Chapter 273: Solara Embodiment

Chapter 273: Solara Embodiment

Luo En did not answer immediately. Instead, he shifted his gaze toward the dark-colored alchemy furnace deep in the room, encircled by multiple rune isolation barriers.

This artifact bore an archaic design, its entire form glowing with a bronze luster, covered in dense arrays of glowing runes.

This furnace was not among his personal treasures. Through Eve’s connections, he had temporarily borrowed this treasure—called the "Silent Furnace"—from the Crown Clan Treasure Vault.

The furnace possessed an almost perfect mana isolation effect. No matter how intense the mana transformations occurring inside, not a single fluctuation would leak outside.

Through the "Bidirectional Link" ability established with his Puppet Substitute, Luo En had been silently conducting "Solara Activation" training during this period, gradually adapting to the infusion and transformation of Solara mana.

After months of relentless effort, this adaptation had reached a critical threshold, synchronized through the Bidirectional Link to his original body.

The timing had matured. It was finally time to perform the metamorphosis ritual he had been planning for so long.

"Ai Lan, I intend to conduct a special ritual tonight."

Luo En’s tone turned solemn as he gently patted the Storage Bag against his chest.

Inside were the "Ancestral Effigy" treasures obtained from the Falu Ke Royal Treasury—precious alchemy items containing pure Solara essence:

"This ritual might also benefit you."

Ai Lan’s emerald eyes flickered with curiosity. "A ritual... that could help me too?"

"I possess an incomplete Special Innate Talent—Solara’s Blessing."

Luo En explained slowly, his gaze profound:

"Tonight, I will attempt to complete it. And as a plant-based supernatural lifeform who has evolved to the Ancient Tree Fairy stage, you naturally resonate with light and heat. If you’re willing, you might gain additional benefits during the ritual."

Ai Lan gently swayed her vines, her emerald eyes gleaming with contemplation:

"You mean... letting me be exposed to Solara mana during the ritual?"

"Precisely." Luo En nodded, retrieving a pale golden vial from his Storage Bag:

"Of course, there are risks involved. However, I’ve prepared resistance elixirs that should theoretically protect you from most adverse reactions."

He briefly shared his research findings and consultations with Eliot, Reynolds, and others with Ai Lan, ensuring she fully understood the potential risks and rewards.

"If coordinated well, you might enhance your resistance to light and heat, even developing some form of photosynthetic transformation ability."

Luo En concluded, "But ultimately, the decision is yours."

Ai Lan didn’t hesitate long before deciding:

"I’m willing to attempt it, master. Regardless of the outcome, sharing this ritual with you is already my honor."

Luo En gave a slight nod.

This perfectly aligned with his pragmatic approach of maximizing mutual benefits.

Since he was conducting the ritual, why not let his companions benefit as well?

"Good. I’ll start preparations first."

He retrieved the "Ancestral Effigy" from his Storage Bag.

This palm-sized humanoid artifact had a warm, golden luster.

Luo En carefully placed the figurine into the central recess of the alchemy furnace.

As mana flowed in, the Silent Furnace gradually activated, emitting a low, rhythmic hum.

A wisp of vapor rose from the furnace mouth, twisting and dancing in the air like a living thing, trying to form some indescribable shape.

Activating his "Material Transmutation" skill, the Silent Furnace began glowing—first a dim orange, then brightening from orange-yellow to golden-yellow, finally reaching an almost blinding white-gold.

The Ancestral Effigy inside started vibrating, its surface cracking with countless fine fissures, like boiling lake water trembling continuously.

"Phase one: awakening the dormant Solara essence..."

His spiritual energy surged as he guided the mana through specific pathways within the alchemy furnace.

Suddenly, a crisp cracking sound rang out. The Ancestral Effigy disintegrated completely in the scorching mana, becoming countless golden particles swirling within the furnace, forming a miniature vortex.

These golden particles began releasing suffocating pure mana, like a miniature sun burning within the furnace.

Luo En could feel the raging, untainted force of this mana—it felt like standing before the sun’s very flames, an unimaginable heat and pressure crashing over him.

