immortal Realm. Therefore, there were too many techniques and battle skills for Tang Xiu to choose from.

Golden Goose Technique, Blue Fire Technique, Ice Heart Technique...

While others worried about not having techniques and battle skills to practice, Tang Xiu was worried about which technique and battle skill to choose.

"Xiu'er, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have slapped your uncle today. Although it felt good at the time, it might get you expelled from Star City No. 1 High School." As Tang Xiu was worrying, Su Lingyun came in with a basin of hot water. Seeing Tang Xiu's worried expression, she thought he was concerned about school.

"Mom, it's okay. If he hit me, it's fine. I don't need such relatives anyway; otherwise, I would always be subjected to their bullying." Seeing his mother's guilty face, Tang Xiu had to pull himself together and smiled to reassure her.

"But..."

"Mom, don't worry about things that haven't happened yet. Maybe I can still stay at Star City No. 1 High School. If I can't, I think Star City No. 7 High School would be willing to accept me. It just depends on whether you are willing to continue spending money on me." Su Lingyun wanted to say more but was interrupted by Tang Xiu.

"Brat, you are my only son. How could I not be willing to spend money on you!" After staring at her son for a moment, Su Lingyun realized he was not blaming or resenting her, and she subconsciously felt relieved.

While helping Tang Xiu clean his body, Tang Xiu was still deep in thought about which technique and battle skill to practice, and he did not feel anything was amiss.

It was only when Tang Xiu felt his pants being pulled down and a chill in his crotch that he fully came to his senses.

"Mom, I can do it myself. You go rest over there." Tang Xiu quickly pulled up his pants and snatched the hot towel from his mother's hand, blushing as he spoke.

"Brat, you were born from me. Haven't I seen every part of your body?" Su Lingyun scolded with a smile but did not insist on helping him clean. Instead, she turned to tidy up the things in the ward. "Xiu'er, the doctor said your body is fine, and even the hidden illness from a year ago has been cured. How do you feel?"

"After spitting out some blood at my uncle's house, I feel much lighter and my mind is more agile. The knowledge points that were previously unclear now seem to be fully integrated. Mom, I have a feeling that I can regain my position as the top student in the grade." Tang Xiu said with "great excitement" under Su Lingyun's anxious gaze.

Tang Xiu naturally knew what his mother was concerned about, so he spoke in line with her thoughts.

Actually, Tang Xiu was not lying to his mother; he was just being tactfully honest.

After his soul returned to completeness, Tang Xiu found multiple areas of internal bleeding in his body when he examined himself. He knew these were the hidden illnesses left by the car accident.

When he used the Essence Burning Technique, Tang Xiu originally intended to give Su Shangwen a painful lesson. However, when he acted, he suddenly realized that this was a peaceful Earth, not the ruthless Immortal Realm. Su Shangwen was just a relative he disliked, not a mortal enemy. So, he withdrew much of his power and used it to clear the internal bleeding in his body.

Therefore, the hidden illness in Tang Xiu's body was not cured on its own but was treated by Tang Xiu himself. As for his academic performance, after his soul returned to completeness, Tang Xiu had already regained his original intelligence, not to mention the ten thousand years of knowledge and immortal techniques he brought from the Immortal Realm. If he still could not be the top student in the grade, his ten thousand years in the Immortal Realm would have been wasted.

After confirming that Tang Xiu's body had no problems, Su Lingyun helped him with the discharge procedures.

After a brief cleanup at home, Tang Xiu, urged by his mother, set off for school.

"Xiu'er, you and your uncle are still family. I think your uncle won't be so ruthless. If you can't stay at Star City No. 1 High School, I'll try to get you into Star City No. 2 High School. If that doesn't work, there's still Star City No. 7 High School." Before entering the school gate, Su Lingyun tenderly helped Tang Xiu straighten his collar and said softly.

"Mom, I understand. I'll focus on my studies and won't think about other things because you are here for me." Tang Xiu gently hugged his mother and said, "Take care of yourself, or I'll be distracted."

After saying this, Tang Xiu turned and left, leaving Su Lingyun with red-rimmed eyes.

"Brat, suddenly being so sentimental is too unfamiliar." Feeling the significant changes in her son, Su Lingyun felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

What Su Lingyun did not know was that Tang Xiu had not gone far. He stopped at the corner of the teaching building, confirmed that his mother could not see him, and hid in the corner, secretly watching her.

When Tang Xiu saw his mother's tears and her face full of relief, his nose tingled, and two streams of hot tears uncontrollably flowed down his cheeks.

No one, including Su Lingyun, could imagine how deep the bond between Tang Xiu and Su Lingyun was.

Separated for ten thousand years, longing for ten thousand years.

During the ten thousand years in the Immortal Realm, his mother was Tang Xiu's only concern and his greatest heart demon. No matter how hard he tried, he could not let go of this concern.

Although Tang Xiu had not seen his mother for ten thousand years in the Immortal Realm, in the heart tribulation, he spent countless cycles with her. In almost every cycle, Su Lingyun was his mother, and Tang Xiu was her only son.

Fortunately, the ten thousand years in the Immortal Realm had given Tang Xiu strong emotional control. The final moment of betrayal and harm by his red-faced lover and wise friend in the Immortal Realm also left him emotionally drained. Otherwise, upon suddenly returning to Earth, Tang Xiu would have hugged his mother and cried uncontrollably.

"Mom, for the past seventeen years, you have been protecting this family. From now on, I will protect this family!" Watching his mother's back gradually disappear into the crowd, Tang Xiu silently vowed in his heart.

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