In the World of Cultivation, a strong foundation was everything. It was the bedrock upon which all future advancement was built.

    A cultivator''s foundation determined not just their initial strength, but their potential for future growth, their ability to withstand the pressures of higher realms, and even their capacity to use the comprehended techniques to use.

    After all, without a solid foundation, the physical body would have many microscopic weaknesses which would eventually lead to insurmountable bottlenecks or even cultivation deviation.

    Many cultivators, in their haste to advance, neglected their initial foundation at the Body Strengthening Realm.

    Many pushed forward recklessly, leaving behind irreversible flaws which would haunt them for the rest of their cultivation journey.

    These flaws, often imperceptible at first, would become glaring weaknesses as they ascended to higher realms. Like a house built on sand, their cultivation would eventually crumble under its own weight.

    But Lucian, whether by luck or the machinations of Fate, was inadvertently laying an exceptionally solid foundation.

    Most cultivators would choose to advance the Body Strengthening Realm by consuming the meats of Body Strengthening Realm Spiritual Beasts.

    After all, not everyone had a strong physique like Lucian''s.

    Their mortal body couldn''t directly absorb the Spiritual Energy of the Spirit Stones.

    And of course with their "clogged passageways", they couldn''t absorb Spiritual Energy directly from the Nature, leading them having no choice but to consume Beasts to strengthen themselves quickly.

    However unlike humans, most "lower ranked" beasts had lower intelligence, so the Heavens helped by concentrating more Spiritual Energy in their flesh. This made their flesh a potent source of resources for cultivators.

    However, this method had its drawbacks. The energy from such "low level" beasts meats was often wild and untamed, requiring significant effort to refine and integrate. It could leave behind impurities in the cultivator''s body and meridians, creating potential bottlenecks in the future.

    Lucian''s method, on the other hand, was using pure, concentrated Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Stone.

    This energy, already refined by nature, although volatile for someone at the Body Strengthening Realm, was pure and far more compatible with the human body.

    It left no impurities, no hidden flaws in his foundation.

    ...

    The Body Strengthening Realm was divided into 9 small Layers/Realms.

    The First Layer was called Skin Refining. During this stage, one''s skin, from the innermost layers to the outermost, would absorb the Spiritual Energy to expel impurities and strengthen its structure. This process not only made the skin more resilient but also formed a kind of protective barrier for the Inner Organs, shielding them from external harm.

    The Second Layer was Inner Organs Refining. Here, the Spiritual Energy would seep into every vital Inner Organs, enhancing their capabilities, and endurance.

    The Third Layer, known as Bone Strengthening, focused on fortifying the skeletal structure.

    Bones would absorb the energy, becoming denser and more resilient.

    ...

    Right now, as Lucian continued to refine the low-grade Spirit Stone, his cultivation began to rise at a terrifying speed.

    The "Gluttonous" Innate Fate worked its magic, allowing him to absorb and assimilate the Spiritual Energy with unprecedented efficiency!

    Alongside his skeletal bones, his skull also began to strengthen. The bones became denser, more resilient. His jawline, now had become more defined shape, and chiseled.

    The change was subtle but noticeable, giving him already handsome face more sharpness.

    Crackle–!!

    Cracks and pops echoed in his ears as his skeletal structure seemed to be rearranged itself, growing stronger with each passing moment.

    The energy again flowed through his "clogged passageways", moving toward his bones with precision.

    And when it reached his skeletal structure, Lucian felt a peculiar sensation, as if his bones were becoming hollow!

    But this wasn''t a weakening — far from it.

    The Spiritual Energy seeped into the very core of his bones, infiltrating the marrow itself!

    The marrow, the factory of his body''s blood cells, began to slowly pulse with newfound vigor.

    A warmth spread through his body, starting from his bones and radiating outwards.

    Although, unlike his bones and skin, he couldn''t feel what was happening to his marrow, Lucian guessed that his marrow was also transcending to a different level compared to a mortal body.

    So he just sat there, quietly trying to feel the profound transformation.

    As the Spiritual Energy continued to work its magic on his marrow, Lucian felt a surge of vitality unlike anything he had experienced before.

    ...

    As Lucian sat in quiet meditation, the first rays of dawn began to seep through the small bathroom window.

    Unexpectedly, he had spent nearly 10 hours sitting in meditation.

    The soft golden light of Sun crept across the tiled floor, illuminating the black, viscous substance that had oozed from his pores earlier.

    At this moment, as the last bit of energy entered his bones, a deafening "BOOM" suddenly echoed through his body, as if an ancient beast were roaring in frustration.

    Lucian''s eyes abruptly snapped open, and as if a dam had burst, a torrent of pitch-black filth erupted from every pore on his body.

    It wasn''t just a trickle like before, but a violent expulsion that splattered across the bathroom tiles and walls.

    The viscous substance was thicker than before, almost tar-like in consistency, and it carried with it an acrid, pungent odor that made Lucian''s eyes water.

    As quickly as it had begun, the torrent of black filth slowed to a trickle, then stopped altogether.

    But Lucian barely noticed the mess.

    His attention was entirely focused inward, on the incredible sensations coursing through his body.

    He felt different.

    Lighter, yet somehow... denser!!

    He suddenly clenched his fist and punched down at the bathroom tiles.

    BANG–!!

    The sound echoed through the bathroom, reverberating off the walls.

    As soon as Lucian''s fist connected with the floor, cracks spider-webbed out from the point of impact, like a ripple spreading across a pond. The tiles instantly shattered, fragments flying in all directions.

    But it wasn''t just the surface that bore the brunt of Lucian''s current strength.

    The concrete beneath the tiles also crumbled, creating a small crater where his fist had landed. Dust and debris billowed up, momentarily obscuring his vision.

    "Holy shit!"