The excruciating pain made Lin Lei's entire body convulse, as if countless tiny insects were gnawing on every inch. The pain that pierced his very bones was something even Lin Lei couldn't endure without a change in expression. He could only grit his teeth and bear it with all his might. At the same time, his divine sense carefully observed every part of his body.
Pure black, without a trace of impurity.
The black torrent surged through Lin Lei's body without any pattern. Massive amounts of black energy streamed along muscle fibers, blood vessels, and bones. Drops of this black energy seemed to find their 'home', pouring into his bones, muscles, internal organs, and more. Lin Lei's entire body was undergoing an earth-shattering, rapid transformation.
*Rumble rumble~~~*
His entire skeleton trembled, even producing crashing sounds.
"Four divine powers fused, yet they turned pure black. This black divine power is actually far more terrifying than main god power!" Lin Lei hadn't expected this.
He had originally thought that the fusion of three systems' divine powers would have power approaching that of a main god. For example, for him, the fusion of three systems' divine power was equivalent to 'Destroying Main God Power', but compared to the 'Earth Main God Power', which was most effective for him, it fell significantly short.
Lin Lei had believed that fusing four systems' divine power, even if it increased tenfold, would only be a few times stronger than 'Earth Main God Power'.
But now, the moment the four systems fused, a special effect occurred. It abruptly turned pure black, and Lin Lei clearly sensed the formidable power of this black energy.
For countless years, no one had ever possessed four god clones *and* succeeded in a soul mutation!
Lin Lei had succeeded, so the fusion of four systems' divine power was possible.
The fusion of Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind systems' divine power created this 'black divine power', its might was so great it made Lin Lei's heart tremble.
Suddenly—
On the surface of Lin Lei's cyan-gold dragon scales, including the spikes, black threads began to emerge. These black threads wound themselves around the scales, spikes, and dragon tail, gradually penetrating deeper into the scales. Viewing Lin Lei's exterior, it looked as if countless black magical runes had surfaced on his skin.
*Buzz buzz~~*
The dragon scales on Lin Lei's body vibrated violently. Because the frequency was so high, it produced a 'buzzing' sound, even generating spatial ripples.
"This black divine power has such peculiar effects?" Though his entire body was in utmost agony, Lin Lei, who had reached the peak of cultivation, was remarkably clear-headed. He distinctly perceived that every part of his body was constantly transforming. His muscles were growing stronger at an astonishing rate, and his skeletal hardness was leaping upward with each passing moment.
This terrifying rate of progress made Lin Lei's expression change.
"Legend has it that the patriarch of my Azure Dragon Clan, the 'Azure Dragon', could use main god power to strengthen his own body, achieving an effect near that of a main god artifact. It was probably the Water System's main god power, matching his nature as a Water System divine beast. And yet, this four-system fused divine power can also strengthen my body. This strengthening feels like divine power nurturing a divine artifact."
Lin Lei knew some relatively simple methods for body enhancement.
The principle behind body strengthening is, essentially, allowing the body to gradually absorb energy and continuously reinforce itself. It sounds simple, but there's a vast amount of energy. How can the body absorb it? That's the difficult part. It's usually related to innate talent, like the Stone Devourer Mouse or Azure Dragon and other divine beasts, who possess methods for strengthening their bodies.
Obviously, this four-system fused divine power held this special effect of body enhancement.
Nurturing a divine artifact is, in fact, the artifact within the body gradually absorbing divine power, becoming sharper and more resilient. It also incorporates some spiritual power, gradually developing a spiritual awareness.
"Hm?" Lin Lei's divine sense delved deep into his muscle fibers and discovered that the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and the junction where the dragon scales attached were beginning to undergo a special transformation.
"It seems this strengthening will require a rather long period of time."
Lin Lei understood that, actually, the strengthening process could be controlled and guided by spiritual power. If he left the fused divine power to strengthen his body unchecked, he had no idea what form his body would take.
"Father has already broken through. Why hasn't he come out yet?" Taylor gazed from afar toward the corridor corner ahead.
Usually, after Lin Lei succeeded in the secret chamber, he would emerge onto the open lawn outside. He inevitably had to pass by that corridor corner. At this moment, not only Taylor was watching, but also Bei Bei, Rein, Yeru, and a large group of others. Dilia was also watching the corridor corner with her daughter 'Shasha', discussing the situation.
"Mother, did Father's breakthrough not involve the Fire System god clone?" Shasha asked softly.
"It should be the Fire System. Your father's other three clones already reached the Highgod level long ago." Dilia also furrowed her brow. "But after a breakthrough, he should have come out by now."
Right at this moment—
"Dilia." A clear voice sounded directly in Dilia's mind.
"Lin Lei, what's happening with you now?" Dilia responded joyfully through soul communication.
"I have indeed made a breakthrough, but right now, I've gained some insight into body strengthening and am researching it. So... I won't be coming out for the time being. Don't worry about me. I don't know if this research will take a year or two, or decades or centuries." Worried about those outside being anxious, Lin Lei sent his message via divine sense.
"Alright, you focus on your cultivation in peace." Dilia was actually quite happy inside. After all, Lin Lei's progress over the past thousand years had been minimal.
Dilia smiled and said to everyone around her, "Alright, everyone. Go about your own business. Lin Lei is still in a critical cultivation phase."
"Still in a critical cultivation phase?" Bei Bei grumbled.
"Was hoping Third Brother would come out so he could go hang out with us." Yeru stretched lazily, plopped down on a chair, and propped his leg on the table, speaking casually.
"You think Third Brother is as bored as you are?" Rein teased.
Regardless of the people outside, inside the secret chamber, Lin Lei was completely immersed in the process of strengthening his entire body. He was using his formidable soul power to guide the direction of the enhancement. On the first day, the intensity of Lin Lei's strengthening was the most dramatic, but as time passed, the rate gradually diminished.
However, this diminishment was only relative to the first day. In reality, the improvement Lin Lei made every day—if outsiders knew—would probably make their eyes fall out.