Since I can't escape, I'll fight.
When escaping from the deathweavers, Fang Mo had exhausted the poison inside his satchel. Even if he hadn't, he doubted it would be of much use against the snake before him. Against the spiders, creatures weaker than the thunder snake, the poison had already proven ineffective.
Fang Mo pulled out an Opening Meridian Solution from his satchel, used a syringe to draw the liquid from the flask, and injected it into his arm. The motion, though easy in normal situations, was incredibly difficult for his body now, which had just suffered electrocution. The only reason he managed it in time was because the thunder snake didn't take him seriously.
The solution burst open three of his meridians at once, like a raging river tearing through a dam. Its effects didn't stop there; it cleansed nearly half of the impurities and blockages inside these three meridians
A vortex of spiritual energy formed around Fang Mo as he circulated the Basics of Cultivation technique. Though he couldn't cultivate normally, spiritual energy and air alike flooded into his lungs and coursed through his body.
Fang Mo smashed the syringe in his hand. A strength he had never felt before surged through him. Even with only three meridians partially opened, his body brimmed with power. Empowered by the solution, the spiritual energy battered the clogs in his meridians, trying to force them fully open.
Unfortunately, just as Fang Mo had expected, it wasn't enough. This was the main reason he had wanted to enter a cultivation sect—to gain access to the resources and knowledge that immortals possessed. Perhaps then, he could find a way to completely clear the clogs from his meridians and cultivate properly.
Immortal spiritual roots were essential for stimulating the meridians and cleansing them of impurities before the start of cultivation. Only after clearing the initial blockages should one begin absorbing spiritual energy. Fang Mo, however, had done the opposite—he absorbed spiritual energy before removing the clogs. While this could strengthen his body, it would also drastically shorten his lifespan.
In fifteen minutes at most, regardless of whether he defeated the thunder snake, his body would collapse under the effects of the potent medicine and spiritual energy ravaging his insides. His only path to survival was to break through to the first level of the Opening Meridian Stage, absorb the spiritual energy into his dantian, and forge a body strong enough to deal with its side effects.
In one swift motion, Fang Mo rose from the ground and glared at the thunder snake with hate. Because of it, he had been forced to use the Opening Meridian Solution just to stay alive.
As Fang Mo stood tall, the thunder snake lunged at him, its fangs aimed straight for his throat. It was fast, much faster than any ordinary snake from Earth. This wasn't a common beast, but a low Tier 1 demon beast, comparable to a cultivator at the first level of the Opening Meridian Stage.
The Fang Mo from before wouldn't have stood a chance against such speed. But that Fang Mo no longer existed. He threw a hook punch. His fist connected with the thunder snake's head just before it could sink its fangs into his neck.
The thunder snake hissed in pain as its body slammed into a nearby tree. Its eyes turned blue, lightning crackling through its body. Fang Mo flinched, the memory of his recent electrocution flashing through his mind.
Not wanting to give the snake another chance to strike, he leaped into the air and stomped at its head. But the beast wasn't easy prey. It dodged the blow and pounced on him.
Fang Mo threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding its fangs. Before he could get up, the snake slithered in his direction and pounced again. He planted his hands on the ground for support and kicked upward. His foot connected, snapping the snake's head back.
Seizing the moment, Fang Mo scrambled to his feet and widened the distance between them. From the exchange, he realized his attacks were doing little more than enraging the beast. Without a weapon, his chances of killing it were close to none.
For a breath of time, man and beast stared at each other. The thunder snake studied its troublesome prey, calculating the kill. Fang Mo's mind raced, searching desperately for a way out. He feared that if he turned to run, the snake would strike him down with lightning. And even if he did escape, he had no way to survive the Opening Meridian Solution's side effects.
Do the heavens want me dead? he thought, gritting his teeth.
The thoughts distracted Fang Mo from the fight, and the snake didn't let the chance slip by. Its body surged with lightning, crackling sounds echoing through the trees. A powerful lightning strike burst from its body, aimed directly at Fang Mo. His eyes widened. He may have grown stronger, but his current reflexes and agility were nowhere near enough to dodge lightning.
Fuck. That was the only thought that crossed his mind as the lightning tore through him. Shockingly, the energy also entered his three half-opened meridians, fusing with both the Opening Meridian Solution and the spiritual energy flowing inside them.
The clog that had blocked the flow of energy was torn apart by the lightning's force. Despite the pain, Fang Mo felt the changes within his meridians and screamed inwardly with joy.
Lightning is the way!
But only a trace of the lightning had been redirected into his meridians; most of it ravaged his body. A burning scent filled his nostrils. Food was served, and he was tonight's main course.
His body crumpled into a heap on the ground, but the agony did little to dampen his elation. He glared at the thunder snake with a wild grin.
"Little Snake, do Your Father a favor... and strike me again." His voice was hoarse, his vocal cords had been damaged by the previous attack.
The thunder snake seemed to take his words as a challenge. Though it had developed some intelligence after absorbing spiritual energy, it was still far from understanding human speech. Another surge of lightning burst from its body and struck Fang Mo without mercy.
His body convulsed violently as his skin split open. Scorched blood soaked the soil beneath him. Unlike before, Fang Mo now understood the lightning's potential. This time, he consciously circulated his cultivation technique, guiding both spiritual energy and lightning into his meridians.
His efforts bore fruit. Directed by his will, three times as much lightning surged into his meridians, blasting apart even more of the clogs. Just a little more…
He could feel his three meridians on the verge of opening. They only needed one final push. Raising his head, Fang Mo looked at the thunder snake with bloodshot eyes. "One. More," he said, coughing blood between words.
Whether his body could withstand another lightning strike or not didn't matter. Fang Mo saw only two paths before him: break through, or die. If his body was destroyed by the snake's lightning, then so be it. If he didn't break through and step into the first level of the Meridian Opening Stage, he would die nonetheless.
The thunder snake glanced at its defiant prey and responded with another bolt of lightning. As the energy struck him, Fang Mo felt his consciousness slipping. A maniacal expression—twisted by pain, electricity, and an unyielding will to live—spread across his face. Clinging to the last threads of awareness, he forced his cultivation technique to circulate once more, guiding the lightning into his meridians.
As the final clogs were obliterated and his three meridians fully opened, Fang Mo's skin turned pitch-black like coal. His heart stopped. His consciousness faded.
Yet, even in that death-like state, the spiritual energy within his body completed a full circulation. It poured into his once-empty dantian. With mortal roots and a broken body, Fang Mo had finally stepped into the first level of the Opening Meridian Stage. He had officially embarked on the path of cultivation.
Unfortunately, it came at a price. And that price was death.