Leaving the ruins of the Mortal Body Sect, Mộc Phàm's heart swelled with newfound resolve. He was no longer just seeking revenge; he was now the inheritor of a forgotten Dao lineage. His next objective was to find the rare materials mentioned in the "Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art," specifically "Earth Core Blood Marrow" and "Heavenly Forged Profound Iron," to temper his Black Iron Core to a higher realm, achieving a perfect Mortal Body True Adamant.
Based on the ancient records, Earth Core Blood Marrow was typically found in places with powerful earth fires, deep within the earth, where spiritual energy was dispelled by extreme temperatures. These were places traditional cultivators rarely visited, as they required spiritual energy for their cultivation. But for Mộc Phàm, it was an ideal environment.
He headed south, towards areas rumored to have dormant volcanoes, concealing ancient earth fire veins. The journey was arduous; Mộc Phàm faced dangers from the harsh natural environment and the Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators who relentlessly pursued him. Small battles constantly erupted, but with his Mortal Body True Adamant and rich combat experience, Mộc Phàm easily repelled his opponents, even severely injuring several Foundation Establishment cultivators.
After nearly a month, Mộc Phàm arrived at an area filled with scorched red, barren mountains, where the air was as hot as a furnace. He sensed an incredible heat radiating from deep within the earth. The Bloodstone Qi Conductor in his pouch vibrated intensely, its gray light flashing violently, confirming this was the location of the Earth Core Blood Marrow.
He found a colossal fissure on the mountainside, from which intense heat and reddish smoke billowed. Without hesitation, Mộc Phàm leaped down. The deeper he went into the earth, the more terrifying the temperature became. The air grew thin, and the surrounding rocks glowed red hot like embers. This was a true test for his Mortal Body True Adamant.
He traversed through rivers of molten rock and jagged basalt caves until he reached a vast chamber where a massive lake of bubbling magma churned. From the center of the magma lake, a pillar of deep red light ascended—this was the Earth Core Fire, a primal flame formed from deep within the Earth.
And suspended right in the middle of the Earth Core Fire pillar, a translucent, blood-red material, the size of a child's fist, slowly rotated. It emitted an incredibly potent vitality, mixed with scorching heat. This was the Earth Core Blood Marrow!
Mộc Phàm felt his entire body burning, every muscle fiber feeling as if it would ignite. The temperature here was enough to incinerate an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator in minutes. He circulated the Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art; his Black Iron Core emitted intense gray light, protecting his body from the heat.
But to retrieve the Earth Core Blood Marrow, he had to directly plunge into the Earth Core Fire pillar. This was a life-or-death trial.
Mộc Phàm didn't hesitate. He took a deep breath, then lunged straight into the pillar of Earth Core Fire.
"Aaaaaaa!"
A guttural cry of pain escaped his throat. His body was instantly incinerated by the Earth Core Fire. His skin cracked and tore, revealing raw, red flesh. Every cell, every blood vessel, every bone felt as if it were melting. His Black Iron Corewithin his Dantian vibrated violently, striving to resist the invasion of the primal flame.
The Bloodstone Qi Conductor flew out, circling Mộc Phàm, emitting gray light, continuously absorbing the Earth Core Fire and transforming it into a pure primal energy, which it then transmitted into his body. This was a process of "fighting fire with fire," using the most extreme flame to temper his body.
Mộc Phàm gritted his teeth, maintaining consciousness. He could not fall. He remembered the records in the Mortal Body Sect, stating that Earth Core Blood Marrow was an extremely difficult material to acquire, requiring iron will and a body far beyond the mortal realm to endure.
Every second stretched into years. The Earth Core Fire ceaselessly melted, destroyed, and then regenerated Mộc Phàm's body. His skin charred then regenerated, stronger than before. His bones cracked then reconnected, harder than before. His Black Iron Core continuously absorbed energy from the Earth Core Blood Marrow through the Bloodstone Qi Conductor, becoming increasingly dense and emitting a profound, dark light.
Finally, after an incredibly long duration, when Mộc Phàm felt he had reached his limit, he reached out and firmly grasped the floating Earth Core Blood Marrow.
It was scorching hot, but now, Mộc Phàm felt it as an extension of his own body.
He retrieved the Earth Core Blood Marrow, then slowly retreated from the pillar of Earth Core Fire. Smoke rose from his entire body, but his eyes glowed with a terrifying intensity.
Mộc Phàm looked at the Earth Core Blood Marrow in his hand. It was small, yet it contained unbelievable vital energy and destructive power. With this, his Black Iron Core would undergo another significant breakthrough.
He found a safe spot in the cave and immediately began refining the Earth Core Blood Marrow. He placed the Earth Core Blood Marrow on his chest and circulated the Mortal Body Hundred Forgings Art. The Earth Core Blood Marrow quickly melted, transforming into a stream of fresh red energy, directly merging into his Black Iron Core through his skin.
His Black Iron Core vibrated violently, absorbing the energy from the Earth Core Blood Marrow. From an iron-black core, it gradually turned a deep, dark black, shimmering with blood-red streaks, containing a power many times more terrifying.
Mộc Phàm felt every cell in his body screaming with exhilaration. His strength increased rapidly. He believed that now, he could directly contend with even mid-stage Golden Core cultivators without needing any tricks.