Douluo, my clone Groudon

Chapter 415 The Trial, Bone Replacement Therapy

Outside the Ascension Pavilion, fine snowflakes drifted silently, painting the ancient buildings of the Haotian Sect and the distant mountains with a layer of pure white.

The chill was pervasive, but it paled in comparison to the torment of waiting in Huo Yuhao's heart.

He stood motionless at the foot of the cold stone steps like a statue in the snow, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed door, each second feeling as long as an eternity.

Although his "recognition" with Wang Dong'er was only a brief encounter, the "brotherly" bond that had been building up for years transformed into an even more intense and profound emotion in his heart the moment he learned that she was a woman, like a spring bud breaking through the soil.

Huo Yuhao is that kind of person. If someone gives him warmth and help when he is at his most difficult and desperate time, he will remember it deeply and repay them with gratitude. Of course, this help must be a real lifeline, not just something that adds to his existing success.

Wang Dong'er was undoubtedly the most dazzling light in his life, and now that light is dimming and about to go out, he is willing to give everything to bring it back.

"Squeak-"

The door opened.

Niu Tian's tall figure strode out, his face solemn, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Huo Yuhao staggered forward a few steps, his voice dry and hoarse from prolonged tension and anxiety: "Uncle Niu, have you found a way?"

Niu Tian stopped, his gaze falling on Huo Yuhao's face, which was filled with eagerness and anticipation. He nodded solemnly.

"In the Ascension Pavilion, I found some notes and manuscripts left by Dong'er's father. Among them, it is mentioned that if we talk about solidifying the foundation and enhancing the physique without side effects, the Love-Sickness Heartbreak Red is indeed the king of immortal products. In addition, the most effective are high-quality soul bones."

"A soul bone?" The glimmer of hope that had just ignited in Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered for a moment, and he interrupted urgently:
"But Dong'er is currently unconscious and it's impossible for her to actively fuse with the soul bone! Moreover... not long ago, Dong'er fused with a ten-thousand-year-old three-life wolf ape soul bone bestowed by the sect, but instead of improving her condition, she fell into a coma shortly afterward!"

Upon hearing this, Niu Tian remained expressionless, but inwardly he was speechless. What a coincidence! He fainted after fusing with the soul bone?
The timing is just too... But the thought only flashed through my mind before I suppressed it.

In any case, this is an indispensable part of the plan.

He could only continue with the established script: "Dong'er's condition this time is extraordinary and extremely serious. Ordinary soul bones are no longer effective. It will probably take a soul bone of the 100,000-year level, containing a vast amount of life essence and soul power, to strengthen her physique and turn the tide. Moreover, there will probably be more than one."

He paused, observing Huo Yuhao's reaction, and continued, "The Clear Sky Sect has deep resources and can provide a 100,000-year soul bone. The key question now is, how many soul bone slots do you have left?"

Huo Yuhao's eyes were somewhat confused, and he subconsciously replied, "I... I still have one hand, one foot, and the skull slots available. I've already fused the Ice Explosion Soul Bone, the Teleportation Soul Bone, and the torso bone I obtained from the Far North, so these are the only three slots left."

Niu Tian immediately shook his head, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "The location of the skull is too dangerous, involving the sea of ​​the mind. The slightest carelessness will lead to utter destruction. We must not take the risk."

He changed the subject, "However, I heard Dong'er mention that your soul power is perfectly compatible, and your Martial Soul Fusion Technique is incredibly powerful. In that case... I have thought of a potentially feasible method."

Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had grasped a lifeline: "What method? Uncle Niu, please tell me quickly!"

“You will be the one to fuse with the 100,000-year-old soul bone,” Niu Tian said, enunciating each word clearly. “With your will and physique, you will first withstand the violent energy impact during the soul bone fusion, tempering away the ferocity of the soul beast contained within, and using your own soul power to initially assimilate its attributes.”

"When the soul bone is not yet fully and stably integrated with your own body, and when its primal power is most active, I will then take action and use a special method to guide the primal power of the soul bone, which you have 'purified' and 'harmonized,' into Dong'er's body. In this way, we may be able to bypass the problem of her being unable to integrate on her own while she is unconscious."

"I do!" Huo Yuhao blurted out almost without thinking, as if afraid that the opportunity would slip away in a second.

But then, practical concerns welled up in his mind, and his voice lowered, tinged with uncertainty, "But... Uncle Niu, the power of a 100,000-year-old soul bone... I'm not sure if I can withstand that pressure..."

