Jun was glad the array he had set up had been holding up well, the last array which had been only a 2nd-rank array could only produce and store a certain amount of this new energy. Fortunately, this new array should support him up to the core formation realm if everything goes well.
Closing his eyes, Jun started absorbing more of this energy, and thanks to his epiphany system providing a 100x cultivation talent buff, his speed exceeded those at the emperor level affinity by 100x times, coupled with his Fire and Ligh attribute making for another 10x boost gave Jun an edge no one could match in the same talent affinity.
Feeling the surge of energy once again penetrate his body and enter his meridians, Jun guided them according to the path Jun devised when previously cultivating. This path allowed for the fastest possible way to temper his cells while at the same time not losing any efficacy.
3 minutes later, Jun once again felt the familiar rush of energy surge through him.
BOOM
Jun's entire body radiated with immense strength, but this time it was different.
Jun gazed at his arm, now cloaked in a dark, sludge-like substance, his mind swirling in awe. "These are impurities..." he realized, the revelation striking him with the force of a newfound understanding.
This wasn't as intense as when he had awakened his True Human bloodline, but it marked merely the first step on a longer journey.
As minutes melded into one another, the cycle persisted: each breakthrough Jun achieved was accompanied by the expulsion of more black sludge from his pores. With every iteration, his confidence in the path he had chosen swelled, bolstered by the tangible evidence of his evolving strength.
Body Tempering 12th level...
Body Tempering 13th level...
Body Tempering 14th level...
Body Tempering 15th level...
...
Minutes melted into hours, a relentless passage of time marked by intense focus. When Jun finally opened his eyes, crusted with remnants of the transformative sludge, he sensed a profound change within himself. It was as if he had transcended, becoming someone entirely new, someone more formidable than he could have imagined.
He raised his hand, marveling at the sheer power coursing through his veins. The strength in this single arm was now so devastating that it could obliterate his past self with a mere flick.
"Is this really me? isn't this almost too powerful?!"
A rush of exhilaration surged through him, a primal urge to unleash this newfound might. He envisioned his fists tearing through the air, a force potent enough to rival a cultivator at the gold core stage with just his physical body alone.
And this was just the beginning, his mind whispered, thinking of the myriad ways his attributes would amplify his capabilities further. The potential was exhilarating, almost intoxicating, as he stood on the brink of a power he had only dreamed of.
Yinling, to say the least, felt numb, she had long gotten used to the sight of Jun going higher and higher in the body-tempering realm. In the beginning, she had been shocked to the point where she had to focus on breathing, trying to steady her racing heart as Jun ascended to the 20th level. But that shock, that overwhelming sense of awe, had been hours ago. Now...
"Jun... you truly are a monster" Yinling said in pure admiration.
Jun turning his head felt no resistance to the dried-up sludge encasing his form which fell apart into crumbs after this movement.
Shaking off some of it, Jun stood up, every bone in his body cracking in the process "Jealous, are you, my dear Yinling?" he teased with a playful smirk.
Regaining her composure, Yinling shot back, a twinkle in her eye, "Jealous? Why would I be? What's yours is ours, isn't it?"
Jun's eyebrow arched at her spirited response, a mixture of surprise and affection lighting up his face.
"Quite possessive, aren't we?" he mused, laughter warming his tone. "But that's just one of the many things I adore about you." He paused, his gaze softening. "As I stated, Yinling, I would teach you once I was sure this path was safe, which I can now say with confidence it is"
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's begin!" Her cheeks glowed, a vivid shade of crimson, as she boldly stepped forward.
Smiking a bit, Jun replied "Now Yinling let's not rush things, I may have only reached the 60th layer of the body tempering realm but this alone shouldn't make you this excited"
Did she hear correctly? Is he speaking Human words? Only the 60th level?!! What more could he possibly want? Doesn't Jun know what he just accomplished is something most would never dare dream of as possible?
She could also feel it, the power emanating from Jun's body could easily kill her if he wanted to. But wasn't she in the foundation establishment also possessed the ability to leapfrog 4 giant realms? Yet here is Jun in the mere body tempering stage, his body proving her theory to be true.
"Jun just shut up and help me!"
"Alright, alright," Jun conceded with a hint of amusement in his tone, "but remember, rushing won't lessen the pain."
Yinling knew what was next and tensed every muscle in her body subconsciously. She remembered the pained look of Jun and felt kind of anxious. But she refused to be left behind by Jun while she only watched by the side, unable to help him.
Rising to her feet, she adopted a solid stance, legs spread wide in preparation.
"I'm ready," she declared, signaling her readiness with a determined nod.
"Now... this is probably going to hurt a bit more seeing as how I don't have the energy to penetrate your dantian or meridians, what Im using is pure force"
Yinling, feeling a lump form in her throat, swallowed hard before steeling herself. "So be it. Let's just do this."
Jun flexed his hand, taking a moment to calibrate the force behind his impending strike. It needed to mirror the intensity Yinling had unleashed on him—no more, no less.
Walking over to Yinling, Jun's figure a mere 12 inches from Yinling, much to the confusion of Yinling, Jun extended his hand in front of Yinling's stomach. Opening his palm, like one preparing to do a karate chop, Jun placed the tip of his fingers on her stomach.
"Jun... what are you doing?" Yinling's voice quivered, a mix of uncertainty and trust in her tone, but Jun was lost in his focus, unhearing.
With a deep concentration etched on his face, Jun's fingers curled into a tight fist, positioned merely an inch from the delicate curve of her stomach. In the next heartbeat, his fist surged forward in a controlled yet forceful jab.
A choked COUGH escaped Yinling as the air was driven from her lungs. She staggered backward, her steps faltering under the unexpected intensity of the blow. As she teetered on the brink of collapse, a strong arm encircled her waist, steadying her just in time.
For Yinling, the world around her faded into nothingness, her entire being consumed by the searing agony that erupted from her core, radiating viciously to every extremity. Her meridians and dantian, overwhelmed by the brute force, fractured in an instant.
A thin trickle of blood escaped her lips, a stark red against her pale skin, as her body reflexively coiled inward, a futile attempt to protect itself from the torment.
The urge to scream tore at her, yet her lungs betrayed her, devoid of the breath needed to voice her anguish. She was ensnared in a silent ordeal, every second stretching into an eternity of pain. Gradually, through sheer will, Yinling clawed her way back to a sliver of awareness.
Only a hoarse intake of air broke through, her gaze locked on Jun, mingled with pain and accusation.
"Jun... at least warn me... next time, you... you bastard," she breathed out, each word punctuated by a struggle for breath.