Chapter 139: Backlash (Please Subscribe)

From the golden bone, a sudden surge of bone-tempering power erupted. The eruption was so abrupt that Yang Ze had done nothing to provoke it; the power surged forth on its own, catching him completely off guard.

This bone-tempering force was no weak tremor; it swiftly coursed through his bones, violently clashing within his body. Within just a few breaths, it showed signs of spiraling out of control.

“What on earth am I getting myself into?” Yang Ze cursed inwardly, frustrated beyond measure. His breakthrough journey was nothing like that of ordinary cultivators; so many complications were arising.

As the bone-tempering power began to lose control, Yang Ze hastened to summon his true essence, attempting to rein in the rampant force. But before he could fully mobilize it, his true essence itself began to erupt spontaneously, slipping from his control and colliding with the bone-tempering power within him.

The first collision of these two forces sent a shockwave sweeping through his body, and Yang Ze immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His eyes dimmed; he had no understanding of what was happening—his inner powers were spiraling out of control at such a critical moment.

Blood still staining the corner of his mouth, Yang Ze’s eyes hardened with determination. He knew this situation could not be allowed to continue unchecked; he had to wrest back control of these two forces at once, or risk them rebounding and destroying him.

Closing his eyes, Yang Ze cleared his mind and silently chanted the incantation of the Qi-Nurturing Technique, gathering his spirit to suppress the rampant true essence and bone-tempering power.

As he practiced, the two previously clashing forces regrouped, surging once again to collide violently. This second impact made his internal organs tremble with intense pain, blood boiling within his veins, and he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

“You are powers I cultivated; you must obey me. Submit to my suppression!” Yang Ze roared, reciting the Qi-Nurturing Technique’s incantation with renewed vigor. His hands formed intricate seals as he pushed the technique to its limits, releasing a drawing force from his dantian to envelop the errant energies.

The two out-of-control forces immediately sensed the attempt to dominate them and exploded outward, no longer battling each other but instead uniting to resist Yang Ze.

Three forces clashed inside him. Suddenly, Yang Ze’s hand seals faltered and broke under the pressure, his drawing power weakened, and his face turned deathly pale. He nearly collapsed under the impact of these mighty energies. He had never expected the very forces he had cultivated to be so overwhelmingly powerful.

It seemed that as both sides emerged and complemented each other, their combined power only increased.

“No matter how strong you are, you are forces I forged—submit!” Yang Ze regained his composure. Images of the Qi-Nurturing Technique’s meridian diagrams flashed in his mind as he poured every ounce of his strength into controlling these energies.

Under the surge of his will, the two forces were gradually enveloped. Yang Ze rejoiced, ignoring the fierce internal battering that threatened his body, and continued to push his cultivation technique, striving to reclaim mastery over the two powers.

His aura pressed relentlessly, forcing the forces together. His internal energy burst to its limit, compelling the two forces to begin merging.

Though they lashed outward violently, no matter how they collided, Yang Ze did not relent. In fact, the excess energy spilling over unexpectedly caused the forces to start fusing.

---

As the first moment of fusion came, Yang Ze, enduring unbearable pain, was filled with joy. Within the merging energies, he sensed the two powers growing calmer, returning to their true nature.

He dared not relax. He had no idea what shape his inner world had taken under the assault of these powers, only that he must push their fusion to completion.

The process lasted an unknown length of time until he saw the true essence and bone-tempering power blend seamlessly, breaking free from his control and spreading throughout his body.

No longer destructive, the fused powers permeated every corner of Yang Ze’s being. As they filled him, his blood and qi surged dramatically.

The true essence and bone-tempering power transformed his body; the long-dormant qi and blood now roared with vitality.

With the qi and blood surging, activating the energies scattered throughout his body, the three forces—Yang Ze’s own true essence, the bone-tempering power, and their fusion—circulated a full great cycle within him.

At the conclusion of this great cycle, when Yang Ze had been near death, a sudden explosion of potent aura burst forth.

Power flooded his body, and the once-weakened Yang Ze instantly felt as if life had been poured back into him, his spirit rekindled.

Though only partially restored and far from fully revitalized, he felt some of his strength returning at last.

