In the end, he had still underestimated the difficulty of Casting the Dao Body.

Using Spiritual Materials to complete his inner microcosm was safer than directly absorbing the various types of Heaven and Earth Qi, but it was by no means without a price.

It was like transplanting a foreign organ or material into the body; it would inevitably trigger a powerful "rejection response."

The immortality of gold, the spiritual conductivity of silver, the inert weight of lead—with every Spiritual Material he integrated, he had to use his immense Essence, Qi, and Spirit to envelop, refine, and harmonize it, forcing it to reach a new equilibrium with his own flesh, meridians, and Spirit Root.

Right now, his body was a battlefield where these three foreign energies clashed violently.

Not only did they fail to bring him any warmth, but they also leeched his body heat to strengthen themselves.

The three forces tore through his meridians, and every collision brought his body to the brink of collapse.

He had to focus his entire mind.

Using his resilient "Spirit" as a guide and his profound "Qi" as a medium, he had to meticulously guide and pacify these restless "invaders."

What was even more difficult was that he also had to suppress the instinctive resistance of his body’s "Essence."

He had to force it to accept the integration of these foreign elements, maintaining a delicate balance on the very edge of disintegration.

The process was slow, agonizing, and utterly draining.

It was so draining that Murphy didn’t even have the energy to use [Thousand-Faced Illusion] to create a Disguise.

The preliminary fusion of just three elements had already left him this weak, making it difficult to even maintain his basic body temperature.

If he tried to integrate even one more...

Murphy didn’t dare to even think about it.

In his current state, introducing a fourth element would very likely shatter this fragile balance, causing his Energy to spiral completely out of control.

At that point, it wouldn’t be a simple matter of weakness and cold. It would likely trigger a complete disintegration from the inside out, extinguishing all signs of life.

"Mother," Kaiden’s voice sounded again, a little softer this time. "These summer tax provisions, the section regarding the special permits for the northern forest area..."

"Bring them to the study," Aurora replied softly. "I’ll look at them later. For now, let your father rest in peace."

"Yes."

The footsteps faded into the distance.

Annie and Alina also quietly excused themselves.

On the terrace, the only remaining sounds were the soft, continuous rubbing from Aurora, Eleanor’s quiet breathing, and Murphy’s own deep, long breaths.

He continued to guide the three-colored radiance within his body. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Little by little, thread by thread.

On the verge of collapse, he was Casting a Dao Body the likes of which had never been seen before.

...

「Eight years later.」

「Early spring.」

「The edge of the Twilight Mountain Range.」

The snow on the Northern Wilderness had begun to melt, revealing the rock-hard, frozen black earth beneath.

Patches of snow, like a faded old blanket, covered the hills.

Under a lead-gray sky, the distant mountains still wore their white snowcaps, but the biting cold in the air had faded. In its place was a damp chill, mixed with the scent of the awakening earth.

A convoy of two enclosed carriages, drawn by eight sturdy draft horses and decorated with the royal crest of the Rotalia Empire, was escorted by over twenty elite Imperial Knights. It slowly approached the Twilight Mountain Range, heading toward the Monte Territory.

The wheels churned through the mud of the melting snow, making a dull squelching sound.

Inside the carriage, thick velvet carpets were laid out, and a small copper brazier secured in a corner radiated a gentle warmth.

Adela, now twenty-two and the daughter of an Imperial Marquis, leaned against a soft cushion. Her gaze was calm as she watched the still-barren fields and distant, smoke-plumed villages flash past the window.

Sitting opposite her was a young man who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six. His dark brown hair was impeccably styled, and his face was handsome enough, but his eyes held a look of persistent arrogance and impatience.

He was Carl Heinrich, from an influential Imperial Count’s family, and he was accompanying the delegation as the deputy of His Highness the Prince’s commercial envoy.

The carriage jolted again. Carl frowned, steadying himself by grabbing the window frame, and could no longer hold back his complaints. His voice was full of reluctance. "I just don’t get it, Adela. It’s one thing to travel thousands of miles from the Empire to a place like Vilt, which is... well, passable, I suppose. But why do we have to come to such a remote backwater? A Baron’s Domain?"

"Look outside! It’s nothing but mud and half-melted snow, and those squat wooden huts... It’s like we’ve regressed to the edge of civilization!"

Adela pulled her gaze from the window and glanced at him, her tone flat. "Carl, watch your words. This is not the Empire. Besides, the Monte Territory is no ordinary Baron’s Domain."

"Ha!" Carl scoffed, leaning back and crossing his arms. "It’s just because some Legendary Knight is the Governor, isn’t it? Thunder Sword Melfield... a very impressive-sounding title."

He paused, his lips twisting into a sneer. "But what I’ve heard isn’t all good. There have been plenty of rumors about this Legend over the years. They say he actually suffered a severe hidden injury during that great battle at Blackstone Fortress and barely managed to hold on long enough to earn his title. He’s been a recluse all these years, hardly ever appearing in public. Even the territory’s affairs are mostly handled by his wife..."

"Hmph. If you ask me, his old wounds have probably flared up, leaving him strong on the outside but weak on the inside long ago. Now? Forget a Legend, I doubt he’s even a match for a real Great Knight. The weakest Legend, just coasting on his past glory..."

"Carl!" Adela’s voice turned sharp and cold, cutting off the young man’s scathing words.

Her azure eyes fixed on him, sharp with a hint of warning. "Be careful what you say! Regardless of the rumors, Lord Melfield’s achievements at Blackstone Fortress are real and were witnessed by countless people. He is the hero who saved the fortress and innumerable civilians. He should not be subjected to such flippant speculation and gossip. It’s a matter of basic decency, and also the respect owed to the strong."