Chapter 472 - 345: Phase Meter Upgrade and Divine Body Fusion (2)
Eroding, replacing, and upgrading along the original lines...
This process required an extreme level of control. The slightest misstep could destroy both the materials and the Witchcraft Tool.
Ian closed his eyes, unleashing his Spiritual Power to its fullest extent.
He perceived the flow of every wisp of Energy, the transformation of every Rune.
Time ticked by, second by second.
In the Laboratory, only the hum of flowing Energy and the faint glimmer of flashing Runes remained.
「Three hours later.」
The Runes on the Phase Meter’s surface had been completely updated.
They had changed from their original Dark Silver to a deeper shade of "Star Realm Silver."
The number of Runes had increased tenfold, their structure had grown more complex, and the phase Rule flowing within had become more solidified.
As the final Rune settled into place, the Phase Meter trembled lightly, and the Energy waves it emitted suddenly surged!
It broke through from Tier Two Peak to Tier Three!
The waves of power continued to rise, quickly surpassing the Elementary Tier. They didn’t stop there, continuing past the Middle Level before finally settling at Tier Three Advanced!
Ian opened his eyes, a glint of delight in them.
’A Tier Three Advanced Witchcraft Tool. It seems these materials were excellent.’
With a wave of his hand, the Phase Meter sank back into the spot between his eyebrows.
He focused his mind, sensing that the spatial stability it now provided was at least five times stronger than before.
’Now... it should have no problem handling a short-duration teleport.’
’My projection over there has already obtained the World Sigil. All that’s left is for him to advance to the Legend rank...’
He retracted his focus from the Phase Meter, his eyes shining with anticipation.
「Half a month later.」
In the underground Laboratory, Ian sat cross-legged in the center of a specially made Meditation Array.
Two Potions were placed before him: the Water of the Dark Dream and the Mountain Giant Potion.
’The boost might not be huge, but every little bit helps.’
He expected that much of the bloodline information in the Potion would be purged by his System and Divine Body.
He took a deep breath, picked up the Water of the Dark Dream, uncorked it, and drank it in one gulp.
The potion was icy as it entered his mouth, flowing down his throat like a clear spring before exploding deep within his chest.
His consciousness became ethereal and serene, as if he were sinking to the bottom of a bottomless lake. Everything around him grew blurry and distant.
Memories, thoughts, emotions... all were enveloped by a gentle, warm "membrane."
It blocked out all external interference, and with it... the sensation of pain.
’Now’s the time.’
Seeing the first Potion take effect, Ian picked up the Mountain Giant Potion.
The Dark Gold potion, searingly hot, poured down his throat.
BOOM!!!
The potion exploded in his stomach. The volcano inside him... had awoken!
Countless torrents of Dark Gold Energy surged into his blood vessels, meridians, bones, and organs...
Every inch of Ian’s flesh and blood was scoured, transformed, and reforged by the Energy.
Ian gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. It felt as if countless red-hot knives were slicing and churning inside him.
Just then, the effects of the Water of the Dark Dream began to kick in.
The mental "membrane" blocked out most of the excruciating pain.
All that remained was a... distant, vague "discomfort."
In a trance, his consciousness once again found itself inhabiting the body of a Mountain Giant.
He saw a colossal being of Rock, tens of thousands of feet tall, wandering aimlessly across the Earth. It left lakes and basins in its wake, and entire mountain ranges snaked beneath its feet...
He watched as that Dark Gold Energy condensed and gathered deep within the giant’s bloodline...
...finally forming a miniature, spectral mountain range!
The spectral image floated in his Sea of Spirit, parallel to the three rings of his Star Orbits, exuding a profound, domineering aura that felt as if it could bear the weight of all creation.
This was a Rule Fragment of the "Mountain Spirit," an ancient Inheritance awakened from the depths of the bloodline.
The moment the spectral mountain appeared, Ian’s mind cleared, and his Order Divine Body activated at full capacity.
’Fuse!’
The three Star Orbits accelerated, and the Power of three Rules—Gravity, Purification, and Time—all surged toward the spectral mountain.
The Gravity Rule formed an invisible framework, stabilizing the spectral mountain’s structure.
The Purification Rule became its gentle flesh and blood, maintaining internal purity and Order.
The Time Rule acted like a heart, regulating the speed of the Energy flowing within the spectral image.
At the same time, the spectral mountain began to provide "feedback."
Wisps of a pale yellow Rule-aura, as heavy and profound as the Earth itself, seeped from the spectral image into every inch of his Order Divine Body.
