Chapter 204: Unexpected Improvement (I)

The cold wind howled. The wind after the rain carried away what little warmth remained, and the temperature dropped several degrees in succession. Fortunately, everyone in the group was a martial artist, strong enough to withstand the chill. Clusters of campfires flickered in the cold wind, releasing faint threads of warmth.

By the time Lin Zheyu returned, night had grown deep, and some were already asleep. Out here in the wilderness, unlike within a city's walls, danger lurked everywhere. Someone had to keep watch at night while the others slept. Before he became familiar with Liang Yunhui and her daughter, it was mainly Little Black who kept watch through the night while he meditated, barely staying awake to stay alert to the surroundings.

After he grew familiar with Liang Yunhui and her daughter Liang Yuhan, however, Little Black and Liang Yuhan began taking turns keeping watch while he meditated. Most nights, however, Little Black stayed awake through the night while Liang Yuhan went to sleep halfway through.

The little creature, always napping through the dull journey during the day, was full of energy at night and couldn't sleep at all. If Lin Zheyu didn't restrain it, it might dash into the forest to play. Out of boredom, Little Black would roast meat all night, and by morning its belly would be round and full as it lay comfortably in the wagon sleeping.

Crackle.

The bonfire burned brightly as the moisture in the damp firewood burst under the heat of the flames, making sharp pops that echoed loudly in the silent night.

Chirp.

Little Black grilled meat with excitement, the chunks sizzling and dripping fat under the fire's heat. Liang Yunhui held a branch skewered with a barely-prepared piece of meat, helping Little Black roast it. From time to time, she sprinkled cumin and chili powder on her own meat and Little Black's.

Lin Zheyu sat cross-legged on the ground, circulating the Tortoise Breath Grand Method while silently chanting the Mind Purifying Chant. The Tortoise Breath Grand Method also restored the mind to some degree, though not as effectively as the soul secret arts.

"Uncle Zhao, the beast meat is ready. Would you like me to roast it for you?" Liang Yunhui's crisp, youthful voice sounded beside his ear after about twenty minutes.

Lin Zheyu opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a weariness that could not be dispelled, something that even Liang Yunhui could see.

"Then I'll trouble you for that," Lin Zheyu said with a faint smile.

"Not at all, Uncle Zhao. Please wait a moment, I'll roast it right away," Liang Yunhui said cheerfully. The young girl loved to smile; no matter what she did, she was full of joy. Being around her, one couldn't help but feel uplifted by her happiness.

"Are you all right?" To everyone's surprise, the usually quiet and reserved Liang Yuhan came over and asked in a slightly cold tone.

She, too, had noticed that something was off about him. Though Lin Zheyu often showed fatigue after returning from his periodic excursions, tonight that exhaustion seemed deeper. It was something that came from his very soul. It was clear something had gone wrong.

"It's nothing. I'll be fine after some rest," Lin Zheyu said, forcing a faint, strained smile.

He stood and took a seat by the fire, closed his eyes, and began cultivating both the soul secret art and the Tortoise Breath Grand Method. Liang Yuhan said nothing more, tightening her grip on her longsword as she stood guard alertly beside him.

Whoosh, whoosh.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Lin Zheyu's chest rose and fell as he circulated the Tortoise Breath Grand Method. His aura flowed long and steady. After a while, at the sound of Liang Yunhui's crisp, pleasant voice, he opened his eyes again. The sharp pain in his head had eased slightly.

"Uncle Zhao, your meat is ready. Would you like to eat it now?" Liang Yunhui asked softly.

"Now's fine. Thank you, Yunhui," Lin Zheyu said with a smile as he took the roasted meat.

"You're welcome," Liang Yunhui replied cheerfully, dimples appearing on both cheeks.

As Lin Zheyu ate the meat roasted by Liang Yunhui, he quietly assessed his condition. Though the pain in his head had lessened, it was still severe, as if a hammer kept pounding against his skull. The use of Origin Force to enhance the Boiling Blood Secret Art had drained his spirit far more than expected. His mind was deeply overdrawn.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 22]

[Skills: Raging Wind Slash (Perfection), Boiling Blood Secret Art (Perfection), Golden Goose Technique (Tenth Stage: 100%), Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual (Third Stage: 100%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

He glanced at the data within his consciousness. The Boiling Blood Secret Art had reached Perfection. However, given his current state of mind, he dared not use it again. His physique had recovered to its peak, but his spirit remained overdrawn and would take time to recover.

I'll need to be more cautious when using Origin Force to enhance techniques, especially ones like the Boiling Blood Secret Art that consume so much of the spirit.

