I sat cross-legged in the quiet cave, the scent of herbs heavy in the air. Before me, the small cauldron flickered with a steady flame, its surface stained from countless failed attempts. But this time was different. Ever since the Boundless Craftsman's Codex awakened in my soul, I could feel an invisible thread guiding my hand.
"This time…" I whispered, determination burning in my chest. "This time, I will succeed."
I carefully added the crushed herbs and the beast core, controlling the flame with practiced precision. The mixture bubbled and hissed, but I remained calm, my qi flowing steadily through my fingertips.
Stabilize… Compress… Solidify…
With a soft chime, the pill formed perfectly inside the cauldron. I had succeeded.
I refined two more pills without fail, each smoother than the last. The Boundless Craftsman's Codex seemed to instinctively correct my minor mistakes, and my confidence grew.
When I finally held the third pill in my palm, its faint medicinal fragrance calmed my heart. "Time to push forward."
Without hesitation, I swallowed the first pill, followed by the second and third, spacing them carefully to let my body absorb the energy.
The familiar burning heat spread through my flesh and bones, surging toward the core of my being.
This time, the power didn't settle in my marrow or blood—it charged toward something deeper.
My body trembled as invisible pressure wrapped around me, a final barrier standing before me.
"Break!" I roared, clenching my fists as my qi and blood collided, pushing through the final bottleneck.
Crack—!
The barrier shattered.
A flood of refined power coursed through me, surging into the deepest layers of my body, where my core structure and foundation solidified completely.
I had broken through to the Ninth Minor Stage: Core Body Completion.
The transformation was undeniable. Every part of my body resonated with harmony. My strength, speed, and endurance had reached an entirely new level, and my meridians pulsed with stability.
This was the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.