Improvement

Su Ran lifted the wine jar with both hands, tipped back his head, and, without hesitation, gulped down every last drop!

The instant the wine entered his throat, it felt less like liquid and more like a stream of burning lava!

"Cough! Cough, cough!" The intense burning and fiery spice nearly made Su Ran choke, but he forced himself to hold it in and swallowed all the wine.

Immediately afterward, an indescribably scorching torrent exploded in his stomach! It was as though he had swallowed a miniature sun!

The heat did not spread evenly. Instead, it turned into countless searing streams that rushed savagely through his limbs and bones, burrowing into every meridian and permeating every bone and every inch of muscle!

"Urgh...!"

Su Ran let out a muffled groan. His body instantly tensed, and his skin turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, like a boiled prawn!

Veins bulged and throbbed on his forehead, neck, and arms.

He could clearly feel his muscles growing firmer and stronger amid the soreness and swelling. His bones gave off a faint hum, as though being tempered, becoming denser and tougher.

His blood flowed several times faster, and his heart pounded like a war drum, pumping that scorching blood and qi energy into every corner of his body.

Unlike the pure mental and spiritual impact of the [Tear of Blood], the [Tiger Bone Wine] brought the most primal, most violent physical strengthening and replenishment of blood and qi!

Heat, swelling, and a sense of power surged through him in waves, accompanied by the distending pain of his meridians being forcibly widened and the soreness and numbness of his muscles being strengthened beyond their limits.

Su Ran gritted his teeth and circulated [Meditation] with all his strength, trying to guide the violent blood and qi energy so that it would nourish and strengthen his body as evenly as possible instead of destroying it at will.

The [Tiger Might Headband] on his forehead seemed to sense an aura from the same source and grew slightly warm. The majesty of the king of beasts faintly guarded his mind, resisting the violent loss of control that might come from blood and qi rushing to his head.

The process lasted about ten minutes.

The scorching sensation gradually faded, turning into a warm comfort, as though he were soaking in a hot spring.

Most of the violent blood and qi energy was absorbed by his body, while a small portion settled within him, continuing to take effect slowly.

Su Ran slowly opened his eyes and let out a long, burning breath thick with the smell of wine and blood.

He moved his arms and legs, feeling the changes in his body.

He clenched his fist. The sense of strength was clearer and fuller.

He swung his arm. The movement seemed smoother, with a little less of his previous frailty.

His breathing was deeper and longer, and his heart and lungs seemed a shade stronger too.

Most importantly, the feeling of his physical foundation being solidified and his blood and qi brimming complemented the growth in his mental power after taking the [Tear of Blood].

He immediately pulled up his personal panel:

[Strength: 7 → 8]

[Constitution: 8 → 9]

His attributes had increased, beyond a doubt!

Though each had risen by only one point, the changes were tangible.

Eight points of strength made him more adept at using the Oak Staff, while nine points of constitution gave him greater resistance to blows, endurance, and adaptability to harsh environments.

They also gave him a better foundation for taking other potions with physical requirements or enduring injuries in the future.

So far, the [Tear of Blood] had improved his spirit and a little of his strength, while the [Tiger Bone Wine] had improved his strength and constitution.

His three attributes—spirit, strength, and constitution—had all received considerable permanent boosts. His shortcomings had been made up for, and his strengths had become even more pronounced.

Su Ran stood up. Though the instructions advised against strenuous exercise, he could feel the vitality and strength within his body, greater than before.

He looked at the earthenware wine jar, now empty, and a faint smile of satisfaction curved his lips.

On this solo run of [Crouching Tiger Slope], he had gained little experience, but he had obtained his ultimate objective, the [Tiger Bone Wine].

As Su Ran calmed the lingering warmth of the [Tiger Bone Wine]'s blood and qi within him, he opened his Personal Terminal out of habit.

He began browsing the forums and trading boards related to Awakened, hoping to see the latest news about the [Tiger Bone Wine].

Sure enough, the forum had already exploded with activity.

One pinned post with an astonishing number of replies bore the eye-catching title: "Shocking! God-tier lucksack appears in [Crouching Tiger Slope]! Solo run drops [Tiger Bone Wine]! Retiring on the spot?!"

He clicked on it. The poster described the story in vivid detail: an unknown lucky fellow had opened the legendary rare item, [Tiger Bone Wine], from a wooden treasure chest while soloing [Crouching Tiger Slope (easy)]!

The lucky fellow had then immediately contacted someone and sold it for the sky-high price of 3.8 million Credits!

The buyer was said to be a scion of a major family who urgently needed the item to polish his foundation.

After receiving the money, the lucky fellow had declared on the spot that being a professional was too dangerous and he was done playing! He had vanished with his fortune, ready to enjoy life.

Countless replies followed. Some were envious, jealous, and resentful; some questioned whether the story was true; some discussed the [Tiger Bone Wine]'s actual value. Still more lamented their misfortune.

Why wasn't it me?!

Soon after, Su Ran spotted several freshly posted, urgently worded offers to buy it at a high price on the anonymous board in the black-market trading section:

[Urgent purchase][Tiger Bone Wine]! Price negotiable, guaranteed above market price!

Cash, rare equipment, and special resources all accepted in exchange! Guaranteed credibility! Contact: 99178]

[Buying at a premium]

[Tiger Bone Wine]! Interested parties, contact us quickly! Secure transaction channels and appraisal services available!]

Someone had even placed an advertisement: [The Grey Rat Merchant Association offers high prices for [Tiger Bone Wine] and all kinds of rare attribute potions and materials on a long-term basis. Secure channels, fair prices, honest dealings with young and old alike!

Address: rear courtyard, 73 Blackwater Alley, Inner Ring District. Look for the sign!]

The market had an exceptionally keen nose. Clearly, news of the [Tiger Bone Wine]'s appearance was like a pebble tossed into a pond, rapidly sending ripples through certain circles.

For those who urgently needed to improve the basic attributes of their younger generation, or professionals who were themselves stuck at a bottleneck, especially those in physical classes,

the temptation of a permanent increase in strength and constitution was immense, and its value far exceeded that of ordinary equipment.

Su Ran could even foresee that within a few days, as the news spread and the black-market merchants' purchase advertisements continued to have their effect,

long lines would probably form again at the entrance to [Crouching Tiger Slope (easy)], which had grown quiet after material prices collapsed.

Countless lower-rung Awakened, harboring dreams of getting rich overnight or defying heaven to change their fate, would flock there again, hoping to reproduce that lucky fellow's miracle.

"3.8 million Credits... retiring on the spot..." Looking at that figure, Su Ran could not help feeling a stir in his heart.

It was indeed a fortune large enough for an ordinary person, or even quite a few low-level professionals, to live out their lives in comfort.

But he immediately shook his head. Money was important, but in this world fraught with danger, where strength reigned supreme, immense wealth without matching power might instead be a death warrant.

Besides, his goal had never been to retire.