Rain sat on the balcony of his new home, gazing at the lush garden before him. The calls of birds echoed softly through the air, and the gentle breeze carried a crisp freshness that was almost surreal.
In a world ravaged by the cataclysm, where plants, flowers, and birds were rare and the very wind had mutated due to radiation energy, this moment felt like an extravagant luxury.
His thoughts drifted back to the events of the past four days. The brutal fight with the assassins had left him seriously injured, his left hand and leg lost in the desperate battle.
Yet, when he next opened his eyes, barely half an hour had passed, and he found Siobhan and an unfamiliar man by his side.
The stranger introduced himself as Zou Pan, an assistant to Helena.
With expert precision, he had administered energy-infused healing medicine, and Rain watched in astonishment as his missing limbs regenerated.
Within two hours, his body was completely healed, a feat that defied even his understanding of genetic enhancements and regenerative abilities.
Before departing, Zou Pan had left him with a chilling warning.
The assassins were from Hell Sword Palace, a notorious organization with a grim reputation. Once they accepted a contract, they would attempt the assassination three times, each time sending stronger and deadlier assassins than before.
Rain clenched his fists, the weight of this revelation settling heavily on his mind. The battle was far from over.
Rain then sits on the mushroom field, processing the weight of Zou Pan's words. The implication was clear—if his strength did not grow rapidly, he would not survive the next assassination attempt. The only viable path forward, as suggested, was marrying Helen.
The thought had unsettled him. He had already experienced death in his previous life, and even if this body perished, his two clones in separate worlds would continue to exist.
Yet, this body held unparalleled significance—it was the only one capable of producing clones. The longer he kept it alive, the more clones he could create, ensuring his influence and power extended further.
Faced with this reality, Rain made his decision. He turned to Siobhan and, with a heavy heart, muttered a quiet apology.
She did not understand at the time, her confusion evident in her expression. But three days later, when he stood beside Helen in the ceremonial hall, exchanging vows, she must have finally realized why he had apologized.
Helen's mother's research had proven correct. After just one night of dual cultivation, Rain's comprehension of the sharp rule surged, and his realm advanced by a staggering 10%, reaching 60%.
If Helen's understanding of the sharp rule had been higher than 19%, his realm would have increased even more. But there was little he could do about that. Even though their talents were similar, she had been cultivating alone, while he had the advantage of his two clones, allowing him to progress at an accelerated rate.
The importance of his choices weighed heavily on him. If Glenn had not practiced the thunder sword technique or created the body-stimulating technique that increased his strength, he would have perished in the assassination attempt.
Likewise, Rain's understanding of both the sharp and blunt rules had been largely influenced by his other clone, Yun Ting, who was undergoing rigorous trials in a secret realm.
As thoughts of Yun Ting filled his mind, Rain closed his eyes and let his spirit enter the portal that connected him to his clone. He needed to see what Yun Ting was doing inside the secret realm.
Darkness enveloped Rain's consciousness as his spirit traveled through the mental link, slipping seamlessly into Yun Ting's perspective.
When his vision cleared, he found himself moving steadily through the towering mountain range that separated the outer region from the inner depths of the secret realm. Jagged cliffs and dense mist shrouded the landscape, casting eerie shadows over the narrow, treacherous paths winding through the peaks.
Yun Ting's breathing was steady, but his body carried the weariness of continuous battle. His robes were torn in places, smeared with dried blood—both his own and that of the beasts he had slain.
Despite this, his grip on his weapon remained firm, his senses sharp. He knew that any moment of weakness could mean death in this unforgiving terrain.
For generations, the six immortal families around Blue Moon Lake had sought knowledge of what lay beyond these mountains.
But their strength had never been enough to push through, and the inner region remained an enigma. Even now, with a team of formidable warriors at his side, Yun Ting understood why. The mountain range itself was a battlefield, teeming with danger.
Over the past three days, they had encountered relentless waves of mid and late 1st-rank demons. Each battle had tested their limits, forcing them to rely on strategy and coordination.
But the real crisis came when a peak 1st-rank Mountain Bull and its herd descended upon them. The earth had trembled beneath the sheer force of the charge, their roars echoing like thunder through the valleys.
Alone, Yun Ting would have faced certain death, his strength nowhere near enough to contest such overwhelming power.
But he was not alone. His team had two warriors stronger than himself, and together, they had held their ground, fighting tooth and nail to survive. The battle had been brutal—shattered bones, near-fatal wounds, and the constant threat of being trampled under the hooves of beasts that weighed thousands of kilograms.
But every crisis left behind its rewards. The demon pills extracted from the slain beasts had proven invaluable.
