The next morning.
On the second floor of the Hillside Wooden Tower, inside the cultivation Meditation Chamber, Chen Mu sat cross-legged on a low couch against the wall, cultivating with his eyes closed.
An invisible ripple spread from his body, rising and falling rhythmically like breathing. His loose robes swelled and contracted along with it.
Hissing sounds came from within the Jade Seed as mana merged into the Divine Aperture Talisman. The pitted hollow sphere rapidly filled in and restored itself.
After a long while, Chen Mu let out a long breath and opened his eyes.
This was his thirteenth Spirit Aperture Refinement. Nineteen days had passed since the last one.
"Not only does the Divine Aperture Talisman need to transform, but so do I." Chen Mu came to a realization.
He did not lack Primal Chaos Qi now, but he could not refine his Divine Aperture every day.
The Divine Aperture appeared to be merely a Nine-Layer Spell Talisman, but it was actually closely tied to the body. With every Spirit Aperture tempering, the talisman underwent a qualitative transformation, while the body changed at the same time. Yet a complete transformation of the body required time, which was why the Divine Aperture could not be tempered continuously.
"Perhaps it is precisely this connection between the Divine Aperture and the body that allows one to Return to Origin and create Innate Qi."
After breakfast, Chen Mu took out a high-grade Water Repelling Bead he had refined beforehand, intending to visit the Hundred Refinements Hall and inquire about Ferry Boats.
But as soon as he stepped outside, he saw a plump young man at the edge of the dense forest on the hillside. He had assumed the man was merely passing by, yet the man headed straight for the Wooden