Chapter 54: Forged Bonds, Forbidden Energy

BOOM.

The sound of a hammer splitting rock reverberated through the Tang courtyard, echoing like thunder. Dust swirled, stone cracked, and Tang Hao stepped back, his massive hammer humming.

"This," he said, standing before the twins, "is the Random Hammering Technique."

He gestured for them to sit. "Unlike the Clock Hammer's rhythm, this method builds chaotic power—momentum stacked upon momentum. One strike blends into the next. And the goal…"

He paused, raised the hammer again.

"…is to reach 81 continuous hammer strikes, each strike stronger than the last. If you falter in focus, rhythm, or strength—you start over."

System: "Also known as: 'Wrist Endurance Hell Mode.' Please consult your nearest bone reformation specialist."

1. The 81-Hammer Challenge Begins

Tang San was calm, his posture flawless. With every strike, he layered force, rotating through muscle memory and mental timing.

Tang Yan, meanwhile, looked offended. "You're telling me the goal is… to smash things randomly? Isn't that what I do daily?"

System: "Host misunderstands. This is refined random smashing. Artistic anarchy."

First try: Tang Yan made it to 11 strikes.

Second try: 17.

Third try: 4 — he sneezed mid-swing.

"WHY is this harder than logic puzzles!?"

Tang Hao gave him a look that could flatten a mountain. "Because it isn't just strength—it's discipline."

2. Expanding the Vessel — Beyond 100x

That evening, Tang Yan circulated the Xu Void Cycle. His dantian pulsed, soul sea expanding in slow spirals. With each loop, he felt a stronger draw from the void.

It wasn't just absorbing energy.

It was compressing, folding in on itself like space under gravity.

He realized the 100x soul power capacity was just a base increase—each cycle layered more density.

System: "Picture this: first you were a teacup. Now you're a bowl. You're aiming for a lake, then a dam. Eventually: ocean."

The pressure in his body grew, but his draconian physique bore it, reshaping with every cycle.

3. Blood That Binds — Gu Yuena's Revelation

Later that night, Gu Yuena sat beside the hearth, boiling spiritual soup. Tang Yan joined her, idly stirring herbs, too quiet.

"You've grown fast," she said softly.

He nodded. "Void's a good teacher."

She turned to him. "You know… I gave you my blood essence when you were born."

He froze. "You what?"

Gu Yuena smiled. "You wouldn't have survived the backlash of your bloodline. That essence became your stabilizer."

Tang Yan swallowed hard. "That's… origin power. That's not healing—it's sacrifice."

She reached up and cupped his cheek. "You're my son, Yan'er. Don't you forget that."

System: "Alert: Host's heart may experience overheating. Recommend pretending to be smug immediately."

He smirked through watery eyes. "So I'm the favorite, huh?"

4. First Steps into the Inheritances

Fueled by emotion, Tang Yan dove headfirst into his system's Level 1 Inheritances:

Blacksmithing:Focused on infusing spiritual energy into raw metal.Wildly difficult—his Destructive Hammer soul kept shattering the base metals.Random Hammer Technique made control even harder, but it started helping with energy layering.

System: "You are not a forge. You are a magical demolition crew."

Alchemy:Learned spirit herb cultivation, pill and ointment crafting.Enjoyed the precision, even infused some herbs with void energy (caused one to explode).Formation:Built basic spiritual gathering and barrier arrays.High precision. Required deep mental power, which he had in spades.5. Inspiration: Void + Spirit Fusion Attempt

After a week of frustration, Tang Yan had a breakthrough idea:

What if I fuse a spiritual focus technique into Xu Void Cycle?

He began crafting a prototype, integrating mental energy loops into his body's void-circulating core.

After several failures, he got the loop to form but wobble—unstable but viable.

System (with dramatic sound FX):

"Host has committed a revolutionary thought! Achievement unlocked: 'Brain Cell Detected!'"

"Now listen closely—your void link connects to First-Ranked Heavenly Energy. Even the heavens forbid its use."

System Breakdown:

Third Type: Extremely rare, cosmic-level cultivators.Second Type: Legendary. Few beings ever used it.First Type: Primordial, predates existence.

"Not even systems like me are allowed to touch it."

Tang Yan sat in stunned silence.

"You're saying… I'm hacking the universe?"

System: "No. You are the hack."

6. The Month's End — A Hell Worth Surviving

After 30 days of blood, sweat, hammering, and endless explosions:

Alchemy Inheritance (Level 1): 80% masteredFormation Inheritance (Level 1): 80% masteredBlacksmithing Inheritance (Level 1): 40% masteredSpecialization: Random Hammering with Martial Soul SyncPrototype Fusion Technique: 20% structurally completeSoul Power Capacity: Now 100x base, slowly increasing due to void compression & resonance tuningSoul Ring Encyclopedia Mastery: Deep understanding of compatibility, resonance, and absorption psychology.Closing Scene

Tang Yan stood shirtless atop a pillar, sweat dripping, trident in hand, hammer on back.

Void energy shimmered along his skin.

System (softly): "Host… you may just become something Heaven fears."

Tang Yan grinned. "Good. Let's keep climbing."