Lian stood motionless before the breathtaking sight, his blue void eyes reflecting the soft, pulsing glow of countless Qi stones. They were everywhere — sprouting from the rocky walls like crystalline flowers, clustered on the ground in shimmering mounds, and even hanging from the ceiling in delicate formations. Different grades were mixed together, some small and dim like faint stars, others large and radiant with deep, vibrant energy. The air was thick with pure, concentrated Qi, so dense it felt almost tangible, like breathing in liquid power. The stones grew naturally from the cave’s structure, their surfaces smooth and faceted, catching the faint light from the waterfall outside and scattering it in gentle rainbow patterns across the hidden chamber.

He had read about such places in one of the old cultivation books from the academy library. Natural Qi veins deep underground sometimes birthed these stones over centuries, rich deposits formed by the planet’s own energy flows. They were incredibly valuable — raw, unrefined power that could accelerate cultivation dramatically when absorbed correctly. Different grades offered varying potency: lower ones provided steady, safe boosts, while higher ones could push breakthroughs but carried risks of overload if not handled carefully.

Lian walked closer, his footsteps echoing softly on the damp stone. He reached out and placed his hand on one of the larger stones embedded in the wall. The moment his palm touched its cool, smooth surface, a rush of energy flooded into him. Pure, potent Qi surged through his meridians, filling his core with warmth and strength. It felt incredible — like drinking cool water after days of thirst. He could almost laugh from the sheer pleasure of it. His Core Condensation Late Stage foundation drank it in greedily, strengthening with every passing second. The sensation was addictive, a quiet joy spreading through his body as the stone dimmed slightly under his touch.

He moved from stone to stone, absorbing carefully, savoring the feeling. The hidden chamber behind the waterfall was a treasure trove he had never expected to find. The roar of the cascading water outside created a constant, soothing background noise, masking their presence completely. Mist from the fall drifted in, cooling the air and making the glowing stones shimmer even more beautifully. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He was so absorbed in the moment that he almost missed the soft sound behind him.

He turned around.

There she was.

Elara had finally jumped down and made her way through the water. She had changed clothes. She wore a sleek, form-fitting one-piece swimsuit made of flexible, dark blue material that clung to her body like a second skin. The suit had subtle reinforcement panels along the torso and thighs for protection, with thin straps over her shoulders and a high cut that showed the elegant lines of her alloy limbs and remaining human skin. It was practical yet surprisingly elegant, designed for both swimming and light combat. She had found it while sorting through one of the merchant rings they had scavenged — a high-end piece meant for aquatic operations or training. Her long hair was tied back, still damp from the swim, and her face was flushed a deep red. She was blushing fiercely, looking away to the side, clearly self-conscious.

“I didn’t want to get my battle suit wet,” she said quietly, voice a little embarrassed.

Lian almost laughed out loud. He knew both of their battle suits — his Aetherforge Voidweave Suit and her own newly acquired Stormveil Adaptive Suit — were designed to be resistant to water and fire. They could have simply worn them. But she had taken the time to change anyway. He could see why she had delayed coming down. She had wanted to avoid getting her main gear soaked, and perhaps a part of her had wanted a moment to herself after the intense training.

He didn’t say anything about it. He simply looked at her.

She was beautiful.

The swimsuit accentuated her graceful figure — the blend of human curves and sleek alloy limbs created a striking, powerful silhouette. Water droplets still clung to her skin and metal, catching the glow of the Qi stones and making her shimmer faintly. Her face, flushed with embarrassment, only added to the sight. Even with the bruises from her earlier training, she carried herself with quiet strength and elegance.

Lian felt a rare, quiet warmth in his chest, but he pushed it down. There was no time for distractions.

“Come check this out,” he said instead, gesturing toward the Qi stones.

Elara walked over, still a little self-conscious, but her curiosity quickly took over. When she saw the glowing crystals covering the walls and ground, her eyes widened in shock. She could feel the rich energy radiating from them even without touching. She reached out and placed her hand on one, and her expression shifted to one of pure amazement as the Qi flowed into her.

“Where is the thing you said you found?” she asked, looking around.

Lian pointed deeper into the chamber.

“It was massive, so big and high up — like a large metal structure sticking out of the ground, as big as a house.”

Power Scale / Cultivation Realms (Quick Reminder)

Foundation Realm (Layers 1–9): Body forging, no external Qi.

Circuit Awakening Realm (Early–Peak): First Qi loop, internal bursts.

Core Condensation Realm (Early–Peak): External Qi release, short flight.

Stellar Circuit Realm (1–9 Stars): True flight, Qi armor, energy projection.

Nebula Dominion Realm and higher: Domain control, galaxy-level power, etc

Power Scale Reminder

Lian Yu: Stellar Circuit Star 1.

Elara Voss: Core Condensation Middle

Keep it as reminders