Chapter 47: The Limit of Life and Death

Yun Che sat down in place, closed his eyes, and after a few breaths, his expression had completely calmed. His mind was serene and empty, the hunger, the joy, and the restlessness from the newly awakened mystical meridians had all vanished. Every ounce of his spirit, every fragment of his consciousness, was now focused solely on the nascent meridians coursing through his body.

From zero to the first stage of mystical cultivation, he no longer needed guidance from others. The first wave of mystical force within his meridians was drawn from his own vital energy, slowly seeping into the channels. When this thin mystical qi fully filled the meridians, he would officially step into the initial stage of mystical power.

For ordinary cultivators, this process would take about six months. For those with exceptional talent, perhaps three or four months. Once this foundational stage was complete, cultivation could proceed by absorbing the world’s vital energy. This process was irreversible, for only after formally entering the initial stage could one develop the ability to draw in the world’s qi through their meridians.

In the stillness, fine threads of initial mystical qi began to coalesce within Yun Che’s meridians… All fifty-four meridian points opened wide, his body’s vital energy surging in from all directions simultaneously, its speed unimaginable…

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Before entering the Heavenly Poison Jewel, Jade had told Yun Che not to disturb her for three days. But neither of them anticipated that when she awoke from her slumber, seven days had already passed.

The seven days of sleep within the Heavenly Poison Jewel finally eradicated the negative effects from her previous reckless manipulation of mystical force. As she looked toward Yun Che from within the jewel, a soft “Huh?” escaped her pink lips.

Red Dragon Mountain, a waterfall among the peaks.

A massive waterfall, hundreds of meters high, cascaded down the sheer cliff face, its impact sending mist and spray into the air. The thunderous roar echoed like thunder, deafening, carrying far and wide.

At the waterfall’s edge, a boy, bare-chested and barefoot, walked step by step toward the curtain of water falling like a sky-born veil. He released all his mystical force without reservation, shielding his head and back.

His figure beneath the torrent appeared diminutive. The height of this waterfall wasn’t extraordinary, but the sheer force of the water could easily crush a person’s body…

Yet the boy pressed onward, undaunted, toward the massive stone battered by the falls for countless years.

When Jade left the Heavenly Poison Jewel, she saw this scene. She glanced at the waterfall’s height, her eyebrows slightly arched.

“Boom!”

The massive water force struck Yun Che’s body, instantly breaking through his fragile mystical defense, slamming him into the raging waters below.

A searing, excruciating pain spread across Yun Che’s entire body, his upper half turning crimson. His lips bloomed with a shocking line of blood. Yet in his eyes, no trace of retreat or fear flickered. He gasped, rising from the churning water, fighting with all his might against the torrent, clawing his way to the shore.

The waterfall’s impact inflicted a severe wound, and resisting the rushing water drained him almost completely. Yet on the shore, he did not collapse or gasp for breath. Instead, he swayed, his body regaining its footing, walking back toward the stone beneath the falls. Every last thread of mystical force, his final reserves, were concentrated above to protect his head.

“Already at the initial stage? And so quickly!” Jade marveled at the minuscule mystical force he’d released. In just seven days, he’d officially entered the first level of the initial stage! Even by her understanding, this pace was enough to astonish.

Though his body was mortal, his newly awakened meridians before the Heavenly Poison Jewel were no different from a normal person’s… What method had he used to step into the initial stage in just seven days? With a human body, even with all fifty-four meridian points open, it should take at least a month under normal circumstances!

But daring to challenge such a waterfall at this mere initial stage—this was nothing but a death wish!

And worse, after being gravely wounded, his mystical force nearly dissolved, he pressed onward with barely any rest.

Jade quickly approached, letting out a sharp cry, “Do you want to die?!”

Yun Che heard her voice, his steps halting—but only for an instant—before continuing toward the waterfall’s base.

“Boom!!”

His final mystical force was undoubtedly scattered in an instant. Dozens of thin bloodstreaks erupted across his back as his vision darkened, a spray of blood bursting from his mouth, before he was slammed back into the churning waters.

