82: Soul and marrow tempering the body, breaking through and then rebuilding

Inside the cave, silence reigned, with only the seven-colored liquid suspended before Li Ao's brows emitting a dreamlike glow, illuminating the dim cave with shimmering colors.

The majestic energy fluctuations ebbed and flowed like tides, causing the surrounding space to subtly warp.

Li Ao's expression was solemn, his hands forming seals, and his mind sank into his body, guiding a thin stream of the mutated earth core soul marrow, which contained the Origin of Wind and Thunder and vast vitality, to slowly merge into his Sea of Consciousness and his four limbs and hundred bones.

"Om—!"

As the Soul marrow entered his body, it was like pouring cold water into hot oil, instantly triggering a violent reaction!

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Soul Power, which had been dim and even somewhat disordered due to excessive overexertion, instantly absorbed the incomparably pure Soul Origin nourishment like a parched land receiving sweet rain the moment it touched the cool aura of the Soul marrow.

The feeling of comfort from deep within his Soul almost made him groan aloud.

If Medusa's almost shattered Soul Origin could be nurtured by this item, she would surely be saved!

However, fortune often hides misfortune!

Just as his Soul was being nourished, the power of the Wind and Thunder Origin, integrated within the Soul marrow, also erupted within his body like an unbridled wild horse!

"Chiiii la la!"

The violent power of thunder, like countless silver snakes, furiously surged and tore through his severely damaged Meridians!

Sharp wind blades, meanwhile, cut from within, slicing his flesh and bones!

Either of these Origin powers alone would be enough to cause an ordinary Dou Huang to explode and die, yet now both were wreaking havoc within his body simultaneously!

"Hmph!"

Li Ao let out a muffled groan, his face instantly turning blood-red, and tiny beads of blood even seeped from his skin, as if his entire body was about to burst!

Excruciating pain, like a tidal wave, crashed against his will!

But his eyes remained as cold as iron, without the slightest waver!

"Black Iron Hegemon Body, circulate for me!"

He roared internally, and the fragmented Cultivation Technique began to operate furiously at an unprecedented speed!

Dark golden Qi and blood were forcibly stimulated, like enraged Dragons, meeting the rampant power of Wind and Thunder!

This was not simple resistance, but rather... guidance and devouring!

He intended to use the violent destructive power of this Wind and Thunder Origin to temper this Physical Body that was on the verge of collapse!

Furthermore, he would use its immense energy to fill his dry Qi Sea and impact the damaged Meridian barriers!

This was an extremely crazy idea! It was no different from dancing on the tip of a knife or walking on the edge of a cliff!

"Crack! Crack!"

His Meridians continuously broke under the impact of the Wind and Thunder power, yet they rapidly repaired themselves under the nourishment of the Soul marrow's vast vitality!

Each breakage and repair was accompanied by unimaginable pain, but the newly formed Meridians became wider and tougher, faintly shimmering with a hint of lightning and wind patterns!

Within his Qi Sea, the almost depleted Dou Qi mist, under the infusion of vast energy, began to furiously expand and rotate as if injected with a spring of life!

The once stagnant Qi Sea now thundered with wind, re-energized with immense vitality!

His Physical Body, moreover, became the center of the storm!

His dark golden bones shimmered with a metallic luster amidst the lightning, and his flesh and blood continuously fractured and reformed under the cutting of the wind blades.

With each reformation, the dark golden luster deepened, as if undergoing a Nirvana Rebirth!

The barrier between the Late Stage and Peak of the second stage of the Black Iron Hegemon Body began to violently shake under this extreme tempering from both inside and out, emitting groans of unbearable strain!

Time slowly passed amidst this painful Body Tempering.

One day, two days... Outside the cave, powerful Demonic Beasts or adventurers attracted by the energy fluctuations occasionally passed by, but all were deterred by the seemingly fragile Restriction at the cave entrance, which contained the essence of Annihilation, and dared not approach easily.

Inside the cave, Li Ao's body seemed to transform into a bottomless pit; the mutated earth core soul marrow visibly shrank, and all of its vast energy and vitality were devoured and refined by him!

