Translator: CinderTL
[Trait: Primal Core]
[Your body is no longer a well on the verge of depletion, but has transformed into a perfectly round and translucent primal crystal.]
[When this core solidifies within your life essence, it becomes like a miniature stellar vortex, autonomously inhaling and exhaling the primordial energy circulating through the heavens. It converts the invisible forces permeating the world into an inexhaustible spring flowing endlessly through your bloodline.]
[The breathing technique, once requiring forceful will to control and threatening to backfire if mishandled, has now settled into the fundamental rhythm of existence.]
[It is no longer a tool you must consciously manage, but an instinct as natural as your heartbeat. With each breath, it silently tempers your flesh and soul, extending both your strength and lifespan.]
[The Battle Qi derived from the breathing technique has also undergone a fundamental transformation.]
[No longer a crude, scorching steam clinging to your skin, it flows like tamed living water, obediently following your will wherever you direct it.]
[It can be stored deep within your bones, hardening into steel, or float like a delicate veil upon your skin, fluid and ethereal. It can even respond to your call, temporarily breaking free from the constraints of your physical form to manifest as a fleeting entity in reality.]
[Every transformation carries its burden.]
[As your life form ascends to such a height, you must also fortify your will to contain this ceaseless, surging river of energy.]
[The constant breathing you practice will make you like a gate that never closes, forever resisting the chaotic noise that may be carried within the torrent of external energy.]
[Moreover, solidifying Battle Qi outside your body is a dual trial for both your spirit and your life essence. Each use is like shedding a part of your self to forge reality.]
[You have embraced the immortal dawn; now you must endure the scorching pressure of its light.]
Roland slowly opened his eyes, the world now perceived in a completely different way.
The most striking change was in the source of energy.
Previously, when circulating the Nameless Breathing Technique, it had been like mining the depths of his own "ore deposit," each increase in strength accompanied by a drain on his life essence.
But now, he clearly "saw" the formless, primordial energy permeating the surrounding space, drawn spontaneously and continuously into the newly formed "primal core" within his body, as if by an invisible gravitational force.
It no longer strained itself but transformed into an efficient converter, continuously transforming external energy into pure vitality and strength, replenishing itself and even nourishing its body.
An unprecedented sense of fullness replaced the familiar feeling of depletion.
Even more liberating was the way energy now cycled through him.
The breathing technique, which once required his deliberate guidance, mental focus, and risked backlash if mishandled, had now sunk to the deepest level of his being, becoming an unconscious instinct.
It occurred as naturally as his heart beating or his lungs breathing, precisely and efficiently tempering his flesh and soul.
He no longer needed to expend mental energy on this, allowing him to focus entirely on the external world.
The greatest surprise, however, came from the transformed Battle Qi.
As his thoughts flowed, a gentle yet powerful energy surged from his core, spreading through his body like tamed water.
It was no longer the crude, steam-like substance that had barely clung to specific areas of his body for defense. Instead, it had become fluid and obedient.
This Battle Qi could be deeply stored beneath his bones and sinews, giving his fists the condensed power to shatter rock.
It could also float on the surface of his skin, forming a flexible and form-fitting invisible barrier.
Moreover, it could freely glide across his body, both internally and externally, at his will, precisely focusing his defenses on the point of impending impact.
Beyond that...
Recalling King Monen's combat stance, Roland took a deep breath, drew Radiant Moon from his waist, and attempted to guide the Battle Qi flowing through his body into the blade.
But the process proved far more difficult than he had imagined.
Initially, the Battle Qi behaved like a stubborn wild horse, crashing wildly under his mental command but stubbornly refusing to adhere to the sword.
He focused intently, and after repeated attempts, he barely managed to cover the pristine blade with a thin, blood-red aura, as translucent as a cicada's wing, which flickered precariously.
The once radiant Radiant Moon now seemed veiled in a dim, crimson gauze.
With a swift swing, the Battle Qi clinging to the blade erupted in response.
Ssssh!
The blood-red energy blade sliced through the thick stone wall of the house like a knife through butter, emitting a faint whish.