“Foolish and reckless!” Jade frowned, her form flickering, rushing toward where Yun Che had been swept away, ready to haul him back to shore. Soon, his figure surfaced on the water’s surface. As she neared, ready to reach out and pull him up, she heard a hoarse, weak, yet unyielding voice: “Don’t… help… me…”

Yun Che surfaced, his face pale as paper, his back streaked with shocking bloodstains. He blinked slowly, his gaze hazy yet piercingly clear.

He hadn’t fainted… Jade withdrew her hand, her heart aghast. That was impossible! With his condition, after such a blow, any normal person would have collapsed.

Looking at his present state, Jade suddenly realized—perhaps he was forcing himself not to pass out through sheer willpower.

“You haven’t fainted yet—impressive. Are you certain you can make it back to shore?” Jade hovered above him, as he wished, not reaching out. Her words had barely left her lips when she suddenly recalled something, her face flushing crimson, her body jerking back as if struck by fear, retreating rapidly, her small hands pressing against her skirt.

But Yun Che’s attention clearly wasn’t on her. Normally, he might resist such a torrent, but now, the raging waters were a terrifying nightmare to him. He squeezed his nearly exhausted meridians, lifting his nearly numb arms, fighting against the crushing force of the water, inching toward the shore…

In just a few breaths, his muscles convulsed in spasms… This was his body’s last desperate reflex when strength was gone. In this state, his arms were practically crippled, unable to lift. His back wounds split wider, blood gushing like a river… This sight made Jade’s heart quake, her hands unconsciously releasing the skirt they’d been clutching…

Yet Yun Che’s arms began to rise, scrape, his body inching closer to the shore. How could his body, having reached its limit, be utterly drained, his spirit already scattered, find strength? Perhaps the force driving him now wasn’t strength at all, but willpower… An overwhelming force of will!

Under Jade’s stunned gaze, Yun Che dragged himself back onto the shore. In that moment, Jade’s heart trembled as if she’d witnessed a world-shaking battle. She thought he’d collapse and faint this time, but instead, she saw him staggering back to his feet.

He could still stand!

The recovering Yun Che walked slowly toward Jade, each step causing violent tremors, as if he might fall at any moment. After trudging for dozens of steps, he finally stopped. That’s where Jade noticed, a small pool of water. It looked human-dug, barely a meter long, filled with… black liquid!

Yun Che stepped into the black pool, sat down laboriously, his body sinking into the liquid except for his head. He closed his eyes, finally succumbing to unconsciousness.

Jade plummeted from above, her eyes filled with complex emotions as she gazed at the unconscious Yun Che.

This pool was clearly dug by Yun Che himself, its surroundings strewn with countless items. Most were medicinal herbs, over twenty varieties. The largest pile consisted of black, dry branches and leaves, their scent matching the pool’s aura.

Jade plucked one at random, brought it to her nose, and inhaled sharply, her face changing color: “Demon Crab Claw!”

He’d bathed in this stuff!!!

He’d somehow forced himself into the initial stage in just seven days… or perhaps not even seven days!

Jade watched Yun Che’s face in silence… The youthfulness on his face proved he was only sixteen. How could someone so young achieve such a feat? Had he truly… endured hell?

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Two hours later, Yun Che awoke, opening his eyes to see Jade hovering beside him, her face flushed with embarrassment. As his eyes opened, she reflexively pressed her hand to her skirt.

“You’ve been like this for these few days?” Jade asked.

“Something like that,” Yun Che sat up, his body still weak, his back wounds mostly healed. The pool contained not only Demon Crab Claw, but also the best restorative elixir he could brew from the herbs he’d gathered.

“Don’t you fear dying suddenly?” Jade’s expression turned cold.

“I won’t let myself die. Not ever!” Yun Che smiled lightly, his voice confident and resolute.

Jade scoffed. “You’re too full of yourself. Do you think there’s only water in that pool? If a rock were to strike you, your body would split in two. I want to know—why are you so desperate?”

“Because I need sufficient strength,” Yun Che said, leaning back in the pool, his voice slow and deliberate. “If I have enough power, my master won’t be killed, and my family won’t be bullied. Before, my meridians were crippled, unworthy of seeking strength. Now, the heavens… Oh, no, Jade gave me a new meridians. I have no reason to slack off… And you! My little Jade master, you’ve set me the goal of reaching a realm the Cao Feng Empire has never achieved in thirty years. For you, isn’t it worth fighting desperately?”