At that moment, Ron noticed Andre looking at him with a strange expression.
"You've changed quite a bit," Andre remarked.
"The old you would never be this... serious."
Ron smiled. "Perhaps it's because I've finally seen hope."
Indeed, within just a few days, he had gained the Potion Apprentice profession, learned the Corona Breathing Method, and even secured a lucrative job at the herb shop. But most importantly, he had begun to understand how this world operated—its true rules.
Ron pulled a bottle of Burning Oil from the drawer. The pale golden liquid shimmered under the sunlight.
With the experience from his first use, he could now more clearly sense the energy contained within the oil.
"You know..." Andre took the bottle and examined it carefully. "Why would Holt be so interested in you? Just because of one perfectly preserved Star-Grass?"
Ron shook his head. "It can't be just that. I think it has something to do with... Rhythm."
"Rhythm?"
"Yes. Like what's described in the Corona Breathing Method—every kind of power has its own rhythm."
Ron explained, "When I was sorting herbs today, I noticed that many of them emitted a particular kind of fluctuation."
Andre looked thoughtful. "That reminds me of something my grandfather used to say: A true wizard must not only master power but also understand its essence."
He shook the potion bottle slightly. "Take this Burning Oil, for example. On the surface, it's just used for body forging. But it actually contains the rhythm of the sun."
Ron's heart stirred.
No wonder he saw a golden sun the first time he underwent body forging. Perhaps it wasn't just a hallucination. Maybe he had truly sensed the sun-like rhythm in the oil through the Corona Breathing Method.
"Time's almost up," Andre glanced out the window at the afternoon sun.
"Where are we training this time?"
"Back at that experimental field," Ron said as he packed his things.
"The runes there can suppress our auras. Besides..."
Before he could finish, a loud thud came from next door, followed by a frustrated shout, "Damn it! Failed again!"
They exchanged glances, then chuckled helplessly. Their neighbor, Darrend, obsessed with sonic spells, was as noisy as the spells he researched.
Early morning air carried a chill as the two walked along a winding path. Under the morning sun, the abandoned experimental field looked particularly silent. Tall stone pillars, etched with ancient runes, cast long shadows on the ground. Faint grayish-blue energy traces covered the area, barely visible in the light.
No wonder wizards preferred this place for experiments. The area was extraordinarily sensitive to energy—any arcane activity would leave traces behind.
Ron noticed something.
"The gray-blue traces seem lighter than yesterday... interesting."
With his newly sharpened senses after gaining the Potion Apprentice profession, he realized these traces were actually residual energy. They faded gradually under sunlight.
"We're here," Andre's voice pulled him back to the present.
"You can start getting ready."
Ron scanned the surroundings cautiously while taking out materials from his bag.
"Why do you think this place was abandoned?" he asked. "In a resource-scarce place like Black Mist Forest, a site with concealment runes wouldn't just be tossed aside."
Andre shrugged and pointed to the worn markings on the pillars.
"It's said a Formal Wizard's experiment went wrong here. The runes were polluted and gradually lost their effect."
"Well, none of that really concerns us." Andre's tone shifted back to casual.
"We're not even official Apprentices yet."
Without lingering on the topic, the blond youth pulled out the Burning Oil.
"I should warn you, this second body forging might be different."
"How so?" Ron asked.
"Do you remember that feeling yesterday?" Andre flipped through his notes.
"When the oil was absorbed, there was a certain rhythm, right?"
Ron nodded.
He remembered it vividly—the scorching energy rushing through his meridians, each pulse beating like the heart of the sun.
"This time," Andre said, growing serious, "you'll need to guide that energy actively. Think of it like... dancing. The first time, you were being led. This time, you must lead the rhythm yourself. And after today, you won't need anyone's help for future forging."
Ron reflected silently.
He thought about his herb-sorting experience that morning. Every herb had its own rhythm, and the key lay in how to sense and channel that unique pulse.
"I understand," he replied.
Taking off his upper garment, Ron sat cross-legged on a rune-marked stone platform.
[Burning Oil detected. Begin the second body forging?]
[Tip: This body forging will affect some attribute growth of the main profession—Knight Squire.]
Having completed the first forging, Ron now clearly felt the flow of his meridians.
"This time, I won't guide you step-by-step," Andre said while preparing the oil.
"You must guide the energy flow on your own."
Ron nodded, closed his eyes, and began controlling his breathing.
[Begin the second body forging?]
"Confirm."
The moment the first drop of Burning Oil touched his back, the familiar searing sensation erupted once again. But unlike before, Ron no longer endured it passively. He began to synchronize his breathing with the energy rhythm from the Corona Breathing Method.
Inhale—seven breaths.
The energy surged in with each breath.
Hold—three breaths.
He focused on sensing the burning rhythm.
Exhale—five breaths.
He directed the energy into his meridians.
"Very good," Andre's voice came calmly from the side.
"Now begin the second breathing cycle."
Ron deepened his rhythm. This time, he could clearly feel the direction of each wisp of energy—as if he were manipulating countless miniature flames, guiding them along defined paths.
**[Second Body Forging]
Progress: 35%
Potion Apprentice Profession Linkage Effect Active:
Meridian Transformation Efficiency ↑
Energy Absorption Rate ↑
**
As his breathing deepened, Ron entered a strange, harmonious state.
Unlike the chaos of his first forging, this time he had full control. Each stream of scorching energy flowed like invisible ink, sketching patterns along his internal channels.
"Focus on the second cycle," Andre reminded.
"Inhale for nine breaths, hold for five, exhale for seven.
Remember—you're leading the rhythm now."
Ron adjusted his breathing as instructed.
As the rhythm shifted, the flow of energy began to harmonize. It felt like he was conducting an invisible orchestra.
Each breath was a note. His meridians were the instruments. When the rhythm aligned perfectly, the energy glided effortlessly.
[Second Body Forging Progress: 67%
Meridian Rhythm Resonance Detected
New Effect: Energy Flow Efficiency ↑]
Ron felt something click inside him.
"This... this is the same feeling I had with those herbs."
Just then, a wave of heat much stronger than before surged into his body.
This was the final burst from the Burning Oil, and its temperature was searing.
"This is it," Andre's voice turned grave.
"Don't fight it—guide it. Ride the rhythm."
Ron nodded internally and took control of his breathing again.
Inhale—ten breaths.
He drew in the fiery energy, each breath drawing it deeper into his meridians.
Hold—six breaths.
He centered himself, sensing every twist of power inside his body.
Exhale—eight breaths.
He directed the energy along his now-familiar pathways, flowing like molten metal through carefully forged channels.
Time seemed to slow.
Inside his body, the energy danced. Every vein, every nerve, even the pores on his skin were resonating with rhythm. The scorching energy was no longer painful—it felt vibrant, almost alive.
This was no longer just body forging. It was transformation.
Control.
Awakening.
The golden glow of the sun flickered across his skin as the last traces of the Burning Oil were absorbed.
**[Second Body Forging Complete]
Final Progress: 100%
New Effects:
Meridian Capacity ↑
Internal Rhythm Synchronization Achieved
Corona Breathing Method Proficiency ↑
Profession Growth Synergy (Knight Squire / Potion Apprentice) Activated**
—Body Fortification Complete—
Ron slowly opened his eyes. His skin was damp with sweat, but his body felt incredibly light.
Andre was looking at him, stunned.
"You... already entered the resonance state?" he asked.
Ron nodded slowly, his expression calm but reflective.
"Seems like... I finally found the rhythm."