After a short moment of rest, the two were on the move again as they headed down the spiral stairways that stuck to the side of chamber from the end of the path where Jiang Feng's challenge concluded earlier.
Unexpectedly, there were no torches this time to light up the way for them, leaving the two no choice but to resort to Spiritual Senses as their guide.
Through it, the couple arrived safely at the floor beneath the chamber.
"What the hell is up with this place?"
Shouting with exaggeration, Jiang Feng's eyes couldn't help but twitch as he saw nothing but darkness in his surroundings.
His Spiritual Senses also detected nothing within its range, making Jiang Feng turn to Ling for help.
"Hmm…I wonder if those treasures have any relation to your second challenge." Muttering her words as her eyes squinted, Ling began crossing her arms as one of them was held up to support her chin.
"Treasures? Where are they?"
Hearing the word 'treasure' being mentioned, Jiang Feng's eyes lit up in an instant as he began looking around.
"Follow me. You're going to take a while to find it with your range of Spiritual Senses."
Catching onto Jiang Feng's hand, Ling began dragging him across the room.
Just as Ling was about to stop, the repeating sounds of bubbling water sounded within Jiang Feng's ears as confusion arose.
"Why is there the sound of boiling water down here?"
"You should be able to see for yourself." Ling said, finally stopping in her tracks.
As Ling had said, something new had appeared within the range of Jiang Feng's Spiritual Senses.
His 'eyes' saw the boiling pond of water that had a staircase leading into it, with multiple baskets of what seems to be herbs circling around. The pond was about a meter in radius and depth, making it seem like a miniature size hot spring.
"Hmm, like I've thought, the challenge can only be 'that'." Ling said as she got down and dipped a finger into the boiling pond.
"Umm, Ling, what are you talking about?"
Looking at her getting back on her feet as she shook the finger, Jiang Feng couldn't help but gulp as he asked.
"Isn't it- nevermind, your final and last challenge will be tempering your body with these herbs. The temperature of the water is just right and the density of spiritual energy in those herbs are not that high, so you should be fine."
While explaining to him, Ling moved closer to Jiang Feng as she tried to take off his clothes, which was immediately intervened by Jiang Feng as he backed up while blushing intensely.
"What are you doing?!"
"Taking of your clothes, obviously. Don't worry, you only need to take off your shirt so that the effects of the tempering will be better. You should also be able to experience a breakthrough from this."
Ignoring Jiang Feng's resistance, Ling waved her hand and brought Jiang Feng over to her using Spiritual Energy Manipulation.
Struggling to break free from Ling's spiritual energy, Jiang Feng could only try to beg for mercy.
"J-just wait a moment, I don't think my skin will be fine if I enter the boiling water. In fact, I might be boiled to death."
"Your body is enhanced by the spiritual energy you've absorbed, so this level of heat is fine for you. Well then, enjoy!"
Successfully taking off Jiang Feng's shirt to reveal his refined muscles and sculpted physique, Ling released Jiang Feng from her spiritual energy as she began pushing him down the stairs.
Just as his toes were about to touch the water, Jiang Feng's hands held onto Ling whose hand was on his shoulder, making her halt her actions.
"If so, why don't you join me with the tempering?"
"Wha-"
Gathering all his courage to say that, Jiang Feng turned around as he looked at Ling's reaction with his Spiritual Senses.
This time, it was her turn to be blushing with her mouth agape, seemingly trying to say something but can't due to embarrassment. It took her a while to regain composure, but the blush on her face hasn't receded.
"I can't do that. Not mentioning this may affect your challenge, you won't be able to absorb the full effects of the herbs if I join." Ling reasoned as she tried to refuse.
"Then you can just sit inside along with me. That wouldn't affect the challenge or me in any way, right?"
Jiang Feng held tightly to her hand as he said that, his face showing desperation while trying to make Ling join him.
The place quiet down with only the bubbling sound of the pond as the two fell silent.
Ling's eyes were trying to avoid contact with Jiang Feng as she tried to reject him, but found no reason to do so.
In the end, Ling gave up and closed her eyes as she let out a sigh, lifting her head to look at Jiang Feng.
"Al-alright, I'll join you. But, until I say to, you definitely can't use your Spiritual Senses, you hear me?!"
"L-loud and clear!"
"Now turn around and wait for a moment."
Turning away from Ling and turning off his Spiritual Senses, Jiang Feng slowly sat onto the ground as the surrounding heat got to him, making him start to sweat.
After making sure Jiang Feng wasn't looking at her in anyway, Ling moved away from him as she took a deep breath and began taking off her white dress.
