CH-2: Thundering Cataclysm

I began to make my way to the Thundering Cataclysm. It was originally a catastrophic event that had hit Lin Clan territories but thanks to the Birth Of Self Reverend ancestor, it was subdued and added to Clan's foundation. Rumours have it that the same ancestor is still cultivating at the centre of the Cataclysm, hoping to achieve Divine Ascension.

Getting nearer to Cataclysm's outer peripheries, I noticed rich Lightning and Metal Qi around, a perfect place to advance my body cultivation.

"Too bad I can't go deeper, my cultivation would have been faster." I talked to myself but was not expecting an answer.

"You can go deeper if you want to cultivate Death Qi, little seventh."

"Oh big sis, you were here too?"

"Yes, I was going to go in seclusion to breakthrough but heard you will be building your body here so I stopped by to check."

"Oh is that so? Okay then, but you will have to turn around for a bit."

'Holy shit, when did she even hear that? It isn't a secret that I cultivate Golden Sparkle Body but still...'

After she turned back I changed into bathing garments, cast the array for attracting lightning and dipped. Chanting the verses, ready to cultivate.

P.O.V. CHANGE

When I turned back I saw Little Seventh had cast a lightning-attracting array, surrounded by 4th-rank Howling Mole blood.

'I was right to come here, he is doing something reckless again...'

'Normally, one would cast their body with a few metal-attributed spiritual plants, using them in a medicinal bath. Adding spirit cores from 1st rank metal attributed beasts is a must. But this madman doing it in such an environment full of destructive Metal and Lightning Qi, and with the blood of a 4th rank beast! If he had even its core I would drag him to his room and ban him from cultivating, thankfully old man Lin has a good head on his shoulders.'

P.O.V. CHANGE

Ignoring my sister's worried gaze, I began to move the dense energies around my body.

Body Cultivation is a path either perverts or talentless with enough luck and resources tread. It shares the first realm of Body Building with Qi Cultivation, but the next realms after that require immense resources to complete. I didn't know if I would attend the Institute so I hadn't started yet, but plans have changed.

Body Building embodies five stages; Skin Tempering, Flesh Tempering, Bone Tempering, Marrow Tempering and Meridian Tempering. You destroy and rebuild your body in those places with attributed Qi, giving them properties of said element. In Qi Cultivation it is only for readying the body to Qi beforehand but in Body Cultivation, if you don't want to make a joke out of yourself, you have to do more than just that. It is also why I used such potent materials and my sister worries so much. Instead of attuning you have to go as far as incorporating them, which is not only more painful but also dangerous.

'Any slight mistake may cripple me right now, focus.'

With the volatile energies of metal, lightning and blood swirling around me, I waited for the first lightning to fall.

KRAKA-BOOM

With a deafening sound my body was struck with lightning, my skin charring and blood boiling, I ate the Blood Invigoration Pill and guided the energies to my skin. With nerves being fried I thought I wouldn't feel much but I was wrong. A maddening pain took over me but I couldn't afford to lose focus. While I was writhing in pain the pill took effect and my skin started healing, also starting another round of torture. I continued till I couldn't anymore, it took 9 lightnings to temper my skin. Next was my flesh and inner organs. Any mistake would wound me terribly and set back my schedule for weeks. I continued as per Golden Sparkle Body instructed, drenching my flesh in destructive Qi. After another 9 lightnings, I couldn't temper my flesh anymore so I moved to my bones.

Most body cultivators say the pain of bone tempering is the worst, and I agree. The pain increased a notch and I felt like I would lose my consciousness, thoughts I thought I had buried came back to me.

'Why I'm forcing myself such?'

'I don't need to do anything to live a good life, I will be respected and revered even if i stay a mortal.'

'I don't even have to go to the Institute, just say it and it's done.'

'Can I even reach those later realms? Even if I do what will I do after it?'

'No, I will figure it out if I reach those realms. And don't go to the Institute? How will I be respected and revered if I chicken out like that? Not to say this is a novel I haven't read all that much, even if I don't make it far I surely will witness its story!'

'But to witness it I have to be strong, these kinds of novels are harsh on young master extras like me.'

With newfound composure and refreshed vigour, I preserved. Although bone tempering is more painful, it's not as complicated as meridian tempering or even marrow. I quickly tempered my bones with 9 rounds of lightning.

Moving on is the marrow tempering, I will have to use Howling Mole blood more actively, washing my marrows and blood vessels with its blood.

Without reaching the Marrow Tempering stage, previous realms don't mean much. Not like they are useless, but their effectiveness increases with much more potent blood. The same could be said for each stage.

Skin Tempering makes you resilient to mortal weapons. No matter how much force they are used they can't cut or pierce one's skin, instead the weapons shatter themselves. But without flesh tempering, your inner organs can still be injured, risking internal injury.

After Flesh Tempering, with muscles and inner organs strengthened, one is able to lift over a thousand kilograms easily. You can also shatter your bones if not careful due to how much strength a person in the Flesh Temperin stage has.

The Bone Tempering stage doesn't do much by itself other than ending previous stages con, but is a setup for the next stage. Without enough and potent blood, it doesn't matter how strong or tough you are. For potent blood, you would need potent marrows and for that, you would need strong bones.

Reaching the Blood Tempering stage in a lower world means you are invincible among mortals, as reaching Meridian Tempering is extremely hard.

"Marrow Tempering, done."