Limits Chapter 192

I found a suitable place, to start my experiment . I then found a stone, which could hold some water, and made a fire . With all that set, I placed ⅓ of the Blood Reed, into the boiling water . The water began to change colour after a while, and red veins could be seen inside . With more time, more veins started to appear . I waited a bit longer, and the colour of the water became completely red . Then, the opposite reaction happened .

The water started becoming clearer again, it seemed that the medical properties of the Blood Reed started to evaporate . I quickly extinguished the fire and waited for the water to cool down a bit . Some time later, the water became cool enough to handle . The colour of the water, was faintly red . I submerged a cloth inside the water, to collect some liquid, for comparison later . I then hanged it on a branch, to let it dry .

'I need to find out, if there are any impurities inside that herb . I now know, that the essence of the Blood Reed, can be extracted . Although, too much heat, would degrade the medical properties' I thought and prepared another batch . I had to test it a few times . My first attempt used a third of one Blood Reed, I still had two thirds left . Sacrificing one Blood Reed, was nothing . In exchange, I would get a better idea, about the properties and effectiveness of that herb .

I repeated that proces two more times . Each time, I extinguished the fire sooner, so that more medical properties were left in the water . When all the clothes dried, I compared them . 'The 1st cloth, doesn't seem to have any impurities, but the medical properties are about 50% weaker . The 2nd cloth also doesn't have impurities, and the medical properties decreased by 20% only . The 3rd cloth has impurities, while the medical properties only decreased very slightly' I thought . From my experiment, I figured out that, the best way to use those Blood Reeds, was to process them first . That way, there would be no impurities inside .

'If I were to eat them raw, the impurities would eventually accumulate . Although my blood would be more pure, it would also contain those impurities . That would probably hinder me in the future' I thought . No wonder Avians had such difficulties, breaking through their Limits . Although the blood could be purified using the Blood Reeds, it would also deposit impurities inside ones body . In a long run, the herb would actually harm the user, instead of helping him .

'Now, I know the exact time I have to cook it for, in order to get rid of impurities . Although the effectiveness will be smaller, it's still a small price to pay' I thought, and got ready for my 2nd experiment . I had to check the Earth Grabs as well . I didn't want to ingest them raw, like Avians . Especially since I learned the Art of Medicine from Nick .

I repeated the same process on the Earth Grab, and what I found out, shocked me . 'The Earth Grabs contains so many impurities . Ingesting them raw, would maybe increase my strength, but breaking through any limits later, would actually be very hard . This, paired with the Blood Reeds and other herbs, would make it almost impossible, to break through the Inner Limit . At least in my estimates . It's no wonder, that Avians can't brake through their Inner Limit . Even the King will not be able to do so, with so many impurities' I thought .

This also explained the herb, that the King of Avians proposed to me . If they worked hard and didn't ingest those herbs, there would be many more stronger Avians around . 'Although, this is what I figured out, I have no reason to tell them that . I will gain nothing else from them' I thought .

In order to use the Earth Grab, I would have to burn away the impurities inside . This would decrease the effectiveness of that herb by at least 50%, if not 60% just to be sure . With that in mind, I decided to make a condensed version of those herbs . I started with the Earth Grab .

I boiled the water and added one grab after the other . When the medical properties seeped out completely, I extracted the dregs and allowed the mixture to burn out the impurities . From about one and a half litre of water, I received around 300 millilitres of condensed Earth Grab Solution . The solution was pure, with no impurities, but it was only at 40% of effectiveness . The other 60% burned away and evaporated together with the water and impurities .

'This much should still be better, than ingesting those herbs raw or processed poorly' I thought . I did the same with the Blood Reeds . I used 21 of 41 Blood Reeds that I had, and created a condensed liquid . The liquid was dark red, just like blood, and had no impurities . I used about a litre of water this time, to make it more condensed, while the final product, came out to be only about 200 millilitres .

I decided to leave the 20 Blood Reeds for now, and not create more of that Essence . 'I guess these concoctions, are my creation now . They never appeared in Nick's books . I should name them' I thought . After a while of thinking, I named them Blood Purifying Essence and Earth Strength Essence . The names contained the characteristics of each herb, and sounded good as well . I noted the herbs on two pieces of cloth . Together with the effects, defects and the process of creating both Essences, out of those herbs .

'I'm kind of starting to create my own medical book . I should probably get an empty book, instead of writing stuff on cloth' I thought . With both Essences created, I could now try and break through my Limits, or rather, begin the process of breaking through . I drank the whole cup of Blood Purifying Essence, and sat down . When the Essence reached my stomach, I could feel a burning sensation, from inside my body .

It felt as if someone started a fire inside my stomach, that travelled through my veins, circulating my whole body . "Ughhh" I groaned . The pain was not something I expected, but I had no way of backing out now . All I could do, was endure . After a while, the pain of burning from the inside, changed to something even worse . My whole body became red hot, as if lava was flowing through my veins . Sweat stared to appear on my forehead, while my veins became completely red .

Frosty changed to its corporeal form, and looked at me with worry . The right arm started to fight with the heat . The coldness fought against the heat, to the point of creating steam around my body . I gritted my teeth from the pain, but no matter how much I tried to keep it in, I couldn't any longer . "AAAAAAHHHH!" . I screamed . Letting out some noise, allowed me to at least vent my frustration .

Frosty wanted to merge with my right arm, but I stopped it . I shouted "No! . . . . . Stay There!" and tried to endure the pain . I didn't know for how long that pain lasted, but to me, it felt like eternity . When the pain finally started to ease up and the burning decreased, I fainted . I was too exhausted from enduring the pain, to stay conscious .

When I woke up again, I felt a cool breeze, blowing on me . With my eyes opened fully, I noticed that Frosty used its breath, to cool me down . I said "Thanks, that is enough . Otherwise you will freeze me" and smiled . Frosty stopped and licked my face . I said "I'm fine, I just purified my blood . Who would've guessed, that the Essence will have such an effect . I should probably note that in the description of the herb . Although, I don't think, I will be ever able to forget that pain" .

This was only the beginning though . I only purified my blood, and didn't break through the Half Step of the Outer Limit yet . 'I need to train physically, in order to break through . I should also take some of that Earth Strength Essence, while I'm at it . Although this time, I should take much less . I don't want a recollection of such pain again' I thought .

Before I did any of that, I decided to have a proper rest and eat something . 'Thanks to that experience, I'm exhausted and starving . I need to eat something first, before I attempt any limit breaking stuff' I thought, and prepared to make fire .

Chapter end