Lin Feng sat cross‑legged in his small room, the door shut tight, the faint glow of dusk slipping through the cracks. Before him lay six low‑grade Qi Gathering Pills, each one a hard‑earned risk from the stolen herbs. His heart pounded as he stared at them. These were not treasures, not rare items, but for him they were everything. He knew his body could not take them all at once. He would have to pace himself, one pill each day, letting the energy settle before daring to push further.
On the first day, he swallowed the pill slowly, feeling the bitter taste dissolve on his tongue. Warmth spread through his meridians, easing the fatigue from endless labor. He guided the energy carefully, breathing steadily, channeling it into his dantian. The sensation was faint but real, a small spark compared to the emptiness he had lived with. By nightfall, he felt stronger, his body lighter, but the barrier to the third realm remained untouched, solid and unmoved. The second day came, and with it the second pill. He sat again, posture straight, mind focused. The energy built more quickly this time, his body adapting to the flow. He sensed faint cracks in the barrier, tiny fractures that gave him hope. Yet it held firm, stubborn, refusing to yield. Frustration mixed with determination. He muttered under his breath, "I'll break you, sooner or later."
On the third day, he swallowed the pill and felt his meridians ache under the strain. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he forced the energy through his channels. The barrier trembled faintly, as if mocking him, but still resisted. His body shook, his breath ragged, yet he refused to stop. Progress was slow, but steady. He reminded himself that even cracks were victories.The fourth day brought the fourth pill. His dantian swelled with energy, his breathing grew heavier, his chest tight. He felt closer than ever, the barrier thin and fragile, but it still stood. His mind sharpened, his focus absolute. He whispered to himself, "Almost… almost there."
On the fifth day, the pill surged through him, almost overwhelming. He steadied himself, guiding the flow carefully, refusing to let it scatter. The barrier shook violently, cracks spreading wider, threatening to collapse. His body trembled, his teeth clenched, his heart racing. He knew one more push could shatter it.The sixth day arrived, the final pill resting in his palm. He swallowed it with resolve, every nerve on edge. Energy flooded his body, his meridians screaming under the strain. He channeled everything into his dantian, hammering at the barrier with relentless force. His body shook, his breath uneven, his mind caught between failure and breakthrough. The barrier quivered, cracks spreading like lightning across its surface. Lin Feng forced the energy harder, sweat pouring, his vision blurring. He felt it on the verge of breaking, the line between success and collapse thinner than a hair. His heart pounded, his body screamed, his mind roared.