Chapter 15 : Geeking out

The grand hall inside the clan courtyard was a sight to behold, with its towering columns and intricately carved archways. The walls were adorned with ancient tapestries depicting scenes from the clan's illustrious history, while the floor was polished to a mirror-like shine.

As I stood in the center of the hall, surrounded by the elders of the clan, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the gravity of the occasion.

My mother stood beside me, her expression serene yet proud, while Ning Rong watched from the sidelines, her eyes alight with curiosity.

Among the elders present, four out of the five were there to witness the ceremony.

They stood solemnly, their presence commanding respect despite their nondescript appearances.

However, one figure stood out from the rest - Elder Xi Luo.

Her perpetually furrowed brow and stern demeanor made her an imposing figure, and her disapproving gaze seemed to follow me wherever I went.

But despite her disapproval, the elders were here to give my mother and Ning Rong 'Face'.

In the cultivation world, 'Face' was a concept as complex as it was important. It was about respect, honor, and reputation.

To show 'Face' was to acknowledge someone's status and position, to give them the recognition they deserved.

For my mother, who had dedicated her life to serving the clan, it was a matter of respect for her years of dedication and service.

And for Ning Rong, who was on the cusp of becoming the next clan leader, it was about acknowledging her potential and giving her the support she needed to succeed.

But 'Face' was a currency in the cultivation world, one that could open doors and forge alliances, or close them just as quickly.

It was a delicate balance, one that required careful navigation and strategic maneuvering.

As the ceremony was abut to begin, I couldn't help but feel the pressure mounting bit i also felt the excitement about learning more about my meridians and what i can do with Qi .

Previously I mocked Rong about the pain part but the truth is I am more concerned about it than she ever was.

And here it comes

As the ceremony had yet to begin, Ning Rong took the opportunity to playfully tease me, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Ah, Feng'er, are you feeling nervous?" she asked with a smirk, echoing my own teasing from her meridian formation ceremony.

I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly where she was going with this. "Please, Rong Rong, don't start with the sympathy now. I can handle a little pain," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

She grinned, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Oh, I'm sure you can, but I'll be sure to remind you of this moment when you're squirming in agony later," she retorted, her tone laced with amusement.

I chuckled, unable to resist getting drawn into our usual banter.

"You know, Rong Rong, you're not as tough as you think you are. Remember when you cried like a baby during your own ceremony?"

Her eyes narrowed playfully, and she mock-glared at me. "Watch it, Feng'er, or I might just have to remind you of a few embarrassing moments of your own," she threatened, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots. What could you possibly have on me that's worse than your dramatic waterworks?"

She smirked, clearly enjoying the verbal sparring. "Well, for starters, there was that time you accidentally set your hair on fire during alchemy practice..."

I groaned, knowing exactly where this was going. "Okay, okay, let's not bring up past mistakes.

We both know we're equally capable of embarrassing ourselves," I conceded, unable to suppress a grin.

Ning Rong laughed, the tension of the upcoming ceremony momentarily forgotten in our playful exchange. "Fair enough, Feng'er.

But don't worry, I'll be right there to hold your hand if things get too rough," she teased, nudging me playfully.

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I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Rong Rong, but I think I'll manage.

Besides, I wouldn't want to cramp your style as the young clan leader," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

She chuckled, the sound light and carefree. "Oh, don't worry about that, Feng'er.

I'll always have time to torment you, no matter what position I hold in the clan," she teased, a playful glint in her eye.

And as we continued our light hearted banter, the weight of the upcoming ceremony seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and shared amusement. I knew that with this tsundere here, I would not get bored easily.

and "stop calling me Feng'er " i said with an annoyed face .

" you are two years younger than me and i am almost eight just a few months away , just because you said its not like i will sop."

Despite her playful demeanour, I could sense a hint of concern lingering beneath Ning Rong's teasing façade. It was subtle, barely noticeable to anyone else, but I knew her well enough to see through the bravado.

As we exchanged banter, her eyes sparkled with mischief, but there was a flicker of uncertainty hidden within them.

It was as if she was silently questioning whether I could truly handle the pain that awaited me during the ceremony.

I could understand her worry. After all, the meridian formation process was known to be excruciating, and despite my attempts to brush it off with humour, there was no denying it.

But I couldn't let her see my own apprehension. I had to maintain the illusion of confidence, both for her sake and for mine.