The sound of Ling stripping reached Jiang Feng's ears as it sent a chill to him, his ears instantly burning red as he gulped in nervousness. He had the sudden urge to 'see' what was going on, but when he remembered what Ling told him not to do, he held back himself.
"O-okay, I'm ready."
As the voice of Ling sounded next to him, the touch of what seems to be a towel hugged around his arm.
With Ling guiding him down the stairs, the two was able to sat together into the boiling pond.
It would have been just enough if there was only one person, but with the addition of Ling, the pond felt cramped as she had no choice but to sit in his embrace.
"Y-your not using your Spiritual Senses, right?" Ling asked as she turned her head around, staring daggers at Jiang Feng.
"N-nope, not at all." Jiang Feng replied truthfully as the soft touch of Ling's skin enticed him, making him ignore the heat of the water around them.
"T-then, I'll be adding the herbs. A prickling pain will appear when you start absorbing them, so take caution when doing so."
Saying that, Ling grabbed a few pieces of herbs from all of the surrounding baskets using Spiritual Energy Manipulation and threw them into the pond, a shade of green slowly dyeing the water.
"It's ready. You can start absorbing them now." Ling notified as she carefully laid back onto Jiang Feng.
"O-okay."
Taking in a deep breath, Jiang Feng soon entered a state of meditation as he focused on his senses, more specifically, the 'sense' he has for spiritual energy. Doing so, he was able to feel the medicinal effect of the spiritual herbs that were in the water, as he began in his attempts to absorb it.
"AHH!"
Letting out a terrifying scream a fraction of a second after he began absorbing the medicinal effect of the herbs, Jiang Feng's body couldn't stop trembling as his reaction startled the tensed Ling.
"Are you alright?" Ling asked with worry.
"Ouch! I…didn't expect it to be this painful." Gritting his teeth, Jiang Feng was able to squeeze out a few words, calming down Ling as she lightly brushed his skin, trying to soothe his pain.
"It's a normal reaction. It'll only get even painful as it goes on, so absorb it slowly. We have a lot of time."
"G-got it."
Following Ling's instructions, Jiang Feng re-attempted to absorb the medicinal effects of the herbs.
With prior experience of the excruciating pain, Jiang Feng was able to withstand its torture for a few seconds before having to give up.
Repeating the process, the medicinal effect of the first batch of herbs was soon meeting an end, which Ling quickly filled in with more herbs to extend its duration. Naturally, the pain Jiang Feng was feeling increased.
"Kyaa~!"
Letting out a startled scream, Ling could only place her hands on top of the arms of Jiang Feng that was hugging her waist tightly.
"S-sorry, I couldn't h-handle it for a s-second." Stuttering his words, Jiang Feng let out an apologetic smile towards Ling.
Unable to look at his face that was trembling in pain, Ling could only lightly nod her head and close her eyes, discreetly sending a thread of her spiritual energy to relieve the pain he was experiencing.
Gaining a moment of respite, Jiang Feng was able to get a grip on himself as he circulated his spiritual energy, using them to reinforce his constitution while taking in the medicinal effect of the herbs.
Such method proved to be useful as his absorption speed increased significantly, despite it still being slow when compared to the amount of herbs left in the baskets.
The first hour passed, with Ling long stopping to provide Jiang Feng with her spiritual energy.
Occasional screams could be heard from Jiang Feng as his senses overwhelmed him from time to time.
Another two followed.
"Hiss~"
Five hours flowed.
"…"
By now, Jiang Feng had became silent as his body no longer trembled. The worry on Ling's face had disappeared, replaced by expectations and hopes shining in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Feng's calm expression.
Looking at the edge of the pond, there was only one basket worth of herbs left. Although she felt that it was a bit too much of risk to take, Ling decided to have faith in her man as she poured the rest into the pond in an instant, the medicinal scent overflowing the chamber.
Just then, a change occurred as Ling hastily turned to look at Jiang Feng.
A miniature whirlpool of spiritual energy had formed in the dantian of Jiang Feng, the core of all cultivator where their spiritual energy rests and recovers.
The change was only visible to Ling as her eyes looked around, noticing the surrounding spiritual energy being siphoned away by Jiang Feng as it merged with his, strengthening the quality and quantity.
The herbs that was just poured in was quickly used up as they turned into normal leaves, their spiritual energy becoming nutrition for Jiang Feng's growth.
All of this happened before Ling, as it came to a sudden halt before causing an explosive wave of spiritual energy to spread throughout the room, crashing onto the walls as cracks slowly appeared.
Jiang Feng, had experienced a breakthrough.