His cultivation capacity had expanded dramatically. He'd pushed from 999th stage to 1,247th stage through physique mergers alone—not by absorbing more energy, but by creating more space to hold it.
And he'd barely begun.
Thousands of energy types exist across the universe, Vaelor calculated. I absorbed representatives of most major categories from Uncle's galaxy cores. I can create physiques for each one.
This will take years. Possibly decades subjectively.
But I have time. And I have purpose.
He began developing the next physique: Quantum Foam Constitution (quantum energy).
Subjective Time: Year 7, Month 2
[Foundation Establishment 1,500th Stage achieved]
Seven years of subjective time. Approximately three months in normal space.
Vaelor had cultivated and merged sixty-three different physiques. His body was no longer recognizably similar to his starting point.
He was now 78% pure energy rather than biological matter. His cellular universes had become so real, so permanent, that they'd started developing their own life. Microscopic civilizations were evolving within some of his cells—entire histories playing out at accelerated time scales.
His comprehension of energy types had reached heights beyond most cosmic-tier cultivators. He understood matter and energy as interchangeable states, saw fundamental forces as different expressions of unified whole.
But he'd hit another wall.
The black hole's gravity compression—even at just ten kilometers from the singularity—was no longer providing adequate tempering. His energy-based body had adapted to the crushing pressure. The gravitational force that should have been compressing him to theoretical limits was just... baseline environment now.
I've outgrown this black hole, Vaelor recognized. I need stronger gravitational force to continue advancement.
He reached for the communication crystal Uncle had provided.
Energy channeled into the crystalline structure, sending signal across dimensional barriers, reaching toward wherever in the cosmos Nyxon currently was.
The response came within hours.
Space cracked open, and Nyxon's consciousness manifested as projection—not his full presence, but awareness anchored through communication array.
"Nephew," Nyxon's voice echoed through dimensions. "What's wrong? You only contact me for emergencies."
"I've outgrown the stellar-mass black hole," Vaelor explained simply. "The gravitational compression is insufficient. I need stronger tempering to continue advancement."
Silence.
When Nyxon spoke again, his tone carried unmistakable shock.
"You've... outgrown a stellar-mass black hole. In three months."
"Yes."
"How many stages have you reached?"
"1,500th."
More silence. Longer this time.
"Fifteen hundred. Fifteen... nephew, do you understand how insane that is? Most cultivators never exceed 12th stage. You've reached 1,500th in three months."
"The time dilation helps," Vaelor noted. "Subjectively, I've experienced seven years."
"SEVEN YEARS?!" Nyxon's projection flickered with his surprise. "You descended that close to the singularity? You're experiencing time dilation ratios of... what, 800 to 1?"
"Approximately. It's variable depending on exact distance from event horizon."
Nyxon's projection laughed—genuine, almost hysterical amusement.
"You're absolutely insane. I love it. Fine—I'll provide a stronger black hole. I've been working on creating one anyway, using collapsed star cores from a dying galaxy cluster."
His tone became more serious.
"What I'm building isn't just stellar-mass. It's galactic-core-mass. The kind of black hole that exists at the center of spiral galaxies. Millions of times stronger gravitational force than what you're currently using."
"The time dilation will be extreme. At distances where you can survive, you'll experience subjective decades for every day in normal space. Maybe centuries for every month."
"But," Nyxon added, "it will compress your physique beyond anything you've experienced. Force your energy-atoms to densities that shouldn't exist. Temper your body into something truly transcendent."
"Perfect," Vaelor said. "How long until it's ready?"
"Two weeks in normal space. I need to stabilize the containment formations—galactic-core-mass black holes are volatile. If the formations fail, it could swallow nearby star systems."
"Understood. I'll continue physique cultivation while waiting."
"Nephew," Nyxon said carefully, "what exactly are you doing that requires this much tempering? What's your actual cultivation goal?"
Vaelor smiled slightly.
"That's a surprise. You'll see when I'm finished."
The projection flickered with Nyxon's curiosity and suspicion, but he didn't press.
"Fine. Keep your secrets. I'll have the black hole ready in two weeks. Try not to do anything too impossible while waiting."
The connection closed.
Vaelor returned to his cultivation, satisfied that the bottleneck would be resolved soon.
Subjective Time: Year 12, Month 5
[Foundation Establishment 2,100th Stage achieved]
The galactic-core-mass black hole had arrived three weeks ago (normal time). Two months ago (subjective time).
The difference was immediately apparent.
This wasn't a contained stellar corpse. This was a cosmic monster—the kind of gravitational singularity that dominated entire galaxies, bending space-time across thousands of light-years.
