Boundless Cultivation-Chapter 84 - Brain Reforging

Defeating Vehphara - the final boss of The Howling Expanse, felt extremely satisfying to Alaric. After months of effort, he was ready to explore the next zone, where he hoped to discover some of the secrets of the system.

Inhaling a deep breath, he inspected the notifications.

[Superior Mana Manipulation lvl 1 -> Superior Mana Manipulation lvl 2]

Hmm…it is going to take a while to fully level up this ability, won’t it?

He grinned. A rare ability was even more difficult to advance than a rare skill. However, he wasn’t really concerned because he would constantly wield this ability from now on.

Alaric got goosebumps as he scanned through the next notification.

Visuddha (Throat Chakra): Purified (Partially Awakened)

Passive Effect: The purified subtle energy of the Throat Chakra continuously nourishes the power of your intent, improving your ability to shape reality through the force of your voice.

Your words, spoken with purpose,e now carry greater weight, edging closer to law, and thoughts declared with conviction ripple into existence.

This chakra is especially potent for forging system-enforced contracts (oaths) and bonds (pacts) - both with oneself and with other entities - ensuring agreements hold unbreakable authority.

Active Effect: By channeling the purified energy of the Throat Chakra, you can temporarily sharpen your intent to an extraordinary degree, exerting greater influence over reality itself.

This heightened state allows you to form stronger bonds with powerful entities, negotiate higher-tier contracts, and extract greater benefits from those who are bound to you.

Warning: Excessive or reckless use of this power may result in irreversible backlash, distorting your ability to wield intent in the future.

Finally…it all feels real again. Now that he had access to the powers of one of the higher chakras, he could finally start to regain his former strength.

Alaric almost chuckled, reading the warning at the end of the description. It was true - wielding the energy of the throat chakra was the riskiest.

But he was a chakra cultivator - the system didn’t need to include a warning, especially when he was almost sure there was no other chakra cultivator on the entire plant.

It was time to leave, but not before claiming his reward. His stomach growled in protest as he pulled himself up. His body - now devoid of energy - almost faltered under the lingering heat of his previous attack.

Where is my reward? Is it there?

His eyes settled on the huge metallic doors revealing the darkness within, and he wondered what secrets lay beyond them. However, he wasn’t prepared to investigate the other side in his currently weakened state.

Fortunately, he didn’t need to. The shockwaves of the previous attack had destroyed the two hourglasses, shattering their glass bodies and twisting their metal frames. The sand inside sprawled across the floor.

Oddly enough, something gleamed where the black sand grains merged with the white sand grains on the crater - where the Sphinx had perished. Alaric went ahead and retrieved it - a small crystal ball that sparkled in the hues of a rainbow.

Neural Ascension Pill- A potent treasure forged from the distilled essence of an ancient sphinx. This pill reforges the brain, sharpening intellect, enhancing memory, and unlocking latent cognitive potential.

Consuming it grants limited resistance to mental illusions and deepens one’s understanding of hidden truths. Also a prized catalyst in the crafting of powerful illusion rituals and mind-weaving enchantments.

Alaric smiled. Judging by the rewards he obtained after defeating the previous bosses, he wasn’t really surprised with the reward he received.

Finally, with this treasure, I’ll be able to reforge the final organ of my physical body. His goal of reforging all seven aspects of his body that seemed so far-fetched now seemed within his grasp.

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Of course, there wasn’t any guarantee that he’d succeed in reforging even a single aspect of his body to the supreme grade, but uncertainty had never stopped him before.

With one last glance at the darkness concealing the secrets in the next room, he exited the grand hall.

***

“Well, go on. What are you waiting for?” Edgar regarded Alaric with fire in his eyes. No doubt, he was eager to witness the transformation of his student right before his eyes. Less than one percent of cultivators had access to a peak-grade brain reforging pill - the rarest form of body reforging pill.

But that wasn’t the reason he was excited. He simply wanted to witness what he had never seen before - a cultivator who had reforged all the aspects of their body.

By now, Alaric had become so familiar with the body reforging process that his heart didn’t miss a single beat as he placed the pill in his mouth. He was confident in extracting the maximum potential of this rare pill.

However, something unusual happened - the pill dissolved inside his mouth as soon as it touched his tongue. A burst of alien flavor engulfed his mouth, and within mere moments, he felt his body lighten as it shot upward with a tremendous force.

