A week later, the three Divine Soul elders of the Yule Continent Guild came back with Shinja. Surprisingly, her cultivation had reached the second stage, basically because of her Pure Yin Body compatibility with the Ice Hell Danger Zone spiritual energy, a lot easier to convert into Elemental Source Energy. The elders had arrived at her place just a few hours after her breakthrough and were quite surprised by that outcome. It has only been more or less a year since she entered the Core Formation Realm. That speed was simply frightening!
Of course, other than her Pure Yin Body, Shinja had the Spiritual Energy Meridians. Thanks for that too. All the spiritual energy absorbed is immediately compatible with her core, so she only needs to focus on converting it into the Elemental Source Energy. Not to mention that the Ice Hell Danger Zone Spiritual Energy is easier to be converted as already mentioned.
Krune was still in the Forging room. Marcus was working in the last shield at the moment, and that would take some time to finish. But he wasn't in a hurry anyway. He took his time to separate the Elemental Source Energy from the spiritual energy he uses for cultivation while reinforcing his foundation. Even if just 10% turns into Elemental Source Energy, after a long time of cultivation, Krune already had quite a bit of it. He couldn't help but feel hopeful about his Core Formation Realm Breakthrough.
Two hours later, Marcus asked for him to forge the last Divine Imprint. By this time, Krune was already wholly used with the forging process. At first, he would take over two hours to finish making one. But now, he didn't need even thirty minutes. Marcus had to keep adapting to Krune's speed, but that wasn't a big issue. He just had to ask for it later.
After completing the last Divine Imprint, Krune went back to his corner and waited. Even after the Divine Imprint was made, the process of forging the shield would take a few hours more, for a second. Krune thought that since this is the last one, he didn't need to wait. However, he ignored that idea, he had waited for so long already, a few more hours would make no difference, so he stayed.
It was already night time when Marcus took a deep breath. The last of the thirty-eight shields was finally completed. One could see the fatigue on his face, but at the same time, he seemed quite pleased with the results. He then passed it to Krune and asked him to give a quick try with all of them together.
Krune was also happy to see that all of them were finally made and immediately took out the other thirty-seven shields. After charging them with enough spiritual energy, Krune went to an open space of the room, releasing the shields on the air. They started to float around him, following different directions. It was quite a magical scene to see Krune in the center of those flying shields. Marcus couldn't help but nod in approval. Krune could really control all of them at the same time.
Krune then performed a few maneuvers but couldn't get them to attach together as he wanted. Sometimes they didn't stop one beside the other as he wanted. Other times their corners hit the corners of the other shields, leaving the formation of the shield wall incomplete. Marcus saw Krune doing that and started to laugh out loud.
"That is to be expected. Precisely controlling thirty-eight shields at once wasn't something that a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator could do to start with. You will need to practice quite a lot, but since you can, to a certain extent, already control them, it will only be a time issue until you can use them properly."
Krune then recalled the Shields back into his spatial ring and nodded to Marcus.
"I was already expecting it as well. It's really hard to control them perfectly, but I believe I will be able to do so in no time. I really have to thank you for these marvelous shields. They are simply amazing, I can feel the sturdiness of every single one of them. Not to mention how easily the spiritual energy and the elements flow inside of them. I can definitely call them masterpieces!"
Marcus nodded.
"There is no need for all of that blabbering. I was paid for this job already anyway. So it goes without saying that I would definitely complete them to the best of my abilities. I look forward to seeing how you will use them in the Martial Gathering."
Krune nodded and exchanged a few more words. Just when he was about to leave, Marcus called him from behind.
"Krune, your talent for forging is no less than Alchemy or Formations. In the future, you will understand that a weapon, or a shield in your case, can only achieve its best results in the hands of the person who forged it. So, don't give up forging! It will be of immense help to you in the future."
Krune wasn't surprised with that statement since he'd already guessed as much. But for him to be able to make shields of that quality, he would need to be at least a Five Stars Blacksmith like Marcus, and he didn't have enough time nor the cultivation to reach that level.
"I know, I will not leave my forging skills behind. There will come a day when I forge the perfect shields."
Marcus heard that and was surprised.
"So you didn't want to simply make a few Divine Imprints, that is good. Don't forget to pay me a visit after you come back from the Martial Gathering. I want to hear how was the performance of my babies."
Marcus then passed a spatial ring to Krune.
"Inside, you will find the necessary materials to repair your shields. You might not have achieved the level to make them, but it should be no problem for you to keep them in good condition."
Marcus then laughed and went back to the Blacksmith Hall.
