Hope stood alone at the edge of the forest, his gaze fixed on the dense expanse before him. The towering trees, their bark weathered by the passage of time, seemed to stretch far beyond what the eye could see.

The vibrant hum of life echoed through the air, a constant rhythm that vibrated through the earth beneath his feet.

His body still tingled with the aftereffects of the transformation.

The change had been sudden, intense, a process so agonizing that it seemed like a trial meant to break him.

But it hadn’t.

It had shaped him into something more. The pain had receded, leaving behind only an overwhelming sense of power—a raw, untamed energy that surged through his veins.

It wasn’t just his physical form that had changed. His very essence had shifted, intertwining with the primal forces of the world around him.

Every fiber of his being now resonated with the energy of the earth itself. He felt the land beneath him as if it were an extension of his own body—alive, breathing, pulsing with power. It was a connection deeper than mere physicality; it was a bond with the world itself.

His bones felt like iron, forged in the fires of an ancient furnace.

They were unyielding, solid—able to withstand anything that came his way. His muscles, once lean and supple, had grown dense and formidable. Every movement, every flex of his fingers, felt smooth and effortless, yet each was laced with an intensity he had never known.

His skin had toughened as well, transforming into something more akin to bark than flesh. It felt impenetrable, as if it could shrug off any blow, any strike. He flexed his fingers slowly, feeling the surge of strength ripple through his form.

"I could tear apart a cultivator at the peak of the Body Transformation Realm with my bare hands" Hope thought, a surge of pride swelling within him.

But as exhilarating as the change was, he knew it wasn’t the end.

It was only the beginning.

The Eternal Iron Root was a foundation—a solid starting point for a journey that would stretch far beyond what he could even comprehend. Strength alone would not be enough to sustain him. To ascend, to truly grow beyond the limits of mere mortals, he would have to maintain balance—not just between his body and mind, but also between himself and the endless flow of energy that surrounded him.

He stood tall, inhaling deeply, drawing in the fresh, earthy air. But it was not just air he drew into his lungs. It was something more—something deeper.

It was the very essence of the land itself. His breath was a bridge between him and the power that flowed through the earth, a connection that he could now feel pulsing through his core.

With each breath, the air around him seemed to thicken, charged with a power that made the hairs on his skin stand on end.

Beneath him, the earth hummed, alive with a rhythm that matched the beat of his heart.

Hope closed his eyes, centering himself.

The teachings about absorbing the Qi of the earth had been drilled into him. He understood the theory—how to channel the energy, how to draw it in—but now, for the first time, he felt it. It was no longer a matter of memorizing techniques; it was a matter of being one with the land.

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He reached out with his consciousness, sinking it deep into the ground, beyond the surface, beyond the roots of the trees, seeking the raw power that had sustained countless life forms for eons.

It came slowly at first—like a trickle of water filling an empty vessel. The flow of Qi was subtle, almost shy, as though it was testing him, gauging whether he was worthy of its power.

With each passing breath, more came.

Hope’s body began to hum in response, his muscles and bones vibrating as the energy seeped into him, filling every inch of his being. His skin tingled as the earth’s energy flowed into his veins, circulating through his body like liquid fire.

The sensation was overwhelming, both invigorating and terrifying. The sheer weight of the energy threatened to crush him, to drown him under its power.

Hope gritted his teeth, forcing himself to maintain control.

He had to endure.

The power of the earth was vast, and it would consume him if he let it.

He pressed the energy deeper into himself, not allowing it to escape, not allowing it to overwhelm him.

His bones, already hardened by the Eternal Iron Root, absorbed the energy, growing denser, more unyielding. His muscles thickened, solidifying under the pressure, like molten metal cooling in a forge.

The energy surged through him, filling every cell, every fiber of his being with an almost primal force.

The pressure continued to build, mounting inside him like a storm.

His breath quickened, sweat beading on his forehead as the intensity of the energy began to test his limits. It was as if the earth itself was alive within him, its power demanding to be unleashed.

But Hope did not falter. He focused, gathering his will, forcing the energy to circulate through his body, to settle deep within his core.

Hours passed, or perhaps it was only minutes. Time seemed irrelevant as Hope sank deeper into his cultivation.

The energy of the earth flowed into him, filling him up, shaping him into something more. His body was evolving—changing—transforming into something far stronger, far more enduring. His muscles grew, his bones thickened, and his skin became as tough as stone. It was as if he was becoming one with the land itself, an extension of its will, its power.

Finally, the pressure subsided.

Hope exhaled, his breath ragged but controlled.

His chest rose and fell with each intake of air, the feeling of power still surging through him, yet now it was tempered—contained. He opened his eyes slowly, looking down at his hands.

The raw power he had just absorbed was still there, swirling within him, but it felt stable now. Solid. He flexed his fingers once more, feeling the strength in his form, the unyielding power that radiated from every inch of his being.

“I’m not there yet” Hope thought, his heart racing with excitement. “But I’m closer”.

His muscles ached, and his bones felt like they were still adjusting to the new levels of power coursing through them. Yet, there was something else.

Something subtle.

A faint, gnawing absence.

As if something was slipping away—something important. His emotions, once so vivid and sharp, seemed distant, like an echo in the back of his mind.

They felt... dulled.

The overwhelming flood of power seemed to have overwhelmed his senses, his ability to fully experience the world around him.

"What am I losing?" The question flickered in his mind, but he dismissed it.

Distractions were dangerous, especially at this stage. The path of cultivation was one of sacrifice. To grow stronger, to ascend, he would have to give up certain things.

His emotions, his humanity—maybe they were the price he would have to pay.

But that didn’t matter. Not now.

Hope’s eyes narrowed, a fierce determination filling his chest.

He had already sacrificed so much to reach this point. He would not stop now. The path of cultivation demanded more—and he would give it.

He would refine his body again and again, pushing himself further than he ever had before, until his strength was as unyielding as the earth itself.

The forest around him stirred, the rustling of leaves and the quiet hum of roots weaving into the rhythm of his breath. Hope’s senses expanded, perceiving the life that thrummed beneath the surface of the earth, the endless cycle of energy flowing through the trees, the soil, the air.

It was all connected, all part of the same unbreakable bond that now flowed through his body.

He could feel the path ahead stretching out before him, endless, winding. It would be a long and grueling journey, but he was ready.

With the strength of the earth beneath his feet and the power of the land within him, he would not falter. He would reach the peak of the Eternal Iron Root Realm—and then beyond.

Hope took a deep breath, centering himself once more.

He would not be satisfied with simply surviving.

He would thrive.

He would grow.

“I’ll be eternal” he repeated, his voice a quiet promise to the silent forest around him. "I’ll be eternal, no matter what it takes".