Before our departure, two tasks demanded our attention. First, Ma Chen aspired to attain the Nascent Soul stage, and I provided him with any assistance I could muster. Given that he was already at the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage, facilitating his transition to the Nascent Soul stage became a manageable feat after I meticulously opened several of his meridians.
Considering that the other four individuals joining us on the expedition were cultivators at the Early Nascent Soul stage, Ma Chen desired parity in terms of power. Although the journey to the Nascent Soul stage was relatively straightforward for him, it still required a significant investment of time. In the interim, I returned to my shop, dedicating my efforts to further honing my beast-taming skills.
