At that moment, he noticed Andrey was looking at him with a strange expression.
"You've changed quite a bit," Andrey said. "You weren't this serious before."
Robb smiled: "Maybe it's because I've found hope."
Indeed, in just a few short days, he had earned the position of potion apprentice, learned the Solar Breathing Technique, and secured a well-paid job at the herb shop.
But most importantly, he had begun to truly understand how this world worked.
Robb took out the bottle of Scorching Oil from the drawer—the pale golden liquid shimmered under the sunlight.
With his previous experience, he could now feel the energy within the oil more clearly.
"Say…" Andrey took the bottle and examined it closely: "Why is Lord Hugo so interested in you? Just because of a well-preserved star herb?"
Robb shook his head: "It's probably more than that. I think it's because of the 'rhythm'."
"Rhythm?"
"Just like it says in the Solar Breathing Technique—every kind of power has its specific rhythm."
Robb explained, "While sorting herbs today, I noticed that many ingredients emitted a kind of special pulse."
Andrey tapped his forehead: "That reminds me of something. My grandfather once said that a true wizard doesn't just wield power—they understand its nature."
"Like this bottle of Scorching Oil." He shook the vial in his hand: "On the surface, it's for body tempering, but in fact, it contains the rhythm of the sun."
Robb's heart stirred—no wonder he had seen that golden sun during the first body tempering.
Perhaps it wasn't just a hallucination, but a perception of the energy within the oil through the breathing technique.
"It's about time." Andrey glanced at the sun outside the window. "Where are we training today?"
"Same place—the testing ground," Robb replied while packing up. "The runes there hide our presence, and—"
Before he could finish, a dull thud came from next door, followed by Darude's frustrated yell:
"Damn it! Failed again!"
The two exchanged glances and gave helpless smiles.
That neighbor obsessed with sonic spells was just like the magic he studied—always making noise almost every day.
Walking through the slightly chilly morning path, the abandoned testing ground looked particularly quiet under the sun.
Those rune-etched stone pillars cast patchy shadows, and the bluish-gray marks on the ground shimmered faintly in the light.
No wonder wizards chose this place for their experiments—this area was extremely sensitive to energy, and any supernatural force would leave traces on the ground.
Robb noticed that the bluish-gray marks seemed lighter than yesterday.
"That's odd..." he muttered.
Thanks to his enhanced perception after changing professions, he realized that those colors were actually remnants of energy, which faded gradually under sunlight.
"We're here." Andrey's voice pulled Robb out of his thoughts. "You can start preparing."
As Robb unpacked, he glanced around warily: "Why do you think the wizards abandoned this testing ground?"
He always found this place strange—in the resource-scarce Black Mist Forest, a rune-insulated site shouldn't just be left unused.
"That's a question for the runes."
Andrey pointed at the weathered markings on the stone pillars: "Rumor is, a formal wizard's experiment went wrong here, contaminating the runes and slowly rendering them ineffective."
"Alright, enough idle talk. It's not like any of this has anything to do with us two nobodies who aren't even apprentices."
The blond youth didn't seem interested in chatting any longer and efficiently pulled out the Scorching Oil: "Let me remind you—the second round of tempering might be quite different from the first."
"How so?"
"Do you remember that sensation from yesterday?" Andrey flipped through his notebook:
"When the oil seeped into your body, there was a unique rhythm."
Robb nodded—he would never forget that experience. The scorching energy flowing through his meridians, each pulse like the heartbeat of the sun.
"This time..." Andrey's tone grew serious, "You'll have to guide the energy actively. It's like…"
He searched for the right metaphor:
"It's like dancing. Last time, someone led you. This time, you have to follow the music and take control of the rhythm yourself. And from this point on, you won't need anyone to assist you during future temperings."
Robb had a sudden realization. He thought of what happened that morning in the herb shop—those herbs each had a unique rhythm, and the key was sensing and using that trait.
"I understand." He took off his shirt and sat cross-legged on the stone platform. "Let's begin."
[Scorching Essential Oil detected. Begin second body tempering?]
[Note: This round of tempering will affect certain attribute growths of the combat class—Knight Apprentice]
Thanks to the first tempering, he could now clearly perceive the pathways of his meridians.
"You don't need me walking you through every step now," Andrey said, starting to prepare the oil.
"You'll need to actively guide the energy's flow."
Robb nodded, closed his eyes, and began adjusting his breathing.
[Begin second body tempering?]
"Confirm."
As the first drop of the oil landed on his back, that familiar burning sensation returned.
But this time, Robb didn't just endure it—he actively coordinated with the Solar Breathing Technique.
Inhale—seven counts. Energy flowed in with the breath.
Hold—three counts. He felt the fiery rhythm contained in the oil.
Exhale—five counts. He guided the energy along his meridians.
"Good," Andrey's voice came from a distance. "Now move on to the second breathing rhythm."
Robb deepened his breath—this time, he could clearly sense the flow of every strand of energy, like guiding tiny streams of fire along a defined path.
[Second body tempering
Progress: 35%
Alchemy Apprentice class synergy active:
Slight increase in meridian remodeling efficiency
Slight increase in energy absorption rate]
As his breath deepened, Robb entered a wondrous state.
Unlike the first tempering where he was a passive recipient, this time he could clearly feel the patterns of energy flow.
The scorching currents were like invisible paintbrushes, outlining the shape of his meridians under his guidance.
"Focus on the second breathing rhythm," Andrey's somewhat worried voice came from nearby:
"Inhale for nine counts, hold for five, exhale for seven. Remember—you control the rhythm."
Robb adjusted his breathing frequency as instructed. With each change in rhythm, he felt the energy begin to flow in a new way.
Every breath was a musical note, and his meridians were the instrument.
When the rhythm aligned perfectly, the energy began flowing with extraordinary smoothness.
[Second body tempering progress: 67%
Meridian rhythm resonance detected
Bonus effect: Slight increase in energy flow efficiency]
"I think I've found the key…" Robb thought silently.
The pattern of energy movement reminded him of the "rhythm" he observed in the herbs earlier that morning.
Just then, a much more intense wave of heat surged into his body.
It was the final burst of the blazing oil—hotter than anything before.
"This is the crucial moment," Andrey's voice turned solemn:
"Remember—don't resist the energy. Guide it."