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Heir of the White Lotus (Web Novel) - Chapter 1321: Pain and Madness
Chapter 1321: Pain and Madness
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
A week later...The time had come.
It was nighttime. Along a vast corridor inside the Verdant Palace, a small procession of Magi wearing ceremonial robes advanced with solemn expressions.
Those at the front dispersed clouds of incense, while those behind them chanted a low, reverent hymn.
And at the center, flanked on both sides, Adam walked with slow and measured footsteps. He wore loose robes on this night, and nothing underneath.
Not even the strips of bandages.
Not even the mask.
The entire process was part of a ritual designed to induce a trance-like state. This was crucial because he was about to experience hellish pain. The ritual was supposed to soothe his mind and soul.
But he... laughed.
His crazed laughter echoed alongside the hymns of the elders. His shadowy silhouette was cloaked by dense incense smoke.
He looked like a mythical warrior who was on his way to a grand battlefield.
In a way, what he was attempting to do was no less than engaging in a battle.
A battle against nature! A struggle against the heavens! A fight against fate itself!
"Hahaha!!"
He laughed and laughed and laughed.
The Laughing God whispered. And he listened with a wide grin on his face.
Finally, they arrived before a pair of towering gates. With a loud creak that echoed in the air, the doors opened, revealing the secret underground chamber where the pool had been built.
Several Mana Vortex-level elders of the clan stood around the pool with solemn looks on their faces.
First, the Magi flanking Adam entered, ensuring that every inch of the chamber was filled with the incense smoke.
At last, Adam entered.
When he saw the dark purple liquid inside the pool, his instincts flared up. Warning bells rang wildly inside his head. He knew that the liquid inside the pool was extremely dangerous.
Dread gripped his heart for a brief moment, but he laughed like a mad tyrant and overcame that feeling.
Victory lay just beyond fear.
Adam arrived before Masayori Tsuitsui. The latter turned to him and patted his shoulder. "If it gets dangerous, just give the signal. I’ll pull you out."
"Auhh!" Adam grinned as he cupped his fists.
Dokuto Tsuitsui approached him and solemnly said, "Listen to Father’s advice. These waters... they’re dangerous for even Mana Core-existences like me."
"Auhh!"
At last, Goro arrived before him and grinned. "Let’s train after you get better."
Adam was slightly taken aback before he flashed a brilliant smile. "Auhh!"
Only the men of Tsuitsui were gathered in the chamber. What was about to unfold next would have been too ghastly for the women to witness.
A few minutes later, the ritual involving incense and hymns came to an end.
This was Adam’s cue.
With a swift swing of his hand, he removed the loose robe covering his body. The moment the others in the chamber laid eyes on his disfigured skin, they grimaced in astonishment. Some of them even turned away, unable to look at him.
Goro winced as he gazed at Adam’s hollow eye sockets.
"Brother... just what did you go through?"
Adam smiled and inwardly said to himself:
A lot...
With a light frown on his face, Dokuto explained, "He was attacked and subsequently swallowed by a fire-breathing magical beast. Those are not just burn marks, but also deep injuries related to acid... gastric acid."
Every inch of Adam’s body was scarred. Every inch.
"Go on, boy." Masayori encouraged him. "Something tells me you’ve survived far worse."
Adam turned to him and grinned.
Then, he took his first step. Then another. And another. He climbed the small flight of stairs leading to the vast pool.
Then finally...
Sizzle!
The moment his foot came in contact with the liquid, the upper layer of skin immediately burned away, revealing the muscles.
However, much to everyone’s surprise, Adam didn’t even wince a little.
He just laughed.
Inch by inch, he slowly submerged underneath the poisonous waters. Yet, throughout it all, not a single sound escaped his lips.
Instead, the Tsuitsui Magi only saw him grin like a madman as he completely submerged under the water!
"Now!" Masayori commanded.
In the next moment, the Magi standing around the pool weaved a set of hand seals, then finally activated the formation underneath the pool. The ground lit up with a resplendent light, and soon, dark misama emerged from the waters.
The healing process had finally begun!
As bubbles emerged from the depths of the pool, Goro couldn’t help but ask with a dark frown, "Grandfather... just what is happening inside?"
Masayori had a solemn look on his face as he explained:
"Imagine you’re flesh is being burned by flames hot enough to boil water. At the same time, countless needles are burrowing into your flesh repeatedly, allowing poison to seep deep inside your body. It is a simple process in theory.
"The average Magus can maybe... endure it for a few minutes. But Ao has to endure this process repeatedly for at least six hours, until all the essence has been thoroughly absorbed by him. This cycle of destruction and regeneration will heal his body, but only if he can survive."
"...Can he survive?" Goro couldn’t help but ask.
"Well, that depends on him," said the Patriarch. "He can always jump out of the pool, but something tells me he won’t."
"If this process is a success, Ao will be reborn. His flesh, muscles, nails, and even hair will regenerate and become stronger. His internal organs will be reinforced to a greater degree. He will have become much more powerful," Masayori added.
"But only if he survives..."
***
Inside the vat of venomous medicine, Adam experienced unimaginable pain. He screamed with his mouth wide, allowing the poison to enter through his windpipe.
His flesh was destroyed and healed over and over again. His insides felt like they were burning in magma.
Yet, he did not leave the pool.
He remained inside.
Sometimes he would cry, other times he would laugh.
But he did not leave.
He did not give up.
His injuries started to gradually heal. New skin started to regrow. But the more time passed, the pain increased exponentially.
Minutes turned to hours.
Adam was on the verge of losing consciousness. He was almost on the verge of giving up.
A little more!
Just a little... more...
No...
Just a little more...
I can do it...
It hurts...
It hurts so much!
He curled into a fetal position, just moments away from giving in to the throes of pain.
Yet amidst the pain and spiraling madness, he heard a gentle, familiar voice.
’Brother...’
