The evening cast long shadows as Ye Changfeng and Lin Yaqi returned to the manor, both startled by the massive, newly formed crater before them.

The pit plunged seven or eight meters deep, littered with crushed stone—clear evidence of an attack wielded with immense force. Ye Changfeng narrowed his eyes, made a quick calculation, and a realization dawned on him.

“It seems a battle took place here. An assault capable of such destruction must have been the masterpiece of a Nirvana Realm expert utilizing a powerful secret treasure,” Lin Yaqi commented, glancing dismissively. “I shouldn’t have left. That auction house in the Spirit Treasure Grotto-Heaven was dreadfully dull; nothing there caught my eye.”

Ye Changfeng smiled faintly but shook his head. “I don’t think this crater was caused by a Nirvana martial artist. My guess is that this was Shi Yan’s doing. I can hardly believe that in just one day, he’s already figured out the source of the change in his body.”

“Oh?”

Lin Yaqi kicked a piece of rubble, raising an eyebrow skeptically. “That seems unlikely, doesn’t it? Didn’t your theory state his Primal Essence couldn't reform? If only his right arm still holds power, how could he generate such destructive force using just one limb without access to his Primal Essence?”

“You underestimate him,” Ye Changfeng stated, his expression grave and earnest. “He is far more terrifying than you imagine. That fellow is exceptionally peculiar, and his aura is quite strange. Even if his Primal Essence is temporarily unable to gather, an ordinary person won't find him easy to handle.”

Lin Yaqi remained unconvinced.

Ye Changfeng didn't press the issue. Upon entering, he proceeded directly to the hall where Shi Yan and the others had been earlier.

Inside the hall, only Shi Yan and Yi Tianmo were engaged in a hushed conversation.

When Ye Changfeng and Lin Yaqi arrived, Shi Yan immediately paused his talk with Yi Tianmo, calmly looked up, and nodded towards Ye Changfeng. “How was the auction?”

“Don’t even mention it,” Ye Changfeng sighed dramatically. “I must have overestimated the resources of this Spirit Treasure Grotto-Heaven. I expected them to produce some rare treasures, and I even prepared ample exchange materials. Alas, I saw nothing truly valuable at that auction.”

“Utterly boring,” Lin Yaqi pouted, her bright red lips looking quite alluring.

Shi Yan smiled and shook his head. “Perhaps your expectations are too high, or perhaps your perspective is too elevated. Things precious to common people might just seem mundane to your eyes.”

Ye Changfeng, possessing the Celestial Fire, and Lin Yaqi, wielding a Saint-grade secret treasure, were clearly heirs nurtured with far greater wealth than the successors of most powers in the Boundless Sea.

The masters behind these two must be exceptionally affluent. In such an environment, their insight and experience naturally differed from ordinary people.

Consequently, the items considered rare by common folk in the Spirit Treasure Grotto-Heaven simply failed to impress them; they saw nothing truly extraordinary.

Hearing Shi Yan’s analysis, Ye Changfeng had a sudden moment of understanding. He chuckled softly and nodded. “Perhaps that’s truly the case.”

“There are many empty rooms in this manor; please choose as you wish. I won’t arrange anything specific for you,” Shi Yan mused for a moment before turning to Ye Changfeng. “As for the cooperation we discussed, perhaps you should reconsider. Given my current condition, I might not be able to assist you as effectively as before.”

Ye Changfeng paused, then laughed freely. “Are you implying that because your Primal Essence cannot reform, your application of the Celestial Fire’s power might not reach the level it once did?”

Shi Yan nodded. “It’s fine,” Ye Changfeng declared casually, seemingly unconcerned. “I am different from you. If I were in your position, unable to reform my Primal Essence, utilizing the Celestial Fire would become extremely difficult. But you are different; even if your Primal Essence never gathers again, I suspect you can still wield the Celestial Fire easily.”

Lin Yaqi’s eyes suddenly brightened.

Yi Tianmo and the other two looked somewhat bewildered.

Shi Yan frowned, saying nothing.

“Because your connection with the Celestial Fire is entirely different from mine,” Ye Changfeng said, his face serious. “I forcibly erased the Celestial Fire’s consciousness and arrogantly claimed everything it possessed as my own. When I use it, I must constantly guard against its potential backlash. If my power falters, its consciousness could instantly reform and incinerate me to ash. The saying about playing with fire and getting burned perfectly describes people like me.”

Shi Yan inwardly nodded. He knew the method the Corpse God Cult Master used to control the Celestial Fire was likely the same as Ye Changfeng's.

“But you are different,” Ye Changfeng smiled. “Though I don’t fully grasp why you can coexist peacefully with the Celestial Fire, I deeply envy your method of mutual sharing. While this might prevent you from unleashing its absolute maximum power, this approach means you never have to fear backlash. Even if all your Primal Essence is depleted, you can still draw upon the Celestial Fire’s strength.”

