Chapter 105: Seven Energy Cores

By the time Elder Thorne and Corey arrived, Theo had already laid out the necessary alchemical ingredients.

He even included a few rare herbs as a personal gift to Thorne, compensating the elder for the immense stress of the past few nights.

Forging an External Qi-Core was exponentially more taxing on the mind than refining a standard internal pill.

"Elder Thorne, I appreciate your dedication," Theo said, noticing the deep bags under the older man’s eyes.

"The methodology may have been recorded in the ancient scripture, but executing it is draining my life force," Thorne grumbled, organizing the star-iron dust. "I assume this is the final one?"

"Yes," Theo confirmed. "Seven will be enough."

Thorne paused, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"You are at the early stages of Inner Scenery. Balancing seven energy cores in a single orbital cycle will cause immense elemental friction. If your concentration slips for a fraction of a second, they will detonate and vaporize your upper half."

"I am aware of the risks," Theo said.

Before him, six spheres hovered in the air.

Each one radiated a suppressed elemental aura. Holding them in harmony required constant, passive spiritual exertion.

If his internal foundation had not expanded so drastically over the past month... largely thanks to the stabilizing influence of Liana’s Supreme Yin energy he would have never attempted this.

Seven cores were the strict maximum capacity for his current realm.

"Meditate and anchor your spirit," Thorne instructed, sitting down near the array controls and closing his eyes to center his own breathing.

Theo sat cross-legged. As his consciousness sank into his Inner Scenery, he observed the primary Abyssal Forge.

The karmic flames burned with a newfound maturity, no longer wild and chaotic, but structured and profound.

An hour later...

The cauldron was roaring. The six existing External Qi-Cores orbited Theo swiftly.

Opposite him, Corey was channeling his golden qi at maximum output, acting as the catalyst for the seventh core.

"The Storm-Vein core is stabilizing!" Corey shouted, his face flushed from the heat.

Now came the true test...

Theo had to pull the newly forged seventh core out of the crucible and weave it seamlessly into the existing six-core orbit without causing a collision.

The calculation required was staggering.

Sweat beaded on Theo’s forehead, evaporating instantly in the ambient heat.

"Maintain your focus!" Thorne yelled over the roar of the flames.

Theo did not respond. He could not spare the breath.

Three minutes passed.

A wave of mental fatigue crashed into Theo’s mind. His vision went black.

But just before he lost consciousness, he felt it.

The seventh core slipped perfectly into the orbital cycle. The solar system was complete!

The sudden spike in ambient pressure blew the brass lid off the cauldron once again.

It shot higher than ever before, disappearing into the sky.

"Corey! Why isn’t Theo responding?!" Thorne yelled through the smoke.

Corey stumbled backward, dizzy from qi depletion. "Elder Thorne... I think Theo fell asleep."

Thorne sighed, rubbing his temples. "...Let’s go find the lid first."

...

Theo woke up to the sound of thunder rattling the estate windows.

He felt entirely hollowed out, as if a herd of armored cavalry had trampled his skull.

He did not waste time complaining. He immediately retrieved three peak-tier restoration pills from his spatial ring...

One for trauma, one for spiritual exhaustion, and one to replenish his true essence.

He swallowed them dry.

The effects were immediate. A soothing warmth spread through his meridians. He checked his Inner Scenery and smiled. All seven External Qi-Cores were orbiting the Abyssal Forge flawlessly, continuously drawing in ambient natural energy to sustain their cycle.

His spiritual foundation had solidified, pushing him firmly toward the middle stages of Inner Scenery!

He had the ammunition. He was eager to test his ultimate sword art, but common sense prevailed.

Unleashing the *Abyssal Severing Strike* right now would likely drain his newly recovered reserves and put him right back into a coma.

He decided to find food instead.

Theo walked out of his room and headed down to the main hall.

Elara was currently sweeping the floorboards, neatly organizing the scattered alchemical supplies.

Liana was sitting at the tea table.

For once, she was not polishing her sword or meditating on her intent. She was simply staring at her teacup, her eyebrows knit together in a subtle frown.

*Growl*

Theo’s stomach betrayed him with a loud rumble.

Liana looked up. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes," Theo admitted.

"I can cook something for you," Liana offered, her tone flat.

Theo froze. A cold sweat broke out on his neck.

He had experienced the Aurora Sword Empress’s culinary experiments before. Her ability to turn premium, life-nourishing ingredients into biohazards was unparalleled in the nine provinces.

"That is a generous offer," Theo said. "But I am currently craving roasted duck from the merchant district. My meridians require the specific grease profile of street food."

"I will go buy some!" Elara volunteered, dropping her broom and sprinting out the front door before Liana could object.

Theo let out a quiet breath of relief and walked over to the tea table...

Liana seemed unusually distracted today. She had not attended her scheduled sword lectures, and her aura was slightly erratic. Theo ran through a list of logical explanations.

It was the end of the month.

He concluded that she must be experiencing severe meridian cramps, a common affliction for female cultivators with extreme Yin physiques during their monthly cycle.

"I might have a solution," Theo offered, sitting down across from her.

Liana set her teacup down. A flicker of caution entered her eyes.

She had just spent the last hour staring at the Heavenly Mandate System’s countdown timer. Today was the final day of their Fate Comparison.

The penalty was looming over her like an executioner’s axe.

"A solution?" Liana asked.

"A specialized qi-massage," Theo said. "By applying a non-lethal variation of my martial arts to specific pressure points, I can loosen stiff muscles and improve your internal circulation. Would you care to try?"

Liana’s eyelashes trembled.

Why was he bringing this up now? Was he eager? Was he trying to initiate the penalty early under the guise of medical treatment?

"Not today," Liana said. "Perhaps another time."

"Understood," Theo nodded.

He did not notice her internal panic at all. In fact, his mind had already pivoted to economics.

The specialized qi-massage technique was a byproduct of a supreme martial art. It was incredibly effective for relieving stress and untangling knotted meridians. It was a waste to only use it for combat.

If he set up a few premium massage rooms in the empty wing of the estate and trained some staff in the basic pressure points, he could charge exorbitant fees to the wealthy merchants of the capital.

It would serve as a perfect business front for the Silent Thunder Sect, providing both passive income and a hub for gathering intelligence.

"A brilliant idea," Theo praised himself.

Theo stood up and walked to the cellar. He found Silas the Mad Blade currently tied to a chair, nursing a mild concussion.

"Silas," Theo said, untying the assassin. "You are my new property manager. We are heading to the third floor to draft business plans."