Slap!
Slap! Slap!
Ryan Ashworth's palm landed on Kelric Varkhan's swollen face again and again, each strike louder and sharper than the last. His palm burned, but his heart felt lighter with every hit.
Kelric's head drooped lower with each blow, blood dripping steadily from his cracked lips. His once-arrogant expression had long twisted into something pathetic, something broken.
The crowd watched in stunned silence.
But Ryan wasn't done humiliating him yet.
With a mocking smirk, he slowly removed his shoe.
Gasps swept through the courtyard.
"Shoes are still the best after all."
Bending down, Ryan removed a shoe from his foot, took it in his hand, and suddenly aimed it at Kelric's face.
"Is he… —going to use his shoe?!"
"Even in our family's history, no one's ever humiliated someone like this in front of the Patriarch…"
This scene caused the surrounding Varkhan Family disciples to shudder.
Just as he was about to swing the sole into Kelric's face—
Bastard, you're courting death!"
Drezan could no longer control himself as he caught sight of this scene, and his body flew out towards Ryan like a bullet.
Boom!
A violent surge of Origin Energy exploded through the courtyard like a hurricane. The ground cracked beneath its pressure, and debris scattered in every direction.
Drezan Varkhan.
Kelric's father, face twisted with fury, erupted forward like a berserk beast, his cultivation roaring to life. His fist burned with condensed Origin Energy as it flew straight for Ryan's head.
Ryan's pupils shrank in alarm. He had no time to dodge.
But he didn't need to.
"Ryan, watch out!"
Lyara Ashworth moved even faster. With a swirl of charcoal robes, her figure flashed like a specter, intercepting Drezan with a palm shimmering in golden light.
The suppression of Origin Energy weighed upon the hall like a mountain collapsing.
Bang!
Their palms collided in mid-air with a deafening roar. The invisible shockwave rippled across the entire Punishment Hall, and dust and sand exploded from the ground, forcing some of the weaker disciples to stumble backward with pale faces.
Those in the Body Tempering Realm immediately fell to their knees under the weight of the residual pressure.
Lyara took one light step backward, still as composed as ever.
Drezan's right arm shook violently, the skin torn at the edge of his palm. The force had traveled through his bones.
A hush fell over the courtyard.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Then came the murmurs.
"That's… the Sixth Realm of the True Essence Formation Realm! Elder Drezan's already broken past the fifth!" a family elder whispered, astonished.
One of the older elders frowned, his brow furrowed in concern. "How did he lose that exchange so easily…?"
Then, a calm yet authoritative voice broke through the tension. It was the First Elder, his presence commanding attention as he spoke.
"Patriarch… is she already beyond the Seventh Realm?" he questioned, disbelief lacing his tone.
The First Elder was known as the strongest after the Patriarch and had spent over a decade fighting to advance through the Seventh Realm of True Essence Formation. It was understood that crossing that threshold required extraordinary talent or exceptional resources.
Everyone knew that the step after the Seventh realm was a significant challenge in each realm, as many people stuck in the Seventh Realm were unable to break through into the Eighth Stage in every realm. Some cultivators could remain stuck for years, struggling against their limitations.
All eyes shifted toward the Patriarch, who observed the scene from his elevated position, silent and contemplative.
Finally, he broke his silence, his voice steady and unwavering. "Lyara is in the Eighth Level of the True Essence Formation Realm."
A stunned silence enveloped the courtyard.
It felt as if a mountain had crashed down, pressing down on everyone with its weight. Elders stiffened, swallowed hard, and even the usually composed inner disciples struggled to process the revelation.
The Eighth level of the True Essence Formation Realm.
A level of cultivation that scarcely anyone in the Varkhan Family—aside from the Patriarch—had ever attained.
Lyara, however, remained unfazed, her expression as calm as ever.
Drezan, still kneeling on the ground, spat blood and let out a strained growl as he fought to stand, clearly struggling to accept the staggering shift in power dynamics.
The disciples of the Varkhan family who were present gasped at the sudden display of power.
"Who would have imagined that the usually kind and gentle Second Elder possessed such strength? If Ryan hadn't been nearly killed by Kelric, we might have never had the opportunity to witness the Second Elder in action."
"I never imagined that Mom had such strength. She is at the Eighth Stage of True Essence Formation Realm."
Ryan let out a breath of relief as he listened to the words of the patriarch. Although his voice wasn't particularly loud, it resonated through the punishment hall, capturing the attention of everyone present. The atmosphere shifted as the realization of his mother's power sank in, bringing a mix of awe and respect from those around him. Ryan couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as he processed the weight of the revelation.
In this world, the first Realm to become a martial artist was known as the Body Tempering or Flesh Tempering Realm, which was further separated into nine levels or stages.
Cultivating to level nine of the Body Tempering Stage would allow the fleshly body to have a strength of a thousand pounds.
In the Dantian Formation Realm, a practitioner forms their dantian, usually located at the navel area. This dantian acts as the central point for a cultivator's energy, allowing them to harness and circulate their Origin Energy effectively. However, there's an often-overlooked aspect—each person may have a unique vulnerability within their body, a weak spot not even known to their close family.
This vulnerability can vary from person to person, and it can be a critical flaw. Any attack targeting this sensitive area can lead to severe consequences, potentially resulting in the complete collapse of the practitioner's body. The martial arts community understands the importance of protecting this hidden weakness, as it's crucial for survival and the mastery of their techniques. Those who have advanced in their cultivation must always remain vigilant, ensuring their weakened part of the body is guarded both physically and through powerful techniques to prevent exploitation by enemies.
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Author's Note: Hello everyone, I want to explain why I couldn't upload the new chapter. I was hospitalized with typhoid, but was discharged on Thursday. I won't make any promises about consistency, because it feels like every time I talk about it comes and fucks me up—just like what happened after I mentioned it last time. I'll simply do my best to keep the updates coming. Thank you all for your continued support!