Both Their Strengths Improve

"Brother Blood Ghost, take care on your journey." The dark shadow waved goodbye to Lu Li with a smile.

Lu Li nodded, executed the Flying Swallow Step, and quickly sped away.

Riding atop Hu Niu, he darted through the dense forest, her snow-white form blending seamlessly with the falling flakes.

"Master, Master, have you found the breakthrough herbs for me?" Hu Niu asked while running.

Lu Li took out a piece of Sandalwood Purple Bamboo, the size of a palm, and opened it right in front of her.

True to its name, the moment it was opened, the scent of sandalwood permeated the air, flooding Lu Li's nostrils and clearing his mind instantly.

Hu Niu twitched her nose and let out a howl, her eyes lighting up until they shone as clear and bright as stars.

"Master, you are so good to me," Hu Niu said, moved to the point of tears.

Such a divine object—Master had actually managed to get it for her!

She had originally thought that since Lu Li had to find breakthrough elixirs for himself, and because she was a demon, such things were inherently difficult to come by.

Therefore, Hu Niu hadn't held any real expectations.

Just not being oppressed like before and being able to eat roasted meat seasoned with spices had already made her genuinely consider Lu Li a friend.

Now, she realized how wrong she had been.

Lu Li had truly found the breakthrough item for her!

Hu Niu was deeply touched; the "Master" she called out now was not forced in the slightest, but came straight from the bottom of her heart.

It is unknown how much time passed before they finally returned to the cave.

Hu Niu impatiently took the Sandalwood Purple Bamboo, crunched it into pieces with a snap, and swallowed it.

Soon, she began to feel tipsy, warm, and lightheaded, her steps staggering as she let out a long yawn.

Seeing her condition and hearing the rumbling of her internal organs—which sounded like rolling thunder—Lu Li realized she had entered the state of breakthrough.

When demons break through, they need to sleep for a period of time.

He patted Hu Niu's head. "You sleep first; I will stand guard for you."

Dazed and obedient, Hu Niu nodded, closed her eyes, and yawned again before falling backward. She exposed her furry belly and was fast asleep in moments.

Lu Li smiled and took out his own medicinal pill, swallowing it in one gulp.

As the pill slid down his throat, a surge of heat instantly spread throughout his body, making him feel as if he were bathing in a sea of fire.

However, his internal organs were being soaked in the medicinal power, constantly becoming tougher and stronger.

Not only that, but after consuming the Purple Sun Pill, his body turned purple at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if he had been submerged in a bucket of purple dye.

"Hiss, this is so uncomfortable. The potency of this Purple Sun Pill is far too strong."

"I can feel the medicinal power working from the inside out. It's not just tempering my organs; my skin, flesh, and meridians are all being refined as well."

"If I hadn't started tempering my bones yet, I'm afraid even they would be getting refined!"

Lu Li was astonished by the efficacy of the Purple Sun Pill.

The pill was so powerful that it could refine his entire body.

Lu Li could feel that after breaking through the Organ-Refining Realm, his strength would increase by a significant margin!

But, was it too wasteful to use it here?

At the thought, Lu Li's heart bled.

"Purple Sun Pill..." Lu Li licked his lips.

At nine hundred silver taels per pill, it was worth the price!

The Purple Sun Pill was the most potent medicine in the Wind and Rain Pavilion, but they were sold out. However, the old man had said the Dragon Essence Pill was also quite effective, and at eight hundred taels a pill, it wasn't cheap either.

He would have to save up more money to buy Dragon Essence Pills in the future.

After making up his mind, Lu Li began to practice the Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist, one move at a time.

The morning light was faint.

In the middle of winter, the sun had rarely made an appearance, piercing through layers of thick, dark clouds.

Even so, goose-feather snow continued to fall, and the cold wind bit sharply.

Lu Li stretched his muscles and bones, his gaze inevitably drifting toward the system panel.

[Life Master: Lu Li]
[Life Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence]
[Attribute: A slow horse can cover ten stages; success lies in perseverance]
[Martial Arts: Elephant Strength Bull Demon Fist (Tendon-Refining Realm 700/900) - Practice once a day, completion in seventy years...]

It rose from four hundred points to seven hundred!

It actually increased by three hundred points in a single night.

Lu Li gasped.

He had thought an increase of about one hundred and fifty points would be the limit, but he hadn't expected it to be double that!

Lu Li looked at his arm again, mobilizing his blood energy to wash over it; the flexibility of his arm changed instantly, becoming as tough as oxhide.

Lu Li pinched it hard and felt nothing, nodding in satisfaction.

As expected, his skin and membranes had also been tempered, taking his defensive capabilities to a new level.

He stretched his arms and loosened his joints.

He felt that, as he was now, he could steadily beat Wang Ju to death even without poison, ensuring Wang Ju could not escape!

Lu Li smiled confidently; he was already capable of forcibly killing someone in the Organ-Refining Realm!

To reach this stage in about a month—the speed of his improvement was truly like riding a rocket.

"Mm..."

Suddenly hearing a soft moan behind him, Lu Li turned to look.

Hu Niu was groggily squirming restlessly, her four claws waving wildly in the air and whipping up gusts of wind.

If one of those claws were to strike, it would likely tear a person in two.

Lu Li stepped forward, observing her cautiously.

There were no obvious changes on the outside, but Lu Li could hear that Hu Niu's breathing was steadier, her aura long and thick.

The thunderous sound of her internal organs had also vanished.

Clearly, she had successfully broken through.

Hu Niu slowly opened her eyes, yawned, stretched her limbs, and then slowly stood up.

She was slightly stunned at first, then looked at Lu Li, her face lighting up: "Master, Master, I've broken through to the Organ-Refining Realm!"

She cheered and leaped about in the cave, brimming with excitement.

Suddenly, she dug her four limbs into the ground, her spine rising like a mountain ridge, her muscles bulging like small hills.

In an instant, she dashed out of the cave, carving a white arc through the air.

With a sudden slap, she flattened a passing black wolf into a meat patty.

This black wolf was quite large, a full person's height, and clearly a demon, yet it had died instantly at Hu Niu's hands.

Seeing Hu Niu strike, Lu Li felt the power behind it and couldn't help but jump.

If caught off guard by such a blow, even he wouldn't be able to block it.

Whether he or Hu Niu was stronger now was an unknown.

He hadn't broken through to the Organ-Refining Realm yet, so compared to Hu Niu, he might even be slightly inferior!

In any case, Hu Niu was a powerful combatant.

Lu Li was very satisfied; the harvest this time was bountiful!

"Hu Niu, I'm heading back now." Lu Li patted Hu Niu's furry head.

"Master, Master, when will you take me into the city?" Hu Niu raised her head, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Why do you want to go into the city?" Lu Li asked, puzzled.

It was truly miraculous that a beast living in the deep mountains and old forests would want to enter a city.

"My parents said human cities are very magical, and I want to go see them." As she said this, a flash of dimness crossed Hu Niu's eyes; she was clearly remembering something sad.

Seeing this, Lu Li couldn't bear it and didn't bring it up again.

He comforted her softly for a while and said, "When I can reign supreme in this Changfeng County, I will definitely take you."

Hu Niu let out a whimper and said nothing more.

Lu Li sighed, "The spices will last for a while longer; I'll bring you some more next time I come up the mountain."

Hu Niu nodded slightly, but the light in her eyes faded, replaced by a sense of loss.

Judging by the teeth she slightly bared, there was even a hint of hatred and hostility.

Lu Li paused for a moment, but turned and left without asking further.

He could sense that there was something major involving Hu Niu.

However, his own strength did not yet allow him to get involved in such major affairs.