Chapter 148: Body Tempering Skill The tingling feeling was definitely a first for Noah. Normal meditation never gave such side effects, but that made him somewhat happy. Such a feeling meant that he was definitely doing something right. Noah wasn’t worried that he was doing something wrong, because Lola would have already told him to stop by now. She was watching over him after all. "At this point, you will be feeling some kind of tingling sensation; this sensation indicates your constitution is currently responding to the increased energy flow," Lola explained, monitoring his progress. "Your body is adapting to handle greater magical stress. This is exactly what we want." The sensation intensified gradually as Noah maintained the expanded circulation. What had started as gentle tingling evolved into something more pronounced—like carbonated water flowing through his veins instead of blood. It’s spreading. Arms, legs, even my fingertips are starting to tingle. "Excellent progress," Lola encouraged. "Now increase the flow slightly. Imagine turning up the intensity just one notch higher." Noah complied, adjusting his mana circulation with the precision his Level 7 control allowed. The expanded pathways began carrying energy at volumes that stressed his untrained constitution, pushing his body beyond its comfort zone without crossing into dangerous territory. The tingling sensation transformed into something more intense. Heat began building throughout his body as his magical channels worked to accommodate the increased flow. It wasn’t the comfortable warmth of normal mana circulation anymore; this was deeper. ... I can feel the internal heat. It’s like my blood is getting warmer from the inside out. "Perfect, keep up the good work. Your constitution is responding beautifully. The heat indicates your body is beginning to adapt and strengthen itself, even your blood is strengthening," Lola said with obvious satisfaction. The warmth continued building as Noah maintained the challenging circulation pattern. His skin began feeling flushed despite the shop’s comfortable, cool temperature. Noah’s internal heat started radiating outward, and even Lola was able to feel it. Noah had become something akin to a heater, as his magical pathways stressed his physical body in ways he didn’t imagine possible. It’s getting quite warm. Almost like having a mild fever, but without the weakness that comes with it. "Maintain steady breathing," Lola instructed, noting the subtle changes in his posture that came from the uncomfortable sensation. "Don’t let the new sensations distract you from proper mana control. Consistency is more important than intensity." Noah focused on his breathing rhythm while managing the increasingly demanding energy circulation. The heat continued building up, making his clothing feel uncomfortably warm. Definitely heating up. I can feel sweat starting to form all over my body. Noah thought internally, whilst keeping his focus on the temperament of his body. "Increase the flow one more level," Lola commanded with the confidence that suggested Noah would be able to do it. "This is where real tempering begins. The previous steps were all to prepare your body for the new conditions that it will need to get used to." The adjustment pushed Noah’s circulation beyond anything he’d previously experienced. The internal heat intensified dramatically as his magical pathways worked at capacity to handle the enhanced energy flow. His constitution strained against the magical pressure, forcing adaptive responses throughout his system. Now it’s getting serious. This feels like intense exercise from the inside. Sweat began beading on Noah’s forehead as his body responded to the magical stress. The perspiration wasn’t from external temperature but from the internal work his constitution was performing to adapt to increased energy demands. Definitely sweating now. This is harder than it looked. "Don’t wipe the sweat," Lola advised, observing his unconscious movement toward his face. "Physical manifestations are signs of successful tempering. Your body is working exactly as intended." The sweat increased as Noah maintained the challenging circulation. Droplets formed along his hairline and trickled down his temples, evidence of the intensive internal work being performed by his expanding magical pathways. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞 "Feel that burning sensation in your muscles?" Lola asked as new sensations joined the heat and tingling. "That’s your constitution strengthening itself in real-time. You’re literally becoming more resilient with each moment of sustained circulation." Noah could indeed feel a deep burn throughout his body—not the surface burn of exhausted muscles, but something else. His very constitution was straining to accommodate the magical stress, forcing growth in areas that had never been challenged before. Internal burning. Like my entire body is doing strength training from the inside out. "This is the critical phase," Lola explained, her voice carrying appropriate gravity. "Maintain this circulation for another ten minutes, and your body will lock in permanent improvements. Push through the discomfort, it’s temporary, but the benefits last forever." The next ten minutes tested Noah’s discipline more than any previous training. The sweat increased to the point where droplets fell from his chin onto his crossed legs. The internal heat made him feel like he was sitting in an overcrowded sauna, while the burning sensation in his muscles demanded constant mental effort to ignore. This is definitely not easy. No wonder most people avoid this method of body tempering, even if it’s the most efficient. "Five more minutes," Lola encouraged, noting his obvious struggle. "Your circulation is perfect. Don’t let discomfort break your concentration now." Noah gritted his teeth and maintained the demanding energy flow despite his body’s protests. Sweat soaked through his shirt as the stress pushed his constitution to its limits, forcing adaptations that would serve him well in the future. Just hold on. Permanent improvement is worth temporary discomfort. "It’s time, slowly reduce the circulation back to normal levels. Don’t stop abruptly—that could cause energy backlash." Lola announced exactly thirty minutes after they’d begun. Noah gradually decreased his mana flow, allowing his stressed pathways to return to comfortable levels. The relief was immediate and overwhelming as the internal heat and burning sensations faded to manageable levels. [You have learnt the Level 1 Body Tempering skill.] The system notification appeared as Noah opened his eyes, confirming that his first tempering session had successfully established the foundation for ongoing constitutional improvement. "Congratulations," Lola smiled with genuine pride. "You’ve just taken the first step toward making your vitality match your other capabilities."