Under Zhang Tie's control, the trickling water elements were poured into precise molds like molten steel refined in a furnace, condensing into the shapes of those molds. One different mold after another, like the steel frameworks of towering buildings and the intricate gears of a Difference Engine, came together, beginning to possess spirit and entirely different abilities. The cold was no longer cold, the useless no longer useless, the simple no longer simple—this was the process by which Zhang Tie condensed his water chakra.
When the final, incomparably intricate and mysterious geometric pattern, as though cut from a diamond and covered in complex lines, was at last cast and condensed by the water elements under Zhang Tie's control, his entire body trembled. A familiar power appeared within him once more. Under the permeation and effect of that power, Zhang Tie's whole body seemed to update itself automatically; every cell became stronger and more vigorous. The Battle Qi in the void of his qi sea surged like a rising tide, expanding sharply once again. Within the Sea of Consciousness, several more stars appeared amid the sky full of stars formed from spiritual energy. The stars shone brilliantly, reflecting the radiance of the two full moons in the Sea of Consciousness, making their light appear even more dazzling and solid, almost pouring straight down like mercury...
After a long while, once the fluctuations of that energy had subsided again, Zhang Tie, who had successfully advanced to Earth Nine Transformations and stood only one step away from becoming a Phantom, opened his eyes.
Still holding the last emptied water-element crystal in his hand, Zhang Tie glanced at it after opening his eyes, casually tossed it into Castle of Black Iron, and got out of bed.
Before him was a somewhat unfamiliar room. Everything