Calming his mind, Yang Ze resumed his cultivation, wary of any misstep.

At this critical juncture, he knew that if he could surmount this phase, he would break through to the First Rank of the Bone-Tempering Realm.

He had never imagined that after so many trials and clashes, he would unknowingly reach this stage.

The final lines of the Qi-Nurturing Technique echoed in his mind. Seizing the last reserves of his spirit, he suddenly surged his power.

The true essence and bone-tempering power, now permeating his entire body, converged back into his dantian. In the next moment, a mighty force of qi and blood surged through his limbs and bones, infusing him with strength.

“Ah!”

Yang Ze’s aura soared rapidly. In just a single breath, he surpassed the half-step threshold and broke firmly into the First Rank of the Bone-Tempering Realm.

Sounds of cracking bones echoed faintly. His face twisted in pain as the aura held strong for over ten breaths before finally subsiding.

The blood and qi calmed once more. The once-gilded lower limb bone now appeared milky white; the golden radiance had vanished.

At this moment, Yang Ze’s spirit was completely depleted, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

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Elsewhere, Xie Yuan sat cross-legged within his stone chamber, meditating quietly. Suddenly, he sensed a violent surge of energy emanating from Yang Ze’s chamber.

His expression darkened. Taking a step forward, the chamber door swung open, and he stood outside Yang Ze’s stone room.

With a serious countenance, Xie Yuan raised his right hand and pressed it against the door. A wave of energy radiated forth, enveloping the entire chamber.

He was probing the chamber’s interior with his cultivation, seeking to understand what had transpired before deciding whether to open the door.

But upon investigation, he found no trace of the violent energy inside. In fact, it seemed there was no life force remaining.

Stunned, Xie Yuan struck the chamber door with a sharp slap, causing it to swing wide open.

Stepping inside, he immediately saw Yang Ze lying on the ground, with several bottles of elixirs arranged nearby.

Sensing the aura, Xie Yuan’s eyes bulged as he shouted angrily, “How reckless! To have the cultivation of a nine-stage true essence and yet dare to swallow a bone-tempering pill—he’s courting death!”

He had sensed Yang Ze’s cultivation power had indeed reached the First Rank, but that aura was now utterly depleted, leaving no sign of life after the breakthrough.

Xie Yuan quickly deduced that Yang Ze, desperate to break through, had taken a pill his body was not yet ready to endure, leading to this state.

With a swift gesture, he lifted Yang Ze’s body and laid him on a bed.

Xie Yuan then pressed several fingers down, sealing Yang Ze’s vital acupoints, and struck sharply, sending a burst of true essence to protect his meridians.

Taking Yang Ze’s pulse, Xie Yuan’s stern expression softened slightly.

“Though the pulse is weak, the aura remains. His life is not in danger, but he has suffered severe injuries. If not properly treated, his cultivation may regress. Considering the turmoil from his breakthrough, a setback would be a serious problem.”

Xie Yuan quickly assessed the situation, his brow furrowed deeply.

Normally, he would have immediately sent Yang Ze to the Pill Hall, where experts and abundant elixirs could aid recovery easily.

But since Yang Ze had fallen ill under his watch, this matter could not be disclosed; otherwise, Ning Teng would inevitably learn of it.

Xie Yuan dared not let Ning Teng know. Yang Ze was highly valued by Ning Teng, and if he found out that Yang Ze had been harmed in Xie Yuan’s care, it would bring trouble.

Cursing silently, Xie Yuan produced a pill and administered it to Yang Ze.

As the pill took effect, Xie Yuan formed hand seals with his left hand, and a peculiar aura slowly emanated from him, finally hovering at his fingertip.

“I never thought my cultivated Ethereal Qi would be used to heal an outer disciple who isn’t even a junior. What a pity, truly a pity,” Xie Yuan said, wincing as he flicked his finger.

The Ethereal Qi shot from his fingertip into Yang Ze’s body.

“This pill will help restore your life force to its peak, and the Ethereal Qi will cleanse your muscles and marrow. Even a waste can be reborn through its baptism. Boy, from now on, you will be a true genius.”

Watching the renewed flush return to Yang Ze’s sleeping face, Xie Yuan felt a pang of sympathy as he tended to the young man’s recovery.