Seated comfortably in a cross-legged position, Chen Yunlong immersed himself further into the profound depths of the ancient manuscript, comforted by the tranquility of the night sky.
He mused quietly, "There are many skills I could start training with my Cosmic Pupils, but the most important thing right now is to repair my lower dantian."
His attentive eyes diligently scanned the meticulously inscribed text, eagerly seeking the knowledge of the next stage within the Astral Constitution.
After a prolonged search, his focused gaze finally alighted on the prominently displayed title of the third stage: Ethereal Dantian.
[Stage 3: Ethereal Dantian]
[From the depths of Chaos, Heaven and Earth emerged, enraptured in the eternal embrace of the Cosmos. Yet, even the brilliance of stars wanes in the presence of mortality.]
[Within the sacred realm of the Ethereal Dantian, a glimmer of eternity resides, a beacon of immortality. The flame of immortality, ablaze like a cindering core, unfurls the celestial tapestry of destiny, casting a radiant brilliance that shall endure for eternity.]
"Even the luminosity and splendor of the stars and celestial bodies will fade as they eventually face their inevitable demise," Chen Yunlong pondered with a light sigh, contemplating the inevitable fate of even the most radiant stars and celestial bodies.
"Is it really possible to reach a level that surpasses such a magnificence? Does genuine immortality truly exist?"
Shaking his head, he proceeded with his reading, absorbed in the introductory text.
The explanation was concise, providing a glimpse into the delicate and intricate process that resembled nurturing a fragile seedling with unwavering devotion.
In essence, the reforge of the ethereal dantian was a process of purifying, refining, and nurturing the lower dantian region to establish a new foundation capable of supporting the ethereal energies required for the Astral Constitution technique.
However, this process occurred with a singular step—the crucial and awe-inspiring step known as 'Supernova Recreation'; it possessed a power that would leave cultivators both exhilarated and fearful.
As Chen Yunlong delved deeper into the mysteries of this process, he couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and trepidation.
Supernova Recreation was the pivotal moment where the lower dantian would undergo a complete transformation, akin to the explosive power of a supernova in the vastness of the cosmos.
If one failed to properly complete this step, forget about whether their dantian region might remain intact, their entire body had a high chance of exploding under the sheer force.
"Such a daring technique! What mad man came up with this?" Chen Yunlong marveled as he explored its intricacies.
Regardless of the dangers, Chen Yunlong grasped the profound importance of this stage.
"Like a sapling stretching towards the heavens, every tiny step of this technique is like a leap forwards in comparison to my old cultivation," he murmured in amazement.
Likewise, his heart beat quickly with a budding anticipation, a feeling that he found almost unfamiliar.
"I haven't felt so anxious in forever," he said with a soft smile. "Reminds me of when my journey first began."
With his gaze fixed upon the vast expanse of the night sky, Chen Yunlong's grey eyes flashed with the azure and golden brilliance of the Cosmic Pupils, drawing in the limitless ethereal strands of Qi surging from the stars.
Twinkling in the sky, the shimmering stars seemed to whisper ancient secrets into his ears with gentle breaths as Chen Yunlong coaxed their energies into his eyes.
Inhaling deeply, his breathing was measured and calm, rhythmically attuned to the beating of his heart. Carefully, he allowed the Qi to coarse into his meridian channels.
Despite his eyes open to the sky, he was deeply immersed in visualizing his inner self, plunging himself into a state of deep meditation.
His mind became a canvas, and his imagination wielded the brush, each thought a precise stroke of creation.
"In the likeness of a supernova's transformative power, I shall dismantle the remnants of my lower dantian, paving the way for the emergence of a renewed foundation."
"Gather! Gather! Draw in more energy!" he bellowed with a low shout, coaxing the Qi to converge in his lower dantian where he condensed it into a small, radiant star.
The gathering Qi intensified, tightly packing into the star, becoming increasingly volatile and unstable.
