Ruthless

A thread of relief flooded Wu Tie's mind.

This was Bone Crusher's final response to Wu Tie.

Like a hoary old man who had witnessed countless storms and transformations, Bone Crusher had originally resisted merging with Wu Tie, unwilling to do so. But when Shi Lingqing violently bled Wu Tie and Wu Tie was on the verge of death, Bone Crusher made its decision.

It gave up fleeing, gave up freedom, gave up its own "independence," and chose to sacrifice itself to fulfill Wu Tie.

Wu Tie still did not know what it was, where it had come from, what it had experienced, or why it had appeared in the main hall of this underground secret realm, "guarded" by Ox Hero and eighteen golden skeletons.

Bone Crusher left behind no information to prove its existence. It merely let out a heavy "long sigh," gave Wu Tie a complicated emotion, and then vanished completely.

It chose to merge perfectly with the first knucklebone of Wu Tie's left index finger.

Wu Tie raised his left hand. Thanks to the Foundation Establishment Form and the Foundation Establishment Potion, his skin was fair and tender, nearly translucent. Through that pale skin, he could vaguely see that the knucklebone fused with Bone Crusher was much darker in color.

That section of finger looked like a bruise that had yet to fade after being struck by something heavy. It was quite conspicuous.

He gulped in breaths, drawing great mouthfuls of the sparkling, miraculous power in the air into his body. His entire body felt warm. Fresh blood was constantly being produced in his marrow, swiftly flowing into his shriveled blood vessels, his withered organs, muscles, and skin, into every tiny corner of his nearly dried-up body.

Almost instinctively, Wu Tie began cultivating the Foundation Establishment Form.

He slowly performed the movements of the Foundation Establishment Form, executing each stance with great ease.

His movements possessed several more hints of agility than before, along with an indescribable spirituality. When Wu Tie had cultivated the Foundation Establishment Form in the past, he had been like a painting viewed through frosted glass.

Today, that hazy, blurred frosted glass suddenly shattered, and the painting appeared before him with absolute clarity.

Every move and every stance seemed to merge Wu Tie with the world around him. Harmonious and natural, as though he had always belonged to this patch of heaven and earth, a perfect part of its composition.

The sparkling energy around him grew ever denser, becoming streams of crystalline light as thick as fingers that continuously flowed into Wu Tie's body.

Shi Lingqing lay on the ground, staring blankly at Wu Tie.

Her lips were deathly pale. She muttered with great difficulty, "Origin energy... origin energy materialized... You can make the void's origin energy materialize at the Foundation Establishment realm... Just how good is your talent? Or has your Foundation Establishment cultivation method reached a heaven-defying level?"

Wu Tie could not hear Shi Lingqing's muttering.

In utter comfort, he practiced the Foundation Establishment Form to his current limit.

Six hundred and eighty-two forms!

With ease, he had continuously practiced all the way to the six hundred and eighty-second form of the Foundation Establishment Form.

The seven hundred and twentieth form. Once Wu Tie broke through to the seven hundred and twentieth form, the Origin Power in his body would reach its overflowing peak. He could then condense his Origin Power into Foundation Establishment aura and break through to the second level of the Foundation Establishment realm.

Previously, he could only barely perform the four hundred and ninety-third form. After merging with Bone Crusher, his cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Form had advanced by leaps and bounds, inexplicably soaring by a huge margin.

He maintained a backward-bending posture similar to an iron bridge for a full quarter hour. Blood and vitality flowed smoothly through his body, washing over even its tiniest corners again and again. The newly generated blood was vibrant and rich with energy. Wu Tie clearly sensed that after this tremendous change, his physical strength had risen by another large step.

In particular, the first knucklebone of his left index finger was growing hot.

The temperature gradually rose until Wu Tie felt as if his left index finger had been soaked in boiling water.

Of the "origin energy" Shi Lingqing had spoken of that entered his body, roughly thirty percent was absorbed by that tiny knucklebone. Strands of plasma, slightly thicker, heavier, and seemingly more refined in nature than the fresh blood produced by his own marrow, slowly seeped from the bone.

Drops of fresh plasma merged into the great circulation of blood throughout his body.

The blood throughout his body became even more vital and brimming with life, improving its nourishing effect on his body by more than double.

Wu Tie subconsciously flexed his left index finger.

Indescribably wonderful.

The feedback from his cultivation told Wu Tie that after merging with Bone Crusher, cultivating the Foundation Establishment Form felt as though he had consumed twice the amount of Foundation Establishment Potion. The results were extraordinarily gratifying.

After maintaining the iron bridge posture for a quarter hour, Wu Tie slowly straightened up. He had reached his limit. Six hundred and eighty-two forms of the Foundation Establishment Form—this was the limit he could currently reach.

