Chapter 8

"Remember, everything starts from breathing."

Andre said while applying the 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."

The moment the cold liquid touched his 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 rush in from his mouth and nose, all the way down his respiratory tract.

Hold, three heartbeats.

That airflow wandered in his body, resonating with the Scorching Essential Oil that had penetrated.

Exhale, five heartbeats.

As the turbid air was exhaled, he felt the dryness and heat in his body also alleviate a bit.

"Very good, keep this rhythm."

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

As the mantra was recited silently, 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 that had penetrated into the body 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 stage."

Andre's voice became grave: "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 in 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 intervals of breathing, each pulsation bringing a burst of severe pain.

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

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

"The final breathing stage."

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 in 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.

What's magical is that this imagery was not a hallucination, but a real feeling generated by the energy of the whole body driven by the breathing rhythm.

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

【Energy resonance detected

Current progress: 58%

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

"Very good, maintain 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, like countless burning rivers rushing in his body.

"Hold your breath!" Andre suddenly shouted.

Luo En immediately stopped breathing; in these short seven heartbeats, he felt the energy of his whole body condense 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, extra gain obtained: -

Meridian remodeling efficiency increased

Energy absorption rate increased】

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

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

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

"Exhale!"

Following Andre's another command, Luo En slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air again.

At this moment, the accumulated energy rushed through his 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 obtained: Excellent

Profession unlocked: Knight Squire (One Star)】

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

【Profession acquired: Knight Squire (One Star)】

As a main combat profession, the attribute increase brought by 【Knight Squire】 far exceeded that of ordinary life professions; Luo En could feel unprecedented power surging in his body.

【Basic attribute changes:

Physique: 0.5 → 1.2 (+0.7)

Spirit: 1.4 → 1.6 (+0.2)

Magic Power: 0.3 → 0.4 (+0.1)】

【Unlock professional skills:

1. Basic Swordsmanship (Entry)

2. Breathing Body Tempering (Entry)】

【Special Bonus:

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

2. Body tempering efficiency slightly increased】

Compared to the gentle improvement of 【Potion Apprentice】, the changes brought by the combat profession were 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 modified by body tempering presented a brand new vitality.

【Profession linkage detected:

Knight Squire + Potion Apprentice

Extra linkage bonus obtained:

Potion absorption efficiency slightly increased -

Meridian strengthening effect slightly increased】

With the linkage effect of these two professions, plus the superimposed improvement brought by unlocking more professions in the future, the requirement to reach 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 there was even a small puddle of sweat on the stone platform.

"Being able to persist to this extent 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 his meridians being reshaped just now was too intense; even now, a trace of scorching heat remained in his body.

"Is this the power of the '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; true completion of body tempering requires building on this foundation..."

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 trembling:

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

【Special talent unlocked:

Protection of the Sunday (Residual) -

Yang energy affinity increased -

Meridian strength slightly increased -

Breathing method-related skill experience gain speed slightly increased】

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

This kind of special constitution was undoubtedly a good thing, but it also meant it would attract more attention.

"I suggest you dress more tightly usually."

Andre's tone returned to calm, but his eyes were still somewhat complex: "This kind of 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 were always looking for experimental materials.

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

(End of this chapter)