539 Overwhelming Effect
The Divine-rank Stalactite Milk had a white, semi-transparent, weak luster. But after it entered Vaan's body and contacted his organic matter, its color and brilliance immediately transformed.
Like an exploding star, the Divine-rank Stalactite Milk radiated brightly. The Divine-rank Stalactite Milk unloaded its earth-attribute elemental power and flooded Vaan's meridian channels, allowing them to be visibly seen from the outside with a bright copper glow.
However, the copper brilliance wasn't just limited to his major meridian channels but covered all of his blood vessels from top to bottom.
The complex system of illuminated blood vessels made Vaan's body look like it was filled with cracks. But his body was far from falling apart. On the contrary, it was getting strengthened, especially his major meridians and minor blood vessels.
Although the Divine-rank Stalactite Milk made Vaan feel a tremendous strain on his major meridians and minor blood vessels, it was a different kind of strain caused by his aura cultivation.
His powerful aura strained his blood vessels by stretching them like rubber. In contrast, the Divine-rank Stalactite Milk strained them by battering them like tempering steel through hammering.
Furthermore, this battering sensation wasn't limited to a single area but spread throughout his body's blood vessels. It was like his entire blood vessel system was being tempered by millions of tiny hammers - they covered every spot and left no stone unturned.
Vaan subconsciously circulated his dragon aura to resist the strain brought by the Divine-rank Stalactite Milk's overwhelming potency.
Normally, such a maneuver in this instance would be considered extremely foolish as the additional strain caused by his circulating aura could potentially rupture his blood vessels and inflict severe internal injuries or even cripple him.
However, Vaan's quick thinking and gamble paid off handsomely, allowing him to reap the maximum benefits out of the Divine-rank Stalactite Milk.
Not only did his blood vessels not rupture, but they also became much firmer and elastic due to the repeated stretching and tightening.
Ding!
<Your major meridians and minor blood vessels have been significantly strengthened>
<Your major meridians and minor blood vessels have reached the middle levels of the Transcendent rank>
<Your major meridians and minor blood vessels are no longer strained due to your aura cultivation>
<You have discovered a special body refining method for tempering your major meridians and minor blood vessels>
...
Although multiple system notifications resounded, the effects of the overwhelmingly potent Divine-rank Stalactite Milk had not ended.
After flooding Vaan's major meridians and minor blood vessels, it spread to its five viscera, six organs, muscles, bones, and flesh.
His entire body enjoyed an overall improvement brought by the Divine-rank Stalactite Milk.
Ding!
<Your defense attribute has improved by 100 units>
<Your earth affinity has increased by 15%>
<Your Low-rank Earth Spirit Body has upgraded to a Mid-rank Earth Spirit Body>
…
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?Physical Attributes?
[920 → 1020 Defense (↑100)] [Mid-level Rank 4] [1705 Aura Power] [Total Defense: 2625 → 2725 (↑100) (Early Demigod Rank)]
[1150 Strength] [Peak-level Rank 4] [1705 Aura Power] [Total Strength: 2855 (Early Demigod Rank)]
[810 Speed] [Mid-level Rank 4] [1705 Aura Power] [Total Speed: 2515 (Early Demigod Rank)]
…
?Elemental Affinity?
[Earth: 55% → 70% (↑15%)]
[Wind: 13%]
[Lightning: 12%]
[Light: 20%]
[Wood: 25%]
[Fire: 80%]
…
[Earth Spirit Body (Mid-rank)]
Effect 1: When countering a Mid-rank Earth Spirit, they will immediately take notice of your existence.
Sub-effect 1.1: There is a chance that the Mid-rank Earth Spirit Will actively communicate with you.
Sub-effect 1.2: There is a slight chance that the Mid-rank Earth Spirit is willing to establish a spirit contract with you.
Effect 2 (Updated): When you are in touch with the earth, the earth will bless you with up to a 60% increase in overall defense and natural regeneration. The actual effect is dependent on the richness of the earth elements in the area.
Effect 3 (Updated): When consuming earth-attribute medicine, you will enjoy up to a 60% increase in effectiveness. The quality of the earth-attribute medicine and the earth elements in the area determines the actual value.
=====
Shortly after the effects subsided, Vaan's contracted earth spirit, Topaz, excitedly materialized outside his body.
"Kyuu, kyuu~!" Topaz chimed happily.
She hopped and skipped around Vaan's body energetically before flying up to his face and showering him with affection by pecking on his cheeks.
Eventually, she ran out of excess energy and settled on the palm of Vaan's hand to rest.
"You really like your new home, huh? Tia?" Vaan commented with a smile.
"Kyuu!" Topaz answered, nodding her head repeatedly.
Shortly after, Vaan played with Tia for a little while. After all, it had been a while since he let her out. He poked her soft cheeks with a single finger as he teased her. At first, Tia didn't mind Vaan's poking; she enjoyed the contact.
As such, she simply gave Vaan a big, innocent, and pure smile in response.
However, Vaan's pokes repeatedly caused her head to turn and tilt. Thus, her smile gradually disappeared, replaced by annoyance.
Afterward, she retaliated by clinging to Vaan's finger with all four of her limbs like a bear hug. She fought back against Vaan's finger by biting it, but the strength she invested in her bites made them no different from soft nibbles.
Vaan chuckled and willingly surrendered the battle, letting the little earth fairy win.
As a result, Topaz thought she defeated the finger and tamed it. She sat on top of it triumphantly before giving Vaan a haughty look, warning him not to mess with her.
She might be small, but she wasn't so easily bullied – When Vaan understood that message she gave him with her look, he couldn't help but chuckle louder.
After all, as the first of his contracted spirits, Topaz was like the elder sister to his other two elemental spirits, Ruby and Emerald. It has always been her who bullied them and never the other way around.
"Alright, alright. Settle down now," Vaan said before reflecting on his changes.
The Hundred-Thousand-Year Stalactite Milk was truly deserving to be a divine-rank earth-attribute medicine. Its potency was simply overpowering.
It was fortunate that he had decided to test its effects first. Now, he knew that he couldn't give it to his women unless he diluted its effects. Otherwise, he would have harmed them instead.
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