Even her institute's advanced energy-sensing methods could only detect such energies, not visualize them with such precision. Ava's clarity promised to revolutionize anatomical studies, offering insights into cellular energy dynamics that could redefine body cultivation.
Unfortunately, this clarity was limited only to Ava's body. When she used her spiritual sense magnification ability outside her body, it was as if the enhancement to her spiritual sense never happened. Barbara, who had already imagined all kinds of energy research they could do with Ava's magnification, couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.
After the data-gathering interview ended, Ava suggested, "If you need my help for your energy experiments, just say it. I'll lend you my body. You can do whatever you want."
"Ava, I already told you I'm not interested in women. I like men," Barbara replied.
"Ei, I'm not talking about that! I'm saying maybe you can conduct energy experiments inside my body, and I can observe them with my super magnification."
"Pfft… I'm just kidding… hehe," Barbara giggled. "But your idea is actually brilliant and worth considering. Do you really want to offer your body to help with my experiments?"
Ava suddenly felt scared, seeing Barbara's excitement. Is this girl really going to turn me into a lab rat? Gulp. The image of herself strapped to a lab table flashed through her mind.
However, considering that without Barbara, she would still be in a dark place. The light at the end of the tunnel was brighter now, her body cultivation path clearer than ever, so lending her body for some experiments was nothing much.
"Ahem… you're my friend… so why not…" Ava felt a bit embarrassed when she said this.
"Really? Thanks, Ava!" Barbara's face lit up, her hands clapping together. "First, we start with the basics. How humans gain energy by eating food. I want a visualization of how cells break down food, turning it into energy needed by the body! After that, we will experiment with various kinds of energy and see how they interact with your body."
"But wait, before that, I need you to master how to control the cells in your body first, because some energy might mutate your cells in a harmful way, so you need to be able to discard them from your body at will. This is crucial so they won't spread to other cells…" Barbara continued babbling, her voice a torrent of ideas, her hands gesturing wildly as she outlined her grand experimental plans, from energy interactions to cellular control, her excitement filling the cavern.
Ava was speechless the entire time. Am I making a mistake by agreeing to be the guinea pig? Her experiments sound scary!
And so, from that moment on, Ava threw herself into mastering her spiritual sense magnification, and when she did, she began by studying how she could grow her nails at will, a process she had done instinctively but never understood.
Every time she discovered something, she would share and discuss it with Barbara, which always ended up spiraling into tangents.
As time went on, the friendship between Ava and Barbara grew closer and closer. However, at the same time, the panda's voice inside Ava's head, whispering the idea to make Barbara join the harem, also grew louder and louder, which she shooed away every time. No! I must protect my friend from the sex fiend!
Two months later, Ava finally found a way to control her cells, although it was slightly different from what she initially expected.
She thought she could achieve complete cellular control through a deeper understanding, but she was wrong. The more she learned about her body, the more complex it became. She realized there were things smaller than cells that regulated the body's system. Barbara told her that beyond cells, there were smaller, intricate systems such as molecules, signals, and processes that regulated her biology, far too minute for her current knowledge to grasp. Even Barbara knew very little about this.
Growing her nails at will actually involved a far more complex biological mechanism beyond her current understanding. The mechanism produced signals that triggered cells to produce a certain substance to grow the nails. Unfortunately, it was too hard for her to manipulate her cells this way, as it might require knowledge of things far tinier than a cell.
She could do it easily with her nails and hair, but not with others, likely enabled by the alchemical solution she used for cultivation.
For example, she once met a body cultivator who could change their skin tone at will, so she tried to control the cells responsible for it but failed miserably. She tried hardening her skin, but also failed. Meaning she probably needed their specific alchemical solutions to do the same.
Luckily for Ava, her upgraded spiritual sense saved the day again. During a meditative session, Ava discovered she could bypass the body's complex regulatory network by transmitting instructions directly to the cell nuclei via her spiritual sense.
