"Anyway, there’s nothing to lose by giving it a try," Ethan muttered, settling his thoughts into calm resolve.
"If it isn’t a bone pattern, I’ll simply forget about it. If it is... then I’ll beco stronger."
He released a surge of his ntal power, directing it to caress the precious bones gently.
The mont his ntal energy touched the treasure, it felt like eting an iron door—impenetrable and cold.
He pressed, probed... only to be pushed back, denied entry.
"Um?" Ethan frowned, eyes narrowing. "Isn’t my ntal strength sufficient?"
"The only way... is through blood essence."
Ethan reached for the jade bottle containing his blood essence and poured a single drop onto the ancient bones.
The blood essence shimred with a thin, mysterious aura — the power of heavenly vein energy coursing faintly within it.
The drop seeped into the treasure bone’s surface... but nothing happened.
"Um?"
"What’s this? You swallowed a drop of my blood essence, and there was no reaction? What a rip-off!" Ethan muttered, a touch of frustration cross his features.
Opening the jade bottle again, he poured two more drops.
Still no movent.
"Screw it, if you don’t respond to this last drop, I’ll roast you with spiritual fire!" Ethan warned, pouring the final drop.
This ti, the treasure bone shuddered.
It rose slowly from the table, trembling like a frightened beast.
Golden light erupted, surrounding it like a radiant crown.
A torrent of golden words spilled forth, cascading toward Ethan’s vision.
"Innate treasure technique, the treasure of heaven and earth!"
Ethan’s face lit up with a triumphant smile.
"A treasure, after all!"
Legends spoke of two types of treasures.
Innate treasure techniques were born at the dawn of the cosmos, conceived by life itself before the world fully opened.
Acquired treasure techniques were gained by enlightened souls who grasped the laws of heaven and earth—their power no less mighty but distinct.
Which was stronger?
Innate magic held advantages, yet acquired magic boasted mysterious capabilities and versatility.
Ultimately, mastery depended on the user’s capability to wield it, to bend fate and power alike to their will.
Ethan steadied his breath and stretched out his palm, inviting the golden words to settle there.
The radiant script entwined like wild vines, slithering up his arms, and finally sank deep into his brows.
In that instant, torrents of knowledge flooded his mind—all the laws of heaven and earth erged like living glyphs.
The law of heaven and earth was a subli energy, an imitation of the cosmos itself: boundless and infinite.
This treasure technique allowed its bearer to transform their body in scale, mimicking the vastness above and the firmness beneath—becoming as lofty as the sky, as dense as the earth beneath their feet.
Master this to perfection, and one could beco a living colossus, strength amplified while speed remained unhindered.
Under matching strength and speed, a larger body naturally commands superior advantage.
"It can grow larger or shrink smaller at will, expanding, contracting, transforming the world around it—a wonderful auxiliary thod," Ethan whispered with awe.
In this realm, without the blessings of spiritual techniques, no human cultivator could control their body size freely.
Though not a direct killing technique, mastery of this innate treasure technique could change the tide of countless battles with its unprecedented flexibility.
After absorbing the profound knowledge, Ethan closed his eyes and began deep contemplation.
Above, a clear night sky shimred with brilliant stars.
The Azure Origin Dao Sect settled amidst lofty southern mountains of Skyreach Territory.
Nearly a thousand miles south lay the vast Vernal Dawn Dynasty.
Between them were dozen scattered towns—Redhill City amongst them, nestled beneath green mountains south of the Dao Sect.
In the city’s Woodland Inn, Bram sat cross-legged, golden dragon aura flickering sluggishly about him.
His pale face was slick with sweat, breath ragged, and blood dripped slowly from cracked lips.
"Ethan!" he growled, voice tight with burning fury. "I must kill you!"
Bram’s injuries ran deep, tearing apart internal organs and muscles—an agonizing barrier to training.
No number of pills could quicken such suffering.
He needed to face months, possibly half a year, of forced healing.
A genius of his caliber, forced away from practice, would fall behind peers at an alarming rate.
Suddenly, he slamd the wooden bed table so hard it splintered into dust.
Blood poured from his lips again as rage twisted his face.
"Your Highness, calm yourself," Mr. Willow urged cautiously, eyes narrowed.
"You cannot risk worsening your injuries. Healing must be your priority."
Huffing sharply for breath, Bram fought to steady his fury.
"In one month’s ti, I will recover sixty percent of my strength. Then... then I will think of how to kill Ethan!"
He snarled through clenched teeth, determination a fire despite his broken body.
"That Ethan is a monster. We cannot let him grow unchecked. But if he hides within Azure Origin Dao Sect, there is little we can do now," Mr. Willow analyzed with cautious realism.
"Let him hide all he wishes," Bram spat fiercely, "I’ll return to the imperial capital, gather the forces of the dynasty, and raze the Azure Origin Dao Sect!"
"Your Highness, you cannot!" Mr. Willow warned urgently.
"The power dynamics in the capital have shifted wildly. If you speak of this incident now, you risk punishnt rather than support."
"Moreover, the major Phoenix Festival is approaching—a ti when your reputation will rise."
"Attend the festival, gain favor, then the clan will look upon you with respect and supply your needs."
"Then, will eliminating Ethan be far behind?" Mr. Willow concluded.
Bram was silent.
The truth struck harshly.
He did not want to return degraded to the capital.
"Your Highness, please allow to see you." Mr. Willow’s face grew serious.
A hand upon Bram’s shoulders, his mind stirred—then a ntal imprint appeared at Bram’s feet.
"What is this?" Bram asked, alarm flashing as he recognized the mark.
"It’s Ethan," Mr. Willow said grimly.
"He secretly planted a ntal imprint during your fight. Our movents are controlled—it’s a trap."
Bram’s hand crushed the ntal imprint fiercely, desperation clouding his eyes.
A/N:
Extra Chapters
100 power stones - 1 Extra Chapters
200 power stones - 2 Extra Chapters
Capsule - 1 Extra Chapters
Massage Chair - 3 Extra Chapters
Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters
Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters
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