45. Transcendent Martial Artist

(Half a month later, Secret chamber somewhere in the Slums outside of Golden Prosperity City.)

Mo Tian stood in the center of his private chamber, the dim light of early morning barely illuminating the rough stone walls. His body was still, his breathing deep and steady, each inhale a slow, calculated motion as he centered his focus. For the past several days, he had been in seclusion, meticulously preparing for this moment, the moment where he would break through to the Aperture Tempering Realm.

His eyes closed, Mo Tian allowed his mind to drift inward, beyond the limits of his physical body, into the core of his energy. His veins pulsed with the rhythmic flow of his inner energy, the culmination of his training in the Marrow Tempering Realm. The marrow that had birthed his lifeblood had already been tempered to its peak, making his blood strong and resilient, his body capable of unimaginable endurance. Yet now, his next step would solidify his transformation.

The Viscera Tempering Realm had already begun to take shape in his body. His internal organs had been fortified during his previous breakthroughs, yet they had not yet undergone their final refinement. In this realm, he would shift his focus away from his bones and blood and toward his internal organs. His Viscera, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and bowels would be tempered, enhanced, and made nearly indestructible.

Mo Tian gritted his teeth as he focused. He could feel his internal organs awakening, the delicate balance of energy coursing through them shifting in response to his will. They were the foundation of his physical vitality, the essential elements of his being. In this next phase, they had to be able to endure far more than any mortal body could naturally withstand.

With the steady hum of his energy deep within him, Mo Tian set his sights on his organs and their transformation. His heart thudded loudly, pumping blood through his veins as he focused his energy inward. The transformation was painful, his lungs tightened, his liver burned with an insatiable fire, and his stomach churned as though something had clawed inside.

But Mo Tian did not flinch.

He guided his energy with precision, shifting his inner energy around his organs, weaving it through his system to further strengthen each piece. His heart, which had once been merely a muscle of survival, now pulsed with the strength of a dragon's roar, able to pump life through his veins without tiring. His lungs, now coated with a thick layer of refined inner energy, could endure the harshest of conditions, drawing in air that could fuel his cultivation for days without fatigue. The liver, once fragile and susceptible to poison, could now resist toxins and impurities that would have crippled weaker cultivators. His kidneys surged with vitality, capable of expelling waste with ruthless efficiency and speed.

As the last flicker of pain burned through him, Mo Tian focused his will and pushed his inner energy into his Aperture, the energy channel of his body, where all his energy entered his body. His inner energy swelled, and the internal organs transformed under the sheer force of his will, fortifying and becoming capable of supporting the intense energy cycles required for his next breakthrough.

A moment of stillness passed, and then the unmistakable feeling of change rippled through his body.

It was a sharp, sudden crack, like the breaking of a dam, and the flood of energy surged through him. His internal organs had been fortified, enhanced beyond the limits of a mortal. They could endure extremes that would otherwise cripple a weaker cultivator. His body could now process energy faster, cycling it with greater efficiency, amplifying the strength he had already acquired through the Marrow Tempering Realm. The increase in his overall strength and endurance was profound. His organs could handle the pressure, and his body would heal with speed that would astonish even the most seasoned cultivators.

Mo Tian let out a long, slow breath, feeling his body settle into a new state. The pain was gone now, replaced with a powerful sense of vitality and readiness. Every part of him hummed with energy.

He had entered the Aperture Tempering Realm. His body, already stronger than most, was now tempered and enhanced beyond measure. He could already feel the effects in his movements, the quickness in his step, the sharpness of his senses, and the boundless stamina he now possessed.

Mo Tian decided to check his [Host status] again. He tries to do that every time he is somewhat free.

[Host Status]

Name: Mo Tian

Lifespan: 74 Years

Race: Human (Savage Grade)

Cultivation: Mortal Realm, Transcendent Martial Artist (Heavenly Demonic Way, Law-Grade)

Techniques, Arts & Inherent Abilities: Phantom Step Art (Mortal Top-Grade, 100%), Heavenly Demonic Weapon Arts (Mortal Law-Grade, 100%), Training Space Mind Technique (Unknown, 80%), Eternal Embrace (Mortal Law-Grade, 100%)

Physique & Bloodline: None

Occupation: None

[Return]

Mo Tian saw his status and was quite satisfied. He returned to his previous peak. He also figured out a way to increase the Training Space Mind Technique to use mental strength. But his work was not done.

There was still the matter of fully mastering this realm, of cultivating his inner energy to new heights, but for now, Mo Tian was content. His body had reached a new level of strength. He could feel his limits pushing farther, and with this transformation, the path ahead seemed brighter.

The Aperture Tempering Realm had opened to him, and now Mo Tian could begin preparing for his future steps, a future that would carry him far beyond even this.

{End of Act 2: The Demonic Merchant}