The Refined Qi Accumulation pills had carried Han Yu through countless failures.
He had burned through them without hesitation, knowing that their number was limited, but confident he could succeed before they ran out. Yet the mountain proved higher than he imagined.
By the eighth day, his bottles were empty.
Not a single Refined Qi Accumulation pill remained, and the only thing left in his possession was a single Spirit Essence pill. Han Yu turned the small bottle in his hand, staring at the lone pill inside with a mix of frustration and unease.
"Is this as far as I can go without a Core Forming Pill?" he whispered to himself.
He had resisted the idea stubbornly for days.
A Core Forming Pill was considered the standard tool for breaking through, but Han Yu wanted more than the standard. He wanted to prove that his foundation was enough. To lean on such a pill felt like diminishing his effort, as though his achievement would be less valuable.
