Chapter 40: Ancestor, Save Me - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

### Chapter 40: Ancestor, Save Me Immortal and indestructible. Chen An was currently experiencing the regeneration of his body. He came to a realization: the more severe the injuries he sustained, the greater the strength his body would possess upon regeneration. This was why he leisurely allowed the blood hands to gnaw at him. To illustrate, if Chen An's physical strength was at a level of one, and he were to jump from the fiftieth floor, smashing himself into a pulp, his regenerated body would possess a strength of two or three. Step by step, Chen An casually walked up to Zhang A Si. After considering his next move, he raised the wooden stick in his hand and brought it down. A simple, unremarkable blow. Zhang A Si neither dodged nor fled. He stared intently at the wooden stick, as if willing it to transform into something else. The next moment, a barrier sprang up around him, easily blocking the stick. Zhang A Si visibly relaxed, a slight smirk appearing on his lips as he regarded the peculiar young man before him. “You have no spiritual energy. You are a mortal. You cannot harm me!” “I was not mistaken! I was not mistaken!” he almost roared, relief washing over him. Moments before, he’d felt a chill down his spine, as if he were about to suffer a crushing defeat. Then, he formed a spell with his hands, and countless blood hands danced in the air, restraining Chen An’s limbs and even his face, preventing him from advancing. Zhang A Si spoke with smugness, “I must admit, you are indeed peculiar. Even I have never encountered a strange ability like yours.” “To endure pain and regenerate your body as you do…” His expression grew increasingly twisted. “But you lack any spiritual energy fluctuations. I was not mistaken! You are an ordinary person through and through!” “Though I don’t know where you gained this ability…” Zhang A Si stepped forward, locking eyes with Chen An, “You are just right to feed these blood hands. I want to see how many times you can be reborn!” He stared into Chen An's eyes, expecting to detect some trace of panic or fear. Yet there was nothing but calmness—neither detached nor indifferent, just perfectly ordinary calmness. The boy seemed to understand. “You’re right,” Chen An nodded in agreement. “I am indeed still just an ordinary person right now. I can’t harm you.” Opposite him, Zhang A Si found the situation utterly absurd. Why are you so composed?! Shouldn’t you be crumbling to the ground in terror?! Chen An quickly provided an answer. “Thank you for the reminder.” “But it seems we cannot have a proper conversation.” As the young man finished speaking, a colossal wave of spiritual energy emanated from him. In an instant, Chen An had entered the Foundation Establishment stage. He raised the wooden stick once more, delivering another simple, straightforward blow. This time, the stick effortlessly pierced through the protective barrier, landing gently on Zhang A Si’s shoulder. Yet Zhang A Si did not feel the 'gentleness.' What seemed a feeble strike sent him flying backward over ten meters. Even after landing, his face remained stuck in a bewildered and stupefied expression. His muscles and bones shattered, agonizing pain coursed through his body, forcing him to grit his teeth and suppress any screams. Once, Zhang A Si took pride in being a ruthless figure in his own time. But now, as he looked at Chen An, his eyes filled with terror and incomprehension. He couldn’t fathom why someone could achieve such a rapid breakthrough from Foundation Establishment in an era of sparse spiritual energy. Is everyone else practicing cultivation legitimately while you cheat? In truth, Chen An could have reached Foundation Establishment long ago, but as he had confessed: He simply forgot. It had slipped his mind to break through. In his previous life, Chen An had taken three days for Qi Condensation, thirty days for Foundation Establishment, and three months to reach the Core Formation stage. This time, it only took three breaths. If Zhang A Si knew the vast gap between individuals could be this immense, he might have coughed up blood in frustration on the spot. “No, even if you’re in the Qi Condensation stage, you’ve just stepped into the first level. Why? Why?!” Zhang A Si gritted his teeth, unaware even when he bit through his lip. He was indignant. Why him? Zhang A Si forced himself to stand upright. An icy determination shone in his eyes as magical hand seals flashed. Blood hands emerged from the ground, attempting to ensnare the young man. A chaotic surge of spiritual energy burst from him, indicating a desperate bid for victory. Zhang A Si’s gaze was piercing, his spiritual energy pushing to its limits. Muttering an incantation, his skin turned an earthy color. Earth Escape Technique! Apparently, the resolve and desperation etched on his face moments ago had been mere deception. This tactic of his had never failed. As his body rapidly sank into the earth, nearly vanishing beneath the surface, fate had another idea. Unfortunately, this time he faced someone who played by no known rules. Chen An moved. With a single step, he traversed the space between them. Before Zhang A Si's terrified eyes, Chen An gripped him by the collar, yanking his half-buried body out of the ground. The scene left Zhang A Si’s facade shattered. Is this how you harvest turnips?! The disparity between two people in the same Qi Condensation stage was unfathomable? Blood energy surged vigorously around him as he shouted desperately. “Ancestor, save me!” As if to confirm his final gamble, the intangible blood energy in the air began to converge rapidly into a single point. Within moments, it ascended to the sky, forming an enormous blood cloud. The cloud rolled ominously, exuding a fearsome and chilling malevolence. Zhang A Si watched, face alight with manic joy. Though summoning the Blood Fiend Ancestor’s attention meant forfeiting all the gains from the blood sacrifice and paying a steep price, it was still better than losing his life! He gazed expectantly at the sky. The blood cloud gradually parted, revealing a bizarre, blood-red eye. Within that eye lay a wrathful and annihilative presence, so menacing that even a glance promised unimaginable terror. Its entrance was nothing short of spectacular. Chen An lifted his head and looked straight into it. For a moment, his gaze met the eye in the sky. Chen An blinked. Then, just like that, the blood cloud vanished. And it vanished far quicker than it had appeared, bereft of the imposing aura. Like a mouse before a cat, its earlier momentum vanished without a trace. Even the vast formation covering the sky dissolved entirely in that momentous gaze. Suddenly, the sky was clear, without a cloud in sight. As if nothing had ever transpired. Everything merely a shared illusion. Zhang A Si's joyous expression froze on his face. No! Ancestor! That was supposed to be the legendary Blood Fiend Ancestor, master of domains, commanding millions! How could it abandon its most loyal disciple just like that? Zhang A Si couldn't accept it. If the intention was to ignore this ordeal, why make such a grand entrance in the first place? But he would never have the chance to know. For Chen An had already raised the wooden stick, shattering Zhang A Si’s skull to bits. (End of Chapter)