Chapter 146 Bond Breaking Part Two

As that thought formed in his mind, the transformation of his body accelerated as he attained a rate of absorption higher than anything he did before. A change began appearing on his face; a mask's outline began forming on his head. Its form was similar to the one the masked figure was wearing, but the shape was slightly different and gave off a unique vibe as it has Blank-Faced Joe's essence in it. Time passed, and the more features began appearing on the mask's edge, the more Joe absorbed the essence that was in the liquid, the more the mask turned real on his face.

"Who would have thought that he would turn into one of us…" the masked man nearby couldn't help but say it loudly as he stood close to the chest. He used unknown mean to monitor Blank-Faced Joe's transition and couldn't help but think about the past. He had met the man in front of him several times in the past, and the mask he harbored in his daily life had left a deep impression on him. His mask wasn't a physical object, but was the emotionless face he showed everyone in the Core. A face that had got him his infamous nickname, and had turned him into a legendary gangster in the Core.

"His mask formation is taking a lot of resources; it seems like the patriarch was truly right!" he blurted out as he saw the rate of absorption that came from inside Blank-Faced Joe's body. "I guess he is just fated with our clan.", he thought about the amount of resources that a normal transition would consume, and he couldn't help but be shocked as Blank-Faced Joe had already consumed far more of the liquid than that.

The liquid in the chest was a treasure that was prepared in their sect, one that was used in many traditions and that took years to form. It contained the very essence of the god they prayed, and during their members' first baptism, it would completely change their body's internal structure and energy pathway. Giving them a base talent higher than what they could achieve alone; not only does it enhance the user's body, it also shaped their destiny and linked it with their sect's future.

It was akin to turning into a family member. Time advanced, and Joe's mask began turning corporeal under the massive absorption, there has been enough liquid to fill a massive tank, but now it had been reduced to a small amount that was diminishing at a fast rate. Thankfully his mask was nearly finished, and it only lacked a single percent to attain full completion; his mask was blank and didn't contain any pattern. Contrary to the masked figure who had deep lines, and curves, that traveled all along it. Joe's mask was similar to his nickname, and it portrayed the mask he had been wearing all those years. No emotions were released from it, and as he hovered in the middle of the liquid, he sent a weird transcendental vibe to whoever could see him.

The liquid was soon reduced to a state where it would only fill a small puddle, and the absorption rate coming from Blank-Faced Joe's body accelerated as he absorbed everything in a last push. His mask formed completely as a tremendous aura formed on his body; the masked figure nearby couldn't help but shiver slightly when feeling the exuding aura. Fear appeared under his mask as he couldn't help but dread the mask of Joe's face; it had been formed with many more resources than his own. Although his mask had already evolved several times during his cultivation journey, Joe's mask was purer and made him sense a feeling of awe. As if he was standing in front of an elder of the sect, someone he had rarely met during a few clan rituals.

Suddenly, a hand appeared out of the chest then an arm crawled as it lifted the rest of a hidden body. The air crackled as a tremendous pressure made its appearance in the tiny hidden room. The masked figure nearby felt the need to flee, but his pride as a strong cultivator made him stand his ground as he was still Joe's senior. What would the others think of him if it was revealed that he was feeling fear toward someone that just passed the first baptism ritual? Blank-Faced Joe slowly crawled out of the chest, and soon enough, his entire body was out of the chest. Illuminated by the small electric light, his mask appeared in the small room and reflected the green light that came from it.

The mask was truly featureless, and only contained two holes for the eyes, and its shape only followed Joe's facial structure. His eyes glowed under his mask, and were the same color of his mask. A pale white that caused a shuddered that traveled along the masked figure's body. He couldn't help but curse as he exclaimed in a cold voice while releasing his own pressure.

"Close your pores, as your breakthrough has made you vastly stronger than you were before. You might not be used to it, breath calmly, and try to control your strength."

Joe calmly gazed at the man before him and was surprised to see specks of fear in the man's eyes. He had already been good at discerning people's emotions, but he felt as if this particular talent of his was boosted to a degree unattainable by mankind. He tried to follow the man's advice as he closed his pores, the crackling in the air immediately stopped, and the chilling wind current that had been rambling in the small room followed suit.

He clenched his fist and felt his blood course through his veins with the might of hundreds of horses. Although he had been a cultivator before and had already tasted a little bit of power but compared to his current strength, it was nothing and made him think that he was only a little bit stronger than an average mortal.