Chapter 124: Racing Against Time, Finally Entering Bone Tempering!

Chapter 124: Racing Against Time, Finally Entering Bone Tempering!

A cold Steel Saber pressed tightly against Hong Risheng’s throat. At the slightest movement, it would slice through his neck without mercy.

The atmosphere froze instantly. The onlookers stood stunned by this sudden turn of events.

Hong Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly. His pupils reflected surprise and simmering anger, yet his expression remained composed.

Seizing the moment, Su Chen spoke up. His Steel Saber trembled menacingly as he fixed Hong Risheng with a sharp glare. “Don’t move.”

“You think this can threaten me?” Hong Qi’s gaze radiated danger as he said coldly, “Do you believe that before you strike, I won’t kill Cai Liuliu and the others?”

The threat hung heavy in the air.

Unfazed, Su Chen replied, “You can try.”

“You’re asking for death!” Hong Qi’s voice hardened, his composure cracking slightly as killing intent surged.

Su Chen scoffed. “One life for three.”

“Four lives!” Hong Qi corrected sharply, clearly unwilling to spare Su Chen.

Su Chen sneered. “True, I can’t match your strength. But if I run, you might not catch me. Once I escape, I’ll spread today’s news far and wide.”

Hong Qi’s eyes sharpened at this. He imagined the damage to his reputation if Su Chen’s words came true. While he cared little for public opinion, he couldn’t ignore the family’s perception. Hong Risheng, a core Hong Clan disciple and rare ally, was crucial to his ambitions. Abandoning him would alienate Hong Risheng’s faction and deter other potential supporters.

“What do you want?” Hong Qi finally asked, his laughter icy and filled with murderous intent.

He vowed to correct this mistake. If he’d known Su Chen’s strength earlier, he’d have dealt with him personally. Though conceding this round, he had no intention of letting Su Chen live.

“Let us leave, and I’ll release him,” Su Chen answered.

Cai Liuliu’s expression darkened. Releasing Hong Risheng was like letting a tiger return to the mountains. The Hong Clan’s power in Qinzhou was immense, and even if they escaped Big Feng City, they couldn’t outrun the entire region. He hesitated but chose silence, recognizing Su Chen’s determination.

“Fine.” After a pause, Hong Qi agreed. He gave Su Chen a frigid stare, treating him as a corpse already marked for death.

Ignoring this, Su Chen struck Hong Risheng unconscious, then ordered the others into the carriage. He carried the unconscious Hong Risheng behind them.

“You can run now, but can you run forever?” Hong Qi smirked, watching them depart. In his eyes, this was mere desperate flailing. Once Hong Risheng was safe, he’d hunt down Su Chen and Cai Liuliu without mercy.

As the carriage rolled forward at a leisurely pace, Hong Qi trailed them openly, his presence a silent message: You won’t escape.

“Ding, Hong Qi is following us,” Cai Liuliu noted, uneasy.

Su Chen, unsurprised by Hong Qi’s psychological tactics, swallowed a Vital Energy Pill. “Ignore him. Keep Hong Risheng unconscious.”

Cai Liuliu nodded, puzzled but impressed by Su Chen’s calm. Could he truly have a plan?

Su Chen’s mind, however, was deep in calculation. As Vital Energy Pills fueled his Progress Panel, Iron Shirt neared completion—only ten pills remained.

Bone Tempering has four stages. The first three are similar, but Perfect Bone Tempering requires Jade Bones—which amplify strength, speed, and perception. At my current level, I can handle Bone Tempering adepts, but a Perfect stage opponent like Hong Qi would destroy me unless I advance.

Normally, refining Iron Shirt fully would take three days. But time is my enemy. Hong Qi hesitates now, but once he acts, Hong Risheng won’t save us. I must seize control—accelerate my Vital Energy consumption now!

After five pills, Su Chen reached his limit. Two days were too long. He needed an urgent solution.

