87 The Trifles of Body Tempering 1 (1/2)
”Ah!”
”Fourth Young Miss!”
A startled cry broke the calm in the study of the Flowing Wind Residence, jolting all inhabitants present. Dropping the objects grasped in their hands in their surprise, the two maidservants rushed towards An Fei.
The girl was staring in a mirror of cast bronze, utter shock and dismay present on her beautiful countenance. More particularly, the girl was staring at the sudden changes in her eyes.
Since she had last glimpsed at her appearance, the twin scarlet irises had cracked.
Originating from the pupil, thin, hair-like threads raced throughout the iris akin to the roots of a strong tree effused with vitality. The cracks were filled with a black color, creating a rather startling sight that oddly did not come into conflict with her appearance.
Nevertheless, it was rather scary and intimidating to gaze into a pair of crack irises.
Even if she was staring at her own distorted reflection via a bronze mirror, An Fei wished to shirk away from the pair of disharmony.
”Fourth Young Miss…” Xiao Ying's voice trailed off as she glanced at the young girl biting her lips in anxiety.
She was well aware of the shock the Fourth Young Miss was undergoing at the moment. The maidservant, after all, was the first to experience the sight, and was accustomed with the momentary sensation of shock and discomfort.
”Fourth Young Miss, it'll be alright,” Xiao Wen took the initiative to console the young girl.
”Master is working on discovering a solution to ease the Fourth Young Miss' troubles. All the Fourth Young Miss needs to do is to relax and recuperate.”
”En.”
An Fei nodded, before helplessly withdrawing from the mirror. Accepting the hand offered by Xiao Ying, the girl sat on the edge of the bed to stare at her slender fingers for a moment.
Flexing the muscles of her fingers, clenching them into a fist and moving them a digit at a time.
As expected, her abilities had drastically improved after that unusual experience within the Sanctum.
Her dexterity, speed, and stamina had improved by a significant margin, noticeable without having to conduct any testing.
What was rather interesting was that her strength didn't seem to have improved at all, but the girl could hardly care about such a trivial issue. Toying with her fingers, An Fei swiftly descended into thought as she carefully observed the enhancement to her physique.
…was this the benefits of cultivation?
Then, was she a practitioner of the so-called Body Tempering Realm of mortal cultivation as the had described, the first realm that exposed mortals to the path of cultivation?
Body Tempering… was it not divided into five additional stages, known as the Tempering of… Blood, Meridians, Marrow, Flesh, and the inner organs?
The nightly terror she had experienced every day whilst within the Sanctum of Eternal Peace… didn't she envision the golden light ravaging her blood vessels, both minor and major arteries?
Furthermore, the golden light had encapsulated her Heart Meridian…
Did it symbolize that she had progressed from first stage of the Body Tempering Realm to the second? All within those few short days she had spent within the realm of sky-blue crystal?
Was that sort of pace… normal?
The girl descended into a series of complicated thoughts, ultimately scratching her head as she found herself mired in further complications the longer she pondered on the issue. An inadvertent sigh of frustration attracted the attention of Xiao Ying, and the maidservant sat next to An Fei, worry displayed on her countenance.
”Fourth Young Miss, anything bothering you?” the maidservant asked in a concerned tone.
An Fei first shook her head, then nodded. Under Xiao Ying's slightly bemused and caring gaze, the young girl carefully minced her words, forming a haphazard and remarkably ambiguous explanation.
”This… Xiao Ying… I attempted to practice cultivating with the a few days ago…” the girl began, her eyes shifting left and right underneath the maidservant's piercing gaze.
”This… a few nights ago, I felt warmth spread throughout my body, and when I closed my eyes, I could see… a golden light spread throughout my blood vessels and… a meridian? Xiao Ying, do you know what's going on?”
”? Warmth throughout the body… and a golden light passing through the blood vessels?” the maidservant repeated in befuddlement, before her eyes opened in surprise.
”Fourth Young Miss, you succeeded in entering the Body Tempering Realm!? Furthermore, golden light encased the blood vessels!?”