So, I met her playful jabs with witty retorts, masking my own doubts behind a façade of light heartedness.

Yet, deep down, I knew the truth. The pain would be intense, and there was no guarantee that I would emerge from the ceremony unscathed. But I couldn't let fear consume me.

“ Feng’er start it “ my mother commanded .

As the process began I steeled my nerves I have never suffered so much pain in my life this or previous even when I got hit by the truck it was instantaneous and I didn’t feel much of anything .

Soon I felt as something was forcing my spirit roots to move but I remembered something ,the instability of Rong’s soul sense and the abnormal behaviour of her spiritual roots.

It was clear that something was off with soul during this process and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach.

So I first tried to extend my Soul sense outward but to my surprise I could not even send single centimetre away from my body and I started to feel the pain throughout my body .

I wanted to study this process as much as I could before the pain took over , so I extended my soul sense inward to sense my spirit roots but what I saw shocked me again my internal view was as it is but since I have been using my soul sense to look inside my body basically everyday.

I can barely feel something is slightly different and that is the fact I can sense the qi in my spirit roots a little clearer and that tell me its not pure qi like always there is completely yet a very familiar energy inside it .

Then suddenly a thought struck me like a bolt of lightning about why can I feel my spirit roots clearer or why the energy is mixing so harmoniously with my qi or why does it feel so familiar or why cant I push my soul sense outward .

Its because it my soul essence that is mixing with the Qi to form meridians and why can cultivators use soul sense to manipulate qi to such crazy levels once they form meridians its like snake growing arms and able to do what humans can with tools but just as I realized that something else happened.

The painful process of meridian formation is not one easily described in words. It is a visceral experience, one that encompasses both physical agony and mental endurance.

As the formation begins, the cultivator is enveloped in waves of searing pain that course through their body like wildfire.

It starts as a dull ache, a subtle discomfort that gradually intensifies into a relentless onslaught of agony.

With each passing moment, it feels as though every nerve in the body is being stretched to its breaking point, as if invisible tendrils of fire are tearing through flesh and bone.

The pain is all-encompassing, overwhelming in its intensity, and it takes every ounce of willpower to endure.

But it's not just the physical pain that makes meridian formation so grueling. It's also the mental strain, the constant battle to maintain focus and clarity amid the chaos of agony.

The mind becomes a battleground, a warzone where doubt and fear wage war against determination and resilience.

For me, each moment feels like an eternity as I struggle to withstand the torment coursing through ny body.

Every fiber of my being screams out in protest, urging me to surrender to the pain and flee from the ordeal.

But I refused to yield. With gritted teeth and a steely resolve, I pushed through the torment, drawing on every ounce of inner strength to endure.

It's a battle of attrition, a test of endurance unlike any other, and I know that failure is not an option.

Slowly, agonizingly, the process continues, each passing moment feeling like an eternity of suffering. But amidst the pain, there is was something fascinating going on.

I watched as a myriad of meridians began to form, intertwining and weaving their way through my body like intricate pathways of energy.

These qi-carrying veins connected to the area above my naval, known as the dantian, where Qi would eventually form as I continued my cultivation journey. It was a sight to behold, seeing the foundations of my future power taking shape before my eyes.

I had already confirmed my theory regarding meridian formation being linked to qi and soul essence being mixed together in order to create them and that give me even more confidence regarding the theory forming inside my head.

As the process was completed, I felt a surge of intense energy coursing through my body, like a blazing river carving its path through my veins.

Every meridian, every pathway of energy, seemed to ignite with newfound vitality, pulsating with raw power. It was as if my entire being was alight with the force of creation itself.

But amidst all that , there was also a strange sense of euphoria, a profound awareness of the immense potential now coursing through my body.

It was a paradoxical sensation of agony and ecstasy, leaving me feeling simultaneously drained and invigorated.

I have felt this much in both my lives combined, I think I need to rest plus I don’t want to go through something like this again , I am not some overpowered Mc with extremely strong will .

As I teetered on the brink of consciousness, the world around me blurred and swirled, colors dancing in a hazy kaleidoscope.

In the midst of this disorienting fog, I caught sight of Rong's figure approaching, her presence a beacon of familiarity in the swirling chaos.

I felt a surge of warmth wash over me , but as for the rest aside from my adoptive mother had a look of disappointment on their faces.

I felt the tendrils of unconsciousness tightening their grip, dragging me down into the depths of oblivion. I think that’s enough geeking out for today.