Ye Xiaotian sat motionless near the green pool, staring at the sky where his master's figure had disappeared. The soft rustle of leaves mingled with the distant chirping of birds, but neither sound could pierce the heavy silence in his heart. His mind replayed everything Ren Shuang had done for him the solemn words, the sacrifices made each memory lingering like a fading echo.
He remembered their first meeting in the soul world, the calm yet powerful gaze of Ren Shuang, and the aura of authority he radiated. Ren Shuang wasn't just a master; he was a beacon of hope and strength when Ye Xiaotian was at his lowest. One particular lesson echoed in his mind.
"Power is fleeting without control," Ren Shuang had said. "True strength comes from tempering both body and soul."
Ye Xiaotian clenched his fists. "Master, your teachings will guide me. I will not let your sacrifices be in vain."
But the words "Forgive that girl…" gnawed at his thoughts. He furrowed his brows in contemplation. "Which girl?" he murmured, recalling no one who fit the description. Frustration flickered across his face, but he pushed the question aside. There were more pressing matters.
His gaze shifted to the mysterious silver egg resting nearby. The egg's surface shimmered faintly in the light, exuding an ancient, otherworldly aura that seemed to pulse in rhythm with an unseen heartbeat.
"Feed it my blood for twelve months," he murmured, recalling his master's instructions. "What kind of treasure lies within?" he wondered, anticipation building alongside unease.
Turning his attention to the black stone in his hand, he marveled at its weight and texture. The stone gleamed faintly, as though hiding secrets beneath its dark surface. A pulse of energy subtle, like a heartbeat radiated from within. This black stone wasn't just a gateway to the spirit world; it was a link to something far more profound. The aura it emitted was ancient, almost as if it carried the will of countless eras.
"What makes this stone so special?" he muttered. "A gateway, a treasure trove of power… I need to understand its full potential." Clenching the stone tightly, his resolve solidified. He would unlock its mysteries.
Ye Xiaotian stood tall, his gaze fixed on the sky. His voice rang out with unwavering conviction, reverberating through the spirit world.
"Master, rest assured! This disciple of yours will become the greatest expert in the world and will kill all those who betrayed you!"
The air seemed to vibrate with the intensity of his words. With renewed determination, Ye Xiaotian sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes to focus on the imprints left by Ren Shuang in his mind. As he delved deeper, a particular technique caught his attention.
"Ancestral Dragon Soul Hammer," he murmured. The name itself radiated ancient power, stirring something primal within him.
The more he read, the more his eyes widened in astonishment.
"So powerful… and so ruthless," he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and apprehension.
The technique, created by the Ancestral Dragon God, was designed to forge the soul through repeated destruction and regeneration. By using a fragment of his own soul, the Ancestral Dragon God had crafted a process that tempered the soul like a blacksmith tempering steel.
"Our soul will rest on the anvil, and the hammer will strike repeatedly," Ye Xiaotian read aloud. "With each strike, the soul will be crushed and reformed, becoming stronger with every cycle."
A chill ran down his spine as he imagined the brutal process. For a cultivator, physical pain was bearable, but damage to the soul was another matter entirely. The soul was the essence of one's being, and even a minor injury could cause unbearable agony.
Despite the horror of the technique, excitement coursed through him. "The more demanding a technique is, the greater the rewards," he thought. Determined, he decided to begin his soul training immediately.
After some time in meditation, Ye Xiaotian opened his eyes and stood up. The serene landscape of the spirit world stretched before him only he and the egg remained. The lush greenery contrasted sharply with the weight of his thoughts.
He looked toward the egg and started walking towards it, he noticed its mysterious aura growing stronger the closer he got. The faint hum of energy resonated in the air, creating a subtle vibration beneath his feet. As he reached out to touch its smooth surface, a faint warmth spread through his fingertips. The egg trembled slightly, responding to his presence.
After a moment of hesitation, Ye Xiaotian found a sword nearby and made a large cut on his palm. Dense, red blood, rich with vitality and spiritual energy, began to flow. The metallic tang of his blood filled his senses, sharp and biting.
The egg shuddered, as though eager for the life essence pouring from his hand. Seeing the reaction, Ye Xiaotian stretched his bleeding hand toward the egg. As soon as his blood touched the surface, a powerful suction force pulled the blood in.