Throughout the process, a searing and agonizing pain gnawed at the depths of his being, as if every fiber of his soul was set ablaze. Waves of torment surged through him, threatening to shatter his resolve and break his spirit.
His mind screamed in protest, every nerve in his body pleading for him to cease his efforts, to stop this excruciating ordeal.
"Even amidst all my tribulations, never have I experienced such overwhelming agony!" he clenched his teeth, blood trickling from his lips, yet he persisted with unwavering determination.
Few people had the resolve to force their body into such a perilous state, where pain became an unrelenting companion, and the boundaries of endurance were pushed to their very limits.
Chen Yunlong, even with his plentiful experience, still felt shaken to the core by this struggle.
As time stretched on, the searing pain intensified, reaching a crescendo within Chen Yunlong's lower dantian.
The volatile star reached its peak and within his dantian, the star erupted into a cataclysmic supernova, obliterating the remnants of his old dantian and any remnants of his previous cultivation.
In its wake, a void—the blank canvas awaiting the birth of the ethereal dantian—and scattered throughout this void the chaotic aftermath of energies from the supernova—the ink.
Chen Yunlong spat out a spurt of blood but paid no mind to it, abruptly visualizing and willing the remaining energies into a cosmic dance.
Swirling streams of starlight converged, intertwining and coalescing into ethereal threads that painted the empty void.
Observing in awe, he witnessed the celestial energies weaving into intricate patterns, resembling the birth of nebulae across the blank expanse of the universe.
The ethereal dantian slowly took shape, shimmering with a mesmerizing radiance that defied mortal comprehension. It was a celestial vortex, a swirling maelstrom of energy that pulsed with ethereal brilliance.
At its center, a small star burned with resplendent intensity. It flickered with the vibrant colors of cosmic energies, shimmering with an otherworldly iridescence. Wisps of stardust twirled and swirled within its depths, like cosmic tempests frozen in time.
As Chen Yunlong immersed himself in this cosmic creation, he could feel the profound connection between his being and the vastness of the cosmos. He became a vessel, channeling the raw power of stars and nebulae into the very essence of his cultivation with every breath he took.
With the formation of his ethereal dantian, Chen Yunlong found his potential to be far greater than his past self; it was only a matter of time until he exceeded his former accomplishments.
"Now, my destiny is intertwined with the stars themselves," he couldn't help but usher out a hearty laugh, thinking back to his struggles before losing his cultivation.
His new cultivation path shone brightly like a guiding light amidst the vast expanse of the universe, and he felt this time, things would be different—more importantly, he would live life differently.
Over time, the intense pain gradually diminished, allowing Chen Yunlong to exhale with a sense of relief.
A profound sense of accomplishment washed over him, and he found that he could now absorb Qi from all of his orifices
Internally, the Qi flowed naturally through his meridians and into the ethereal dantian which pulsed vigorously as it refined and assimilated it.
Gradually, he sensed a delicate, golden strand of qi take shape within his dantian.
Trembling and unable to hold it in, he cried out, "Qi! I've finally managed to cycle Qi into my body and form it into a strand! I might only be at the first stage of Qi Condensation, but this was the hardest step!"
Continuing his practice, he attempted to disperse the Qi throughout his body.
His entire being quivered as a sudden yet recognizable tingling sensation coursed through his muscles and veins, feeling a growth of power spreading within him once more.
With a swift motion, Chen Yunlong's eyes snapped open. Straightening his posture, he stretched body, relieving the stiffness that had settled in.
Assuming a martial stance, he channeled his inner Qi, allowing it to flow into his clenched fist before throwing a punch.
As his fist cut through the air, a burst of Qi erupted, creating a barely noticeable sonic boom that reverberated through the surroundings. The impact sent discreet ripples of energy cascading through the air.
Chen Yunlong exhaled deeply, looking up at the night sky and realizing how little time had passed since he started his practice for the night.
"I'll head back early tonight. Wouldn't want to disturb anyone's sleep."
With a light smile, he walked back to the old house he could call home. And in his mind, he held an inkling that his progress would grow much faster in the following nights.