Chapter 553: Wake up call

"Haha... yeah. I'm alright. Just some superficial injuries. Don't worry about it." Max laughed and broke the silence. After having such a 'fulfilling' fight, he was in a good mood and didn't want to let such trivial things ruin it.

Everyone gave him strange looks when they heard him and thought, 'These are superficial injuries?' Of course, they weren't. He was badly hurt; many of his bones and internal organs were seriously injured. He knew even grade three healing pills won't be able to heal him in a short time. Fortunately, although they were quite severe, none of them were life threatening. Besides, his bloodline's healing ability had already kicked in. In the past few days, apart from hunting down the demons on the way to the capital city for the kill points, he also tested out the extent of his healing ability. Although he didn't know how effective it would be if his vital organs such as heart, brain etc. suffered injuries since he didn't dare let the demons critically injure him, he found out it was incredible, way more effective than top-tier grade three healing pills. Also, once he got injured, it would automatically kick in, meaning he wouldn't have to get distracted mid fight because of his injuries. Even more unbelievable, once the injured body parts healed, they would become stronger than before. If he used [Barbarian God Physique] while the bloodline healing was in effect, the strengthening effects would be even more significant. Of course, all things had its advantages and disadvantages. His bloodline ability naturally was the same. From what he found out, it consumed his bloodline's energy to work. Once his bloodline ability was used up, he would fall into a temporary state of weakness.

For the sake of cultivating his body, he fought the two mid-stage four-star demons barehanded and let them thoroughly beat him up. Right now, he didn't want to waste his time talking or convincing everyone he was fine, but quickly circulate his body strengthening technique to absorb all fruits of his hard work.

However...

Just as he was about to tell them to leave him alone for a few hours... Emily's cold and angry voice sounded. "You call them injuries 'superficial'? Do you think we are blind? Stop being so flippant about everything. Even if you wanted to train your body, you should've found some safer method. What do you think would've happened if those two had some unique bloodline or had some hidden trump card? YOU WOULD'VE LOST YOUR LIFE!!"

Her angry shouts made Max flinch. When he looked up at her, he saw her eyes were dripping with tears, which made his heart tremble. In all his life, he never saw her behave like this. She was always calm and indifferent, as if nothing in this world could make her show any emotion, but now she was crying because she 'risked' his life. How could he not be moved? Seeing him look at her in a daze and not responding, Emily grew angrier. However, she didn't say anything this time, but turned around and walked away.

Seeing this, Max snapped out of his daze and instinctively asked, "Where are you going?"

"Hmph! Just contact me when you are healed and ready to continue the journey."

Emily's crisp voice, tinged with a hint of anger, sounded out as her figure disappeared from his vision.

Max watched her disappear and revealed a bitter smile. Although her care for him moved and made him happy, he didn't like the fact he made her angry. A moment later, his shoulders slumped down and he sighed 'I don't have a choice but to train my body this way since I can't find something like blood pool.'

Just then, Rey said with some hesitation, "Leader, I don't know if I should say this, but... I think you have yet to face some tough challenges or life-threatening situations until now. Even if you have encountered some difficulty, everything must have been under your control or it was not enough to threaten your life. That's why you... how should I put it... that's why you subconsciously 'take everything lightly'."

Saying this, he wore a solemn expression on his face and added, "This mindset is very dangerous. I hope you think about it and correct it as soon as possible."

The four-star elves also nodded in agreement. Seeing this, Max frowned and thought, 'Is that really true?'

Soon, he realized what they said was probably true. He really hadn't encountered any hopeless situation. The most dangerous situation he ever encountered was when Rima was kidnapped and he fought with the demonic mages. However, even then, he didn't have any sense of danger since he almost instantly killed the three-star mage after over-drafting his vitality.

'Without the sense of danger, one is sure to die sooner or later in a world where only the law of jungle works.' Realizing all this, he heaved a cold breath, 'The only reason I'm still alive is mostly because the system. If I didn't have the system... Fuck, there is no use thinking like this now. I should be careful from now on and not risk my life—No!'

Just then, he remembered his main purpose. 'I only have around ten days left to save my father and a few days less to reach the four-star realm and complete the mission, so Lilly would be safe. I have no choice but to rush things and take risks.' Thinking this, he clenched his fists while his heart burned with urgency.

Thinking this, he took a deep breath and stood up before nodding at Rey, "Thank you for the advice."

He then glanced at others. "I'll need a few hours to heal. You guys should rest and recover."

Saying this, he walked away and found a secluded place, sat down, closed his eyes in meditation and stabilized his breathing and calmed his mind. A few minutes later, he started circulating the [Barbarian God Physique]. Although taking healing pills could significantly accelerate the healing process, he didn't take any because the longer his body was in the injured state, the quicker his physique would progress toward level 2.

Rumble~! Rumble~!

As the [Barbarian God Physique] circulated, it seemed to have taken control of the faint pinkish bloodline energy that was slowly seeping out and diffusing into his body, healing and strengthening his body. A moment later, the blood throughout his body rumbled and streams of bloodline energy rushed out before diffusing into his bones, marrow, and internal organs.

Slowly but steadily, his body started strengthening. His bones started becoming denser, his marrow grew thicker and purer, while his internal organs grew stronger and thrummed with vitality.

As soon as this process started, a wonderful sensation washed over his body, which almost made him groan in pleasure.

'How refreshing! If not for the pain I have to endure to injure myself to this degree, I wouldn't have to look for alternative body forging methods to advance my physique level.' He thought, enjoying the sensation.

Time passed, and quickly one hour was gone. Suddenly, the streams of bloodline energy grew thinner. 'Am I going to run out of the bloodline energy?' Max thought in surprise. Although, in the past few days, he would fall in a weakened state after his body healed, he never really ran out of the bloodline energy.

'Maybe it's because I never injured myself so badly and didn't run the [Barbarian God Physique] more than a few minutes... Argh!!' Just as he was thinking about the reasons, the bloodline energy became almost nonexistent and suddenly, a sense—stronger than what he felt in the past few days—of weakness overtook his senses. At the same time, an overwhelming urge to have sex surfaced in his mind, which almost made him growl.

'Damn it! If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have exhausted the bloodline energy completely.' He cursed in his heart and quickly stood up. But this action made him wince due to pain because he was yet to be completely healed.

Whoosh!

Quickly taking a handful of grade three pills, he rushed toward the place where the group was staying.

Because the place where they were was just a small settlement, there were only grass huts which were already destroyed. So, everyone had found a relatively intact hut to rest.

Whoosh!

Sensing someone approaching, the four-star elves opened their eyes. When they saw it was Max, they were about to greet him when Max rushed over, grabbed Ella, who was sitting together with Elli, by waist and vanished into distance.

The duo exchanged glances before shaking their heads while other elves opened their eyes and looked around in confusion. As for Elli, she panicked when her mother suddenly disappeared from her side and was about to shout when the male four-star elf told her what happened.

Upon hearing this, some elves frowned while some revealed perverted smiles. As for Elli, she tightly clenched her fists.