Lin Mu did not imdiately move on after completing the Earth core.
Instead, he remained seated in quiet ditation, allowing the changes within his body to settle. The transformation had been profound, and he knew better than to rush ahead without first understanding what had occurred.
For several days, he did nothing but observe.
The Earth core rotated steadily within his spleen, each cycle releasing a subtle yet constant flow of energy that spread through his ridians. It was not an overwhelming surge. Rather, it was a steady reinforcent, like a foundation being strengthened layer by layer.
His body responded naturally to it. His muscles felt denser, his bones carried a weight that spoke of resilience, and even his posture seed to align more firmly with the ground beneath him.
What intrigued him most, however, was his perception.
Just as the completion of the Water core had allowed him to sense the presence of water in his surroundings, the Earth core now opened a similar awareness. He could feel the ground beneath Mantleheim in a way he had never experienced before.
It was not a visual sense, nor sothing that could be described in simple terms. It was a presence, vast and encompassing, extending through rock, soil, and even the very structure of the fragnted world itself.
Every layer of earth carried its own identity.
Dense stone felt different from loose sedint. Hardened mineral veins stood apart from the surrounding mass. Even the subtle vibrations within the ground reached him in faint echoes. It was as if he had gained a silent connection to the very body of the world.
Yet Lin Mu did not indulge in exploring this newfound perception.
He acknowledged it, understood its potential, and then set it aside.
This was not the ti for experintation. His priority was to stabilize his condition and continue forward. And after ensuring that his body had fully adapted to the Earth core, Lin Mu shifted his focus to the next elent.
The tal core.
The process began in a familiar manner. The remaining tal aligned materials were arranged around him, categorized by their quality and density. Lin Mu activated the Omnicore Ascendancy Technique once more, drawing them into a controlled vortex.
The early stages progressed smoothly.
The lower quality materials dissolved quickly, their energy rging into the tal core without resistance. As he advanced to higher tiers, the process slowed, requiring greater precision and focus. Each piece of refined tal carried a sharp, concentrated essence that needed to be carefully broken down and assimilated.
Ti passed steadily.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.
Two full months slipped by as Lin Mu continued refining the tal core. The progress was consistent, and with each passing stage, the core grew more defined. Its presence within his lungs beca increasingly prominent, as if it were preparing for its final transformation.
Eventually, it reached the threshold.
Ninety nine percent.
The final materials were brought forth.
Unlike the varied resources he had used before, these were pure tal ingots. Each one was refined to an exceptional degree, carrying a density and clarity that set them apart from everything else. Their surfaces glead faintly, reflecting the ambient light with a sharp brilliance.
Lin Mu did not hesitate.
He began the final absorption.
The ingots resisted strongly at first, their structure holding firm against the pull of his technique. However, under sustained pressure and careful control, they gradually broke apart. Their energy flowed into him in concentrated streams, sharp and precise.
As the last of the ingots dissolved, the tal core reacted.
It condensed, refined, and broke through!
The transformation was imdiate.
The tal core spun rapidly within his lungs, its rotation releasing a powerful wave of energy that spread outward. The first area to be affected was his respiratory system. His lungs expanded, their capacity increasing as the energy reinforced their structure.
Lin Mu drew a breath.
The difference was unmistakable.
The air felt cleaner, purer, as if every impurity had been filtered out before it even reached him. Mantleheim, with its heavy atmosphere filled with traces of smoke, tal dust, and lingering heat, had always carried a faint discomfort.
It was subtle, sothing most cultivators would ignore, but it had always been there.
Now it was gone.
The air that entered his body was refined completely, leaving behind only the essence that his body could use.
The improvent did not stop there.
With each breath, he could feel a greater intake of Qi. The efficiency of absorption had increased significantly, more than doubling compared to before. The Qi flowed smoothly through his ridians, integrating seamlessly with his internal energy.
This, in turn, affected his vitality.
His blood circulated more effectively, carrying both oxygen and Qi with enhanced efficiency. His stamina improved, though the change was subtle at first. It was not an explosive increase, but rather a sustained enhancent that would beco more apparent over ti.
Even at the cellular level, there was a reaction.
His body responded with a quiet sense of vitality, as if every part of him had been refreshed and strengthened.
Lin Mu remained still, observing these changes.
He also noticed sothing unexpected.
His Sword Intent had shifted.
The tal Dao and Sword Dao shared a natural affinity, and with the completion of the tal core, that connection had deepened. His intent felt sharper, more precise, carrying an edge that had not been present before. It was subtle, but it was there.
He chose not to test it.
Instead, he entered ditation once more, allowing his body and mind to fully adapt.
Several days passed in this manner.
Only when he was certain that everything had stabilized did Lin Mu move on to the final core.
Fire.
The process began once again.
The remaining fire aligned materials were gathered, their heat radiating even before the technique was activated. Lin Mu approached them with the sa discipline he had maintained throughout.
The absorption proceeded in stages.
Lower quality materials first.
Then mid tier.
And finally, high tier.
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