Nyxon's containment formations were masterworks of technique, holding back enough gravitational force to collapse solar systems. The black hole's event horizon spanned thousands of kilometers—far larger than the previous one.
Vaelor had descended carefully, finding a cultivation position at approximately five hundred kilometers from this singularity.
At that distance, time dilation was approximately 50,000 to 1. Every day in normal space translated to 136 subjective years.
The gravitational pressure was beyond description. It would have instantly crushed any biological cultivator to atomic paste. Even Vaelor's highly evolved energy-body required constant adaptation to avoid collapse.
But it was perfect.
The compression forced his energy-atoms to densities that created micro-black-holes within some cells. His cellular universes underwent spontaneous stellar formation—new stars igniting within his body at microscopic scale.
Combined with continued physique cultivation and merging, his advancement had accelerated again.
He'd cultivated 247 different physiques now. Every major energy type he'd encountered, plus exotic variants and hybrid forms.
His body was 94% pure energy. The transformation was nearly complete.
Subjective Time: Year 47, Month 9
[Foundation Establishment 2,847th Stage achieved]
Forty-seven subjective years. Four and a half months in normal space.
Vaelor had cultivated 831 different physiques. His body had undergone so many transformations, so many restructurings, that calling it "human" was meaningless.
He was now 99.2% pure energy. Only trace amounts of original biological matter remained—and those traces were being preserved deliberately rather than being converted.
His cellular universes were genuinely independent now. Civilizations within had reached space-faring capability. Some cells contained multiple galaxies. A few had developed their own dimensional barriers.
His comprehension of Laws had reached 100% for all fundamental principles: Space, Time, Gravity, Matter, Energy, Light, Shadow, Life, Death, Creation, Destruction, Order, Chaos.
He'd moved beyond Laws entirely, touching the edge of Principles—the tier above Laws that Uncle had mentioned. The fundamental truths that governed how Laws themselves operated.
His combat power had become impossible to calculate. The Sanctum of Infinite Battle had stopped providing meaningful challenges—he could defeat simulated Galaxion-tier experts with casual effort. Even Supercluster-tier simulations required him to deliberately limit himself for meaningful practice.
But he'd hit another wall.
[Foundation Establishment 2,847th Stage - Advancement Blocked]
[Reason: Energy Saturation Critical. Body cannot contain additional power.]
[Solutions Detected:]
[1. Break through to next major realm]
[2. Undergo final evolution at 3,333rd stage (486 stages remaining)]
[3. Continue physique cultivation (diminishing returns - capacity gains negligible)]
Vaelor analyzed the situation carefully.
I've cultivated over eight hundred physiques. The capacity gains from additional mergers are becoming trivial—each new physique only provides space for 1-2 additional stages.
I have eleven galaxy cores remaining. Even with perfect efficiency, that's not enough energy to push 486 more stages.
I need... something else. Some additional breakthrough that creates massive capacity increase.
His consciousness worked through possibilities, analyzing thousands of potential solutions.
Then inspiration struck.
What if I don't just cultivate physiques tied to single energy types? What if I create compound physiques—techniques that merge multiple energy types into hybrid forms?
For example: a physique that uses space-time-gravity energy simultaneously. Or light-shadow-void hybrid energy. Or matter-energy-consciousness fusion.
Compound physiques would be exponentially harder to develop. But they'd provide exponentially greater capacity gains.
The plan formed with crystal clarity.
I'll develop hybrid physique cultivation methods. Create energy forms that don't naturally exist. Merge them into my primary physique.
It will take even more time. Decades, possibly a full subjective century.
But I'll reach 3,333rd stage. And then...
His golden eyes blazed with determination visible across dimensions.
Then I'll undergo the final evolution. Reach heights no Foundation Establishment cultivator in history has achieved.
And when I emerge from this black hole, the cosmos itself will take notice.
Vaelor began developing his first compound physique: Chrono-Spatial Weave Constitution (space-time hybrid energy).
The work continued.
Years passed subjectively. Weeks passed in normal space.
His body transformed. His power grew. His understanding deepened.
And on Earth, his shadow clone maintained appearances—attending academy, interacting with family, building relationships, handling mundane matters.
No one suspected that the "real" Vaelor was undergoing transformation that would reshape cosmic hierarchy.
The journey toward 3,333rd stage continued relentlessly.
TO BE CONTINUED...
[Note: Subjective Time in Black Hole: 47+ years and continuing]
[Normal Space Time Elapsed: ~5 months]
[Current Cultivation: 2,847th Stage Foundation Establishment]
[Physiques Cultivated and Merged: 831]
[Target: 3,333rd Stage Foundation Establishment]
[Estimated Remaining Time: Unknown - dependent on compound physique breakthrough efficiency]