The First Percent

Chapter 140 — The First Percent

The group remained inside the underground chamber after defeating the Frostveil Origin Drake. Nobody wanted to leave immediately, especially after discovering that the beast's death had changed the spatial structure deeper beneath the mountain. However, they also needed to recover. The battle had consumed a considerable amount of Origin Energy, and even though nobody had suffered a serious injury, the fight against a Stage 10 beast had pushed everyone close to their limits.

The ancient formations continued working without interruption. The energy released by the drake was gradually purified and circulated throughout the chamber, making the cultivation environment even denser than before. Everyone resumed cultivating, using the opportunity to recover and strengthen themselves.

Aether sat in the center of the chamber.

[Origin Tempering Realm — Stage 9.]

[Infinite Origin Physique — Development: 0.98%.]

He slowly circulated his cultivation technique.

The refined Origin Energy entered his body, with part of it strengthening his cultivation and the rest being absorbed by his Infinite Origin Physique. The resonance inside his body had become much stronger after the battle. He could feel the physique processing the energy more efficiently than before, separating compatible characteristics and using them to strengthen itself.

[Development: 0.985%.]

Aether remained completely still.

He could sense that something was approaching.

The one-percent milestone.

He had been waiting for it for a long time.

His Infinite Origin Physique had enormous potential, but its development had always been painfully slow. Now, after the cultivation inside Frostveil and the energy released by the Stage 10 drake, it was finally approaching the first meaningful threshold.

Across the chamber, the others were also progressing.

Aria continued consolidating her Stage 9 foundation. Elara was strengthening Stage 7, while Lyra and Sylvara were steadily improving their Stage 7 foundations. Evelyn remained at Stage 6 but had made significant progress toward her next breakthrough. Seris continued practicing her compressed Life Essence technique, gradually improving its stability. Vaelira was refining the Spatial Origin Crystal she had received from the drake, and the silver energy surrounding her was becoming increasingly dense.

Aether closed his eyes.

[Infinite Origin Physique — Development: 0.99%.]

Only one hundredth remained.

He continued cultivating.

He didn't force the breakthrough in his physique.

He simply allowed the process to continue naturally.

The Origin Energy moved through his body.

His Infinite Origin Physique absorbed it.

Another cycle passed.

Then another.

The resonance grew stronger.

Aether's entire body suddenly trembled slightly.

Did you know this story is from NovelPhoenix? Read the official version for free and support the author.

His eyes opened.

[Final refinement toward first milestone initiated.]

Aether looked at the notification before closing his eyes again.

The process had begun.

The Origin Energy around him started moving faster. The seven ancient formations reacted to the change, drawing energy from the underground river and sending it toward the center of the chamber.

Aria opened her eyes.

"What is happening?"

Vaelira also looked toward Aether.

"I don't know."

Seris watched quietly.

"This isn't a cultivation breakthrough."

Aether's aura wasn't rising like it normally did when someone broke through a stage. Instead, the change was happening deeper within his body. His cultivation remained at Origin Tempering Stage 9, but the Infinite Origin Physique was undergoing its own transformation.

[0.991%.]

[0.993%.]

[0.995%.]

Aether remained focused.

The sensation inside his body was strange. It felt as though countless invisible connections were being strengthened simultaneously. His physical body, Origin Energy, and Infinite Origin Physique were gradually reaching a greater level of harmony.

[0.997%.]

The pressure increased.

[0.999%.]

The chamber became completely silent.

Aether could feel the threshold.

One final fraction.

He took a slow breath and allowed the remaining energy to circulate through his body.

Then the System appeared.

[Milestone achieved.]

[Infinite Origin Physique — Development: 1.00%.]

A powerful resonance spread through Aether's body.

The seven ancient formations activated at the same time, causing the entire chamber to shake. A wave of refined Origin Energy rushed toward Aether before being absorbed into his body.

The change wasn't an increase in cultivation.

Aether was still at Origin Tempering Stage 9.

But something within his physique had fundamentally changed.

The System continued displaying information.

[First Physique Development Milestone completed.]

[Special Function detected.]

[Physique Copy and Integration Function has been unlocked.]

Aether's eyes narrowed with interest.

He opened the function's information.

[Physique Copy and Integration Function.]

[Function: Analyze compatible physiques and integrate suitable characteristics into the host's Infinite Origin Physique.]

[Current Integration Efficiency: Limited.]

[Integration efficiency depends on compatibility, cultivation realm, Origin Energy capacity, physical resistance, and physique complexity.]

Aether read every line carefully.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

This was exactly what he had expected.

The function wasn't some ridiculous ability that allowed him to instantly steal another person's physique. It was a method of analysis and integration. Compatibility mattered. His cultivation mattered. His physical resistance mattered.

At his current Stage 9 cultivation, integrating a powerful physique would still require considerable effort.

But the path had finally opened.

Aether immediately thought of Vaelira's Voidmoon Physique. His previous attempt to integrate its characteristics had been slow and difficult. Now the process would be considerably more efficient, although complete integration was still impossible at his current level.

That was fine.

He didn't need everything immediately.

He needed growth.

Another notification appeared.

[Mission Function: Locked.]

[System Points: Locked.]

[System Shop: Locked.]

Aether wasn't surprised.

Those functions would come later, after he completed his current cultivation progression and reached the next major realm. For now, he had no need to rush the System's evolution.

He dismissed the notifications and stood.

Aria approached him.

"You reached the milestone."

Aether nodded.

"One percent."

"Does that make you stronger?"

"Not in cultivation."

He looked at his hand.

"But it gives me another way to become stronger."

Vaelira approached as well.

"Does it affect the Voidmoon Physique?"

Aether looked at her.

"It makes integration more efficient."

Vaelira studied him for a moment before smiling slightly.

"So you've finally made progress."

"I have."

She nodded.

"Good."

The group began preparing to move deeper into Frostveil. The chamber had already given them an enormous amount of strength, but the strange spatial disturbance beyond the guardian's former position remained unresolved.

Aether looked toward the dark passage.

The death of the Frostveil Origin Drake had changed something.

Whatever was sealed deeper beneath the mountain was now becoming accessible.

Aether stepped forward.

Aria followed immediately.

Then Lyra, Seris, Sylvara, Evelyn, Elara, and Vaelira followed behind him.

Nobody stayed behind.

The seven cultivation formations continued glowing quietly behind them as the group disappeared into the ancient passage.

Aether's cultivation remained at Origin Tempering Stage 9.

The next stage would be Stage 10.

And beyond that waited the next major realm: Origin Vein Realm.

But before reaching that point, Aether had gained something else.

The Infinite Origin Physique had finally crossed its first milestone.

The road toward integrating countless powerful physiques had officially begun.