A Song for The Ages

The week passed in a blur of sweat, focus, and quiet progress.

Each morning, Feiyin and his group woke with the sun, ready to temper their bodies and push themselves further.

Their training began at dawn with rigorous exercises dictated by the instructors. They pushed their bodies to the limit, refining their internal strength, ensuring their foundations were as solid as possible before attempting to open their first meridian.

Shen Mu, who had been just on the cusp of the peak, was the first to make his breakthrough.

On the third day, after an intense training session, Shen Mu suddenly stopped mid-movement.

His breathing deepened, and his inner strength surged, his body shaking slightly as the final remnants of his marrow and blood refinement settled.

Feiyin, who had been watching carefully, smirked.

"That's it. You've reached the peak."

Yue grinned. "Finally!"

Ren gave a satisfied nod. "Took you long enough."

Shen Mu let out a slow breath, calming his inner strength.

"It does feel… different." His gaze flickered with sharp awareness. "Stronger. Smoother."

Feiyin clapped him on the shoulder. "Now comes the real challenge. Opening your first meridian."

Shen Mu's lips curled into a determined smirk. "Then I better get started."

With that, Shen Mu officially joined the others in refining his control, preparing to take the next step.

Despite their individual progress, life in the camp remained rigid.

Each day, they endured brutal training under the watchful eye of their instructors. Those still refining their bodies worked tirelessly, while those at the peak, Feiyin, Ren, Yue, Shen Mu, and a few others, focused on controlling their inner strength.

After morning drills, they spent their time refining their energy, learning to target and wear down the natural resistance within their bodies where the meridians would open.

During these sessions, Bai Yu, Feiyin's small white snake, would remain curled around his neck or wrist, occasionally lifting its head to observe his movements.

Feiyin made sure to bring Bai Yu with him to the canteen, where it would eat alongside him, before slithering into the folds of his clothing to sleep.

It had become a routine, a small comfort amidst their harsh reality.

"It sleeps more than I do," Ren commented one afternoon, watching as Bai Yu flicked its tongue lazily before curling into Feiyin's robes.

Feiyin chuckled. "Snakes digest food slowly. It takes a lot of energy."

"Wish I had that excuse," Ren muttered as he stretched his arms.

Yue flicked her ears. "You're just jealous because Bai Yu doesn't have to train."

Ren snorted. "Damn right, I am."

These small moments kept them sane, giving them something to hold onto amidst the exhausting training.

On the seventh day, murmurs spread through the camp.

One of the other groups had finally succeeded, a girl from another batch opened her first meridian.

The moment was met with silent tension and focused stares.

Feiyin watched carefully, noting how the instructors reacted.

Though they remained composed, there was an undeniable flicker of interest in their eyes.

This confirmed it.

The first to succeed were being watched closely.

Feiyin exhaled. He needed to time this well.

That night, after their training, he finally decided to make his move.

Under the cover of darkness, Feiyin sat cross-legged in their hut, his breathing deep and steady.

For the past week, he had been slowly grinding away at his fifth meridian, wearing down its natural resistance with his meticulous control.

Now, it was time.

Instead of brute-forcing the opening, he used his oscillation sense, listening to the song of his body.

He let the melody of the five elements guide him, Earth as the foundation, Metal to refine, Water to soften, Wood to nourish, and Fire to ignite.

One by one, he let them flow.

The subtle harmony built up within his body, resonating with his inner strength, until,

Snap.

A sudden, powerful wave rippled through his body.

The fifth meridian in his leg burst open, sending a flood of energy surging through him.

Feiyin's entire body trembled as the baptism of the world's essence washed over him.

His senses sharpened, his meridians broadened, and his control over his inner strength took a leap forward.

Two days later, Yue followed suit.

Her natural beastkin instincts allowed her to open her first meridian smoothly, her inner strength flowing effortlessly through her body.

She grinned afterward, her ears twitching in satisfaction.

"That… felt amazing."

Feiyin smirked. "Told you to trust your body."

Yue huffed playfully. "Alright, alright, you were right."

Ren, on the other hand, took a bit longer.

