Chu Hao began to impact the Second Tier.
However, despite having breached one Proper Vein and gaining experience, as well as being inside the Black Jade Pool, he made minimal progress against the barrier of the second Proper Vein.
Whenever he tried to direct Star Force towards the second Proper Vein, some would flow into the first, causing intense pain and distraction.
Distraction during cultivation is taboo, potentially leading to deviation and irrecoverable damage.
With continual starts and stops, progress was impossible.
Chu Hao decided to deplete some Star Force from the first Proper Vein so that any Star Force flowing into it would merely accumulate and not create a sense of pressure.
But as a result, all the Star Force prioritized flowing into the first Proper Vein.
Refilling Star Force clearly took precedence over increasing cultivation.