Chapter 30: A Sudden Crisis
"Brother Feng, what kind of technique is this? It's terrifying… Is it some sort of demonic art?" Mu Kuang swallowed hard, his face pale.
"Don't be ridiculous," Mu Feng chided, his tone laced with amusement. "There's no such thing as an evil technique, only evil people. This method converts the blood essence of living creatures into Yuan Qi or Yuan Power, but it also works like conventional techniques, absorbing the natural energy of the heavens and earth. It's far faster than the family's Iron-Blood Qi Technique."
Hearing this, Mu Kuang's initial fear gave way to intrigue.
"A technique that can refine blood essence… Brother Feng, this isn't a family technique, is it?"
"Where I got it doesn't matter. If you want to rapidly increase your strength, then practice it. But you must never tell anyone. If others covet this technique, it will bring disaster upon you."
Mu Feng's voice turned solemn, his warning etched into every word.
Mu Kuang fell silent, deliberating deeply. His Yuan bone was decent, but he was no prodigy. If he didn't work harder, he'd fall far behind Mu Feng.
"Brother Feng trusts me enough to pass down this technique," Mu Kuang thought, his eyes burning with determination. "How can I let him down? Besides, his enemies are my enemies—I'll help him take revenge!"
His resolve solidified, Mu Kuang nodded firmly. "I'll learn it."
Mu Feng's face broke into a satisfied grin. "Good. Then let's hunt more savage beasts. If we succeed, you might accumulate enough Yuan Qi to open your Purple Mansion and become a true cultivator."
With that, Mu Feng grabbed his blade and ventured deeper into the forest, Mu Kuang following closely behind.
Before long, they encountered another Great Strength Boar. This time, Mu Kuang took the lead in slaying it. Though his movements lacked Mu Feng's agility, his perseverance paid off, and he managed to bring the beast down after an intense struggle.
Once the boar lay lifeless, Mu Feng gutted its carcass and prepared a crude trap nearby, baiting it with the bloody entrails. He then instructed Mu Kuang to drain the boar's blood and absorb its essence.
Following Mu Feng's guidance, Mu Kuang began channeling his Yuan Qi into the boar, initiating the technique. Almost instantly, the boar's blood and flesh began to burn, condensing into streams of crimson energy that surged into Mu Kuang's body.
However, as soon as the energy entered him, Mu Kuang's face twisted in agony.
"Arghhh! It burns! It's like boiling oil inside me!" Mu Kuang screamed, his voice raw with pain. His veins bulged grotesquely under his skin, writhing like worms.
"Kuang, what's wrong?!" Mu Feng shouted, alarmed.
"I—I don't know! It hurts so much! My body feels like it's on fire!" Mu Kuang gritted his teeth, his voice shaking as sweat poured down his face.
"Stop the technique!" Mu Feng yelled, realization dawning on him. His own cultivation of the Shura Sutra had been smooth because of his unique blood spiritual meridians. Mu Kuang's ordinary meridians, however, were not suited for refining blood essence.
"I can't stop it! Brother Feng, help me! It's too much—"
Before Mu Kuang could finish, a cold, ethereal voice echoed inside Mu Feng's mind:
"Stupid boy, you're going to kill your friend at this rate."
Startled, Mu Feng glanced around but saw no one. "Who's there?! Show yourself!"
"I'm within you," the voice replied, calm and aloof.
"Within me?" Mu Feng was dumbfounded. Gripping his steel blade tightly, he scanned his surroundings, his instincts screaming of an unseen threat.
"You fool. Stop panicking," the voice scoffed.
Suddenly, a crimson glow emerged from Mu Feng's chest. A heart-shaped blood-red jade pendant materialized, radiating an eerie yet captivating light.
Mu Feng's eyes widened. "That's my heart jade! My mother left this to me. How did it end up inside my body?"
The pendant was his most cherished keepsake, thought lost during his time at war. Seeing it now, he was overwhelmed with confusion.
"You finally noticed me," the jade pendant spoke, its voice distinctly feminine. "I've been saving your sorry life on the battlefield."
"You… You can talk?! What are you?" Mu Feng's voice quivered.
"I'm not some mere 'thing'—wait, no, I am a thing… Ugh, this is your fault for confusing me!" The pendant's voice rose in frustration. To Mu Feng's astonishment, the jade pendant bopped him lightly on the head, as though scolding him.
"Alright, enough. Your friend's life is in danger," the pendant said, its tone sharp. "He's being burned alive by the blood energy. Only those with blood spiritual meridians—like you—can safely refine it. Ordinary meridians can't handle the strain and will be destroyed."
Mu Feng's heart sank. "What can I do to save him?"
The pendant paused briefly. "There's one way. You'll have to redirect the blood energy into his muscles and bones to strengthen his body instead of refining it. But it'll be excruciating. If his willpower holds, he'll survive and gain a unique advantage for cultivating a Blood-Refined Physique. If not…" The pendant trailed off ominously.
"If not, what?" Mu Feng demanded.
"He'll die. His body will rupture from within," the pendant said bluntly.
Mu Feng clenched his fists, his face a mask of guilt and resolve. "Tell me what to do."
"Inject your Yuan Qi into him to guide the blood energy. I'll transmit the technique for blood refinement directly into your mind. Use it to teach him how to circulate the energy safely."
Without hesitation, Mu Feng placed his hands on Mu Kuang's chest, channeling his Yuan Qi into his friend. Moments later, a flood of knowledge—an intricate web of meridian routes and energy flows—poured into Mu Feng's mind, courtesy of the pendant.
"Hold on, Kuang," Mu Feng muttered, sweat beading on his forehead as he worked to stabilize his friend. "Follow this technique. Remember the pattern. Don't give up!"
Mu Kuang's face contorted in pain, his body trembling violently. His skin flushed red as blackish-red blood seeped out of his pores, staining the ground.
The pendant hummed with approval. "Impressive. This one has remarkable willpower. He might actually succeed in cultivating the Blood-Refined Physique."
Mu Feng gritted his teeth, refusing to let up despite the strain. "Kuang, stay with me. You can do this!"
Through sheer determination, Mu Kuang began synchronizing with the new technique, his breathing gradually steadying despite the agony. His body continued to exude blackened impurities, a testament to the transformation taking place within him.
By the time the process ended, Mu Kuang collapsed onto the ground, utterly drained but alive.
Panting heavily, Mu Feng sat back, his heart racing. The pendant's voice broke the tense silence:
"Congratulations. Your reckless stunt didn't kill him—this time."