Deep in the Dark Forest, the trees grew ever denser, their branches crisscrossing overhead until only scattered patches of daylight remained. Thick layers of rotting leaves covered the ground, soft yet firm underfoot, occasionally sinking half an inch beneath their steps.
Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er walked forward side by side at an unhurried pace, both keeping their footsteps light. Occasionally, they heard startled birds and beasts darting into the undergrowth, but no large demon beasts approached.
"Over the past half month, we've cleared most of the outer and middle regions." Shen Fei glanced sideways at her, his voice very low. "Your attacks are steadier than before, and you're forming your Thunder Spears faster."
Xiao Ning'er held a short sword with its tip pointed down, pushing aside obstructing vines as she walked. "Still not fast enough. When we ran into that gold rank 2-star Red-Mane Beast last time, if my first spear had been half an inch more accurate, it wouldn't even have had a chance to pounce."
"You'll get the hang of it after a few more fights," Shen Fei said. "Since your meridians recovered, your spiritual power has been flowing more smoothly, and the Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow's lightning has become more concentrated. What you're lacking now isn't spiritual power. It's timing."
Xiao Ning'er murmured her agreement without arguing. She knew Shen Fei was telling the truth.
Her cultivation had stabilized at gold rank 3-star, and she was becoming increasingly proficient at merging with the Wind-Thunder Sky Sparrow, but there was always a very brief pause between forming a Thunder Spear and throwing it.
That pause meant little against low-tier demon beasts, but against beasts at her rank or slightly higher, it could give them an opening to dodge.
They walked a little farther. Shen Fei said, "Another half