Capítulo 38: Chapter 38
"..." Lin Mei stared deeply into Lianchen's eyes, her usually calm demeanor faltering as she took in the satisfied, almost euphoric expression on his face. It was the unmistakable look of someone who had just tasted the pinnacle of indulgence, the intoxicating high of battle.
"Are you happy now?" she asked sharply, her voice edged with disapproval. "Is a fight where you couldn't even unleash 1% of your full power really something to be so pleased about?"
Lianchen's eyebrow twitched at her words, his expression shifting slightly. He hadn't noticed it at first, but his body, which by all accounts should have been immobile after the fight, was responding to his will.
"If you were to be attacked and killed right now," Lin Mei said, her voice cutting through the air like a blade, "would you be satisfied with an end like this? In this small world, no less. Don't you want to see your peak? How do you plan to control yourself when every time you gain a sliver of self-control, you lose it again the moment the thrill takes hold? I thought you were talented… but compared to those in the immortal realm, you're a bit trashy."
Her words were like daggers to his pride, and Lianchen visibly flinched. The disappointment in her tone carried more weight than any physical strike. It was as though she had struck at the core of his being.
Reason began to seep back into his eyes, the cloud of exhilaration lifting as the gravity of her words settled over him. He sighed softly, acknowledging the truth in her cutting critique. This battle had been exhilarating, yes, but he'd held himself back far too much, watering it down just to enjoy the moment.
He needed to change his mindset. This was the cultivation world, a place where survival was often dictated by ruthlessness and cunning. Here, enemies wouldn't hesitate to strike when you were at your weakest, seizing every opportunity to ensure their victory. It was a stark contrast to the Dragon Ball world, where warriors reveled in the challenge of facing their opponents at their peak, driven by honor and the thrill of true competition.
But in this world, there was no honor in waiting for strength to return. There was only the reality of power and survival.
"Thanks... I lost myself there," Lianchen admitted with a heavy sigh, his voice betraying a mix of relief and frustration. Combat had always been his drug, a thrill that coursed through his veins, consuming him in its fire. Ironically, the moment he realized he could indulge in this without completely losing control, he did just that: he lost himself entirely.
The root of Lianchen's strange, almost obsessive love for combat lay in something simple yet profound, deep down, he was still human. When he was reborn into the body of Broly, his human nature clashed violently with the overwhelming Saiyan instincts. How could a mere human soul coexist in a body designed for endless battle and destruction?
His humanity had been overpowered, reshaped, and reforged, twisted into the perfect vessel for the Saiyan mindset. This relentless melding of his human soul and Saiyan instincts made him hyperaware of his talents and his potential. It wasn't a choice, it was something his very essence was forced to embrace.
"What are you going to do now? You can't keep fighting like this without risking your future," Lan Mei said with a resigned sigh. Lianchen's body was at its limit, and pushing any further could lead to irreversible damage.
"I lost... I need rest," Lianchen murmured weakly, his voice trailing off as sleep claimed him. "I want to make my bath as soon as I can."
In this world, baths weren't just a means of relaxation, they were tools of transformation, some specifically designed to heal the body from intense stress and unlock its hidden potential for growth. But crafting such a bath required precision and effort. Since Lianchen began walking the alchemy path, he had taken on the task of creating these baths himself, tailoring them to align perfectly with his physique and cultivation art.
This time, however, was different. In his current state, he lacked the strength to prepare the bath on his own.
Lianchen's eyes fluttered open, only to find himself suspended in a tube filled with shimmering medical liquid. The soft hum of machinery buzzed faintly in the background. Before him stood Lan Mei, her arms crossed and her gaze steady, waiting for him to awaken.
His eyes widened in surprise as realization dawned, Lan Mei had created this bath for him. But this wasn't just any bath. The energy radiating through the liquid was undeniable, far surpassing anything he could have crafted himself.
"Take this as a gift for your achievements," Lan Mei said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "But don't expect any more gifts."
Lianchen managed a weak smile, nodding his understanding. Gratitude shimmered in his eyes, but his amazement quickly overshadowed it. He could feel it, his body wasn't just healed; it was revitalized as if he had surpassed his former limits.
Lianchen marveled at the changes coursing through his body, realizing the extent of his Zenkai boost, a unique Saiyan ability triggered after recovering from severe injuries. The more devastating the damage, the greater the boost in power. This phenomenon could range anywhere from a modest twofold increase to a staggering 35 times. In the anime, one of the most impressive examples occurred when Goku received a Zenkai boost before his battle with Frieza, skyrocketing his power level by an astounding 33.3 times.
As for Lianchen? His injuries told the story. The backlash from nearly going Legendary Super Saiyan transformation alone had left him on the brink. This alone would have earned him a significant boost. Unlike the baths, which were akin to passive training that enhanced growth without exertion, the Zenkai boost was a raw, explosive leap in power born of survival and resilience.
The recent battle with Shi Bin had only compounded that backlash, pushing his body and spirit to their absolute limits. The result? A jaw-dropping twentyfold increase in his overall capability.
