Minor Accomplishment after a Single Night of Training

Tyrak didn't know how much time had passed while in a state of thoughtlessness. Without any care for what was around him, he practiced the Berserk God Ascension technique to advance his meridian opening.

He repeatedly utilized the same tactic of introducing an energy particle within the respective meridian. Then, the energy surge would automatically occur within his body and swallow the particle before clearing all the obstacles clogging the meridian. The whole process was simple and straightforward.

Time passed by, and his relentlessness eventually paid off.

Tyrak finally refined eleven of the twelve primary meridians described in the Berserk God Ascension technique. They included the heart, the stomach, the large intestine, the small intestine, the lung, the spleen, the bladder, the kidney, the pericardium, the triple-energizer, and the gallbladder meridians. Tyrak only remained with the liver meridian before accomplishing the minor accomplishment of the meridian opening sub-realm.

"Let's continue..."

Without opening his eyes, Tyrak quickly focused his senses on another dark energy speck floating around his body. Using his mastery achieved after refining the previous eleven meridians, he towed the energy particle toward the right part of his lower abdomen. With one last vigorous effort, he hauled it through his skin layer and continued pushing it into his liver meridian.

"Rumble!"

Something seemed to have exploded within his body, and an energy surge occurred again. The large stream of energy quickly swallowed the particle while sweeping and shattering all the obstacles in the liver meridian.

Tyrak shuddered intensely as his body was in great distress. It was as if an enemy had pierced a knife within his liver, causing him to experience torture beyond measure. But with prior experience, he remained steadfast until the pain eventually receded.

Slowly but steadily, the familiar blissful euphoria of successfully opening another meridian overwhelmed him. He could also feel all the twelve primary meridians he had just opened resonate as one as they quickly drew in some mysterious energy from the natural world.

He knew not whether what he was absorbing was the cosmic energy described in the Berserk God Ascension technique or the colorful specks he had perceived while meditating. But all he knew was that his heart was continuously pumping blood filled with immense vitality through every inch of his body. And naturally, his body was growing more robust as his cells and muscles devoured the energy flowing into his body. He had finally achieved the minor accomplishment of the meridian opening sub-real of body refining.

Tyrak, though, didn't exit from the state of thoughtfulness. He maintained his meditative state as he immersed himself in the blissful sensation of growing stronger.

The night passed, and eventually, dawn descended. The savage growls and roars that had dominated the night died away. The birdsongs came sweet and high, initiating the soprano to the other daytime sounds.

Tyrak felt all the sounds as auditory smiles and expressions of joy. He slowly opened his eyes and let out a slow breath.

A sharp glint passed through his eyes as they darted around, taking in all his surroundings. He noticed that he was still alone in the cave. A sense of realization dawned upon him, and he concluded that Tamara hadn't returned after going to bathe the previous night. It seemed all the talk of her tying her fate with him was bullshit, and she had left without saying goodbye.

"Well... no matter," Tyrak thought. "I don't need to rely on her for anything. I can progress on my own."

Sighing to himself, Tyrak returned his focus to his body. At that moment, his nasal senses picked up a strange smell in the air. Within seconds, the smell continued growing. Soon, it was as if he was soaking in a bucket of rotten fish.

Tyrak reflexively looked down and noticed that a foul greasy substance had long coated the surface of his skin. It was the source of the putrid smell, and just by glancing at it, he wanted to puke.

"Is this the result of successfully opening all the twelve primary meridians?"

Tyrak's mind was full of doubts. But as the putrid smell continued assaulting his nose, he quickly cast the strange thoughts out of his head. He instantly got up and charged out of the cave, hoping to take a bath.

After stepping out of the cave entrance, he felt refreshed as the morning breeze caressed his skin. He glanced around the place and realized he was on a steep slope in a forested jungle. Many tall trees surrounded the cave entrance, blocking out most of the sunlight.

Tyrak blinked, and his eyes happened to catch the visage of Tamara, who had settled in a cross-legged position a few meters away from the cave opening.

Tamara had already donned her white leather armor and body-hugging riding pants. Her purple hair and gorgeous skin glowed with splendor under the illumination afforded by the morning sunlight. She seemed like an angel in a meditative stance.

Tamara seemed to have noticed Tyrak's gaze. Her eyelashes flattered ever so slightly before her hazel eyes opened completely.

"Finished meditating?" She regarded Tyrak with a calm expression.

"You're still here?" Tyrak asked subconsciously.

The edges of Tamara's full lips lifted. "If not here, where should I be?"

Tyrak's eyes flashed. "I thought you left without saying goodbye last night?"

Tamara sighed and shook her head. She wrinkled her nose and said, "You should go take a bath. You reek like rotten garbage."

Tyrak chuckled and scratched his nose. "I'll go now. Where is the river, by the way?"

"Just go that way." Tamara lifted her arm and pointed towards the forested valley some distance away. "You'll find a clear stream in the middle of the valley. But be careful! Don't get bitten by the snakes in the water."

"There are snakes?" Tyrak shuddered despite himself.

Tamara chuckled. "I'm just kidding. You can relax and take a bath without any worries. We're near Ellwich City, so there aren't any dangerous beasts around here."

Tyrak glared at her and shook his head. "I'm going now. See you in a few minutes."