Chapter 26 - I Refused the Pill
My breakthrough did not finish.
It began.
Every failed technique I had burned became a layer.
Every tribulation scar became another.
Every lost fight fed the structure.
[Foundation Layer 1: Failure]
[Layer 2: Pain]
[Layer 3: Refusal]
The system could not categorize it.
[ERROR: Nonstandard cultivation path.]
Good.
I attacked Veyr.
For the first time, he stepped back.
His face twisted.
"That root belongs to Heaven."
"Heaven should've labeled it."
We traded blows beneath the bells.
He was stronger.
I was harder to predict.
Mira cut the chains on the remaining disciples.
Jace rang the ninth bell with Veyr's stolen seal.
The mountain chose a temporary sect master.
Not me.
Jace.
He stared at the glowing mark on his palm.
"I don't want this."
"Perfect qualification."
With sect authority, he ordered every formation to target Veyr.
The elder screamed as Iron Lotus turned against him.
Then the red presence below the mountain tore open the gate anyway.
A hand made of blood-red qi reached through.
It grabbed Veyr.
He smiled as it pulled him down.
"You think I was the master?"
His body vanished below.
The gate remained open.
May you like
And something began climbing toward us.