Enveloping her body in its magnified clarity, she could command the nuclei to operate cells as she desired, sidestepping the need to understand the intricate signals. It was a revelation, like finding a hidden path through a labyrinth. She had thought decades of study were needed to master her body, but this shortcut changed everything, a massive leap toward breaking the stagnation cycle and revolutionizing her cultivation.
Ava hurriedly tested this finding by soaking herself in her usual alchemical solution without the influence of the spiritual vein, elsewhere within the mine. In the bathtub made specifically for her soaking session, she spread her spiritual sense inward, engulfing her entire body. All the trillions of cells within her spiritual sense were working hard as usual to ensure bodily function.
Very soon, Ava felt the usual pain creeping from within her body, indicating that the cell-enhancing process had begun, absorbing the alchemical solution.
Ava subconsciously compared the alchemical solution and the spiritual vein's enhancement effect. Like heaven and earth. The alchemical solution gave her a lot of pain and slow-paced enhancement, while the spiritual vein gave her soothing and fast-paced enhancement.
This comparison made Ava desire the spiritual vein even more. Sigh… maybe she should set aside her ego and ask Leyvi for help if they were reunited. Let him learn spiritual touch and bring the spiritual vein back.
However, it couldn't be helped. She still had to do this because nothing was certain right now. If she could bring the spiritual vein back home, that would be the best outcome, but if she couldn't, the effort right now would pay off later. Even if she didn't get any more resources or treasures from this trip, as long as her cultivation could move forward, everything she experienced was worth it.
As for the possibility of being stuck here forever, hopefully, that wouldn't happen. It was just too scary to think about.
Ava focused, her mind sharp with intent.
My precious cells, if you are about to die, please send all the mini-dantians to other healthy and strong cells, making them stronger, she commanded inwardly, her spiritual sense transmitting the instruction to every cell nucleus, bypassing the body's complex regulatory network.
Instantly, her magnified sense revealed a breathtaking sight. Dying cells, their membranes fading, ejected their mini-dantians—glowing mitochondria wrapped in delicate, shimmering membranes. These tiny powerhouses traveled through her body's systemic pathways, guided by an unseen force, toward their designated targets.
Upon reaching healthy cells, the mini-dantians were absorbed, either adding to the cells' mitochondrial count or merging with existing ones, their energy flaring brighter, pushing the cells to new peaks of strength, capacity, and resilience.
Ava's heart soared, a cry of delight escaping her lips as she watched the process unfold. Her happiness was indescribable, a radiant burst that seemed to light the cavern from within. She had done it! She had truly overcome the stagnation cycle that had plagued her for decades, the bane of body cultivators.
No longer would her cells' deaths weaken her; instead, they would fuel her growth, each mini-dantian transfer a step toward greater power. From now on, I will keep getting stronger, she vowed, her mind alight with hope. No more stagnation cycles, ever.
Hehehe. Sex fiend, let's see if you can ever beat me with just physical strength after this. Hooray, Ava! You did it! You rescued your body from him! Ava celebrated in her mind.
Ava quickly informed Barbara about her success, which shocked her. Barbara didn't expect Ava's spiritual sense could even command her cells, bypassing the need to have a complete understanding of her body first.
To celebrate, Ava treated Barbara to a feast of Tasya's dishes. Unlike Valenia, Ava stockpiled a lot of food because, as a pure body cultivator, she had to replenish her energy through food consumption. It was only after staying near the spiritual vein that she could skip meals entirely.
And of course, like many others, Barbara became completely hooked on Tasya's food, praising that the chef deserved the title of the greatest chef. They were the most delicious food she had ever eaten.
Seeing Barbara gushing about the food, Ava felt she had made a big mistake. Ava was slightly worried that Barbara might want to visit the Leyan Family later, and after some brainwashing by the panda, Barbara might fall into the trap.
Don't worry, Barbara, I will prevent that from happening! Ava thought.