Chapter 134: The Promise

Within the cave, illuminated by flickering firelight, Yang Fan pushed himself up from the ground with both hands and slowly opened his eyes.

As he moved his body, gradually regaining his senses, Yang Fan lost count of how many times he had fallen unconscious in this cave. He shook his head and locked his gaze on Kunlun, who sat not far away.

"Not bad. To have mastered the Indestructible Kunlun Art so quickly—you are truly impressive," Kunlun said, offering a rare note of approval.

The Indestructible Kunlun Art was neither easy nor particularly difficult to grasp. In terms of function, it was merely a technique to accelerate human metabolism and bolster recovery. Yet, in its nuances, it was a supreme life-saving art; a formidable regenerative capacity forged an incomparably powerful physique.

Battles among cultivators were essentially hand-to-hand combat. Even in the later stages, when conflicts escalated into clashes of raw energy, a resilient body allowed one to endure far more than the average practitioner. One only had to look at Kunlun to understand: at the tenth-grade Martial Emperor level, he had been besieged by several opponents of equal standing, yet they could not kill him. Every time they thought they had finished him off, the man would simply stand up again, his wounds healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Imagine the agony of fighting such an opponent. You expend every ounce of strength to inflict a lethal wound, only to realize, before you can even celebrate, that the bastard is back on his feet. In the heat of battle, such a realization is devastating.

Yang Fan did not answer, choosing instead to quietly sense the changes within his own body.

His meridians had become tougher and wider. Channels that were previously resistant to the flow of energy were now vast and unobstructed, and all impurities had been purged from his system as his body underwent this profound reconstruction. Yang Fan felt a lightness he had never experienced before; he felt as if he could take flight at any moment.

He raised his hand, condensed a thread of energy, and sliced it across his own arm. A ten-centimeter gash appeared. Instinctively, Yang Fan began to circulate the Indestructible Kunlun Art.

The wound stopped bleeding immediately and began to knit itself back together. In less than three minutes, the gash had closed, leaving behind only a faint white scar. Yang Fan stared at his arm in astonishment. He had held high expectations for the art, but the actual results were a pleasant surprise. He hadn't merely grazed his skin; he had steeled himself to cut deep enough to reach the bone.

Under normal circumstances, such an injury would require weeks of treatment, even with the aid of high-grade medicine. Yet now, it had healed in under three minutes.

Yang Fan checked his internal state once more. He discovered that as the wound healed, his vital energy was being consumed, and at a significant rate. Before he could investigate further, a surge of life force erupted from deep within his body, instantly replenishing his energy. It was the residual effect of the fruit Kunlun had fed him earlier. He could feel, however, that the potency of this life force was fading compared to when he first consumed it. He estimated it would not last much longer.

After studying his body for a moment, he turned his attention to Kunlun. "Senior, now that I have mastered the art, am I free to go?"

Kunlun nodded. "You may. With the protection of the Indestructible Kunlun Art, your life will be well-guarded as long as you do not seek your own death. Continue practicing, and you will discover even greater surprises. Boy, I will send you away shortly, but you must promise me: when you reach the ninth grade, you will return here to set me free," Kunlun said, his tone solemn.

Yang Fan nodded silently.

Kunlun then produced a blood-red pill and tossed it to him. "Eat it. This is the Blood-Eater Pill, crafted specifically to counter the Indestructible Kunlun Art. It is the only one in existence, and I am the only one who holds the antidote. It will have no immediate effect, but when you attempt to break through to the tenth grade, it will give you a surprise you won't forget. You would do well to return to me the moment you reach the ninth grade, or your fate will be miserable," Kunlun said, his face darkening.

Yang Fan caught the pill and examined it. It was blood-red, devoid of any medicinal scent, appearing more like a simple crimson stone. He did not know what would happen without the antidote, and Kunlun had not specified, but even a fool knew it could not be anything good.

The last shred of hope vanished from Yang Fan's heart. He had entertained the naive thought that Kunlun might simply let him go, but he now realized his error. An old monster who had lived for hundreds of years would always have ways to control someone as weak as he was.

With a sigh of resignation, Yang Fan swallowed the pill. A metallic, bloody taste filled his mouth before dissipating, followed by a chilling sensation that coursed through his body before vanishing without a trace.

Seeing that Yang Fan had swallowed the pill, Kunlun’s expression softened. "Don't hold a grudge, boy. I have no choice. The world is vast, but there is no place left for me. All my hopes rest on you. If you break your word, I will never see the light of day again. The pill will cause you no harm; in fact, the medicinal power within it will subtly strengthen your physique. Its true nature will only manifest when you reach the threshold of the tenth grade. As long as you return as promised, you will suffer no ill effects. Consider the pill as if it never existed. I have passed down my clan's supreme art to you—that is a debt large enough. I may have my own selfish motives, but you have lost nothing, have you? You have gained the potential to become stronger, and I have gained hope. It is a win-win."

Yang Fan considered these words and found them logical. Since arriving at the Endless Cliff, Kunlun had not truly harmed him and had even granted him the clan's legacy. His condition was merely that Yang Fan return to save him once he grew strong enough; it was not an unreasonable demand.

Yang Fan nodded to show he understood. Kunlun smiled, then let out a thunderous roar.

The entire cave began to tremble. The four chains shackled to Kunlun’s body rattled violently, emitting a cacophony of clashing metal. Amidst the roar, Kunlun spat out a mouthful of blood, flecked with gold, spraying it into the void. The space before them seemed to melt away.

"Watch closely! When the space melts and a path appears, leap through it immediately. You must be quick; my strength cannot sustain this for long. And remember our agreement. When you return to save me, I will give you a great reward..."

As the words faded, a spatial rift appeared not far from where Yang Fan stood.