He had truly been reckless this time. His lack of foresight had left him with severe spiritual exhaustion. It had been a long time since he had allowed himself to fall into such a passive state.

"Uncle Zhao, I'll protect you tonight!" Liang Yunhui came over, her face suddenly serious as she patted her chest firmly.

Seeing this, Lin Zheyu couldn't help but smile.

"No need. You can't even beat Little Black. Just go to sleep," Lin Zheyu said with a light laugh. He turned to look at Liang Yuhan. Even while eating her roasted meat, her right hand still rested on her sword's hilt, her gaze sharp and watchful of their surroundings.

"Madam Liang, if anything unexpected happens, just protect yourselves. You don't need to worry about me," said Lin Zheyu.

The wilderness was filled with hidden dangers. The fact that Lin Zheyu still dared to push his limits and refine Origin Force meant he had confidence in his recovery methods. After each training session, he drank high-concentration medicinal broth to absorb and restore his body gradually. If danger arose, he could use Origin Force to strengthen techniques that didn't excessively drain his essence, qi, and spirit. With sufficient medicinal support, he could restore his body to its peak almost instantly.

His physique was extremely tough, like that of a ferocious beast. Even when exhausted, he would be able to hold out for several breaths against a Marrow Refining Realm martial artist, which was long enough to recover and resist any threat. But spiritual exhaustion was another matter entirely. Using Origin Force would only worsen it. When the mind was overdrawn, intricate movement techniques could not be performed properly. Still, as long as he didn't encounter someone highly skilled in leg techniques, he could manage to escape unharmed.

"

Mm

." Liang Yuhan gave a quiet hum and said calmly, "I'll keep watch for the entire night. You can rest without worry."

She was a woman with a cold face but a warm heart. Though she seldom spoke of it, once she acknowledged Lin Zheyu, she often took the initiative to help. That was one of the reasons Lin Zheyu had chosen to travel with the mother and daughter.

"Thank you," Lin Zheyu said softly, knowing she couldn't be dissuaded. Until his spiritual exhaustion recovered, his perception would remain dulled. Having someone stand guard by his side would greatly increase his safety.

***

"That beast really has sentience. If I'd known earlier, I would've tried to find a spiritual beast of my own before we left," Lei Chuangcheng said with a sigh beside the campfire.

He had tried hunting as well, though his results were meager. With his strength, powerful beasts were beyond his reach, but hunting ordinary animals was easy enough. The problem was that in the deep mountains and forests, visibility was poor at night, so it took too much time to search. It could never be as effortless as Little Black made it look.

"It's not that easy. Beasts with that kind of sentience are rare. To tame one, you need not only strength but you’d also need to appeal to its nature," said a middle-aged man with a long, donkey-like face, speaking bluntly.

The man's name was Liu Chengmian. He was traveling with Lei Chuangcheng and Yan Bo as a three-man team accompanying the Guangxuan Escort Agency on their journey to the Central Plains.

"I've heard the Central Plains are vast and rich, full of experts. Maybe they sell sentient beasts like that there. If so, we should buy one for ourselves when we return," Yan Bo said with a laugh from the left.

"There should be... I guess," Lei Chuangcheng replied, his tone uncertain.

He had never been to the Central Plains himself; everything he knew came from the tales of his seniors. Their journey there was to seek an opportunity to break through to the Marrow Refining Realm. The Central Plains, a land filled with powerful warriors and abundant resources, was a paradise for martial artists.

"Did you notice? That guy looked even more tired when he came back just now. I think he really messed up his cultivation. At this rate, he might not even make it to the Central Plains alive," said Lei Chuangcheng with a lowered voice.

Not only had the Lai brothers noticed Lin Zheyu, these three had too. After all, he traveled with a highly intelligent beast like Little Black, which hunted every night and brought back fresh meat to roast. The scent tormented them endlessly. They had been on the road for so long that dry rations were all they'd eaten for days; their mouths were sick of the bland taste.

"Worry about yourself first. Up ahead is the infamous Giant Python Stronghold. One careless step and you might leave your life there," Liu Chengmian said, glancing at him.

Lei Chuangcheng shrugged indifferently. The three of them all possessed strength at the fourth transformation of blood qi. Their trip to the Central Plains was meant to find the opportunity to break into the Marrow Refining Realm. Together, their combined strength was decent. They weren't particularly afraid of the Giant Python Stronghold; if they couldn't win, they could always flee.

"You two can sleep first. I'll take watch tonight," Lei Chuangcheng said.

"Alright."

"Okay."

The other two responded in agreement. The three of them took turns standing guard through the night, which made things fairly easy.