Chapter 16: Breaking Through Tier 15 Late Phase

Lyshisha stirred as the rays of the morning sun shone upon her eyelids. Shaking her head away from them, her eyes opened on the subtle snoring of Mamadou, its eyes slit shut as its whiskers rose and fell with his low breath.

Breath reeking of nocturnal fish wrinkling her nose away as she sat up, her body well rested despite the slight soreness the immaculate sand gave on her flesh.

What would she do to have a proper natural bed made of grass and flowers instead of this dry turf filled with windblown sand and soil?

At least the scent of freshwater pleased her nose as she checked her surroundings.

While Binetta rested on her left, further beyond Kame rose a bed made of sturdy greenish-gold scales where the merman soundly slept on a mattress made of elastic sea pearls.

She smiled.

He really was prepared.

Hopefully he found the ores he sought, cause they'll have to leave for her next ingredient soon enough.

What time was it?

9:39 am?

She'll let them sleep until ten, then-

Wait.

She remembered that with her increase in cultivation, why couldn't she take the opportunity to actually break through the late phase?

After all, this adventure will still be fraught with danger, so every bit of increase in strength could be life-saving.

So what was she waiting for?

With a wave of her hand on her bracelet, she took out a two-foot long ivory oblong device pierced by two fist-sized holes in each corner.

She beheld the contraption with a wistful smile.

When was the last time she used this Mental Suspender?

A little over two years ago, or something like that?

She couldn't recall.

But she needed it now and that's what mattered.

Moving away from her group, she activated the device and put her ankles in each hole.

The suspender then rose, lifting the young monarch by her knees as she found herself in a position she'd almost forgotten.

A natural posture to train her prodigious Moon Core, the pride of her mental abilities.

Hanging head upside down.

As blood pressed down her head, she closed her eyes and focused inward, almost entering in a trance, as darkness gave way to a lambent gray sphere where four large abstruse runes shimmered within.

Her Moon Core.

Increasing her focus, her mind penetrated her Moon Core, allowing her to see the litany of top-quality abstruse letters carved across her Core's shell, save from a small portion which prevented her from breaking through the next level for nearly two years.

It was time to remedy that.

Her eyes gazing upwards, the immaculate atmosphere beyond the Moon Core turned yellow.

Then, with a tinkling noise, a drizzle, then a rain made of abstruse Letters fell around her.

Lishi smiled.

Oooh, did she miss that gilded shower, showing her insights into the Letter mysteries allowing her to overcome otherwise undefeatable opponents.

But while a good chunk of these abstruse letters would be able to fill the last gap needed for her advancement, she was on the lookout for higher-quality abstruse letters.

After all, their quality made the difference between two similarly tiered Letter masters.

But thanks to her genius, she was able to discern a letter fitting her standards.

However, the higher the quality, the harder it would be to attract, then etched it on the Core's shell.

But for her, doing such actions—especially with her drastically increased cultivation—was like plucking a dead plant.

Too easy!

As soon as the letter was carved, her Moon Core glittered, then trembled.

As the letters pervading the shell evanesced, the Core expanded as her mind exploded, her consciousness nearly going blank as it processed the sharp increase in capacity and energy.

Her spirit housing the Moon Core also shuddered to the pulse of matter energy it released for every second the Core evolved, its actions reverberating across her physical body, which quavered as well through the nervous system establishing new links between it and the Core.

Three minutes went by when the young monarch's silhouette stilled once again.

Her expanded Moon Core's shell was void of any abstruse letters, having to start over again: she had officially entered the Tier 15 late phase!

Her mind shrieked in joy.

How long was she stuck at the peak-mid tier?

Far too long!

But thanks to a fortunate encounter, she managed to overcome that hurdle, giving her more protection against her foes!

After she stabilized her spirit's residual tremors, she simply quit her meditation time and focused her mind back on the physical world.

Darkness gave way to the morning sun she left earlier as she controlled her suspender down, and once it disappeared inside her bracelet once more, she stole a glance to her group.

They were still asleep apparently, and checking the time, it was a little past ten.

She would wake them up in a half-hour, since they gotta eat before they leave.

But since she was up, how could she miss the opportunity to douse herself in this beautify violet river?

It'll help out of her lingering soreness.

Swaying her arms a bit, she shied to her feet and sauntered to the river…