"The needles must remain in place for thirty minutes. After that, I'll apply the final seal — a tri-point formation that will lock the energy into his dantian and prevent any overflow." Ling Li said.

Seating herself beside him, Ling Li's hands began to glow a soft, ethereal light as she monitored the flow of energy within him.

Silence enveloped the room, thick with anticipation. Shi Min's aura pulsed around him, growing brighter, stronger, and more refined with each passing moment.

The twins watched in awe, their hearts swelling with a mix of pride and disbelief. Their brother was changing, transforming into something greater. And through it all, their mother was there, guiding him gently, steadily — one heartbeat at a time.

The Final Seal: Awakening the Core

The room thrummed with a quiet, sacred energy, as if it were alive and breathing, mirroring the profound transformation unfolding within its walls. Shi Min lay face down on a bed of plush silks, his body adorned with a delicate lattice of golden and platinum-threaded needles. Each needle vibrated softly, resonating with a spiritual hum that seemed to echo through the air. A shimmering aura enveloped him, as if reality itself was bending and warping to honor the transition occurring within his core.

Ling Li stood at his side, her expression a study in composure and intensity. With ethereal grace, her hands hovered just above his back, fingers glowing with a luminescent silvery light that illuminated the shadows around them. The second phase of the ritual had intricately stabilized his meridians, channeling the raw, ancient energy of the Azure Dragon Bone into the depths of his being.

Now, they were poised on the precipice of the most critical step.

"The final sealing formation," Ling Li murmured, her voice low and reverent, resonating with the weight of hidden knowledge, "is not merely a medical procedure — it's a sacred contract. It binds the energy to the cultivator's soul flame, ensuring it melds with him, transforming it from a foreign force into a familiar essence."

Nearby, Kim Kim and Chin Chin stood as silent sentinels, their wide, innocent eyes shimmering with disbelief and curiosity, tiny hands clasped together as if in prayer.

Ling Li summoned a final trio of needles — these were unlike any before them. Crafted from Starlight Iron, a celestial alloy harvested only during the rare celestial dance of a lunar convergence, they gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance. Each needle was engraved with micro-runes so finely etched that they sparkled like stars in a night sky, twinkling with a magic all their own.

"These needles," she intoned, her voice steady and full of purpose, "are known as the Three Harmonies. They symbolize the union of Heaven, Earth, and Self."

With reverence, Ling Li held the first needle aloft. "This is the Heaven Needle. It shall be placed at the Yintang point, nestled between the brows. It aligns the cultivator's spiritual consciousness with the celestial realm, allowing him to draw profound guidance from the heavens above."

As she gently inserted it, a hushed breath escaped her lips. Shi Min's body responded instinctively, initially tensing before relaxing, his aura flaring momentarily with a brilliant golden hue that illuminated the chamber.

"The second is the Earth Needle," Ling Li continued, her tone imbued with a melancholic strength as she prepared for the subsequent insertion. "It will be placed at the Qihai point, just below the navel. Its purpose is to anchor the energy to the physical form, ensuring the cultivator remains grounded amidst the spiritual tide."

With careful deliberation, she eased the needle into position, her fingers trembling slightly from the focused precision required. As the needle found its mark, a soft, resonant hum filled the air, weaving itself into the very fabric of the room as Shi Min's qi surged forth and stabilized like a river discovering its destined course.

"And finally," Ling Li pronounced, lifting the third needle with a grace that belied her exhaustion, "we have the Self Needle. This one is to be placed at the Shenque point, the navel itself. It binds the energy to the essence of his soul flame — his identity, his will, his truest self."

Pausing for a heartbeat, Ling Li's gaze lingered on Shi Min's face, an array of emotions flickering within her eyes before she inserted it.

The instant the needle pierced through, a shockwave of qi exploded outward — silent yet thunderous, imperceptible yet tangible. Lanterns flickered violently, shadows danced along the walls, and the atmosphere thickened with a palpable energy that vibrated through the space.

Shi Min gasped, his body arching slightly before descending back into stillness.

His aura, once wild and erratic like a tempest, now pulsed with perfect harmony — steady, radiant, and undeniably powerful.

Ling Li exhaled a tremulous breath, her knees nearly buckling from the weight of the spiritual toll it exacted. Beads of sweat traced delicate paths down her forehead, her breath shallow as she realized she had invested not merely her energy but her very essence into the formation itself.

The twins rushed to her side, concern etched across their youthful faces.

"Mom!" Kim Kim cried, steadying her arm with worry shining in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Chin Chin asked, her voice barely above a whisper, trembling with unease.

Ling Li managed a faint smile, tired but resolute. "I'm alright. Just… a bit tired. This technique hasn't been utilized in over a century. It requires more than energy — it demands a legacy."

She turned her attention back to Shi Min, who now lay calm, his breathing deep and rhythmic, a peaceful countenance gracing his features.

"He's stable," she reassured them. "The energy is sealed. Now, his body will embark on a slow yet profound process of integration. Over the next few days, he shall enter a deep meditation. When he emerges… he will be transformed."

Kim Kim gazed at her brother with a mixture of awe and wonder. "He looks… like a hero from the ancient tales."

Chin Chin nodded vigorously. "Like a dragon incarnate."

Ling Li chuckled softly, the sound soothing yet tinged with emotion. "He's still your brother. But indeed… he is on the path to becoming something far greater."

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