He exhaled a breath of hot air. His long exhalation was mixed with streaks of foul stench. Wu Tie touched the wound on his neck. The cuts Shi Lingqing's nails had left were gone, and his skin was smooth and fair, without the slightest trace of a scar.

He carefully moved his body. The Foundation Establishment Form had thoroughly loosened every joint, every muscle, and every tendon in his body. Wu Tie closed his eyes and sensed his physical condition. He felt more comfortable than ever before.

The weakness brought about by rapid, massive blood loss had completely vanished. His whole body was now filled with power.

Without even glancing at Shi Lingqing, he strode out of the main hall and walked to the metal sphere formed by the armor that had fallen from his body on its own. He gripped the metal sphere with both hands and poured the continuously generated Origin Power within him into it.

Fine threads of light lit up across the metal sphere's surface.

The deathly pale metal sphere began melting rapidly, turning into pale liquid that swiftly covered Wu Tie's hands. After a few breaths, the pale metal liquid enveloped his entire body, and the fitted armor was once again draped over him.

Wu Tie smiled and nodded. "Old Tie was right. This armor can run out of strength too. I have to replenish its energy from time to time."

When he turned around, Shi Lingqing had already staggered to her feet and was walking out of the main hall step by step.

Bone Crusher had not inflicted any substantive harm upon Shi Lingqing.

It had merely stripped away the portion of life essence Shi Lingqing had received from Grandma Hong, the part that did not belong to her. Shi Lingqing herself had suffered no loss whatsoever. Only the abruptly surged power had been taken from her, leaving her feeling somewhat weak.

But it did not hinder her movements.

And after taking a few steps, Shi Lingqing's movements were no different from usual, while her aura became calm and tranquil.

When she had gained that power which did not belong to her, power that had suddenly soared and been enough to decide Wu Tie's life and death, Shi Lingqing's arrogant expression had been deeply carved into Wu Tie's heart. Now that she had lost that power, Shi Lingqing became quiet and elegant, every movement picturesque.

She walked to the sailboat Grandma Hong had arrived in and rummaged around inside for a while. Before long, she emerged wearing a loose red robe that did not fit her very well. She jumped down from the sailboat, smiling as she walked toward Wu Tie step by step.

Wu Tie gripped his spear tightly and slowly backed away step by step.

Shi Lingqing could not possibly harm him now, but just as an ordinary person who saw a venomous snake would still keep alertly away from such a vicious creature even knowing its fangs had been pulled, Wu Tie's reaction was perfectly normal. Shi Lingqing was far more terrifying than a venomous snake.

"Miss Shi, I sympathize with what happened to you," Wu Tie said gravely. "But it seems that throughout this matter, you yourself also bore enormous responsibility... In other words, you are not innocent and blameless."

Drawing a deep breath, Wu Tie put on his faceplate, and his spear shot up with a swish, pointing at Shi Lingqing.

"You and I have no grievance or enmity, so please leave." Wu Tie raised his head and glanced at Ox Hero towering in the distance. He said softly, "This place is my territory. It has nothing to do with you."

Shi Lingqing could feel the deep wariness and vigilance Wu Tie held toward her.

She immediately stopped walking, then knelt without hesitation and performed a full five-body prostration before Wu Tie.

She seemed to have completely forgotten how, when her strength had surged earlier, she had casually pinned Wu Tie to the ground and beaten him, stomping on his head again and again. She seemed like an entirely different person, pitiable and delicate, fresh and elegant like a small jasmine flower battered by a violent storm.

"Young master... Lingqing is merely a pitiful, weak woman. If you make Lingqing leave, then Lingqing will truly die without even a place to bury her."

Two streams of clear tears trickled down, falling drop by drop onto the ground. Shi Lingqing sobbed, "If Young Master does not find Lingqing objectionable, Lingqing dares to beg to serve Young Master for life with her frail willow's bearing."

"Lingqing does not dare ask for any status. She only asks to remain by Young Master's side and obey Young Master's every command."

"Though Lingqing is untalented, she does possess a few skills, especially in planning. Young Master will surely become an unrivaled hero in the future, and there will always be need for trusted subordinates at your side to carry out your commands..."

"Other than her insignificant abilities and a little cleverness for Young Master's use, Lingqing herself... when Young Master is weary, when your heart is tired, Lingqing can also bring Young Master pleasure..."

Earlier, when Shi Lingqing's strength had surged, she had crazily clamored that Wu Tie would become a loyal lackey for her to command.

Yet in such a short time, after losing that ill-gotten power, she had immediately become a pitiful little woman, weeping and begging Wu Tie to take her in.

Wu Tie stood to one side in a daze for a long while.

He truly could not understand how Shi Lingqing could do such a thing.

