Chapter 16: Rapid Advancement

Emerging from the Beast Forest, Xiao Ye returned to Xiao Clan Village.

"How is this possible? Xiao Ye survived?!" Xiao Ba's face twisted in shock when he spotted Xiao Ye. He knew the Blood Wolf Gang's assassins were no ordinary foes—Xiao Ye should have been dead.

"Uncle Ba seems eager to see me," Xiao Ye remarked, pausing mid-step. His gaze locked onto Xiao Ba, icy and unyielding.

Xiao Ba trembled briefly before recovering his composure. "Nonsense. I was just passing through." With that, he hurried away.

"Hmph! We'll settle this later!" Xiao Ye growled under his breath. Though he knew Xiao Ba had conspired with the Blood Wolf Gang, he lacked proof. For now, he'd bide his time.

Reunion

In the courtyard, Xiao Yang sat hunched over a rusted hunting knife, nursing a cup of medicinal broth. The sight of his father's frailty pierced Xiao Ye's heart.

This blade once slew mighty beasts, Xiao Ye thought bitterly. Now, it's as worn as his spirit.

"Dad, drink this." Xiao Ye slid the bowl forward. Hidden within the broth was the Vein-Replenishing Pill—a lifeline for Xiao Yang's shattered meridians.

Xiao Yang snorted. "A waste. My body's beyond saving."

But Xiao Ye watched, eyes gleaming, as his father drank.

The effect was immediate. Xiao Yang's sallow complexion faded; his trembling limbs steadied.

"Impossible…" Xiao Yang gasped, staring at his hands. "My meridians… they're healing!"

Xiao Ye smiled through tears. Finally.

Midnight Resolve

Under the moon's cold glare, Xiao Ye sat cross-legged in his room. The memory of his father's despair fueled his determination.

First, Chongyang Sect. Then, Zhao Qian.

He retrieved the Tianluo Skill scroll. This Posterior Heaven technique required twelve meridians—eight already aligned with his Harmony Origin Skill. Four more to go.

Within the Time Tower's first floor, Xiao Ye channeled his Qi. One meridian, two… until all twelve pulsed with energy. His cultivation surged to Posterior Heaven Realm, mid-stage, but the strain left him gasping.

It's worth it, he thought, popping a Qi-Restoring Pill into his mouth.

The black pill melted, unleashing a storm of Qi. Xiao Ye's body convulsed as his cultivation skyrocketed:

Posterior Heaven Realm, late-stage

Posterior Heaven Realm, peak

Two hours later, he shattered his limits, breaching Posterior Heaven Realm, mid-stage again. The pill's power was staggering—enough to heal his Golden Bear wounds and elevate his strength tenfold.

Great Splitting Palm, Perfected

Back in the Time Tower, Xiao Ye drilled the Great Splitting Palm. Five layers of Qi—unthinkable for most, but not for him.

Boom! On the thousandth attempt, a fifth layer ignited. The palm strike now rivaled a mid-tier Second-Rank Technique.

"With this," Xiao Ye grinned, "even Uncle Dashan can't stop me."

Xiao Ba's Reckoning

Meanwhile, Xiao Ba paced in his home. Daylight had revealed the corpses of his henchmen—slain by Xiao Ye's palm.

"Xiao Ye… you monster!" Xiao Ba clenched his fists. He knows.

But fear ruled him. Killing a clansman meant exile—or death.

"I have to act fast," he muttered, heading for Ox Horn Mountain.