*SHATTER*

The pill bottle didn’t even manage to stay in the air for more than two seconds before falling down and shattering into pieces.

"This..."

The excitement on Yi Chen’s face faded upon seeing this as he once again tried to do the same with another pill bottle.

*SHATTER*

He gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, "It’s alright...third time’s the charm."

*SHATTER*

"..."

Looking at the shards lying in his tent, he could only shake his head bitterly. At first, he thought that the more times he tried it, the more proficient he would become at this. Logically, that’s how it is for almost everything.

However, just after these three tries, he realised that it wasn’t the case when it comes to controlling the spiritual energy.

The more he tried to actively use it, the more confused he became.

The feeling was similar to having several arms growing out of one’s body all of a sudden, but when trying to clench one of those hands, the other one clenches, or if your luck is bad, then nothing happens at all.

In reality, it was much more complex and difficult for him, as spiritual energy wasn’t something that was visible or tangible.

’Looks like I’ll have to ask Madam Gao for help...’ he thought to himself while nodding and got up from his cross-legged position.

It was around four in the evening now, and he had been cultivating without rest after having an early lunch.

*CRACKS*

He twisted his stiff back as a wave of relief drowned him for a brief second before finally leaving the tent in a much better mood.

The cold wind hit his face the moment he got out of the tent, but unlike before, his expression looked unaffected. Over the past two years, he had long grown used to it.

His gaze soon went toward the towering stone tablet. In front of it, Gao Zhen was sitting cross-legged with her eyes firmly closed.

Her hair and robes flowed with the wind as their subtle flapping reached Yi Chen, who stood a few meters away.

However, despite this constant noise, a serene expression was present on Gao Zhen’s face. It was obvious that she was totally engrossed in her task.

Seeing her diligent figure, a grateful smile formed on Yi Chen’s face.

Initially, he hadn’t thought that things would proceed so smoothly.

At that time, he was already prepared to tackle several future situations in which, for various reasons, Gao Zhen suddenly stopped trying to learn the Abyssal Blackglacial Arts.

However, none of those scenarios came to fruition. Instead, Gao Zhen consistently gave her best to understand as much of the Qi Absorption Art as possible in these years.

It was also thanks to this relentless effort that she was finally able to learn the basics of the Abyssal Blackglacial Arts a few weeks ago.

Now, all her time was spent in mastering it as fast as possible while meditating and actively fighting against the waves of Black Glacial Soldiers that had continued to spawn every three days since the beginning.

Battling the Glacial soldiers gave her great insights, which allowed her understanding of the arts to reach new heights.

However, she still wasn’t strong enough to deal with all of them on her own, so Yi Chen was always on guard during these attacks and handled them whenever the situation went out of control for her.

Step!

Step!

Step!

Hearing the familiar steps, Gao Zhen suddenly opened her eyes and turned around. A frown had formed on her face, and along with it, her eyes glimmered with curiosity.

"Young Master Chen? Is there a problem?" She asked the very next instant.

He usually only approaches her when it’s nearing meal times or the countdown is nearing zero. Therefore, his appearance at this unusual time told her that something was wrong.

"Well...there is a little problem." Yi Chen didn’t deny and continued after a nod, "I’ve actually refined all my head meridians and-"

"WHAT?! SO QUICKLY?!"

Gao Zhen’s eyes widened at this surprising news.

’Wasn’t it just less than a year since he had entered the Ninth Meridian Refinement Stage?’

She thought while being completely speechless. She couldn’t help but think back on her own time...it had taken her a full two years to refine the head meridians.

’Still...why am I even comparing myself to this freak?’ she thought the next instant as she looked back on his monstrous growth in the last two years.

To jump all the way from the Fifth Meridian Refinement Stage to the Ninth Meridian Refinement Stage in just two years was totally unheard of until now.

If not for witnessing it herself, she would have definitely claimed that he had resorted to some extreme elixirs.

Witnessing Gao Zhen’s sudden exclamation, Yi Chen nodded and answered, "Yes, I just finished with the last meridian a few minutes ago."

By now, he had witnessed her surprised expression several times, so he wasn’t as taken aback as earlier.

"I see..." Gao Zhen responded while taking a deep breath, "Congratulations...so is the problem you’re facing related to your spiritual energy?"

"Yes, that’s exactly what it is." Yi Chen immediately nodded when he heard her words and explained, "When I tried to use it properly, I kept failing. What was worse was the fact that with each attempt it became even more difficult...it’s as if I’ve suddenly been granted several arms, but I’m unable to grasp anything with them."

Hearing his example, Gao Zhen chuckled and said while nodding, "Yes, that’s exactly how it feels. It happens with everyone once they reach this stage. Wait, I have something just for you..."

As Gao Zhen said that, her storage ring glimmered for a few seconds as she kept searching for something within. A second later, she took out a bundle of Jade slips from it.

"Here, take this." She said as she handed him the Jade slips.

"This...what are these slips?" Yi Chen asked in confusion.

"Yeah, you wouldn’t know." She answered with a grin and continued, "It’s a Spirit Guiding Technique. Something everyone who is just a step away from entering the Qi Absorption Stage must learn. With its help, you’ll be able to control your spiritual energy properly.

Usually, one has to depend upon their clan or sect for this technique, but since I’ve already mastered it before destroying my cultivation, it’s clear as day in my head. Use it well, alright?"

At the end, she asked with a smile.