Chapter 287: Extreme Cultivation
Yun Che succeeded, but the pain and danger involved were known only to Yun Che himself. Having consumed so much fresh King Xuan dragon blood with his Spirit Xuan realm body, he managed to survive and refine most of the energy within the dragon blood. Even with Yun Che's Evil God's Mysterious Vein and the Great Dao Pagoda Art, this could be called a miracle. Without this miracle, Yun Che's fate would have been certain death.
But having just escaped the abyss of pain and death, Yun Che, as if possessed, once again plunged himself into that same abyss.
In the span of only a few minutes, Yun Che's bones and body burst apart again, and his body surface quickly turned a terrifying charred black. His flame of life was also reduced to a mere flicker. But this tiny wisp of life flame, just like before, absolutely refused to be extinguished.
That strange silver pagoda also appeared again... The entire process was almost identical.
The difference this time was that Yun Che stood up in only six and a half shichen, with all the blackness fading from his body, and his entire body underwent a second rebirth!
His profound strength also skyrocketed to the early stage of Spirit Xuan Realm, Level 3!
The demon stared at Yun Che fixedly and exclaimed in shock, "How... did you do that?!"
The mighty Demon King of the Huan Yao Realm actually used a shocked tone to ask a mere seventeen-year-old youth, "How did you do that?!"
Before today, let alone others, even he himself would never have believed that he would one day say such words to a junior.
But at this moment, what Yun Che had shown him caused tumultuous, uncontrollable waves in his heart.
The blood and flesh of high-level profound beasts are absolutely not something to be consumed carelessly. Even a Throne must be extremely cautious when eating the flesh and blood of a King Xuan beast. For a Throne, the flesh and blood of a King Xuan beast is undoubtedly an excellent tonic, sufficient to bring considerable improvement to one's profound strength. Although such improvement is not too exaggerated, it can be obtained without the need for arduous cultivation.
At the same time, it is completely impossible for a Throne to hunt and kill a King Xuan beast of the same level alone. Even if a peak King Xuan realm expert faces the lowest grade King Xuan beast, defeating it is easy, but hunting and killing it is extremely difficult.
Therefore, even a Throne rarely has the opportunity in a lifetime to enjoy such treasures from a King Xuan beast.
But Yun Che, who is only at the Spirit Xuan Realm, was drinking the blood of a dragon-type King Xuan beast and eating its flesh... and miraculously survived! The result of this inconceivable, unimaginable event was naturally extremely exaggerated. In less than a single day, Yun Che's profound strength had directly jumped two levels!
Looking at the standing Yun Che and the massive, huge Flame Dragon behind him, a thought uncontrollably arose in the demon's heart... He wouldn't slowly eat this entire Flame Dragon and turn it into his own power, would he?
After two great dangers and two rebirths from near-death, Yun Che felt that his skin and flesh had not become weaker due to rebirth, but instead were filled with even more power. His bones, after being impacted and tempered by the dragon blood and dragon meat, had become tougher. His blood had become slightly thicker, and even his internal organs had gained a strange sense of power.
The earlier nightmare-like hunger had completely disappeared. Looking at his reborn body and feeling the surging power, Yun Che grinned. Heaven seemed to favor him at every moment. Every time he gambled with his life, he ultimately emerged victorious. And this kind of victory was only possible for him in the entire world... If it were anyone else of comparable profound strength, they would have already turned into a pile of charcoal by now.
He looked at the demon and said in a low voice, "I am not obligated to answer your questions. I tell you again: in order to get out of here, I will... definitely kill you!"
Looking at Yun Che's cold and determined gaze, the demon was silent for a while, then chuckled softly: "Good! I suddenly... begin to look forward to that day! My profound strength is now suppressed to the King Xuan realm. Do you think the gap between Spirit Xuan and King Xuan is so easily bridged?!"
Yun Che did not speak again. He put away the Flame Dragon's body, picked up Dragon Que, and erupted with profound energy, swinging it vigorously. Every sword strike howled deafeningly, with unmatched power.
The immensely heavy Dragon Que stirred up gray shadows everywhere in Yun Che's hands. This suppressed underground space began to fill with endless wind and waves. To consolidate his skyrocketing profound strength, the best method was to release it with full force again and again. At this moment, Yun Che also confirmed his goal—to raise his profound strength. This was the only thing he could do here, and the only thing he must do.
After one shichen, Yun Che was panting heavily. He carried Dragon Que on his back, sat down, and quickly entered a meditative state. All fifty-four profound gates of his profound vein were fully open, and a torrent of profound force was rapidly circulating within his body.
In his meditative state, time passed quickly. Unknowingly, eight shichen had passed. Yun Che opened his eyes, his body once again brimming with profound energy, but a feeling of hunger also came from his stomach.
"I'm hungry again." Yun Che patted his belly. Under the demon's wide-eyed stare, he summoned the Flame Dragon again, cut off a large piece from its massive tail, drained the dragon blood, and began to roast it with profound flame. However, this hunger was certainly not comparable to yesterday's. He roasted it unhurriedly, leisurely. Soon, the aroma of meat filled the air, causing Yun Che to swallow his saliva.
The deliciousness of dragon meat is world-renowned, a quality no other profound beast can match. But there are few in the entire Tian Xuan Continent who have the fortune to taste dragon meat. The indescribable fragrance of the dragon meat drifted faintly to the demon, causing his nostrils to twitch and his fingers to convulse... To him, a demon who had not eaten for a hundred years, this most luxurious meat aroma in the world was undoubtedly a tremendous temptation sufficient to make him lose control.