He paused. “Most importantly, your method of communion allows the Celestial Fire’s consciousness to remain intact, preserving its capacity for continuous evolution. I truly envy this aspect. If possible, I wish my relationship with the Purgatorial True Fire could be like yours.”

Ye Changfeng’s demeanor was frank, not sounding like insincere flattery. Shi Yan was momentarily stunned, then nodded gently after a long silence. “Indeed, the bond between the Celestial Fire and me is exactly as you described.”

“Judging by your reaction, it seems your inability to reform Primal Essence hasn’t affected you much. That’s excellent,” Ye Changfeng contemplated. “Your Martial Soul mutation probably hasn't taken a detrimental turn. This change isn’t the final form. Once the mutation of your Martial Soul concludes, the issue of your Primal Essence not reforming should disappear. Mutations always involve various problems along the way, but many issues vanish once they complete—it might just be a necessary process.” Shi Yan was visibly moved.

Yi Tianmo and the others also looked invigorated.

“Why didn't you mention this earlier?” Shi Yan huffed, slightly annoyed.

“I forgot,” Ye Changfeng boomed with laughter, then shot a knowing look at Lin Yaqi and left before Shi Yan could say more. Only after exiting the hall did his voice carry back. “Oh right, you should prepare for tomorrow’s council meeting. In your current state, climbing to the status of the Holy Light Mountain might be quite challenging.” Shi Yan acknowledged this calmly.

“Master, rest well,” Yi Tianmo said, a smile touching his eyes. “We know you will certainly recover. With your current condition, I imagine once your Primal Essence can reform, your realm will enter a new sphere.”

Zhameng and Kaba nodded in agreement. Shi Yan smiled faintly. “I hope so.”

Previously, in this hall, he had been discussing matters concerning Snow Dragon Island with the three of them. After realizing his Primal Essence could not reform, he had become somewhat pessimistic, intending to persuade Yi Tianmo and the others to avoid getting entangled in that mess, urging them to secure resources from the Boundless Sea islands and immediately seek a way to leave. However, Yi Tianmo and the other two refused, insisting on staying by his side. This unexpected loyalty surprised him; he hadn't anticipated that the three leaders of the Gloom Spirit Clan would hold such high hopes for him, unanimously believing he would never remain perpetually unable to reform his Primal Essence. Shi Yan hadn't been entirely confident before, but after Ye Changfeng’s words, some vague ideas in his mind began to clarify.

With that, he finally regained his confidence in the reformation of his Primal Essence and abandoned the thought of asking Yi Tianmo’s group to leave.

Before sunset, he conversed briefly with the three, then sent them off to rest, choosing to remain in the hall himself.

His consciousness sank into his body. His spiritual sense extended inward, slowly reaching his right arm, focusing all sensation onto the muscle fibers there.

The muscle fibers seemed infinitely magnified as Shi Yan’s awareness moved through the ones slowly thickening, discovering that his consciousness had entered an ocean of energy. These fibers, perceptible only to consciousness, were saturated with an astonishing energy.

This was a new energy resulting from the fusion of Primal Essence and that mysterious power. Stored within, this energy pulsed with vitality, making the thick muscle fibers vibrant and endowing them with strength rarely possessed by ordinary people. Was the fourth stage of the Stone Martial Soul a total remodeling of the body’s musculature? Shi Yan quietly pondered: the human body has 639 muscles, composed of roughly six billion muscle fibers. The longest fibers reach sixty centimeters, while the shortest are barely a millimeter long. Large muscles weigh two hundred grams, while small ones weigh only a few grams.

Muscles constitute thirty-five to forty-five percent of a normal person's body weight, and the total length of capillaries within the muscles can reach one hundred thousand kilometers—enough to circle the Earth twice.

Threads of memory concerning muscle structure quietly flowed from his mind. These memories originated from his knowledge of human anatomy in another world.

In that world, due to his passionate pursuit of extreme sports, his physique was far stronger than the average person. He had deeply researched and taken several related courses to train every muscle in his body.

These memories were deeply ingrained; once the concept of the Stone Martial Soul’s fourth stage arose in his mind, these memories naturally surfaced.

The human body has six billion muscle fibers, yet only his right arm was currently undergoing change—at most, about one billion fibers. After the fusion of his Primal Essence and that mysterious energy, they were quietly transforming, gaining some unknown power.

The change in just one arm had completely exhausted his Primal Essence and that mysterious energy; the energy required for this transformation was alarmingly high.

Moreover, he couldn't be certain that the changes in his right arm were complete, or if it would continue to absorb more energy.

If his speculation held true—that this change would gradually spread throughout his entire body—how much power would it consume?

A casual strike from one arm could carve out a crater thirty meters in diameter. If all the muscles underwent this change, and the transformation concluded perfectly, what level of power would he attain? Shi Yan squinted, his eyes shining brightly.