C1 The Young Master of the Abandoned

"Du Qingsheng, you've earned the rank of Blue Guard!"

In the training grounds of the Luo estate in Sunset City, the guards were engaged in their monthly competition. As the judge's voice rang out, a robust victor donned the blue guard uniform, waving to the crowd's cheers.

When his gaze fell on the young man in the white robe he had just defeated, he smirked and said, "Young Master Luo, I've trained for three years and already advanced to a Level Three Warrior, earning the rank of Blue Guard. You've been at it for ten years without breaking through. Maybe it's time to give up."

"Yeah, despite the General's favor and even giving him precious power-enhancing pills, he hasn't made any progress. He's like mud that can't stick to the wall!"

"A waste like him should be doing hard labor instead of tarnishing the path of cultivation."

The sharp mockery from the surrounding guards cut into the slender young man's heart like knives, leaving him visibly pained. He took a deep breath and quickly left the training grounds that brought him such sorrow.

The guards at the General's Mansion are ranked in four levels: Blue, Red, Black, and Purple, each requiring significant strength to advance.

As General Luo Ning's career soared, reaching the second-highest position in Sunset City's military, the mansion attracted more guards, each stronger than the last.

Survival of the fittest is always so harsh. After the guards' competition concluded, the General personally hosted a banquet to reward those who had shown improvement and successfully advanced. Meanwhile, Luo Tongtian, who had been defeated, was alone in the training room, practicing tirelessly.

His fists repeatedly struck the wooden post in front of him, as if trying to vent all the humiliation he felt. His punches were swift as the wind, and sweat poured off him like rain. His entire body gradually became invigorated, and his once frail physique now exuded a certain masculine strength.

Unfortunately, as he accelerated his punches, trying to maintain this state of power and break through the barrier that had been holding him back for years to reach the third level of strength, an inexplicable weakness overcame him again. It left him deflated, collapsing to the ground like a punctured balloon.

"Damn it, why does this keep happening?" Luo Tongtian's face was pale, his eyes filled with frustration. He had been training his body for ten years, yet he still couldn't reach the third level of strength. It wasn't due to laziness, but rather something else entirely.

Every time his strength peaked and he attempted to break through the bottleneck, that terrifying weakness would strike. It not only drained all his power, rendering his training efforts futile, but it also damaged his very core.

Luo Tongtian tried everything he could think of to overcome this challenge, yet he still couldn't succeed. Countless failures had left him almost numb. But today's humiliation on the training ground sparked a new wave of anger within him. As he collapsed to the ground, exhausted from another failed attempt, he felt like a lifeless shell, devoid of any spirit.

"You still feel anger, which means you're not ready to give up. If you're not willing to settle, then keep pushing forward and seek a breakthrough. I believe you'll succeed one day," a graceful figure appeared at the door. Luo Youyou, who had grown up with him, was the daughter of General Luo. Their relationship was as close as siblings, yet with the depth of something more, creating a unique bond.

During Luo Tongtian's periods of despair, nearly everyone abandoned him. Yet, this young woman never looked down on him for his lack of strength; she still considered him the most important person in her life.

"It's useless. Ten years, and I haven't advanced beyond a third-level warrior, while you've already reached the heights of an eighth-level warrior. I'll never catch up to you in this lifetime."

"Their words may be harsh, but they're not entirely wrong. If I lack talent in cultivation, maybe I should pursue something else. Perhaps that will bring me some peace," Luo Tongtian said, his eyes reflecting a hint of hopelessness.

"The greatest sorrow is a heart that has given up. If you've lost faith in yourself, maybe giving up is indeed a reasonable choice. But your father had such high hopes for you—how can you live with yourself if you quit?"

Luo Youyou watched her childhood friend slowly descend into despair, her face full of helplessness.

"If I don't give up, what else can I do?" Luo Tongtian closed his eyes.

"Choosing your own path in life is up to you, and no one else can decide for you. Think it over. If you still want to continue your journey, you can always come to me. I'll do everything I can to help you."

Luo Youyou gave him one last, lingering look before gracefully turning away.