With their help, Yun Ting successfully refined his heart, strengthening his body's core resilience. Now, he had already begun refining his stomach, the process nearly halfway complete. His progress was steady, each battle forging him into something stronger.
As he pressed forward, his eyes narrowed at the sight before him. The end of the mountain range was within reach. In just a couple of days, they would finally step into the unexplored depths of the inner region.
Even from this distance, he could see the permanent dark clouds swirling above, an oppressive shroud of mystery and danger. That was the true boundary—once they stood beneath those clouds, they would have officially crossed into the inner region.
Rain's spirit lingered within Yun Ting's mind for a moment longer before withdrawing. As his awareness snapped back to his main body, a sharp surge of comprehension washed over him.
He could feel the effects of Yun Ting's relentless battles seeping into his growth.
His understanding of the sharp rule had deepened, the insight carved through his clone's experiences refining his perception of its essence. His realm surged forward, climbing rapidly before stabilizing at 74%.
The contrast between their experiences struck Rain deeply. While he had been preparing for his marriage, Yun Ting had been locked in an unending struggle, his sword carving a path through the endless tide of demons.
Three days of ceaseless battle, of pushing beyond the limits of exhaustion and pain. That effort had not been in vain—Rain had reaped the rewards of Yun Ting's perseverance. His understanding of the sharp rule had deepened, his realm now standing at an impressive 74%. The battles Yun Ting had fought, the blood he had spilled, had not only strengthened him but had also propelled Rain's growth forward.
Rain exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening slightly as he absorbed this realization. Yun Ting's situation was now clear, his struggles were ongoing but his progress was undeniable. With that settled, it was time to check on his second clone.
His last memory of Glenn had been unsettling—his second clone had been fleeing for his life, chased by a baby T-rex and its underlings, before finally leaping into a crevice deep within the mountains. After that, nothing. Glenn had lost consciousness. Rain had no idea what had happened since.
Without hesitation, Rain allowed his spirit to flow into the portal that connected him to Glenn. He needed to know what his clone had been through, what dangers he had faced, and most importantly, if he had survived.
Darkness enveloped Rain's consciousness as he traveled through the mental link, slipping seamlessly into Glenn's perspective. His vision adjusted, and at once, he found himself thrust into chaos.
Glenn and Narisa were locked in combat, battling a swarm of firecrows. The air was thick with heat, the creatures screeching as they darted through the smoke-filled sky, their ember-like feathers leaving trails of flame in their wake. Glenn's sword gleamed under the crimson glow of the volcanic region, his body moving fluidly as he slashed through the relentless creatures.
Behind them, the last mountain of the volcanic region loomed, its blackened slopes steep and treacherous. Beyond that stretched an endless forest, its trees bearing dark, obsidian-like leaves, swaying ominously despite the absence of wind. The sight of it sent an unexplainable chill down Rain's spine—there was something unnatural about that forest, something foreboding.
Glenn and Narisa had nearly reached the boundary where fire met shadow, where the volcanic wastelands gave way to the ominous black forest. But first, they had to survive the relentless assault of the fire crows.
Rain observed through Glenn's eyes as his clone unleashed a flurry of attacks. Spinning energy discs cut through the air, energy bullets tore into the fiery creatures, spears of condensed power impaled their shrieking forms, and whips of energy lashed out, scattering the flock. Above, Narisa weaved gracefully through the sky, her sword flashing in streaks of silver as she cleaved through the creatures with swift, precise strikes.
The battle raged until the last of the fire crows fell, their charred remains vanishing into the ashen ground. Rain watched as Glenn and Narisa, both breathing heavily but unharmed, finally descended the mountain and stepped into the black forest.
Beyond this eerie woodland lay the Southern Human Kingdoms. After crossing those lands, they would need to navigate the treacherous Mist Swamp before finally reaching their destination—the City of Freedom. Glenn's journey was far from over, but Rain trusted his clone's resilience.
As Rain's spirit returned to his main body, Glenn's experiences and memories flowed into him. The soul chip embedded in his mind immediately began processing the influx of information, organizing and refining it.
He felt an immediate shift in his understanding of his techniques. His mastery over Energy Bomb had evolved beyond its original scope. No longer just a ranged attack, he could now mold the energy into melee weapons, giving him a newfound versatility in combat.
Recognizing the transformation, he decided to rename the technique—Vitality Energy Sutra—a name that reflected his ultimate goal: to fully comprehend and understand everything about the power of vitality energy.
Lost in thought, Rain was abruptly pulled from his reflections by the sound of a door opening. Looking up, he spotted Helen stepping out of their bedroom, her presence grounding him in the moment. As she approached, he turned to face her, a warm smile spreading across his lips.