Chapter 286: Maverick’s Cultivation II

Bone marrow was the body’s hematopoietic powerhouse, responsible for producing the blood that sustained its countless functions. For this reason, most Vein Awakeners seeking to advance into the Blood Refining Stage prioritized refining their marrow before attempting to transform the blood circulating throughout their bodies.

Compared to the extensive network of veins and arteries threading through the human body, the major bones containing marrow were relatively few, making them more practical targets for focused refinement.

Once the marrow had been successfully saturated with Aether, the blood it produced would gradually acquire Aetheric properties, allowing the cultivator to progress towards the Middle Stage of the Rank One Etheryean Realm.

Unfortunately, the procedure was considerably more complicated than its underlying principle suggested.

The human skeleton was not merely a framework of bones supporting the body. It protected vital organs, facilitated movement, and, in several regions, shielded structures essential to the functioning of the central nervous system.

Bone marrow, meanwhile, occupied a particularly delicate position within this intricate arrangement. It was primarily found in the pelvis, femurs, sternum, ribs, vertebrae, and certain other bones, each presenting its own challenges during cultivation.

Consequently, refining marrow required exceptional precision. Even a seemingly insignificant mistake could trigger consequences far more severe than a temporary interruption to one’s cultivation.

When Aether was improperly circulated through the Aether Veins, the resulting condition was commonly known as Essence Deviation. Although frequently fatal when it occurred during cultivation, it could sometimes be reversed through timely intervention, substantial resources, and the assistance of a sufficiently skilled healer.

Bone marrow, however, was an entirely different matter.

A cultivator who mishandled the refinement process risked suffering Marrow Corruption, a condition notoriously difficult to treat and considered permanent in most cases. Neither expensive alchemical medicines nor elaborate concoctions could reliably reverse the damage, and even someone renowned as a divine alchemist might find themselves helpless before its consequences.

After all, alchemy could accomplish remarkable things, but it was hardly omnipotent. Even the most accomplished alchemist could not guarantee that every mistake made by an ambitious cultivator would be forgiven by the body.

For this reason, the transition from Vein Awakener to Blood Refiner was regarded not merely as a milestone but as a potentially life-threatening undertaking. It demanded a degree of precision that left almost no room for impatience, and the greater one’s ambition, the more unforgiving the consequences of failure became.

Indeed, the entire Flesh Artificing Realm was a formidable crucible of perilous trials, a veritable minefield of cultivation-related pitfalls. It was riddled with more potentially fatal mistakes than most practitioners would care to contemplate, and even a minor miscalculation could permanently derail a promising cultivator’s future.

Subsequent cultivation Realms presented their own challenges, some demanding extraordinary resources and others requiring breakthroughs in consciousness or one’s understanding of Aether.

Nevertheless, few could rival the sheer physical peril associated with the Rank One Etheryean Realm, where practitioners were still learning to transform their mortal bodies into vessels capable of accommodating increasingly formidable power.

Yet refining the bone marrow was only half the challenge.

Once the marrow had been successfully saturated with Aether, the cultivator also needed to ensure that the heart was sufficiently refined to accommodate the changes taking place within the body.

Considering that the heart would be responsible for pumping more than five litres of blood through the circulatory system, strengthening its capacity was not merely a prerogative; it was an absolute necessity.

Even a perfectly healthy heart could become inadequate if the blood it was expected to circulate underwent a fundamental transformation.

A powerful engine was of little use if it could not withstand the demands of the fuel running through it, as any experienced automotive enthusiast could attest.

The difference, of course, was that an engine could be dismantled and fitted with replacement components, whereas the human heart offered considerably less flexibility.

When it came to one’s heart, it was always wiser to exercise caution and proceed with due diligence.

Maverick understood this principle exceptionally well.

The golden-haired youth continued cultivating within the immense Aether Pool beneath Castle Valehart, his expression composed as he directed the concentrated energy towards his bone marrow.

He had already refined the marrow in his pelvis, femurs, and humerus, the latter being the long bones of his upper arms. Among these regions, the femurs had proven comparatively easy to refine, owing to their substantial marrow reserves and his familiarity with the process.

Now, however, he had reached the more dangerous portion of his undertaking.

His attention shifted towards the marrow within his ribs, sternum, vertebrae, and skull, regions that demanded considerably greater precision because of their proximity to vital organs and delicate structures.

An error while refining the ribs or sternum could compromise the organs protected behind them, while a mistake involving the vertebrae or skull could inflict devastating damage upon the spinal cord or brain, potentially making him handicapped.

