Chapter Forty-Four: Strengthening Power

A sudden surge of intense heat erupted within Su Yi, an overwhelming force swelling to the point that, for a brief moment, he thought his body might burst apart. His body felt as if it were inflating, as though endless power needed to be released. Every inch of him ached and throbbed, and he wondered anxiously if the elixir he'd taken was acting up, or if perhaps the medicinal herbs he'd consumed earlier had left some lingering effect inside him.

A muffled groan escaped him as he tried to vent the fiery energy by throwing his fist with all his might. To his surprise, a fleeting coolness eased his discomfort, but it quickly returned just as before.

With a flash of determination, Su Yi, now drained and weak, forced himself to stand, swaying where he was, feet braced apart, fists raised in a boxer's stance, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

He struggled to steady his breath, clenching his fists, and struck out again with all the strength he could muster.

By now, Su Yi was already exhausted. His strength had been spent earlier, and now his muscles trembled with fatigue, his joints shuddering uncontrollably. After a few more punches, the strain of pushing beyond his limits left him dizzy and light-headed.

Every last drop of energy had been wrung from his body. Only by sheer will did he remain standing, refusing to collapse, feeling as if even lifting a single finger was as hard as moving a mountain.

Yet Su Yi did not give in. This desperate situation only awakened his indomitable spirit and the resolve never to admit defeat. Gritting his teeth, he kept driving his fists forward.

Punch after punch, he burned through the last reserves of his strength, each blow weaker than the last, relying on willpower and endurance to keep going. He had no idea how much time had passed. At the very moment he threw his final punch and was about to collapse, he felt a fresh trickle of energy welling up inside him, gathering drop by drop.

One more punch... just one more... again... I can’t go on... I’m dying... I can’t hold out... His voice was already hoarse, his body drenched in hot sweat, beads running down his face and stinging his eyes so much he could barely open them.

Dazed and utterly spent, Su Yi’s consciousness faded. Yet suddenly, strength returned to him, as sweet and life-giving as rain after a long drought, instantly reviving his spirit.

Shaking his head, flinging sweat from his face, Su Yi savored the power slowly coalescing within. A surge of happiness welled up in him. He clenched his sweat-soaked fists and struck out again.

With each all-out punch, the power he’d gathered was spent, but then another wellspring would rise, each time accumulating faster and stronger than before. Tightening his lips, Su Yi unleashed another blow with everything he had.

Thus, through endless cycles of gathering strength and releasing it, the energy he recovered grew ever greater, while the searing heat diminished with every punch, as though it was being absorbed into his muscles, blood, and bones. The more he fought, the more fluid and powerful he became.

He had no idea how many punches he’d thrown before the heat finally faded. When he stopped, he was surprised to feel an abundant, lively energy coursing through him, stronger than it had been during the day. A spark of excitement flickered in his chest; were it not so late at night, he would have laughed aloud.

This was wonderful. Su Yi thought to himself that just moments ago he’d been worrying about how to quickly grow stronger, yet now he’d made real progress. If he kept training like this, would he keep getting stronger?

His impatience to improve was fueled by the threats from the great families of Changling City, the need to protect himself in case he ever left to seek the Blood of Heaven and Earth, and, above all, the burning desire for revenge on the one who had crippled his energy vortex.

Without strength, even if he found that person, how could he ever take revenge?

Su Yi recalled that man's extraordinary talent, greater even than his own. At fifteen, Su Yi had been a Level Four Fighter; a year ago, at seventeen, he’d reached Level Ten. Yet the other, barely twenty-one or twenty-two, had already set one foot into the Dragon Fighter realm.

A year had passed since then. That man had likely already broken through, becoming a true Dragon Fighter—a feat almost unbelievable, startling, and even terrifying for someone so young. Even at the World Martial Tournament, where prodigies gathered from across the land, few would achieve such strength at that age.

Moreover, that man seemed to hold the Dragon’s Dream in great reverence. Could they both hail from some ancient, mysterious power on the continent? Looking back on last year’s ambush, there had certainly been hints of that enigmatic elder’s influence...

Su Yi unconsciously touched the dark green jade pendant he always carried close to his heart. It had been with him for years, yet he still didn’t know its true significance. Perhaps he didn’t want to know.

But that mysterious elder, whose origins were unknown, seemed to know the pendant’s story, knew that Su Yi had been hunted three years ago, and apparently had ties to the force behind that old man.

It was a pity that elder was now dead, his body lost without a trace. Even if Su Yi wanted answers, it was already too late. It was hard to believe that only yesterday such a powerful figure had fallen, right by his side. The memory still felt unreal.

Lost in thought for who knows how long, Su Yi was suddenly chilled by a night breeze. He shivered, realizing his body was still drenched in sweat. The wind made his skin clammy and uncomfortable.

Fortunately, there was a pool nearby. Overjoyed, Su Yi hurried over, splashed water on his face, but found it unsatisfying and plunged his whole face into the cool water.

The pool was refreshing and invigorating, so Su Yi lingered, soaking for a while. But as time passed, he noticed something strange—something outright uncanny.

With his face submerged, he naturally held his breath. After a while, his chest began to burn, as if weighed down by a heavy hammer, the pressure mounting until he felt he would burst. He prepared to raise his head for air.

But just as the suffocating feeling peaked and he was about to surface, the discomfort vanished. A gentle ease spread through him, relaxing his tense muscles. It felt exactly—exactly—like breathing!

Yes! It was no joke, nearly unbelievable, enough to make one’s hair stand on end—as if the water didn’t exist, he was breathing underwater.

Were it not for the sensation of water on his skin, Su Yi might have thought he’d already come up for air. But he was holding his breath, not inhaling through his mouth or nose.

Calming himself, Su Yi realized that every pore in his body seemed to open like a channel, connecting his insides with the outside air. It was a strange sensation, as if he were breathing through his skin.

Hardly daring to believe it, Su Yi gathered his thoughts and slowly walked toward the bottom of the pool. Once he was completely submerged, he held his breath and strode forward along the pool’s bed.

Just as he’d guessed, even underwater he could breathe—not with his mouth or nose, but directly through his skin. His heart hammered with excitement as he pressed deeper.

The pool’s floor was solid rock, not hard to walk on, but the water’s pressure grew with every step. The deeper he went, the greater the force that compressed him on all sides. Even with his newly strengthened body, the pressure was almost unbearable, and he could hear his bones creaking.

Standing at the deepest point, more than ten meters below the surface, Su Yi gathered his strength and punched out, but found it incredibly difficult. The water's pressure and resistance slowed his movements, making every action feel sluggish.

Then and there, Su Yi had an idea—why not train right here?