Everyday of the first month, Merlin found himself tested like never before, as the intensity of the training in the inner court pushed both his body and mind to their breaking points. The rigorous regimen, designed to forge his skill and control over his mana, demanded every ounce of his focus and determination. But despite the grueling sessions, Merlin's greatest challenge and most significant breakthrough came in the quiet moments after each trial, when he retreated to his personal courtyard to meditate and allow the Rolling Thunder technique to cultivate on its own.
It was a dangerous practice. The Rolling Thunder technique, while powerful, was wild and chaotic in nature, requiring careful management of the mana pathways within his body. But Merlin had chosen not to interfere too much, allowing the technique to run its course. He had seen the benefits in Myrddin's memories, where the technique had cleared the blockages in his own cultivation, but Merlin also understood the risk. If he weren't careful, the force of the technique could overwhelm him, tearing through his pathways and causing irreparable harm.
But despite the danger, Merlin couldn't deny the results. The technique, operating autonomously, began to do something remarkable: it was cleansing his mana pathways. Where there had once been stagnation, there was now movement. His mana began to flow more smoothly, the paths once choked with impurities now opening up and becoming more efficient. He could feel the difference in his control, as the wild surges of power that had once been hard to harness now seemed to flow more steadily through his body.
The technique didn't just work on his mana—it was slowly working on his body itself. Merlin felt his muscles becoming firmer, his endurance increasing. It was as if his entire body were being refined, becoming a better vessel for the power he was learning to control. The subtle hum of energy, always present but now more noticeable, felt like a pulse within his core, a constant reminder of his progress.
Despite the danger, each meditation session seemed to bring more clarity, and the pain, though intense at times, never lasted long. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the technique's power, Merlin found himself growing more accustomed to it. His connection with the technique became deeper, more intuitive. There were moments when the thunderous energy inside him seemed almost like a natural extension of his own will.
Standing in his courtyard one evening, the wind swirling around him as the last rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, Merlin could feel a change in himself. He wasn't the same person who had stepped into the inner court a month ago. His mana was more refined, his control stronger, and his body more attuned to the power he wielded.
Then it came.
Merlin had pushed his limits beyond what he had thought possible. Through relentless meditation and cultivation, he not only achieved his breakthrough into the 3rd Circle Adept realm of mana refinement but also experienced a secret breakthrough in his body refinement—reaching the Muscle realm, the 3rd realm of body cultivation.
His mana, which had once been wild and difficult to control, now surged with incredible precision and potency. The transition into the Adept realm was marked by a deeper connection to his elemental affinity, especially with lightning, allowing him to manipulate it with greater ease and efficiency. His mana pathways, once clogged with impurities and inefficiencies, were now crystal-clear channels for the immense power that flowed through him. His sense of mana control had reached new heights, allowing him to execute spells and techniques with fluidity and power that he had never thought possible.
In secret, as his mana refined, so too did his body. The Muscle realm, the 3rd stage of body refinement, wasn't just about strength—it was about precision, endurance, and efficiency in movement. Merlin's body had undergone an internal transformation, strengthening his muscles, tendons, and ligaments while also increasing his flexibility and agility. He could feel the difference in every step he took, every breath he drew. His body was becoming more than just a vessel for his mana—it was becoming a perfect instrument for combat and cultivation.
The breakthroughs, however, were not without their consequences. The surge of power from the Rolling Thunder technique had pushed his limits, causing intense strain on both his mind and body. But rather than breaking, Merlin had adapted. The two realms of cultivation were no longer separate but had begun to interweave, each strengthening the other. His mana flowed through his now-refined body with more power than ever, and his body responded with the speed, flexibility, and strength of someone far beyond his previous limits.
Merlin knew that this was just the beginning of his true potential. The road ahead would be even more challenging, but with his breakthroughs in both mana refinement and body cultivation, he felt ready to face whatever trials awaited him.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Merlin couldn't help but feel ready for whatever lay ahead. The trial period was just the beginning. The real journey had only just begun.