[Warning: This chapter torments the protagonist.]
When Yue Ling regained consciousness, he had already landed safely in Xuan Zi's little courtyard, lying sprawled without a shred of dignity on the cold stone-brick ground.
He stared blankly for two seconds, his mind still muddled, then struggled to prop himself up and sit.
Lowering his head, he examined himself.
He was covered in dirt and grime, his clothes filthy and foul-smelling. Exhaustion seeped through his entire body, leaving him in an utterly miserable state.
Yue Ling sighed to himself.
This time, his forced absorption of the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring had been completely different from Tang San's.
Tang San had possessed the uniquely favorable environment of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, as well as the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot to balance and temper his body. Absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring had been almost effortless for him, without the slightest danger.
But Yue Ling had none of those exceptional advantages.
Throughout the entire process, he had relied solely on his tempered physique to endure it, using willpower far beyond that of ordinary people to hold on. He had exhausted every shred of Soul Power in his body, tightened every inch of his meridians to forcibly suppress the backlash, and absorbed this Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring through sheer force.
Just moments ago, he had been on the brink of death at nearly every step. Every second had been agony.
Yet he had no way back. He could only grit his teeth and endure, refusing to let himself fail.
In the Shrek Inner Court, where talent abounded and competition was brutal, he had been able to cultivate and grow in peace partly because of his own talent, and partly because of his status as Xuan Zi's closed-door disciple.
Crisis hung over his