“This is the biggest risk of this method,” Niu Tian admitted frankly, his eyes sharp. “Moreover, you must remain fully conscious throughout the entire ‘bone-moving’ process!”

"Only when you are clear-headed can you guide your soul power to cooperate and ensure that the initial fusion between the soul bone and you is in the right direction. Only then can you accurately coordinate your output when I guide my power."

"This means that you will not only have to endure the extreme pain of fusing with the soul bone, but also, after success, you will have to endure the excruciating pain of having the initial fused soul bone essence forcibly stripped away!"

"After you finish all this, the hand and foot you used to fuse with the soul bone will suffer severe damage to your meridians and bones. You will be unable to move for a long time, and there is even a risk of lifelong disability."

After hearing this, Huo Yuhao's face showed no fear, but rather an almost insane determination:

"I'm not afraid! Uncle Niu, I've had some fortuitous encounters, and my physique and mental strength far surpass those of my peers. I believe I can handle it! Come on, when do we begin? Should we go back to the academy immediately to prepare?"

Seeing Huo Yuhao's urgency, Niu Tian sighed inwardly, but remained outwardly calm: "You and your second brother should take Dong'er back to Shrek Academy to make preparations and stabilize her condition."

"The place where those specific 100,000-year-old soul bones are stored is not within the sect. I need to go and retrieve them in person. I will be there shortly."

Huo Yuhao was focused on Wang Dong'er's safety and had no doubt about Niu Tian's words. He immediately nodded emphatically, "Okay! Let's set off right away!"

Watching Huo Yuhao and Titan depart in the sky, Niu Tian flashed and appeared high in the sky, transforming into a streak of light and speeding straight towards the vast ocean.

The Clear Sky Sect has been living in seclusion for ten thousand years, and even its disciples need Tang San to bestow their soul rings upon them. Where in the sect would one find a ready-made 100,000-year-old soul bone?

Fortunately, the Sea God rules the ocean and can command those soul beasts in the deep sea that have cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years to come...

Thinking of this, Niu Tian couldn't help but comfort himself: those he killed were all evil soul beasts that had wreaked havoc in the area and were burdened with karma. Everything... was for the sake of Sister Xiao Wu and Xiao Qi's safety.

The speed of the Limit Douluo is already beyond imagination, and Niu Tian's true form is the divine beast Azure Bull Python, which once possessed the strength of a god-official. Although he is currently suppressed by the interface, it is not difficult for him to briefly tear apart the relatively "fragile" space of the Douluo Continent to travel short distances.

As for why this continental space is so "fragile," the reason, upon closer examination, touches upon a grand plan spanning millennia.

Therefore, almost immediately after Huo Yuhao and Titan escorted Wang Dong'er to Shrek Academy and informed Elder Xuan and Yan Shaozhe of the situation, Niu Tian appeared above the academy with three 100,000-year-old soul bones radiating immense energy fluctuations.

After Huo Yuhao returned, he had already told Elder Xuan and Dean Yan Shaozhe of the Martial Soul Department about his trip to the Haotian Sect and the "bone replacement" treatment plan proposed by Niu Tian.

Upon hearing this absurd plan, both men frowned deeply. Elder Xuan took a large gulp of wine, while Yan Shaozhe also looked worried.

This method sounds extremely dangerous, and it's unheard of.

But even though these two "brutes" were better at fighting than healing, they couldn't come up with any other way to save the patient, no matter how hard they tried.

Moreover, they knew better than anyone Huo Yuhao's feelings for Wang Dong'er, and there was no way they would advise him to give up this only hope.

So the two could only exchange a worried look and try to comfort themselves: with two Limit Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect with extraordinary cultivation levels personally watching over and taking care of them, there shouldn't be any major problems, right?
Huo Yuhao's companions, led by Gula, were unable to offer any assistance at this moment and could only anxiously wait outside the designated quiet room.

When Gula saw Niu Tian and Titan leading Huo Yuhao into the room, and Elder Xuan following in as a representative of Shrek Academy to protect them, his heart jumped, but it was out of curiosity. He knew that Wang Dong'er was the daughter of the God King and would be safe.

After hearing about the astonishing "treatment process" from Yan Shaozhe, his mind was already filled with countless "Holy crap!" exclamations.