But how could he, a dignified Demon King, beg for food from a junior? He bit the tip of his tongue, turned his face away, and sealed his sense of smell. But immediately, he heard the sound of Yun Che's teeth tearing and chewing the dragon meat, and his ten fingers trembled as if they would fly off their joints.
The side effects soon arrived. Yun Che immediately faced another baptism of endless pain and risk. But this time, Yun Che was not only as firm as before, but also appeared more composed... When the power of the dragon meat exploded, he casually drank the bowl of drained dragon blood as well...
The Flame Dragon that had been one-shotted by Mo Li had existed within the Heavenly Poison Pearl for over a year, almost forgotten by Yun Che. Yet in this underground space, it not only rescued Yun Che from the danger of starvation, but also allowed him to find a method—though extremely painful—to rapidly increase his profound strength. As the demon had expected, after the first and second successes, during the third energy impact's body rupture, Yun Che took only five and a half shichen to complete the absorption of dragon power and the repair of his body. Then he began to madly practice swords, meditate, practice swords, meditate... When hungry, he ate dragon meat; when thirsty, he drank dragon blood, repeating the cycle in an inconceivable manner.
Throughout this process, Yun Che's profound strength also increased rapidly at a speed that would invite heavenly punishment.
In terms of improving his strength alone, this place was an excellent location for Yun Che. Outside, it was impossible for him to achieve single-minded focus; there would always be various people and affairs entangling and disturbing him. But here, it was dim, quiet, and isolated from the world. No one would come to entangle or disturb him. The only person who shared this space with him was also bound in freedom. And all the people related to him in the outside world became the motivation for him to raise his strength as quickly as possible and then leave this place!
Thus, he spent all his time cultivating... frenziedly cultivating! Killing the demon in the shortest possible time and then leaving this place was his only goal for now. Apart from that, he suppressed all his worries and yearnings, thinking of nothing else.
————————————————
Cang Yun Continent, back mountain of Tai Su Sect.
The verdant bamboo grove, that small bamboo house they had built together—this was Su Linger's favorite place to come. Although Su Hengshan repeatedly reminded her never to come here alone, she always couldn't help sneaking over. Then she would sit in front of the small bamboo house for an entire afternoon... Just sitting there, bathed in the bamboo grove's breeze, thinking over and over about that night spent with him, she was filled with happiness.
That afternoon, as she had done many times before, she secretly ran over alone. Leaning by the bamboo house, her hands supporting her tender cheeks, her clear eyes watching the swaying green bamboo, she would occasionally giggle foolishly, lost in thought.
Time flowed slowly, gradually approaching dusk. It was time for her to leave. Su Linger stood up, looking down at herself... her small hands, small feet, delicate body, and her chest that had not yet begun to develop... She pouted her lips and said aggrievedly, "Wuu... when will I be able to grow up... I wish I could grow up by tomorrow, then Brother Yun Che would come and marry me."
Filled with a maiden's fantasies, Su Linger thought with both sorrow and happiness. At that moment, a harsh voice suddenly came:
"Oh? Isn't this my dear little sister? Why have you come here alone? Oh, I see. Could it be that you've come here again to miss that... Brother Yun Che of yours?" Su Haoran emerged from somewhere, walking unhurriedly to Su Linger, saying with a grin.
"Brother..." Su Linger had never been close to Su Haoran, and even felt somewhat averse to him, but she still called out politely, then obediently said, "Mm! I think about Brother Yun Che every day, waiting for him to come back soon."
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Looking at Su Linger's expression, Su Haoran laughed as if he had heard a hilarious joke. "Aiya, my silly little sister, seeing you like this really makes me unable to stop laughing... Ah, forget it. Although there are things everyone understands, no one is willing to tell you. But since I'm your brother after all, I should think for you. So, I'll be the bad guy... I advise you to give up these unnecessary fantasies. This 'Brother Yun Che' of yours will never come back for you. What he said to Father about marrying you was just a temporary excuse he made up to deal with your Second Uncle, Su Hengyue."
Su Linger suddenly looked up, a flush of anger spreading across her small face. "You're lying! Brother Yun Che told me that when I grew up, he would come and marry me... You're lying! You're lying!"
"Heh, only an ignorant little girl like you would believe such lies." Su Haoran curled his lip disdainfully. "That Yun Che's background is many times better than our Tai Su Sect's. And that wife of his... Hmph!" Su Haoran gritted his teeth in jealousy. "Not only does she look like a fairy, but her strength is even higher than our great-grandfather's! In what aspect can you compare with her? With such a perfect partner by his side, how could he fancy a ten-year-old little girl like you? Not to mention him, any other person wouldn't, after just one day, insist on marrying a ten-year-old girl. What he said was just a spur-of-the-moment act to help Father casually deal with Second Uncle's matter. Only you would believe it."
"As for the reason, it's probably that the beauty was injured and unconscious, and Father took them in to recover. Someone from such an exalted family naturally wouldn't want to owe a favor to a family they see as lowly. So he helped out with a small matter, which could be considered repaying the favor. Yet you actually fantasize that he genuinely will come back to marry you. I reckon he's forgotten even the three words 'Tai Su Sect' by now, let alone remember you."