148 Rain is to be accompanied with a cup of wine 1 (1/2)

As abrupt as its entrance was, the plant creature that radiated a powerful, imposing aura belonging to that of a fierce creature within the Core Formation Realm, completed its exit in an unassuming manner.

The steel blade that plunged into its depths released but a small sound, the only inclination of its sudden death revealed by the massive burst of blood scattered over the ground.

The central vines around the main bulwark of its large body soon followed in their demise, combusting from within as the source of spiritual essence was severed without due preparation.

The peculiar abilities of cultivators were indeed worthy of their acclaim, but constituted a grave risk that was equally as exploitable as their strength.

As the changes within the environment swallowed up An Fei without permitting her to react, the young girl couldn't help but inadvertently think of a single phrase.

The demise of mortal cultivators can only either be explosive, or silent as though they had never existed from the beginning.

Due to the majority, if not all mortal cultivation techniques emphasizing the utility of the mortal dantian as the central storage of any transmuted spiritual essence, the complex system created by the cluster of organs and meridians was attributed with a severe delicate nature.

The interior of the tubular meridians that conveyed spiritual essence from one corner of the body to another interconnected with the dantian's channels, forming a completely closed system within the human body to circulate spiritual essence and in effect, conduct 'miracles.'

The meridians outside of the body could be reinforced via the use of medicinal supplements, abnormal cultivation techniques emphasizing physiological enhancement, or a temporary restructuring with spiritual essence.

On the other hand, the dantian of a mortal, be it human, could never be tempered to such resilience nor structural integrity.

Prior to a practitioner attaining the initial phases of cultivation, the dantian was no more than the mainstream channel of the body's vitality. Once crossing over the threshold of Body Tempering and into the realm of Foundation Establishment… the dantian was to be better referred to as an ignited explosive.

A series of wrapped flesh, delicate and sublime in its fragility and texture, compressed an incomprehensible amount of spiritual essence into a small environment.

With each advancement in cultivation, the pressure within a practitioner's dantian increased by a substantial exponent, causing them to quite literally walk on tethered ropes while only using their heels.

The delicate balloon that contained an energy of a creature at the Core Formation Realm, albeit at an earlier stage… what could happen if the delicate membrane was to be punctured?

”Ah-”

Boom!

The sea of vines finally received the aftershocks of volatile spiritual essence coursing through meridians scarred by intense and prolonged combat, their molecules disintegrating by the sheer energy.

The surface of the vines split apart along their length, the thorns ground into grey dust that scattered over the floor.

…and of course, what followed was a tsunami of blood.

Plat!

Scarlet blood, vibrant with the creature's immense vitality and spiritual essence, splattered over the entire battlefield with intense velocity as the vines offered their final sacrificial curse towards the cruel sky.

Trees were uprooted from the ground from the sheer impact of the rapid expansion of the blood, and weaker grasses and herbs crushed into shreds without a hint of mercy.

The young girl who stood directly near the epicenter of the shockwave was flung out with great speed until her back hit the trunk of a far away tree, only to slide downwards towards the ground.

An Fei could only regain her senses from the concussive shockwave until she had laid on the ground for several long moments, her mind frozen in a dull haze.

The young girl stared at the sky with blanked eyes, the scarlet irises fluctuating between confusion and surprise.

…when she finally retained enough mental capability to escape the binding shackles of the sudden relief of an intense pressure on her heart, she found herself in a red world.

Red trees, red ground, red grass, but the sky was still relatively blue, if what she could see beyond the leaves stained with scarlet was true.

Furthermore, a dense metallic and corrosive odor struck the forest's undergrowth with a heavy impact, thoroughly rousing the young girl's mind until she hastily stood in shock.

Her body felt warm and sticky, and a fluid-like sensation continued to tickle at the base of her neck.

As An Fei swiped a finger across her cheek and brought it before her gaze to inspect the anomaly, she could only see red color, red ink, and red blood.

”…dis…disgusting… th-this…” the young girl mumbled, her senses abruptly failing to transmit their message to her consciousness.

The scarlet fluid covered her entire body from head to toe, not a single centimeter spared from the crimson carnage of the vines sacrifice.

The linen coat had not been spared from an unsightly fate this time, having been doused with the creature's blood until each thread seeped with crimson blood.

”Ah…ah…” An Fei staggered, her mind screaming for escape.