Forced Consumption of Herbs? Yu Xiaoheng Was Ruined!

This was a high-stakes gamble.

If he won, his physical strength would rise to another level, giving him a better chance at Spirit Awakening.

If he lost, he would merely waste a fortune and all his painstaking effort.

He could afford to lose.

Liu Erlong sat quietly to the side, watching the grave expression on Yu Xiaoheng's face. Her little face was filled with tension as well.

Yu Xiaoheng did not act immediately. He suddenly turned to look at Liu Erlong, his gaze deep.

When he spoke, his voice was soft, as though he were asking her—and asking himself.

"For years, I've worked diligently, treading on thin ice."

"Erlong, tell me... can I reach the other shore?"

Not for years, but ever since he had transmigrated here.

He had been painstakingly plotting every step.

But...

Before Spirit Awakening, Yu Xiaoheng could only be certain that the various medicines and Whale Rubber he had taken would keep him from ending up with only half a rank of Innate Soul Power after awakening Luo San Pao.

But one or two ranks were not much better than half a rank. Cultivation would still crawl along like a turtle!

How could that possibly suffice in a world where strength reigned supreme? How could it?

The savings he had accumulated over years of business had been mostly spent on two precious herbs. And in five days, it would be the Spirit Awakening Ceremony...

If it failed?

There would be no chance left to struggle.

Yu Xiaoheng's mind was in turmoil, sweat pouring from him like rain!

Liu Erlong did not hesitate in the slightest when she heard him.

Her little face was full of sincerity as she nodded hard. Candlelight reflected in her clear eyes, along with Yu Xiaoheng's figure.

"You definitely can."

Yu Xiaoheng smiled.

He stopped hesitating and reached out for the Xi Guang Grass.

He tore off a piece of the Xi Guang Grass's leaf the size of a fingernail and placed it in his mouth.

The leaf melted as soon as it entered his mouth, and a gentle warm current slid down his throat into his abdomen.

Then he picked up a small section of Dragon Pattern Grass root.

This time, a tyrannical torrent of heat exploded within him.

Yu Xiaoheng let out a muffled groan, his face flushing red in an instant.

Two utterly different energies—one warm, one scorching; one gentle, one violent—rampaged through his limbs and bones. They were like two ferocious beasts trapped in a cramped cage, madly tearing at and ramming into each other.

Pain!

An indescribable agony!

His meridians felt as though red-hot iron pincers were stretching and tearing them apart inch by inch, only for another force to forcibly fuse and rebuild them.

The veins on his forehead bulged, and bead-sized drops of sweat rolled down.

"Brother!"

Liu Erlong's face went deathly pale as she cried out in alarm.

Yu Xiaoheng clenched his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums. He could not even answer her.

He curled up on the ground, his body shaking violently. Beneath his skin, countless fiery snakes seemed to be slithering about. The searing pain nearly made him pass out.

Before long, fine beads of blood began seeping from every pore of his body.

Sweat and blood mixed together, soaking through his clothes and leaving a dark red stain on the floor.

A suppressed groan of pain, like that of a wounded beast, finally slipped through his clenched teeth.

"Bang!"

The door was kicked open from outside.

"Heng'er!"

A deep, powerful voice rang out. The newcomer was none other than Clan Head Yu Yuanzhen.

Behind him came several clan elders and family members who had rushed over after hearing the news, cramming the small room until there was no room left to move.

When they saw the scene inside, everyone froze.

Yu Xiaoheng lay in a pool of blood, his breathing faint and his face pale as paper. He looked as though he had just been dragged from the water, utterly bedraggled.

"Quick! See what happened to the young master!" an elder said anxiously.

The Third Elder, who was skilled in medicine, immediately stepped forward. He placed his fingers on Yu Xiaoheng's wrist and sent Soul Power into his body. Moments later, his expression became extremely grave.

He rose to his feet and shook his head at Yu Yuanzhen, whose face was as dark as water.

"Clan Head, the young master forcibly consumed two herbs."

"The Spirit Herbs have conflicting properties. Their energies have run rampant within his body, damaging his meridians in many places and jolting his internal organs."

"His life... is not in danger, but..."

The Third Elder paused, a trace of regret in his voice.

"But his injuries are extremely serious. Even with the finest medicine, he will need more than a month to recover. Yet the Spirit Awakening Ceremony is only five days away. Going through the awakening with his body so depleted..."

He did not finish his sentence, but everyone present understood.

His Innate Soul Power would inevitably be severely affected.

Yu Yuanzhen stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless.

As he looked at his eldest son curled up on the ground, the expectations in his eyes finally went out.

In the end, he had still gone down the wrong path.

In the end, he was still worthless mud that could not be propped up against a wall.

He slowly let out a breath.

"Forget it."

Yu Yuanzhen's voice was quiet, yet every person in the room heard it clearly.

"This eldest son of mine is ruined after all."

He turned around, no longer sparing Yu Xiaoheng another glance.

"Since he likes doing business, let him manage the clan's industries from now on."

"The future of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan can only be entrusted to Yu Xiaogang."

The clan head's words settled the matter with finality, completely pronouncing Yu Xiaoheng's "death sentence."

The surrounding clan members could no longer hold back, and hushed discussions broke out.

"What a pity. The clan head's son actually ruined himself like this."

"Exactly. At such a young age, instead of cultivating properly, he had to dabble in these unorthodox methods. Now look what happened."

"I think he was jealous of Young Master Xiaogang's talent and wanted to forcefully improve himself with Pills, only to make things worse."

"At this Spirit Awakening, he's probably got no hope at all."

Every remark and every sigh was like countless needles stabbing into Liu Erlong's heart.

She knelt beside Yu Xiaoheng. Her small body shielded him as she glared resentfully at everyone around them with bloodshot eyes.

By then, Yu Xiaoheng's consciousness had already blurred.

Before he completely lost consciousness, he heard only his father's indifferent "Forget it," along with the mockery and regret of the surrounding clan members.

Only Liu Erlong's clear eyes had turned completely red.

She suddenly scrambled to her feet and spread her thin arms, standing firmly before Yu Xiaoheng's bed like an enraged young beast.

"You're not allowed to talk about Brother like that!"

The girl's voice still carried a sobbing tremor, yet it held an unyielding stubbornness that brooked no argument.

Crystal tears slid down her grimy cheeks and fell into the dust.

"He'll be fine! He'll definitely become very strong!"

If anyone dared say another word, she would widen those rabbit-red eyes and fight them to the death.

She did not understand what severed meridians meant, nor did she understand Martial Soul talent.

She only remembered that this brother had pulled her and her mother out of the mud and given them a stable home.

This brother had given her warmth and more snacks than she could ever finish.

He was the person who treated her best.

So she had to protect him.

Seeing her stubborn appearance, the mockery on everyone's faces gradually faded, leaving only sighs and pity.

Yu Yuanzhen took in the scene, then shifted his gaze away from the girl and pulled Yu Xiaogang, who had remained silent, aside.