Away from the refugee groups and temporary shelters, I found a small side chamber branching off from the main cavern system. The rough-hewn walls offered privacy, and the single torch I'd brought cast just enough light to work by. Perfect for some probably ill-advised cultivation experiments.

"Your soul essence remains stable at 450 units," Azure reported as I sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor.

I closed my eyes, focusing on my inner world. The familiar space felt... different here. Empty, like someone had swept all the spiritual energy out while I wasn't looking. My seed of creation pulsed sadly, its two reality-bending leaves drooping like houseplants I'd forgotten to water.

"Right," I muttered. "Time to try something probably ill-advised."

I reached for my soul essence, feeling that deep well of power that had somehow survived the dimensional hop. I then pulled on it, trying to convert it into something my cultivation could actually use.

You know how they say you can't really describe a color to someone who's never seen it?

Try explaining what it feels like to turn a piece of your immortal soul into knockoff spiritual energy. It's like trying to turn a Shakespeare sonnet into interpretive dance – technically possible, but probably not what anyone intended.

The conversion... worked? Sort of? My spiritual pathways filled with something that felt like spiritual energy's cousin who'd learned about cultivation through game tutorials. Not quite right, but hey – better than nothing.

Status Update:

Soul Essence: 400/450 (Slightly concerned about this)

Spiritual Essence: 50/350 (We have at least some gas in the tank!)

Physical Essence: 25/350 (Still pathetically weak, but alive!)

"Fascinating!" Azure exclaimed. "The conversion rate is roughly 10%, but the resulting pseudo-spiritual energy appears stable. Though I should note that—"

I tried to cycle the fake spiritual energy through my cultivation paths, and immediately discovered what Azure was about to warn me about. You know that feeling when you're running on a treadmill and suddenly the power cuts out? Yeah, it was like that, but with my entire spiritual system.

The energy... disappeared. Not converted back, not stored away – just gone, like it had never existed.

"Oh," I said eloquently. "That's not great."

"As I was about to explain," Azure continued, "this world lacks the fundamental spiritual energy field necessary to sustain cultivator techniques. In our world, your body would naturally absorb essence from the environment to replenish what you use. Here, any energy we create through conversion will be... temporary."

I looked at my pathetic spiritual essence readings and did some quick math. "So I can convert more soul essence, but..."

"But it will be consumed without replacement, yes. Like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it. A very large hole. In a universe that doesn't believe in buckets."

Great. Just great. I had maybe enough converted energy for one decent technique, and then I'd be running on empty again. And converting more soul essence seemed like a fantastic way to end up as a soulless husk, which was probably not going to improve my day.

"Physical essence is still viable," Azure noted. "Unlike spiritual energy, which dissipates in this world, physical essence becomes a permanent part of your body's structure. Each unit converted literally rebuilds you from the inside out."

That was... interesting. "So instead of trying to maintain spiritual techniques, we focus on improving the hardware?"

"Correct. Your current physical limitations are due to this body's lack of development, not fundamental constraints of this reality. Converting soul essence into physical essence would bypass years of training."

I settled into a cross-legged position, considering the risks. "Walk me through the process."

"Converting soul essence to physical essence will be... dramatic," Azure warned. "Each stage will fundamentally reshape your body's structure. I recommend removing your outer robe."

I stripped down to my waist, the cool cave air raising goosebumps on my skin. This body was embarrassingly soft – I could practically hear Senior Sister Liu’s voice: "A cultivator's vessel should be as refined as their dao."

"Converting 350 units of soul essence directly would be... unwise," Azure warned as I sat cross-legged in my secluded chamber. "I recommend three stages: foundation, refinement, and transcendence. Each will fundamentally reshape different aspects of your body's structure."

"Okay, so for the first stage I could start with around 150 units of soul essence and see where that gets me?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Yes, that sounds reasonable."

"Beginning foundation phase," I muttered, separating the essence. The moment I began the conversion, I realized why Azure had been concerned. It felt like molten metal being poured through my veins.

I bit back a scream as the transformation wracked my body. Every muscle fiber was being torn apart and rebuilt. Bones splintered and reformed, denser and stronger. My skin felt like it was being flayed and rewoven. I could see – and feel – blood vessels bursting and regenerating in more efficient patterns. The pain was unlike anything this body had experienced – a deep, cellular agony as every part of me was destroyed and reborn.

"Foundation phase at 50%," Azure reported clinically. "Try not to grind your teeth – your jaw is currently restructuring."

I tasted blood as my gums reformed. The wet cracking sounds of bones reshaping themselves echoed in the small chamber. By the time the first phase completed, I was drenched in sweat and shaking.

"Basic physical parameters now match a first-stage cultivator," Azure announced. "Though you might want to rest before—"

"No," I gasped. "Keep going. Refinement phase."

The second wave of 100 units hit even harder. My spine felt like it was being ripped out and reforged. Muscles didn't just grow – they tore themselves apart and rewove into denser patterns. I felt my ribcage cracking and expanding, organs shifting in ways they were never meant to move. Each heartbeat was torture as my cardiovascular system revolutionized itself.

I couldn't hold back the scream this time, but I managed to muffle it against my arm. The last thing I needed was villagers investigating strange noises.

"Refinement phase successful," Azure noted. "Though I really must insist on a brief recovery period before—"

"Final phase," I growled through clenched teeth, reaching for the last 100 units. "Transcendence."

The third transformation was beyond pain – it was apocalyptic. My skin burned as it transformed into something that could turn blades. Every muscle fiber screamed as it arranged itself into patterns that defied mortal limits. My bones felt like they were being forged in dragonfire. Golden light rippled across my sweat-soaked skin as the final changes took hold.

When it was finally over, I collapsed onto the stone floor, my newly enhanced senses making every point of contact feel like sandpaper.

"Physical essence conversion complete," Azure announced after giving me a moment to recover. "Your body now matches the physical parameters of a third-stage qi condensation cultivator!"

Final Status:

Soul Essence: 50/450 (Keeping this in reserve)

Spiritual Essence: 50/350 (Last resort attacks)

Physical Essence: 350/350 (Back to proper cultivator standards)

I pushed myself up, still trembling from the ordeal. The difference was staggering. Raw power coursed through every movement. This wasn't just a strong body – it was a cultivator's vessel, even without spiritual energy to fuel it. The transformation had been absolute: dense, perfectly defined muscle moved like liquid steel under skin that could shrug off mortal weapons.

"Next time," I managed between ragged breaths, "warn me that it feels like being reborn in a volcano."

"I did suggest taking breaks between phases," Azure reminded me.

"It’s better to just persevere, kind of like stopping to sit when you're exhausted," I replied. "Once you let yourself rest, your body fights against moving again. Better to stay in motion, to keep standing."

"Well, perhaps we should find you some new clothes before someone investigates why it sounds like someone is being murdered in here," Azure added.

I looked down at my transformed physique and the shirt on the floor, a shirt that now looked way too small. Where the villagers had known a soft-bodied scribe, now stood a frame of lean, corded muscle – a change that would be impossible to explain away, especially now that I'm topless...

"Right. Cover story first, then food. Having your entire body torn apart and rebuilt really works up an appetite."

"A logical response to complete cellular reconstruction," Azure agreed. "Though perhaps we should focus on maintaining your low profile. Accidentally crushing stone cups or bending iron tools would raise... awkward questions. Especially since you can barely walk straight at the mo—."

The air... changed. That same static sensation from before, but deeper underground. Everyone felt it – the cavern went silent as that familiar wrongness seeped through the rock.

"The Skybound," I whispered. "It found us."