Ruthless

A sense of relief flooded Wu Tie's mind.

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

Like an ancient elder who had witnessed countless changes, Bone Crusher had initially resisted merging with Wu Tie. But when Wu Tie was brutally bled by Shi Lingqing and teetered on the brink of death, Bone Crusher made a decision.

It abandoned escape, abandoned freedom, abandoned its own 'independence,' and chose to sacrifice itself to complete Wu Tie.

Wu Tie still didn't know what it was, where it came from, what it had experienced, or why it appeared in this underground secret realm's grand hall, 'guarded' by Ox Hero and eighteen golden skeletons.

Bone Crusher left no proof of its existence, only a deep 'sigh,' imparting a complex emotion to Wu Tie before vanishing completely.

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

Wu Tie raised his left hand. Due to the Foundation Establishment Form and the Foundation Establishment Potion, his skin was fair and tender, almost translucent. Through his pale skin, the fused bone segment was visibly much darker.

This segment of his finger felt like a lingering bruise from a heavy impact, quite noticeable.

He breathed in deeply, continuously drawing the sparkling, magical energy in the air into his lungs. His entire body felt warm, and new blood was constantly being generated in his bone marrow, rapidly flowing into his shriveled blood vessels, into his shriveled internal organs, muscles, and skin, reaching every minuscule corner of his almost desiccated body.

Wu Tie instinctively began practicing the Foundation Establishment Form.

He slowly moved through the postures of the Foundation Establishment Form, each movement flowing smoothly.

His movements were more agile and possessed an inexplicable spiritual quality compared to usual. If Wu Tie's practice of the Foundation Establishment Form before was like looking at a painting through frosted glass.

Today, that hazy, blurry frosted glass shattered, and the painting appeared before him, clear and distinct.

With each move, every action Wu Tie took seemed to merge with the surrounding world. It was harmonious and natural, as if he belonged to this world and was a perfect part of it.

The sparkling energy around him intensified, becoming visible streams of light, as thick as fingers, continuously flowing into Wu Tie's body.

Shi Lingqing, lying on the ground, watched Wu Tie with a vacant stare.

Her lips were pale, and she murmured with great effort, "Origin energy... Origin energy manifesting... To manifest void origin energy at the Foundation Establishment stage... Just how gifted are you? Or has your Foundation Establishment technique reached a heaven-defying level?"

Wu Tie couldn't hear Shi Lingqing's muttering.

He felt an extreme sense of comfort as he practiced the Foundation Establishment Form to his current limit.

Six hundred and eighty-two forms!

He easily reached the six hundred and eighty-second form of the Foundation Establishment Form.

At the seven hundred and twentieth form, Wu Tie would reach the peak of overflowing Origin Power within his body, condense his Origin Power, form Foundation Establishment Aura, and break through to the second level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

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

He maintained a backward-bending pose, similar to a bridge, for a full fifteen minutes. His blood and essence flowed smoothly and continuously, with every minute corner of his body being scoured by his Blood Essence. The newly generated blood was fresh and contained abundant energy. Wu Tie clearly sensed that after this great change, his physical strength had increased significantly.

Especially, the first bone of his left index finger was burning.

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

About thirty percent of the 'Origin energy' Shi Lingqing mentioned, which he inhaled, was absorbed by this small bone segment. A trace of blood plasma, slightly more viscous and heavier than the new blood generated from his own bone marrow, and seemingly more refined in nature, slowly seeped from this bone segment.

Drops of fresh blood plasma merged into the entire blood circulation system.

His blood became even more vibrant and full of life, enhancing the nourishing effect on his body by more than double.

Wu Tie instinctively flexed his left index finger.

It felt wondrous.

The feedback from his cultivation told Wu Tie that after fusing with Bone Crusher, practicing the Foundation Establishment Form was like taking a double dose of Foundation Establishment Potion; the results were extremely gratifying.

After holding the backward-bending bridge pose for fifteen minutes, Wu Tie slowly straightened up. He had reached his limit; six hundred and eighty-two forms of the Foundation Establishment Form was the maximum he could achieve now.

He exhaled a breath of hot air, a long stream mixed with a hint of foul odor. Wu Tie touched the wound on his neck; the gash from Shi Lingqing's fingernails had vanished, leaving his skin smooth and fair, without a trace of a scar.