The effects were immediate and profound. His cultivation broke through barriers, bypassing Level 2 Body Tempering entirely to land him squarely at Level 5. Just like that, he had leaped forward, defying the usual progression with a single, monumental surge of power.
"Your physique is remarkable... what doesn't kill you really does make you stronger," Lan Mei remarked, her voice tinged with awe. "It's like that transformation of yours, but far more controlled."
The Legendary Super Saiyan form, unlike standard Zenkai boosts, allowed one to harness the potential for exponential growth without the prerequisite of life-threatening injuries. It effectively simulated the essence of a Zenkai boost, bypassing the need for damage and recovery. However, even this power had its limits. The strain on the body was immense; unchecked growth could overwhelm the user, leading to exhaustion or outright collapse.
Zenkai boosts, while overpowered in their ability to multiply strength, came with their own restrictions. They were tied intrinsically to survival, the body's desperate attempt to adapt after near-fatal harm. Injuries inflicted through self-harm didn't trigger the boost, nor did the gradual stress of training or cultivation. In essence, Zenkai boosts thrived on true peril, not routine effort.
"Alright, get out and get dressed. If you move quickly, you can still make it to the next round," Lan Mei said casually, her tone light yet firm. Lianchen stared at her, stunned. His battle with Shi Bin had only lasted about five minutes. How long had he been unconscious?
"You were out for 20 minutes," Lan Mei answered as if reading his thoughts. Her gaze was steady as she added, "And no, I'm not giving you the means to recreate that bath."
Lianchen wasn't surprised by her refusal, he hadn't truly expected her to share anything. What caught him off guard was the fact that she had gone to such lengths for him in the first place. He stared at her, a mix of gratitude and disbelief flickering in his eyes.
Lianchen stepped out of the bath, his enhanced Saiyan senses immediately picking up the faint traces of its ingredients. With his heightened sense of smell, boosted further by cultivation, he could easily identify the components that made up the powerful concoction. But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
Quickly dressed, Lianchen focused his energy. In an instant, his figure blurred and disappeared, reappearing moments later in the heart of the forest where the tournament was unfolding.
As he emerged, his sudden presence drew a wave of stunned gazes. Whispers rippled through the crowd. Only twenty minutes ago, Lianchen had been unable to stand, his body battered and broken. Yet here he was, walking with ease, his movements fluid and confident, restored to 100% before their very eyes.
"Oh? You pulled some strings to make sure I get a free pass in the next round," Zhou Lianchen remarked, his voice carrying an amused edge. His sharp eyes scanned the empty stage, clearly reserved for him.
In the crowd, the elders' faces twitched at his bluntness, their disapproval barely hidden. Their authority had just been openly mocked, yet they couldn't say a word. Zhou Lianchen wasn't just anyone, his lineage made him untouchable, at least for now.
Lan Mei, standing unnoticed next to Lianchen, let out a small sigh. To the onlookers, it appeared as if Zhou Lianchen had simply materialized there through sheer audacity. No one suspected her hand in orchestrating the subtle manipulation that had secured him the additional rest time.
Ignoring the simmering tension among the elders, Zhou Lianchen leaped gracefully into the air, summoning a sleek flying sword beneath his feet. With practiced ease, he glided toward the stage, landing softly at its center.
From his vantage point, he observed the ongoing matches. Fighters clashed with fervor, their movements a blur of power and precision, yet to Zhou Lianchen, it felt distant. He sat cross-legged, arms folded.
It was obvious, that there were delays, these delays had been intentional. The tournament organizers had stretched the intermission to ensure Lianchen had ample time to recover. He knew this wasn't just luck. It was favoritism, plain and simple.
And yes, it was cheating.
Zhou Lianchen focused on cultivating the Endless Heart Sword Art. If he could master this profound technique, achieving Ultra Instinct would become much easier. But first, he needed to form a Clear Heart, the next critical step in his journey.
Forming the Sadness Heart had been relatively straightforward for him; its essence resonated deeply with his experiences and inner struggles. However, forming the Desire Heart was proving to be much more challenging. As Lianchen worked on this next step, he quickly discovered an unexpected complication: the Legendary Saiyan bloodline sealed within him wasn't entirely immune to the formation of new hearts.
Even though the bloodline remained suppressed, it still reacted subtly to each new heart he cultivated, its dormant energy stirring faintly with every breakthrough. This realization forced Lianchen to confront a harsh truth, he couldn't afford to rush. The process of forming each heart had to be deliberate and precise. Without full control over the hearts he formed, the balance within him could destabilize.
Rushing to form all the hearts at once would be disastrous. The strain on the seal containing the Legendary Saiyan power would become too great, causing it to rupture violently. The sudden release of that overwhelming energy, combined with the rapid growth it would trigger, would tear him apart.
Instead, Zhou Lianchen devised a cautious approach. He would work on refining and stabilizing each heart individually, leaving them ready for completion when he was confident in his control. This way, he could avoid overwhelming the seal and ensure his survival.
Still, the implications of his progress were both thrilling and terrifying. If he ever formed all the hearts simultaneously, the resulting explosion of power might unlock unimaginable strength, but at the cost of his life.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder