Chapter 394: Breaking Through!

To think his capacity would increase to two and a half million, and at the 5th stage no less.

’It’s not different from an Emperor’s mana capacity!’

In fact, that figure was comparable to emperors known for their unusually large energy reserves.

’Just what kind of monster am I becoming?’

At the staggering thought, his heart thudded wildly against his ribs as adrenaline surged through his limbs. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain his composure.

It was an astounding leap, but he needed to remain rational. While his sheer mana volume might match an emperor’s, a vast gap still separated them. After all, mana was just energy, a fuel for the Awakened. Without the domain control, refined intent, and authority that came with the higher realms, raw capacity alone did not make one invincible.

’Still... I will be far stronger when I actually reach that stage.’

He pondered his growth trajectory. If his foundation was already this broad at the 5th stage, what would happen when he reached the 7th circle? Would his pool expand past ten million?

’Hmm...’

Somehow, with his investment authority driving every milestone, that unthinkable number felt less like a distant dream and more like a guaranteed milestone.

’Speaking of which, should I check if there are any finished or ongoing investments?’

The idea was tempting, but he quickly put it on hold. He decided to finish reviewing his status window before turning his attention elsewhere.

As his eyes continued down the panel, he paused at the line directly below his mana pool.

[Mental Power Capacity: 197,740 / 200,000]

His gaze lingered on the numbers. His mental capacity had grown by another twenty thousand, bringing him within striking distance of the upper limit.

Did the breakthrough cause this jump, or was it a return on investment?

Regardless of the source, the opportunity was clear. Reaching the threshold would allow him to trigger a breakthrough in his mental cultivation as well. Completing both advancements in quick succession would solidify his foundation before he stepped out of seclusion.

He clenched his fists and quickly skimmed the rest of his status window. Finding no other significant changes to his core stats or other tabs, he opened the notifications.

Four completed investment notifications were waiting for him. The first two came from Zura and Malakor. He opened them and initiated the integration, receiving a total of 60,000 mana and a new recipe specifically designed for magic beast bonds. They were satisfactory for moderate-grade investments.

The third one came from Ryan and was high-grade. It gave him 20,000 mana and an artifact called the Flameheart Stone. According to its description, it can start fires or enhance fire-based cooking. It would never cool down, so it could be used indefinitely and would be useful for cooking in the future.

And finally...

’It’s from Nura...’

Soren’s lips curled up because it meant that his food worked and she got better, no matter how small the improvement might have been.

He then tapped yes, and messages appeared in his vision.

════════════════

[Investment detected.]

[Target: Nura Valmere]

[Analyzing Investment...]

[Investment: You provided the target with a specially prepared magic meal tailored to her fire-attribute constitution...]

[Analyzing target response...]

[As a result of your actions, the target’s condition has improved considerably. Her damaged pathways and core have begun to heal, and her fire mana is no longer as volatile. She doesn’t know your name or your face, but she is profoundly thankful to the person who offered her hope and a chance to get better.]

[Evaluating investment significance...]

[Evaluation complete.]

[Investment Grade: SUPREME]

[Calculating returns...]

[Calculation complete.]

[Applying Authority Modifier: Amplification (Passive) — Baseline bonus applied. Reward tier scaling upgraded.]

[Returns granted:]

[1. Mana +15,000]

[2. Cooking Mastery +1]

[3. Recipe Unlocked: Flameheart Risotto]

[4. Fire Resistance (B-Rank → A-Rank)]

[5. Solar Flare Extract]

[6. Sun’s Blessing (B-Rank)]

[Integration initiated...]

[....]

[....]

[Integration Complete!]

════════════════

"Huff..."

Soren opened his eyes and let out a long breath. This time, his breath was warm, rising gently into the air without freezing as it had earlier. His whole body felt warm too, as if a gentle fire had been kindled inside him.

’This must be the passive effect of Sun’s Blessing.’

He thought, but decided to inspect the ability’s specifics and other returns later. With a mental command, he dismissed the glowing interface windows.

