The more they read the more they understood about meridians. The book explained that when one awakens their meridians it's a core meridian. The problems is that core meridians are difficult to open. To move to a new stage, they need to open 30 supplementary meridians and then use them to force open another core meridian. If successful they will move on to the next stage, if not then they will not progress.

Since it takes 30 to open a core meridian then one realizes, that to tread the path of cultivation they must open the main meridian first. The reason why you open the core meridian first is that it allows enough energy to come in, with enough energy you can compress it to create a nexus core. The only way around it is if you open 30 supplementary at the same but that is impossible.

The reason it's impossible is that supplementary meridians can't be open externally only internally. It's dangerous to open a supplementary meridian externally and can cause permanent damage, as their way more fragile to external pressure than a core meridian that can take a beating.

A nexus core is vital to cultivate without it the meridians dry up. The nexus core allows the body to store primordial energy, preventing the energy from escaping. But to create a nexus core you need enough energy, which only a core meridian can provide. The good thing is that opening the first core meridian is way easier than opening the other 3 core meridians. That because it's the only core meridian that can be open externally. Meaning that it could be forced open from the outside whereas the other 3 core meridians can only be open internally with the help of your own supplementary meridians

Theirs also cases where some individual are blessed by the heavens with good innate talent and have their first core meridian open before 12 years old. Like Lucas friend John. If your core meridian isn't opened by itself before 12 years old, then you have poor innate talent. That doesn't mean you can't cultivate just that it will be harder for you to open your meridian compared to the talented ones.

Every year earlier that one's meridian are opened before 12 years old, signifies the amount of talent you have for cultivation. Because that means that the "dam" clogging your meridians is weaker and easier to open. For example, if you had a sledgehammer which is easier to get through? A wall made from thin notebook paper, a wall made from thin wood, a wall made from cement, or a wall made of steel? The answer is obvious but with time you can eventually force your way through the other materials. But if your luck is bad then you might not be able to get through the steel wall till way later or maybe even never. Just depends on the thickness.

Those with poor intent talent, have "steel walls", that makes it hard to progress. When Luca realized that he still hadn't opened his core meridians he was nervous because he was already 11 years old, but he still hadn't opened his meridians, unlike his friend who opened then at 10 years old. John could tell that Luca was worried, so he put an arm on his shoulder.

"Don't worry Luca, we can definitely open your meridian, just hang in there!" John then remembered his own situation and sighed.

John didn't tell his uncle and his uncle didn't pay attention to him. Besides his uncle also wasn't at a high enough level to sense his cultivation, he was too busy trying to cultivate with his poor innate talent. Otherwise, his uncle would have taken John back to his sect and gained some rewards for finding such a talent.

John didn't want to leave his parents, so he kept a low profile and didn't raise any suspicion. Avoiding the monthly examination that the local sect held. They were publicly head at the town center for free to test talent and recruit potential members. Luca and John then refocused their attention on the book.

In a page label "stages and levels of cultivating", there was a simple outline to determine what level you were and what stage.

-Overview: There are 4 stages that are known, each stage has its own name and is separated in 3 levels. Every stage is achieved when a core meridian is opened. Each level is obtained when 10 supplementary meridians have been open.

-Stage 1: Body Refinement

-Level 1: Early

-Level 2: intermediate

-Level 3: Peak

-Stage 2: Mind consolidation

-Level 1: Early

-Level 2: intermediate

-Level 3: Peak

-Stage 3: Power expansion

-Level 1: Early

-Level 2: intermediate

-Level 3: Peak

-Stage 4: Sovereign

-Level 1: Early

-Level 2: intermediate

-Level 3: Peak

The book mentioned that the titles each represent the changes and abilities gained from each stage, but since it was an intro book he didn't know the benefits or power level difference between each stage yet. But it was simple and easy to differential a cultivator with this structure.

At the end of the book was an explanation of how the magic system works. It stated that you would guide the primordial energy from your nexus core to your vocal chords, hands and feet. Some spells only need the vocal chords while other need hand gesture, while others required foot movements. Spell that where known as legendary spells required all three to work.

Magic spells that need the vocal chords to activate would only work with Salvon. You couldn't use regular language because it wouldn't work. Why is that? The book didn't explain. Then at the end of the magic section, it stated that elemental affinity determined what kind of magic you could use. You could only choose one, most of the time, like choosing an affinity for water magic. You could use spells from other affinities but they wouldn't be as powerful or as complex to someone who specialized in them.

The two boys brains where filled to the brim with knowledge after finishing the book. Overwhelmed but the at the same time there was a spark in their eyes that craved for more. They wanted to be full fledge cultivators and get a taste what it felt like to wield magic.

"Luca, why don't we start to read our cultivation manuals now?"

"Heck yeah, I'm so ready!" Luca clenched his tiny fists in excitement.

In the past 2 months, they hadn't touched the manuals because Luca didn't know Salvon and because they were a bit nervous since they knew very little about cultivation. But after reading the book they felt ready to dive in and explore the manuals. Luca went towards the wall where they hid the box and brought it back to where they were sitting on the floor. He opened the box and got his manual and so did John. Luca was happy after looking at the first page. He could now understand what it meant! The front page only had this on it "Azure Demon Fox" written in red letters. Luca was immediately awed by such a cool name. The next page had a small paragraph saying that the book would seal parts of the book that were too high level for the owner and would only unseal the ones that were currently suitable to him.

