Ch-49-End of the Tempering
Nodding, I get up to leave the room only to hear Raina say, "Oh, and Silica. Do you mind watching over her for today? I fear that someone will forget what time it is and miss her lessons."
Her words made me embarrassed, so I walked even faster to the door. I could hear Silica agree behind me and follow me out. Thankfully, the dining hall led directly out to the shrine, so it was not that far of a trip. Knowing that Raina would not want me looking into the dining hall, When I make it to the outer area of the shrine, I sit down with my back face where I came from. I then pull out my cultivation technique so I can memorize the next stage; that way, there won't be any mistakes in what I am about to do.
This did not take me as long as it did with the last two stages, with me only needing to spend about half an hour going through the book. This stage was fairly simple and only required me to infuse my skin with all the different types of world concepts and Qi elements while making it more permeable to those things. The only tough part is the part where it would be able to block any hostile Qi from entering my body. Though, once I have that down I will be able to move through this stage with ease.
With my review finished, I close the book and place it back in my inventory. I then begin to gather the Qi around me and guide it through my body to my skin. Once there, I begin to shape it and do as needed to complete this stage. Unknown to me, my skin starts to get covered in patterns made of multi-colored light as black smoke is seen leaving my body. This goes on for about an hour everything ends, and I open my eyes. To me, nothing felt that different, and the only thing I knew was that I had finished this stage of the technique.
Wanting to at least be able to tell some difference, I get up and start stretching in hopes that it will allow me to see some change, but I am still unable to figure anything out. Losing interest because I know the next stage will bring the most change, I pull out the book once more and study the last part. This was by far the Easiest part of the technique because all I needed to do was flood my meridians with a constant flow of Qi and max they could handle and let the Qi do the rest. There was slightly more to it, like letting the meridians and pathways absorb the Qi, letting it strengthen and make them more durable, but it was all minor stuff that would happen anyway, and a conscious effort would only enhance the effects.
This little bit of study took about the same amount of time as the last time, and I was already sitting in the same position by the time I finished reading. Calming myself down, I gather the Qi and begin to direct it toward my meridians. The reason why this stage is called meridian opening is that the meridians do not like to let in very much Qi. Instead, they normally only give you enough to live plus a little more when needed, but now I need to open them to their max so that they can let in the most amount of Qi possible. Normally, flooding them would cause them to close, but if the stream of Qi going in is constant, then they can not close and only continue to let in more Qi.
I am taking advantage of this by flooding my meridians and pathways with as much Qi as possible. There is also a small bonus that when the meridians and pathways absorb more Qi into themselves, they tend to maintain that level and instead adapt to this being their new size, allowing them to stretch even more. By consciously directing this I can speed up the process that would normally take days or weeks and make it happen in only hours.
Time flew by as I concentrated on opening my meridians, not realizing that they were all glowing and that I was starting to float slightly off the ground. Around me, Qi was also being steered up into a miniature whirlpool as my body kept absorbing more energy. This lasted for around four hours before the whirlpool slowed to a stop, dissipating, and I was sitting on the ground again. Opening my eyes, I am blinded by a mix of colored lights floating everywhere and a system message popping up in my vision.
[Congartulations on completing the first realm of cultivation. You have been rewarded with an update to the system.]
[Current System Version: 1.0.0]
[New Features Have Been Added]
[Congratulations on completing your first divine grade technique. You have been rewarded with the ability to acquire all the tech of one era and taking one profession to the mastery level.]
This was quite a surprise seeing as the system has not done this before now for any cultivation. Regardless I still open my status to see what has changed.
Name: Valaria "Vale"
Race: One-Tailed Kitsune (Evolution possible) [Evolve?
Height: 1.8288 Meters (6' Ft)
Physique: Primordial Empress Body (5% Awakened)
Spiritual Root: Heavenly Ten Element Revolving Spiritual Root
Realm: Body-tempering: stage 5/5 (Meridian-Opening)
Qi pool: 100%/100%
Survival Level: 13 (Level up available)
Stats:
STR: 25 (Limit)
END: 25 (Limit)
AGI: 25 (Limit)
INT: 25 (Limit)
SEN: 25 (Limit)
ENE: 25 (Limit)
Traits:
[...]
(Merged)[Attuned Skeletal Structure: Your entire skeletal structure has been engraved and attuned with all types of Qi and World Concepts. Increase in Qi gathering speed and law comprehension.]
(Merged)[Attuned Muscular Structure: Your entire muscular structure has been engraved and attuned with all types of Qi and World Concepts. Increase in Qi gathering speed and law comprehension.]
(Merged)[Attuned Organ System: Your entire Organ System has been engraved and attuned with all types of Qi and World Concepts. Increase in Qi gathering speed and law comprehension.]
(New)(Merged)[Attuned Skin: Your skin has been engraved and attuned with all types of Qi and World Concepts. Increase in Qi gathering speed and law comprehension.]
(New)(Merged)[Attuned Meridians: Your meridians have been engraved and attuned with all types of Qi and World Concepts. Increase in Qi gathering speed and law comprehension.]
(New)[Attuned Body: Your entire body has been engraved and attuned with all types of Qi and World Concepts. Greatly Enhances Qi gathering speed and law comprehension.]
I was glad to find that my theory about the traits merging was right, but I was also surprised by some of the other things. First was that I was now able to evolve, which I thought that I would not be able to do until after I finished the Qi gathering realm. The second was that my constitution was now awakened by five percent. I did not even know that my constitution needed to be awakened as I thought it was already was do to it not saying from the start. Needless to say, though, I am really happy that I managed to finish the technique, and I was ready to move on to the Qi gathering stage. I could not wait to show the elder that I was now allowed to enter the next level of the library.
However, my revelry was cut short when Silica approached me and informed me that I was late for the lesson. Getting up as fast as I could, I started running towards the house and down the halls to the mansion's library. I passed by a few startled maids, but I was not as concerned as I needed to get to the library as fast as possible. Reaching there and opening the door, I ended up startling most people in the room with how fast I was moving. With everyone now staring at me, I started to feel embarrassed and said, "Sorry for being late, everyone. I was a little busy and might have forgotten to pay attention to the time."
Everyone else started to say that it was fine that I was a little late to the lesson and that they were willing to wait, but that just made me feel that much worse for not being on time. Deciding not to delay the class anymore, I walked to the back of the room where the blackboard was to start teaching. Just as I picked up the chalk, though, Raina asked, "Did you just breakthrough? I can feel some of the Qi still lingering around you."
I was caught off guard by the question but still answered, "Yes, I just finished the body tempering technique I made and am ready to move on to the next realm."
My words instantly set the room ablaze.