The Abandoned Training Grounds loomed ahead, its trees twisted and black, their branches clawing at the sky. Spiritual energy hung thick in the air, almost tangible-so dense it made ordinary cultivators dizzy. But for Su Chen, it was nourishment. The Reverse God Meridian hummed with anticipation, craving the raw power that permeated the place.
He found a cave hidden behind a waterfall, its entrance obscured by mist. Inside, the walls glowed with faint blue light, emanating from veins of spiritual ore embedded in the rock. Su Chen sat cross-legged on the stone floor, closing his eyes. He focused on the Reverse God Meridian, willing it to absorb the surrounding energy.
It was like opening a floodgate. Spiritual energy surged into his body, faster and denser than ever before-so much so that a normal cultivator would have exploded from the strain. But the Reverse God Meridian handled it effortlessly, refining the raw energy into pure golden power, strengthening his meridians, expanding his capacity.
Hours passed, but Su Chen lost track of time. He was in a state of pure focus, his body and mind merging with the energy around him. He could feel the power of Liu Shan and Ma Long's meridians integrating fully, their skills becoming his own-Liu Shan's poison resistance, Ma Long's swordsmanship, their knowledge of clan combat techniques. But more than that, he could feel the Reverse God Meridian evolving.
It wasn't just devouring meridians now-it was adapting to them. His speed increased, his strength multiplied, his senses sharpened to a level that defied comprehension. He could hear the heartbeat of a rabbit a kilometer away, smell the fear of a monster hiding in the cave depths, even see the flow of spiritual energy in the air like rivers of light.
On the third night, he broke through.
Golden light exploded from his body, illuminating the entire cave. His spiritual energy surged, breaking through the bottleneck of Qi Condensation Realm, soaring straight to the Peak of Foundation Establishment- a breakthrough that would take ordinary cultivators years, achieved in three days. The Reverse God Meridian pulsed, its golden glow brighter than ever, and Su Chen felt something new: a connection to the jade pendant, deeper than before. It wasn't just a suppressor of poison-it was a key, a catalyst for the meridian's power.
A roar echoed from the cave depths, shaking the ground. Su Chen opened his eyes, his golden irises glowing. A Shadowclaw Bear-an eighth-rank monster, its fur as black as night, its claws sharp enough to tear through stone-had been drawn to the commotion. It lunged, its jaws gaping, but Su Chen moved faster than thought.
He dodged the attack, his fist slamming into the bear's chest. Golden energy exploded, shattering the monster's ribs. The bear roared in pain, but Su Chen didn't stop. He grabbed its paw, activating the devouring ability. The Shadowclaw Bear's meridians dissolved into streams of golden light, its power flooding Su Chen's body. He felt its brute strength, its resistance to physical damage, its primal rage-all of it becoming part of him.
When it ended, the bear collapsed, a lifeless heap. Su Chen stood, his body glowing faintly, his power now ten times stronger than when he'd entered the cave. He was no longer a Foundation Establishment cultivator-he was a force of nature, his non-human meridians carrying power that surpassed even Core Formation experts.
He left the cave at dawn, his steps light and silent. The Abandoned Training Grounds had served its purpose. Now, it was time to return to the Su Clan. Time to face Su Kun. Time to wake his father.
As he approached the clan gates, Su Chen's senses picked up the tension in the air. Su Kun's men were everywhere, their spiritual energy on high alert. But Su Chen didn't care. He was ready. The Reverse God Meridian hummed in his chest, the jade pendant warm against his skin.
Su Kun had thought he was hunting a broken heir. But he was wrong. He was hunting a monster-one that was about to tear down everything he'd built.