The air was thick with anticipation, and the weight of the journey pressed heavily on their shoulders.
As they trudged through the unforgiving wilderness, the landscape shifted dramatically around them.
The rugged terrain stretched out like a formidable beast, with jagged rocks and treacherous slopes challenging their every step. Huang Min suddenly raised a hand, signaling for them to stop.
"Hush!"
"What is it this time?" Long Huang said, slightly exasperated. Huang Min hesitated, a faint sniff betraying her distraction.
"What, are you not going to answer me now?" he prodded, curious.
"Do you not smell that?" Huang Min asked, her gaze fixed intently on a cluster of rugged boulders jutting from the earth.
"Are you a dog or something?"
"Just try smelling will you"
Long Huang took a deep breath, breaking through the dense mist.
"It's sweet... reminiscent of honey mixed with pine," he replied, his senses honing in on the fragrant aroma wafting through the air.
A brilliant smile spread across Huang Min's face, illuminating her features.
"Starfall Grass! A rare and powerful herb essential for meridian cultivation."
She pointed excitedly at a small patch of verdant greenery crowned with silvery leaves and delicate blue flowers that twinkled like stars in the fading light.
"And over there, look!" she added, her enthusiasm infectious.
"Azure Vein Root! Both perfect for enhancing your current realm of cultivation."
Long Huang let out a hearty laugh, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Haha, I truly am the son of fortune!" he exclaimed, the thrill of discovery fueling his spirit.
They approached the plants cautiously, their hands deftly working to harvest the prized herbs. Huang Min took the lead, passionately explaining the significance of each one.
"The Azure Vein Root enhances meridian capacity, allowing a practitioner to channel more qi, while the Starfall Grass promotes a smooth flow of qi between the meridians."
"Together, they'll significantly aid you in breaking through to the next stage of your cultivation," she elaborated, her expertise apparent.
"I know this already, but how do you?" Long Huang queried, genuinely intrigued.
"My mother taught me about these herbs when I was younger," she replied casually.
"But why am I only now finding this out?" he asked.
"I don't think I have to share everything with you, do I?" she responded with a teasing lilt in her voice.
"Pff, such a tease," he joked, flashing a cheeky grin.
As twilight enveloped the landscape, they set up camp beneath a protective overhang that shielded them from the biting wind. Huang Min took charge, grinding the herbs into a fine paste.
She meticulously mixed the green concoction with crystal-clear water sourced from a nearby glimmering stream.
"Here, take this," she instructed, her tone turning serious.
"This elixir will open your meridians wider than usual, giving you a significant advantage."
Long Huang closed his eyes, drawing upon his Chaos Battle Devil Dragon Breathing Technique as he ingested the herbal mixture. He felt a profound shift coursing through his meridians, the qi flowing more freely than he had ever experienced before, filling channels that had previously remained stubbornly closed.
"I'm... breaking through," he murmured, lost in the sensation as he tried to shatter the barrier to the next realm.
Huang Min settled beside him, her presence a calming anchor as she added her own qi to guide his energy.
"Let it flow. Trust in the process. Don't force it," she advised softly.
A wave of warmth enveloped Long Huang's body as he pushed himself to advance to the 9th Stage of the Meridian Tempering Realm.
His meridians expanded, their capacity nearly doubling, as he reveled in the newly enhanced ability to channel qi with newfound efficiency. When he finally opened his eyes, he found Huang Min watching him, a satisfied smile gracing her lips.
"Much better. Your meridians should have increased significantly, and your control over qi should have improved noticeably," she assessed, her gaze analytical yet warm.
Long Huang tested his strength by executing a quick punch into the air. The gust generated by his strike caused nearby bushes to rustle as though a sudden wind had swept through.
"You're right. I feel... clearer. More in control," he admitted, astonished by the difference.
She nodded in agreement. "Meridian Tempering focuses on the quality of your channels, not merely the quantity. The wider they are, the more power you can channel without straining yourself."
"And it seems a smoother breakthrough translates to better qi control," Long Huang added, his mind still racing with possibilities.
"Exactly," she confirmed, a thoughtful expression gracing her features.
"Moreover, your potential stretches far beyond what you
currently perceive. You just needed the right guidance in your
cultivation..."
"I'm a genius aren't I"
"Sure It's because you got me as a teacher"
He nudged her shoulder playfully, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Then I'll need my cultivation master to stick around."
Her cold eyes gleamed with warmth. Their travels continued, the mountains gradually yielding to their determination.
A sense of foreboding descended as they approached their next camping spot, the air thick with the stench of decay.
Long Huang's survival instincts kicked into overdrive as they stepped into the eerie mist, taking stock of their surroundings.
"Eugh, what is that smell? It stinks like rotting corpses!" he exclaimed, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
The foul odor heightened his senses, and just as he began scanning their environment for potential threats, a low, menacing growl rumbled from the dark shadows ahead.
"Green-Eyed Tiger King," Huang Min whispered, her voice barely above a breath, as she pointed toward the hulking silhouette looming atop a nearby boulder.
Long Huang sighed, the weight of their luck pressing down on him.
"Haugh, we can't catch a break," he muttered, eyeing the beast warily.
The tiger lounged regally, its striking emerald eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity in the gloom. Larger than the feline they'd encountered in Blossom City, its razor-sharp claws gleamed ominously.
Long Huang's hand tightened instinctively around his bow, his resolve hardening.
"It's guarding something,"
Long Huang and Huang Min observed, noticing the faint trail of tracks leading toward a concealed cave.
"Probably a den," Huang Min said, her eyes assessing the situation critically.
"It seems to be at the peak of the Viscera Tempering Realm, so I'll handle it."
"Let me," Long Huang countered, his intense battle intent igniting a spark of confidence within him. "I want to test my newfound strength."
She considered him for a moment before nodding, her expression shifting to one of encouragement.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, let's see what you can do."
The tiger, its gleaming emerald eyes fixed on the intruders, flicked its tail in irritation, which soon morphed into primal fury as it unleashed a thunderous roar that echoed across the valley, rattling the very earth beneath their feet.
ROOOOOOOOOOOARRRRR!!!!!