Endure

'It hurts. It hurts so damn much. It feels like my insides are churning and my whole body is being torn apart', thought Tang Lin as he fell to the ground, writhing in pain.

Currently, in order to refine Tang Lin's body, each muscle had to be destroyed first. This was because his muscles had to be restructured slightly physically and biologically to support his future achievements in the Body Tempering path.

Unfortunately, prior to this, the crimson bloodline had greatly increased his physical capabilities by digging out all of his body's potential. However, now this would make every further step in the Body Tempering path more challenging. Of course, heaven was fair and every breakthrough he made would bring immense benefits.

Although, all would be for naught if Tang Lin couldn't persevere.

Blood started to pour out profusely as Tang Lin continued gritting his teeth. Sweat had drenched his clothes.

'Hmph, still trying to resist? This should be over in ten minutes', snickered the chimera.

Since Fang Yue wasn't around, the chimera directed its anger at Tang Lin.

'I could kill this boy whenever I want, but he shall suffer in place of his friend', thought the chimera as it continued watching Tang Lin in pain with a smile.

*Half an hour later.*

'Impossible! Is he still alive? I can still sense his breathing', the chimera observed with a surprised expression.

'More… I need much more energy! To think my body could absorb that frightening amount of energy. Am I black hole or what?' thought Tang Lin.

'But, my whole body is numb and I can barely move a finger. At this rate, I'm going to fail the breakthrough. I need to absorb more Reconstructive pills, but how do I reach it?' he contemplated as he looked at the pill bottle in front of his chest.

'Am I going to fail like this again? Will I just die like this without anyone knowing? Am I about to drown and fade into the river of time?' Tang Lin brooded.

Anger, frustration and vexation. He hated his life. He hated his father for abandoning him and his mother. He hated the people who bullied and looked down on him after his meridians were crippled in the past. However, what he hated the most was himself.

'I hate how weak I still am!' thought Tang Lin, his emotions unstable and his powers leaking out.

At that moment, he had unconsciously circulated his crimson essence, which activated its devouring power. Sensing the essence contained within the pill bottle, it pulled the pill bottle closer to Tang Lin.

'That? Did that just move the pill bottle?' Tang Lin questioned.

In his desperate situation, he could finally see it. He saw hope.

'Even if it's a life. I want to believe it. I want to believe that I can change myself!' thought Tang Lin as he desperately circulated his crimson essence to the area of his mouth.

Once again, the devouring power activated, sucking out all of the Reconstructive pills from the bottle before being shoved down Tang Lin's throat.

'That energy!?! No wonder this boy felt so familiar. How is this boy connected to that monster?. realised the chimera in shock.

'Wait, this means that the boy wasn't dying. FUCK! I've been deceived!' thought the chimera, who was about to get up before hesitating.

'Hm, let's not make any rash decisions now after confirming his connection with that guy', the chimera contemplated.

*Fwoosh*

Torrents of energy erupted from the digested pills in a frenzy.

'Ugh. This is it. With this much energy, I can attempt a breakthrough', Tang Lin thought.

With his strong recovery capabilities, dried blood kept peeling off as more blood sprayed out with every flesh and muscle being tempered.

*An incense stick of time later*

After the last muscle and flesh of his body had been refined, Tang Lin felt his whole body aching and itching in pain.

'Flesh Training stage!' he celebrated tiredly.

'A breakthrough? Shit, this is not the time to be anxious. With this boy's connection to that man, everything has become a variable. It'll be better for me to dispose of him first and bear any consequences or trouble later', thought the chimera.

'Wait, this might be my chance! If I possess this boy's body, I might be able to finally escape from here and unravel the secrets in his body', the chimera fantasized with a crafty smirk.

Not noticing the approaching chimera , Tang Lin was distracted by a new crisis internally within his body.

'What do I do? What do I do? I've severely underestimated the Reconstructive pills. Now, the amount of energy won't stop increasing and my body's already satiated. At this rate, I'm going to explode!' Tang Lin panicked.

'An outlet! I need to find a way to channel out all this energy', he thought, before finally noticing the chimera, who was running directly towards him.

'I think I've got an idea now. I can only pray that it will work. If I circulate the energy and focus it outwards, while using the Dual Dao swords as an outlet. Then I might just be able to remove the excess energy within my body and not explode', thought Tang Lin.

*Rumble*

The goat on the chimera suddenly shot out a giant ball of magma at Tang Lin.

Seeing the incoming attack, Tang Lin instinctively drew Gravity and slashed down. There was nothing fancy, complicated or mysterious about this attack. It was simply a sword slash let out by Tang Lin randomly.

However, when the small sword slash collided with the ball of magma, something unimaginable happened.

*Slice*

"Adsgfkjgh! What the fuck!" yelped the chimera as it desperately attempted to avoid the attack by dodging to the right.

*SHIK, drop.*

A burning sensation appeared at its rear end, overwhelming its senses.

"N-n-no… NO!" the chimera cried out in distress as it slowly turned its head around.

An object was lying on the ground as the chimera felt its heart stop for a moment.

*Exhale*

The chimera let out a huge sigh of relief after realising that its snake tail was the one cut off.

"BOY! You better start praying for your life!" bellowed the chimera solemnly, who decided to charge at Tang Lin with brute force.

Unable to hear the chimera, Tang Lin's mind was filled with ways to get rid of the excess energy within his body. On the other hand, the chimera's mind was full of ways to possess Tang Lin's body as fast as possible, disregarding Tang Lin's attacks. Who will give in first? It was a race against time!