I rubbed my temples, sitting cross-legged by the furnace, the faint hum of the Vermilion Lotus Refinement technique threading through my meridians like a calming melody. It had been a week since I upgraded the technique, and though it hadn’t magically solved my problems, it had given me something invaluable.

Breathing room.

My qi reserves were still in a state of being perpetually drained, but at least now I didn’t feel like I was drowning every moment of the day. With the Vermilion Lotus Refinement, my energy cycled more efficiently, letting me reclaim enough qi daily to function somewhat normally without burning through my stash of pills. Even the crushing weight of the Black Tortoise shell felt less oppressive, although perhaps I was just hallucinating.

The door creaked open, and Lan-Yin peeked her head inside. “Morning, Kai! Brought you breakfast!” she chimed, holding up a basket of steamed buns.

Behind her, Wang Jun trudged in, carrying a crate of supplies for the shop. “And here''s the shipment from Azure Silk. You’re welcome.”

I gave them a tired smile, before slipping into a bow with clasped hands. “This young master promises to repay this debt.”

Lan-Yin set the basket on the counter and waved dismissively. “Don’t mention it. You’d do the same for us. Besides, it’s not every day we get to see you being so... slow and clunky.”

“Wow, thanks for the reminder,” I said dryly, taking a bun and biting into it. The warm, fluffy dough melted in my mouth, and for a moment, I forgot about the tribulation entirely.

Wang Jun dropped the crate with a thud, stretching his arms. “This is the last one, according to Huan.” He eyed me critically. “You look a bit less like death today.”

I gestured to the furnace, where the faint glow of refining heat pulsed softly. “Thank the Vermilion Lotus Refinement for that. It’s not perfect, but it’s keeping me functional.”

It was invaluable. But knowing that, I had tried to use my last technique token to upgrade it once more, right after using one while I was with Feng Wu. If it was this good after one upgrade, then what would it become if I used another?

Unfortunately, the Heavenly Interface curbed my enthusiasm.

You do not have enough tokens to upgrade Vermillion Lotus Refinement.

The three of us fell into a comfortable silence as they busied themselves with tidying the shop and checking inventory. I watched them work, a pang of gratitude settling in my chest. Over the past week, Lan-Yin and Wang Jun had practically moved in to help me. Between running errands, organizing shipments, and keeping the shop in order, they’d taken on more responsibility than I could have asked for. Even the other villages chipped in, having heard I wasn''t able to move all that well.

I''d have to thank Li Wei later with a new set of energy-boosting elixirs for reinforcing all the furniture I had.

“Thanks, really,” I said quietly. “For everything.”

Lan-Yin waved me off, pretending to be busy with a jar of herbs. “Don’t get all sentimental on us, Kai. You’ll ruin your mysterious, aloof alchemist vibe.”

Wang Jun snorted. “Yeah, because that’s what everyone thinks of when they see him. ‘Mysterious.’”

I chuckled, shaking my head. The banter was a welcome distraction, but beneath it, I could feel the steady changes in my body. The weight of the tortoise shell was still there, but I’d grown accustomed to it. My muscles didn’t scream with every step anymore, and my balance had improved enough that I didn’t stumble like a newborn foal whenever I stood up. I''d learn to stand on my bones, aligning my skeleton without relying on my muscles to keep me upright.

With my constant flow of pills alongside Tianyi''s healing, I entered an unceasing state of destruction and rejuvenation. My body was rapidly adapting to the weight; many times faster than even I could anticipate.

It wasn’t just my body, either. My mind had adapted, forced to work in tandem with the Vermilion Lotus Refinement technique to squeeze every ounce of efficiency from my qi.

Your Mind has advanced to Qi Initiation Realm - Rank 3

The constant strain of thinking, planning, and visualizing my energy flow, reducing the waste so I could go about my daily life resulted in my mind reaching the next rank... this tribulation was showing results already. r???ΝO?β?S

“Hey,” Lan-Yin said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Are you even listening?”

I blinked, realizing she was holding up a small pouch. “Sorry, what?”

“This is for you,” she said, tossing it onto the counter. “A little something from the villagers. They’ve all been worried about you, you know. Even if you told them you were just ‘injured,’ they’ve been talking nonstop about when our herbalist will be back in action.”

I picked up the pouch, the faint clinking of coins and small trinkets inside. Warmth spread through me, pushing aside the lingering weight of the shell. “Tell them it won''t be too long. In fact,"

I stood up slowly, brushing off my robes and stretching my arms. With a deliberate motion, I clenched my fist, channeling just enough qi into my right arm to stabilize it, and then threw a punch into the air.

"I should be able to join you all for morning training today."

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The motion was smooth, though I couldn’t deny the sluggishness compared to my usual self.

Lan-Yin, who was practicing slow and deliberate movements nearby, chuckled softly. “Looks like we’re both carrying extra weight these days.”

I managed a grin despite my exhaustion.

Elder Ming’s voice cut through the air. “That’s enough resting, Kai. Into the horse stance. Hold it until I say otherwise.”

