Terrible
109 Chapter 109 – Liam’s Risky Power–Up and an Unwanted Showdown
109 Chapter 109 Liam’s Risky Power–Up and an Unwanted Showdown
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. O
“Foundation Establishment,” 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 immediate. Searing heat spread from my core to my extremities as the concentrated qi flooded my meridians. 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 me, 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 submerged in fire and emerging stronger.
When the energy finally stabilized, I opened my eyes, a smile spreading across my face. “Sixth Layer,” I confirmed, 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 something felt different. The energy still flowed powerfully but seemed to hit an invisible wall. After an hour of painful circulation, I realized the truth–the pill hadn’t advanced me further.
Frustration welled up inside me. “Diminishing returns,” I muttered, recalling ancient texts from my awakened knowledge. Each subsequent pill would have less effect unless I allowed my body time to adjust–time I didn’t have.
I stared at the remaining twenty–six pills, a dangerous idea forming in my mind. The
109 Chapter 109–Liam’s Risky Power–Up and an Unwanted Showdown
texts had mentioned “pill bombardment“-a desperate technique where multiple pills were consumed at once, forcing advancement at great risk to the cultivator.
“Many have died attempting such foolishness,” I remembered reading. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
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.
For a brief moment, 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 meridians felt like they were being ripped apart and reformed, over and over.
“Too much,” I gasped, realizing my mistake as the room spun around me.
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 me from within.
With supreme effort, I forced myself back into a meditation position, my entire body trembling. I had to redirect the energy, create new meridians 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 me 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 something dangerous.
A sleek black car pulled up to the gate, and Eamon immediately straightened, his hand moving to the concealed blade at his side. Three men 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 immediate answers.
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109 Chapter 109–Liam’s Risky Power–Up and an Unwanted Showdown
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 come to discuss business with Mr. Knight.”
Eamon remained impassive. “Master Liam is unavailable at the moment. 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 meet 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 Establishment 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 mere guard. Tell me, Liam Knight cultivating that requires such intense seclusion?”
“That’s not my place to say,” Eamon replied.
what exactly is
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.”
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109 Chapter 109–Liam’s Risky Power–Up and an Unwanted Showdown
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 come 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 men 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 meridians. “It worked,” I whispered in disbelief.
With some 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
Establishment. 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 movements 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 men. 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 formed meridians fragile. Engaging in combat now could undo everything I’d achieved. But Eamon had stood guard faithfully while I underwent my transformation, protecting me 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.
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W5
109 Chapter 109- Liam’s Risky Power–Up and an Unwanted Showdown
Whoever these visitors were, they had chosen the wrong day to come looking for
trouble.
