Gu Chuchen screamed as his body flew through the air, crashing heavily to the ground. Xiao Ye's true Qi raged through his abdomen, shattering Gu Chuchen's internal energy and causing his cultivation to plummet.
"You… you've crippled my cultivation!" Gu Chuchen's face turned pale, his body trembling as blood poured from his mouth. "You're ruthless!"
For posterior heaven realm cultivators, the dan tian (energy core) was the foundation of their power. Destroying it meant severing their cultivation roots forever. In the True Spirit Continent, having one's cultivation nullified was worse than death.
Xiao Ye, however, showed no mercy. If the Gu Clan seeks revenge, let them come. He had never revealed his origins, and the Gu Clan's influence couldn't reach his village, hidden among hundreds of towns near Wutang City.
"Ruthless?" Xiao Ye sneered, towering over Gu Chuchen. "When you planned to cripple me, did you think twice about cruelty?"
Gu Chuchen choked on his anger, unable to retort. He had intended to break Xiao Ye's cultivation, but he'd never imagined the boy's overwhelming strength—especially that terrifying strike with the Flame Blade.
Xiao Ye's gaze hardened. "You're the Gu Clan patriarch. You must have treasures."
Gu Chuchen paled, instinctively guarding his robes.
"Hah! As expected!" Xiao Ye laughed, seizing items from Gu Chuchen's person—a jade bottle and a scroll.
Treasure Unveiled
The jade bottle bore labels: Jade Spirit Pill and Posterior Heaven Pill.
Jade Spirit Pill: Boosted cultivation for posterior heaven realm cultivators (up to stage eight) with no side effects—but only once in a lifetime.
Posterior Heaven Pill: Allowed martial artists to directly advance to the posterior heaven realm.
Xiao Ye's eyes lit up. These pills were game-changers. With the Jade Spirit Pill, he could bridge the gap to challenge Blood Wolf. The Posterior Heaven Pill could create an army of posterior heaven cultivators for Qingyang Town, ending the Blood Wolf Gang's tyranny.
Revenge and Resolve
Xiao Ye downed the Jade Spirit Pill, its energy surging through him. His cultivation surged to posterior heaven realm, ninth stage early, his fists now capable of shattering mountains.
This is enough to kill Blood Wolf, he thought.
He spent ten days in the Time Tower perfecting the Mountain-Cracking Fist, a second-tier combat skill. When he emerged, his punch shattered a small hill into dust.
Worthy of its name, he muttered, heading toward Qingyang Town.
A Broken Man
Meanwhile, Gu Chuchen dragged himself back to Wutang City, disheveled and broken. Villagers mocked him, calling him a "beggar."
"I am the Gu Clan patriarch!" he roared, seething with humiliation. If it weren't for Xiao Ye, I'd never have fallen this low!
The Village Awaits
From a hilltop, Xiao Ye gazed at Qingyang Town. His heart swelled with emotion. Home.
"I'm back!" he roared, charging toward his village.