"Phase two: extracting the Solara essence..."

Sweat beaded on his forehead. Facing such a torrent of pure mana, even as a Full Mage who had ascended, he still felt immense pressure.

The surrounding air twisted from the heat as he concentrated, channeling the mana along specific paths.

Golden liquid overflowed from the furnace, flowing along prearranged channels until converging before Luo En, forming a rotating golden mana sphere.

"This is the core of the Solara essence..."

Luo En stared at this condensed mass of solar divinity mana, his eyes gleaming with contemplation:

"Phase three will be completing the ritual to perfect my incomplete innate talent."

Over the next hours, he busied himself setting up protective measures and ritual formations.

First, he placed mana anchor stones in room corners to prevent sudden mana storms.

Then, he drew three concentric circles on the floor.

The outermost layer was a rune-based mana isolation barrier, effectively blocking any mana leakage.

The middle layer contained a complex balance array, harmonizing potential mana imbalances during the ritual.

The innermost layer was a Solara mana-optimized guidance array, maximizing absorption and purification of Solara essence.

If not for his entry-level Rune Studies knowledge, he might have had to mechanically copy these arrays like usual.

But now, with some experience in rune crafting, he trusted these arrays would better assist in channeling Solara mana.

"I’ll place the extracted essence at the center."

Luo En adjusted the formation while explaining to Ai Lan:

"Once the ritual begins, you’ll stand on the second layer. This ensures you receive some mana without overexposure to the Core Area."

Preparations lasted until midnight, when stars outside the window gradually deepened into a rich indigo. Finally, he completed the last inspection.

Luo En exhaled deeply, turning to Ai Lan, who had already taken the resistance elixir.

"Are you ready?"

Ai Lan’s vine-like body faintly glowed from the elixir, her emerald leaves seemingly gilded with morning light.

She nodded gently. "Everything is prepared, master."

"Then... let the ritual begin."

Luo En stepped into the formation’s center, hands forming seals as he began chanting ancient incantations.

Each syllable seemed to contain timeless power, vibrating the air and causing subtle resonances.

After activating the ritual array, he inhaled sharply and started guiding the golden mana sphere.

In an instant, it felt like the entire world froze.

Indescribable agony erupted from his fingertips, spreading instantly throughout his body.

It was as if countless white-hot blades pierced every cell simultaneously, or being submerged in lava—his pain receptors nearly overloaded.

Luo En’s muscles convulsed involuntarily, his jaw clenched tight, blood seeping from his lips.

Yet his will, tempered through years of apprenticeship and countless spirit tortures, allowed him to endure.

"Hold... on..." He gritted his teeth, repeating the mantra to himself. This pain was unavoidable during the innate talent completion process.

Moreover, according to what he'd learned, the more alert one stayed during the ritual, the better - conscious guidance of mana would enhance the ritual's effect.

Golden mana began spreading along his arms, diffusing through blood vessels and meridians to engulf his entire body. Every inch of skin stained by the radiant flow revealed intricate golden patterns - sacred marks left by Solara mana upon his physical form.

Luo En could feel his once-incomplete "Solara's Blessing" innate talent being filled, repaired, and strengthened by this pure energy. Yet simultaneously, his body endured unprecedented torment, every cell screaming against the overwhelming mana infusion.

At this critical moment, his silver pocket watch vibrated slightly against his chest. This trusted artifact had always been among Luo En's most reliable life-saving tools.

Activating its ability, he partially reverted his body's condition - alleviating the pain of mana overload while retaining the absorption progress. This special technique felt like enduring fiery burns while constantly regenerating scorched flesh, allowing him to persist longer at his limits, absorbing more Solara essence.

Meanwhile, Ai Lan standing on the second-layer Formation faced her own trial. Though the potion granted considerable light-heat resistance, the intense radiance still inflicted significant damage. Her vine-like body trembled under the fierce illumination, leaves curling with scorched yellow edges as if nearing withering.