Thick Earth Manual! He recalled how absorbing Vital Force consumed Vital Energy—specifically, how it could assimilate other energies.

If one strand of Thick Earth Force consumes as much energy as half a day’s cultivation, amplifying it could speed this up. My body’s multiple Vital Forces provide the perfect environment for assimilation.

Excited, he tested the theory. His Thick Earth Force surged, devouring other energies and rapidly depleting his Vital Energy. Each cycle enhanced the Thick Earth Force further, creating a self-reinforcing loop.

An hour later, after another Vital Energy Pill, he redoubled his efforts. The Thick Earth Force doubled in strength without Easy Mode activation or manual cultivation—a testament to its efficiency.

This technique wasn’t just a fusion art; it purified Vital Force, assimilated it without side effects, and accelerated his growth.

Su Chen’s resolve hardened. Victory depended on outpacing destruction—one relentless cycle of cultivation at a time.

Of course, this was only true for him!

If this cultivation technique were used on anyone else, it would come with many restrictions. But for Su Chen himself, it was like giving wings to a tiger.

He could use the Thick Earth Manual to rapidly consume Vital Energy Pills, endlessly enhancing his Thick Earth Qi.

“Stop at the inn ahead. We’ll rest there overnight!”

The Golden Crow descended in the west, its fading glow spilling across the land, wrapping the sky in a golden veil of twilight.

“Alright!” Cai Liuliu and the others exchanged glances but did not refuse.

Su Chen’s calm demeanor had a calming effect on the group, easing their anxiety about Hong Qi’s presence.

Still, Cai Liuliu’s brow remained furrowed as he glanced at Hong Qi trailing not far behind.

He couldn’t shake his worry that Hong Qi might strike in secret.

Night fell swiftly.

The atmosphere turned tense once more.

Though Hong Qi didn’t attack Cai Liuliu’s group directly, he didn’t spare his own subordinates. Every time a follower tried to leave the inn, he would kill them outright, a silent warning that cut deeper than any threat.

The group’s hearts grew heavy, Hong Qi outside like a blade poised above them, ready to strike at any moment.

Yet, these tactics seemed to have no effect on Su Chen.

Cai Liuliu gazed at Su Chen sitting cross-legged, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

At this moment, only Su Chen remained composed.

“Benefactor, the water’s almost ready. Good thing there’s a well nearby, or we’d never find water in this wilderness!”

Su Chen nodded without changing expression, but excitement surged within him.

Almost there! Just three more Vital Energy Pills to go!

The night deepened, but no one dared to sleep.

They sat half-reclined, glancing repeatedly at Hong Qi by the door. At the slightest movement, they braced themselves.

This constant vigilance drove everyone to the edge.

Hong Qi, sensing their frayed nerves, would occasionally stir, prodding their nerves like a torturer.

The group was utterly tormented! Without Su Chen as their anchor, they would have collapsed long ago.

Crack! Hong Risheng was knocked unconscious again.

In this moment, the group almost envied Hong Risheng, free from their taut anxiety.

Still, they envied Su Chen most of all.

Even now, he had the leisure to take a bath!

An hour had nearly passed since Su Chen entered the bath. Impatience brewed among the group.

Too long! So long they almost thought Su Chen had fled.

Had Su Chen not warned them beforehand, they would have panicked.

Cai Liuliu and two others guarded Hong Risheng tightly, eyes flicking between him and Hong Qi at the door. Their weary faces betrayed exhaustion.

Compared to the group’s fear, the trio’s apprehension was sharper.

Since Su Chen entered the bath, Hong Qi at the door had grown restless.

His gaze felt like it pierced the darkness, targeting their innermost vulnerabilities. One glance brought a crushing, suffocating dread.

Cai Liuliu knew—Hong Qi was ready to strike.

At the slightest misstep, he would act.

Especially now, with Su Chen absent, none of the dozen or so could stop him.

“Watch out—Hong Qi’s coming this way!”

Zhu Yan suddenly cried out, the words jolting the group.

