[Chapter 44: Madonna, Radiant Core]
After the awards ceremony, Linton attended the celebration banquet hosted by Universal.
Universal did well at the AMA Awards this time. Besides Linton, they won several other awards. John Smith, the president of Universal Records, gave the opening speech at the banquet.
In the banquet hall, everyone congratulated Linton, especially praising his live performance as a great success. They said it would surely captivate countless young fans watching on television, and his album sales would hit new highs.
After mingling and socializing for a while and eating to satisfy his hunger, Linton quietly left.
...
In the car, Linton took out the hotel room card Madonna had given him and hesitated for a moment. Madonna was almost 34 years old this year and had a very open personal life. Linton didn't have a high opinion of her, but her star power was very enticing.
"Forget it, for the sake of improving my ability, I'll give it my all," he finally decided.
He had Danny drive around the streets to make sure no paparazzi were tailing them, then headed to the underground parking lot of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. He instructed Danny to book a room at the hotel and wait for his call, and to turn off his cell phone.
...
From the underground parking lot, Linton took the elevator directly up to the penthouse, used the room card to open the door. As soon as he entered, a figure leapt into his arms. "Dear, you finally came."
Before Linton could say a word, he was kissed. He didn't hold back either, lifting Madonna in a princess carry and carrying her inside.
Madonna definitely lived up to her status as a top-tier celebrity. Her popularity far exceeded Linton's, and even others couldn't compare.
Even Sophie Marceau looked like a small fry next to her. With this surge, Linton's meditation practice quickly advanced from late level 8 to level 9, accelerating rapidly.
It seemed coming tonight had been the right choice; Madonna was an exceptional vessel for development. Thinking that gave Linton full dedication to the task.
...
The next morning, the hotel delivered a hearty breakfast by phone.
"Honey, you really are strong as an ox, super impressive. I thought your ex-girlfriend was just bragging for publicity, but now I realize I should have known you earlier."
"You're amazing too. Having sex with you was an awesome experience," Linton honestly replied.
"Really? Later, I'll make you experience even better things. Are you alright?"
"Who are you underestimating? I'm fine," Linton thought happily. Such a great development opportunity shouldn't be wasted. He needed to fully absorb her popularity and ideally use it to help successfully lay his foundation.
---
Linton had clearly underestimated just how massive Madonna's fame really was. By dawn on the third day, he felt the energy inside him -- now at the peak of level 9 -- surging through his body, racing along every channel like electricity.
His core, the center of his power, was already full -- like a tank on the verge of bursting. But as their connection deepened, the power kept coming, pressing harder and harder against the limits of his core.
Then, it happened.
A sudden wave of mental clarity struck him -- his body and mind perfectly aligned -- and with a quiet, echoing boom inside him, the power began to change. It thickened, transforming from vaporous energy into something more dense and refined. His system kicked into overdrive.
He had entered the Radiant Core Stage.
His body instantly responded. Muscles tightened, senses sharpened, and a strange warmth pulsed through every cell. He felt stronger, lighter, more alive than ever before -- as if the very structure of his body had leveled up. His lifespan had just extended to 400 years, and he felt like he could run a marathon without breaking a sweat.
Not wanting to alarm Madonna with the transformation, Linton gently tapped her neck, letting her rest peacefully as he completed the breakthrough in one go.
...
After the change, Linton headed for the shower. When Linton looked in the mirror, he was stunned. His entire body was smooth and flawless, his skin glowing faintly with a pinkish hue, soft and delicate like that of a newborn. He felt so light and energized, it was as if he could take off into the sky at any moment.
A quick test confirmed it -- he could actually hover in the air for up to three minutes. The full extent of his flight capabilities, including how high he could go or how long he could stay aloft, would have to wait until he was back somewhere more private. Testing those limits inside a hotel was clearly out of the question.
Along with the physical changes and his breakthrough, Linton discovered two new abilities had awakened: Mind Shock and Soul Induction.
Mind Shock allowed him to unleash a burst of spiritual pressure that could shake someone's will. It induced a deep, instinctual fear in others, often making them submit without resistance.
Soul Induction was even more subtle and powerful -- it could temporarily interfere with someone's thoughts at a spiritual level. Under its influence, a person might blurt out secrets, speak their true feelings, or even make decisions they wouldn't otherwise consider -- all to their own benefit, yet in ways Linton could subtly guide.
Another major upgrade was in his cognitive function. His thinking was clearer, faster, more precise. Glancing at the hotel newspaper, he found he could absorb entire paragraphs at a glance without missing a detail.
Given his goal to win over fans worldwide, he'd been worried about the slow progress in learning foreign languages. But with this new mental boost, that concern seemed trivial now -- his learning curve had just become superhuman.
---
Later that morning, Madonna woke up, puzzled.
"How did I sleep so long?"
"Nonstop sex wears anyone out," Linton joked. "Come on, freshen up; breakfast is ready."
After breakfast, Madonna pressed close to Linton and said, "Something's different. Your complexion is so much better, and you smell amazing -- makes me want to stay close to you."
"Haha, that must be the effect of having sex with you. Your complexion also looks better."
Indeed, thanks to Linton's nourishment, Madonna's health visibly improved, her skin more radiant and hydrated.
But her comment reminded Linton to keep his aura in check, so he wouldn't become an unwanted magnet for admirers.
Hearing this, Madonna hurried to the bathroom to check her own reflection. Soon, a happy exclamation came from inside.
"It's true! My complexion has really improved. Great!"
Excited, Madonna came out and hugged Linton, planting a kiss on him. "Honey, since this works so well, let's not waste time. Let's keep going and boost the effect."
And the sex continued. Life never stops, and grind never ends.
Only by the morning of the fourth day, did they finally stop, both satisfied.
---
Linton gained tremendously from this round of dual energy transfer. His progress soared like a rocket, and he successfully crossed his first major milestone -- stepping into the long-awaited second stage.
Of course, after three full days of sharing energy, he could clearly feel that most of the fame and influence Madonna had gathered had now been absorbed into his system.
But with someone like Madonna, her star power never stopped growing. Whether she was performing, appearing in public, or trending across the media, her popularity kept building like a self-replenishing source. Within just three months, she could likely return to her previous peak -- making her an unmatched energy source for Linton's journey to power.
...
Madonna felt like she'd been dreaming. Three days and nights of nonstop sex broke all her previous limits.
She had joked before, never thinking she could have such stamina or that Linton had such extraordinary abilities.
More strangely, her body didn't feel tired at all. She seemed younger, back in her twenties, her complexion soft and hydrated without makeup, and the faint wrinkles around her eyes were gone.
All this made her doubt reality, but reality kept reminding her it was true. Linton was her lucky star, an angel sent by fate. She must persist in contacting Linton in the future.
...
After breakfast, Linton called Danny and told Madonna, "Honey, I have to go. Daniel has been looking everywhere for me. If I don't show up soon, he'll probably call the cops. We'll stay in touch."
"Okay, you go ahead. I'll sleep in a little more to avoid the paparazzi," Madonna said wistfully, bidding Linton farewell.
*****
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