3,800 Spirit Stones.
Piled in the center of the room, they glowed with a soft, azure light. It was enough wealth to buy a small village. Enough energy to fuel a genius for five years.
Kaelen sat naked in front of the pile.
The **Nameless Slab** rested across his knees.
"System," Kaelen said. "Calculation."
> **[Analysis]**
> **Resource:** 3,800 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
> **Standard Absorption Method:** 3 years, 4 months.
> **Estimated Result:** Body Refining Stage 7 (Mid).
Kaelen sneered. "Three years? I'd die of boredom."
"Calculate **Heaven-Devouring** method."
> **[Analysis]**
> **Method:** Direct Consumption.
> **Duration:** 6 hours.
> **Risk of Death:** 85%.
> **Estimated Result:** Unknown.
"85%," Kaelen nodded. "Better odds than I usually get."
He didn't pick up a stone. He picked up the Slab.
He raised the 600-pound weapon and brought the flat side down on the pile.
*CRASH.*
The sound was deafening. Dust billowed out.
He smashed again. And again.
*CRASH. CRASH.*
He pulverized the fortune. 3,800 stones turned into a shimmering pile of blue crystal dust. The density of the Qi in the room spiked so high the air began to liquify.
Kaelen dropped the sword.
He opened his mouth.
He didn't breathe air. He inhaled the room.
**Heaven-Devouring Scripture: Gluttony.**
*WHOOSH.*
A vortex formed. The blue dust swirled, creating a miniature tornado centered on Kaelen's mouth.
He inhaled the crystal powder.
It hit his throat like molten glass. It shredded his esophagus. It burned his stomach lining.
**[Pain Nullification]** flashed red, struggling to keep up.
Kaelen's skin turned blue. His veins bulged, looking like worms crawling beneath the surface.
"More," he choked out.
The energy exploded in his gut. It didn't gently flow into his meridians. It rampaged.
It slammed into his bones.
*SNAP.*
His left femur cracked.
*SNAP. CRACK.*
His ribs shattered.
The energy was too dense. His human skeleton couldn't hold it.
> **[Critical Alert]**
> **[Skeleton Failing.]**
> **[Initiating Protocol: Reconstruction.]**
This was the true power of the Demon Lord. Destruction to fuel creation.
Kaelen gritted his teeth. Blood leaked from his eyes.
"Break them," he commanded his own body. "Break them all."
The Qi pulverized his bones into white powder. Then, it compressed them.
It took the calcium, the marrow, and fused it with the crystallized Spirit Qi.
White bone turned grey. Grey turned to silver.
Hour 1: The pain was blinding.
Hour 3: His body was a trembling mess of agony.
Hour 5: The blue pile was gone.
Hour 6.
Silence returned to the room.
Kaelen lay on the floor. He looked dead. His skin was pale, covered in dried blood and sweat.
Then, his finger twitched.
*Clink.*
It sounded like metal hitting stone.
He sat up.
His movements were stiff, heavy.
He looked at his hand. He made a fist.
*CREAK.*
It wasn't the sound of knuckles popping. It was the sound of a submarine hull under pressure.
> **[Ascension Successful]**
> **Current Rank: Body Refining Stage 8 (Steel Bones).**
> **Attributes:**
> **Strength:** 90.
> **Defense:** Immune to Mortal Weaponry.
Stage 8.
In the Vane family history, only the Ancestor had reached Stage 8 before ascending to Qi Condensation.
Kaelen stood up.
He felt heavy. Dense. He weighed nearly 400 pounds now, despite looking slim. His bones were solid biological metal.
He picked up the Nameless Slab.
It felt... light.
"Too light," Kaelen frowned. "I need more weight."
He walked to the window. The sun was rising.
One month until the Tournament?
No.
He checked the calendar on the wall. He had been in a trance longer than he thought.
"Two days," Kaelen corrected.
He looked out at the Vane Manor. It was decorated with banners. The Frost Sect delegation was arriving tomorrow.
Kaelen rolled his shoulders. A sound like grinding gears echoed.
"I need a bath," he said.
"And then, I need to go welcome the guests."