Fang Cheng’s thoughts slightly moved.
Rumble—
The ground around the palace, spanning several thousand square ters, began to shake violently.
The protruding mounds were smoothed by an invisible force, and the sunken pits were completely filled.
Next, square pieces of obsidian surged out from the soil, automatically adjusting their positions, joining together, and fitting seamlessly into the ground.
The entire process was as if an invisible construction crew was paving the ground with unimaginable efficiency.
Fang Cheng descended from the sky, his feet stepping onto the first black tile that had just been ford, and walked towards the palace gate.
With each step he took, the path beneath his feet extended forward and spread out.
When he reached the entrance, a wide, smooth obsidian boulevard had taken shape.
At the end of the boulevard, a series of steps ascended in tiers, perfectly connecting with the palace’s entrance.
Fang Cheng pushed open the dark golden palace door, which required a giant’s strength to move, and the interior scene beca clear at once.
Unlike the previous darkness where one couldn’t see their hand in front of them, the palace’s interior was now bright and magnificent.
The sunlight passed through the do and the complex stained glass windows on both sides, casting colorful shadows that illuminated the vast indoor space of several thousand square ters.
Dozens of huge columns supported the towering arch do, appearing solemn and majestic, with archways leading to deep side halls.
At the deepest part of the main hall, a throne entirely made of gold stood quietly, shining brightly.
Fang Cheng walked forward and calmly took a seat.
The mont his body touched the throne, an indescribable sensation spread throughout his consciousness.
He felt utterly rged with this world; every grain of sand on the island, every drop of water in the rivers, beca extensions of his will.
Fang Cheng closed his eyes and concentrated, his fingertips gliding over the cold armrest, savoring this omniscient and omnipotent experience.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and cast his gaze toward a corner.
There, stood a door emitting a soft white light, with spatial fluctuations slightly different from the surrounding environnt.
Fang Cheng’s mind slightly moved, and his figure appeared in front of the light door, then he stepped inside.
The scene before his eyes suddenly changed.
The magnificent palace disappeared, replaced by a narrow bedroom of just a few square ters.
On the old desk were stacks of striking academic works, and the single bed’s quilt was folded neatly.
This was precisely his ho on Old Factory Street, his own bedroom.
Evidently, the inner world retained the original anchor of the "mory Palace," also the origin of his soul’s deepest mory.
Soon after, Fang Cheng sensed another newly erged spatial fluctuation.
His will moved again, and his figure instantly disappeared from the bedroom.
The next mont, he was in a dark space.
The surroundings were slippery rock walls, engraved with dense and ancient scripts.
A beam of faint light quietly slipped through the cracks in the rock overhead.
This was, without a doubt, the water prison where he isolated himself for intense ditation.
The entire scene was replicated almost exactly.
Unlike reality, the pool of water was once again overflowing.
Fang Cheng instantly understood.
When he isolated himself in this place for enlightennt, the profound experience of breaking free from constraints, demolishing and rebuilding, was also imprinted on his Divine Soul, becoming the second mory anchor in the inner world, besides his own bedroom.
His consciousness returned to high altitudes, overlooking this world he had created with his own hands, and an unprecedented sense of satisfaction surged in Fang Cheng’s heart.
This prolonged ditation retreat, lasting several days, yielded results far more significant than just enhancing his attributes.
The paramount achievent was creating a complete inner world and, by a fortuitous chance, comprehending Unity of Heaven and Man, completing the consolidation of the "True Self."
The so-called "True Self" was not simply projecting a false "self" in the inner scenery.
It was closer to what Taoism calls the "Yang God" and Buddhism refers to as the "Dharma Body."
It is the profound existence representing one’s Martial Dao ideology, condensed after the high unification of essence, energy, and spirit, tempered over ti.
It is the absolute ruler of the inner world and the manifestation of the perfect fusion of spiritual will and physical body.
It could be said that the apparent surge in body’s attributes was due to assimilating the flesh and blood of the Deep Red Eye and absorbing a massive amount of life essence.
But in essence, it was during the process of consolidating the "True Self" that the Divine Soul commanded the physical body, urging a leap in life level, thus achieving a transformation.
