First Rank

Six days later, March 1st.

After finishing dinner, Lu Hao opened his panel to take a look.

[Slaughter Point System]

[Host: Lu Hao]

[Vitality: 209/209 cal]

[Mentality: 289/289 Hz+]

[Storage Space: 1 cubic meter]

[Slaughter Point: 1475]

His vitality had reached the limit of triple bone tempering, and he had saved over a thousand Slaughter Points. Furthermore, the plus sign behind his vitality value had disappeared, which meant that Lu Hao had reached the absolute limit for a non-martial artist.

Next, it was time to break through to become a martial artist. Only by breaking through could he achieve a significant improvement, rather than continuing to stagnate here while merely nourishing his vitality.

"Mom, my vitality has reached its limit. I can break through to become a martial artist now, and I plan to do it today."

"Alright, since your vitality reached the limit so quickly, then you can proceed. I will stand guard for you."

Although Bai Qiuyao was somewhat surprised, she knew that Lu Hao had his own opportunities, so she agreed immediately.

They arrived in the martial arts training room.

Bai Qiuyao began to instruct Lu Hao.

"Hao'er, you have practiced the Tempering Method, so you should understand its efficacy. It can open up the main meridians of the human body, allowing vitality to circulate and nourish the bones and flesh."

"Non-martial artists practicing the Tempering Method only cultivate the main meridians; there are 14 main meridians in the human body that run through the entire frame."

"Of course, this is in a broad sense. The human body is the most complex structure, and even now, no one can say for certain exactly how many meridians exist."

"A non-martial artist breaking through to Rank One is meant to open up more collateral meridians, allowing vitality to temper the bones and flesh at a deeper level."

"Hao'er, do you intend to temper the bones of your upper limbs or lower limbs for your first rank?"

"I plan to temper the lower limb bones first. After all, tempering the lower limbs allows me to both fight and run."

Lu Hao replied. This was something he had decided from the very beginning. If he cultivated the lower limb bones, he could pair them with basic leg techniques to be mobile and combat-ready. Even if he cultivated the upper limb bones, his vitality would not be enough to support the use of the War Blood Mad Blade.

"Good. Since you are prepared to temper the lower limb bones first, you need to expand the meridians of the lower limbs during the breakthrough to prepare for the subsequent tempering."

"Currently, the expansion of the lower limb meridians requires a total of 62 collateral meridians to be opened."

As Bai Qiuyao spoke, she took out a human meridian chart and pointed out the locations of the meridians to Lu Hao according to the diagram.

She pointed out the direction for each one and shared some small tips for the breakthrough.

Although Lu Hao had learned about the meridians that needed to be tempered to reach Rank One in the past few days, under Bai Qiuyao's guidance, he understood them much more thoroughly now.

"Hao'er, have you prepared the Organ Protection Pill and the Bone Tempering Pill?"

Bai Qiuyao asked. As for why she didn't ask about the Blood Vitality Pill, the vitality Lu Hao possessed from his triple bone tempering was more than enough to support the expansion of his meridians.

Those who needed Blood Vitality Pills to assist in a breakthrough were mostly martial artists who had only undergone single bone tempering, or those who hadn't tempered their bones at all. Since their vitality was insufficient to expand the meridians, they naturally needed pills to help.

Moreover, every medicine has its side effects; one should try to avoid taking these pills if possible.

"I have them all ready."

Lu Hao took an Organ Protection Pill and a Bone Tempering Pill from the cabinet nearby. He had taken the time to buy these over the past two days. As for the Blood Vitality Pill, with the system, why would he need one?

A Rank One Bone Tempering Pill cost 500,000 on the market!

A Rank One Organ Protection Pill cost 600,000 on the market!

That added up to 1.1 million, and this was just for breaking through to Rank One. However, these were only prepared by those from wealthy families. Those from poor backgrounds would just break through directly, which carried a significant risk of failure.

