NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 272
CHAPTER 272 The Weight of Power and the Path to Strength
Esek stood calmly, his gaze fixed on Lu Ming as he explained the intricacies of the Ancient Realm. “Strictly speaking, the power of the natural order isn’t a high-level energy. It’s more like a qualification—a seal.”
His voice was composed, almost dispassionate, as if he were reciting a fact from a textbook. “Even Ancient Realm experts must consume Origin Power or other forms of energy when they use their techniques. But the mystical patterns, like seals, naturally fuse into the methods of Ancient Realm experts...”
He paused, watching as the Zombie Beast Poison in his hand glimmered with an eerie, dark hue before disappearing into his palm. "This means I can create an unlimited amount of Zombie Beast Poison infused with the mystical patterns, at least until my Origin Power runs out."
Esek’s attention shifted to the silver patterns on Lu Ming’s chest, now glowing faintly as they returned to their usual state. He gestured toward them, his tone calm yet pointed. "Take note. I pierced your patterns earlier."
Lu Ming’s eyes flickered down to his chest, feeling the remnants of Esek’s attack. He had felt the sudden disconnection from the natural order the moment Esek struck.
Esek continued. "From that moment, you lost your connection to the power of the natural order. You were no longer an Ancient Realm expert. However, it only takes a short time for the mystical patterns to recover. And the best part? It doesn’t cost you anything."
Lu Ming remained silent, his mind racing. The vast gap in power between them had never been clearer. He had used every ounce of his strength to counter Esek’s casual attack, and it had felt utterly meaningless. His hard-earned skills and power—everything he had sacrificed for—suddenly seemed laughable.
Finally, he couldn’t help but mutter, “Is the gap really this big?”
Esek waited for a moment, studying Lu Ming’s expression before giving a slow, deliberate nod. “Yes, it is. The difference is vast.”
Esek’s voice softened, though the truth in his words was cutting. “Mystical patterns and the power of the natural order are beyond all else. Those who possess them are shielded, blessed by forces that elevate them far beyond the Origin Realm or Spirit Realm. Your physical strength alone? It means nothing here.”
With that, Esek sighed softly, then patted the ground beside him. “Sit with me.”
Lu Ming, still processing everything, complied. Esek sat beside him, his voice taking on a more personal tone. "I can guess what your life’s been like."
Lu Ming looked at him, intrigued but wary.
“You were born into a small clan, weren’t you?” Esek began, his tone gentle but knowing. “No proper resources, no real mentor to guide you through the finer arts of cultivation. But you’re talented. Not just in Origin Power skills, but also in Body Protection Techniques.”
Esek’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re still young, right?”
Lu Ming hesitated before nodding. “Not old.”
Esek chuckled. “A few hundred years, then? That’s about right. For a genius of a small clan, reaching your level at three hundred to five hundred years is quite impressive.”
Lu Ming almost let the truth slip—he was only twenty-six—but bit his tongue as Esek continued.
Esek sighed, as if he understood more than Lu Ming could comprehend. “I can see how you’ve managed. You don’t rely on Origin Power skills in battle, do you? You didn’t have the resources, so you turned to physical strength.”
Lu Ming said nothing, though he couldn’t deny it.
“As for physical strength,” Esek continued, his voice sympathetic yet firm, “the higher you go, the less effective it becomes.” He looked at Lu Ming with something resembling pity. “Did you advance by skipping levels?”
After a moment of hesitation, Lu Ming nodded. “Yes.”
Esek let out a quiet hum. "I thought as much. You’ve never truly experienced the Origin Realm then?"
“No,” Lu Ming replied.
A smirk crossed Esek’s face. “Hmph. Then you don’t know that while your physical strength may be top-notch in the Origin Realm, it’s far from dominant. And in the Ancient Realm? Your strength would be considered... inadequate. The giant form you showed earlier? That might be the lowest tier of strength in the Ancient Realm.”
Confusion washed over Lu Ming. "Isn’t physical strength less important in the Ancient Realm?"
He had always believed his physical strength was formidable, even by Ancient Realm standards.
Esek shook his head slowly. “Physical strength isn’t unimportant, but it pales in comparison to mystical patterns.”