It was like cladding his silver Divine Body in a layer of... pale gold "Rock Armor."
The process lasted for an entire day. During the fusion, a great deal of frenzied, violent information from the Inheritance that was unsuitable for his Divine Body was purged.
When the fusion was finally complete, Ian opened his eyes.
Deep within his pupils, a new, faint, and blurry phantom of a pale yellow Star Orbit had appeared.
The fourth Star Orbit: the Earth Rule.
Although it was only a Rule Fragment extracted from a bloodline and not one of his primary specializations, it gave his Order Divine Body a new "attribute."
Ian stood up. With a mere thought, he manifested his Order Divine Body.
A thirty-foot-tall Divine Body appeared. Its once-pure silver form was now covered in a pattern of pale gold Rock Armor.
The Divine Body’s hands had grown thicker, its fingers sturdier, with Rock-like protrusions at the knuckles.
Its foot tapped lightly on the ground. HUMMM. A sound as heavy as a mountain crashing to earth rang out, and the entire underground Laboratory trembled slightly.
"The true form from the Mountain Giant bloodline is a fine improvement. Better than I expected," Ian murmured, privately satisfied.
With another thought, the Divine Body began to transform!
It compressed from ten meters down to two, its form and aura becoming more "dense" and "solid."
The Rock Armor patterns on its skin grew sharper, as if it were covered in a layer of true Rock Armor.
Its hair transformed into flowing lava, and deep within its pupils, the network of the Earth Veins was reflected.
This was the standalone "Mountain giant" incarnation.
While not as versatile as the complete Order Divine Body, it possessed unique strengths in defense, Power, and controlling Earth Veins.
Ian withdrew the Divine Body and returned to his normal form. He clenched his fist, feeling the surging Power within.
’My defense is up by at least thirty percent, and my Power... has doubled.’
’My control over the Earth Veins is still rudimentary, but it’s enough for now.’
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. His power had increased yet again.
Just then, the Shadow Array in a corner of the Laboratory lit up, and a Dark Silver light erupted from its center.
Within the light, Gaga’s cocoon began to tremble violently as the Shadow Energy roiled and seethed.
’The little fellow is waking up...’ Ian’s eyes glinted with anticipation.
A few moments later, the cocoon peeled away layer by layer like flower petals, revealing a completely transformed Gaga.
Intricate Shadow patterns flowed across the surface of his feathers. The silver-gray of his pupils had deepened, now resembling two swirling nebulae.
His aura, especially, had reached Tier Two Peak, just a single step away from Tier Three.
"Ian!" Gaga opened his eyes, and the first person he saw was Ian.
His voice still held a boyish rasp, but it was much steadier.
"I did it!"
The little creature flapped his wings in excitement, turning into a gray blur as he zipped once around the Laboratory.
He was at least twice as fast as before!
His wingtips sliced through the air, leaving faint black trails that lingered long after he passed.
"I feel... so strong!"
He landed back on Ian’s shoulder, his little claws gripping his collar.
"My Shadow Jump’s range has increased to a thousand meters, and I can stay in the Shadow World for twice as long!"
A flash of pleasant surprise appeared in Ian’s eyes. ’A one-kilometer Shadow Jump, and an hour-long stay.’
’And this is just at Tier Two. Once he reaches Tier Three, he’ll be able to enter the Shadow World at will.’
"Excellent. Are there any other changes?"
"Also... my old ’Shadow Domain’ is stronger. It’s kind of like..."
Gaga tilted his head, blinked his small eyes, and gave his wings a gentle shake.
The light in a ten-meter radius suddenly dimmed, as if an invisible "curtain" had been drawn over the area.
Within this curtain, Shadow Energy writhed and twisted like a living creature.
It formed... an extremely miniature "Shadow World."
Ian’s pupils contracted. ’This is the signature ability of a Shadow World creature.’
’Within the Domain, it can repel other forms of Energy, significantly strengthening itself while weakening enemies.’
"Very good." He ruffled Gaga’s head, his eyes filled with pride.
"Now... you only have one last step to take."
"Yeah!" Gaga nodded emphatically, his small eyes shining with determination.
"Get a good rest and prepare yourself today. We start tomorrow."
Now, the upgrade to his Two-Realm Phase Analyzer was complete, the fusion with the true bloodline form was a success, and Gaga was on the verge of a breakthrough.
His projection had also obtained the World Sigil, and the teleportation coordinates were all set.
Everything... was proceeding according to plan.
All that remained was for Wei Song to reach the Legend rank and transmit back all his insights on Thermal Energy Control...