Chapter 16: Going Too Far

Qin Liang bit his fingertip, letting a drop of blood fall into the small porcelain bottle, allowing it to fully merge with the vital essence of the Azure Wolf. When a faint blood glow appeared within the bottle, he proceeded to smear the essence onto his body.

His chest, arms, legs, and feet were all coated with a layer of the vital essence. As Qin Liang circulated his secret cultivation method, the essence spread visibly across his skin, enveloping him entirely.

He appeared as if draped in a sheer crimson veil, shrouded in an aura of blood energy.

Soon, the “veil” began seeping into his pores, becoming invisible beneath the surface.

Qin Liang felt his skin burning fiercely, as if subjected to scorching flames. The pain was agonizing, causing him to grit his teeth, but his strong willpower allowed him to endure silently without a cry.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the intense heat gradually subsided, and Qin Liang exhaled deeply with relief.

“It worked!” A pleased expression crossed his face.

Outwardly, no difference could be seen from before, yet once he activated the secret technique, his strength would rise to a higher level in a short time—an undeniable trump card in battle.

Just then, the rich aroma of meat wafted from the pot, stirring Qin Liang’s appetite. He hurriedly added some seasonings and stirred.

After a moment, the flames diminished, and he began to feast heartily.

He sliced a piece with his dagger and savored it. The meat was tender and melted on his tongue. As the spiritual essence within the beast’s flesh entered his body, it felt as if his soul were dissolving in exquisite delight—an indescribable flavor.

This was the most delicious meal Qin Liang had ever tasted, and it would remain unforgettable.

Moreover, he made a new discovery.

After cultivating the Berserker Beast Body, his physical form had strengthened somewhat, allowing him to absorb more spiritual essence. Even after eating half a portion of Azure Wolf meat, he did not feel full; his stomach seemed like a bottomless pit.

At the same time, his cultivation advanced slightly, a double blessing.

Finishing the Azure Wolf meat, Qin Liang ladled a bowl of wolf meat soup and reclined in his chair, savoring the warmth as the essence surged to his crown.

“Truly delicious!”

Gazing at the night sky, Qin Liang smiled with gratitude. “I wonder who was so generous. No need to say thanks for such a great favor.”

He had already pushed the earlier dangers from his mind, believing the Azure Wolf’s arrival was meant to aid him.

If Wang Jingrou knew this, she would probably be fuming.

After drinking the wolf meat soup, Qin Liang fell into a deep sleep in his chair, lulled by the gentle breeze—utterly content.

…

By morning, most of the wolf meat in Qin Liang’s stomach had been digested, enough to prepare four spirit refinements.

“First, I’ll head to the Refinement Workshop!”

Before going to Rainbow Mist Mountain, he needed a reliable weapon, as ordinary iron tools could no longer meet his needs.

He stepped out of the hospital and headed toward the Jiang family estate.

However, when passing the martial training ground, he witnessed a strange scene.

Jiang family disciples hurried in and out, many of those entering were wounded, staggering and limping. Some were carried or supported by comrades, all appearing battered and miserable.

Cries of pain rang out, and faint screams could be heard outside the gate.

“It hurts so much, this is just too much! Hey, easy, easy…”

“Let me go, I can still fight two more rounds! Damn it, if I’d gone all out, how could I have lost?”

Someone shouted, but companions had to persuade helplessly, “Do you want to keep your leg? If you fight again, you’ll be crippled. Calm down; they’re too strong. We’re no match. We must wait for Young Master Li to return.”

“Quick, is the medicine ready? So many injured—hope it’s enough.”

The training ground was in chaos, with the clan’s young disciples cursing and complaining.

“Brother, what happened here?” Qin Liang asked a nearby youth.

The boy looked about thirteen or fourteen, fresh-faced and innocent-eyed.

“Qin Gongzi?”

Recognizing Qin Liang, the youth’s eyes lit up with admiration and excitement.

“My name is Jiang Chang. I just joined the Jiang family. I heard you shattered the Questing Stele with a single palm strike—you’re really powerful!”

“I’ve refined spirit twice already. How many refinements have you done?” the boy pressed.

“Uh…” Qin Liang twitched, puzzled how such rumors had spread, feeling somewhat wronged.

He asked, “But you haven’t told me—what exactly happened? Why are your brothers so badly injured?”

“That’s what makes me angry.”

Jiang Chang said bitterly, “The Wang and Feng families have teamed up and are blocking our Jiang family gate. Whenever a Jiang disciple steps out, they immediately challenge them. There have already been several fights.”

“They seem to have taken some kind of medicine; their strength is absurdly high, and they hit hard. We’re no match.”

After explaining briefly, Jiang Chang warned, “Qin Gongzi, since you just detected your Dao Root, don’t go out today. If you get challenged, it’ll be trouble.”

The Jiang disciples were proud and stubborn. Now that enemies blocked their gate, not accepting a challenge would bring shame, but accepting meant either victory or severe injury.

“You’re going to be our son-in-law soon; you can’t get hurt!”

Jiang Chang genuinely cared for Qin Liang.

“Where are the clan leader and elders?” Qin Liang inquired.

Jiang Chang explained, “The clan leader is outside too. Since this is a fight among juniors, the elders don’t want to intervene. Their faces aren’t happy, but there’s nothing they can do.”

“Are they really that strong?” Qin Liang frowned in doubt.

The three great families of Sulfur City—the Jiang, Feng, and Wang families—usually kept a frosty distance, mutually disliking each other.

The younger generation often clashed, but the elders tacitly allowed it.

Some speculated a major conflict between the three was inevitable. Has it truly begun now?

Normally, though the three families differ in strength, the disparity isn’t so great. How could so many Jiang disciples be injured?

“Shh!”

Jiang Chang quickly signaled Qin Liang to lower his voice. Such talk could cause trouble if overheard by the wounded nearby.

He whispered, “Wang Bitao and Wang Jingrou from the Wang family, and Feng Yuan from the Feng family are here. They’re the young elites of their clans—really tough opponents.”

Qin Liang was surprised to hear this.

He naturally knew Wang Jingrou, the Wang family’s third young lady. Wang Bitao was their second young master, and Feng Yuan the Feng family’s second young master. Both young masters had reportedly completed five spirit refinements.

Such cultivation was indeed formidable among Sulfur City’s youth.

Though Jiang Chang admired Qin Liang, smashing the Questing Stele and fighting these elites were two different matters. He didn’t believe Qin Liang could shatter them with a single palm strike.

“Don’t go out today. If you must, use the back gate.”

Jiang Chang advised, his youthful face lively and spirited.

As he spoke, a commotion arose at the gate, with voices saying, “The young lady has stepped in. She’s also a five-time spirit refiner. Hopefully, she won’t lose too badly this time.”

Many surged toward the gate in single file, eager to witness Jiang Xuehan’s duel with the enemy.

Hearing this, Qin Liang turned and headed toward the gate.

Jiang Chang didn’t stop him, as he too wished to see the young lady display her prowess and defeat the foe.

Before long, Qin Liang and Jiang Chang arrived outside.

The Jiang family plaza stretched two or three hundred meters, spacious and bustling with people—mostly Jiang family disciples, with some from the Wang and Feng families.

Qin Liang’s gaze fixed on a pair of youths facing each other at a distance—Jiang Xuehan and Wang Bitao.