Chapter 79: Chapter 79
The Scythe intent of Ethan’s Moonflood Scythe met the iron chain with a ringing, crystalline sound that cut through the night air.
For a brief instant, it seemed as if heaven and earth itself trembled under the blow. But when the echoes faded, the chain remained—motionless, untouched.
Not even the faintest scratch marred its ancient surface.
The power contained in the scythe intent splintered, scattering like shards of moonlight. Pieces of its energy hammered downward, slicing through bluestone on the shore and sending shattered fragments and white foam spraying into the lake.
The water erupted in waves, and the aftershock reverberated across Echo Lake’s surface, breaking the long silence of the night.
He steadied himself, breathing hard, and returned to the bluestone, the scythe retracting into his storage ring with a sigh of regret.
For a moment, Ethan simply stood in the quiet, measuring his own insignificance against the immensity of the barrier.
"This iron chain... it’s too strong. I, a mere cultivator, am like a sapling trembling before a thousand-year-old tree. Even a Mahayana Realm expert—even the Supreme Ones—might struggle to leave so much as a scratch."
He exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts.
"But at least, thanks to the Heaven and Earth Creation Pill, I managed to briefly open a sliver in that iron web. A trickle of heavenly vein energy still seeps through, though the flow is less than a hundredth of what it ought to be."
He understood now that this strange opportunity was fleeting. Time pressed urgently; he had to complete the condensation of his blood pill before the gap closed entirely.
As he focused, wisps of gray mist began to seep from the ground—the dense and patient energy of earth veins. Simultaneously, the pale yellow Mortal energy thickened all around, swirling more visibly than ever before.
"Three energies—the heavenly vein, the earth vein, and the mortal vein—converging at once, yet the heavenly vein is the most restricted. The chain stifles the earth and mortal energies less, so I must supplement with them to forge the blood pill."
Without hesitation, Ethan summoned all his essence and blood, channeling it toward his Dantian.
The Heavenly Vein energy formed the foundation, stabilizing the shaky core of his blood pill and forging the initial structure.
He poured in his accumulated treasures, the deep red and blue light of their power merging and intensifying. Gradually, a blood pill took shape—a glowing, thumb-sized sphere balanced between collapse and creation.
He worked for hours, eyes flickering between the sky and the ground, drawing every last strand of heavenly and earth energies.
As the night deepened, the trickle of heavenly vein energy thinned even further, dissolving into near invisibility. Ethan gazed upwards: the black iron chains had finally retreated, the sky normal and gentle once more, though only a few shadows of heavenly vein remained.
He didn’t hesitate—sweeping in the last pockets of heavenly qi, merging them into the trembling blood pill.
But it was not enough; the pill had to be completed. He turned his intent to the earth vein energy, drawing its persistent strength into the pill. Like water poured over a seed, the earth vein energy made the pill whole, smooth, and settled.
With a final push, an intense burst of blood-colored light flashed in Ethan’s eyes.
His aura throbbed and surged—the transformative sea of blood within his dantian raged. Above it floated the blood pill, shining, flashing black and white like the balance of night and dawn.
"It’s done," Ethan whispered, awe in his voice.
He extended a hand toward the lake, closing his fist.
Instantly, a pillar of water exploded upwards, shockwaves vibrating through Echo Lake. The power in his body felt multiplied, his muscles and spirit lighter and freer than before. Refining the Heart of Seawood gave him mastery over water energy—a swirling orb appeared in his palm, light and crystalline.
"The energy of heaven and earth is truly extraordinary. My essence and blood now hold the mysteries of heavenly veins, and the endurance of earth veins."
He flexed his palm, immortal water energy coiling within, confidence surging.
"With my current strength, I am confident that I can contend with strong Body Integration Realm cultivators. When I break through to Soul Refining Realm, unless outnumbered or set upon by those of the peak Tribulation Transcendence Realm, I doubt I could be seriously hurt by anyone."
Ethan looked skyward, hands clasped behind his back, thoughtful. He finally understood why Nirvana and Mahayana realm were legendary trials—heaven and earth’s energy was locked away, sealed by unknown forces.
Without extraordinary treasures or divine pills—without a Heaven and Earth Creation Pill or Mahayana Pill—few could ever hope to gather enough heavenly vein to challenge the tribulation.
"Have my master and Mr. Stone ever seen these iron chains in the sky?" Ethan wondered silently. Only the Heaven and Earth Creation Pill and his Heaven-piercing Eye let him glimpse this secret.
Strong Mahayana cultivators must at least sense a hint of this hidden force, but how many truly understand it?
"In front of the black chain, I am not even an ant. But I still have many years left; someday I will uncover its origin!" The resolve etched itself deep in Ethan’s soul.
Even as he made this silent vow, a powerful aura approached—a ripple in the calm of night.
A few minutes before, in the towering Empress Palace.
Lyralei opened her deep star-bright eyes, her expression sharp and solemn. With a thought, she flickered out of her chambers, appearing atop the palace roof in a flow of moonlight.
Her gaze traced toward Celestial Lotus Peak.
"Who is there? I sense the Energy of Heaven and Earth!"
Confused and wary, Lyralei soared into the night, descending gently to the surface of Echo Lake.
At her arrival, she surveyed the scene: broken trees and debris pointed to powerful conflict.
She knelt, palm skimming the rippling lake, focusing as cultivator intent.
"Water... scythe intent? Energy of earth veins and mortal veins?" The Empress’s eyes grew wide with wonder. She realized that the rare energies had arisen all at once, saturating Echo Lake.
"The energy of heaven and earth is never so dense—why did so much earth vein and mortal vein manifest here tonight?"
A question, heavy and echoing, lingered in the moonlight.
A/N:
Extra Chapters
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200 power stones - 2 Extra Chapters
Capsule - 1 Extra Chapters
Massage Chair - 3 Extra Chapters
Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters
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