Chapter 19- Indomitable Body
After completing his Foundation Building breakthrough in the body-tempering path, Lu Fan felt a newfound sense of power coursing through him. To his surprise, he had also unlocked a supernatural ability tied to the lion's bloodline he had refined during his cultivation. The supernatural power, known as Indomitable Body, was an unexpected yet fitting enhancement: it reinforced his muscles and bones to an extraordinary degree, making him almost impervious to physical damage and virtually immune to knockback effects. It was a powerful defensive asset, granting him resilience that could withstand even the harshest of impacts.
Lu Fan realized that his version of the Indomitable Body was different from what the original Giant Lion bloodline offered. Rather than inheriting the lion's natural supernatural ability, his own desires and subconscious needs had shaped the power he received. He could feel the fierce vitality of the lion within him, but it had taken on a unique form, reflecting his own willpower and determination. The transformation left him feeling deeply connected to the lion's spirit; he was no longer just a cultivator with borrowed strength but a warrior with an enduring resolve.
With his body now fortified, Lu Fan's path forward became clearer. Having entered the Foundation Building realm through body tempering, he was ready to focus on his Qi cultivation once more. His current cultivation level was at Level 3 in the Qi Condensation realm, a stark contrast to the strength his body now held. He would need to bring his Qi level up to match the potency of his new physical abilities. But first, he needed a more compatible cultivation technique.
In light of his recent breakthrough, Lu Fan realized his previous cultivation plans would need to change. His original strategy had been crafted based on his old limitations and the resources available to him at the time. Now, with the Indomitable Body and his advanced physical strength, his needs had shifted. There was a saying that now echoed in his mind: "Man plans, and God laughs." This change was one of those moments, a twist in his journey that required him to adapt and realign his goals.
One major consequence of his new body-tempering status was his greatly extended lifespan. With this new vitality coursing through him, he no longer had to rely on longevity techniques for survival, which freed him from the need to cultivate the Century Wood Art, an art that had primarily been chosen for its life-extending qualities. His thoughts turned instead to a powerful Qi technique he had recently acquired: the Titan Qi Art.
This art had intrigued Lu Fan when he first read about it. The Titan Qi Art was unique because it absorbed various elemental Qi to forge what was known as Titan Qi, an extremely stable and resilient form of energy suited for cultivators with an emphasis on physical strength. The only drawback was its slower cultivation speed. However, for Lu Fan, who already possessed some of the worst qualifications for conventional cultivation, this was hardly a concern. If anything, the art's resilience aligned perfectly with his new abilities, complementing the indomitable strength he had acquired.
Excited to begin, he started by switching his Qi cultivation method to the Titan Qi Art. The process was meticulous, requiring him to abandon the traces of his former techniques and realign his internal energy flow to the Titan Qi Art's unique rhythm. As he delved deeper into the technique, he could feel his Qi foundation becoming more robust and stable, reflecting the essence of the Titan Qi that was forming within him.
With every session, he could sense the immense potential of this new power growing. The transformation was significant; the Titan Qi within him felt like an unshakable pillar, far sturdier than anything he had cultivated before. Even though he was still in the lower stages of Qi cultivation, the difference in quality was unmistakable. He felt as if each pulse of Qi within him held the strength of a mountain, steady and unyielding.
As he continued his practice, Lu Fan noticed an unexpected synergy between the Titan Qi Art and his blood-based array formations. The Lion Blood Stone array, in particular, seemed to resonate more harmoniously with the Titan Qi Art than it ever had with his previous techniques. The Lion Blood Stones, infused with the vitality and strength of the lion's essence, amplified the stability and potency of his Qi, allowing him to cultivate more effectively.
Curious, he decided to experiment with his various arrays. He set up his herb-based array formations alongside the Lion Blood Stone array, creating a dual setup that allowed him to alternate between his Qi techniques. When he switched back to the Century Wood Art within the herbal array, he observed that the array seemed perfectly aligned with the wood-based art, nurturing and boosting its growth potential. However, as he returned to the Titan Qi Art within the Lion Blood Stone array, the difference was striking. The Titan Qi Art seemed to harmonize with the blood array as if it had been designed for it, each pulse of his Qi perfectly reinforced by the lion's resilient energy.
The discovery left him with a valuable insight into his cultivation path. He realized that the Titan Qi Art wasn't just a new technique; it was an art uniquely suited to those who, like himself, had chosen the path of body-tempering. The art's slow yet steady cultivation speed aligned with the resilience needed for physical reinforcement, while its reliance on elemental Qi provided him with a versatile, adaptable form of energy that complemented his enhanced body.
Over the next few days, Lu Fan fully immersed himself in his cultivation, experimenting with various combinations of the Titan Qi Art and the blood-based arrays. With each session, he gained a deeper understanding of his new supernatural power, the Indomitable Body. Testing its limits, he found that it allowed him to endure physical impacts that would have once injured him severely. During training exercises, he discovered that his body was no longer susceptible to most knockback effects, allowing him to stand firm even against powerful attacks.
One afternoon, he decided to test the extent of his new defenses by lifting a boulder nearly twice his height. The weight was immense, but with the support of his reinforced muscles and bones, he lifted it with ease, feeling the raw power of his Indomitable Body. Pushing himself further, he hurled the boulder forward, watching it crash into the ground with a thunderous impact. He stood unmoved by the shockwave it created, a testament to his new resilience.
With each day, Lu Fan's confidence in his newfound powers grew. He no longer feared the limitations of his poor spiritual qualifications; his body had become his greatest weapon, a vessel of strength and resilience. The Titan Qi Art provided him with a steady, unbreakable energy flow, while his Indomitable Body served as a fortress against the world's challenges.