He carefully moved his body. The Foundation Establishment Form had thoroughly stretched every joint, every muscle, and every meridian in his body. Wu Tie closed his eyes and felt his physical state; he felt an unprecedented sense of comfort throughout his body.

The weakness from rapid and massive blood loss had completely disappeared, and his body was now filled with strength.

Without even looking at Shi Lingqing, he strode out of the grand hall and walked towards the metal sphere formed from the armor that had detached from him. He gripped the metal sphere with both hands and injected the Origin Power constantly generated within him into it.

Fine threads of light lit up on the surface of the metal sphere.

The pale white metal sphere began to melt rapidly, turning into a pale white liquid that quickly coated Wu Tie's hands. After a few breaths, the pale white metallic liquid encased Wu Tie's entire body, and the form-fitting armor was re-donned.

Wu Tie smiled and nodded, "Old Tie was right. This armor's strength does run out; I need to replenish its energy from time to time."

Turning around, Shi Lingqing had already staggered to her feet and was walking out of the grand hall step by step.

Bone Crusher had not caused any actual harm to Shi Lingqing.

Bone Crusher had only stripped away the portion of life essence that belonged to Grandma Hong and was not Shi Lingqing's own. Shi Lingqing herself suffered no loss; only the suddenly surging power was taken away, leaving her feeling a bit weak.

However, her ability to move was unimpeded.

After a few steps, Shi Lingqing's movements returned to normal, and her aura became calm and serene.

When she had possessed the surging, life-and-death controlling power that wasn't hers, Shi Lingqing's arrogant expression was deeply etched in Wu Tie's mind. Now, stripped of that power, Shi Lingqing appeared serene and elegant, her every movement graceful as a painting.

She walked to the sailboat Grandma Hong had arrived in, rummaged through it for a while, and soon emerged wearing a loose-fitting red robe that wasn't quite her size. Stepping off the sailboat, Shi Lingqing smiled and walked towards Wu Tie step by step.

Wu Tie tightened his grip on his spear and slowly retreated step by step.

Shi Lingqing couldn't harm him now, but it was like a normal person seeing a venomous snake. Even if they knew it was a snake with its fangs removed, they would still cautiously distance themselves from such a malevolent creature.

Wu Tie's thoughts were perfectly normal; Shi Lingqing was far more terrifying than a venomous snake.

"Miss Shi, I sympathize with what you've been through," Wu Tie said gravely. "However, it seems you also bear significant responsibility in this process... In other words, you are not entirely innocent."

Taking a deep breath, Wu Tie put on his mask and pointed his spear at Shi Lingqing with a 'swish.'

"We have no enmity, so please leave," Wu Tie said, glancing up at the Ox Hero standing tall not far away. "This is my territory, it has nothing to do with you."

Shi Lingqing felt Wu Tie's strong sense of caution and wariness.

She immediately stopped in her tracks and, without hesitation, knelt on the ground, performing a full prostration to Wu Tie.

She seemed to have completely forgotten how she had casually pinned Wu Tie to the ground and stomped on his head when her strength had surged earlier. She appeared to have transformed into someone else entirely, becoming pitiful and delicate, like a small jasmine flower battered by a storm.

"Young Master... Lingqing is just a poor, helpless woman. If you let me leave, I truly will have nowhere to go," she said, tears streaming down her face, dripping onto the ground. "If you don't mind, I dare to beg you, with my humble self, to serve you for life."

"I dare not ask for any title, I only wish to stay by your side, at your command."

"Although I am untalented, I do possess some skills, especially in planning. You will surely be an unparalleled hero in the future, and you will always need trusted subordinates to command..."

"Besides my own insignificant skills and a bit of cleverness for you to use, my very self... when you are tired or weary, I can also bring you joy..."

Previously, when Shi Lingqing's power had surged, she had frantically demanded that Wu Tie become her subordinate dog.

Now, after losing her ill-gotten power, she had instantly turned into a pitiable woman, tearfully begging Wu Tie to take her in.

Wu Tie stood there, stunned, for a long time.

He truly couldn't understand how Shi Lingqing could do such a thing.