Did she not possess even a shred of shame?

How could Wu Tie dare take her in?

Just look at the fates of Old Wu, Luolin, Qiao, Ding, Shi Dian, along with Grandma Hong and Nine Palm Commander, those two great experts... Where would Wu Tie find such courage?

"I will not take you in. This is my territory. I'll give you some time; leave on your own." Wu Tie dryly gave Shi Lingqing his final warning, then turned and walked toward Old Tie.

Old Tie lay on the ground without moving at all, without the slightest trace of life, like a thoroughly broken heap of scrap metal.

Wu Tie's heart immediately leaped into his throat. After suffering the successive heavy blows from Nine Palm Commander and the others, could Old Tie really have been destroyed?

Wu Tie quickened his pace and lunged fiercely toward Old Tie.

Suddenly, an incomparably powerful, utterly terrifying aura crashed down from high above.

Countless crystal clusters around them exploded. Crystal fragments of all sizes shot wildly in every direction like countless bullets. The fragments flew far away and struck intact crystal clusters, producing continuous ear-piercing collisions and spraying countless sparks.

It was as if Wu Tie had been struck head-on by a mountain. He let out a muffled groan, his knees going weak as he lost his footing, and fell to his knees with a thud.

Shi Lingqing was in an even worse state. Having lost the power she had received from Grandma Hong, her own cultivation was truly not worth mentioning. She vomited blood in great mouthfuls and lay flat on the ground like a sheet of paper, her whole body rigid and utterly unable to move.

Wu Tie laboriously raised his head and looked into the air.

Ox Hero, who had been dead for who knew how many years, had actually bent over and lowered his head to look down upon Wu Tie and the others.

His enormous eyes were like giant lanterns, shooting out two beams of intense light that rapidly swept over Wu Tie, Old Tie, and Shi Lingqing. His nearly tangible gaze swept through the main hall. The hall exploded into pieces, and the last golden skeleton sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, which had barely remained intact, collapsed and shattered as well.

The beams pouring from Ox Hero's eyes grew even fiercer, sweeping across the ground like two pillars of fire. Wherever they passed, the air twisted violently, stirring up wave after wave of raging wind.

A terrifying aura of power surged from his body. At that moment, he seemed to have crossed the merciless river of time, arriving from that flourishing peak era of his into the present day, standing vividly before Wu Tie.

But he was dead, after all.

The dozens of crystal spears that had pierced through his chest and abdomen emitted blinding light. Waves of destructive aura transformed into dim halos that continuously spread outward. Wherever they passed, countless crystal fragments froze and reformed into intact crystal clusters, falling to the ground.

A crisp cracking sound came from within Ox Hero's body.

Beginning with his feet, countless hairline cracks appeared and rapidly spread throughout his entire body.

Ox Hero's gaze swept over Old Tie lying on the ground, then suddenly paused. An exceptionally clear curse came from his mouth. "Damn it!"

Old Tie slowly rose to his feet. Bloody light burned fiercely in his eyes as he raised his head and stared fixedly at Ox Hero.

"Human-head dog!" Ox Hero grinned brilliantly, then shifted his gaze to Wu Tie.

His fiery, pillar-like gaze fell upon Wu Tie. Wu Tie felt scorching heat throughout his body, as though every tiny part of him had been seen through by Ox Hero's eyes.

Ox Hero looked at Wu Tie, then at Old Tie, smiling as he nodded. "Good. Very good."

With a crack, Ox Hero's entire body disintegrated, exploding into dark golden points of light that howled away in every direction.

At the instant Ox Hero's body disintegrated, the crystal spears that had been inside him and the golden lotus in the main hall that had barely remained intact also collapsed and shattered.

A rich fragrance slowly spread through the air. An intense scent of essence and blood filled the void. The entire enormous stone cavern seemed to be melting, as countless crystal clusters dissolved and red-hot crystal liquid slowly flowed across the ground.

Shi Lingqing suddenly sprang to her feet and reached toward the place where Ox Hero's body had once stood.

"No... You are mine, you are mine, you must be mine... How could you..."

Wu Tie shouted sharply, "Do not defile him... How could he possibly be someone you are qualified to covet?"

Shi Lingqing stood stunned for a long while, then suddenly laughed.

"Defile? I defiled him? I am not qualified to covet him?" She turned around, lifted her chin, and cast Wu Tie a sidelong glance with the pride of a princess. "Who do you think you are? Lowly trash... You men... every last one of you is lowly trash..."

With a strange giggle, Shi Lingqing's eyes suddenly turned blood-red. She screamed, and her entire body abruptly exploded.

A streak of blood shot out and slammed heavily into Wu Tie's forehead, forming the two deeply blood-red characters "Longevity" between his brows.