Kyrian remained motionless for several minutes.

Silence now dominated the empty volcanic dome. All that remained was stone, distant heat, and the soft sound of magma bubbling in the depths.

Kyrian breathed slowly.

His inhalations and exhalations were deep. He was feeling and exploring every change within his body.

It was a strange sensation. Familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

Like waking up in a house you have known since childhood, only to realize that every piece of furniture has been replaced. The structure was the same, but the experience was completely new.

For the first time since he was born...

He could naturally sense Qi.

Without relying on his eyes to perceive the existence of that energy. Without needing to absorb energy directly through them, using his Innate Talent as a crutch.

The Qi was there.

Around him. Inside the stones. Inside the magma. Mixed with the very air itself.

And his body could perceive it.

The sensation felt so natural that it seemed absurd. As if something that should have always existed had finally been restored, a basic, fundamental ability that had been denied to him his entire life.

’So this is how normal cultivators perceive the world...’

Kyrian closed his eyes.

Instantly, countless spiritual particles floating around his body became perceptible. Not through sight, his eyes were closed. Through sensation.

Most of it was fire Qi, which made sense given the environment. Orange-red particles, warm and vibrant. But there were also small amounts of other attributes. Earth, from the surrounding rocks. Air, from the currents circulating through the chamber. Even tiny fragments of wood Qi, carried by some distant breeze.

All of them seemed to respond to his new meridians.

Waiting to be absorbed. Waiting to be cultivated.

A smile appeared on his face.

Not a broad or exaggerated smile, merely a subtle curve of the lips, a glimmer in his eyes. But it was genuine.

’Now I should be able to cultivate normally like other cultivators...’

The idea still felt surreal.

For his entire life, he had been a mortal. An anomaly. An existence incapable of cultivating through the normal methods that worked for everyone else.

The techniques written in scrolls were useless to him. The methods of Qi absorption that others learned in months were impossible. He could not follow traditional paths, he had to create his own, circumventing the limitations of his body at every step.

But now everything had changed.

His body finally possessed its own foundation.

Kyrian began analyzing the possibilities.

First, his new body. With functioning meridians and the ability to naturally sense and absorb Qi, he could do something that had once been impossible.

’I will begin cultivating again.’

’From the beginning. Like a normal cultivator.’

His body had already been completely tempered by the implantation of the Bone of the Heavens.

The meridians had formed, not completely, but enough to function. His bones had been reinforced. His organs transformed.

He did not need to start from Body Refinement, the first realm, where cultivators strengthened their physical bodies. His body was already far beyond that level.

Instead, he would begin directly in the Qi Accumulation Realm, the second realm, where cultivators learned to absorb and store Qi within their meridians.

And from there, he would advance to the Qi Release Realm and then to the Core Formation Realm once more.

But...

His eyes gleamed as he realized something important.

The two cores within his eyes still existed. He could feel them pulsing softly, hidden within the depths of his vision.

They had not disappeared. Nor had they weakened.

They remained filled with energy.

That could only mean one thing.

’When I form a new core after cultivating normally...’

’I will possess three cores.’

A smile appeared at the corner of his lips, slightly wider this time.

Three cores within a single body. Something that had likely never existed in the history of cultivation.

Kyrian knew of no record of anyone possessing three cores. Two were already extremely rare, usually the result of special inheritances or forbidden techniques. Three was simply unprecedented.

Merely imagining the amount of Qi he would be able to store was terrifying.

Each core was like a reservoir of energy. An ordinary cultivator with one core could sustain powerful techniques for hours. With two, the reserve doubled.

With three...

Kyrian quickly calculated.

His Qi reserves would be at least three times greater than those of an ordinary cultivator at the same level. But in practice, it would likely be even more, because his cores were not ordinary.

His power would increase several times over. Perhaps dozens of times.

Furthermore, there was another important consideration.

Kyrian had broken through to the fourth stage of the Core Formation Realm during the implantation.

But the limit within his eyes had returned.

He could feel the barrier, the same one as before, the restriction that prevented his eyes from accumulating more energy. It was there, meaning he would not be able to continue cultivating through his eyes for the time being.

He quickly reached a decision.

’First, I will build my new path as a normal cultivator.’

’I will stabilize my body, understand my new meridians, and learn to cultivate like everyone else.’

’Then I will strengthen all three cores simultaneously.’

The two within his eyes and the new one that would eventually form.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized the magnitude of the opportunity he had received.

The Bone of the Heavens had not merely strengthened his body. It had not merely created meridians and connected him to the Heavenly Will.

It had created entirely new possibilities.

Paths that had once been closed to him were now open.

Techniques that had once been impossible for him to use were now within his reach.

It was then that a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Very well, child."

Kyrian raised his eyes.

The Fire Spirit was calmly observing him from the other side of the altar. His translucent form glowed with a soft orange light, gentler than before, as though the completion of his task had lifted a burden from his flames.

"What I promised Ming Hai has already been fulfilled."

"Therefore..."

"I shall depart now."

Kyrian was surprised.

"Oh? You’re leaving?"

The Spirit nodded, his expression neutral.

"There is no longer any reason for me to remain in this place."

His voice carried a faint note of disdain, not directed at Kyrian, but at the region around them.

"I have already wasted too much time in this territory."

"The spiritual energies here are weak."

"The opportunities are limited."

"The resources are scarce."

The flames within his body flickered, as if echoing his words.

"My destiny lies in the Central Region."

Kyrian immediately understood.

The Central Region. The true heart of the cultivation world. The place where the greatest sects, the oldest clans, and the most protected sacred lands resided.

The place where the continent’s most monstrous geniuses gathered to compete, to grow, and to survive.

"I recommend that you do not remain here for too long either," the Spirit continued, his flaming eyes fixed on Kyrian.

"Your talent is extraordinary. But talent alone is not enough."

"You need resources. You need competition. You need enemies capable of challenging you."

"You need a greater sky."

Kyrian smiled.

"You don’t need to worry."

"I am also heading to the Central Region."

The Spirit seemed pleased. His expression softened slightly.

"Good."

For a moment, he remained silent. The sound of the magma below filled the empty space.

Then a rare smile appeared on his flaming face, not a smile of mockery or superiority, but something closer to approval.

"Then we shall meet again."

"Next time..."

"I hope to see you much stronger."

The Spirit’s eyes shone with greater intensity.

"That is what Ming Hai would have wished for his successor."

He then raised his hand.

"Farewell, child."