CH-3: Meridian Tempering

After tempering my marrows, I felt energetic more than I ever felt, strength coursing through my body making me feel like I could take on the world. But I was not done yet, I still needed to temper my meridians. If a person from the lower worlds saw it, their eyes would pop surely. Just in a few hours, from no cultivation to marrow tempering, how is that possible?

'Possible with potent materials and rich environment supported by a top tier technique.'

Most youngsters from prominent clans take 3 days to a week before fully completing all of the Building realms. Compared to the months lower worlds' geniuses take, it really shows the disparity between lower and higher worlds.

'This is the most important part, if I make a mistake here I could cripple myself for life or even die.'

'The potent materials mean that much dangerous process. If only I had more time here other than a day and a half I would take things slowly and safely, but thanks to that manchild I don't have much resources other than basic income from being direct lineage.'

Only after spending half of the spiritual stones I had saved for years, could I use these precious materials. The rest is gone to renting this spot at Thundering Cataclysm.

'I will have to do much while I am in the Institute.' I sighed.

Institute is a place where all of the top clans send their juniors to learn from, compete and grow. Clans use it to see which junior is the most talented and also to show superiority. While the Institute mostly leeches off of the Prominent Clans they also hold considerable power with the Principal being a Peak Birth Of Self Reverend.

KRAKA-KABOOM

With the next lightning falling I started tempering my meridians. Using the Golden Sparkle Body technique as a guide I tempered my meridians with 27 lightnings, taking longer than any other. My body strengthened to such a point that it overwhelmed my tiredness, filling me with energy.

P.O.V. CHANGE

After the first lightning fell, seeing him all burnt and charred broke my heart. But before I could pull him out he ate the pill and started cultivating, leaving me frustrated as I couldn't do anything to help. During tempering his bones I thought that it was now the time to take him out, as even he had faltered. It wasn't long after he continued again with zeal. I think he may have even strengthened his Dao Heart.

This only spoke of the intensity of his cultivation right now, even Foundation Establishment experts would find it hard to forge their Dao Heart.

Every stage until Meridian Tempering took 9 lightnings, only it took 27.

'I guess he went overboard with the last 9, I could feel he was at his limit with 18. He may have to recuperate for two weeks after this. I should give him a Meridian Soothing Pill.'

Then he rose from the tub, both his and the beast's blood dripping off of him. Even though he was tired and battered his body gave a sharp and energetic feeling, meaning the session was a success.

I stood up, not wanting to stay inside beast blood any longer. Although it was painful it wasn't that hard to accomplish. Even lower worlds are full of Body Building practitioners.

Feeling the strength in my body I clenched my fist and swung, the force generated caused dirt to scatter around.

"So powerful!" I exclaimed. Then my sister chimed in.

"I don't know what you were expecting when you built your body in such a way. Why is the rush? At least you could have asked me for help!"

"Ah, big sis are you still here? What about your breakthrough? Quick, don't waste time here!" 'She will breakthrough to the Peak stage of Foundation Establishment, why is she wasting her time here?'

"It's alright, no one will say anything even if I were to stay here for a week. I will tell my servants to give you a Meridian Soothing Pill, don't be shy and just take it alright?"

"...Okay sis." 'I guess I can't get out of this without a little nagging hahaha...'

"What will you do now? Finally, start cultivating?"

"No, not yet. I will have to prepare for the Institute, you know they only accept peak Body Building. Though I will try to cultivate my body a little more, I didn't expect it to be done so fast. I guess I have a talent for Body Refining huh?"

"Reaching peak Body Building in a day and a half as you did is surely remarkable. Maybe if you talk to Father about it he won't be so strict with you anymore since he let you go to the Institute."

"I doubt it, it is better if we don't talk too much. Then, I hope the best during your seclusion, sis."

I collected the array and went to my room, thinking about my cultivation while walking.

'It seems that I have talent, I guess it's fine to twist the plan a little. Since now I'm a Peak Body Building practitioner my allowance will be bigger. I can prepare more resources for my cultivation.'

In the Lin Clan, everyone gets an allowance according to their status and cultivation. Mortals with no cultivation and are of the direct line get 10 spirit stones every month. Peak Body Building practitioner gets 75 every month, Peak Qi Refining 300, Foundation Establishment 1 middle-grade spiritual stone and so on.

'I guess I will save enough to cover what I spent in a year, that's good. Twelve years old and a Peak Body Building practitioner, now I have caught up with my peers all that is left is to prepare for the Institute.'

After arriving at my room I sprawled on the bed, having earned my rest.

'In two months, acceptance exams will start. Although I and other noble scions don't need it, for ranking the students it's mandatory. The first examination will be for spiritual roots, the next one will be comprehension and the last will be martial prowess.'

The Institute accepts everyone who has double or heavenly spiritual roots, they even get a scholarship. A triple root will be admitted depending on their next exams while a quadruple or quintuple is flat out refused. Of course, there won't be any Prominent Clans sending triple roots to study, they mostly have double and heavenly roots anyway. This is for common folk who have mostly either no spiritual roots or a quintuple one. This is also the reason why The Institute doesn't want Prominent Clans to send anyone above peak Body Building, as common folk would not be able to compete during the 3rd examination.

This also causes an age gap between the common folk and noble scions, with the latter being 10-15 years old and the former anywhere between 13-22 years old.

The second exam includes copying a scripture that has been infused with Qi, depending on how much of it you copy you will be given a score. This score mostly determines the common folks' ranking.

The third exam is a seeded tournament as noble scions are seeded participants.