Chapter 110: The Crimson Horizon
The Liu Clan training grounds stretched wide under a gray dawn,
the air crisp with the scent of dew-kissed grass and the faint hum of waking life,
the packed dirt worn smooth by years of effort,
the horizon a faint crimson line as the sun began to rise.
Lin Xuan stood at the center, his cultivation sealed,
his black-and-white eyes sharp with focus, the Celestial Unity Crest dormant but present,
his resolve hardened after the memories that had guided his decision.
After everything he'd remembered—Ren's words, the cube, the tower—
he knew one truth: he'd grown too comfortable, too reliant on his current strength.
He called Liu Yang, now at the 2nd Layer of Qi Transformation,
the boy approaching with the Blood Forged Glaive slung over his shoulder,
his young face curious as he tilted his head.
"Hit me," Lin Xuan said, his voice calm but firm.
Liu Yang blinked, lowering the glaive with a puzzled frown.
"What? Senior Brother, are you serious?
You've just sealed your cultivation—why would I hit you?"
Lin Xuan's gaze hardened, his tone unwavering.
"Hit me until I say stop. This is body endurance training—
I need to test my limits without qi. Trust me, Liu Yang, it's necessary."
Though hesitant, Liu Yang obeyed, raising a fist with a shaky breath,
his voice trembling as he struck.
"Okay… but if this hurts you too much, I'm stopping, alright?"
With every blow, Lin Xuan's body took the impact—
a soft thud as fists met flesh, bruises blooming across his chest, blood trickling from a split lip.
Strangely, his wounds began to heal—faster than they should,
the skin knitting with an eerie glow, a sign of his Profound Heavenly resilience.
Even as bones cracked and muscles tore, Lin Xuan whispered,
"Keep going—don't hold back."
Liu Yue, watching from the sidelines with her Severed Unity Pendant glowing,
stepped forward, her Frost Phoenix Cry mist swirling with concern.
"Senior Brother, this is crazy! You're breaking apart—
let me help, please!"
Lin Xuan shook his head, his breath ragged.
"No, Yue'er. This is my path—my body needs to adapt.
Liu Yang, harder—now!"
Liu Yang, tears welling in his eyes, complied,
his blows landing with more force, Lin Xuan's body swaying but refusing to fall,
the healing process accelerating with each hit, a testament to his inner strength.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lin Xuan's legs buckled,
he passed out with a heavy thud, blood pooling beneath him as Liu Yang dropped his fists in panic.
"Senior Brother! No, no, no—what have I done?" Liu Yang cried,
kneeling beside him, his hands shaking as he checked for a pulse.
Luo Shuang rushed over, her beauty marred by worry,
her voice sharp as she pushed through the grass.
"Xuan'er! Liu Yang, move—let me see him!"
She pressed a hand to his forehead, relief flooding her as she felt a faint beat.
"He's alive… but he needs rest. Yue'er, help me get him inside."
Liu Yue nodded, tears falling freely,
the two women lifting Lin Xuan carefully,
his unconscious form a stark contrast to his earlier resolve.
The horizon stretched into the afternoon,
the air growing heavy with the scent of grass and tension,
the senior brother's resolve a fragile test of his journey.
In the divine realm, a celestial pulse rippled,
a blazing figure pacing within a sealed domain, its voice a growl.
"He's there—prepare the hunt!"