C11 Opening up the Qi Sea!

After forming the seal, Yang Rui keenly identified a problem: he seemed to have an exceptionally high affinity for origin energy! How could he explain it? Once the seal was in place, Yang Rui noticed a massive influx of origin energy converging upon him. He perceived a multitude of colorful origin energy swirling around him!

What is origin energy? It is the fundamental building block of this world, indispensable to all living creatures. Yang Rui's current task was to channel the origin energy into his body, refine his bones, and thereby increase their strength.

The purpose of the Spirit Tempering Spell is to treat the bones like a piece of iron, forging them over and over, using origin energy to constantly refine and enhance their strength. Following this, the body is fortified, becoming more resilient.

The Spirit Tempering Spell is comprised of two sections: Bone Forging and Body Tempering. Despite having only these two sections, they are explained with such clarity that those who understand can quickly master the techniques. However, individual talent varies, and even though the Spirit Tempering Spell was created by an incredibly formidable figure, it cannot override the natural variations in talent.

Yet, Yang Rui was able to sense such an immense amount of origin energy on his first attempt, a feat achievable by only the most prodigious talents across the Spiritual Continent. But Yang Rui's case was somewhat unique; rather than diminishing, the origin energy continued to grow! This marked him as a once-in-a-century, if not once-in-a-millennium, level of genius.

Yang Rui surmised that this might be connected to his 14 points of psychic force. His psychic force was significantly greater than his physical constitution, indicating it was two to three times that of an average person. Coupled with the amplification from the Gain Skill, the current anomaly was not so surprising.

With a focused mind, Yang Rui embarked on the initial step: drawing Qi into his body. Although this step appeared straightforward, it was, in fact, the most challenging. Countless individuals have found themselves unable to progress beyond this point, as the human body naturally lacks a conduit for such energies to enter. The mouth, nose, and other orifices do not count, as they are incapable of channeling energy directly into the bones.

What exactly is drawing Qi into the body? Qi is a complex energy, and harnessing it for cultivation is no easy task. Moreover, Qi isn't limited to a single attribute; it encompasses gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, and lightning. These Qi attributes permeate the world, and each person has a different affinity for them, typically favoring just one. While some rare individuals may have an affinity for two attributes, cultivating both simultaneously is exceptionally challenging, requiring more time and a higher starting point. Thus, drawing Qi into the body is also about discovering which attribute one has the highest affinity for, as future cultivation will focus on that attribute to maximize its potential.

So how does one draw Qi into the body? It's quite straightforward: guide the Qi to penetrate the flesh and reach the bones. This process offers numerous benefits. First, it allows for the direct tempering of the body, making it more resilient as it absorbs the Qi. Second, the Qi doesn't rush in haphazardly; it flows through the meridians before permeating the flesh, which helps to expand the meridians. Lastly, it reaches the bones, allowing the body to adapt to the most compatible Qi and laying a foundation for future cultivation.

Yang Rui's grasp of the Spirit Tempering Spell has soared to new heights, thanks to his complete understanding. Coupled with his knowledge of the human body from his past life, he quickly grasped the sensation of drawing Qi into the body.

The experience is painful, excruciatingly so! Qi, though an energy, can cause intense pain when drawn into a body with aged meridians, like Yang Rui's, who missed the optimal time for cultivation in his youth. As the Qi floods his meridians, the influx continues unabated. Even the creator of the Spirit Tempering Spell likely never anticipated encountering an anomaly like Yang Rui, whose Qi is of all attributes. Common knowledge dictates that those with all-attribute Qi affinities are unable to cultivate and are thus considered worthless. However, Yang Rui has shattered this notion. Not only does he possess an all-attribute Qi, but his affinity is also at the maximum level, a phenomenon whose implications remain unknown to all.

Yang Rui was acutely aware of the pain he was enduring, yet he knew he couldn't give up. Reborn with a second chance, how could he possibly let go of such a golden opportunity? He still had the system to explore, and he hadn't fully experienced this world yet. No, he wouldn't give up easily – in fact, he was determined never to give up.

At that moment, Yang Rui appeared to have gained a considerable amount of weight. His body was swollen with Yuan Qi, seemingly on the verge of bursting. However, his robust physique, rated at 7.5 points, played a significant role in his survival. He might have looked to be in grave danger, but the reality was far less dire. Nonetheless, pain was something he couldn't escape; it was a burden he had to bear.

"Ahhh!" The pain in Yang Rui's back was so intense that he could no longer articulate words, his lips quivering uncontrollably.

If one could see within, they would witness Yang Rui's meridians being relentlessly stretched and cracked by the Yuan Qi, only to be healed and then torn asunder once more. This cycle of destruction and repair was relentless, continuously transforming and expanding his meridians. This transformative process was precisely why Yang Rui refused to surrender. Having fully grasped the concept, he was also privy to subtle nuances that others often overlooked. Most people struggled even to draw Yuan Qi into their bodies, let alone experience the sensation of being on the brink of bursting like Yang Rui. Who else but he could afford to sweat the small stuff? These were details that likely existed only in the realm of the original creator's imagination.

Yang Rui's meridians, once narrow channels, were gradually expanding into streams, allowing an increasing flow of spirit energy to permeate and be absorbed by his flesh. The resilience of his body was enhancing incrementally, becoming capable of holding more Yuan Qi. The bones absorbed the majority of this energy, and the more they absorbed, the better. According to the Bone Forging text, there are five stages to using Yuan Qi to strengthen bones: iron, bronze, gold, jade, and finally, glass. The longer the bones are tempered, the stronger they become. Therefore, Yang Rui's ambition wasn't limited to mere bone strengthening; he aimed for the pinnacle—the fifth stage, glass bone. A true powerhouse never compromises on their standards. If one aspires to achieve greatness, they must strive for nothing less than the best.

At this moment, the Yuan Qi beside Yang Rui on the bed had become so concentrated that it was visible to the naked eye, a testament to his exceptional affinity for Yuan Qi. Yang Xiu, enveloped in Yuan Qi, was faintly glowing, his skin taking on a translucent, crystal-clear quality. Though he was still trembling, he had improved significantly from the initial tremors.

No one witnessed this extraordinary event. After all, it was broad daylight, and no one typically began their cultivation practices at such a time, least of all a prodigal son. Should anyone have stumbled upon this spectacle, they would likely have been terrified. It was an incongruous sight, to see someone who had no knowledge of cultivation, particularly a prodigal who had only recently taken an interest, surrounded by such a display of power.