When Kellan woke up, his entire body screamed with pain, an ache that permeated every muscle and joint.
The discomfort was so intense that he could barely move without feeling like he was being crushed from all directions.
He hadn't expected to feel this bad. After the battle in the Mystfall Forest, he had anticipated some soreness, but nothing had prepared him for the scale of the injuries he had sustained.
His muscles felt like they were on fire, his bones throbbed, and every little movement made him wince in pain.
"Crap," Kellan muttered to himself, groaning as he tried to sit up.
"I knew I got hurt badly, but I didn't know it was this bad."
His frustration grew with each passing second.
He had become accustomed to injuries, especially from his constant training and frequent missions, but this level of exhaustion and pain was something else entirely.
He clenched his teeth, determined to push through it. "Still, I need to move."
With a grimace, Kellan braced himself and tried to push himself to his feet.
His muscles screamed in protest, the pain intensifying as he stood.
But just as he made an effort to steady himself, the door to his room creaked open, and Elder Wei stepped in.
Kellan's eyes met the elderly man's steady gaze.
Elder Wei's expression was deadpan, his usual calm demeanor unchanged. "Kellan," he said in a voice that was both gentle and firm,
"These days, it seems you always end up looking like you're about to die every time you go inside that forest.
I know you're working hard on your cultivation, but you can't keep pushing yourself to the brink of death like this.
You need to take better care of yourself."
Kellan lowered his gaze, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him.
"I wasn't planning on getting injured, Elder Wei. I was just trying to hunt red-tipped boars.
There's this senior at the task board who said that if I cook and eat them, my body will get stronger.
I thought it would help my physical cultivation."
Elder Wei sighed deeply, his eyes softening as he regarded Kellan.
"Yes, you're right. Your body will indeed get stronger the first few times you consume the boar meat.
But after that, your body will adapt, and it will no longer have the same effect.
The boar meat is helpful, but only temporarily."
Kellan blinked, his confusion evident. "What? Seriously?"
Elder Wei nodded, his tone reassuring.
"It's fine, Kellan. This will be your first time eating it, so you'll benefit from it.
But know that after your body adapts, it won't have any more significant effects.
Non-cultivators can't eat it because the blood qi and spiritual energy are too strong for them.
But for cultivators like us, it can be a powerful boost, at least initially."
Kellan's eyes lit up with excitement, the thought of getting stronger spurring him on.
"Alright! I can't wait to cook this up. I'll even give Big Bone some, if he's interested."
Before he could say anything else, he paused.
There was something he had been meaning to ask, something that had been nagging at him during his time in the forest.
Kellan turned to Elder Wei, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Elder Wei, I heard some strange rumors while I was out in the Mystfall Forest. I was wondering if they were true."
Kellan decided to forgo mentioning the specifics of what happened at the Mystfall forest to keep Elder Wei from worrying
"Lets not tell him I killed two people and almost got killed myself, or else he's gonna scold me even more" Kellan thought.
Elder Wei's expression remained neutral, but there was a glimmer of interest in his eyes.
"What did you hear?"
Kellan hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should ask, but ultimately decided to go ahead.
"I heard that it's been a long time since the Shi Clan practiced the Temporal Breathing Technique. Is that true?"
There was a long pause as Elder Wei looked at Kellan.
His eyes softened, and he sighed as if weighing his words carefully.
Finally, he spoke, his voice tinged with a mix of resignation and understanding.
"Kellan, you've caught me. Yes, it's true."
"Right now, in the current state of the clan, only you and I still cultivate the Temporal Breathing Technique."
Kellan's mouth fell open in shock.
"Wait, so nobody else in the clan is practicing the Temporal Breathing Technique right now?"
Elder Wei nodded slowly, his expression growing more serious.
"That's correct. The Temporal Breathing Technique was first developed by our ancestor, Shi Ming.
At the height of his power, it was said that he could not only manipulate his perception of time but also control the flow of time in a large area around him.
He could freeze pockets of time, trapping his enemies and eliminating them without effort."
Kellan's eyes widened. He had heard bits and pieces about the technique but never imagined it had such incredible power.
"That sounds amazing," he said, awe in his voice.
"But… I thought you said the Temporal Breathing Technique was weak. Why is that?"
Elder Wei's face grew more somber, his gaze distant.
"The technique itself is not inherently weak
. The problem is that it is incomplete.
Over the years, the records about it were lost, and no one in the clan has been able to fully cultivate it.
Over the past century, I've been the only one who's managed to cultivate it to any degree.
But because it's incomplete, I've reached a plateau.
I'm stuck at the peak of the Blood Solidification Realm, unable to advance further."
Kellan felt a pang of disappointment.
"Wait… so, what happens now? Am I going to be stuck at that level too?"
Elder Wei's expression softened as he looked at Kellan with reassuring eyes.
"No. When you reach my level, I will help you break through.
You won't be stuck. I'll make sure of it. But for now, just focus on your cultivation. Work hard and don't rush things."
Kellan nodded, feeling comforted by Elder Wei's words.
He had always trusted the elder's wisdom and guidance, and the promise of breaking through was enough to give him renewed determination.
"Alright, Elder Wei. I'll do my best. Besides, with the clan tournament coming up, I need to get stronger. I can't afford to fall behind."
Elder Wei raised an eyebrow, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I heard about the tournament.
Are you sure you want to enter this year? You've only been cultivating for a short time, and you don't have to join this year.
There's always next year."
Kellan's resolve was firm.
"It's fine, Elder Wei. I'm not going to leave the clan anymore.
From now on, I'm focusing solely on stabilizing my condition and cultivating quietly.
I'm going to prepare myself for the tournament in two months."
Elder Wei seemed to consider Kellan's words for a moment before nodding his approval.
"Very well. But before you start cultivating, there's something I think you should know.
Big Bone has completely healed from his injuries and actually became even stronger.
He's reached the second level of the Blood Solidification Realm."
Kellan's eyes widened in surprise.
"What? Seriously?" he asked, feeling a mixture of pride and frustration.
Big Bone had always been strong, but this was unexpected.
Elder Wei nodded.
"Yes. Whatever happened to him during his recovery seems to have helped him break through.
It's quite impressive."
Kellan let out a deep sigh.
"Well, I'm happy for him, of course.
But it's a little frustrating to think about how quickly he's advancing."
And yet, Kellan had a thought pop up inside his head and felt it was a little funny.
"It feels a little hypocritical of me to think that way, considering even I'm already at the peak of the third level"
Elder Wei chuckled softly. "Don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone progresses at their own pace.
But if you want to see him, he's probably at the training field right now, sparring with others."
Kellan smiled, his spirits lifting once more.
"Sounds just like Big Bone. Alright, I'm going to go meet him.
We'll eat the red-tipped boar meat together and have a feast."
With that, Kellan stood up and rushed out of the room, determined to find his friend.
"See you later, Elder Wei!" he called over his shoulder, a bright smile on his face.
Elder Wei watched as Kellan's figure disappeared down the hall, a thoughtful expression crossing his features.
He sighed, his voice barely audible. "Young Master, this is all I can do for you."
Elder Wei looked up at the sky, his expression darkening
"Rats of the Chaos Clan, you dare try and reach you hands into even this realm? I will protect the Young Master with my life"
Elder Wei declared to himself