Embersteel: Legend of the Warrior BlackSmith

Chapter 16: The Unraveling Darkness

The cold night air hung thick with tension, the moonlight casting long shadows that danced eerily across the clearing. Feng could feel it in his bones, the unmistakable pull of danger. Lin Rou's grave warning about demonic cultivators had changed the atmosphere, and the night felt different now as if the forest itself was bristling with malevolence.

Feng paced quietly at the edge of the village, his mind racing. His blood purification had only reached fifteen percent, and while it had given him a boost, he knew it wasn't enough. He was talented for his age, no doubt, but if the rumors of demonic cultivators were true, what lay ahead would push him beyond his current limits.

The sounds of villagers gathering their belongings and moving through the gates echoed in the background. In their haste, none of them noticed Feng slipping away from the village square and heading toward a more secluded area on the outskirts. He found a spot just behind a small grove of ancient trees, where the energy felt purer, untouched by the chaos in the village.

"This should work," he muttered to himself as he sat cross-legged on the damp ground doing his best to enter a meditative state.

In the world of cultivation, reverse cultivation was taboo. It defied the natural order, forcing the cultivator's body to go through transformations in a backward manner. Instead of purifying the blood and strengthening the bones first, then moving on to the muscles and lastly the meridians, reverse cultivation purified the blood first, then gradually opened and refined the meridians, muscles, and bones all at the same time depending on how one chose to go about the process. This method was not only risky but it had been banned in all sects due to the immense strain it placed on the body. Many who attempted it either died or crippled their cultivation paths forever.

But Feng had no choice. His foundation was shaky, and his only option was to push forward with reverse cultivation. Besides, the Eternal Flame Codex had accepted him. He couldn't turn back now.

Sinking deeper into his meditation, Feng focused on his two opened meridians, the Ren and Du channels, pulling on the spiritual energy that lingered in the air. This place was rich with it—the trees, the earth, even the faint whispers of energy left behind by ancient battles fought long ago. He could feel it swirling around him, like invisible currents of power, waiting to be drawn in.

With a deep breath, Feng began to pull the spiritual energy into his body. His two open meridians, the Ren and Du meridians, started to hum with activity, greedily absorbing the influx of energy. He visualized the flow of power, guiding it along his meridians like rivers cutting through his body.

At first, the energy felt warm and gentle, like a stream flowing over smooth stones. But as Feng continued, the warmth intensified, becoming more like molten lava coursing through his veins. He gritted his teeth, feeling the strain on his body as the energy began to merge with his blood.

The process was agonizing. His blood, already purified to fifteen percent, struggled to absorb the new spiritual energy, forcing it to work harder. His veins bulged as the blood rushed through them, circulating faster and faster, refining itself further with every pass. Feng's body trembled from the inside out, his muscles tensing under the strain.

As the blood absorbed more spiritual energy, something unexpected happened. His Ren and Du meridians, now fully awakened, started to store the excess energy instead of just circulating it. This was the first sign that his reverse cultivation was beginning to affect his entire body. The energy that had been focused solely on his blood was now spilling into his meridians, pooling there like reservoirs of untapped power.

But the process didn't stop there. Feng's bones began to ache, a deep, throbbing pain that radiated through his body. His muscles, which had once been lean and wiry, now pulsed with energy, growing denser, stronger. The spiritual energy wasn't just purifying his blood anymore—it was fortifying his bones, hardening them like steel being forged in fire.

Feng's face twisted in pain as his bones creaked under the pressure. His cultivation was advancing too quickly, and his body was forced to endure changes that would normally take months, even years. This was the risk of reverse cultivation. His bones and muscles weren't ready for this kind of power.

Gritting his teeth, Feng focused, directing the energy with precision. He couldn't afford to lose control. He visualized the flow of energy, channeling it into his bones, his muscles, and his organs. Every fiber of his being was being strengthened, forged anew by the spiritual energy. His Ren and Du meridians, now fully activated, pulsed with energy, storing the excess like a dam holding back a flood.

The pain was excruciating, but Feng welcomed it. Pain was a sign that his cultivation was working, that his body was transforming. His muscles rippled beneath his skin, his bones growing denser with each pulse of energy. His blood, now approaching twenty percent purity, flowed through his veins with the force of a raging river.

After what felt like hours, Feng finally opened his eyes. His body ached, his muscles sore, but he felt stronger than ever before. The spiritual energy had settled within him, his blood purified to nearly twenty percent, and his bones and muscles now fortified by the stored energy in his meridians.

He rose slowly, testing his new strength. His body felt lighter, faster, more powerful. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through him.

But even as he reveled in his newfound strength, Feng knew this was only the beginning. The beasts were coming, and the demonic cultivator behind them was close. He had no time to waste.

With a deep breath, Feng moved back toward the village, the moonlight reflecting off his now steely frame. His mind was sharp, his senses heightened, every fiber of his being ready for the battle ahead.

As he approached the northern edge of the village, he saw Lin Rou and the remaining watchmen standing guard. Their faces were grim, their weapons drawn. The first sounds of the approaching horde could be heard now—the ground shaking as the beasts neared.

Lin Rou glanced at Feng as he approached, his eyes narrowing slightly. There was something different about the boy now—an aura of strength that hadn't been there before. Lin Rou didn't say anything, but Feng could tell he had noticed.

"They're almost here," Lin Rou said quietly, his voice heavy with the weight of what was coming. "Get ready. Kid you don't belong here, you should go!"

Feng's eyes scanning the tree line the beasts were close, he could feel their energy now, a chaotic, bloodthirsty presence that made his skin crawl, completely ignoring Lin Rou as he focused his mind.

"There's something else. A dark, oppressive energy lurks behind the beasts, directing them like puppets on strings." The voice of the Eternal Flame Codex echoed at this time.

He clenched his fists, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to hold back. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it head on. If his pursuers caught up so he it. And then, the first beast broke through the trees—a massive, boar-like creature with glowing red eyes, its tusks gleaming in the moonlight.

The battle had begun.