"Argh!" Yun Xiao cried out, his body convulsing as an unbearable pain surged through him. It was as though molten lava coursed through his broken pathways, burning away the remnants of his shattered meridians.
"Endure it!" the grandpa's voice commanded, stern yet supportive. "This pain is the price of rebirth. It will break you, but it will also make you stronger!"
Black blood began seeping from Yun Xiao's pores, accompanied by a nauseating stench that filled the chamber. The foul liquid carried impurities from deep within him, tainted remnants of his damaged cultivation.
Through the agony, Yun Xiao gritted his teeth, his face pale but resolute. The searing pain began to subside, replaced by a sensation of renewal. His broken meridians reformed, their structure becoming sturdier and more resilient. He could feel an unfamiliar energy coursing through his body, raw yet full of potential.
Finally, as the last of the black blood drained from him, the scroll dissolved into a fine mist and vanished, leaving Yun Xiao kneeling on the chamber floor.
"Stand up," the grandpa's voice said, quieter now, but still authoritative. "You've done well. Your meridians have been restored, and they are far superior to what they once were. The heavens may have cast you aside, but you've been reborn in defiance of their will. The road ahead is yours to carve."
Yun Xiao slowly rose to his feet, his breaths ragged but steady. He flexed his fingers, feeling the renewed vitality coursing through his veins. His body was lighter, his senses sharper, and the oppressive weight of despair that had once haunted him was nowhere to be found.
A determined smile crept onto his lips. "Old man, you were right. This is just the beginning," Yun Xiao said, his voice filled with quiet conviction.
Without looking back at the pool of black blood staining the ground, Yun Xiao turned toward the stone gate. The world beyond awaited, and he was ready to face it with strength greater than he had ever imagined.
___
Lei Ying's gaze darkened as he watched Yun Xiao rise, his aura radiating a newfound strength that hadn't been there before. The sight of Yun Xiao's reconstructed meridians and enhanced presence confirmed what Lei Ying had feared.
"What? He obtained it so fast? No trial?" Lei Ying muttered under his breath, his fists clenching tightly at his sides.
This wasn't part of the plan. He had orchestrated every setback for Yun Xiao, ensuring the protagonist would crawl through the dirt before gaining any advantage. And yet, here he was, standing stronger than before.
Lei Ying cursed silently. Yun Xiao's rapid recovery was far beyond the novel's depiction of his capabilities. His comprehension and adaptability were nothing short of monstrous.
"Sure enough," Lei Ying muttered, his voice low and filled with disdain, "the child of heaven will always be aided by the heavens.
The moment I threatened to take this opportunity from him, they sped up his progress. It's as if the heavens themselves are conspiring against me."
He exhaled sharply, reigning in his frustration. It wasn't just that Yun Xiao had recovered—it was how quickly he had done so.
The heavens had sensed Lei Ying's interference and intervened to keep the so-called protagonist on his destined path.
"Now I can't kill him," Lei Ying murmured, his tone calculating. "Not yet, at least. I'll need him to find the next inheritance for me. If I can obtain something like the Demon Sword early, I'll finally have a trump card—a sure kill."
The thought was enough to soothe his rising irritation. Yun Xiao was valuable for now, a pawn who would unknowingly lead him to greater treasures.
But to ensure this, Lei Ying needed to guide the narrative carefully, nudging events toward his favor.
His mind raced with possibilities, settling on one critical piece of the puzzle—the female disciple from the Heaven's Pavilion Sect.
"She's the key," Lei Ying muttered, his eyes narrowing. "If I can control her, I can manipulate Yun Xiao's path without raising suspicion."
The plan began to take shape in his mind. He would intercept the disciple, twist her loyalties, and position her as a tool to influence Yun Xiao's journey.
Lei Ying's body flickered, vanishing from his spot in an instant. There was no time to waste. The game had shifted, and Lei Ying needed to stay ahead of the heavens' meddling.
As he moved through the shadows, his thoughts remained sharp, his determination unwavering. This was just a temporary setback—a delay in his ultimate goal. Yun Xiao's strength didn't matter. In the end, Lei Ying would hold all the cards.