49 Enclosing Baseline

    ''----''

    ''After becoming privy to the techniques listed in the Monarch''s War Path Record and how to utilize the Essence Cores and their special effects

    Apollo had been taking his progress step by step. Although he didn''t experience any fights in the past month

    he had increased steadily. Needless to say

    the way he trained now was highly efficient and comparable to slaying beasts.''

    ''"Haah...haah…" bent over gasping for air

    Apollo clutched the surface below him. Sweat pooled as it dripped off him. Drenched from head to toes

    the scene looked as if he had taken a shower. Finishing his attempt at opening the finer meridians

    he was utterly devoid of Essence.''

    ''"I''ve entered the 6th Rank but… the pressure doesn''t seem to be alleviating

    " spoke Apollo through bated breaths.''

    ''[That''s to be expected. As you see

    the opening process becomes harder rather than easier despite you becoming increasingly familiar with it. This is due to the nature of the subsequent meridians. They start finer in comparison and need to be nourished even more so than the prior ones. Not to mention

    the energy has to pass through some other channels so it dissipates a great degree.]''

    ''"This is...exhausting

    " breathlessly spoked Apollo. He had never felt like that when fighting the Spirit Beasts. True cultivation was a different type of beast! After all

    in both of his lives

    this is the first time he came in contact with such practices.''

    ''[Hmm

    you have awakened 90 of the meridians. I suppose it should suffice. Starting today

    we''ll add a fourth regiment to your training—emulating the Infernal Ira Stigmata. However

    we''ll simply be using it to temper you.]''

    ''"We''re doing that already? I won''t be able to create the stigmata though. Isn''t it pointless right now?" questioned Apollo. Taking a moment

    he mulled over the words of Azridan.''

    ''[Not entirely

    we can improve your foundations! Don''t forget

    there are multiple minimum requirements to cultivate it and you need to complete them all! Treat it as you would the Mortal Realm—laying the foundation for your future advancements. Just circulate the essence through the opened acupoints.]''

    ''"Okay

    I''ll try to do so

    " replied Apollo before aiming to complete the task. Drawing in the Natural Essence

    Apollo felt his skin breathing. The sensation was incomparable to that minuscule feeling felt at the beginning. It was like comparing a trickling stream to a river

    it couldn''t be done!''

    ''The continuous undulations of his pores coaxed the Natural Essence into gathering at a more rapid pace. Soon enough

    it coagulated and entered the meridians and flowed throughout him.''

    ''In truth

    this was the first time he was manipulating ambient Natural Essence inside himself. Prior to this event

    it didn''t penetrate his body properly throughout the past month as they were insufficient to form a basic circulation path. To put it differently

    there existed Four Great Cycles; every set of 90 meridians formed a cycle. Of course

    as for the sole remaining one

    it was an anomaly that inciting would cause unknown effects.''

    ''Needless to say

    minuscule amounts that entered his body and ultimately turned into use of his own cultivation. As the Natural Essence flowed through Apollo''s body

    it began to strengthen his meridians first and foremost. The thickness of his meridians was a key factor in determining the state of his physique. In the talent assessment

    he took years prior

    the stele bypass and injected Natural Essence inside the body.''

    ''The talent level was then determined by calculating how fast and well the Natural Essence circulated throughout the body and how much of it was able to enter the body without dispersing. Due to Apollo''s weakened meridians

    he received the talent grade he did. While the inner physique was able to be upgraded; there was a catch and that was the reason all families urged their youths to focus on awakening their meridians.''

    ''Hence

    the 2nd testing of Talent at age 15. At that point

    everyone''s set in stone talent would be determined. This was partly the reason families focused on kids with initial higher talents. They could become the hopes and dreams of certain families to achieve a higher status.''

    ''''Let''s see how it feels to circulate the Natural Essence.''''

    ''Becoming ignorant of his surroundings

    Apollo focused on the Natural Essence coursing through his meridians. Some of it seeped through his meridian walls and entered his muscles and bones. However

    most of it traveled down to the pit of his stomach although it was empty. From there it dispersed into his other organs.''

    ''?20 (10 + 10) Experience has been acquired.?''

    ''?20 (10 + 10) Experience has been acquired.?''

    ''?20 (10 + 10) Experience has been acquired.?''

    ''….''

    ''The message about receiving experience continuously sounded nearly every minute or so causing Apollo to raise his eyebrows.''

    ''''Another way to amass copious amounts of experience

    I like this.''''

    ''As he continued the cultivation process

    the notification continued at the same pace. However

    every now and then approximately 3 hours in between

    he would receive another type of notification.''

    ''?Your body has been strengthened slightly. Strength

    Agility and Vitality + .1?''

    ''?Your body has been strengthened slightly. Strength

    Agility and Vitality + .1?''

    ''?Your body has been strengthened slightly. Strength

    Agility and Vitality + .1?''

    ''''So I can receive stats as well. No wait

    it''s because of this fire element refining me. It''s like leveling up but without an increase in my level. However

    is that all it''s doing? Hmm

    Azridan

    will there be big changes when the Demon Monarch System reaches Level 3?''''

    ''[Yes

    there will be rather large changes. For one

    by that point

    you will have entered the true cultivation world. And secondly

    certain options will present themselves to you.]''

    ''''Ah I see

    then I will just focus on increasing my strength.''''

    ''After uttering those words

    Apollo''s focus steeled. Even when his stamina depleted

    he wasn''t turned off from training. His mind became training oriented. If it didn''t contribute to his strength

    he didn''t worry about it.''

    ''From this point on

    his daily cycle now included one more segment. Instead of killing monsters

    he ingested the pellets. Yet

    even then

    they began experiencing diminishing returns. The initial 3% increase dwindled to slightly under 2%. Luckily

    Apollo didn''t dwell on it.''

    ''After all

    to receive more he simply needed to complete his tasks. Hence

    although his daily schedule became monotonous

    Apollo didn''t mind it one bit. When his boredom piqued

    he conversed with Azridan. As a result

    a few months later

    he reached the baseline needed to venture into learning those two techniques.''

    ''He had opened all 120 of the awakened acupoints. Furthermore

    the 2 main attributes; Strength and Agility were both either approaching or surpassing 65.0.''

    ''''Now that my capabilities are basically balanced

    let''s see just how tyrannical these things are

    '' thought Apollo with an expectant gaze while moving his shoulder-length unkempt hair out of his face.''