Three of these regions were especially unforgiving.

A serious mishap could result in Marrow Corruption, permanent disability, or even death.

Maverick was acutely aware of these dangers, but awareness alone would not carry him through the process. He needed concentration, discipline, and the ability to maintain absolute control over the Aether moving through his body.

Fortunately, he possessed all three in sufficient measure to attempt the breakthrough.

The Pool surrounding him stirred as though responding to his determination. A wisp of golden Aether emerged from its luminous depths, twisting into a slender stream before entering his body through his Primary Aether Veins.

From there, it travelled along his Secondary Aether Veins, following the intricate pathways he had spent considerable effort expanding and strengthening during the Initial Stage of the Rank One Etheryean Realm.

The energy eventually reached his bone marrow.

Maverick carefully distributed the Aether, ensuring that each targeted region received a sufficient quantity without being overwhelmed by the sudden influx. He proceeded methodically, allowing the energy to permeate the marrow before directing his attention towards the next section.

The process was painstakingly slow.

Every adjustment demanded his concentration, and even the smallest fluctuation forced him to pause and correct the flow. More than once, a faint crease appeared between his eyebrows as he encountered resistance, but he refused to force the energy through.

Impatience was an excellent way to ruin months of cultivation in a matter of seconds, and Maverick had no intention of becoming an example for future generations to study.

After all, there was little honour in advancing one’s cultivation only to spend the remainder of one’s life regretting the method.

Gradually, the Aether permeated the remaining marrow, saturating the tissues and initiating the final stage of refinement. Once he was satisfied with the results, Maverick redirected a portion of the energy towards his heart, allowing it to circulate through the organ and reinforce its capacity to withstand the demands of his transformed blood.

The process continued for more than two hours.

Throughout that period, the immense chamber remained almost entirely silent, save for the gentle movement of the Pool and the faint fluctuations of Aether surrounding the golden-haired youth.

The crystal lanterns suspended beneath the marble arches maintained their perpetual glow, illuminating the intricate engravings of House Valehart’s ancestors as Maverick painstakingly completed the final stages of his refinement.

Then, suddenly, a faint golden light emerged from within his body.

The radiance was subtle at first, barely perceptible beneath his skin, but it gradually intensified until his silhouette became faintly luminous against the shimmering Pool.

The surrounding Aether rippled in response, sending concentric waves across the surface as though acknowledging the transformation taking place within the young cultivator.

When an Awakener first advanced into the Vein Awakener Stage, the breakthrough was often accompanied by an external phenomenon corresponding to the nature of their Soul Essence or cultivation path. Such manifestations could be dramatic, ranging from bursts of elemental energy to extraordinary fluctuations in the surrounding Aether.

The transition into Blood Refining, however, was generally more subdued.

Rather than producing an overwhelming spectacle, it brought about a gradual but unmistakable metamorphosis within the cultivator’s body. The golden radiance emanating from Maverick was a consequence of this transformation.

Having successfully refined his bone marrow and strengthened his heart, he had established the foundation necessary for his blood to undergo refinement.

Through the combined activities of these two vital components, his body was beginning to produce and circulate blood imbued with Aetheric properties.

The process was neither instantaneous nor as simple as pouring energy into a vessel and expecting its contents to change. His marrow needed time to produce the transformed blood, while his heart had to circulate it throughout his body so that the refined blood could gradually replace the ordinary blood already present within his system.

Nevertheless, the changes were unmistakable.

Maverick could feel the difference with every heartbeat. His blood seemed to possess a new vitality, carrying a faint warmth that spread through his limbs and torso. Beneath his closed eyelids, his eyes shifted slightly as he concentrated on the sensation, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a restrained smile.

A distinctive golden sheen had begun to emerge within his blood, a subtle indication that the refinement was proceeding as intended.

He did not allow his excitement to interfere with his concentration. Although the most dangerous portion of the process appeared to be over, the transformation would remain incomplete until the refined blood had circulated throughout his body.

Taking a slow breath, Maverick continued cultivating, allowing his heart to maintain a steady rhythm while the Aether within the Pool replenished the energy consumed during the breakthrough.

The golden radiance surrounding him grew brighter.

As the remaining ordinary blood gradually gave way to its Aether-enriched counterpart, the final barrier separating him from the next stage of his cultivation began to crumble.

Maverick was on the verge of becoming a Blood Refiner, advancing into the Middle Stage of the Rank One Etheryean Realm.

And for the first time in more than two hours, his expression relaxed completely. Now, all that remained was to finish what he had started...