Chapter 2294: Significant Increase in Strength

As time passed, the immense life force nurtured deep within the bone marrow of Lu Ye’s Dao bones nourished his entire body. Lost flesh regenerated, internal organs rapidly transformed, and the shriveled heart in his chest regained vitality. It beat powerfully, pumping blood, now imbued with immense strength, to all his limbs and throughout his body.

In less than fifteen minutes, he had fully recovered his original flesh-and-blood form.

Yet, there was a noticeable difference compared to before: his flesh was more vibrant, and even his skin had become delicate and radiant.

Though he appeared to have delicate skin and soft flesh, Lu Ye knew this was merely superficial. His physical strength, in particular, had increased by at least thirty percent compared to a few days prior. Such an improvement was nothing short of miraculous, considering his physique was already exceptionally strong. A sudden thirty percent increase on such a foundation was beyond what typical cultivation could achieve.

The improvement wasn't limited to his physique; his overall strength had also surged! In fact, he had felt this transformation when his Dao bones were fully refined, but his attempt to investigate further was interrupted by the sudden eruption of his Blood Clan bloodline.

He gently clenched his fist, and Dao power surged through him. Two hundred and ten strands of power were easily controlled, without any strain. Two hundred and twenty strands, likewise. Two hundred and thirty strands… Two hundred and forty strands! Lu Ye was secretly astonished.

Although he knew his strength would significantly increase after his Dao bones were fully refined, he hadn't anticipated such a dramatic leap. Based on the expected trajectory of his power growth, he should have only reached two hundred and fifteen strands of power after fully refining all two hundred and six Dao bones—that would have been his limit. However, compared to his current limit, there was a difference of a full twenty-five strands.

The maximum Dao power a cultivator can wield primarily depends on their capacity to withstand it. This is why cultivators in the Dao Initiation realm need to refine their Dao bones: each additional Dao bone allows them to bear the pressure of one more strand of power. Dao bones are not merely reservoirs for a cultivator's Dao power; they also serve as the fundamental support for bearing the immense pressure generated when that power is wielded.

Under normal circumstances, Lu Ye's limit would indeed have been two hundred and fifteen strands of power. However, after his entire set of Dao bones reached Grand Perfection, he distinctly felt them become a unified entity, no longer scattered fragments but intricately connected. It was as if a quantitative accumulation had triggered a qualitative transformation, allowing his Dao bones to withstand significantly greater pressure. The additional twenty-five strands of power were a direct result of this qualitative transformation.

This transformation shouldn't be solely attributed to the Grand Perfection of his Dao bones... Lu Ye remembered that when You Die had left, she had given him a portion of her soul power. Now, the surge and refinement of his Blood Clan bloodline had further significantly strengthened his physique. This comprehensive improvement in his essence, qi, and spirit signified an expansion of his intrinsic foundation, which was ultimately responsible for this immense increase in his strength.

Things had become rather interesting... As far as he knew, a Dao Integration cultivator, cultivating their power to its absolute extreme without relying on a Dao weapon, could unleash destructive power equivalent to two hundred strands of Dao force. The typical limit for a Dao Integration cultivator to nurture their Dao weapon was forty-nine strands. Therefore, theoretically, a peak Dao Integration cultivator's strength limit would only be nine strands greater than his current power. This was undoubtedly a very small difference given a base of over two hundred strands.

Of course, if a Dao Integration cultivator were to use a Natal Treasure as their nurtured Dao weapon, their limit would extend beyond this. But how many individuals in this world actually possess Natal Treasures? As a peak Dao Initiation cultivator, he could now barely stand comparison with a peak Dao Integration cultivator in terms of raw strength. In fact, to some extent, a peak Dao Integration cultivator might not even measure up to him, a Dao Initiation cultivator. This is because cultivators' Dao weapons typically have specialized functions: offensive Dao weapons cannot provide defensive power, and defensive ones cannot provide offensive power. Consequently, most Dao Integration cultivators are deficient in one aspect or another.

However, his two hundred and forty strands of power were all-encompassing. How could those Dao Integration cultivators compare? His only disadvantage compared to Dao Integration cultivators was that, in combat, his Dao power consumption would be higher. Each of his strands of power consumed actual energy, unlike theirs. Dao Integration cultivators, benefiting from the amplification of Dao patterns, could wield a maximum of one hundred strands of Dao power but exert even greater force. However, with Lu Ye's vast Dao power reserves, such consumption was not an issue.

If, just a few days ago, Lu Ye harbored even a slight apprehension about this upcoming contention, now all such worries had completely vanished! His strength had already reached the apex of Dao Integration, making him fully qualified to contend with those at the pinnacle of that realm. With his main body and the Talent Tree avatar, that amounted to two peak Dao Integration cultivators. Working together, their chances of victory in this contention were extremely high!

Nevertheless, he still needed to find a companion. An extra helper was always beneficial, and it was also a rule. The good news was that, as a result, he didn't need to rush his advancement to the Dao Integration realm. His current cultivation and strength were already sufficient; if he wished, he could immediately choose a Dao pattern and use it as a foundation to enter that realm. The surge in strength filled Lu Ye with delight.

