Chapter 17 – Life Absorption Technique

The power that Xiao Xuan had gained from the dragon blood essence was unlike anything he had ever experienced. His connection to the dragon's energy had enhanced his already formidable strength, expanding his cultivation to unimaginable heights. But with great power came an even greater challenge: control.

For days after the infusion, Xiao Xuan practiced in solitude, attempting to harness the newfound energy coursing through his veins. The land around him seemed to react to his every move, the very ground trembling beneath his feet as if the world recognized his new strength. But even as he grew more powerful, something deep within him felt… different.

Feng Qin had warned him about the dangers of the Life Absorption Technique—an ancient method of absorbing the life force of others to extend one's own life and enhance cultivation. It was a forbidden technique, one that carried immense risks, as it could easily consume the user, leaving them cold, detached, and devoid of compassion. Feng Qin had cautioned him not to use it recklessly, reminding him that power must always be tempered with wisdom.

Xiao Xuan, however, couldn't ignore the temptation. The promise of greater strength, the allure of immortality—he had always sought it. And now, with this new power coursing through him, the technique called to him like a siren's song, its whispers echoing in his mind.

One evening, after hours of training, Xiao Xuan stood at the edge of a clearing, the moonlight filtering through the trees above. The air was still, and the world around him felt suspended in time. He was alone, just as he had always been. But tonight, there was a different energy in the air—an energy that pulled at him, urging him to try the Life Absorption Technique.

He closed his eyes, focusing on his surroundings. The forest was alive with the sound of rustling leaves and distant animal calls, but he could also sense something deeper, something more primal. Beneath the surface of the world around him, there was an undercurrent of life force, a subtle flow of energy that connected all living things. It was this life force that the technique would allow him to tap into.

He raised his hands, his fingers crackling with energy, and he extended his senses outward. Slowly, he began to draw in the energy of the trees around him. The leaves shuddered, their life force slipping away as if responding to his call. A surge of power filled him, but instead of feeling invigorated, something darker began to stir within him. It was as if the life force he was absorbing was not just feeding his power—it was feeding something else, something that lurked within the depths of his soul.

Xiao Xuan opened his eyes, suddenly feeling a chill run through him. The power was intoxicating, yes, but it was also unsettling. There was something about it that felt wrong, something that he couldn't put his finger on.

He paused, his hands trembling as he let the energy flow out of him. The forest around him seemed to return to normal, the life force he had taken from the trees ebbing away as he released it. His breath came in short gasps as he tried to regain control of himself. The technique was more potent than he had imagined, but it had come at a price. His connection to the world, to the natural order of life, had been momentarily severed. He could feel the distance it had created between him and everything else.

"What's happening to me?" Xiao Xuan muttered to himself, his voice strained. He could feel the coldness creeping into his chest, the darkness that the technique had unlocked. The more life force he absorbed, the more detached he became. It was as if the technique was slowly eroding his humanity, replacing it with something else—something more monstrous.

Just as the realization hit him, a voice echoed through the clearing.

"You've used the technique," Feng Qin's voice rang out, her tone a mix of concern and disappointment. "I told you not to."

Xiao Xuan turned to find her standing at the edge of the clearing, her expression hard but her eyes soft with a kind of sorrow. She had arrived just in time, as she often did, sensing his internal struggle. It was clear from her gaze that she had known what he was attempting before he even did it.

"I had to," Xiao Xuan said, his voice raw with emotion. "I needed to understand it. I needed to understand this power."

Feng Qin stepped closer, her eyes never leaving him. "And what have you learned?" she asked quietly.

Xiao Xuan clenched his fists, the power still buzzing beneath his skin. "I've learned that it's too much," he said, his voice tinged with both awe and fear. "I can feel it, Feng Qin. This power… it's not just making me stronger. It's changing me. It's pulling me away from everything I've ever known. And I can't control it. I can't…"

He trailed off, the words failing him as he felt the darkness within him growing, spreading through his body like a poison. The Life Absorption Technique was powerful, yes, but it was also corrupting. It wasn't just a tool for cultivation—it was a weapon, one that could tear him apart from the inside.

Feng Qin's eyes softened, and she moved toward him, placing a hand gently on his arm. "You don't have to do this alone," she said, her voice low but filled with strength. "I warned you that this path is dangerous, Xiao Xuan. It has the potential to make you stronger, but it also has the potential to destroy everything you are. You cannot lose yourself to it."

Xiao Xuan shook his head, his heart heavy with regret. "I don't want to lose myself," he whispered. "But I don't know how to stop it. I don't know how to stop what's inside me now."

Feng Qin gave him a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to fight it alone. I'm here. I will help you. But you must promise me one thing: you must never let the power consume you. You are stronger than this. You have the ability to control it."

Xiao Xuan met her gaze, and for the first time, he realized just how much he depended on her. He wasn't just an immortal. He wasn't just someone who had lived through endless lifetimes of solitude and pain. He was part of something now—something real. And with Feng Qin by his side, he knew he could find the strength to control the power within him, to make sure it didn't destroy him.

"I promise," Xiao Xuan said, his voice firm now, a renewed sense of determination in his heart. "I won't let it consume me. Not with you here."

Feng Qin nodded, her expression softening. "Together, we can control it," she said, her voice steady and confident. "You have power, Xiao Xuan, but you also have control. And you have me. That is the greatest strength of all."

Xiao Xuan's heart swelled with emotion as he looked at her. This bond, this connection—they were more than just partners in power. They were a team, a force that could not be broken.

Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead. And together, they would find a way to control the darkness within.