Krune liked Marcus very much. He was really an easygoing person and kind to talk with. Not to mention that his abilities were the real deal.
Krune went back to his room and opened his communicator. He then told Yusa and the others that he had finished making his equipment, and asked whether they didn't want to go eat something. As everyone had been busy training all that time, relaxing was much appreciated.
They gathered in Ao's room, and the one who cooked, of course, was Krune again. After the food was ready, they started to eat, while Krune explained what had happened after creating the ninth meridian. Shinja and the others couldn't help but be amazed by that, of course. Krune left out little light's existence.
"The meridians opened a spatial gate. How is that even possible? It's a totally different matter from simply teleporting! I can't believe that."
Shinja was a lot more concerned with the changes, though.
"To think you can acquire Elemental Source Energy before the Core Formation Realm! If I knew that, I would have waited for when I also had nine meridians, which would give me a nice boost."
Of course, Shinja knew that Krune was a pioneer in the Spiritual Energy Meridians, so he discovered things little by little.
Krune then said.
"I gathered some information, and it seems there are a few that can help with the core, just like the Elemental Energy Source. However, you won't be able to find them here in the Makui Planet."
Yusa and Ao were a little sad.
"In our case, it's even worse. We do know that it is possible to do that. But because our dantains can't support nine Spiritual Energy Meridians, we won't be able to do it before the Core Formation Realm, even if we know."
Krune then shook his head.
"It might be impossible! But don't forget that once you break into the Core Formation Realm, you should be able to support nine Spiritual Energy Meridians. At that time, we will know if they can also be upgraded to the Elemental Source Meridians like me."
He then continued.
"The best part of the Elemental Source Meridians is that they can convert part of the Spiritual Energy directly into Elemental Source Energy. You won't need to do it yourself, and it will increase the speed of your cultivation in the Core Formation Realm by quite some extent."
"Also, I think that their efficiency will increase once they are used by Core Formation Realm cultivators. I say that because my old Spiritual Energy Meridians got a lot better after entering the Foundation Establishment."
Everyone nodded. They had to admit that such a possibility was really high. Ao then asked Shinja about her progress with the Spiritual Energy Meridians, since she was already a Core Formation Realm cultivator.
"I gathered quite a few spirit stones doing missions and assaulting a few spiritual energy veins deep into the Ice Hell Danger Zone. I used them to open my sixth Spiritual Energy Meridian, but I'm still quite far from getting the last three."
She then continued.
"But I already tested if it is possible to create a seventh meridian, and I can start the process without feeling anything. You should be able to do the same after you enter the Core Formation Realm."
Yusa and Ao nodded. They were already expecting as much. It was then that Krune looked at Yusa and said:
"I can see you entered the 9th Stage of the Foundation Establishment. Even Ao, who had a higher cultivator than you in the past, fell behind now."
Yusa immediately showed a smile.
"That is to be expected! I said that I was going to participate in the Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam, so I will need to enter the Core Formation Realm in the next seven months before it starts. I focused a lot more on reinforcing my foundation and cultivating."
Ao also reported his progress.
"I spent every single second I had sparing against senior Orle. I don't mind my cultivation falling a little behind. I got a lot more during those fights against him. I believe that if I fought Arlan now, I definitely would be at his level. Not to mention that even if my cultivation hasn't improved, it got a lot of sturdier."
Ao then reminded Yusa:
"You should reinforce your cultivation too. Focus mainly on it. Then you can definitely avoid any instability. The worst thing you could do is to attempt a breakthrough with an unstable foundation. Even if you succeed, you won't bring the best results out of it."
Yusa agreed with that.
"There is no need to worry. I've already used some of my spirit stones to buy a few items capable of accelerating the reinforcement of my cultivation. I'm sure that my foundation will be excellent when I try to break through into the Core Formation Realm."
Yusa then looked at Krune.
"But your case is different! You were the one who lagged behind the most. Is it okay for you to be in the 8th stage already?"
Krune understood her concern.
"I did it for the Martial Gathering. My foundation indeed got a little unstable after this last breakthrough. But I'm already at the level that I was planning to be. So I won't cultivate anymore until the Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam starts, which will give me enough time to reinforce it. Not to mention that I've already got a few cultivation resources focused on the foundation from Guild Head Bary, so I should be fine."
With all said and done, they went back to enjoy their food. According to Guild Head Bary, they would be leaving for the Makui Continent next day morning. Even though there is still a week before the Divine Path Sect Spaceship leaves, Bary wants to make sure that nothing will go wrong, so they are leaving really early.