Heaven Refining physique Chapter 2: Going back to the cave

"Is this... true?"

Her voice trembled with a mix of sorrow and eagerness. If her son were to follow an immortal being, his future endeavors would undoubtedly eclipse anything he could achieve staying in their humble village. Her own happiness was secondary to his potential for a better life, even if it meant a life apart from her.

"Mother, are you truly alright with this?"

"Of course, I am, my dear. You must go and live your own life. There is nothing left for you in this ancient village."

Her words of expectation struck him deeply, for every assurance he had given her was a carefully constructed lie. Yet, this deception was far preferable to the harsh reality.

He embraced her tightly.

"Mother, I must depart today... just as I promised the immortal, I would join him once you were healed."

As he spoke, he fought valiantly to suppress his tears, but they inevitably began to fall.

She wept alongside him, unsure when, or if, she would ever see him again. Her sole wish was for his happiness, wherever his path might lead.

Their conversation spanned an hour before the moment of his departure arrived, the time to fulfill his vow. He steeled his heart, casting one last, lingering glance at his mother before turning to leave.

The path ahead was as silent as it had been that morning. Yet, with each step he took, he was shedding his past: the village that had been his home, the villagers who had become like family, and his mother, the one he cherished above all else.

His old life was ending this day, but his resolve remained unbroken as he journeyed towards the hidden cave.

"He has returned... Intriguing... And remarkably, there's no trace of fear in his eyes. What a remarkably strong spirit he possesses... Hehehe. Excellent, excellent! Finally, after all these years, I can find my rest."

Upon entering the cave, Jiang Hao remained silent, simply standing.

"So, your mother has recovered, I presume?"

"Yes. Thank you, Senior, for your assistance."

"There is no need for thanks. You have already paid the price."

"Senior, you possessed the opportunity to end my life during my last visit. There was no compulsion to provide me with that pill. However, since you bestowed upon me the medicine that healed my mother, I must still convey my gratitude."

"Do you harbor any regrets?"

"Not even the slightest."

With those words, he finally released the weight of his sorrow and prepared himself for what was to come.

"Good... then, step inside."

As his words echoed, the cave walls shifted, revealing an entrance to a cavern far larger than the initial one.

Though the revelation was astonishing, it scarcely affected him. Believing his end was nigh, nothing could truly stir him.

The inner chamber surpassed his expectations in size, yet contained only a solitary furnace and a ring resting to its side. He might have overlooked the ring entirely were it not for the fact that the furnace and the ring were the sole objects within the vast space.

Suddenly, the ring lifted into the air, and several items materialized from within it. These consisted of numerous herbs and a single vial of pills.

Even without knowing the contents of the pill bottle, he was certain that its value far exceeded that of the pill he had previously received.

"The time has arrived, young one. Allow me to be perfectly clear: I never desired your demise, but I was not deceiving you either—your life hangs in the balance. The probability of your survival is exceedingly slim; even I cannot accurately gauge its precariousness."

Hearing this, he found himself at a loss for words. Should he feel relief at the mere possibility of survival, or despair at the overwhelmingly low odds?

However, he had already made his peace with his fate, so it mattered little.

"Senior, I am prepared for any outcome."

"Hm... then let us commence."

As his voice faded, more herbs emerged from the ring and were placed into the furnace. Once the herbs ceased, a crimson liquid began to flow from the ring.

It bore a resemblance to blood, though he could not be certain.

"The vitality contained within this blood is beyond your wildest comprehension. It will bolster your chances of survival. Do not dwell on it—if you endure, I shall divulge everything. However, should you perish, there will be no purpose in revealing anything further."

He nodded, his gaze fixed upon the furnace. A flame now burned beneath it, and the blood-red liquid, along with the herbs, began to bubble within. Moments later, the bottle of pills floated through the air and landed gently in his grasp.

"Disrobe, consume the pill, and enter the furnace. Bear in mind, the agony will be immense—you will yearn for death."