His internal injuries were healing at an astonishing rate!

His broken Meridians were widened several times, like surging rivers!

His dried Qi Sea became full and surging again, his Dou Qi vast as the sea, and its profoundness even surpassed what it was before his severe injuries!

More importantly, his wisp of Annihilation Rule, after experiencing Fusion with the ancient Death Qi and absorbing this Soul marrow containing the power of Heaven and Earth Origin, seemed to have also received some kind of nourishment and completion, becoming more harmonious and profound.

The silver-gray Qi flow was no longer restless but flowed quietly within the core of his power like a gentle stream, yet carrying the terrifying intrinsic power to annihilate all things.

After an unknown period, when the last wisp of seven-colored light was completely absorbed into his body—

"Boom!!!"

An aura far more terrifying and domineering than before suddenly erupted from his body!

The cave shook violently, and stone chips fell rustling!

Li Ao's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open!

"Hiss!"

Two substantial silver-gray beams of light, like sharp swords, shot out from his pupils, directly piercing two bottomless black holes in the cave wall ahead!

In his gaze, there was no longer simple flame or vortex, but a cold majesty that disregarded everything and controlled the end!

He slowly stood up.

His bones throughout his body emitted crackling sounds, and his slightly damaged blue robe was instantly shaken into dust by the surging Qi, revealing the perfect body beneath, as if forged by a Heavenly God!

His skin presented a restrained dark golden hue, and beneath the smooth muscle lines, terrifying power capable of shaking mountains seemed to be contained!

On the surface of his skin, subtle lightning arcs and wind patterns occasionally flashed and disappeared.

Black Iron Hegemon Body, Peak of the second stage! Success!

At this moment, he, with his Physical Body alone, was enough to contend with an Eight-Star Dou Huang!

If combined with the transformed Annihilation Rule and vast Dou Qi, his true combat power had already surpassed the ordinary Dou Huang level, enough to compete with a newly ascended Dou Zong expert!

Breaking before establishing, no breaking no establishing!

This severe injury and near-death experience, coupled with the assistance of the mutated earth core soul marrow, a rare treasure of its kind, allowed him to complete a thorough Nirvana!

His strength not only fully recovered but also advanced further!

He felt the power surging like a great river within his body, clenched his fist, and space itself seemed to subtly twist in his palm.

"Power... it's finally back," he muttered in a low voice, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "And, it's stronger!"

With a thought, a new blue robe appeared on him, slightly concealing his imposing aura.

It was time to emerge from seclusion.

Medusa was still waiting for this Soul marrow for healing, and the shadow of the Hall of Souls still loomed over the continent.

He needed to quickly head to the central region of the Central Plains, search for the Pill Tower, seek higher-grade Medicinal Pills, and... settle old scores!

He waved his hand, removing the Restriction at the cave entrance, and stepped out.

The sunlight was dazzling, and the air was fresh.

However, as soon as he appeared, his brows furrowed.

Outside the cave, at some unknown time, he was surrounded by dozens of figures!

These people wore unified blood-colored outfits, exuding a fierce aura, and the leader was none other than Elder Ge Ye, whom he had seen in the Black Emperor Sect, an Eight-Star Dou Huang expert!

And beside Ge Ye, stood an old man in a black robe, his face shrouded in shadow, whose obscure and sinister aura made even the current Li Ao feel a faint sense of threat!

"Kid! You finally came out!" Ge Ye looked at Li Ao, his eyes filled with venom and killing intent, "You stole my Black Emperor Sect's exotic treasure in the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range and killed my Sect Disciples.

Today is your day of death!"

He pointed to the black-robed old man beside him, his tone carrying a hint of respect and fanaticism: "This is Protector Iron, an adult from the Hall of Souls!

It is your honor to die by the hand of Protector Iron!"

Soul Hall Protector?!

Li Ao's eyes instantly turned icy cold, and killing intent spread like a tangible entity!

He hadn't gone looking for trouble with the Hall of Souls yet, but they had delivered themselves to him first!

Perfect, I'll use you all... to test this newfound power of mine!