Having survived a previous bloodline formulation, the Tree spirit possessed experience countering mana invasions. Channeling her internal natural elements, she actively fused and harmonized with the overflowing Solara energy. The process felt agonizingly like catching meteor fragments barehanded.

Gradually, she found balance, rhythmically absorbing and assimilating the radiant power. Time blurred - minutes? Hours? Eventually, Luo En sensed his internal mana flow stabilizing.

His body surface had become a bloody mess, yet the pocket watch's ability visibly accelerated healing. Brushing off these superficial wounds, he focused inward.

The previously incomplete "Solara's Blessing" Special Innate Talent had now been perfected - even transcended. A faint but pure Sun power coursed his veins, radiating miraculous vitality through flesh and bone. So subtle was this power that Luo En barely noticed its initial emergence.

【Special Innate Talent Evolution: Solara's Blessing (Incomplete) → Solara Embodiment】

【Solara Embodiment: Acquires full light-heat resistance, body naturally emits faint Sun divinity, enhances healing capability and life vitality.

Imposes restraint effect against darkness and twisted entities, significantly boosting light-heat spell potency】

【Special Notice: Detected trace Sun divinity - this innate talent possesses further advancement potential】

The transparent interface notification stirred Luo En's heart. Never had he imagined completing talent refinement while unexpectedly gaining - however faint - genuine Sun divinity!

Though minute, this divine spark opened an entirely new developmental path. Returning from contemplation, he noticed the ritual array completely dimmed - its Solara essence fully absorbed and transformed.

Turning to Ai Lan, her transformation startled him. The familiar emerald figure had changed subtly yet undeniably. Once deep-green leaves now bore eternal halos, as if permanently kissed by dawn sunlight.

"Ai Lan, how do you feel?" he asked with concern.

"I... it feels marvelous, master", the Tree spirit replied, her voice still gentle yet carrying unprecedented vitality. "Like a tiny Sun constantly radiates mana within me - warming without scorching, endlessly invigorating."

Activating Transcendent Perception, Luo En observed her life mana field's remarkable reorganization into a more balanced, efficient structure. Her light-heat resistance had soared, and she'd gained a special ability - slowly converting sunlight into mana through photosynthesis, an alternative expansion of her mana capacity.

"You've truly benefited from this ritual", Luo En smiled.

"And I thank you for your generous sharing", Ai Lan elegantly bowed, her gold-green leaves shimmering with enchanting luster.

After cleaning the ritual site and carefully packaging the Silent Furnace for return to Crown Clan, Luo En erased all Formation runes, leaving no clues. Standing alone on the moonlit terrace, he let the silver glow resonate with his Solara mana, forming a harmonious energy field.

"Time to meditate", he murmured. "Several hours before dawn - can't waste this window."

He resumed practice, refining the Star Projection meditation technique to continuously expand his mana reserves.

...

Morning sunlight pierced the curtains, gently brushing Luo En's face. Uncharacteristically, he felt no discomfort - only warmth and familiarity, as if resonating with the light. His mana felt more vibrant and pure than ever, granting unparalleled lightness and vitality.

Lifting his palm, he condensed mana into a sphere. Channeling his light-heat elemental attributes, the orb emitted a golden halo under sunlight.

"Visible improvement..." He mused, clenching his right hand. The mana sphere contracted, then exploded outward, forming a miniature sun above his palm - detailed down to solar flares and sunspots. This mastery resulted from combining Eve's spiritual energy refinement techniques with his Solara Embodiment, enhancing both mana shaping precision and light-heat spell penetration.

"Breakfast is ready", Ai Lan's voice came from outside.

"Coming." Luo En dispersed the tiny sun, donning his robe.

In the dining hall, Daire sat on her special chair, golden eyes wide with curiosity and wonder at their transformations.

"Master and Mother Ai Lan look different!" The little Siren's eyes sparkled. "Like... like sunlight kissed them!"

Luo En chuckled. "Your metaphor is spot-on, Daire. We indeed underwent a Sun-related ritual."

After breakfast, he thoroughly inspected the Silent Furnace before carefully packaging it for Eve. A soft knock echoed through the chamber.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end