CHAPTER 68: 66, THE LAST "STAR SKILL"

Lu Lin watched in despair as the Painter advanced towards him, one step at a time.

Although there was a smile on the Painter’s face, it was utterly frigid.

He looked at Lu Lin as if gazing upon a corpse.

The onlookers from the residential area seemed to realize the direness of Lu Lin’s predicament and shouted for him to run.

「At home.」

A panting neighbor arrived at Lu Lin’s door, KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"Old Lu, Old Lu, go quickly and see! Your son is being beaten up in the neighborhood!"

"What?!"

Lu Ping flung open the door, listened briefly to the neighbor’s account of the situation downstairs, and bolted down without even changing his shoes.

"Wait, bring your weapon!" Meng Yu shouted, emerging from the kitchen with a kitchen knife.

"Right," Lu Ping responded, quickly ducking back into the room to grab a small package before rushing out again.

Meng Yu, still in her pajamas and gripping the kitchen knife, followed him downstairs.

They had some idea of Lu Lin’s Combat Power from watching the video last night. If even Lu Lin was being beaten, they couldn’t go down empty-handed.

Years ago, after they were kidnapped by criminals who then blackmailed their Boss for ransom, Lu Ping had undergone half a year of training and obtained a gun license.

Now, it would finally be put to use.

「Double Name.」

Zhao Lei, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Li also received Lu Lin’s distress call simultaneously and exchanged glances.

"I’ll go first. You two find out what’s happening and send the details to me later," Zhao Lei said, then leaped into the air, drawing the attention of countless passengers waiting to board the Starship.

"Xiao Li, I’m leaving this to you," Xiao Yan said, also quickly running out of the waiting room after Zhao Lei.

But her speed was no match for Zhao Lei’s; in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished.

Xiao Li activated her personal terminal, swiftly accessing the necessary permissions to check the situation near Lishui Bay.

She could detect Star Power fluctuations and the battle’s aftermath. Although the combatants’ faces were indistinct, Xiao Li could even make out the clothes worn by those present.

This person seems familiar,

Xiao Li mused, quickly compiling and analyzing Painter Chang Feng’s physical data, comparing it with the evil Star Core Warriors on the Federation’s blacklist.

Instantly, over forty Star Core Warriors matching the criteria appeared before Xiao Li.

It’s him, she confirmed internally.

As Zhao Lei’s combat secretary, Xiao Li’s intelligence analysis capabilities were formidable, and she quickly found the Painter’s information.

After triple-checking the comparison, Xiao Li sent the Painter’s information to Zhao Lei and Xiao Yan, who had already departed.

...

[Name: Chang Feng]

[Level: Zero Level]

[Wanted Standard: SS+]

[Criminal Record: Mars Jialian City serial killer; Mars Cuifeng City massacre mastermind; one of the perpetrators of the Mercury Botekangpu City Third Hospital massacre; ...]

[Bounty: Mars Jialian City: 1,000,000 Federal Coins; Mars Cuifeng City: 5,000,000 Federal Coins; Mercury Botekangpu City: 100,000,000 Federal Coins... Total: 98,000,000 Federal Coins]

...

This Chang Feng, nicknamed the Painter, had not only committed heinous crimes on multiple planets but was also extremely skilled at disguise. Colleagues from the Star Investigation Office had pursued him numerous times, yet he always managed to elude them.

The most critical point was that Lu Lin had been right.

Chang Feng had entered the Exotic Battlefield multiple times previously and was suspected of being controlled by the God of Black Shark.

He was an extremely dangerous criminal.

Lu Lin is just a boy who recently had his Talent Awakening. Facing such a depraved criminal, he has likely already met a gruesome end, Xiao Li thought, looking in the direction Zhao Lei and Xiao Yan had gone, and sighed.

Regardless, it seemed impossible for them to take a Starship back to the alien world today.

Well... I should get a refund first, she decided.

...

"Son!"

"Lu Lin!"

Lu Ping and Meng Yu sprinted to where Lu Lin was. They saw Lu Lin’s arms hanging limply at his sides, a broken knife lying on the ground.

The Painter, however, was in no hurry at all, slowly walking towards Lu Lin, one step at a time.

He had already constructed a masterpiece in his mind: "The Last Genius."

He even pondered what colors to use for the composition.

Should I use a bright background and dark figures to highlight the despair in Lu Lin’s heart at this moment?

Or perhaps a gloomy background with fragmented figures to convey the subject’s inner collapse and helplessness?

"Son!"

"Lu Lin!"

Hearing Lu Lin’s parents’ cries, the Painter felt even more triumphant.

Inspiration surged relentlessly.

The last genius, blood, plus a touch of familial love’s radiance—the figures and the creative intent of the entire piece seemed to have reached a perfect state.

Indeed, compared to being an assassin or something, I, Chang Feng, much prefer my identity as a painter, he thought.

The fine sword in his left hand slanted towards the ground.

The Painter adjusted his glasses with his broken prosthetic limb.

A satisfied smile touched his lips.

"The Last Genius." This masterpiece, destined for world renown, will be born from my hands.

Such honor and glory!

By then, the entire Federation’s art world will likely be stunned and shaken by this painting.

An unnatural flush crept onto the Painter’s face, his eyes narrowing slightly upwards.

Hearing his parents’ voices, Lu Lin’s heart tightened.

"Mom, Dad, don’t come over!"

"Bullshit!" Lu Ping roared, completely unlike his usual quiet self.

Meng Yu, in contrast, was trembling with fear and worry.

Lu Ping opened the small package and took out a small, pure black gun. He removed the gun shell, loaded it with bullets, reinserted it, and released the safety.

"Young man over there," Lu Ping warned, his voice strained, "I advise you not to hurt my son. Or I’ll shoot!"

The Painter turned his head, looking at Lu Ping with great interest.

Inspiration didn’t just burst forth; it gushed. My previous concept seemed to only embody despair, lacking resilience and defiance. With Lu Ping’s current display, it’s truly perfect. What is despair? It’s when you feel hope is just around the corner, and then suddenly, hope shatters like a bubble. That’s when people are most desperate.

The Painter reminded himself, In future creations, I must not grow complacent. I must consider more if there are ways to elevate the entire piece.

"Dad, Mom, don’t come over!" Lu Lin pleaded.

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Your son isn’t a genius, nor is he an amazingly talented Star Skill Instructor. He’s just..." Lu Lin murmured, then suddenly froze.

Not a genius. Nor am I an amazingly talented Star Skill Instructor. That’s right! I still have one Star Skill I haven’t used! Star Power Domain!

But I’ve never heard of using the Star Power Domain to fight enemies. Still, at this moment, it’s a desperate attempt. Whether it works or not, I have to try, Lu Lin resolved.

He closed his eyes.

The Painter raised his fine sword, its tip aimed directly at Lu Lin’s heart.

Lu Ping’s hand holding the gun was steady, but his teeth chattered uncontrollably.

Meng Yu’s legs trembled so much she could barely stand.

Wang Juan and Da Xiang also rushed out of their home, but at this moment, they could do nothing but watch in despair.

"Damn it!" Da Xiang cursed. "I’ll risk it!" He snatched a quilt—left out by someone on a nearby clothes rack—and wrapped it around himself, preparing to charge into the ring of fire created by the Painter.

"Wait," Wang Juan said, grabbing his arm. "Look at Lu Lin."

Lu Ping’s hand, still gripping the gun, trembled slightly as he slowly lowered his arm.

Inside the ring of fire, Lu Lin’s eyes were tightly closed.

Simultaneously, the Painter also closed his eyes, the fine sword in his hand clattering to the ground.

Star Power Domain... Release!