Esek’s voice took on a more measured tone as he explained. “Stronger physical strength allows you to hold more Origin Power. And Ancient Realm experts still need to consume Origin Power during battle. Furthermore, a stronger body gives you greater resilience to attacks. To put it bluntly, while physical strength might not be essential, the stronger you are, the better.”
He leaned forward slightly, speaking with the authority of someone who had seen it all. "When Ancient Realm experts hit a bottleneck in their studies or tire from their cultivation, they often turn to Body Forging Techniques to relax, to clear their mind. It’s more than a practice—it’s part of their lifestyle. Most of them trained their bodies from the lowest levels, and it’s become a habit."
Lu Ming listened intently as Esek continued. "Their Body Forging techniques are at least at the Origin Realm level, and it’s not uncommon to find these techniques in the Ancient Realm. The benefits far surpass anything from the Mortal Realm or Physique Realm."
Esek glanced at Lu Ming. "Add to that the natural treasures they have access to—things that can enhance the body—and a few lucky ones who gain extraordinary opportunities. How much physical strength do you think that’s accumulated over the years?”
Lu Ming was silent. The more Esek spoke, the more he realized just how wide the gap between them truly was.
Esek let out a small sigh, offering a faint smile. “You’re still young,” he said, his voice almost comforting. "There are endless possibilities ahead of you. But because you’re young, your accumulation of strength isn’t nearly enough.”
Lu Ming’s gaze hardened. "Is there a path for someone like me, who relies on physical strength?"
Esek’s expression shifted, as if revealing a guarded secret. “There is,” he said slowly. "The Eye of Flesh and Blood mystical patterns."
Lu Ming’s eyes widened slightly. He had heard Esek mention them before, but now he was listening intently.
“The Eye of Flesh and Blood governs the physical body,” Esek explained, his voice deliberate. “Its strength surpasses even the gold and silver patterns. Once you achieve it, your body becomes fully regulated. Every punch, every kick, every muscle, every bone will be infused with the power of mystical patterns.”
Esek leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with intensity. “At that point, breaking through all techniques with sheer physical strength isn’t a fantasy. It’s real.”
Lu Ming’s heart raced. "How can I obtain the Eye of Flesh and Blood?"
Esek smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Increase your current physical strength by eight hundred to a thousand times. Then, perhaps, it will be enough."
The words struck Lu Ming like a hammer, and he fell completely silent.
Before he could respond, Esek suddenly stood, his eyes narrowing as he looked into the distance. "It seems that woman has found reinforcements. Do you want to take a look?"
Lu Ming pushed aside his frustration, nodding slightly. "Let’s go."
In the distance, the Queen of Blade stood on shaky legs, her body reformed from her third resurrection. She had lost her Origin Realm strength, falling back to the ninth level of the Spirit Realm, yet she felt joy—joy at surviving. Reinforcements had arrived.
She fell into the arms of a roach—a towering, grotesque figure with six arms and a thick, black carapace. The antennae on its head brushed against her bare skin, causing her to shiver with disgust, but she had no choice.
“My dear sister,” came the rasping voice of Zhanglang Ye(Cockroach Night), her savior. "You’ve suffered..."
The Queen of Blade looked up at his twisted, insectoid face, suppressing her revulsion. She wrapped her arms tighter around him, enduring his foul odor. "Brother, let’s leave. We need to escape. Far away from that demon."
Another voice broke through. "Leave? After all this, how do you plan to leave?"
It was Zhanglang Ge(Cockroach Pavilion), the second uncle of Zhanglang Ye. His chest bore the mark of a silver mystical pattern, indicating his strength as an Ancient Realm expert.
The Queen of Blade’s heart sank. She had hoped for rescue, but Zhanglang Ge’s presence changed everything. He was here to enforce the rules of their clan, and there would be no easy escape from the consequences of her failure.
As the roaches discussed their next steps, they noticed two figures in the distance. Lu Ming and Esek stood together, blocking their path.
“So, you’re Esek,” Zhanglang Ge sneered, his gaze locking onto the golden patterns on Esek’s hand. “Good. We found the source of all this trouble. It’ll save us the effort.”
End of Chapter 272