Chapter 8

"Remember, everything starts with breathing."

Andre said while applying essential oil to Luo En's spine:

"Follow the rhythm I taught you: inhale for seven breaths, hold for three breaths, exhale for five breaths."

As soon as the cold liquid touched the skin, a violent burning pain came.

But Luo En forced himself to concentrate and began to adjust the rhythm of his breathing.

Inhale, seven heartbeats.

He felt a warm airflow surge in from his mouth and nose, all the way down along the respiratory tract.

Hold, three heartbeats.

That airflow wandered in the body, resonating with the scorching essential oil that had penetrated.

Exhale, five heartbeats.

With the exhalation of turbid air, he felt the dryness and heat in his body seem to be reduced by a few points.

"Very good, keep this rhythm."

Andre's voice came, "Now start reciting the meditation mantra of "Solar Corona Breathing Method"."

With the recitation of the mantra, Luo En felt the breathing rhythm begin to resonate with some kind of energy in his body.

Every breath seemed to set off an energy tide in his body.

Those scorching essential oils flowed along this tide, beginning to outline the contours of the meridians.

The pain still existed, but it seemed to become regular.

【Meridians detected to be reshaping

Current progress: 27%

Prompt: Breathing rhythm has resonated with meridians】

"Now enter the second breathing."

Andre's voice became solemn: "Inhale for nine breaths, hold for five breaths, exhale for seven breaths. Remember, you must coordinate with the direction of the meridians."

With the change of breathing rhythm, Luo En felt the energy flow in his body become more violent.

Those meridians lit up by the scorching essential oil seemed to jump in the breathing interval, and every pulsation brought a sharp pain.

But strangely, this kind of pain was no longer unbearable.

Instead, it was like a symbol of some life rhythm, slowly condensing the strength of the whole body through regular breathing.

"The last breathing."

Andre's voice came: "Inhale for twelve breaths, hold for seven breaths, exhale for nine breaths. Remember, imagine the radiance of the sun..."

Luo En adjusted the breathing rhythm accordingly; with the change of frequency, he felt his consciousness begin to undergo some wonderful transformation.

In the regular breathing, he seemed to see a golden sun; that light was so scorching, yet carried a power pure to the extreme.

Magically, this imagery was not a hallucination, but a real feeling produced by the energy of the whole body driven by the breathing rhythm.

Every inhalation, he could feel a scorching energy surging from his limbs and bones to the center.

【Energy resonance detected

Current progress: 58%

Prompt: First body tempering is about to enter the critical stage】

"Very good, keep this state."

Andre's voice suddenly became serious: "The next part is the most dangerous; the energy of the whole body will reach its peak in an instant."

As the last wisp of scorching essential oil penetrated into his body, Luo En felt his blood boiling.

Those lit-up meridians began to jump violently, just like countless burning rivers rushing in his body.

"Hold your breath!" Andre suddenly shouted.

Luo En immediately held his breath; in these short seven heartbeats, he felt the energy of the whole body condensed at the heart position, forming a scorching vortex.

The pain reached its limit, but his consciousness was surprisingly clear.

【Energy is about to reach the critical point

Potion Apprentice profession detected, obtain extra gain: -

Meridian transformation efficiency increased

Energy absorption rate increased】

Luo En was secretly happy; the effect of this profession linkage seemed far better than he imagined.

In this extreme state, he could clearly feel the direction of every meridian and the flow of every energy.

The improvement of these perception abilities was undoubtedly an extra gain brought by the Potion Apprentice profession.

"Exhale!"

With Andre's another command, Luo En slowly exhaled a turbid breath again.

At this moment, the accumulated energy washed over the whole body like a dam-bursting flood.

The originally unbearable meridians suddenly became unobstructed, just like countless blocked river channels being dredged.

From head to toe, every inch of muscle and every bone was undergoing some subtle changes.

【First body tempering completion rate: 87%

Basic evaluation: Excellent

Unlock profession: Knight Attendant (One Star)】

【Prompt: Some meridians detected to be not fully connected, it is recommended to conduct the second body tempering after 24 hours】

【Profession acquired: Knight Attendant (One Star)】

As a combat-oriented profession, the attribute improvement brought by 【Knight Attendant】 far exceeds ordinary life professions; Luo En could feel unprecedented power surging in his body.

【Basic attribute change:

Physique: 0.5 → 1.2 (+0.7)

Spirit: 1.4 → 1.6 (+0.2)

Magic Power: 0.3 → 0.4 (+0.1)】

【Open professional skills:

1. Basic Sword Art (Entry)

2. Breathing Body Tempering (Entry)】

【Special Bonus:

1. Martial arts-related skill experience acquisition speed slightly increased

2. Body tempering efficiency slightly increased】

Compared to the gentle improvement of 【Potion Apprentice】, the changes brought by combat professions are more violent and direct.

The originally blurry muscle perception became exceptionally clear, as if he could feel the existence of every muscle fiber.

And those meridians that had undergone body tempering transformation presented a brand-new vitality.

【Profession linkage detected:

Knight Attendant + Potion Apprentice

Obtain extra linkage bonus:

Potion absorption efficiency slightly increased -

Meridian strengthening effect slightly increased】

With the linkage effect of these two professions, plus the overlapping improvement brought by unlocking more professions in the future, the requirement of reaching a junior apprentice within three months seemed to be within reach.

And when the last trace of energy fluctuation subsided, Luo En, who had completed the body tempering, was soaked through, and even a small puddle of sweat accumulated on the stone platform.

"Being able to persist to this degree is already very good."

Andre handed over an outer robe: "Most people will faint during their first body tempering."

Luo En took the outer robe and found that his hands were still trembling slightly.

The feeling of meridians being reshaped just now was too intense; even now, a trace of scorching heat remained in his body.

"Is this the power of "Solar Corona Breathing Method"..." he muttered to himself.

"No, this is just the beginning." Andre shook his head:

"What you feel now is just the most basic breathing guidance; real body tempering still needs to be based on this..."

His words suddenly stopped, his gaze falling on Luo En's back: "Wait, this is..."

Luo En turned his head to look and found that some tiny golden patterns had appeared on his skin, flickering like silk threads in the sun.

"Sunday Meridians!" Andre's voice was a bit trembling:

"It is said that only those under the protection of the Sun God will show this sign during the first body tempering..."

【Unlock special talent:

Protection of the Sun (Residual) -

Yang energy affinity increased -

Meridian strength slightly increased -

Breathing method-related skill experience acquisition speed slightly increased】

Luo En looked at the prompt on the panel, feeling both surprised and worried in his heart.

This kind of special constitution is undoubtedly a good thing, but it also means it will attract more attention.

"I suggest you dress more tightly usually."

Andre's tone returned to calm, but his eyes were still somewhat complex: "This constitution... is very easy to arouse the interest of certain people."

He didn't say it explicitly, but Luo En understood who he was referring to—those wizards who are always looking for experimental materials.

"Speaking of which..." Andre suddenly changed the subject: "Didn't you say you were going to apply for the assistant position at the herb shop?"

(End of chapter)