166: Chapter 166 Martial Arts Divine Power Development Completed, Life Core Condensation Progress

"Like this... then I will go in first."

Fang Zhuo impatiently stepped into the martial image instrument's characteristic stimulation chamber.

This was an oval-shaped capsule with a smooth surface; it was unclear what material it was crafted from, and the capsule walls contained eyeball-shaped crystals.

After Fang Zhuo closed the capsule door, beams of red light suddenly lit up.

"Damn, that's actually kind of scary...!"

Fang Zhuo's muscles tensed instantly, and he almost threw a punch out.

"These red lights, hmm... they're itchy, but actually quite comfortable."

Fang Zhuo remarked, immediately pushing his Martial Aspect, and a fiery red planetary phantom appeared behind him.

Inside the oval capsule, the beams of red light emitted by the martial image instrument were immediately drawn in, as if reacting to a stimulus, and all landed on the 'Crimson Flame' phantom.

A few short hours later.

Fang Zhuo felt completely refreshed, a look of delight on his face.

"The three Divine Abilities of Purification, Devour, and Flame all seem to be evolving in a good direction. Once the development is complete, I wonder how great the improvement will be?"

Fang Zhuo was full of anticipation. Based on the feedback from over half a year of cultivation, he had basically reached a conclusion regarding the two cultivation Divine Abilities—Purification and Devour: their effects were best on treasures at the same Life Level as his own.

In other words, when consuming treasures of the same level, he could perfectly absorb their medicinal effects under the Devour Divine Ability, and ignore all negative side effects, such as pill toxins, under the Purification Divine Ability.

"Perhaps under the development of this High-Civilization martial image instrument, the Purification and Devour Divine Abilities will allow me to perfectly absorb treasures one grade higher than myself?"

At this thought, Fang Zhuo couldn't help but slightly quicken his breathing.

If this were truly the case, then when he became a Flying Martial Artist and used the red jellyfish fluid to push for Cosmic Martial Artist, his chances of success would greatly increase!

For the next two consecutive months.

During the day, Fang Zhuo would go to the Future Group, heading to the martial image instrument cultivation room under the hostile gazes of a group of white and black Martial Artists.

He borrowed the martial image instrument to develop his three major Divine Abilities.

At night, he would return to his own group, using the High-Civilization Gravity Chamber to temper his Physical Body. In a state of extreme 'hunger', he would absorb the source power from the stone milk crystals to polish his Physical Body, integrate civilization points, and continuously condense 'Source Pattern Flowers'.

This dual-pronged approach to cultivation was quite smooth.

In the blink of an eye, it was January 10th, 2584 of the Federation Old Calendar, and 570 of the New Calendar.

Future Group, inside the martial image instrument cultivation room.

Fang Zhuo was inside the reinforced oval capsule. His body, which had been kept relaxed, suddenly tensed up violently. His muscles bulged, and his white martial arts uniform was torn apart.

A fiery red planetary phantom appeared behind Fang Zhuo, three parts more solid than before.

"Divine Ability development complete!"

Fang Zhuo did a kip-up and sat up inside the capsule.

After carefully sensing for a moment, he couldn't help but show a look of joy: "I'll head back to the group now and test its strength."

Outside the martial image instrument cultivation room.

A group of Future Group Martial Artists, mainly black and white, couldn't help but show surprised expressions upon seeing Fang Zhuo push the door and walk out.

And when they saw Fang Zhuo moving as if the wind were under his feet, leaving straight away, they all widened their eyes even further.

"This guy actually left early?"

Starry Sky Group headquarters, 90th-floor Transcendence cultivation room.

After Fang Zhuo rushed back, he immediately took out a piece of stone milk crystal and began to push his Martial Aspect to absorb the source power.

By now, a full 9 months had passed since the Ocean Gathering, and the Purple Bamboo Forest mine cave discovered in the C09 Wilderness Area had been completely mined out.

The group gave the remaining 49 stone milk crystals to Fang Zhuo as a one-time dividend.

Fang Zhuo had Bai Shiwei handle this batch of resources, and it was returned as 784 pieces. Although Bai Shiwei was pregnant and not suited for cultivation...

...simply absorbing source power to nourish her body only had benefits and no drawbacks.

