Chapter 56: The Birth of the Frozen Core
After a few days spent absorbing and classifying the vast amount of knowledge he gained from the Builders' data tablets, and after confirming the beginning of the construction of the improved condensers and identifying the steps needed to activate the manufacturing unit and repair the Ether node, Tian Heng realized a fundamental truth: all these ambitious plans ultimately depended on his personal strength. His ability to control the ether precisely, the capacity of his inner energy, and his understanding of the basic laws would be the decisive factors in success or failure, especially when dealing with the advanced Builder techniques or facing stronger enemies in the future.
The "Star Ice Forging Technique" was his key to making a qualitative leap. He could feel his latent power even in its early stages. Now, with the full technique at hand and a nearly inexhaustible supply of ether in the Crystal Cave, he decided it was time to focus entirely on his personal training.
He gathered his four remaining followers. "It is time for me to enter focused training isolation," he announced in his usual cold tone. "My goal is to break through the bottleneck and reach the 'Core Maker' level using the new technique. It may take weeks... or perhaps months. During this period, your responsibilities are clear."
He looked at Elara and Lyra, who knelt before him (the act of kneeling had now become automatic, ingrained with fear when addressed directly). "Elara, you will continue overseeing the construction of the condensers at the temporary base near Okhafen, storing the output carefully. Your other task is to continue deciphering the Builder's language, focusing on any texts describing advanced manufacturing processes or sources of raw materials within the Vault. Lyra, you will be responsible for securing the temporary base, gathering essential supplies from outside with extreme caution and avoiding any contact or drawing attention at all costs."
He then turned to Faela, who stood aside, watching with cold curiosity. "Faela, your knowledge of the depths and shadows is useful. I want you to embark on cautious expeditions in the surrounding sectors revealed by the expanded map, especially those marked with warnings or indicating the presence of other ancient structures. Look for potential raw material sources, other dormant modules, or any signs of entities or factions that may pose a threat or an opportunity. Provide me with brief reports via the core every few days if it is safe." It was a risky task, but it also granted her some freedom, perhaps to test her unstable loyalty or simply to keep her away from his training spot. Faela nodded slowly, her violet eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression.
Finally, he looked at Lilith. "You will stay with me. Your task is simple: guard the entrance of the Crystal Cave. Do not allow anything or anyone to approach or disturb me under any circumstances, unless explicitly ordered by me."
"My life is to protect you, Master!" Lilith said eagerly, immediately kneeling, her crimson eyes gleaming with absolute loyalty.
After giving the instructions and confirming everyone's understanding of their duties, Tian Heng and Lilith proceeded back to the Ether Cave via the now-familiar tunnels. He made sure the Ether node was operating stably and providing the 15% required for the central core, then slightly reduced the extraction rate to preserve the crystals and avoid overloading the node during his training period.
At the heart of the cave, he chose the largest, most pristine, and pulsating crystal. He sat before it in the lotus position. He ordered Lilith to stand as an eternal guardian at the cave's far entrance, then closed his golden eyes, diving completely into the depths of the "Star Ice Forging Technique."
Days passed, then weeks, and nearly two months went by. Outside, Lilith stood motionless like a statue of dark loyalty, allowing no creature to approach, her eyes never leaving the entrance of the cave. The intermittent reports from Faela through the core... indicated the discovery of new tunnels and some interesting raw materials, but also worrying signs of strange biological activity in deeper sectors. Meanwhile, Elara and Lyra continued their work silently and fearfully at the temporary base, collecting condensed ether and trying to decipher the Builder's language.
But inside the cave, Tian Heng was in a different world. He immersed himself fully in the intricacies of the new technique. It was no longer just about drawing ether; it was a precise process of forging and shaping within his Dantian. He would draw pure ether from the crystals, compress it with immense force using his mental focus and latent dragon energy to control the process, then begin spinning, condensing, and cooling it to nearly absolute zero, forming the "Star Seed" of ice that would grow, spin, and pulse with pure coldness at the core of his energy. The process required incredible control, and any small mistake would result in intense internal pain or the dissipating of the energy he had gathered with great effort.
But as the weeks went by, and with the nearly endless supply of ether, and his complete focus, the "Star Seed" began to form, stabilize, and grow. He felt it transform into a true core – a solid, cold, multifaceted gem-like ice core, slowly rotating in his Dantian, absorbing and organizing the surrounding ether and transforming it into pure, powerful ice essence. He had broken through the bottleneck. He had become a "Core Maker - Beginner level."
But he did not stop there. He continued training, using his newly-formed Frozen Core to increase the speed and efficiency of his ether absorption and purification, pushing himself towards the mid and high stages of this level.
Finally, after nearly three months of absolute isolation, Tian Heng opened his golden eyes. They were no longer merely molten gold; now, they seemed to hold a faint, icy blue shimmer deep within. When he stood, his breath was no longer merely cold; it felt as though the air around him froze and condensed for a moment with every inhale and exhale, a faint bluish aura of frost enveloping his body. His appearance had not changed drastically; perhaps his silver hair had turned whiter, and his skin paler and purer, but the cold, controlled, and absolute power he now emanated was on a completely different level.
Lilith immediately sensed the change, even from a distance. She knelt immediately, her face a mixture of awe and absolute reverence for her master's new power.
Tian Heng did not perform a complex test. Simply his presence had become a test. A small crystal fly, hovering curiously near him, was instantly frozen in the air, turning into a delicate, brittle ice sculpture that fell and shattered on the ground. He did nothing; it had approached him without permission, and its fate was instant freezing due to the invisible cold aura surrounding him now like a passive shield.
Then, he slowly raised his left hand towards the distant cave wall. He did not touch it. He only thought of a specific shape – a meticulously detailed ice lotus flower. In an instant, silently, a large, transparent, and incredibly beautiful ice lotus formed on the rocky surface, its petals sharp as glass. Then, with another thought from his mind, the lotus faded and turned into swirling ice dust just as quickly as it appeared. He then shaped an ice spear, and then a shimmering shield, all with just his thoughts, with speed and precision unparalleled. He had gained near-total control over ice formation from the surrounding ether or his internal energy.
Tian Heng stood at the center of the cave, his cold power pulsing quietly from him. He had reached an entirely new level of power and control. His isolation had borne fruit. It was time to use this new power to accelerate his plans significantly.