I stared at the twenty-eight Qi Gathering Pills scattered across the floor, each one glowing with faint green energy. My heart raced with anticipation. These little miracles represented my fastest path to power—to being strong enough to protect Isabelle.
"Foundation Establishnt," I whispered, picking up the first pill between my fingers.
I settled into a cross-legged position in the center of the room, taking deep breaths to steady myself. Without hesitation, I placed the pill on my tongue and swallowed.
The effect was imdiate. Searing heat spread from my core to my extremities as the concentrated qi flooded my ridians. I clenched my jaw against the pain, forcing myself to regulate my breathing as the energy circulated through my body.
"Focus," I muttered, directing the flow with my mind.
The pill's power surged through , breaking through the bottleneck of the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining. I could feel my channels expanding, strengthening as I pushed into the Sixth Layer. The sensation was exhilarating—like being subrged in fire and erging stronger.
When the energy finally stabilized, I opened my eyes, a smile spreading across my face. "Sixth Layer," I confird, feeling the increased power humming beneath my skin.
Without hesitation, I reached for a second pill. Isabelle's words echoed in my mind: "You need to be stronger, Liam. For both of us."
I swallowed the second pill and braced myself for another breakthrough, but sothing felt different. The energy still flowed powerfully but seed to hit an invisible wall. After an hour of painful circulation, I realized the truth—the pill hadn't advanced further.
Frustration welled up inside . "Diminishing returns," I muttered, recalling ancient texts from my awakened knowledge. Each subsequent pill would have less effect unless I allowed my body ti to adjust—ti I didn't have.
I stared at the remaining twenty-six pills, a dangerous idea forming in my mind. The texts had ntioned "pill bombardnt"—a desperate technique where multiple pills were consud at once, forcing advancent at great risk to the cultivator.
"Many have died attempting such foolishness," I rembered reading. But desperate tis called for desperate asures.
I gathered the remaining pills into my palm, their combined glow illuminating my determined face. "For Isabelle," I whispered, and swallowed them all at once. Need character sheets and glossaries? Visit *.
For a brief mont, nothing happened. Then pain—unlike anything I'd ever experienced—erupted through every cell in my body. I fell backward, my back arching as I fought to contain the screams threatening to tear from my throat. My ridians felt like they were being ripped apart and reford, over and over.
"Too much," I gasped, realizing my mistake as the room spun around .
Green light began to emanate from my skin as the pills' energy fought to integrate into my system. My consciousness wavered, darkness creeping into the edges of my vision. If I passed out now, the uncontrolled energy would destroy from within.
With supre effort, I forced myself back into a ditation position, my entire body trembling. I had to redirect the energy, create new ridians to handle the overflow, or die trying.
Hours passed in agony as I fought for control. Sweat soaked through my clothes, and blood trickled from my nose and ears. The wooden floor beneath began to crack as excess energy leaked from my body.
"I will not die here," I growled through gritted teeth, thinking of Isabelle's face.
---
Outside the villa, Eamon Greene stood guard at the main gate, his broad shoulders tense with concern. For nearly twenty-four hours, he'd felt the surges of energy from within the compound, known that Liam was undergoing sothing dangerous.
A sleek black car pulled up to the gate, and Eamon imdiately straightened, his hand moving to the concealed blade at his side. Three n stepped out—one in expensive tailored clothes, the other two clearly bodyguards with martial training.
"This is the residence of Liam Knight?" the well-dressed man asked, his tone suggesting he was used to getting imdiate answers.
Eamon sized him up—young, probably in his mid-twenties, with sharp features and the unmistakable arrogance of old money. "Who's asking?"
"I am Asher Lane, Younger Lord of the Lane Family from South City." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "I've co to discuss business with Mr. Knight."
Eamon remained impassive. "Master Liam is unavailable at the mont. I suggest returning another day."
One of Asher's guards stepped forward. "Do you know who you're speaking to? Young Lord Lane doesn't 'return another day' for anyone."
"Nevertheless," Eamon replied evenly, "Master Liam cannot be disturbed."
Asher Lane's smile faded. "I've traveled quite far specifically to et with him. Perhaps you could inform him of my arrival?"
"I cannot," Eamon said firmly. "He is in deep cultivation and must not be interrupted."
"Cultivation?" Asher's eyebrows rose with interest. "How fascinating. All the more reason I should speak with him. I'm quite accomplished in the alchemical arts myself."
Eamon could feel the pressure of Asher's qi—the young master was at least at the Early Foundation Establishnt stage, far beyond his own capabilities. The two guards were no weaklings either. If they decided to force their way in, he couldn't stop them.
But he had sworn to protect Liam.
"Young Lord Lane," Eamon said respectfully but firmly, "interrupting a cultivator during a breakthrough attempt could cause qi deviation or worse. I cannot and will not disturb Master Liam, regardless of who requests it."
Asher's eyes narrowed. "You're quite loyal for a re guard. Tell , what exactly is Liam Knight cultivating that requires such intense seclusion?"
"That's not my place to say," Eamon replied.
The second guard stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Maybe we should help this stubborn dog understand his position."
Asher held up a hand, stopping his guard. "No need for that... yet." He studied Eamon with calculating eyes. "You realize, of course, that the Lane Family is one of the four great families of South City? Making an enemy of us would be... unwise."
Eamon didn't flinch. "My loyalty is to Master Liam."
"Interesting," Asher mused. He glanced past Eamon toward the villa, his eyes widening slightly as he noticed the faint green glow emanating from one of the windows. "Is that...?"
Eamon shifted his position to block Asher's view. "Young Lord Lane, I must ask you to co back another day."
Asher's expression darkened, all pretense of civility vanishing. "I don't think you understand the situation. I am not leaving without seeing Liam Knight and what he possesses. Step aside, or my n will move you."
---
Inside the villa, I gasped as consciousness fully returned. My entire body felt different—lighter yet more solid, as if my very bones had been remade. The green glow had finally faded, and the agonizing pain had subsided to a dull ache.
I flexed my fingers, marveling at the power now flowing smoothly through my ridians. "It worked," I whispered in disbelief.
With so effort, I stood up, my legs shaky but strong. I had pushed through multiple layers of Qi Refining in a single day, reaching the very threshold of Foundation Establishnt. One more step and I would break through to a realm few in Havenwood City had achieved.
A commotion outside caught my attention. I moved to the window, my movents already more fluid than before, and peered outside.
What I saw made my blood run cold. Eamon stood outnumbered at the gate, facing off against three n. Even from this distance, I could sense that one of them—the youngest, dressed in expensive clothes—possessed cultivation far beyond Eamon's.
And from the threatening stance of the visitors, it was clear Eamon was in danger.
My body was still recovering, my newly ford ridians fragile. Engaging in combat now could undo everything I'd achieved. But Eamon had stood guard faithfully while I underwent my transformation, protecting at my most vulnerable.
I couldn't leave him to face this threat alone.
With grim determination, I headed for the door, gathering my newfound power. Whoever these visitors were, they had chosen the wrong day to co looking for trouble.
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