Fortunately, the immense energy contained within the crystal rushed into the Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness in time. Gu Xichen watched helplessly as this streak of red energy was swallowed and assimilated into a pale violet mist by the Sea of Consciousness. (Read the full novel at .1κ.(1⑥κ.Literature Net) However, the assimilated energy was less than three percent—a minuscule fraction of the crystal's total power. The remaining ninety-seven percent was converted by the Sea of Consciousness into the Innate True Qi familiar to Gu Xichen and fed back into his meridians. The Hanyuan True Canon activated instinctively; the cyclones within his one hundred and eight major acupoints surged rapidly, drawing in and integrating streams of pure Innate True Qi into the vortices.

More violet mist poured out from the Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, continuously surging toward the red crystal. More energy roared into Gu Xichen's body, generating more violet mist and Innate True Qi.

The unprecedented feeling of comfort almost made Gu Xichen want to shout to the heavens. The Innate True Qi rolled in; in just a quarter of an hour, the amount generated surpassed what Gu Xichen could achieve through twenty-four hours of arduous cultivation. Forty-eight times—by absorbing the energy from the red crystal, Gu Xichen’s cultivation speed had increased forty-eightfold!

"If supplied with enough Zakula Crystals, a Boundary Master's cultivation speed is at least forty-eight times that of an ordinary martial artist! They cultivate for one year, equivalent to forty-eight years for a regular practitioner! Given that the average human lifespan on Earth is around one hundred and fifty years, if a fortunate individual merges with a Christal Crystal at age fifty to become a Boundary Master, they still have another hundred years left to cultivate using the crystal!"

All his pores simultaneously opened wide. Gu Xichen’s hair stood on end at the result of his calculation. If Boundary Masters were provided with sufficient crystals, a century of hard work would equate to millennia for ordinary martial artists. No wonder all Boundary Masters frantically scoured for these crystals! No wonder the Earth Federation Special Management Committee issued a certain quantity of crystals annually to keep these Boundary Masters in check!

"This feels wonderful!" The Hanyuan True Canon hardly needed Gu Xichen’s control; his mutated Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness was practically a second brain, perfectly managing the flow of his true qi.

The crystal energy transformed into violet qi and Innate True Qi. The Innate True Qi integrated into the Dantian and the one hundred and eight major acupoints. The violet energy streams surged out of his body, drawing in crystal energy and simultaneously refining the Innate True Qi to make it purer. A near-perfect, beneficial cycle was established.

In just half an hour, the energy within the red crystal was completely absorbed. Without Gu Xichen needing to think, the violet mist instinctively lunged toward the nearly hundred Zakula Crystals piled on the floor. Another wave of exhilarating energy flooded his body. This time, the influx was so intense that Gu Xichen felt his meridians were about to burst.

Fortunately, the Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness instinctively slowed the rate of energy absorption, allowing Gu Xichen to catch his breath.

"Hmm, it seems there is an upper limit to absorbing crystal energy. The stronger the physical body, the greater the energy that can be absorbed! A powerful physique, then?"

The subsequent chapters of the Hanyuan True Canon, like a bright moon at the bottom of the water, surfaced in Gu Xichen's mind, bringing him a moment of profound clarity!

The Hanyuan True Canon was almost a supreme treasure specifically designed for Boundary Masters. Nurturing Acupoints, Transforming Meridians, Cleansing Marrow, Filling Blood—all these stages were aimed at forging an adequately formidable physical body. The stronger the body, the faster one could absorb the power of crystals, and the stronger one's cultivation base would become!

Gu Xichen sprang up, gathered the nearly one hundred crystals, and rushed into the adjacent storage room. He lay down in a spread-eagle posture upon the pile of crystals, fully activating the 'Nurturing Acupoints' chapter of the Hanyuan True Canon.

Endless energy poured into his body, and vast amounts of newly generated True Qi rapidly filled Gu Xichen’s one hundred and eight major acupoints. The qi cyclones, initially only one-third full, gradually expanded until they filled all the space within the acupoints. The violet mist washed over them again and again; the cyclones would shrink and condense, only to grow larger and robust once more. After this process, precisely eighty-one times, the Dantian and all one hundred and eight major acupoints were filled with Innate True Qi solidified as if they were tangible matter.

The 'Nurturing Acupoints' chapter of the Hanyuan True Canon reached its Great Completion!

Gu Xichen started circulating the mental techniques of the 'Transforming Meridians' chapter without hesitation. Streams of Innate True Qi continuously circulated through his qi meridians, constantly expanding them. His heart rate surged, and streams of pure energy ceaselessly surged forth from his Dao Embryo. Nurtured by the Dao Embryo’s energy, the expanded meridians grew increasingly sturdy and resilient. Continuously expanding and strengthening, Gu Xichen slowly entered a state of ethereal trance.

In his reverie, Gu Xichen seemed to see eighty-four thousand stars twinkling before his eyes, and the stellar map formed by these stars revolving around an immensely vast Taiji Qi Cyclone.

This cyclone rotated exceedingly slowly, emanating an infinitely profound and mysterious aura that seemed to represent the entire meaning of the universe.

The crystals covered Gu Xichen entirely, his skin shrouded in a multi-colored halo. His heart beat rapidly, and the tremendous energy from his Dao Embryo flooded his entire body.

