Chapter 3 The Elixir Sanctuary

Words : 0 Updated : Jul 18th, 2024

Hayes and the two burly men spat at Ryan. The mistreatment and humiliation were a menace he had to endure. He was no longer their respected genius young master. Now, he was nothing more than a frail boy at their mercy, one who had lost even his cultivation base. In their spiteful gaze, Ryan was an insignificant pest, something not even worth beating. They harbored the arrogant thought that killing him would only dirty their hands. "Oh! Right, I almost forgot," Hayes exclaimed cheerfully. The two men with him looked down on Ryan, exchanging knowing glances and smirking. "There's an order from the Chair of The Elders," Hayes continued, smiling jeeringly. "All disciples in the Noel Clan who fail to reach the third grade of Dermal Fortification in the next three days shall work as miners in the clan's mine." He paused, gauging Ryan's expression, but the boy remained unnervingly silent. Hayes scoffed before he and his men chuckled scornfully. As they prepared to leave, Hayes delivered an ominous threat. "So, loser Ryan, don't be late to the mine. If you're not there on time, we'll send you there in person!" "Ahh!" A scream full of hate and loathing shook the old, thin walls of the shabby hut Ryan was living in. He refused to accept this miserable fate; he wanted to deny his lack of power before the people who abused him. He cursed as he sat with his legs crossed on top of his creaking wooden bed and glared at the half-cooked head of the Bloodsnout Pig placed in front of him. It was sent to him by his enemy, Nicholas, as a satirical move meant to tease and mock his current circumstances. Ryan felt ashamed, itching with the desire to burn the abominable thing into ashes. However, he knew that his pride came second to his need for the pig's blood vitality. He had to absorb it with the function of the renewed spiritual meridian in his body so that he might soon reach the third grade of Dermal Fortification. Otherwise, he would be taken to the mine to do hard labor and meet a dead end. Gritting his teeth, Ryan swallowed his indignity and tore the pig's head into pieces, devouring it. During the night, he poured his all into refining his body and flesh. The joy of regaining his spiritual meridian helped him stay focused during his rigorous training. He didn't stop until the first signs of dawn broke through the early morning sky. Yet, Ryan remained unbothered as he continued to persevere. He heard the satisfying crisp clicks sounding all over his body. It was, without a doubt, an indication that Ryan had made a breakthrough in his cultivation base. In one night, he managed to jump from the second to the third grade of Dermal Fortification. "This... this was way beyond what I expected!" He regarded his newfound strength in astonishment. "What grade is this new spiritual meridian? Its speed of absorbing the spiritual energy of earth and heaven is ten times more than my previous one." He realized that his breakthrough was due to regaining the spiritual meridian in his soul consciousness. "Could it be a five-star spiritual meridian?" Ryan murmured to himself, excited. In all of Stonebridge City's history, a five-star spiritual meridian hadn't appeared. This granted him a chance to sit at the top of the hierarchy. Those with high power were regarded as geniuses among the region's ruling force, the Soshill Sect. "Dad, please wait for me. I will come to save you soon!" Ryan exclaimed, his fists clenched with unwavering determination. The thought of wielding this ability with great prowess made him feel more thrilled and encouraged than ever. "The Elixir Sanctuary of the Noel Clan is accessible to any disciple who reaches the third grade of Dermal Fortification. From there, they may also receive three Body Refining Pills," Ryan mumbled. After spending half the day reinforcing his current level, he lost himself in thought. The three Body Refining Pills were valuable cultivation resources. Given his unfavorable situation, he needed them to survive. "They probably won't give me the Body Refining Pills that easily. I'll have to fight them," he deduced, frowning. "No, even if I win, there's no guarantee I'll get the pills. After the fight, I have to escape from this clan. Otherwise, Gabriel and Nicholas will ruin my cultivation base again to make me work at the mine." "I'll have to escape," he whispered to himself. Despite his musings, his feet carried him toward the Elixir Sanctuary. It was a quick journey, taking less than fifteen minutes. The site was on the west side of the Noel Clan's courtyard, a short distance from Ryan's run-down hut. His arrival drew everyone's attention. After all, he was infamous within the Noel Clan. Nicknames like "Loser Ryan" and "Traitor" spilled from gossiping mouths every time someone saw him. Sneers and words of ridicule flitted through the tense atmosphere, all aimed at his unwelcome presence. "What the hell is he thinking? Is the loser here to get the Body Refining Pills?" "You're talking nonsense! Loser Ryan came here to smell the fragrance of the pills!" Guffaws and endless mockery from the Noel Clan disciples felt like shrieking hyenas in his ears. Still, he pretended to be oblivious and went straight inside the Elixir Sanctuary. "Look, the former genius is really going inside!" "Let's bet on how the Traitor will get kicked out!" "I'm telling you, he'll be beaten and thrown away like a pig's head! Haven't you heard that our current young master, Nicholas, sent him a big pig's head last night, considering their former brotherhood? Isn't it hilarious?" A shadow fell over Ryan's face as he continued on his path. For now, he was powerless against their sarcasm and judgments. But he believed he would one day avenge himself. "I am here to get the Body Refining Pills!" Ryan said to the two guards responsible for distributing the pills. Ryan estimated their spiritual meridian grade and assumed they both possessed a one-star. A low grade, which explained why they were stuck distributing pills despite being over thirty years old. "You're just a piece of garbage without a spiritual meridian! Don't come here to mess around, or I won't mind teaching you a good lesson according to the rules of Noel Clan," the guard closest to Ryan snarled threateningly. Without warning, Ryan raised his hands and choked the man tightly, like a ferocious tiger's claws enclosing its prey's neck. With a loud thud, he dropped him to the ground. Ryan stepped hard on his ugly, fat face without hesitation and retorted menacingly, "If I'm a loser, what are you?" The pressure of his foot increased, and the man screamed in pain. "You've practiced for more than thirty years, yet you're here being trampled underfoot by a youth like me." The burly man couldn't utter a word, his eyes betraying his fear. How could he have thought the renowned loser had the power to defeat him? He didn't even have the strength to fight back. "Give me the Body Refining Pills, or I'll kill him now!" Ryan demanded, glaring coldly at the other guard. "Alright! I'll get the pills immediately!" The guard hurried to find the bottle, shivering under Ryan's steely gaze. He handed Ryan a bottle containing ten Body Refining Pills. According to the Noel Clan's rules, Ryan could only take three, but the man lost the nerve to speak up. After Ryan grabbed the bottle, he kicked the man at his feet aside and walked out of the Elixir Sanctuary. His main priority now was to leave the Noel Clan as soon as possible. The disciples around him were completely dumbfounded. Ryan's brief display of power was one that only someone who had reached the third grade of Dermal Fortification could attain. They wondered how a loser without a spiritual meridian could have achieved such a feat. Their disbelief was meaningless. They lacked the courage to confront Ryan, who walked away with newfound power. In the distance, a good-looking couple walked hand-in-hand, slowly approaching the Elixir Sanctuary.

Chapter 3 The Elixir Sanctuary

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