A few days ago, Fang Zhuo had specifically sent another 200 stone milk crystals to Bai Shiwei in New Moon, instructing her to use them daily to nourish her body.

Bai Shiwei was initially unwilling to accept such extravagant, or even wasteful, behavior.

But Fang Zhuo persuaded her with just one sentence: "Don't you want our child to become a Cosmic Martial Artist in the future?"

"Hmm... under the Devour Divine Ability, the speed of absorbing source power has doubled. However, the stone milk crystal is only a treasure at the Transcendence level, so the true upper limit of the Divine Ability cannot be tested yet."

In just a few minutes, Fang Zhuo watched the stone milk crystal in his hand turn into a pile of powder and muttered.

"Let me feel the combat Divine Ability 'Flame' again."

At this thought, Fang Zhuo stood up with a 'swish', gripped his battle blade, and his Martial Aspect, Crimson Flame, suddenly appeared behind him.

The fiery red Crimson Flame planetary phantom was emitting a scorching heat aura that felt almost tangible.

Fang Zhuo looked closely.

The blade in his hand now had an extra layer of 'Flame' aura.

"Judging by my own feeling, it's a few degrees hotter than before; the scorching property has become stronger."

Fang Zhuo swung his blade gently, slowly slashing at the specially made metal human target.

'Chi chi chi—!'

The metal human target, which could withstand the bombardment of a Peak Transcendence, actually melted directly under the flame aura on the blade!

It was melted into two broken pieces with a single slash.

"That's monstrous!"

Fang Zhuo himself was tongue-tied. Without using the 'Flame' Divine Ability, even if he exerted his full strength to slash out the seventh level of the Thunder Fire Blade, with nearly 140 times the combat power boost and an impact force exceeding 100 million kilograms...

...the destructive power would probably only be at this level!

Perhaps even slightly inferior?

And once he used a full-strength slash, then activated the 'Flame' Divine Ability to attach a layer of 'Flame' aura to the blade, with both combined, how terrifying would the killing power be?

Perhaps even an average Flying Martial Artist wouldn't be able to withstand it?

Fang Zhuo retracted his long blade. There was not a trace of complacency on his face; instead, he looked even more solemn as he closed his eyes and began his second cultivation session.

Condensing the 'Source Pattern Flower', consolidating the Life Core.

Inside his Sea of Consciousness, a walnut-shaped prototype of the Life Core was slowly circling. Its planet-like surface was now covered with gorgeous Source Pattern Flowers.

One, two, three... a total of forty-nine!

After Fang Zhuo scanned them with intoxication, he focused on circulating his Cultivation Technique, beginning to spray the Chaos mist, transformed from civilization points, onto the surface of the Life Core.

He began to condense the fiftieth Source Pattern Flower.

Two hours later.

Nearly half of the pattern had appeared.

Fang Zhuo's Mental Energy was exhausted, so he rubbed his throbbing temples and stood up: "Only thirty-one more Source Pattern Flowers to go until eighty-one."

"During the Civilization Assessment, it's a sure thing that I will be able to finish condensing them. Then it will depend on the assessment situation. If it's not good... I can break through to Flying Sky at any time!"

Meanwhile.

The open grass field in front of the Starry Sky Group headquarters.

Waves of spatial fluctuations emanated, and a series of sharp wind sounds came from high in the air, after which a pitch-black vortex appeared.

A silver-gray space warship drilled out from it.

"Chairman Song has finally returned!"

In front of the building, all six department managers had arrived. These six Flying Martial Artists were only standing in the back; in front of them stood six other Martial Artists with even heavier life fluctuations.

"Minister, come to think of it, Chairman Song hasn't returned for ten years, right?"

Manager Jiang Zhou asked the man in front of him in a low voice.

Minister Chu Jiang did not turn his head, but lowered his voice and said: "Chairman Song seems to have a major announcement this time. Hmm, right, Chairman Song said he wanted to see Fang Zhuo. Is he in the group?"

"He is. He's still in the cultivation room. This kid's cultivation has been nothing short of crazy lately, practicing day and night. No wonder he has achieved what he has today."

Just at this moment, a figure in black flew out from high up in the group headquarters, rapidly darting toward the space warship that was slowly hovering.

"Brother Song, you've finally returned!"

Director Xiao Yuan's voice was hearty, spreading across the front of the group building.