There was also another matter that intrigued him, a change brought by the refinement of his Blood Clan bloodline. However, this required an experiment. In an instant, Lu Ye retrieved the Mountain-Slaying Blade and Star Abyss Coins from the ground, took out his clothes, dressed, and vanished from the spot.

Days later, Lu Ye followed the sounds of distant combat to a battlefield. A fierce battle was raging there, with four figures engaged in two separate fights. It was clear that two teams had encountered each other. Interestingly, the male and female pairs in both teams seemed to be of similar strength, leading to an exceptionally fierce battle. It was male cultivator against male cultivator, and female against female.

Lu Ye glanced at them, then headed straight for the two male cultivators. One was from the Demon Clan, enveloped in a demonic aura, and the other was from the Winged Clan, with a pair of grey wings on his back that could be used for both offense and defense, making him extremely difficult to handle. Judging by their postures, the Winged Clan cultivator clearly had the upper hand, owing to his richer combat experience. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he would likely emerge victorious, though whether he could kill his opponent remained uncertain.

When Lu Ye appeared, he immediately drew the wary attention of all four figures. The two male cultivators, in particular, were startled to see him charging directly toward their battle. None of them were fools; for someone to charge into a battle alone in such circumstances clearly indicated immense self-confidence.

Unbeatable! The two male cultivators instantly reached a conclusion. The two who had been fighting so fiercely now, as if by telepathy, suddenly darted left and right, each attempting to flee. Unexpectedly, just then, a ghost-like figure appeared nearby, and a sea of blood abruptly spread out.

The figure that had appeared earlier was none other than Lu Ye's Talent Tree avatar; his main body had been lurking nearby, waiting for an opportunity to strike. While his strength certainly surpassed that of the two combatants, capturing them wouldn't be easy without a stratagem. They were all Dao Integration cultivators; who wouldn't possess a few escape tricks? Under the shroud of the sea of blood, and with their strength inferior to Lu Ye's, the fate of these two male cultivators was sealed. Meanwhile, the Talent Tree avatar immediately changed direction and darted towards the two female cultivators, clearly aiming to capture them all.

While all cultivators participating in this contention had no prior grievances against each other, once involved, they were no longer friends but enemies, allowing no room for mercy. Furthermore, the mysterious space accessible via Star Abyss Coins contained many tempting treasures. To acquire them, he would need a sufficient amount of Star Abyss Coins.

Seeing the avatar's move, the two female cultivators dared not linger and immediately scattered, attempting to flee. Lu Ye knew this would happen and could only reluctantly choose one unlucky individual to pursue.

Half an hour later, in another hidden location, a cloud of blood drifted in. As the blood cloud dispersed, several figures were revealed within. They were the Demon Clan and Winged Clan cultivators from the previous battle, along with the unlucky individual who had been pursued by the avatar. The three Dao Integration cultivators had undoubtedly suffered, each appearing disheveled and covered in bloodstains. Lu Ye's main body and avatar had blocked them from both front and back, utterly extinguishing any hope of escape. Their previous encounters had made it clear that the human's strength was beyond their ability to contend with; the disparity was simply too vast.

Though fearful, the Demon Clan cultivator composed himself, cupped his fists, and asked, "Dare I ask, fellow Daoist, what is your purpose in capturing us?" Lu Ye hadn't killed them but had brought them here instead, which greatly puzzled the Demon Clan cultivator. What puzzled him even more was that Lu Ye seemingly had no companion. He clearly saw that the figures blocking them from front and back were one main body and one avatar. Could he be looking for a companion? But if so, he would only choose a female cultivator, so why capture him?

"Nothing much," Lu Ye replied, glancing at him indifferently. "I just want to ask a favor of the three of you."

The Demon Clan cultivator frowned. "Please enlighten us, fellow Daoist!" He didn't believe it would be a small favor. As enemies, it was usually a matter of life or death. Since Lu Ye hadn't killed them, something far more troublesome surely awaited them.

Lu Ye nodded and raised a finger. Within his Dao bones, his bone marrow suddenly heated up, and wondrous strands of power, nurtured from its depths, converged into a single point. Lu Ye's aura rapidly weakened, as if being consumed by something. Concurrently, a speck of golden light condensed at the tip of his raised finger.

The three captured Dao Integration cultivators grew restless. Although they didn't know what Lu Ye was doing, his weakening aura was undeniable, presenting an undoubted opportunity. If they launched a sudden assault now, they might just be able to kill this human. As seasoned veterans of countless battles, they wouldn't miss such a golden opportunity. Without any prior communication, the three Dao Integration cultivators attacked almost simultaneously.

Yet, just moments later, they stood back in their original spots, faces ashen, their condition even more disheveled than before. Lu Ye's main body hadn't even moved; his avatar alone had defeated all three of them. The vast difference in strength rendered their slight numerical advantage utterly meaningless.

Lu Ye remained in place, his previously weakened aura slowly recovering. On his fingertip, a drop of golden blood shimmered like a tiny gem.