Chapter 5 - Part 2 of 3 (Patreon)

“Unfortunately no. We’re running into a large wall information wise. Through Jia Feng, I have requested more information from the intelligence department. Before the Seventh Realm there are a number of people that have tempered their body to the Stone Stage, people who reach the Body Like Iron stage are from strong sects that have a foothold in the higher realms, Most of them haven’t done a complete tempering and it is only the elites that reachBody Like Diamond. Through rumors there are only a few people in the Seventh Realm and beyond the Seventh Realm there is an information vacuum on just what the hell is happening up there.”

“And getting information from sects that are in the higher realms is a pain in the ass,” Erik added.

“So all of our information past the Body Like Stone stage is based on what we have learned through you and the rest of the people who have tempered their bodies. You’re the cutting edge for Alva. So we have no idea,” Melissa shrugged her shoulders, moving her clipboard as well.

“Any ideas, theories?”

“Well these things happen in series and we know more information on mana cultivation. With mana cultivation one goes through a mana rebirth, I think that the bloodline is something similar, a point where the body changes in a large way because of the built up temperings. Again, this is all conjecture.”

“It makes sense, the Ten Realms systems, while different, follow a certain set of rules. Tempering the foundations is like forming the mana core. Just that with mana cultivation that is a lot more power. Well, whatever happens, happens, when can you fit me into your schedule?” Erik grinned.

“Luckily for you, I’m all free, give me three hours and I can have everything ready. Though I will advise that you let people know you’ll be away for a number of days.”

“They’ll be happy to get the break, I’ll send the messages.”

***

After getting a message from Erik, Rugrat found himself walking towards the mana cultivation facility.

“Lord Rodriguez,” The lady at the counter greeted him.

“One mana cultivation room, open it right up to the dungeon core.”

“Uhh,” the lady seemed hesitant, but remembering who she was talking to she gave a half shrug and pulled out a key.

“Room One A,” She said.

“Thanks,” Rugrat took the key. He and his protection detail walked through the honeycomb structured training rooms, people were leaving and entering, no one was hanging around. All of the rooms had a red light next to the door showing that they were occupied.

Rugrat reached the room in the center of the training facility.

A deep feeling of relaxation ran through his body as his pores and mana gates opened, drawing in the ambient mana.

He had reached the point where he was almost subconsciously circulating his mana all the time.

He used the key and stepped into the training room.

“The dungeon might be in chaos turning into a massive drill digging through the ground, though we pulled the mana storing formations offline so they can only accept power coming in. They drain power away from the dungeon cores, then the power runes on the different floors are built into the system so everything we have running takes a little more power away. Still there are six massive dungeon cores drawing in and purifying mana across six floors and then shooting it down into the ground.”

Rugrat patted the taped up skull on his knee.

“Looks like that extra mana is good for you, your carvings are coming in faster. Now I can’t let Erik get ahead of me, I’ve been holding back too much. I won’t leave until I reach the liquid core!”

After his tour of Alva, Rugrat had realized that everything was in capable hands.

I have classes to teach, but they don’t start for a few weeks, let's see how far I can get before then!

Rugrat pulled a pillow to the ground, he took off his boots and pulled out a box of different pills and concoctions.

He parked his ass on the pillow, having to pull his legs together to cross them.

“Alright, lets see what you’ve got,” He used mana manipulation to create a mana hand, he reached out and pulled the lever on the wall, formations were pulled into place, diverting pure mana from the dungeon core into the room.

Rugrat let out a grunt, it was like he had turned on a waterfall that was shooting in at him from every direction.

“Hah! Nice!” Rugrat released his controls over his aura, his mana domain stretched out around his room, hemmed in by all of the surrounding mana it only extended about a foot from his body.

Using his domain he compressed the mana and then drew it into his mana gates, fifteen cyclones of mana appeared around his body, white circles appeared under his skin, shining as the cyclones drove through the center of the circles.

The compressed mana fought against his mana veins creating a turbulent atmosphere like there were rapids inside Rugrat’s body.

He circulated the mana, compressing and drawing it further.

The different streams of mana combined together, passing through larger mana veins. On Rugrat’s skin, one could see the powerful mana connecting inside his body, illuminating him from the inside.

Rugrat removed anything other than cultivation from his mind, becoming solely focused on what was happening in his body.

The mana traveling through his veins reached Rugrat’s core. Like a black hole, it drank in the mana. Seconds passed as drops started to appear in his mana core.

Slowly, ever so slowly the drops from the outside of his core released from the outside wall and gathered in the middle, adding to the liquid sphere resting there.

Rugrat was covered in sweat, but his face was pulled back in a chilling grin.

With a laugh Rugrat pulled down on the lever more, the mana density in the room doubled again. Rugrat’s back bent with a grunt.

His nose flared as he pushed against the new pressure on his body. He sat back upright, drawing in more mana.

On his hip, the once yellowed skull was rapidly turning pearl white, without the slightest blemish. Blue and golden runes appeared in the pearl-white bone. The blue and gold runes seemed to shift and move in their carved lines as if they were liquid gold and the most brilliant blue waters.

***

It had taken four hours for Erik to get everything cleared. At the same time medics were called in from across the Ten Realms to assist.

A close protection detail was set up outside of Erik’s room, while Roska’s special team two had switched with Gong Jin to take over protecting Erik and Rugrat early.

Erik walked into the room wearing a robe, he was wearing only his boxers underneath, showing his withered and frail body. Several tempering nails had been driven into his body, two on each of his upper arms, others on his legs and four into his stomach.

Healing formations adhered to his skin, glowing constantly.

He was gaunt, the discrepancy between his neck and up with the rest of his body would make someone think they were seeing things.

The necklace around Erik’s neck protected the healthy skin and appearance of his head.

“Jen aren’t you supposed to be in King’s Hill?”

“Well as the Head of Health Studies I should get to know more about body tempering right?” Jen said with a smile.