Argh!

  A guttural scream ripped through the silent workshop as Jin Shu began cultivating the Body Inscribing Art.

  Searing pain tore through his body, the qi within him burning like molten va as it coursed under his skin. His entire frame trembled, s from his brow as his vision blurred. Every nerve in his body screamed in protest, urging him to stop.

  Each stroke of qi felt like a bzing bde carving through his flesh—searing not just his skin but his muscles, nerves, and even his bohe intricate lines of the dragon's serpentine body, the tiger's fierce stripes, and the swirling clouds demanded precision and fihis wasn't mere craftsmanship; it was a grueling battle of will against unbearable agony.

  Jin Shu gasped for air, his hands ched into fists so tightly that his nails pierced his palms. Blood dripped to the floor, poolih him. The faint glow of the design on his body taunted him, its ethereal radiance a stark trast to his suffering.

  "I... 't," he whispered, his voice trembling. The pain threateo overwhelm him, a wave of nausea rising in his stomach. His resolve faltered as despair crept into his thoughts.

  Then, a memory fshed before his eyes—his mother’s determined smile as she left to fight against demonic cultivators. Her fierce resolve ignited something within him. Jin Shu ched his jaw, f his trembling body to steady.

  "No," he growled through gritted teeth. "Power isn’t a luxury—it’s survival."

  The image of his past life surfaced—the battles he’d fought, the monsters he’d sin. Though the enemies of his previous life were absent here, the challenges were no less daunting. Mythical beasts and immortals would demand strength beyond his current limits. His mother was out there, fighting an enemy he had never seen. The thought of her being hurt fueled a rage that burned hotter than the qi in his veins.

  He smmed his fist against the worktable, shattering it into splinters. A roar tore from his throat as the dragon’s cws took shape on his skin, fierd unyielding. The tiger’s fangs gleamed with tent strength. The mountain stood tall and unbroken, surrounded by ethereal clouds. Each stroke of qi carved a piece of his soul into the design, binding his will to his craft.

  The agony was indescribable, yet Jin Shu pressed on. With eapleted line, a new surge of power coursed through him. Finally, after what felt like ay, the st stroke was carved.

  Jin Shu colpsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The tattoos on his body glowed faintly, their intricate details shimmering with tent power. He traced a trembling hand over the designs, feeling the residual heat radiating from his skin.

  He had do.

  Qi began to gush into the room, whipping up a small dust cloud. It poured into his body, settling in his dantian. His cultivation quickly grew from the 4th stage to the 6th stage of the Qi Realm.

  Through the haze of exhaustion, a faint smile crept across his lips. The pain had been unbearable, but the power etched into his being was undeniable.

  “This is just the beginning,” he whispered hoarsely. “I’ll endure whatever it takes... to protect everything I hold dear.”

  The tattoos pulsed, as if answering his resolve. Jin Shu gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. This was only the foundatio would e the runes, a task that would demand even more from him.

  But for now, rest was essential. His flesh burned as though it were on fire; he doubted he could survive atempt. He picked up the sn Yin'er, who had somehow slept through his screams, ahe workshop.

  ***

  Over the few days, Jin Shu refrained from inscribing more runes, waiting for the burning pain of his tattoos to subside. Instead, he immersed himself in studying the runes detailed in the pendium. Mastery would be crucial if he wao engrave them onto his body.

  The Body Inscribing Art only provided a specific set of runes for each realm of cultivation, limiting him to two sets at his current level. To access more powerful or unique runes, Jin Shu would o learn and perfect them separately.

  Fortunately, the runes from the Body Inscribing Art came with detailed instrus, uhe pendium’s runes, which required painstaking practiaster. With the aid of Nano and the Nanophone, Jin Shu could accelerate the learning process signifitly.

  ***

  “It only took me a week to master six new runes and four older ohat’s got to be a record,” Jin Shu mused, admiring the ten perfectly inscribed holographies before him.

  Taking a deep breath, he sighed heavily. “Time to inscribe the first set of runes.”

  He activated his qi, letting it flow through his meridians. Slowly at first, then faster, the qi grew hotter until it seared every part of his body it touched.

  “Aah! It burns—like fire in my veins!” Jin Shu’s screams echoed in the workshop. He bit his lip so hard that blood dripped down his , but it did little to suppress his cries.

  “Would you like me to temporarily suppress your paiors?”

  “You do that?” Jin Shu rasped, his voice strained.

  “Yes, but it is risky. Prolonged suppression could harm your body.”

