The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 243: Use You To Break Through 3

Use You To Break Through 3 . . .

Cha-Eun Xiao's gift of gab had inexplicably taken flight today, steering him into precarious territory. He had ventured beyond the bounds of decency, leaving Wen-Ren Chu-Chu sounding not only 'plump' and 'big' but also 'violent.' It was an audacious move that would cost him dearly.

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's fury ignited like an explosive inferno within her. Her scream pierced the air with unrivaled intensity. "Feng Zhi-Ling, I will pummel you to death! Ahhhhh…"

Simultaneously, her assaults surged with even greater force.

The sheer might behind Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's current attack was potent enough to dispatch any Tianyuan cultivator with ease.

—Boom!— Their energies collided violently.

Astonishingly, an unexpected turn of events unfolded at that moment, leaving even Bing Xin-Yue momentarily dumbfounded.

Up until the collision of their energies, Bing Xin-Yue had maintained a firm grip on the situation. She had been ready to intervene, to mitigate the effects of the collision and maintain control. To a genuinely superior cultivator, both Cha-Eun Xiao and Wen-Ren Chu-Chu were feeble adversaries. Managing their energies should have been a straightforward task.

However, in a sudden twist, Cha-Eun Xiao opted to retract his force entirely. He abruptly withdrew the energy enveloping him, relinquishing his power all at once.

In doing so, he allowed the combined might of the East-rising Purple Qi and the Ling Xiao Ice Art to surge forth uncontested, crashing over him like a torrential flood.

[What in the world...]

A mere moment ago, both combatants had been unleashing their martial arts at maximum capacity to secure a conclusive outcome to the duel. Yet Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, being relatively inexperienced, lacked precise control over her energy—easier to release than to retract. Consequently, she was compelled to permit the Ling Xiao Ice Art's energy to course unchecked.

Bing Xin-Yue, observing the spectacle unfold, found herself fraught with anxiety. She had believed herself to be in full command, but this sudden turn of events had caught her off guard. It was nothing short of astonishing.

To her, Cha-Eun Xiao's actions amounted to a death wish.

Cha-Eun Xiao had deployed his most formidable strike and then, with equal swiftness, retracted it. Now, he would bear the brunt of his own strike, compounded by Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's assault. Helpless, he could do nothing but stand his ground and endure the dual onslaught.

Bing Xin-Yue found herself in a state of utter astonishment, a momentary lapse of mental composure that hindered her from taking immediate action. As she gradually regained her senses and attempted to devise a plan that might rescue Cha-Eun Xiao from his perilous predicament, yet another startling twist unfolded before her very eyes.

There stood Cha-Eun Xiao, his arms firmly crossed over his chest, bearing a countenance that appeared as though he held dominion over the entire world. It was a stance of resolute observation amidst the torrent of attacks aimed his way.

In the blink of an eye, he had transformed from the assailant into the sponge, deftly turning the tide of offense into a deluge of absorption. In this fleeting instant, Cha-Eun Xiao's Jing and Mai—his vital channels—morphed into an enigmatic and formidable black hole capable of ceaselessly devouring spiritual energy. Every ounce of energy from the barrage of attacks was assimilated into this absorbing abyss, coursing through his channels before ultimately converging upon his dantian.

—Boom!—

An explosion emanated from Cha-Eun Xiao's dantian, a thunderous cacophony that even Wen-Ren Chu-Chu and Bing Xin-Yue could distinctly hear. The sound was akin to a seismic detonation, reverberating from deep within the core of the earth, both weighty and menacing.

—Pah!—

From Cha-Eun Xiao's lips spewed forth fresh, crimson blood, arcing through the air like an arrow. Astonishingly, it struck the pristine white wall situated some forty meters distant, leaving behind a vivid and beautiful plum blossom in its wake.

This spectacle left Wen-Ren Chu-Chu and Bing Xin-Yue agape, their countenances drained of color. Alarmed, they hurried to Cha-Eun Xiao's side, their voices filled with concern.

"Are you… Are you all right?"

"How are you feeling? Why on earth did you… not attempt to flee? Instead, you chose to absorb the attacks. Do you realize that you were courting death?" They inquired with anxious urgency.

In the minds of those witnessing Cha-Eun Xiao's audacious actions, he appeared to be courting certain death.

[Even if his Jing and Mai channels were sufficiently broad to accommodate the torrent of spiritual energy, and even if his dantian exhibited an uncanny strength in withstanding the energy, his genuine cultivation prowess remained below that of Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's.

How could he dare to release and then hastily retract his energy, especially given the significant difference in their strength? The energy he had unleashed had nearly reached the limits of his dantian, and yet he recklessly absorbed it in conjunction with Chu-Chu's formidable energy. Such forceful absorption risked causing his dantian to rupture and, at the very least, would result in dire consequences.

Was he utterly mad?]

Following the expulsion of blood from his lips, Cha-Eun Xiao promptly shut his eyes, enveloped in a violet aura as he maintained his composure.

Subsequent to this, unusual sounds emanated from within his abdomen—resembling that of boiling water in a pot—accompanied by the rapid expansion of his belly. The pain etched across his face was evident, yet he staunchly refrained from uttering a single groan.

The purple aura surrounding him grew increasingly brilliant, and it appeared as though he teetered on the brink of detonation at any given moment. Bing Xin-Yue furrowed her brow, casting a concerned glance toward Wen-Ren Chu-Chu.

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's countenance had turned pallid, her distress palpable. Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke with a trembling voice, "Master… It… It… It wasn't intentional… I… I… How is he? Will he be all right? Please help him…"

Bing Xin-Yue heaved a sigh and shook her head.

The incident had unfolded with lightning speed, defying all expectations. Even her considerable might couldn't mitigate the consequences of such a reckless and suicidal act. At this point, she could only hope for the best.

Wen-Ren Chu-Chu wept openly, her voice quavering as she implored, "Master, please save him… I… I don't want him to die. I never intended for this to happen..."

The utterance of the word 'death' seemed to inflict sharp, searing pain upon her heart, as though it were being sliced by a thousand blades. The sensation overcame her unexpectedly, a profound sense of desolation and grief washing over her world and leaching it of color.

Suddenly, an enigmatic sound resonated from within Cha-Eun Xiao's body. It was a sound devoid of pitch but imbued with an unyielding intensity, as though it emanated from the depths of his very soul.

It was the sound of… a breakthrough.

It originated from the depths of his consciousness.