Cai Liuliu swiftly pressed his blade to Hong Risheng’s throat, his face taut with focus.

He shouted, “Stay back! Take another step and he dies!”

But Hong Qi acted as if he hadn’t heard, advancing slowly, each step echoing in their chests, suffocating.

Finally, he stood at the inn’s threshold.

A cold smile curled his lips as he surveyed the group, his gaze making their scalps tingle.

His eyes settled on Cai Liuliu, and seeing the man’s wary stance, he chuckled. “No need to be tense. I just wondered why you get to stay in the inn while I’m stuck in the wilderness.”

His words only heightened their suspicion, their wariness sharpening.

He edged closer, their unease growing, as if he might strike any second.

Cai Liuliu said nothing, rallying the group together, his blade steady.

Hong Qi, however, simply sat down nearby.

After his disruption, sleep was impossible. Cooped up together, they simmered in agony.

Cai Liuliu realized—this man wanted to torment them.

Time dripped by. The inn grew eerily silent, so quiet a pin drop would echo.

Suddenly—

Hong Qi’s eyes snapped open. “Hong Risheng! Wake up—attack now!”

“What?!”

The group recoiled in shock, their bodies trembling.

Cai Liuliu’s face paled as he turned to Hong Risheng, who lay motionless, eyes shut.

“No good!”

Cai Liuliu cried, his hand tightening on the blade—then a stone struck his arm.

Crack! Pain shot through him, and the Steel Saber slipped from his grasp.

Cai Liuliu’s face went white. He lunged for Hong Risheng, but Hong Qi was faster, snatching the unconscious man away.

In a flash, Hong Qi seized Hong Risheng’s shoulder and struck a palm blow, sending Cai Liuliu flying backward.

“Hah! Your time is up!”

After rescuing Hong Risheng, Hong Qi roared with laughter. After waiting all day, he could finally kill these insects and ease his irritation.

“Father!”

Cai Xiaoyue rushed to Cai Liuliu’s side, her face frantic.

“Run—get away!” Cai Liuliu spat blood, urging her.

“Run? Not without my say-so! None of you are leaving today!”

Hong Qi scoffed, amused. They’d wasted his time—now they’d pay.

Even carrying Hong Risheng, he retained ninety percent of his strength—more than enough to crush everyone present.

He struck with blinding speed, killing in mere breaths. Several followers fell lifeless.

“Zhu Yan, warn Benefactor to escape! I’ll get Father out!” Cai Xiaoyue shouted.

Zhu Yan hesitated, then nodded.

But as he turned, Hong Qi appeared ahead, smiling cruelly.

“No one’s going anywhere!”

Hong Qi grinned, twisting the neck of another victim before fixing Zhu Yan with a piercing glare.

“Benefactor, you’re done already?”

Zhu Yan blurted, hope flashing—then realized his mistake.

“Benefactor, run!”

Hong Qi thought him stalling—until he saw a figure in Zhu Yan’s eyes.

His gaze sharpened. He turned to see Su Chen at the staircase.

“At last! I thought you’d fled!” Hong Qi sneered.

Su Chen swept his gaze across the room, settling on Hong Qi. “Flee? How else would I kill you?”

“Hmph!” Hong Qi chuckled, staring at Su Chen like a fool.

Has he gone mad?

Kill him?

With Su Chen’s strength?

A joke!

His laughter faded as icy killing intent surged. Without a word, he attacked, unleashing a storm of ferocious strikes, aura crushing the air.

“Hmph!”

Hong Qi’s eyes narrowed at Su Chen’s stillness. He flicked a palm strike—the air exploded, pressure rolling like a tidal wave.

Boom!

But Su Chen didn’t move. At the last instant, he thrust his palm forward.

A hurricane erupted, sonic booms rippling outward. The pressure collapsed into nothingness.

“Your strength… How is this possible?!”

Hong Qi’s face froze, arrogance replaced by shock.

Su Chen—his cultivation had reached Bone Tempering!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end