Inside the cabin, Mo Yu began to assess the day's gains.
Initially, he had only two hundred gold coins left from the seven hundred he had borrowed from his grandfather. However, after refining the Thunder and Fire Beads, he not only earned back fourteen hundred gold coins but also obtained four first-level magic cores.
Magic cores, also known as magic crystals on the Douqi Continent, are energy-filled cores within the bodies of magical beasts. These cores contain extremely violent energies of heaven and earth. Even a Dou Wang would not dare to absorb this energy carelessly, as doing so could result in a dangerous explosion within their body.
On the Douqi Continent, magic cores are primarily used as materials in alchemy or to enhance weapons, increasing their destructive power or imbuing them with special effects related to Douqi. Because of their rarity and the difficulty of obtaining them, magic cores are highly valuable and always in demand. Whenever higher-level magic cores appear at auctions or elsewhere, they are quickly purchased at exorbitant prices.
The high demand for magic cores has led to the rise of many mercenary groups that specialize in hunting magical beasts. However, obtaining these cores from fierce and cunning beasts is no easy task, further driving up their value.
Mo Yu's decision to buy four first-level magic cores before spending any of his newly earned gold was driven by his desire to absorb their energy.
Indeed, Mo Yu intended to absorb the violent energy within the magic cores—a feat so dangerous that even a Dou Wang wouldn't attempt it.
Currently, Mo Yu's strength had reached a bottleneck. To progress further, he would need to rely on painstaking effort. His original talent was poor, and traditional methods of cultivating Douqi were his only option, as the meridians in the bodies of practitioners at this stage are extremely fragile. Consuming elixirs could cause anything from minor discomfort to a catastrophic rupture of the meridians, leading to death.
Unlike Xiao Yan, Mo Yu didn't have access to Yao Lao's specially prepared foundation-building spiritual liquid, which was designed to enhance the cultivation of fighting power. Only Xiao Yan, with Yao Lao's guidance, could enjoy such a luxury. Yao Lao's unique elixirs were unattainable for Mo Yu, who, despite possessing knowledge of other valuable prescriptions from his previous life, lacked access to those specific to enhancing basic fighting power cultivation.
However, Mo Yu had another option: using the black thunder to absorb energy, allowing it to evolve and then return the energy to him.
This led Mo Yu to focus on the magic cores. The violent energy within them, normally too dangerous for a fighter to absorb, could be harnessed by Xuan Lei, the Mysterious Thunder. Xuan Lei, representing the most violent energy of heaven and earth, was perfectly suited to absorb the magic core's power.
The Vermillion Bird Burning Sky Thunder, a combination of thunder and fire, was particularly compatible with fire and lightning magic cores, making them ideal for absorption.
With this in mind, Mo Yu didn't hesitate. He took out one of the magic cores and prepared to refine and absorb it.
With a thought, red lightning surged from his left palm, filling the room with a sharp, electric hum.
Vermillion Bird Burning Sky Thunder!
Mo Yu then retrieved a crimson magic core with his right hand. This core belonged to a first-level magical beast, the Flame Wolf, a particularly good specimen among fire magic cores. Clearly, Gree, the weapons dealer, hadn't cheated him.
Without hesitation, Mo Yu tossed the bloodstained magic core into the red lightning. The lightning immediately devoured it, emitting an even fiercer electric hum as if savoring a delicious meal.
As the magic core was refined, its violent energy of heaven and earth began to pour out. Normally, this energy would be too dangerous for anyone to absorb, but the red thunder swallowed it up without leaving a trace.
Three hours passed, and the once-solid magic core had shrunk to a third of its original size. The Vermillion Bird Burning Sky Thunder, having absorbed the core's energy, began to expand, its power of thunder growing stronger.
Seeing the effectiveness of this process, Mo Yu nodded in satisfaction and closed his eyes, patiently waiting for the magic core to complete its transformation.
A day and a night passed without Mo Yu noticing. By then, the deep red magic core had completely disappeared, leaving behind only the now double-sized red thunder in Mo Yu's palm.
"The effect of this first-level magic core is quite impressive. The Vermillion Bird Burning Sky Thunder has grown significantly," Mo Yu observed with a smile, noting the condensed thunder in his palm and the intense, violent energy within it.
It was clear that devouring magic cores greatly benefited Xuan Lei's growth. However, Mo Yu understood that as Xuan Lei became stronger, low-level magic cores would eventually lose their effectiveness. He would then need to seek out higher-level magic cores or other sources of energy from heaven and earth.
For now, Mo Yu focused on the task at hand. He looked at the red thunder in his palm and declared confidently, "It's time to break through to the eighth level of Douqi!"
Despite having gone without rest for a day and a night, Mo Yu felt invigorated. After all, nothing motivated a man more than the prospect of increasing his strength.
Determined, Mo Yu didn't hesitate. He drew the Vermillion Bird Burning Sky Thunder back into his body, sat cross-legged, and began controlling his breathing.
As the black thunder entered his body, a massive surge of energy appeared within him. Mo Yu remained calm, eagerly absorbing the abundant energy.
As the energy was absorbed, Mo Yu's aura steadily grew stronger.
After about half an hour, the energy began to taper off, gradually weakening. When the last bit of gentle energy entered his body through his meridians, Mo Yu's body suddenly trembled. His lower abdomen contracted slightly, and his eyes snapped open, red lightning flashing within his dark pupils. He exhaled a breath of turbid air, expelling the last remnants of impurities from his body.
With the release of the turbid air, Mo Yu's face became more vibrant and full of life.
He opened his eyes, twisted his neck, and heard the satisfying crack of his bones. Clenching his fists, he felt a powerful surge of energy coursing through him, bringing a smile to his lips.
"Dou Zhi Qi, the eighth stage!"