Fatty Kui's words made Han Yu raise his brows.

"Didn't High Elder Qing say we can already take the pills we are entitled to? That part's real enough. You don't have to wait to use them. In fact, we could start benefiting right now." Fatty Kui stated.

Han Yu froze, his eyes widening slightly.

His mind had been so tangled with the enormity of the reward that he had completely overlooked the most immediate benefit. Fatty Kui was right. The pills were not some vague promise in the future. They were tangible, ready, and waiting for him if he chose to claim them.

"You are right…" Han Yu muttered, his brows furrowing as a new line of thought unfolded. "I do not have to rush into the tomb right away. If I wanted, I could cultivate here, with the pills that have been set aside for me. Perhaps I could advance further before plunging into more danger."

On the other side of the tent, Wu Shuan, who had been listening quietly while maintaining his calm posture, finally spoke.

His voice was steady, though there was a hint of suppressed excitement behind it. "That is what I plan to do. I have already decided. I will attempt to break through to the Core Condensation realm."

Both Han Yu and Fatty Kui turned to look at him in surprise.

"Wait," Fatty Kui said, blinking rapidly. "Are you serious? Right now? Here?"

Wu Shuan nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I have been preparing for this step for a long time. Before this expedition, I was saving every bit of merit I could in order to buy the resources necessary for the breakthrough. My plan was to do it once we returned to the sect.

But with what we have now, there is no reason to delay. The pills, the treasures, the resources—they are already here. If I succeed, my strength will increase immediately, and it will make the rest of this expedition far safer for us all."

Fatty Kui rubbed his chin, his usual cheerful grin replaced by a more serious look. "When you put it that way, it does make sense. We still have a long way to go. The main tomb isn't even open yet, and who knows what other traps and enemies are waiting in the unexplored complexes. Having a Core Condensation cultivator in the group would definitely make things easier."

Then, with a sigh, he leaned back against the tent pole and looked at his own hands. "It's just a shame I can't join you two in breakthroughs. Body cultivation is different. Pills don't really help me much, especially not the kind we just obtained.

My Spiritual Gluttony physique makes things even worse. I need to eat and absorb more than anyone else just to keep up, and breakthroughs only come after endless accumulation. There's no shortcut for me."

While Fatty Kui's physique and cultivation made him a lot more durable and also allowed him to fight those above his level, it also came with a greater difficulty in cultivation. There was a reason why Body Cultivation wasn't as popular as qi cultivation after all.

Han Yu looked at his round companion and saw a faint shadow of frustration behind his eyes. Fatty Kui's nature was usually carefree, but there were times, like now, when his burden was clear.

Still, he forced a smile and shrugged. "Well, that just means I get to keep eating without anyone trying to stop me, so I guess it's not all bad."

Wu Shuan gave him a faint nod of acknowledgment, though the determination in his expression did not waver.

Han Yu, meanwhile, felt his own thoughts racing. 'Should I try too?'

If Wu Shuan was ready to attempt his breakthrough, then what about him?

He had been at the peak of the late stage of Qi Refining for some time now. With the right pills, he could easily stabilize himself at the very peak, perhaps even push directly into Core Condensation.

His newborn body was different from others. It had not yet shown him any signs of bottlenecks. Perhaps the very laws of cultivation were smoother for him than for others.

If that were true, then this was the best time to test it.

His fingers curled slightly as he imagined it.

Stepping into Core Condensation would change everything. His strength, his spiritual qi, his status within the sect—all of it would rise to a new level. It would also make the journey into the tomb less perilous. He would not be walking into danger with the fragility of a Qi Refining disciple but with the foundation of someone who could stand against enemies head-on.

While his Soul Cultivation had already reached the Soul Adept Stage, allowing him to fight against those at the Peak of Core Condensation realm, it wasn't exactly something he could show openly.

Plus, last time he had the excuse of using poison when he defeated the Mist Eye Sect disciples. He could not keep on doing that, as it would get suspicious. As such, having proper cultivation at the Core Condensation realm would be better for him.

It would also make him a lot stronger, and if he combined both Soul and Qi at Core Condensation realm, he wondered if he could fight multiple stages above his realm.

'Perhaps even a Nascent Soul realm expert?' Han Yu couldn't help but wonder.

For a long moment, the tent was filled only with the sound of their breathing. Each of them was caught in their own thoughts, weighing the enormity of their choices.

Finally, Han Yu spoke. "Perhaps I should do the same. I have been at the late stage long enough. If I take the pills, I could reach the peak stage easily."

But internally, he had some additional thoughts. 'And with the way my body is now, I may not face the same barriers that others do. I might even succeed in stepping into Core Condensation sooner than expected.'

If others knew his confidence, they might think he was going crazy.

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