Previously, Lu Fan had relied on external and stored electricity to temper his body. His body-tempering method was crude but effective, forcing his flesh to adapt through sheer endurance. However, as his Blood Qi Art evolved, the transformation became even more profound.
Back when he first became an innate martial artist, his body-tempering technique had already changed once. He had been using that same technique ever since, refining it with each breakthrough. Now, with an abundant reserve of stored electricity—far more than ever before—his entire body-tempering method once again began to shift.
The Thunder within him resonated with his Blood Qi, intertwining into something more refined, more natural. His bones, muscles, and skin vibrated with a strange rhythm, as if undergoing an unseen transformation. It was no longer just about forcefully enduring the Thunder—it was as if his entire body was naturally conducting and refining it. His technique was evolving, adapting to his new Bloodline and boundless energy reserves.
As Lu Fan entered a state of enlightenment, his Blood Qi surged and began circulating in an unfamiliar yet profound pattern. Suddenly, the storage space within him started resonating with his Blood Qi, triggering an unexpected transformation.
The storage space expanded, growing larger and more stable. Then, Blood Qi wrapped around it, reshaping it into a structured chamber. At the same time, all his Thunder Chambers—which had previously been scattered throughout his body—converged into a single, unified Thunder Chamber.
Meanwhile, in his dantian, the space around the Mini Sun also began expanding, as if making room for something new. This led to the formation of a Blood Chamber within his dantian, with the Mini Sun resting at its core.
The two chambers underwent another transformation, condensing into two majestic gates. Both gates gleamed red like polished rubies, exuding an aura of immense power. One gate bore the image of crackling blue thunder, while the other was engraved with the radiant form of a mini-sun, burning with boundless energy. These gates stood as silent sentinels, marking a profound evolution in Lu Fan's cultivation.
With the appearance of these two doors, Lu Fan's body felt significantly lighter, as if a great burden had been lifted. His body began to rapidly absorb and refine the blood essence, causing his physical strength to surge at an astonishing rate. The vast Blood Qi he had accumulated gathered within his heart, condensing into a blood chamber brimming with vitality. As the transformation reached its peak, the chamber solidified into a third gate, this one marked with the image of flowing blood, pulsating with life. With this final step, his blood cultivation art was now complete.
As Lu Fan stood beneath the darkening sky, thunder calamity gathered above him, crackling with destructive power. A massive bolt of lightning descended, striking him directly. However, his body, tempered by true thunder, easily withstood the impact. Instead of harming him, the lightning was absorbed into the Thunder Gate, reinforcing its power. More bolts followed, but each one was either endured by his powerful physique or drawn into the gate.
By the time the storm cleared, Lu Fan stood completely unharmed, his body buzzing with residual thunder energy. This calamity, which could have been a life-threatening ordeal for others, had instead become another opportunity for him to grow stronger.
Lu Fan began to experiment with the two gates that had manifested within him. He discovered that he could move them at will, controlling their positions as if they were extensions of his own body. Like his mirror weapon, the gates acted as gateways to the immense power contained within them. By opening the gates, he could release a torrent of energy stored inside, much like the release of water when a dam is breached.
The strength of the flow depended entirely on the quality of the gate and the amount of energy stored within it. His gates were currently at level 3, which meant that the energy they released could match the power of a Golden Core cultivator's attack. However, the unique nature of these gates was that their attacks were continuous. For instance, if the gate stored enough energy for 100 level 3 attacks, it would keep releasing energy until that quota was exhausted—the gate would not stop until the stored energy was fully expended, unless Lu Fan consciously closed it. This made the gates not only a powerful weapon but also a versatile and relentless force of destruction.
Lu Fan realized that the doors could be further enhanced, so he began using his blood essence to upgrade their grade. By carefully channeling his refined blood essence into the gates, he managed to elevate them first to Level 3 Mid-Grade, and then further to Level 3 High-Grade. However, when the doors reached this higher echelon, Lu Fan decided to stop his improvements. He recognized that pushing the doors to Level 4 could impose a strain his body might not be ready to handle, so for now, he chose to maintain the current level and focus on mastering the power already at his disposal.
While Lu Fan was cultivating in the village for two years, Lin Rou made remarkable progress. She successfully broke through and became an innate martial artist, marking the completion of the Whirlpool Innate Art.
The technique had fully taken shape, integrating the principles of whirlpool motion, blood Qi circulation, and water attribute resonance. With this, Lin Rou's foundation was solid, and she was now ready to further refine her martial path. Lu Fan observed her transformation and was satisfied—his experiment in developing a martial art tailored for women had succeeded.
After Lin Rou entered the innate realm, her Holy Whirlpool Art began producing Holy Water, just like how practitioners of Holy Sunfire Art generated Holy Fire. Lu Fan had anticipated this possibility and had already purchased two Golden Core-level water Qi cultivation arts in Cloudrest City—Flowing River Scripture and Serene Lake Cultivation.
He had some ideas on how to integrate the Whirlpool Art with these higher cultivation techniques, but ultimately, this was something that had to be explored by women who practiced the Whirlpool Art themselves. Lu Fan could only lay the foundation, but the true evolution of the technique would depend on its practitioners.
After Lin Rou became an innate martial artist, Lu Fan helped her create a high-grade mortal spirit root, which took the form of a Water Spirit Root. With her foundation set, he handed her a storage bag filled with various cultivation methods and pills, ensuring she had everything she needed for future growth.
When it was finally time to part ways, Lin Rou expressed her desire to follow Lu Fan on his journey. However, he gently refused.
"I walk the path of fire, while you walk the path of water. Our destinies are different. You must carve your own way," Lu Fan said. "Besides, I am a lone cultivator, free from any bonds. It wouldn't be suitable for you to follow me."
Understanding his reasoning but still reluctant, Lin Rou eventually nodded. With that, Lu Fan turned and left the village, stepping back onto his own island.