In the depths of the Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness—the 'Realm' he possessed—which Gu Xichen could not see, countless tendrils of violet mist slowly coalesced, gradually forming a hazy, black-and-white Taiji Qi Cyclone. This cyclone was tiny and faint, as if it might collapse with a mere gust of wind, yet the profound aura continuously seeped out of it, slowly filling and occupying the boundless Sea of Consciousness.

Seven days and seven nights later, Gu Xichen awoke from his deep slumber. He slowly opened his eyes, and streams of violet light shot out from his pupils, instantly illuminating the room.

The violet light vanished in a flash. Gu Xichen slowly stood up, staring blankly at the Zakula Crystals on the floor, which had now turned into inert rock.

"Ten cubic meters! Ten cubic meters of Zakula Crystals! On the black market, one cubic meter of Zakula Crystal is worth at least one hundred million! Ten billion!"

Taking a sharp breath, Gu Xichen muttered, "If I don't resort to murder, arson, and villainy, where am I supposed to find this many Zakula Crystals for practice? This stuff is regulated Federation military material! Isn't this forcing me down an evil path? Uh, of course, I’m not saying I’m a good person, but this is forcing me to become a villain, a bad guy, a scoundrel!"

Sensing the Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness, the previously empty space had become slightly more substantial, but that was all; there were no other changes.

"Heavens, how many crystals must other Boundary Masters waste to achieve this level of cultivation?" Gu Xichen was nearly moved to tears.

What delighted Gu Xichen, however, was that the 'Transforming Meridians' chapter had been successfully completed. His meridians were wide and solid; compared to before, when they were akin to an eight-lane highway, they had expanded by at least ten times. Moreover, the meridians were refined and strong, as if cast from the purest jade, and they were now filled with Innate True Qi that felt tangible.

The Dantian, acupoints, and qi channels were all interconnected, and the boundaries between them were no longer distinct. Gu Xichen’s internal body was now filled with refined True Qi, like a massive balloon.

Wherever his intent traveled, immense True Qi arose instantly, requiring no time-consuming transfer from the Dantian. For the current Gu Xichen, the Dantian was merely a source for polishing and refining True Qi during normal times. But with the 'Realm' acting as a heaven-defying cheat tool to absorb crystals and convert them into True Qi, the Dantian's role had become significantly diminished.

"Magnificent!" Ecstatic, Gu Xichen went to the testing room. He cautiously closed the door and stood solemnly before the testing apparatus.

Now, Gu Xichen’s meridians and acupoints no longer posed a limitation on the True Qi they could bear. The factor limiting his offensive power was now the strength of his muscles and bones, which had previously been relatively tough. Carefully condensing the newly generated True Qi in his right claw, meticulously maintaining the limit where the muscles, bones, and blood vessels of his right claw would not be shattered by the qi vibration, Gu Xichen unleashed a 'full-power' strike on the tester.

With a muffled thud, the testing instrument trembled slightly a few times.

Ten seconds later, the testing instrument’s screen displayed Gu Xichen’s new data.

"Nine hundred and seventy-five Zakulas. Late-stage Uranus Douluo."

Gu Xichen nodded in satisfaction. If he were willing to risk injury to his bones and muscles, his attack power could increase by at least another twofold!

He casually cleared the data on the tester and left the testing room. He proceeded to the base gym to test the strength of his physical body.

Bench pressing 5.85 tons, his physical strength had more than doubled—this was also a massive leap forward.

He swung his fist hard, stepped off the exercise machine, and, in high spirits, prepared to reward himself with a sumptuous meal.

The heavily bearded Captain, whom he hadn't seen for several days, appeared right at the gym entrance. A fawning smile stretched across the Captain’s imposing face as he stared at Gu Xichen with the look a lustful man casts upon a stunning beauty. Gu Xichen's heart chilled, and he instinctively retreated a few steps.

"What are you doing? I'm not interested in men! Especially not the aesthetically unpleasing ones with full beards like you!"

The Bearded Captain only smiled at Gu Xichen, grinning foolishly for a full three minutes before speaking to Gu Xichen with genial warmth, "Evil Dragon, I have a new position prepared for you. Are you interested?"

"Uh? What position?" Gu Xichen's heart gave a slight jolt. Had this guy figured something out?

"First Deputy Commander of the Hell Angels Mercenary Corps, with your own independent main combat legion. All the authority I possess, you will have as well. How about it?" The Bearded Captain stared at Gu Xichen, his eyes shining.

"I..." Gu Xichen was stunned. He looked at the Bearded Captain and exclaimed, "I think I only joined the Hell Angels Mercenary Corps a little over a month ago!"

"For a Boundary Master, any price is worth paying!" The Bearded Captain said gravely, "Your strength has skyrocketed thirtyfold in seven days. If you still claim your Christal fusion failed, you truly take me for a pig. Considering I've treated you well this past month, are you interested in becoming the First Deputy Commander?"

The Bearded Captain spoke sincerely, "When I retire, you will be the boss of the Hell Angels Mercenary Corps! All ten thousand brothers in the corps will be handed over to you!"

"You!"

Gu Xichen stared intensely at the Bearded Captain. The Captain’s eyes were clear and fanatical, without any hint of impurity.

This was a warrior who cherished his mercenary corps as if it were his lover!

Gu Xichen extended his hand: "Only a fool would refuse! First Deputy Commander? I'm in!"

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

To all brothers and sisters, please vigorously cast your recommendation votes, clicks, and reviews... Recommendations, recommendations, recommendations, clicks, clicks, clicks...