Chapter 13: Second Physique Forging and "Rhythm"
Chapter 13: Second Physique Forging and "Rhythm"
At this moment, he noticed Andie staring at him with a strange expression.
"You've changed a lot", Andie remarked. "The old you would never take things so seriously."
Luo En smiled faintly. "Maybe because I finally see a glimmer of hope."
Indeed, within just a few days, he'd obtained the Apothecary Apprentice profession, learned the Solar Corona Breathing Technique, and secured a highly lucrative job at the Herbal Medicine Shop.
But most importantly, he was beginning to truly grasp how this world's rules operated.
Luo En pulled out the vial of Burning Oil from his drawer. The pale golden liquid shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
With prior experience, this time he could more clearly sense the energy contained within the essential oil.
"You know", Andie said as she accepted the essential oil and examined it closely. "Why does Lord Holt take such a special interest in you? Is it really just because of a perfectly preserved Star Grass?"
Luo En shook his head. "I think it's because of 'rhythm.'"
"Rhythm?"
"Just like the Solar Corona Breathing Technique mentions", he explained, "every force has its own unique rhythm."
Andie tapped her forehead thoughtfully. "Now that you mention it, my grandfather once said true mages don't just master power—they must understand its very essence."
Luo En gestured to the vial she held. "Take this Burning Oil, for instance. It appears to be for physique forging on the surface, but it actually contains the sun's rhythm."
A sudden realization struck him—no wonder he'd seen that golden sun during his first physique forging. Perhaps it wasn't just a hallucination, but his breathing technique allowing him to perceive the energy characteristics within the essential oil.
"Time's about right", Andie said, glancing at the sun outside the window. "Where shall we practice this time?"
"The same experimental site", Luo En replied while packing up. "The runes there can conceal our energy signatures, and..."
His sentence trailed off as a muffled thud came from the neighboring room, followed by Darend's furious voice: "Damn it! Another failure!"
The two exchanged amused glances. Their neighbor, obsessed with sound wave magic research, was as unpredictable as his experiments—always causing some commotion nearly every day.
...
They traversed the cool morning path. The abandoned experimental site basked in sunlight, eerily silent.
The rune-carved stone pillars cast irregular shadows. The faint bluish-gray traces on the ground shimmered faintly under the daylight.
No wonder mages chose this place for experiments. The area was incredibly sensitive to energy—any supernatural force would leave visible traces on the ground.
Luo En noticed the bluish-gray hues seemed paler than yesterday.
"That's strange", he murmured.
Thanks to his class advancement's keen perception, he realized these colors were actually residual energy. Each beam of sunlight gradually dissolved them.
"We're here", Andie's voice broke his thoughts. "You can start preparing."
Luo En retrieved his belongings while cautiously scanning the surroundings. "Why did the mages abandon this experimental site?"
He'd always found this place peculiar. In the resource-starved Black Mist Jungle, a site with isolating runes shouldn't have been discarded so easily.
"Ask those runes themselves", Andie said, pointing at the weathered marks on the stone pillars. "They say a Full Mage's experiment went wrong, polluting the runes until they lost their original effects."
"Forget it, no need to dwell on this", she continued briskly. "These things don't concern us apprentices anyway."
The golden-haired girl seemed uninterested in further discussion as she efficiently retrieved the Burning Oil.
"Let me warn you—this second session of physique forging might feel different from the first."
"How so?"
"Do you remember yesterday's sensation?" She began flipping through her notes. "When the essential oil entered your body, there was that unique rhythm?"
Luo En nodded. He'd never forget that experience—the blazing energy flowing through his meridians, each pulse echoing the sun's heartbeat.
"This time..." Andie's voice turned serious. "You must actively guide that energy. Think of it like..."
She paused, searching for the right analogy.
"Dancing. The first time, someone led you. This time, you must learn to move with the music yourself. After this session, you won't need assistance for future physique forging."
Luo En suddenly understood. He recalled his morning at the Herbal Medicine Shop—how each herb carried its own rhythm. The key lay in sensing and utilizing these characteristics.
"I understand", he said, removing his shirt and sitting cross-legged on the stone platform. "Let's begin."
[Detected Burning Oil. Initiate second session of physique forging?]
[Notice: This physique forging will affect attribute growth for combat classes—knight attendants specifically]
Thanks to the first session, Luo En could now clearly sense the pathways of his meridians.
"No need to guide me step-by-step this time", Andie said as she prepared the Burning Oil. "You must actively direct the energy flow."
Luo En nodded, closing his eyes to steady his breathing.
[Begin second session of physique forging?]
"Confirm."
The first drop of Burning Oil touched his spine, reigniting that familiar burning sensation.
But this time, Luo En didn't passively endure. He synchronized with the Solar Corona Breathing Technique's rhythm.
Inhale—seven breaths. Energy surged through his body with each cycle.
Hold—three breaths. He focused on the searing rhythm within the essential oil.
Exhale—five breaths. He guided the energy along his meridians.
"Good", Andie's distant voice encouraged. "Now enter the second breathing phase."
Luo En deepened his breath. This time, he could clearly perceive every energy current—like controlling countless tiny flames, directing them along precise paths.
[Second session of physique forging
Progress: 35%
Apothecary Apprentice career synergy effect active:
-
Slight increase in meridian transformation efficiency
-
Slight increase in energy absorption rate]
As his breathing intensified, Luo En entered a wondrous state.
Unlike the passive experience of his first physique forging, this time he could distinctly sense the energy's movement patterns.
The scorching currents felt like invisible brushes, sketching the outlines of his meridians under his guidance.
"Focus on the second breathing phase!" Andie's slightly anxious voice came from nearby. "Inhale nine breaths, hold five breaths, exhale seven breaths. Remember—you're the one leading the rhythm."
Luo En adjusted his breathing frequency accordingly. As the rhythm transformed, he felt the energy flowing in an entirely new pattern.
Each breath became a musical note, and his meridians resonated like playing instruments.
When the rhythm perfectly aligned, the energy flow became astonishingly smooth.
[Second session of physique forging progress: 67%
Detected meridian rhythm resonance
Additional effect: Slight increase in energy flow efficiency]
"I think I've got it", Luo En realized inwardly.
This energy pattern felt eerily similar to the "rhythm" he'd observed in the herbs this morning at the shop.
Suddenly, an even stronger heat surged through his body.
The final wave of Burning Oil—significantly hotter than before.
"The crucial moment has come", Andie's voice turned serious. "Remember—don't resist the energy. Guide it..."
(End of Chapter)
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