If a breakthrough failed in that manner, it would lead to damage to the internal organs, and one would basically be stuck at the quasi-martial artist stage, unable to advance to a higher level for the rest of their life.

Therefore, those with the means would generally prepare an Organ Protection Pill. Even if the breakthrough failed, it would ensure the safety of their internal organs, allowing them to adjust for a period of time before attempting the breakthrough again.

Lu Hao felt fortunate once again that his family was wealthy enough to support him on his martial arts path. No wonder Fang Ping in the original story was so calculating in the early stages; truly, a single cent can stump a hero.

Under Bai Qiuyao's guidance, Lu Hao pointed out the required meridians in the order of expansion and prepared to break through.

Lu Hao sat cross-legged on the ground, adjusted his state, and then swallowed the Organ Protection Pill and the Bone Tempering Pill.

As soon as the pills were ingested, Lu Hao instantly felt his internal organs being protected by a surge of energy, while his vitality began to stir under the influence of the Bone Tempering Pill.

Lu Hao concentrated his attention and began to drive his vitality, following the lower limb meridian chart to open them up.

The process went very smoothly. Having undergone triple bone tempering, Lu Hao had already opened a portion of the collateral meridians.

With the help of the Bone Tempering Pill, he opened ten meridians with almost no effort; these were the ones he had already partially cleared during his triple bone tempering.

With the ten meridians opened, Lu Hao could clearly feel his vitality cap increasing.

He took a moment to glance at the panel.

[Vitality: 199/215]

He had consumed 10 points of vitality, but his cap had increased by 6 points. That was not bad at all.

Next was the process of focusing on clearing the meridians.

Half an hour...

One hour...

Although Bai Qiuyao, standing to the side, knew that this was the normal process and duration for a breakthrough, she still couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

Even with the protection of the Organ Protection Pill, she was still worried about what might happen if some error occurred.

Another half hour passed.

Lu Hao opened his eyes and revealed a faint smile.

"Mom, the breakthrough was a success. I'm a Rank 1 Martial Artist now."

"Mm, as long as you succeeded, that's good, that's good."

"The bone tempering that follows is a massive undertaking. Even though you've broken through to Rank 1, you mustn't become arrogant or complacent because of it."

The stone in Bai Qiuyao's heart finally dropped. She was now worried that her son might become arrogant; after all, most of his peers were currently only at the first bone tempering, or hadn't even begun tempering their bones yet.

Yet Lu Hao had already broken through to become a martial artist after three bone temperings. By general standards for someone with three bone temperings, he might even reach the high stage of Rank 1 before the college entrance exam.

Bai Qiuyao was simply afraid that her son would become conceited because of this.

"Mm, don't worry, Mom, I understand."

Bai Qiuyao did not know the pressure Lu Hao was under. How could Lu Hao be arrogant just because he broke through to a Rank 1 Martial Artist? Perhaps only when he reached the level of an Emperor would Lu Hao allow himself to be slightly unrestrained.

Before that, Lu Hao had to keep his head down and develop.

It had taken him a month to go from his second bone tempering to breaking through to a Rank 1 Martial Artist. In the eyes of others, this might already be a legendary miracle, but Lu Hao felt it was nothing special.

After all, he had the system panel; if he didn't break through quickly, wouldn't he truly be a waste? Besides, it took a whole month to reach Rank 1, and his rate of progress would surely slow down later on. Would he eventually be able to surpass the Heavenly Emperor?

Lu Hao took a look at his panel.

[Slaughter Point System]

[Host: Lu Hao]

[Vitality: 94/241 cal]

[Mentality: 117/299 Hz+]

[Storage Space: 10 cubic meters]

[Slaughter Point: 147]

His vitality had increased to 241 cal, an increase of 36 cal. Basically, it took less than two meridians to increase one cal of vitality, and his mentality had also increased by 10 Hz.

Continuing to look down, his storage space had become 10 cubic meters. Although he didn't need it right now, it would play a huge role once he went to the Earth Cave later.