39. Obtaining Power I
When Clay opened his eyes, he thought he was dead but upon sensing the drool hanging on his mouth and his body being tied to chair, he can’t help but chuckle.
He does not know how long he suffered he felt like he was sent down to hell and suffer every form of torture Satan has to offer. And compare that experience to what the brawny did to him, he probably will not feel anything if his fingernails were removed again.
It did eventually dissipate but for the entire duration of that unspeakable form of agony, he was awake. He thought he would pass out but the heavens seem to want him to experience a more excruciating torment.
As Clay thought if he is better off dead, he suddenly felt thirsty. He wanted to ignore it but this abnormal feeling he felt like he had turn into a monster he will drink anything even his own urine.
Clay wanted to get up but since his movements are restrained, he used his Qi to prove his surrounding and having founding nothing, he looked into his spatial ring.
Clay could not find anything as well except for the Tapa’y wine gifted to him by some random cultivator back at the inn. Using his Qi Projection, he took out the bottle and poured everything into his mouth.
“More.” The wine was almost a liter but it felt like a drop.
Clay expanded his Qi again hoping to find any water but his cell and the nearby cells were all empty.
“I need more.” Clay wanted to break free from the ropes but when he sent his Qi again into his spatial ring, he noticed the blood from the headless Flame Horned Lion.
Clay had not time to ponder why the blood has not coagulated and instead used his Qi projections to extract blood. He wanted to just take out the lion’s body out but space in the room is not sufficient to contain the beast and it might even suffocate him.
“Aahhh!” Like an endless abyss, Clay drank every bottle he extracted.
Clay lost count how much he had already drinked but after fifteen minutes, he felt satiated. He knew something was wrong so he waited and after another hour and he did not have any more monstrous craving, just the feeling of powerful transformation.
He did not know if he should celebrate or if he should be anxious but a new set of Qi Nodes is now present in his body and the Beast Core below his neck. The Qi Nodes were originally for but now, he was looking at a complete set and all of them are opened including the Sub Qi Nodes.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Clay felt unusually calm and even his mind was clearer as he observed the Core.
It originally had a fire-based Formation pattern so he circulated his Qi based on fire technique. Back when he was living in a cage, he seen hundreds of samples and deriving a common factor was easy.
When he tried to guide the flow, the feeling was similar to circulating Qi within his dantian and in less than five minutes, his Core automatically flowed similar his primary circuit, Peak Early Condensation.
Clay has yet to simultaneously activate both circuits yet he can already the same abnormal and terrifying power similar to that time when he meddled with the snail’s Qi circulation.
Clay finally saw hope.
He wanted to test his power but he knew the moment he creates an aura, it will immediately alert his torturer but that is if it is an aura. But for a Qi Projection, it will be perceive like any other Qi-based and maybe sensed as stronger when up-close.
Clay wanted to destroy the restraints and free himself from the chair but he did not rush. It is not like he cannot summon Qi Projections from other parts of his body.
Clay simultaneously activated both the power of his dantian and his Beast Core then summoned a simple Qi Projection using the node on his shoulder and when he felt how destructive it is, he took a deep breath and exhaled in satisfaction.
Clay retracted his power and moved his neck sideways.
CLANK!
As expected, the sound and the creaking of the entrance being opened echoed indicating someone sensed his power and would like to investigate.
(What are you talking about?)
(I sensed something disturbing just now. I ask senior we look into it.”
(Disturbing my arse. Be careful if were you. Our guest had just arrived and if you dare disturb him, trust me it is nasty.)
(I’m not making this up.)
Clay listed to the two voices. One of them is his torturer and the other on is probably a guard. As he hears their footsteps, his heart started beating rapidly.
“See this boy? Does this look like a threat to you?” Clay’s torturer activated the lights and entered the cell.
Meanwhile, his companion is wary and apprehensive. He had already scanned each and every cell and he could not feel anything unusual but when he saw Clay, his gut is telling him it was caused by the boy.
“Just come inside and don’t waste my time.”
The companion of the torturer did not lower his guard as he entered but the moment he stepped inside the cell, his body was frozen painted as he watched two terrifying huge hands made of Qi Projections materialized from the boy. The horror in his eyes could not be painted. He wanted to escape but the hands moved too fast and before he knew it, all his bones cracked and everything went dark.
A few seconds ago, Clay nervously pretended to be unconscious. He could feel his heart pounding he had to close his eyes to contain his rage. Every second felt like an eternity but as soon as his torturer’s companion was in range, he opened his eyes.
“Raaaaahhhhhh”
Clay shouted and at the same time, he materialized two hands using his newly acquired power and squished both men to death.
QUISHKK!
Blood splattered everywhere. Clay clenched his teeth to prevent himself from vomiting.
“I need to run.”
Clay did not waste time and shaped his Qi Projection into a knife then cut the ropes restraining him. He wanted to immediately head towards the entrance and escape but when his foot stepped on sharp pebble, he tripped.
Instinctively, Clay looked for his shoes but he could not sense it anywhere. Without spending too much thought, he searched the two grotesque dead bodies for their spatial rings and decided to check them later.