The egg continued to absorb his blood, and his body rapidly replenished what was lost. The sound of the egg's heartbeat grew louder, rhythmic and steady, like distant war drums echoing through the spirit world. After a few moments, the egg stopped shaking. Ye Xiaotian removed his hand, watching as the cut healed within a minute. His new body, thanks to the Chaos Fluid, showed no signs of exhaustion or weakness.
He flexed his fingers, marveling at the changes. The Chaos Fluid had transformed him. His body felt lighter, his movements more fluid, and his senses sharper than ever before. But there was more to it than just physical changes. Deep within, he sensed a shift in his mind a heightened awareness, an instinct to survive and adapt.
"Incredible," he muttered. "What more will this body reveal?"
Determined to test his limits, Ye Xiaotian sprinted toward a distant mountain. His movements were fluid and powerful, the air whistling past his ears as he leapt through the air with ease. After ten minutes of running, he reached the mountain, yet he felt no exhaustion.
He placed a hand on his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat. "Not bad," he said, a grin spreading across his face. He turned back and repeated the run three more times, each round testing his endurance.
Finally, after an hour and twenty minutes, he collapsed onto the ground, unable to move.
"So, my soul can sustain this body for one hour and twenty minutes before exhaustion sets in," he concluded, panting heavily. Although slightly disappointed, the fire of excitement burned within him. "I've never felt such strength before…"
After resting for half a day, Ye Xiaotian's exhaustion faded. He opened his eyes, determination burning within them.
"Now, let's test my physical strength."
He ran back to the mountain, finding a large boulder in his path. Clenching his fist, he took a deep breath and punched the rock with all his might.
"Boom!"
The boulder, as tall as Ye Xiaotian, shattered into countless pieces. Dust filled the air, and shards of rock scattered across the ground. The impact reverberated through his arm, but he felt no pain only a satisfying rush of power.
"Amazing," he whispered, a smile spreading across his face. "With just my bare hands, without any cultivation energy, I can do this. My body's strength alone is terrifying."
But he wasn't satisfied. "I need to find someone powerful to truly test my limits," he thought, clenching his fists.
Returning to his original spot near the egg, Ye Xiaotian sat down, ready to begin the Ancestral Dragon Soul Hammer technique. He closed his eyes and chanted the activation mantra. Instantly, a powerful sucking force pulled his soul into another dimension.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in a dark void. The silence was absolute, and the air felt heavy with ancient power. The scent of iron hung faintly in the air, mingling with a chill that pricked at his senses.
Before him stood a massive anvil, its surface etched with ancient dragon runes. Above it, a colossal hammer hovered ominously, ready to strike. The hammer's descent seemed inevitable, like the passage of time itself.
"So, this is the soul world," Ye Xiaotian murmured. The sheer size of the anvil and hammer left him in awe. "Let's see how powerful this technique is."
He approached the anvil and stood at the designated point. Taking a deep breath, he chanted the mantra once more.
The hammer began to descend slowly at first, then faster and faster. The closer it got, the more pressure he felt. His entire being trembled under the invisible weight. The air around him vibrated with tension, each beat of the hammer resonating like a death knell.
"Boom!"
Before the hammer even struck, the immense pressure caused his soul to shatter.
A ripple spread through the void, and Ye Xiaotian's soul reformed on the anvil. His eyes fluttered open, and he gritted his teeth.
"Again," he muttered, chanting the mantra once more.
The scene repeated. The hammer descended, and just before it struck, his soul was pulverized into nothingness. Yet, each time his soul was destroyed, it reformed stronger than before.
This cycle continued for nineteen rounds. By the nineteenth strike, Ye Xiaotian's soul shattered once again. But this time, intense pain and fatigue spread through him. The crushing force of the hammer echoed in his mind, each blow leaving a lingering ache.
"I've reached my limit," he thought, panting heavily. "If I continue, my soul will be damaged."
Stopping the technique, Ye Xiaotian sat in the void, feeling the changes in his soul. The repeated destruction and reformation had made it stronger denser, more resilient.
"It works," he murmured, a smile spreading across his face. "This technique… it's brutal, but it will make me unstoppable."