Since the undercurrent-filled summons at the Papal Hall, Marco's life seemed to have remained largely undisturbed. He harbored little concern about the sparring match proposed by Bibi Dong against the three members of the Golden Generation. After all, in their last encounter, he had easily emerged victorious without even utilizing his Spirit Rings. Now, after this period of rigorous training, his strength had further improved, making him even less concerned about the matter. What truly occupied his thoughts was how to break through the bottleneck in his cultivation.
In the training ground, Qianjun Douluo and Xiangmo Douluo watched Marco's focused training with a hint of confusion in their eyes. They could sense that this young man's recent training focus seemed somewhat peculiar—no longer confined to enhancing Soul Power or honing Spirit Abilities, but often involving long periods of silent sitting or performing seemingly meaningless subtle movements.
"Kid, what have you been secretly pondering lately?" Xiangmo Douluo couldn't help but ask. "Although that sparring match isn't a big deal, you shouldn't take it too lightly. Xie Yue and the other two youngsters do have some tricks up their sleeves when they join forces."
Marco opened his eyes from his meditative state and smiled faintly. "Thank you for your concern, Elder Xiangmo. I'm well aware of the situation. As for my training... it's just some family-inherited methods to help achieve finer control over my body." He deliberately avoided mentioning "Life Return" and "Inner Vision," vaguely attributing it to family techniques. Although the two elders were respected mentors, it was wiser to keep some trump cards hidden.
Qianjun Douluo nodded upon hearing this and didn't press further. "Since it's your family's method, it must have its unique merits. The path of cultivation indeed varies for each individual—you should gauge it yourself. If you need any assistance from us, feel free to ask." They respected Marco's privacy and trusted that, given his temperament, he wouldn't engage in pointless endeavors.
"Thank you, Elder Qianjun," Marco said gratefully. The trust and support from the two elders warmed his heart.
With their approval, Marco immersed himself even more wholeheartedly into exploring "Life Return" and "Inner Vision." He no longer needed the two elders to temper his body with their Soul Power but relied on his own willpower to undergo more extreme and internal refinement.
The process remained painful and monotonous. He had to use his consciousness to perceive and control body parts and physiological activities that were typically governed by instinct—the rhythm of his heartbeat, subtle changes in blood flow speed, the independent contraction of specific muscle fibers... Each attempt came with immense Mental Power consumption and pushed the limits of his concentration.
Day after day, Marco's perception of his body grew increasingly clearer. Through the Inner Vision of Observation Haki, the internal scenes he "saw" gradually shifted from blurry to distinct. The pathways of Soul Power flowing through his Meridians, the rhythm of muscle bundles contracting and relaxing, and even the faint movements of his internal organs began to appear in his "mind's mirror." This sense of complete self-awareness allowed him to wield his power with greater ease and precision.
The cultivation of Armament Haki progressed simultaneously. As his self-insight deepened, he began experimenting with more refined applications of Armament Haki—no longer merely coating his body's surface but penetrating and reinforcing internal muscles and bones, even attempting to attach it to flowing Soul Power. This undoubtedly significantly enhanced the power and versatility of his Armament Haki.
The turning point occurred on a deathly silent late night.
Marco sat alone in the training ground, his mind and body completely immersed in his inner world. He was attempting an extremely difficult challenge: using his will to control a tiny blood vessel at the tip of his left pinky finger, making it contract slightly.
His Mental Power was highly concentrated, all his focus poured into that single point. Time seemed to freeze, and everything outside vanished.
Suddenly, an epiphany struck!
A profound sensation surged within him. He felt as if he had broken through some kind of barrier; his consciousness and body achieved an unprecedented harmony and unity in that moment. It was no longer a struggle of "consciousness" arduously "commanding" the "body," but rather "consciousness" itself became the most natural part of the "body."
With a slight thought, the target blood vessel contracted naturally along with his intention, just like an extended finger of his!
Success!
An indescribable joy instantly flooded his entire being! This was the initial manifestation of Life Return! The preliminary fusion of consciousness and flesh!
In that very instant, Marco felt as if some kind of shackle inside him had been shattered. The steadily flowing Soul Power suddenly accelerated, and the Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit spontaneously let out a clear, melodious cry. The fluctuations of Soul Power around him noticeably strengthened by a level!
"Is this... a Soul Power upgrade?" Marco was pleasantly surprised. He carefully sensed and found that his Soul Power had indeed risen from level 47 to level 48! This wasn't merely a quantitative accumulation; it was accompanied by a qualitative leap in his control over himself. The circulation of Soul Power became smoother and more effortless, every bit of it seemingly endowed with spirit, obeying his will as easily as moving his own arms.
He stood up and stretched his limbs, feeling an unspeakable lightness and comfort throughout his body. The fatigue and Hidden Wounds accumulated from past training seemed to be quietly soothed at this moment of Life Return's initial success. His body felt as if it had shed a heavy burden; every cell was cheering and brimming with vitality. This sense of thoroughness/unobstructed clarity from the inside out was something that a mere increase in Soul Power couldn't bring.
However, just as his mind relaxed slightly due to this great success, and he was savoring this wonderful feeling, that precise control over the blood vessel, as natural as moving his own limbs, receded rapidly like a tide. He tried to control that blood vessel again, only to find himself back in the previous state of needing to arduously "command" it. The seamless, natural feeling from moments ago had vanished without a trace.
Marco wasn't discouraged; instead, a sharper light shone in his eyes. He understood that this was merely touching the threshold, proving that this path was correct. One successful experience far outweighed thousands of blind attempts. It had pointed the way for him. Moreover, the increase in Soul Power and the physical lightness were real, indicating that cultivating Life Return had comprehensive benefits for his overall strength.
In the following days, Marco immersed himself even more calmly into his training. He no longer sought quick results but patiently consolidated this precious experience, continuously deepening the connection between his consciousness and body. Although he couldn't immediately replicate the perfect control from that night, he could feel that his control over his body was steadily improving, and the operation of his Soul Power was becoming increasingly adept.
With this breakthrough, his ability of Inner Vision naturally advanced to a new level. Now, he could not only "see" more clearly but also perceive the fluctuations of his Mental Power more keenly, as well as the subtle energy changes when Soul Power and Mental Power attempted to merge. This laid a more solid foundation for his subsequent cultivation. He faintly sensed that when Life Return was truly mastered and Inner Vision reached a higher realm, the fusion of Soul Power and Mental Power might usher in a genuine opportunity.