The night quietly slipped away in silence, and the first light of dawn crept into the General's Mansion. General Luo, accustomed to his morning exercises, emerged with four guards by his side.

The second-in-command of the city's military wasn't the burly, wild figure one might expect. Instead, he was tall and slender, with a clean-shaven face and deep, gentle eyes.

Though he appeared approachable, everyone in the city knew of his formidable reputation. During the city's military drills years ago, he stood out among a hundred commanding officers, showcasing exceptional military talent and formidable personal strength.

The following year, during a confrontation with neighboring cities, he, as the deputy commander, led a hundred-man suicide squad to directly take out the enemy's command center. This turned the tide for the Luoyang military exercise group, which had been on the brink of defeat, securing a victory.

However, his most famous feat was leading a thousand-man team to stop a beast horde, where they encountered a golden battle tiger with the strength equivalent to a level-three martial artist. The battle between the two lasted three days and nights. In the end, General Luo Ning, at the cost of three thousand energy beads, managed to wear down and defeat the golden battle tiger, shocking much of the Northwest region.

His repeated successes propelled him further in his career. In just over a decade, he rose from a mere soldier to become the second-in-command of the Luoyang City military, an unprecedented achievement in the city's history.

"Tongtian, what's going on with you?"

Despite his rise in status and power, this second-in-command of the military continued to train troops and mentor soldiers daily. When he saw the frail figure kneeling at his door, he paused in surprise, furrowing his brow in confusion as he asked.

"Godfather, you took me in and raised me, showing me immense kindness. Yet, I have no talent in cultivation and have let you down. I wish to give up on cultivation from today and do manual labor and chores around the mansion to repay your boundless kindness."

After a night of deep contemplation, Tongtian finally made his decision.

General Luo looked at the stubborn young boy in front of him, his face a mix of complex emotions. Years ago, he had rescued this child from a disaster, and upon seeing the divine brilliance in his eyes, he was convinced that the boy was a gift from above. Just as he had hoped, Tongtian was walking by one month, speaking by three, and recognizing words by seven months. He seemed to embody pure wisdom.

By the age of five, he had mastered everything a privileged child could learn—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He could compose poetry and prose effortlessly. Even in areas typically overlooked by boys, like dance, etiquette, and cooking, he excelled flawlessly. It was undeniable that he was a prodigy.

However, when he began his training at six, it seemed as though fortune had turned its back on him. Despite General Luo's best efforts, Tongtian could only advance to the second level of strength and then stalled completely.

Reflecting on this, General Luo couldn't help but sigh. He stepped forward to help Tongtian up.

"If you're feeling troubled, you can always try other activities to clear your mind. Gaining some life experience isn't a bad thing for a young person. But there's one thing you must never neglect—your training must continue. Otherwise, you should no longer call me your godfather."

"I understand, thank you for your support!"

Seeing his mentor nod, Tongtian Luo breathed a sigh of relief. As General Luo Ning walked away, the guards behind him looked at Tongtian with mocking eyes.

At that moment, a figure stopped beside him. It was Du Yidao, a black-robed guard who admired Miss Luo. Even within the General's Mansion, he was considered a significant figure. Now, he looked down at Tongtian with a cold, superior gaze.

Although Tongtian was the young master of the mansion, his lack of strength and fading talent made him insignificant in the eyes of many. The contrast between the powerless young master and the strong servant was stark.

Du Yidao sneered at Tongtian, "At least you know your place. A sparrow will always be a sparrow, even if it nests on a high cliff. Stay away from Miss Youyou, or you'll find yourself with broken legs."

Tongtian watched him walk away, his expression eerily calm. Having seen the fickleness of the world, his heart had grown weary. He stood up, brushed the dust off his knees, and went to find the mansion's steward.

Despite his poor skills and the ridicule from others, the General was tolerant of him, and Miss Luo favored him. The stewards of the mansion dared not underestimate him too much.

At his request, the kind-hearted steward arranged a task for him. Instead of laborious chores, he was assigned to work with the horse trainers at the estate.