Villains Aren't Stepping Stones!

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Special Physique

Haoran observed Yun Li with a clinical, detached curiosity, his chin resting on his palm as he sat atop the 999th step.

He watched the way the dark, violet energy acted like a weaver’s needle, stitching together the ruptured meridians and shattered pride of the youth below.

Suddenly—BOOM!

A visible shockwave of spiritual energy erupted from Yun Li’s frame, kicking up a cloud of silver dust from the ancient stone floor.

The atmospheric pressure suddenly shifted violently as the boy’s aura surged, shattering the bottleneck of his cultivation!

He had successfully crossed the threshold, leaping from the peak of Foundation Establishment into the 1st Stage of the Core Formation Realm!

Not only that, but the physical devastation Haoran had inflicted just moments ago was gone.

The blood on Yun Li’s face dried and flaked away, revealing skin that was unmarred and eyes that burned with a renewed, toxic arrogance.

”Urgh,” Yun Li stood up slowly, rolling his shoulders as he felt the potent new strength coursing through his veins. ”Ha, I broke through!”

He looked toward Ao Long, Jin Pei, Xia Mengyao, and Luo Mingye, savoring the looks of genuine shock and bewilderment on their faces.

To them, such a rapid recovery and breakthrough under crushing pressure must be a miracle of the highest order.

Yes, that must be. After all, he is a genius chosen by the heavens!

He then turned his gaze upward, looking directly at Haoran, and his brow couldn’t help but furrowed when he noticed that the golden-haired heir hadn’t moved a muscle.

Yes, despite the commotion, Haoran remained as calm and indifferent as a stagnant pool, looking down as if he hadn’t just witnessed something supposedly impossible.

And yes, in Haoran’s eyes, this was truly not shocking.

He had lived his whole life in the Imperial Capital , a place where ”miracles” were the daily bread of the elite, where geniuses with Supreme Bloodline and Special Physiques gathered to compete for dominance.

And while this boy was likely an anomaly, the world was vast; people who could heal instantly or breakthrough in the heat of battle were as numerous as the clouds in the sky.

To a scion of a Hegemon Clan, a desperate breakthrough by a border-land cultivator was merely a common occurrence.

Even Xueli had repeatedly broke through under pressure. Although, she didn’t heal.

’...This anomaly doesn’t look that special,’ Haoran thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.

However, he was intrigued by that strange power. Is it a System? A sentient magical artifact hidden in his soul? He couldn’t be sure yet, but the energy lacked the harmony of this world’s Laws.

It must’ve came from another world, perhaps it was even from the Immortal World and fell into this world, which he happened to pick up.

It was a rather interesting, foreign thing.

But even so, Haoran’s interest was fleeting.

After all, while the energy was ”special,” it wasn’t that special.

Many Special Physiques, including his own newly awakened Infinity Dragon God Divine Physique, possessed similar or even superior regenerative and adaptive capabilities.

Even if it did came from the Immortal World, it is likely fragmented, as he wouldn’t be able to use it if it was complete.

His own Clan had produced many Immortals since time immemorial, so they have a few treasures from the Immortal World as well

So what this Yun Li has isn’t his priority, for now, his primary objective remained unchanged, he wanted Xueli to finish her climb and claim the inheritance so they could leave this backwater region behind.

”I will not repeat myself,” Haoran said, his voice cold and carrying a draconic resonance that made the room tremble. ”You are free to take whatever treasures are hidden in the side chambers of this palace, but the inheritance at the top of these stairs belongs to me. Leave now, or stay and be buried.”

Jin Pei and Ao Long didn’t need to be told twice as they immediately cupped their fists in a frantic salute and turned on their heels.

They had no desire to be in the room when the ”trash heir” inevitably offended Shen Haoran again.

They had been lucky to survive the first outburst; they weren’t about to bet their lives on Haoran’s mercy a second time.

”Let it go, Yun Li,” Luo Mingye said softly, her voice carrying a hint of pity as she stepped forward and patted his shoulder, but her touch was light and devoid of the intimacy he craved. ”An Emperor’s inheritance is precious, but it means nothing if you lose your life before you can use it. There are other treasures here.”

She didn’t wait for his reply as she reached out and grabbed Xia Mengyao’s hand, leading the auburn-haired genius away. ”Let’s go, Brother Mengyao. We should find the armory before the others do.”

Yun Li stared at their retreating backs, his heart twisting with a violent, agonizing jealousy.

He looked at the way Mingye held Mengyao’s hand, a sight that burned more than Haoran’s Qi ever could.

He turned his gaze back to the golden haired youth at the top of the stairs, remembering the feeling of the abyss he had just crawled out of.