Did she have no shame at all?

How could Wu Tie possibly take her in?

Seeing the fates of Old Wu, Luolin, Qiao, Ding, Shi Dian, and the two great masters Grandma Hong and the Nine Palm Commander... Wu Tie didn't dare.

"I will not take you in. This is my territory. I'll give you some time, then leave on your own," Wu Tie said dryly, giving Shi Lingqing his final warning before turning towards Old Tie.

Old Tie lay on the ground, unmoving, showing no signs of life, like a piece of scrap metal.

Wu Tie's heart leaped into his throat. Had Old Tie been truly broken by the continuous heavy blows from the Nine Palm Commander and the others?

Wu Tie quickened his pace and lunged towards Old Tie.

Suddenly, an extremely powerful and terrifying aura descended from the sky.

Countless crystal clusters around them shattered, and fragments of various sizes flew out like bullets, striking intact clusters with sharp clangs and sparks.

Wu Tie felt as if he had been struck by a mountain. He grunted, his knees buckling, and he fell to the ground with a 'thud.'

Shi Lingqing, beside him, fared even worse. Having lost the power she gained from Grandma Hong, her own cultivation was truly insignificant. She coughed up blood profusely, lying flat on the ground like a piece of paper, her body stiff and unable to move.

Wu Tie struggled to lift his head and look up into the sky.

The Ox Hero, who had been dead for who knew how many years, was bending down, looking down at Wu Tie and the others.

His giant eyes, like massive lanterns, emitted two beams of light that quickly scanned Wu Tie, Old Tie, and Shi Lingqing. His gaze, as if tangible, swept across the hall, causing it to shatter. The last golden skeleton sitting on a cushion, which had managed to remain intact, also collapsed and disintegrated.

The light beams from the Ox Hero's eyes intensified, like two pillars of fire sweeping across the ground. Wherever they passed, the air churned violently, stirring up waves of wind.

A terrifying aura of power emanated from his body. At this moment, it was as if he had crossed the merciless river of time, arriving from his fiery peak era to the present, appearing before Wu Tie as if alive.

Yet, he was dead after all.

Dozens of crystal spears piercing his chest and abdomen emitted a blinding light, and waves of destructive energy spread outwards as dim halos. Wherever they passed, countless crystal fragments solidified, reforming into complete crystal clusters that fell to the ground.

Crisp cracking sounds emanated from the Ox Hero's body.

Starting from his feet, fine cracks appeared and quickly spread throughout his entire body.

The Ox Hero's gaze swept over Old Tie, who was lying on the ground. His eyes paused abruptly, and a clear curse escaped his lips: "Damn it!"

Old Tie slowly stood up, his eyes burning with a fiery red light, and stared intently at the Ox Hero.

"Head-dog!" the Ox Hero grinned, a bright smile, then turned his gaze to Wu Tie.

His fiery gaze fell upon Wu Tie, who felt his entire body heat up as if every tiny corner was being seen through by the Ox Hero's eyes.

The Ox Hero looked at Wu Tie, then at Old Tie, and nodded with a smile: "Good, very good."

With a 'crack,' the Ox Hero's body completely disintegrated, exploding into a sky full of dark golden light particles that scattered in all directions.

The moment the Ox Hero's body disintegrated, the crystal spears within him, as well as the golden lotus that had barely remained intact in the hall, also shattered and disintegrated.

A rich fragrance wafted through the air, and a strong essence of blood filled the void. The entire massive stone cave seemed to be melting, countless crystal clusters dissolving, and molten red crystals flowing slowly on the ground.

Shi Lingqing suddenly leaped up and reached for the spot where the Ox Hero's body had been.

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

Wu Tie shouted sternly, "Don't defile him... How could he possibly be something you can covet?"

Shi Lingqing stared for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Defile? I defile him? I can't covet him?" She turned around, as proud as a princess, tilting her chin and looking at Wu Tie askance. "Who do you think you are? You lowly thing... all you men... are lowly things..."

With a 'hehe' chuckle, Shi Lingqing's eyes suddenly turned blood red. She let out a scream, and her entire body exploded.

A streak of blood light shot out, striking Wu Tie's forehead heavily, forming the deeply bloody characters 'Longevity' on his brow.