After an extensive search, Lu Fan discovered a newly formed spiritual vein on a secluded island within a vast lake. The lake's expanse was comparable to a small ocean, and the island was inhabited by a formidable snake beast. Demonstrating his prowess, Lu Fan swiftly defeated the creature and claimed the island as his own.
Determined to enhance the spiritual vein's potency, he meticulously set up a formation designed to upgrade its capabilities. As a crucial component of this formation, he incorporated True Sun Fire, a powerful and pure flame known for its exceptional energy.
Over the subsequent months, the spiritual vein absorbed all the spiritual stones and True Sun Fire he provided. Observing the gradual transformation, Lu Fan repeated this process multiple times. Finally, a significant change occurred: the spiritual vein advanced from level 1 to level 2. Moreover, the accumulated True Sun Fire began to integrate, transforming the spiritual vein into a Fire Spiritual Vein, thereby enhancing its capacity to support fire-based cultivation techniques.
This transformation not only increased the spiritual vein's energy output but also aligned it with fire attributes, facilitating the cultivation of fire-related martial arts and alchemy. Such an upgrade marked a pivotal moment in Lu Fan's cultivation journey, providing him with a powerful foundation for future endeavors.
After establishing the Fire Spiritual Vein on the island, Lu Fan turned his attention to enhancing the island's energy infrastructure. He meticulously set up a power grid utilizing the island's natural waterfall, harnessing its kinetic energy to generate electricity.
With the island's energy systems in place, Lu Fan dedicated himself to refining his cultivation. Over several months, he focused on his Qi cultivation, striving to reach the pinnacle of the ninth level. Achieving this milestone would enable him to attempt the transition to the Foundation Building stage, a critical phase in a cultivator's journey.
As Lu Fan continued his cultivation, he experienced a significant breakthrough. His Qi began to condense into droplets of red liquid within his dantian—the body's energy center located in the lower abdomen. Over the following days, these droplets coalesced into a small lake, signifying his advancement to the Foundation Building stage of Qi cultivation. This stage is crucial for solidifying one's base, strengthening both body and spirit, and preparing for more advanced cultivation levels.
In the ensuing days, Lu Fan familiarized himself with the nuances of his new realm. He observed a remarkable transformation: the miniature sun within his dantian, previously perceived as a mere ball of fire, had evolved. With each infusion of True Sun Fire, the mini-sun had gradually shrunk, simultaneously creating its own internal space. This phenomenon had gone unnoticed until his recent breakthrough, during which a state of enlightenment revealed the mini-sun's spatial development.
This discovery provided clarity on a question that had long intrigued him: despite absorbing substantial amounts of True Sun Fire, the mini-sun's external size remained unchanged. The answer lay in its internal transformation, as it condensed and refined the energy, forming a unique space within—a testament to the profound mysteries of cultivation.
Reflecting on his recent insights, Lu Fan recalled that scientists on Earth had proven that massive celestial bodies like the Sun cause the space around them to bend
This bending of spacetime is due to the Sun's immense mass and energy, which create a curvature in the fabric of spacetime.
Applying this understanding to his own cultivation, Lu Fan realized that his miniature sun exhibited a similar effect. The space around his mini-sun had stretched and curved, creating an internal spatial dimension. This phenomenon explained how the mini-sun maintained its external size despite absorbing vast amounts of True Sun Fire; the energy was being utilized to expand and warp the internal space, rather than increasing the mini-sun's outward appearance.
This revelation provided Lu Fan with a deeper comprehension of the intricate relationship between mass, energy, and the curvature of space within his own dantian, mirroring the cosmic principles observed in the universe.
Despite his deepening understanding of the miniature sun within his dantian, Lu Fan faced significant challenges in exploring it further. His spiritual sense—an extension of consciousness used by cultivators to perceive internal and external energies—proved inadequate for probing the mini-sun. Each attempt resulted in his spiritual sense being scorched before he could glean any meaningful insights.
The mini-sun, though entirely under Lu Fan's control due to its origin from his own heart flame, remained a potent and potentially perilous entity. Its integration into his dantian had been a deliberate act, and while he could command its functions, the inherent danger it posed could not be underestimated.
Lu Fan was acutely aware that any attempt to move or tamper with the mini-sun could have catastrophic consequences, potentially leading to the destruction of his physical form. This understanding instilled a cautious respect for the mini-sun's power, prompting him to avoid any actions that might destabilize its position within his dantian.
After investing all his spirit stones into upgrading the spiritual vein on his island, Lu Fan found himself in need of replenishing his resources. Determined to restore his reserves, he set out toward a nearby cultivator city, hoping to acquire new spirit stones and other valuable materials.
As he traversed the landscape, Lu Fan continued his mission to eradicate evil. Whenever he encountered malevolent individuals or groups, he swiftly dispensed justice, leaving behind his distinctive symbol as a warning to others.
During his journey, Lu Fan pondered the root causes of societal oppression. He realized that the pervasive suppression of the poor stemmed from their inherent weakness. Lacking both resources and proper cultivation techniques, they were easy targets for exploitation by the powerful. This insight resonated deeply with Lu Fan, reminding him of his own humble beginnings when he possessed only the basic Skin Tempering chapter, which severely limited his cultivation progress.
Determined to make a difference, Lu Fan resolved to empower the oppressed by providing them with the knowledge and resources necessary to defend themselves and break free from the cycle of subjugation. He envisioned a world where strength and wisdom were accessible to all, dismantling the structures that allowed the powerful to prey upon the weak.