The essence, energy, and spirit were completely unified during this retreat, condensed into a perfect entity.
The True Sun Fire in the inner world can continuously refine external energy, converting it into the purest True Qi.
The abundant True Qi constantly nourishes the body, making it increasingly formidable.
And the powerful body and spirit, in turn, support the stability and expansion of the inner world.
The three are interdependent, a continuous cycle forming a perfect closed loop capable of self-evolution, perpetually alive.
Fang Cheng felt a vague sense.
Even if he stopped any rigorous training from now on, rely ditating and visualizing daily, his body’s strength, agility, and constitution would continue to subtly and continuously improve.
This is the true reshaping of the foundation.
Although this improvent is not as rapid as digesting Alien God’s flesh and blood in one go, it boasts a long-lasting, continuous occurrence at a micro level.
In just a few days, the change might not be visible, but if calculated on a yearly basis, the benefits would be terrifying.
"Refining Essence and Transforming Qi, Refining Qi and Transforming God, Refining Spirit and Returning to Void..."
"True Essence Casting Cauldron, Concentrating True Self, Inner Scenery External Manifestation..."
Fang Cheng silently recited the formulas taught by Ma Jianguo.
In the past, he endlessly trained, practiced skills, and raised levels, all for the vague, general goal of "becoming stronger."
Like a traveler groping in the dark, barely seeing the road beneath his feet, yet not knowing where it ultimately leads.
But now, everything is different.
These steps that once sounded mystical.
Now, they have transford into clear signposts, guiding his way forward.
A grand path reaching endlessly upwards finally unfurls before him.
That road is exclusively for the Martial Artist.
It can also be called — Martial Arts!
Thump.
Thump.
A few more drops of water fall from the crevices in the rock wall.
Unerringly, they land directly on his face.
Fang Cheng’s eyelashes quivered slightly, and he opened his eyes.
In his eyes, resembling cold stars, there seed to flash traces of lightning.
He raised his head, his gaze seemingly disregarded the rock layers, directly focusing on the long narrow fissure above.
Outside the crevice, the sky was dim.
Thick clouds layered upon each other, brewing a torrential rainstorm.
Faintly, muffled thunder seed to rumble past.
It seems to be raining outside.
As soon as this thought arose, a strong sensation of dryness akin to burning fire surged from his throat.
Fang Cheng instinctively licked his lips, feeling a parched dryness as if he could create sparks.
This isn’t the power of the Deep Red Eye continuing its effects.
But during this lengthy seclusion, especially in the final stages envisioning True Sun Fire, too much water vaporized within him.
Shortly thereafter, a clear "grumble—" sounded from his abdon.
In the silent Water Prison, this noise was particularly loud and sowhat inappropriate for the atmosphere.
Fang Cheng lowered his head to look at his clearly defined abdominal muscles, a trace of helpless bitter smile appeared on his face.
His body’s temple had long been singing the Empty City Stratagem, his stomach completely barren.
He introspected at the Dantian, where the newly opened vast Qi Sea contained refined True Qi like an ocean.
But upon closer inspection, the water level was barely halfway.
The previous creation of the Inner World, establishing the intent of True Sun Fire, had nearly exhausted all his stored Life Energy.
The physical transformation, the spiritual breakthrough, none could happen without massive energy consumption.
"Better get out soon."
Fang Cheng muttered to himself: "Find a place to eat properly, then drink well."
Thinking of sizzling grilled steak and chilled Coke, his hunger grew stronger in his stomach.
He jumped off the stone platform, ready to stride towards the exit, but suddenly stopped and looked at himself.
Muscles knotted, lines smooth, full of power and beauty... and, completely naked...
The clothes he wore when he ca in, which were quite decent, had been thoroughly reduced to ashes during the uncontrolled True Sun Fire phase, without a trace remaining.
"Luckily prepared early."
Fang Cheng tapped his smooth forehead, recalling the backpack he left on the stone steps at the entrance of the Water Prison.
A few steps to the entrance, he indeed saw the familiar canvas satchel.
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