He didn't struggle, but his cautious nature made him hesitant to push forward too quickly.

The day after Yue, he finally succeeded, exhaling deeply as the energy of the first meridian coursed through him.

He rolled his shoulder and grinned lazily.

"Well, that wasn't too bad."

Feiyin gave him a deadpan look. "You took longer because you kept overthinking it."

Ren shrugged. "And yet, here I am."

Feiyin shook his head but smiled nonetheless.

One by one, they were making progress.

Of them all, Shen Mu took the longest.

Six days after Feiyin's breakthrough, he finally reached his own.

Sweat dripped from his brow as he clenched his fists, his breathing uneven.

But then, with one final push of refined control,

His meridian opened.

The energy flooded through him, his entire body tensing before slowly relaxing into the new sensation.

Shen Mu exhaled deeply, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

"I did it."

Ren clapped him on the back. "Took you long enough."

Shen Mu snorted. "I wanted to be thorough."

Feiyin, watching his friend's calm yet satisfied expression, nodded approvingly.

They had done it.

At first, their instructor had been present to ensure their training was progressing smoothly. But after the first day, he had left, leaving behind a handful of assistant instructors to monitor their progress.

They had thought little of it, training was their focus.

Until now.

On the morning of the following day, as Feiyin and the others finished their usual routine, a familiar presence returned.

The main instructor, the bald and battle-hardened man, stepped back into the training grounds, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered group of survivors.

A small smirk crossed his face as his eyes landed on Feiyin, Ren, Yue, Shen Mu, and the girl from another group, the first five to step into the Meridian Opening Realm.

"So, we have our first five, huh?" His deep voice echoed through the grounds.

Murmurs rippled through the remaining trainees, some looking on in admiration, others in envy.

The instructor crossed his arms, nodding in approval.

"As the first five to step into the Meridian Opening Realm, you will not remain here with the others." His gaze hardened. "From this moment, you are no longer fodder recruits of the Saint Spirit Sect. You will now be promoted to the rank of First-Class Menial Disciples."

A collective murmur swept through the group.

First-Class Menial Disciples?

That was one step above the standard rank they had expected to receive.

Feiyin remained impassive, but he could feel the sharp, assessing glances from those around him.

The instructor continued, his voice carrying the weight of authority.

"Menial disciples are the lowest rank within the sect, but there are divisions even among them."

His sharp eyes flicked across the five of them.

"Most new recruits start as Second-Class Menial Disciples. They are given the bare minimum resources and must work their way up to earn more opportunities. Below them are Third-Class Menial Disciples, those who are too weak to keep their second-class rank."

He let that sink in for a moment before continuing.

"However, as the first five to break through, you have been granted an exception. You will skip over the second-class ranking and directly become First-Class Menial Disciples."

A ripple of reactions spread among the recruits still stuck in body tempering.

Feiyin observed some of their expressions, frustration, bitterness, but also determination.

The instructor's smirk widened slightly.

"Now, you might be wondering, what does that mean for you?" He took a step forward, voice commanding.

"First-Class Menial Disciples have better accommodations, access to slightly superior resources, and the ability to take on sect tasks to earn contribution points. These points are your lifeline in the sect."

His tone darkened slightly.

"Whether you live a comfortable life or suffer endlessly depends on how well you manage them."

Feiyin's brows furrowed slightly. Contribution points.

It was clear, resources weren't freely given.

They would have to work for them.

"In addition to this, you are not yet assigned to a specific branch of the sect. That will come later, when you show enough promise to warrant a selection. Until then, you will live in the Menial Disciple Section and prove your worth."

His gaze grew sharper, his presence pressing down on them.

"The Saint Spirit Sect does not waste resources on the weak. If you wish to survive and rise, you will need to take the initiative. Fail to do so... and you will either be discarded or put to other uses."

A chilling silence followed his words.

Everyone knew what 'other uses' meant.

The instructor let the weight of his words settle before turning on his heel.

"Now, gather your things. You leave immediately."

Feiyin exchanged a glance with Ren, Yue, and Shen Mu. No words were needed.

It was time to take the next step.