Leaving Falling Wind City, Mộc Phàm continuously pressed westward, towards towering ancient mountains enveloped by dense, primeval forests. He avoided major towns and familiar paths, choosing only the most treacherous routes. The Heavenly Sword Sect's bounty had turned him into hunted prey, but it also fueled his drive to become stronger. Each encounter with pursuing cultivators was an opportunity for him to temper his Body Core and test his strength. He didn't kill indiscriminately, but he always struck hard enough to instill fear in his opponents, making them abandon their chase.
Mộc Phàm's journey led him to a forgotten land, deep within the Thiên Đãng mountain range—a place where spiritual energy was so scarce that cultivators rarely set foot there. But precisely because of this spiritual "barrenness," Mộc Phàm sensed a different, powerful, and ancient energy hidden deep beneath the earth. The nameless stone in his pouch continuously vibrated, emitting a faint gray glow, as if guiding him.
Following the stone's guidance, Mộc Phàm delved deeper into a secluded valley, where a large fissure opened in the ground. From this fissure, an incredibly primal and potent aura emanated, not spiritual energy, but a condensed form of "Earth Vein Primordial Force." This aura carried a wild, fierce quality, seemingly able to directly impact the physical body.
He found a large cave leading deep underground. The air inside was humid and warm, but Mộc Phàm felt the "Earth Vein Primordial Force" growing increasingly dense. Finally, he reached a vast subterranean chamber where a golden-orange underground stream flowed. This stream wasn't water, but a thick, viscous liquid, emitting intense heat and a strong mineral odor.
This was an Ancient Vein Spirit Spring—a source containing highly condensed Earth Vein Primordial Force, formed over tens of thousands of years. For cultivators, this was a barren place, but for Mộc Phàm and his "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art" path, this was an invaluable treasure!
Mộc Phàm didn't hesitate. He stripped off his clothes and stepped into the underground stream. The moment he touched it, a bone-piercing agony immediately assaulted him, as if his entire body was being torn apart by thousands of blades. The hot, golden-orange liquid was like fire, yet carried a terrifying corrosive energy, attempting to destroy every cell in his body.
His Body Core immediately circulated frantically, emitting dazzling silver light, trying to resist the invasion of the Earth Vein Primordial Force. The nameless stone also flew out of his pouch, hovering in the air, spinning and emitting a gray light that enveloped Mộc Phàm, helping him endure the pain.
This was tempering to the extreme. Mộc Phàm gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, but his eyes remained resolute. He knew that to grow stronger, to overcome his fate, he had to endure this agony. The "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art" was not just about tempering the body, but about tempering the will.
Time passed. It could have been days, it could have been weeks. Mộc Phàm no longer perceived time. He only knew pain and refinement. Gradually, his body began to adapt. The Earth Vein Primordial Force, instead of corroding, began to merge into every muscle fiber, every bone, every cell of his being.
Each time a bit of Earth Vein Primordial Force was integrated, Mộc Phàm's body emitted a small click, and his Body Core became firmer, emitting a brighter glow. His skin transformed from bronze to a pale grayish-ash, hard as bedrock. His sinews and bones seemed gilded, containing terrifying power.
After an indeterminate period, when the Ancient Vein Spirit Spring had largely dried up its Earth Vein Primordial Force, and the nameless stone had gathered enough energy, Mộc Phàm finally stepped out of the stream. He was no longer the Mộc Phàm of old.
His body wasn't much taller, but it exuded a heavy, solid feeling, like an ancient statue. Each of his steps seemed to carry the weight of mountains, leaving imprints on the stone floor. He felt power surging within his body, ten, even a hundred times stronger than before.
His Body Core had undergone a complete metamorphosis. It was no longer a faint silver, but had become a Black Iron Core, inky black and hard as steel, emitting a quiet gray glow, containing earth-shattering might. This was a sign that the Earth Vein Primordial Force had been fully refined into his Body Core, bringing it to a new realm: Mortal Body True Adamant.
With Mortal Body True Adamant, Mộc Phàm believed he could directly confront early Golden Core cultivators without flinching. He no longer had to dodge, no longer had to fear magical attacks. His body was now his strongest magic artifact, his most formidable shield.
He also realized that the nameless stone seemed to have the ability to "transform" primal energies into forms suitable for the "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art." It wasn't just a guide; it was an indispensable assisting tool.
Standing in the cave, looking at the dried-up stream, Mộc Phàm took a deep breath. He had found the path to greater strength. And now, it was time for him to leave this place and begin his journey to uncover the truth about the Black Wind cultivator and the force behind him.
The path of vengeance, now, was illuminated more brightly than ever.