Groaning, I pushed myself upright and spread my feet into position, lowering my center of gravity. The stance burned my thighs almost immediately, but I grit my teeth and bore through it. Elder Ming walked around me, occasionally nudging my arms or legs to adjust my posture.

“This is progress,” he said after several minutes of silent observation. “You’ve adapted to the weight.”

“Still doesn''t make it any less frustrating.” I muttered under my breath. I used to be able to do this stance in my sleep, with how often I practiced it. But now, it was reduced to a mere fraction.

He ignored me. “You can begin practicing the Heavenly Flame Mantra again—but only the footwork and stances, maybe some non-contact sparring. Attempting the full Dance of a Thousand Flames in your condition would incinerate you.”

I sighed, knowing he was right. “Got it.”

As I transitioned into the foundational stances of the Heavenly Flame Mantra, I focused on drawing qi into my palms. The heat began to build, spreading across my skin like a slow burn. It was a delicate balance; too little qi and the flames would sputter out, too much and I’d exhaust my reserves in seconds.

The added weight of the shell made even the simplest movements a challenge. My steps were heavy, deliberate, and the strain forced me to concentrate on every shift of my balance. Every so often, I reminded myself to stand as efficiently as possible, letting some of my muscles relax, conserving stamina and qi wherever I could.

“Good,” he said finally. “That’s enough for now. Wang Jun, spar with Kai. Non-contact.”

Wang Jun cracked his knuckles, a wide grin spreading across his face. “This should be fun.”

I rolled my shoulders, trying to ignore the knot of apprehension in my chest. Wang Jun would be fast; far faster than I was in my current state. The only way I could keep up was to outthink him, using the weight of the shell to force myself into a new rhythm.

The first exchange came quickly. Wang Jun lunged, his movements fluid and precise. I barely had time to react, shifting my weight and pivoting to avoid his strike. My counterattack was slower, a sweeping kick meant to keep him at bay rather than land a hit.

He dodged easily, his grin widening. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”

I adjusted my strategy, funneling a small amount of qi into my legs to enhance my mobility. It wasn’t enough to match his speed, but it gave me just enough to make it competitive. I feinted left, then stepped back, forcing him to overcommit to his next attack. As he recovered, I brought my arm up in a defensive motion, letting the momentum carry me into a counterstrike.

The weight of the shell forced every movement to be precise. There was no room for wasted energy, no margin for error. It felt like a game, one where I had to think two moves ahead just to keep up. Every strike Wang Jun threw demanded an efficient response, a single move to counter two of his.

By the time Elder Ming called for a break, my body was drenched in sweat and my qi reserves were dangerously low. Even though it was non-contact, it felt like I''d gone through a gauntlet. I dropped to one knee, gasping for air, but a faint sense of satisfaction lingered beneath the exhaustion.

“You’re doing well despite your handicap,” Elder Ming said, his tone approving. “Rest. Continue to circulate your qi and bring your reserves back to acceptable levels before we repeat the process."

I nodded, collapsing cross-legged onto the frost-covered ground. The Vermilion Lotus Refinement technique hummed through my body, its steady rhythm soothing the chaos in my meridians. My breaths were heavy, each exhale forming a cloud of vapor in the cold air.

Wang Jun sat beside me, looking far too comfortable compared to my aching state. He stretched his arms overhead, letting out a satisfied groan. “You know, this feels pretty good,” he said, a lopsided grin on his face. “For once, I’m the one in control during sparring. Usually, it’s you pulling your punches to help me improve.”

I snorted, too drained to fully engage in the banter. “Don’t get used to it. Once this shell is off me, I’ll make you regret every second you enjoyed this.”

Lan-Yin chuckled from her spot, where she was practicing her footwork. “You two are like children.”

Wang Jun grinned, unabashed. “What can I say? Watching Kai struggle is a rare treat.”

I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips. “Enjoy it while it lasts. Honestly, I don’t mind this as much as I thought I would.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Really? You looked like you were dying five minutes ago.”

“Sure, it’s exhausting,” I admitted. “But this extra weight forces me to think differently. Every movement has to be deliberate, efficient. I’ve already learned more from one sparring session than I might’ve in a week of regular practice.”

Elder Ming, who had been observing from the side, nodded approvingly. “That’s the right mindset. This tribulation is not just a trial of endurance but an opportunity for growth. Those who treat it as such come out of it stronger.”

I felt a spark of pride at his words, despite the lingering fatigue. My mind drifted to the steady progress I had made over the past week; the adjustments I had learned, the insights I had gained. Every step forward brought me closer to the end of the Black Tortoise Tribulation, and I could feel the faintest glimmers of hope that I would complete it sooner than I had expected.

The thought buoyed me as I closed my eyes, letting the Vermilion Lotus Refinement technique soothe my aching body. Despite the weight on my shoulders, there was a lightness in my heart that hadn’t been there before.

This was the path forward. Soon, I''d rise.