With the "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art" in hand, Mộc Phàm felt like he'd found a clear path through a labyrinth. He no longer had to blindly grope in the dark. The fragmented memories and meditation diagrams from the nameless stone showed him a distinct route, though many puzzles still remained for him to solve on his own.
He dedicated all his time to cultivation. Under the moonlight, by a stream, or amidst treacherous rocky outcrops, Mộc Phàm practiced each posture, each flow of "blood qi" according to the "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art." This process was far from easy. Every time he cultivated, his body ached as if being torn apart, his sinews and bones stretched to their limits. Sweat drenched his clothes, yet his eyes remained resolute. He believed in this path.
The "Qi Sea" within his abdomen continuously fluctuated, growing stronger. From a vague mass of blood qi, it gradually became condensed, taking on a clearer shape, like a rough gem slowly forming. Mộc Phàm's physical strength also increased exponentially. He could jump higher, run faster, and his punches could now pierce through large tree trunks.
Not just strength, but Mộc Phàm's recovery ability also reached an astonishing level. Minor injuries healed in moments, and even more severe wounds only took a few days to fully recover. His skin became calloused and tough like an animal's hide, able to withstand strong impacts without harm. He had reached the "Mortal Body Subtlety" stage—his mortal body had advanced to a subtle level, far surpassing ordinary people.
During one cultivation session, as Mộc Phàm circulated "blood qi" through a complete cycle of the "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art," the "Qi Sea" in his abdomen suddenly contracted violently. A sharp pain spread throughout his entire body, as if thousands of needles were piercing him at once. He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. The nameless stone in his pouch suddenly vibrated intensely, emitting a dazzling gray light that helped him overcome the pain.
The agony lasted for nearly an hour. When everything subsided, Mộc Phàm felt utterly spent, but within him, an earth-shattering transformation had occurred. The "Qi Sea" was gone. In its place, a "Body Core" of a silvery-gray hue, the size of his thumb, floated within his Dantian, emitting a faint glow and an immensely powerful, utterly pure energy.
The "Body Core" didn't resemble a spiritual core, but it brought Mộc Phàm an unprecedented sense of power and completeness. He felt like a solid block of steel, without weakness. Every muscle fiber, every bone, was nourished by the "Body Core," becoming firmer and more resilient.
With his nascent "Body Core," Mộc Phàm discovered new abilities. He could control "blood qi" more easily, and most importantly, he could concentrate "blood qi" at a specific point on his body to create a temporary "Mortal Body Artifact." For instance, he could envelop his fist with an extremely condensed layer of "blood qi," transforming it into an "Iron Fist" as hard as steel, or concentrate it in his legs to achieve astonishing speed.
This new power thrilled Mộc Phàm. He challenged himself against higher-level demonic beasts. In one battle against a Tier 2 Azure Python-Tiger, Mộc Phàm used his "Iron Fist" to shatter its head with a single punch. This very Azure Python-Tiger had once troubled a Perfected Qi Condensation cultivator, forcing them to struggle to defeat it.
Mộc Phàm's "Body Core" didn't grant him the ability to fly on swords or summon spells, but it bestowed upon him physical strength and survival capabilities far exceeding any mortal, even rivaling some early Foundation Establishment cultivators.
He also realized something important: the "Body Core" seemed to be the next stage of "blood qi" cultivation, a realm that the "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art" had been leading towards. This proved that the path he was on was real and capable of progressing further.
However, the "Body Core" was not invincible. Mộc Phàm still had to be cautious. He knew that cultivators possessed magic artifacts, talismans, and unpredictable techniques. He was still a mortal in the eyes of the cultivation world.