Sitting cross-legged in a secret room, Ning Wangyang kept breathing in and out deeply. By his side, several Raw Stones were placed, and as he absorbed the Energy from the Raw Stones, Wangyang started to tend to the injuries on his body.
To be honest, he was indeed quite seriously injured this time.
Even though he made a breakthrough to the Yellow Rank in the midst of battle, the Mothman’s strength was truly formidable. If it wasn’t for his rich combat experience, coupled with Catherine’s timely assistance with her gun, he probably would have been defeated despite the breakthrough.
He was not as strong as the Mothman!
Of that, Ning Wangyang was very clear.
The victory he achieved also contained elements of luck.
However, he wasn’t entirely clear why Li Chen, after only a few encounters with the Mothman, had been poisoned, while he himself had not. After all, he had more contact with the Mothman.
And the words the Mothman uttered before its death... Ning Wangyang shook his head, no longer pondering these matters, and continued to cultivate.
During his cultivation, Ning Wangyang felt surprised to discover that his speed in absorbing and converting True Qi had increased by God knows how many times compared to before.
"Could this really be the change that comes after breaking through to the Yellow Rank?" a look of surprise appeared on Wangyang’s face.
This speed was something he dared not even imagine before.
It was too fast, so fast that even he himself was somewhat astonished by it.
"The changes after breaking through to the Yellow Rank are this significant?" Ning Wangyang felt surprised but did not delay any further. While absorbing the Energy from the Raw Stones, he continued his cultivation.
However, he had not noticed that behind his back, a strange black pattern was gradually spreading.
After returning home, Li Chen appeared somewhat hesitant.
It had to be said that this incident brought quite a few doubts to his mind.
In the past, he might have felt pretty good about himself, but now, the stronger he became, the more he felt there was that he did not know.
The saying "the more powerful one becomes, the more they realize their own insignificance" could be said to be quite apt to describe Li Chen at this moment.
"Strength... it’s still all about strength," Li Chen lamented inwardly.
However, he also understood that cultivation was not something to be rushed, one had to progress step by step gradually. If he took risks every time, he probably wouldn’t have to wait to reach higher levels of cultivation before dying during an adventure.
But thinking back on his two previous adventurous breakthroughs, Li Chen subconsciously started to perform Inner Vision.
Immediately, a bitter smile appeared on Li Chen’s face.
This Mysterious Energy, of unknown origin and quantity, always seemed to be hiding in some corner of his body, Li Chen thought. Whenever he absorbed a bit of it, more would appear again.
He wasn’t even clear on how much of this Energy was yet to be consumed. Swallow one, and the next seems stronger. Such a feeling made Li Chen think that his body seemed to be loaded with countless time bombs he couldn’t see.
"I can only take it one step at a time," he sighed helplessly.
At this moment, Li Chen suddenly turned his head. Wang Qianqian was coming in from outside.
"Hmm? Brother Cheen, you’re back!" Seeing Li Chen, a look of surprise and delight appeared on Wang Qianqian’s face.
"Yeah," Li Chen responded with a smile as he saw Wang Qianqian: "The matter’s settled, so I came back."
"I’m going to take a shower first," Wang Qianqian said, as she was stared at by Li Chen for quite a while before turning and heading upstairs.
"Take a shower?" Li Chen took a step forward, blocking Wang Qianqian’s path, a mischievous smile suddenly appearing on his face.
"I’ve worked up quite a sweat myself, how about we shower together?"
"Phew—" Lying in the bathtub, Li Chen felt an indescribable sense of comfort washing over him.
Wang Qianqian looked at the scars crisscrossing Li Chen’s back, and in her eyes lay a heartache that Li Chen didn’t see.
She knew that her man was a true man, standing upright and strong. Thus, she was also making herself stronger and no longer as fragile as before.
Li Chen had once softly told her something that Wang Qianqian had always remembered in her heart:
"In this world of the survival of the fittest, even tenderness is a sin."
As both were lost in their thoughts, a sudden light noise came from outside the door.
Their eyes simultaneously widened as they did not have time to say anything before the bathroom door was burst open.
Lin Yi, looking travel-weary, rushed in as if desperate for a bath.
However, when he saw the two people in the bathroom, all three froze.
"Uh... honey, come and join us for a shower," Li Chen said somewhat awkwardly, waving his hand.
Lin Yi, who rushed into the bathroom, seemed to be in a hurry, not even having taken off his coat.
Lin Yi’s expression suddenly darkened, as he was about to speak, another noise came from outside the door.
"Sis! Let’s take a shower together!"
Just as Lin Yi opened his mouth, before he could say anything, Lin Xiaoxiao rushed into the bathroom cheerfully.
And so, all four of them were dumbfounded at once.