Though the junkyard contained less fire-aligned material compared to the rest, the sheer volume compensated for it. The traces accumulated over time, merging into a steady increase that brought it closer to completion.

The Metal core experienced the most dramatic change.

The junkyard had been rich in metal residues. Broken weapons, discarded alloys, refined fragments, and raw ores all contributed to a massive influx of metal energy. The core responded eagerly, its growth accelerating as it absorbed the essence of countless forged materials.

Even the other cores were affected.

The Wood core gained slightly from the minor traces present.

The Wind and Lightning cores, though still far behind, also experienced small increments, nourished by the residual energies that had been carried within the mixed materials.

Lin Mu slowly opened his eyes.

A faint glow lingered within them.

He lowered himself gently back to the ground.

The elders stepped forward, their gazes fixed on him.

They could feel the difference.

The energy within Lin Mu had deepened, stabilized, and expanded.

He had not yet reached completion.

But he had moved significantly closer.

Lin Mu took a slow breath.

"This is only the beginning," he said quietly.

Lin Mu took a moment to steady himself before turning his attention inward.

The aftereffects of the massive absorption still lingered in his body, like the fading resonance of a great bell that had only just been struck. His senses dipped into his internal world, examining the state of his elemental cores one by one with practiced familiarity.

The Earth core came into focus first.

It pulsed steadily, its form dense and stable, carrying the weight and endurance that defined the element. The progress it had made was clear and undeniable. It had risen to seventy five percent completion.

Compared to where it had been before, the increase felt substantial, as if a thick layer of solid bedrock had been added to its foundation.

The Fire core followed.

It burned with a consistent intensity, its flames controlled and refined rather than wild. It had reached seventy percent, finally crossing into a stage where its presence felt more complete rather than merely developing.

The difference in stability was something Lin Mu could clearly perceive, especially when he compared it to how it had felt just weeks ago.

The Metal core showed even more impressive growth.

Its structure had become sharper, more defined, with a clarity that reflected the countless refined materials it had absorbed. It had reached seventy three percent, catching up rapidly with the other two and showing signs of even greater potential once fully developed.

His Wood core had also advanced, now standing at seventy five percent. Though it had not been the primary focus of this phase, the residual energies had still nourished it enough to push it forward. It felt vibrant and full of life, its growth steady and reliable.

The Wind and Lightning cores, however, had seen far smaller gains.

The Wind core had risen to twelve percent, while the Lightning core had only reached seven percent. Their progress was modest, almost negligible compared to the others, but Lin Mu did not consider it a loss. Any growth at this stage contributed to the eventual balance he sought.

He slowly opened his eyes.

A faint breath escaped him as he grounded himself in the present once more.

"All of this... from junk alone," he murmured quietly to himself.

There was a certain disbelief in that realization. What he had just absorbed was material that had been discarded, abandoned as useless over countless years. Yet within it, there had been enough essence to push three of his major cores forward by several percentage points.

It spoke volumes about the sheer scale of accumulation the dwarves had maintained.

When Lin Mu finally turned and walked toward the elders, he expected questions. He thought they would ask about his technique, or the changes in his aura, or perhaps the progress of his compression. Instead, what greeted him was something entirely different.

"Looks like the elementals will have to find a new place to live."

"Yeah. Lin Mu just destroyed their nest."

The words caught him off guard.

For a brief moment, he simply stared at them.

Then an awkward expression slowly formed on his face.

He extended his senses outward, scanning the surroundings. It did not take long for him to locate the displaced elementals. They had gathered in clusters at a distance, far from where the junkyard once stood.

Many of them had migrated toward smaller piles of scrap near the forges and storage areas, clinging to whatever remained of their former environment.

They were not harmed.

But they had been forced to relocate.

Lin Mu rubbed the back of his head lightly.

"I hope they will be fine," he said.

The elders laughed.

"There is always more junk being made," one of them replied casually. "They will have plenty to feed on soon enough."

"Besides," another added, "there are already enough elementals around here. It is not like we need more being born every day."

Their tone carried a practical indifference that came from long familiarity with such cycles. To them, the elementals were part of the ecosystem of Mantleheim, neither rare nor irreplaceable.

Lin Mu nodded slowly.

He understood their perspective, though he still felt a slight sense of responsibility for the disruption he had caused.

With that matter settled, the elders returned to the topic that truly concerned them.

"How far along are you now?" one of them asked.

Lin Mu did not hesitate.

"I still need more time," he replied. "This was only the initial phase. I will begin absorbing higher quality materials next."

The elders exchanged brief glances before nodding in agreement.

"That is expected," the Rune Dwarf elder said. "We will set up an isolating array around this area. You can cultivate without interruption."

Lin Mu gave a small nod of appreciation.

"That will help."

The dwarves moved quickly.

Even as they spoke, several Rune Dwarves had already begun preparing the formation. Their hands moved with practiced precision, placing formation anchors and inscribing patterns across the now empty ground. Energy lines formed, linking the runes together into a cohesive structure.