Knowing he couldn’t win—not yet—he clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, forced himself to look away, and stalked toward the side corridors to search for his own ”consolation” spoils.

Haoran remained silent as the hall emptied, the only sound being the rhythmic, heavy breathing of Xueli as she began her final push toward the 900th step.

His eyes landed on her, watchful and waiting.

*

*

*

”Brother Mengyao, do you think there is a special physique that can convert pain into ecstasy?” asked Mingye as she walked side by side with Mengyao through the winding, silver-lit corridors of the side chambers.

Mengyao blinked, his pace faltering for a fraction of a second before he shook his head. ”No, I don’t believe so. At least, not in any of the ancient records of the Central Region. Why do you ask such a strange question?”

”I think... I think I might have awakened some special physique.” Mingye paused her steps, turning toward Mengyao with a look of startlingly deep seriousness. ”Earlier, when Young Master Shen suppressed us like that... that heavy, suffocating pressure... I actually enjoyed that feeling when it felt like I was being choked.”

Mengyao’s eyes widened, and he stared at her for a long, quiet moment. ”I... I don’t think that’s a special physique, Mingye. That is probably just a special kink.”

Mingye frowned, her head tilting in genuine confusion. ”What’s a kink? Is it a rare constitution? Or perhaps a bloodline mutation?”

Mengyao blushed, his face turning a shade of pink that contrasted sharply with his auburn hair as he quickly looked away, clearing his throat. ”Ah, it’s nothing. My junior brother was the one who came up with that word... I don’t really know what it means either. I’ll have to ask him about the technical details later.”

”Junior brother... you mean that abandoned prince of the Chasing Cloud Kingdom?” asked Mingye, her curiosity piqued.

Mengyao nodded, his expression softening but becoming firm. ”Don’t call him that, though. It’s very disrespectful to his journey. He is his own person now, and he has shed the shadow of that kingdom who abandoned him.”

”Right, right, sorry,” Mingye said, waving a hand dismissively. ”Still, I’m so envious that you can have such a skilled and talented junior that follows your every command just because you saved him when he was abandoned. It must be so convenient.”

She let out a long, dramatic sigh.

In truth, most of her interest in Yun Li had stemmed from the fact that his situation—the ”trash” label and the sudden rise—was rather similar to that of Mengyao’s junior brother.

She had harbored a secret desire to have a talented younger brother-figure who would follow her lead as well.

But her luck was proving to be rather poor; Yun Li, whom she had held such high hopes for, was turning out to be more of a delusional fraud than a loyal genius.

”Don’t say that,” Mengyao countered gently. ”Junior Brother is just very enthusiastic. He’s not my follower or my servant. We simply walk the same path.”

”Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. We all know he’d jump off a cliff if you asked him to,” Mingye teased.

Just then...

BOOM!

A massive explosion rocked the corridor, sending a cloud of dust and ancient Qi rippling through the air.

Mengyao and Mingye exchanged a sharp look before simultaneously sprinting toward the source of the blast.

It didn’t take long before they arrived at the entrance of a vast, circular room.

It was a treasure trove beyond their wildest dreams. Countless gold coins, high-grade spirit stones, and various scattered artifacts and herbs lay in heaps.

Books and scrolls were also strewn across the floor like autumn leaves.

However, at the center of the hall stood a lone, pristine altar, and hovering above it was a single book, wreathed in a glowing, heavenly golden light.

On the cover, the characters were embossed in a silver that seemed to dance: Bright Star Circulation Sutra.

”A Heavenly Grade Cultivation Technique!?”

Mingye and Mengyao exclaimed in unison.

Even in the depths of the Central Region, a cultivation technique of that level could cause even second rate sects and kingdoms to slaughter one another for the chance to study it.

If it were a Grand Tier Heavenly Grade, an all-out war between the first rate powers would surely erupt.

”This is mine!”

”Fuck off, it’s the Sun Bird’s property now!”

Their shock was interrupted by the sight of Ao Long and Jin Pei locked in a brutal exchange below the altar.

They were releasing explosive battle techniques, their Qi clashing with enough force to melt the gold coins beneath their feet.

However, as if sensing the new presence, Jin Pei and Ao Long both skidded back, stopping their duel to stare warily at the newcomers.

Mengyao’s brow furrowed. He could feel the shift in the room’s dynamic and knew that if he and Mingye chose to intervene now, these two bitter rivals would almost certainly put aside their differences to team up and eliminate the bigger threat.

Mengyao reached out and grabbed Mingye’s hand, his grip firm.

”Let’s go,” he whispered. ”This isn’t the only room, and we cannot afford to be pincered by those two while their blood is up.”

Mingye nodded and silently followed him.