Wow! Absolutely amazing!
To come up with such a method to save someone is less of a treatment and more of an extreme form of torture... As expected of a Tang Sect disciple, his ability to create innovative methods of torture is truly remarkable. He even suspected that Tang San himself had set the "test questions."

Gula had a strong sense of déjà vu, feeling that in the Douluo Continent, the emotions between people, especially love, seemed to be less profound without experiencing unforgettable pain.

If there are no heart-wrenching or physically painful memories, then the body must endure immense suffering; otherwise, the love seems to lack "certification" and appears unqualified.

As an "outsider," he couldn't understand this concept, but every time he witnessed it firsthand, he was deeply shocked.

Gula dared not easily release his mental energy to probe, for fear of interfering with the crucial treatment process inside the room.

At this moment, he increasingly envied Huo Yuhao's unique spiritual detection soul skill, which was far more concealed and sophisticated than the spiritual power scanning of ordinary soul masters.

However, he had plenty of ways. Since he couldn't see into the future by penetrating space, he would look at the past second, with the scene in the room reflected in his eyes.

Inside the quiet room, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed to freeze.

Two beds were placed side by side. Huo Yuhao lay down next to Wang Dong'er, wearing only a pair of shorts, revealing his strong but somewhat thin body. On the shelf beside him, three 100,000-year-old soul bones, shimmering with light and containing a chilling energy, were quietly arranged.

Why three pieces? Naturally, Niu Tian, ​​or rather Tang San behind him, believed that the energy of two 100,000-year-old soul bones might not be enough to compensate for the difference in effect brought about by losing the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. In order to ensure that the plan would be foolproof and to achieve or even exceed the original goal, three pieces would be more prudent.

In addition, there is a "misplaced" soul bone that needs to be dealt with—that is, the teleportation soul bone in Huo Yuhao's left leg that he has already fused with.

According to the plan, the old bone needs to be removed first so that Huo Yuhao can fuse with the new 100,000-year-old right leg bone, and then its power can be guided to Wang Dong'er.

A brutal performance is about to begin.

Niu Tian and Titan stood by the bed, their faces solemn, with a subtle, complex emotion hidden deep in their eyes.

Elder Xuan was also standing to the side, his brows furrowed, his cloudy eyes filled with worry and reluctance.

“Yuhao, the process will be extremely painful. You must remain conscious at all times and use your will to guide your soul power to cooperate with us in order to ensure that the soul bone power is fully assimilated and safely extracted and introduced into Dong’er’s body. Once you fall into a coma, all our efforts will be in vain, and both you and Dong’er will be in mortal danger.”

Niu Tian repeated the key points in a deep voice, his tone more serious than ever before.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and nodded heavily: "I understand, Uncle Niu, let's begin! I can hold on!"

Titan stepped forward, his thick, earthy-yellow hand gleaming with a heavy light. He said in a deep voice, "Boy, hold on! The first step is to remove your original right leg soul bone."

Before he finished speaking, he formed his five fingers into a claw and pressed them firmly on Huo Yuhao's right knee. A domineering yet precise force instantly penetrated the bone, precisely controlled by the power of a Limit Douluo, thus overcoming the ironclad rule that soul bones cannot be disassembled by non-Title Douluo.

"Ugh—!"

Huo Yuhao felt as if his right leg was being violently churned and peeled away from the inside by a red-hot branding iron.

The intense pain instantly stiffened his body, veins bulged on his forehead, and cold sweat poured out like rain.

He clenched his teeth tightly, letting out a muffled groan of pain that he couldn't suppress.

The ten-thousand-year-old teleportation soul bone, which was originally almost integrated with his bones and meridians, was forcibly activated and loosened by this external force, as if it was trying to pull a piece of bone out of his body.

Old Master Xuan's eyes twitched as he watched, and he couldn't help but turn his head away. He then forced himself to turn back and stare intently at the process.

Niu Tian focused intently, his hands forming a hand seal. A gentle yet powerful azure soul force enveloped Huo Yuhao's right leg, both assisting in the Titan's dissection and protecting Huo Yuhao's leg bone from being destroyed by this violent process.

The process lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, until Titan carefully "removed" the shimmering silver right leg bone from Huo Yuhao's leg.

Huo Yuhao's right leg was a bloody mess, trembling slightly as if he had lost all strength. He was panting heavily, his face ashen.

"Don't stop, Yuhao, concentrate! Fuse the first 100,000-year-old right leg bone."