He understood that an unparalleled suffering awaited him, given the state of the boiling liquid. The pain was of a magnitude he could scarcely fathom enduring.

"Incidentally, the torment you will experience within the furnace pales in comparison to the agony that will assault you when the pill dissolves within your stomach... Hehehe."

This revelation caused him to break out in a cold sweat, and he felt an urge to curse the old specter. What could possibly surpass the torment of being boiled alive? The mere thought was unbearable.

He retrieved the pill, finding himself astonished. This was unequivocally not an ordinary immortal pill; its purely black form seemed to possess a gravitational pull. Though a desire to understand its nature arose, survival was the immediate priority.

After a moment's hesitation, the pill was placed in his mouth, and his clothes were removed. With a final, poignant memory of his mother's sorrowful visage, he swallowed the mysterious substance.

Instantly, he seized the mouth of the furnace and plunged inside, foregoing a gradual entry. Despite the liquid's violent boil, the metallic rim of the furnace remained cool—a peculiar observation he couldn't linger on, as the moment he was immersed in the scalding fluid, all other sensations vanished.

Only an unending, overwhelming agony remained. Submerged entirely within the furnace, which dwarfed his form, he felt his skin flaying away, the torment intensifying with each passing second. How much time elapsed, he couldn't tell, but gradually, the infernal pain began to recede.

A sense of numbness crept in, eventually manifesting as a soothing sensation. Then, abruptly, a violent reaction surged from his stomach, as if an internal entity were consuming him.

Even the strongest willpower would falter against such an assault. It felt as though every internal fiber was being ripped asunder, a sensation that slowly permeated his entire being.

"Grghhh..."

Breathing was impossible, let alone screaming. The suffocating torment was so profound that every thought implored him to find escape in death. Surrender seemed inevitable, yet each time despair threatened to consume him, his mother's sad face materialized, a powerful deterrent. He had lied to her, but survival could bring that falsehood closer to truth, especially if he endured this hellish internal dismemberment.

If his life hinged on his own resolve, who held the right to claim it? It was merely pain—would it surpass the anguish his mother would feel upon learning of his demise? Not even close.

How could this superficial physical suffering compel him to yield?

"Grhhhh... ahhhhhhhhhh!"

Time crawled forward. He lost all corporal awareness, his body seeming to dissolve into the furnace, yet life persisted. His eyes, his mouth—all sensory organs ceased to exist.

After an indeterminate period, his body gradually reasserted itself. Other senses flickered back to life. He sensed the furnace's liquid had vanished, leaving him at its base.

It appeared he had conquered this trial. He had survived. Rising, he climbed out of the furnace.

"Eh?"

The exertion of pulling himself out far exceeded his expectations, causing him to stumble. His physique appeared unchanged, his skin merely smoother, devoid of any newfound muscle mass. Where, then, did this surprising strength originate?

He dismissed the thought, his attention fully captivated by a middle-aged man standing within the cave. He recognized the individual instantly.

The man offered him some clothes, inquiring, "How do you feel?"

After donning the garments, Jiang Hao moved his limbs, finding himself not merely fine, but remarkably better.

"I feel significantly stronger than I ever was before," he declared, conducting a thorough self-assessment.

"Naturally," the man responded.

"You cannot fathom the desperation of those who would kill for what you've attained... hehehe.

Now, take a seat. I shall impart knowledge crucial for your path. As you hail from a simple village, your understanding of the cultivation world is likely limited.

Ah... by the way, what is your name? I neglected to ask, uncertain if you would even make it through."

"Senior, my name is Jiang Hao."

"Excellent. I was once known as Hu Tian, though that name is long forgotten. They called me the Blood Emperor...

But even that moniker may have faded, as countless ages have passed since my demise."

Hu Tian sighed, lost in reflections of bygone eras. His words, however, left Jiang Hao stunned, considering the spectral figure before him.

"What is that questioning gaze for?" Hu Tian inquired. "This is but a residual wisp of my consciousness, nothing more. My time is limited, so I will clarify your uncertainties. Listen intently and do not interrupt."