It was finally time to focus on his mental cultivation. He reached into his inventory, withdrew a Clear-Mind Serenity Pill, and swallowed it. The pill dissolved immediately, sending a cooling sensation straight to his mind. He then closed his eyes and sank his consciousness deep into his soul space.

Hours passed in complete silence within the subterranean chamber. With his concentration at its peak, he steadily gathered and refined his mental power, pushing it toward the final threshold.

After roughly four hours of continuous cultivation, a subtle tremor echoed through his mind space.

Soren recognized it at once. His spiritual core had reached its limit, and pressure was beginning to build within it.

’Hmm...’

He furrowed his brows and recalled the Scripture’s teachings about the third stage. The breakthrough wouldn’t happen on its own, and waiting for it would only waste time and opportunity. He had to force it himself and, no matter how difficult and painful it is, endure it.

’Huff... Alright, let’s start.’

Soren drew his mental power, gathering it from every corner of his soul space until it pooled around the core in a dense ring of golden light. Then he pressed the ring inward, compressing the core even further until the pressure inside became unbearable.

The core resisted, vibrating violently as Soren steadily tightened the ring of mental energy. However, soon enough, hairline fractures began to spread across its surface, groaning under the immense internal load.

’Urgh...’

A searing pain flared between his eyes, striking his forehead like a burning needle. But he kept his focus steady, refusing to let the sensation break his concentration.

Crackle...

Crackle...

The fractures deepened until the core gave way, cracking open like a seed splitting under immense strain.

Swoosh-!

From the heart of the split, a dense, thin tendril of golden mental power forced its way out.

’!’

Soren guided it upward, aiming for the invisible boundary that separated his soul space from his physical body. The moment the tip pressed against the wall, a wave of agony shot through his entire nervous system. It felt as though a thick pin was boring through his brainstem, trying to puncture his flesh from the inside out.

His jaw clamped tight. Sweat broke out across his forehead, mixing with the thin stream of blood that began to trickle from his left nostril. He ignored the burning sensation behind his eyes and pushed harder, driving the tendril forward millimeter by millimeter.

Swoosh-!

Swoosh-!

...

More tendrils began to emerge from the split core, each one thin and golden and writhing like a living thing. They spread out in different directions, some pressing against the boundary of his soul space, others curling around the walls and searching for weak points. Soren directed them with his will, spreading the pressure across multiple points. The agony dulled from a single searing spike to a broad, throbbing ache that he could push through.

He pinpointed the cracks along the boundary where the spiritual wall felt thinnest. Bending his intent toward those coordinates, he forced the golden tendrils to align, their sharp tips pointing straight up like needles.

With a single, unified push, he drove them against the weakened points at once.

’!’

The boundary groaned under the combined pressure, and Soren felt the resistance buckle. A network of fine cracks spread across the wall, connecting the points he had struck. Despite the immense pain tearing through his mind, he pushed harder, channeling more power into the tendrils until the cracks joined and the wall began to give way.

’A-Again!’

He pulled the tendrils back and drove them forward again, striking the same weakened points. The cracks widened, and a thin line of golden light split the boundary from one end to the other. Soren pushed one more time, pouring everything he had into the strike.

’...BOOM!’

The golden tendrils burst through into his physical body, and a wave of spiritual force exploded outward from his soul space.

In the real world, the surrounding ice and snow were blown away from him in a wide circle, clearing the floor around his seated form and sending the frozen debris skittering into the far corners. The air rippled visibly as the wave passed through it, distorting the space around him like heat rising from a summer road.

Soren’s eyes snapped open, radiant golden light flickering in his gaze, and the pressure radiating from his body settled over the chamber like an invisible hand pressing down on everything within reach.

"..."

The pressure held for a moment before beginning to recede. The golden light in his eyes dimmed and faded, and his gaze returned to its usual brown. He exhaled sharply, then quickly closed his eyes again.

It wasn’t over yet!