Niu Tian gave a low shout, picked up the 100,000-year-old right leg bone that exuded a primal aura, aimed it at Huo Yuhao's injured area, and slowly pressed it down.

"boom--!"

A pain ten times stronger than before instantly swept over Huo Yuhao's entire body. The immense energy contained in the 100,000-year-old soul bone and the remaining soul beast will rushed into his body like a flood bursting its banks.

His bones creaked under the strain, as if his meridians were about to be torn apart inch by inch. The remaining violent intent of the soul beast frantically assaulted his sea of ​​consciousness, attempting to devour him.

"Hold fast to your original intention! Activate the Mysterious Heaven Technique! Guide it!" Niu Tian's voice, like a resounding bell, echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind.

Huo Yuhao's eyes were bloodshot. With his indomitable willpower, he frantically circulated the Xuan Tian Gong, mobilizing his ultimate ice soul power. Like taming a wild horse, he guided, honed, and fused this violent power little by little.

A thin layer of frost formed on his body, but it melted rapidly due to the intense heat inside, repeating itself endlessly, causing him immense pain.

The spirits of Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, Ice Emperor, and even Snow Emperor were all in his sea of ​​consciousness, doing their utmost to help stabilize his mind.

After an unknown amount of time, the light emanating from the 100,000-year-old right leg bone gradually subsided, and it began to fuse with Huo Yuhao's leg bone. But before he could even catch his breath, Niu Tian had already picked up the second 100,000-year-old right arm bone.

"Continue! Right arm!"

The same pain descended once again! Huo Yuhao felt as if his right arm was being forged in a furnace and then frozen by extreme cold, over and over again.

His clenched fists were so tight that his fingernails had already pierced his palms, and blood was flowing down between his fingers, but he still held on, relying on his worry and love for Wang Dong'er, as well as his own unyielding willpower, to endure it all.

When the two 100,000-year-old soul bones began to fuse, Huo Yuhao's aura became exceptionally powerful and chaotic, but he was also almost at his limit, and his eyes were somewhat unfocused.

"The final step, and the most important step!"

Niu Tian's voice was solemn, "I am going to begin to strip away the soul bone power of your right leg and guide it to Dong'er."

“This process will be more painful than integration. Because you have to actively ‘let go’ while still maintaining guidance.”

Niu Tian placed his hands on the corresponding positions of Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er's right legs, and his pure and powerful soul energy connected the two like a bridge.

Titan stood by, doing everything he could to protect Wang Dong'er's heart and body, ensuring she could withstand the infusion of this external power.

"start!"

Niu Tian gave a low shout and guided Huo Yuhao's soul power to begin to reverse the separation of the power of the 100,000-year-old soul bone that had just been fused!
"ah--!!!!!"

This time, Huo Yuhao could no longer suppress his emotions and let out a heart-wrenching scream!

The feeling was as if someone was scraping his leg bone inch by inch with a blunt knife, forcibly digging out what had just grown in.

Moreover, he needed to stay conscious and use his soul power to "push" this force away.

His body convulsed violently, and sweat and blood mixed together, soaking the sheets beneath him.

Elder Xuan couldn't bear to watch any longer, so he closed his eyes and clenched his fists.

Niu Tian and Titan also looked tense, sweat beading on their foreheads. They had to precisely control every step, without making the slightest mistake.

Time passed slowly, and Huo Yuhao's screams gradually turned into unconscious whimpers, but he never lost consciousness. With his amazing willpower and Niu Tian's guidance, he managed to stay awake.

Finally, when most of the original power of the 100,000-year-old right leg bone was successfully extracted and slowly injected into Wang Dong'er's body, causing a blush to appear on her pale face, Niu Tiancai breathed a sigh of relief.

“Success... Part 1…” Niu Tian’s voice also carried a hint of fatigue.

Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, lay limp on the bed as if he had been pulled out of the water, his right leg and right arm hanging limply, temporarily and completely numb, with only the slight rise and fall of his chest proving that he was still alive.

The upcoming soul bone transplant in his left leg will be another brutal test for him...

Outside the room, although the soundproofing was excellent, the faint sound of Huo Yuhao's suppressed screams, which finally erupted, still weighed heavily on the hearts of the waiting crowd.

Gula leaned against the wall. He looked at it for a while, then stopped. It was just too cruel. He shook his head and thought to himself:

"What a ruthless person... or rather, what a ruthless person who was manipulated by fate and his 'father-in-law'..." he muttered to himself, his tone complex.

(End of this chapter)