  “Do i—no!” he interrupted, shaking his head. “If I ’t hahis, I’ll end up relying on your help. I won’t let myself bee weak.”

  Nano momentarily suppressed the pain, but Jin Shu immediately regretted it. He had seen people grow addicted to such relief, their willpower eroded. He couldn’t allow himself to folloath.

  The paiurned with vengeance, elig a guttural roar as Jin Shu pressed on. His qi carved deep bck grooves into his flesh, shaping the foundational Life-Giving Ruhis rune would not only bring life to the tattoos on his back but also empower every ruhat followed.

  pared to the tattoo’s intricate details, inscribing runes was a less taxing process. In a fra of the time, Jin Shu pleted the Life-Giving Rune.

  This time, no tables were broken. The memory of having to order a new worktable after his st outburst had been embarrassing enough.

  Jin Shu stood back, iing the glowing rune in a mirror he had pced to the side so he could observe the runes. A smile tugged at his lips despite the lingering pain. “One down,” he muttered. “Though this is only the beginning.”

  The rune was a Body Strengthening Ru would strengthen his entire body, mainly his flesh and bones so they could hold up against subsequent runes. Without this ruhe normal human body would eventually give out uhe strain of the runes inscribing process. Though Jin Shu didn't o worry as much as others due to having nanobots to tinuously heal his strained body.

  Jin Shu slumped against the wall of his workshop, the glow of the Life-Giving Rune on his back slowly dimming as it settled into his flesh. His breath came in ragged gasps, his entire body trembling from the ordeal. For now, the pain was manageable—just a dull throb pared to the earlier torment.

  A faint yawn broke through the silenbsp;

  Jin Shu’s gaze shifted to Yin’er, who was stretg her tiny paws as she blinked sleepily. She rubbed her eyes with her fluffy tail, whiskers twitg. She tilted her head, regarding him with a mix of curiosity and .

  “You’re awake,” he muttered, his voice hoarse.

  Yin’er scampered closer, sitting her small body on his p and she air, wrinkling her nose. “Daddy smell like… burning?” She said in a childish voice.

  Jin Shu let out a tired ugh. “I do, don't I?” It took him a moment, but he freaked out a sed ter. “Wait! You talk!?”

  She tilted her head, staring up at him with fusion c her furry little face. “Yin’er talk? Oh! Yin’er talk!” She ughed and fpped her little wings iement.

  Nano, how is she speaking? Jin Shu asked with his thoughts.

  “Unknown. Insuffit data.”

  You could have just said ‘I don't know.’

  “We believe it may have to do with the e you two share, however we will o do more research to find the exact cause of her accelerated speech.”

  Settling down a moment ter, Yiilted her head, her whiskers twitg as she shifted in his p. “Daddy look super tired. Daddy fight a scary beastie?”

  “ies,” Jin Shu replied, leaning his head back against the wall. “Just me... pushing myself.”

  Yiapped his arm with her tiny paw, her wide eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Yin’er see Daddy’s glowy back! It so shiny! Did hurt? Did Daddy cry?”

  “Cry?” Jin Shu huffed, managing a faint smile despite the exhaustion. “No. But it wasn’t fun.”

  “Yihink Daddy look like he want to ow,” she said, her voice softening as her ears drooped. “Why Daddy hurt himself? Yin’er not like it.”

  Jin Shu gnced down at her, her i cutting through his fatigue. “I have to, Yio get stronger. So I protect the people I care about.”

  Yin’er frowned, puffing out her cheeks. “But if Daddy get too hurty, who will protect Daddy? Yin’er ’t do all by herself!”

  Her words made him pause. He reached out a trembling hand to pat her head, his fingers brushing against her soft fur. “Don’t worry, Yin’er. I’ll be fine. I’ve been through worse.”

  Yiilted her head agaiail swishing as she studied his face. “Hmm… Yihink Daddy being silly. Daddy should take nap! Nap make everythier!”

  He chuckled weakly. “A nap does sound ght about now.”

  “Yin’er is smart, huh?” she said proudly, her ears perking up. She crawled up onto his shoulder and curled around his neck like a tiny scarf. “Yiay here and keep Daddy safe while he nap. ies get past Yin’er!”

  Jin Shu couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, Yin’er. I’ll rest for a bit.”

  As her soft breathiled into a gentle rhythm, Jin Shu closed his eyes, allowing himself a rare moment of peace. Yin’er’s child-like curiosity and unwavering loyalty reminded him of why he ehis pain. With her by his side, the weight of his burde just a little lighter.