Luca nodded his head in understanding as he turned the next page where the table of contents was. Only ? was visible while the rest was blurred out. The part that was visible showed him an intro, how to cultivate, ritual, bloodline holders and the 1st stage of cultivation.

He turned to the intro,

"This manual is the inheritance of Aidan Ryland, the first and only man to ever obtain and write down the knowledge of the azure demon fox clan. Part of the 11 noble beast bloodlines and the only bloodline to be of mixed descent, having both demon and beast lineage. This merging allowed the clan to have a strong and powerful body cable of powerful attacks. This is a God ranked bloodline manual, you use noble bloodlines from other species to cultivate by merging their bloodline with yours. This manual should come with a sealed tube of blood essence. With the tube of bloodline essence, you can cultivate this. You will become a bloodline holder. Specifically, a high-blood, a title for someone who has a noble bloodline. Followed by high-bloods are mid-bloods and low-bloods. Bloodline holders are at the peak of what a human cultivator can achieve. The next section will contain the ritual that will allow you to merge with the bloodline of the azure demon fox."

The paragraph was short but to the point and shed some light on the origins and creator of this manual. With that finished he went to the next section. There was a diagram of the human body. On the left side of the chest where characters are written in a completely foreign language. The letters looked primitive, a fusion of letters and pictographs. It wasn't Savlon which baffled Luca but on the bottom of the diagram was a description written in Salvon.

The description explained that you would open the tube and use half the blood essence to write what was shown on the image on your left chest near the heart, you didn't need primordial energy to activate this ritual, instead, you would use the other half of the blood essence to fuel the ritual. It required him to speak out a spell that was translated from the ancient mysterious language into Salvon making it possible to pronounce the spell.

Luca looked back at John and explained to him what he read and to his surprise, the author of his book was Ronan Ryland. The two authors had the same last names! Johns book was called "Inferno Devil", a devil bloodline belonging to one of eight noble devil bloodlines. Since they were free the whole day and were young they decided to do the ritual now. John and Luca both sat opposite each other. They opened their tubes and dipped a finger in. Then they started writing on their left chest. The odd part was that the blood was warm even after who knows how many centuries. When half of there tubes where empty they focused and chanted the words as they held their tubes.

The chants were long and took a minute but afterward, something strange happened. The remaining blood in the tube burned and was transferred into a stream of visible energy. Lucas was an azure color while Johns was dark red. The streams then followed towards the there left chest. When it made contact with the words written on their chest, the words glowed and then disappeared from sight. They had gone through there flesh and went into their hearts.

The moment that blood words fused with their heart the two felt pain. Like if someone had shoved a hot metal rod into their hearts. It was unbearable but the two had strong wills as they yelled in agony. There faces twisted in pain, eyes bloodshot and fists clenched to the point of blood coming out. If one looked at the hearts they would see something amazing. Luca's hearts changed to a blue color and it grew bigger and stronger. Then it started spreading throughout their bodies. Lucas whole body was slowing being taken over by this azure color. While Johns was dyed in a dark red, even his bones. Before they knew it, they had fainted from the pain.

What was happening was that their bodies were changing from being human into something else. Lucas' hair changed to a midnight black with blue streaks. His hands became wider and muscular with the tips of his fingers having 3 inches long retractable claws. His eyes change to an orange color with black elongated pupils. His teeth grew sharp and his ears elongated a bit with the ends of the ears being pointing. His shoulders got wider his muscular potential increased, his height increased, and he grew out a long black bushy tail. His face became more charming and handsome, he could be a model. His legs grew a bit longer and his calves become more muscular, with his feet looking like a wolfs with sharp claws coming out.

John also underwent a transformation, his hair was changed to a midnight black, but it had red streaks in it. On his head 3-inch horns from on his forehead. His face had also changed, he become handsome one could say that it had an elegant devilish charm to it. His eyes changed a ruby red with a black pupil. He grew taller and his body became muscular. The oddest part was that two bat wings that were 6 feet long had sprung up from his back. He also grew out a long sharp tail. With his fingernails turned black and sharp like daggers.

A whole day passed by as they awoke at around midnight from there sleep. When Luca awoke he felt groggy and his senses felt overwhelmed he could smell so many things at once. He could hear many sounds that felt distant while others felt so close. His sense of smell had never been this amazing before same with his hearing. This caused him to immediately awake as he stood up feeling sore and stiff. When he looked he jumped back immediately in surprise.

John had also awakened at the same time as Luca. John could smell the emotions of the people in the town! His hearing had also increased. This also surprised John as he looks towards Luca. Also feeling overwhelmed by his friend's transformation.

In a hesitant voice, Luca called out to John.

"John is that you?"

"Yeah, is that you Luca"

"Yeah! What happened to you?"

"What do you mean what happened to me? What happened to you!"

Both John and Luca looked at themselves as they realized that they had changed! At first, they were overwhelmed with many emotions but surprising they soon felt amazed. They didn't have any negative feelings toward their new looks. It was like they had always been like this, that it wasn't strange, in fact, they felt better than ever before. This was because their bloodlines had merged, and the bodies had undergone a transformation down to their DNA. The merging also affected their brain, adding new information about their new and improved body.