Roland shook his head slightly, dissatisfied with the narrow, elongated hole that had been cut.
Undeterred, he focused his mind and more violently activated the newly formed primal core deep within his abdomen.
In an instant, the core began to spin at an unprecedented speed.
A torrent of crimson Battle Qi, more torrential and blazing than ever before, erupted from every pore of his body, forming a flickering, fiery aura around him.
The air in the room itself warped slightly under the force of this violent energy.
Controlling such a massive amount of externalized energy placed an immense strain on his spirit.
Roland gritted his teeth, focusing all his will on guiding and restraining this power, attempting to compress and condense it once more.
Time slipped away unnoticed as he remained in such intense focus. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and splashed onto the floor.
Just as he felt his mental power nearing its breaking point...
A sudden change occurred.
His tall, upright body, without any visible means of support, inexplicably began to rise slowly into the air, defying the laws of physics.
His feet silently lifted off the ground, hovering inches in the air.
"Just as I suspected."
Witnessing his own levitation, a wave of realization and joy surged through Roland.
During the battle outside Golden Grain City, King Monen's effortless aerial stance had planted a seed of doubt in his mind.
As far as Roland knew, only magic could allow mortals to break free from the earth's constraints.
Yet Monen showed no trace of casting spells.
At the time, Roland had vaguely guessed that the king's solidified silver-white Battle Qi might be the key.
Now, having personally verified it, he knew he was right.
The emotional turbulence made it difficult to maintain the high-intensity energy output and fine control.
The crimson Battle Qi surging around him rapidly receded back into his body, causing his feet to gently touch the ground.
Though this levitation had lasted less than a few breaths, Roland felt no discouragement.
He clearly sensed that his grasp of this transformed energy was still in the most rudimentary stages of exploration, with boundless room for improvement ahead.
King Monen himself was the best example.
Not to mention his terrifyingly formidable physique, even his seemingly ordinary longsword could become indestructible when infused with Battle Qi. The king himself could soar through the sky with this energy, even cleaving through majestic passes with a single strike.
Everything fully proved that the potential represented by the primal core far surpassed the limited results he had achieved so far.
At this thought, Roland's heart burned with excitement.
During his brief contemplation, he had clearly sensed that the power growth pattern brought by the primal core was completely different from any he had ever witnessed.
It seemed...
...without any predetermined limits.
Recalling the time it had taken him to progress from a novice to possessing strength comparable to Graham's, Roland's gaze involuntarily turned to the Job Panel deep within his consciousness.
If he had enough time to explore and grow, perhaps he could soon reach the level of King Monen, or even...
...surpass him!
At that point, what corner of this vast world would remain beyond his reach?
A unprecedented sense of anticipation and ambition quietly sprouted in his heart.
With this thought, Roland let out a long sigh.
"After I rescue Avril and Galvis, I'll immediately set out for Aetheron."
That continent, brimming with endless knowledge and mysteries, now stirred in his heart with an unprecedented longing.
Not so long ago, his pursuit of strength had been driven more by the crisis and dangers arising from the mana resurgence.
The dragon of Mist Creek Town, the lich of the Mistland, and the Abyssal Invasion of the Golden Valley Kingdom had all proven his concerns were not unfounded.
At that time, strength had been his shield and sword, the foundation of his survival.
But now, his mindset had shifted.
Though the nascent primal core was far from Monen's realm of mastery over the world, combined with the comprehensive enhancements from his multiple classes and job resonance, he now possessed the capital to establish himself—and even thrive—in this vast world.
Survival was no longer his sole objective.
A long-dormant, almost instinctive stirring awakened within his bloodline.
It was the deep-rooted desire of every soul: the yearning for the unknown, the longing for distant horizons, the pure passion to unveil the world's mysteries.
As his thoughts flowed, Roland gazed out at the boundless night sky beyond the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through the rock layers of Stone Furnace Fortress to reach the distant horizon.
Lost ruins, hidden legacies, unrecorded races, and wonders...
All the unknown beckoned him to explore, to experience firsthand.
The flame of adventure ignited silently in his eyes.
(End of the Chapter)
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