Tang Chun Xi felt her heart race as the book in her mind began to open. Its pages, made of pulsating light and ancient characters that seemed to float in space, radiated an oppressive yet fascinating power. At first, she thought it might be an inheritance manual for formations or an advanced map of matrices. But as she read the first lines, it became clear that it was far more.
It was a cultivation technique — and not just any technique. Tang Chun Xi couldn't determine its level, but it was evident that it surpassed any technique she had ever seen or even heard of. The mere glimpse of its descriptions seemed to transcend her understanding of what was possible, filling her with both awe and apprehension.
As she tried to move to the introduction, an unexpected message appeared before her eyes, etched into her mind as though spoken by an immortal voice:
"If you are receiving this message, it means you have been chosen by the technique. This is the technique I practiced and understood as I sought to unravel the cycles of nature and the mysteries of the five elements, bathed in the eternal wisdom of the stars, which know and see all. It is much more than a mere technique. It is sentient. It was not created but has always existed, waiting for the right moment and the right practitioner. No being can cultivate it unless chosen by it and deemed to possess the talent it requires."
The words resonated with a depth that seemed to touch her soul. Tang Chun Xi stood still, absorbing every phrase. Her inner gaze returned to the book's pages, which now displayed characters shifting between the colors of the five elements — green for wood, red for fire, yellow for earth, white for metal, and blue for water.
A new message appeared, written in vibrant tones that seemed to pulse with life itself:
"The Harmonic Chaos Matrix technique can only be practiced by one who possesses the Root of Chaos."
Tang Chun Xi raised her eyebrows in surprise.
—"Root of Chaos?" —she murmured in confusion. She had never heard of such a thing before. But as if the book could sense her bewilderment, more information appeared:
"The Root of Chaos is a rare talent that contains the five elemental roots in perfect harmony. Each root is of equal length, purity, and size, forming a perfect cycle of the five elements. This condition is so rare that, since creation, only a handful have possessed it."
Tang Chun Xi felt the weight of the words. The idea of such a perfectly balanced constitution was almost inconceivable to her. 'But… this doesn't make sense,' — she thought. 'I know my affinity for fire and wood is stronger. If I had the Root of Chaos, my affinities should be equal for all five elements.'
Once again, as if the book could hear her thoughts, a response emerged:
"You can cultivate me."
The words were straightforward yet carried immense weight. A shiver ran down Tang Chun Xi's spine.
—"But how?"— she whispered, feeling on the brink of an unfathomable mystery.
The pages responded again, now with a more detailed explanation:
"To cultivate me, you must form, during the process, the perfect cycle of the five elements. This is possible by using me and your stellar energy. Harmony will be achieved throughout cultivation. And you have already begun without realizing it."
Tang Chun Xi remained silent, digesting everything she had learned about the Harmonic Chaos Matrix. The stellar energy she possessed, a unique trait granted by her Lunar Imperial Body, seemed to be the key to unlocking the technique's true potential. Yet, setting aside her doubts for the moment, she resolved to understand more about what the technique truly did before making any definitive decision.
The description that unfolded before her left her speechless. The perfect cycle of the five elements — wood, fire, earth, metal, and water — was not an inherent effect of the technique but a trait of those who possessed the rare Root of Chaos. For Tang Chun Xi, however, this harmony would be essential to her practice.
The essence of the technique was astonishing: it allowed the practitioner to manipulate the five elements in perfect balance, creating a unique resonance that amplified their power to unprecedented levels. The interactions between the elements not only reinforced one another but also unleashed devastating offensive, defensive, and supportive abilities. Furthermore, it could be used to assist a master of formations.
Even so, the doubt lingered. Tang Chun Xi knew that the technique her adoptive father had given her, focused on the elements of fire and wood, was a safe choice. She hesitated, weighing the risks and benefits. Sensing her indecision, the Lunar Umbrella, a spiritual binding artifact that had accompanied her since the beginning of her journey, vibrated faintly, as if advising her to proceed with the practice of the new technique.
Convinced by her intuition and trust in the Lunar Umbrella, Tang Chun Xi finally made up her mind. She could not ignore the call of this unique opportunity. Determined, she prepared the environment for her cultivation.
Opening her storage pouch, she retrieved thousands of spiritual stones, scattering them around the meditation room. The air filled with an oppressive density of Qi that seemed to hum with anticipation. With everything ready, Tang Chun Xi sat in a lotus position, mentally opened the manual, and began the practice.
At first, nothing happened. Hours passed, and the energy around her remained still. An entire day slipped by without any sign of progress. She began to feel slight anxiety but quickly controlled her thoughts, recalling the words of the technique. Slowly, she allowed her mind to wander and focused on the essence of the teachings.
"Wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal generates water, and water generates wood. And thus, the cycle completes, creating the heavens and the earth, life, and nature..."
Suddenly, something within her shifted. Tang Chun Xi felt a faint vibration in her body. The wood element tinged her liver with a light green glow. Soon, fire ignited her heart in shades of red, followed by earth, which stabilized her spleen with golden energy. Metal filled her lungs with a silvery radiance, and finally, water energized her kidneys with a deep blue hue.
The five elements began circulating within her, forming a cycle that tempered each part of her body. In the room, the formation gathering Qi activated, draining energy from the spiritual stones at an alarming rate. The energy flowed like a torrent, concentrating on Tang Chun Xi as her body absorbed every drop.
The cycle of elements repeated continuously, strengthening with each pass. Her body was tempered over and over, like a blade repeatedly forged in a furnace. In a sudden moment of breakthrough, Tang Chun Xi ascended to the second level of Body Tempering.
The energy didn't stop. She advanced once more, crossing into the third level. Only then did the process slow, allowing the elemental cycle to stabilize. Her internal organs glowed faintly with the colors of their associated elements, marking her progress.
When she finally opened her eyes, Tang Chun Xi noticed the entire room was covered in a fine white powder. The spiritual stones she had used were completely depleted.
Surprised and incredulous, Tang Chun Xi murmured to herself:
— "I… reached the third level of Body Tempering in a single meditation?"
The result exceeded all her expectations. Her heart overflowed with gratitude and renewed determination. She knew that advancing with her awakened physique would be easier, but she hadn't imagined she would leap two levels in her first practice of the technique.
However, something peculiar caught her attention as she sensed the changes in her body. A mysterious connection to the five elements now seemed intrinsic to her. She briefly focused and realized she could project her body's spiritual energy into unique attacks, a trait that, according to her knowledge, was exclusive to cultivators of the Primary Origin realm—a realm above the Body Tempering stage she had just surpassed.
Still surprised, she decided to end her practice. Training behind closed doors alone would be detrimental; she needed practical experience and combat. Exiting the room, she encountered a servant...