A kaleidoscope of colors swarmed his vision, shifting through the hues of the rainbow as he struggled to process what was happening. The effects of the pill had caught him off guard, but he quickly reoriented himself.

A chill crawled up his limbs, slowly erasing them from his awareness until he could only perceive the presence of his skull, throbbing under an icy grip. There was no pain, only a pressure that intensified by the moment.

After a while, the colors faded into a black void before he beheld a breathtaking image of his brain looming large in his vision. It was fascinating, being able to perceive such a complex organ.

A radiant shimmer - the energy of the pill - enveloped the brain, slowly sinking deeper into the very delicate tissues. As soon as the insights started to sink in, a sudden jolt almost knocked him unconscious.

For a brief few moments, he wasn’t sure what was going on. Hmm…what is happening? He had the distinct impression that he had forgotten something important.

However, as soon as the insights started rolling in again, he connected the dots. Alaric activated his [Superior Mana Manipulation] ability, commanding a trickle of mana to fuse with his brain.

His mana was like an unstoppable force, a blue-green energy weaving through the obstruction of radiant shimmer that encased his brain. At once, his mana empowered the tissues of his brain while also healing them.

The pressure inside his brain eased significantly as the icy grip on his skull softened into a soothing chill.

No further jolt disturbed his concentration as he was gradually immersed in absorbing the various insights he gleaned in his awareness.

As the structure of his brain crystallized in his awareness, he analyzed the various parts that made up the complex organ. He instinctively identified three main parts.

The largest part was divided into two halves connected by a bundle of nerve fibres. Furthermore, he realized it was split into four distinct lobes, each governing a different function.

From his five senses, language, and working memory to movement, learning, logic, and reasoning. In fact, he perceived how it also influenced his behavior and personality.

The second part, located at the back of the head, governed fine motor skills, balance, and posture. It even played a crucial role in regulating emotions and decision making.

The final part - the brainstem - connected the brain to the spinal cord. It managed the automatic functions of the body such as regulating blood pressure, breathing, sleep and wakefulness cycles, and more.

He detected the presence of two different types of tissue, which he distinguished based on their color and function.

But that wasn’t all. What truly piqued his interest was the presence of numerous specialized cells made of cable-like structures, carrying electrical impulses between the brain and the rest of his body.

Each cable-like structure - nerve - was interconnected to one another, sparking with brilliant light at his every thought and realization.

As his vision continued to expand, he detected the presence of millions upon millions - maybe even more - of these tiny cells, each bursting with electrical impulses, matching the radiance of a starry sky.

The sheer scale of it enthralled him, and at that moment, he wondered whether there were more stars in the night sky or more of these bonds.

Once again, the familiar pull of gravity plunged him into a twilight zone where, before long, time lost its meaning. When his trance-like state subsided, he felt the last sparks of insight about the structure of his brain settling into his mind.

A tingling force cascaded through his entire body, followed by a high-pitched ringing. Every thought, every movement sent electric jolts through his skull, but it was not painful - just uncomfortable.

As the last dregs of his awareness returned, a wave of euphoria erupted from his skull and surrounded his entire form. His head felt lighter, much more focused, more decisive.

He found a new appreciation for this complex organ. A thought suddenly struck him which made him chuckle. I wonder where I was in that bundle of nerves?

So far, he hadn’t been able to locate himself anywhere in his body yet - not even the brain. Of course, as a chakra cultivator, he already knew the big secret. He was simply pleased to grasp it once again.

Opening his eyes, he exhaled a deep breath before checking his status.

Brain Reforging:

Reforging Progress - 7%

Mana Infusion Potency - 8%

Wow…a bubble of elation swelled in his chest. Now, that is a huge progress. Alaric had considered how much of a boost his rare mana manipulation ability would provide him, but it had exceeded his expectations.

He had no doubt it would further accelerate the progress of his reforging sessions by boosting his mana infusion potency.

He saw Edgar staring at him, brows scrunched, with a thumb resting under his chin. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

“Is it over?” asked Edgar, crossing his arms. “Did you do it right?”

“What’s wrong?” inquired Alaric.

“I don’t smell anything,” replied Edgar.

Alaric ruffled his hair, weaving his fingers through his greasy strands. The thick filth that coated his fingers was a lighter shade of grey.

But filth was filth - just because it didn’t smell didn’t mean he didn’t need a bath.

“Ugh…take me home.”