The Snow Demon Ape turned around and stepped into the mountain valley, with Xiao Hua and Zi Yan silently standing upon its massive shoulder. Fortunately, daylight still lingered—were its night, the narrow valley would have been swallowed in pitch-black darkness, making passage treacherous without a bright light to guide the way.
As the Snow Demon Ape ventured deeper into the valley, dense clusters of trees emerged on all sides, with scattered rubble littering the uneven terrain.
Here and there, the remains of Magical Beasts could be seen—multiple carcasses lying broken, with stark white bones exposed beneath rotting flesh. It was clear that many beasts had once sought to seize the Core Quenching Body Milk, only to meet a tragic end.
Yet, aside from the fallen, not a single living creature stirred. Evidently, all had long since been driven out by the might of the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
"This ape's treasure seems to attract Magical Beasts as well…" Zi Yan murmured softly, her gaze sweeping across the valley.
"The Core Quenching Body Milk's ability to cleanse and refine the bones is even more tempting to Magical Beasts than to humans," Xiao Hua replied calmly. "If they consume it, it greatly increases their chances of forming a human shape in the future."
He understood why Zi Yan showed little interest in the Core Quenching Body Milk. After all, most of the pills he had refined for her were focused on tempering her physique.
'Zi Yan will eventually consume the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit…' Xiao Hua smiled inwardly at the thought in his heart. 'To ensure her safety, it's better I refine pills that strengthen her bones and bloodline in advance.'
He had long known of the future and had thus poured effort into forging a physical body for Zi Yan capable of withstanding the frightening energy within the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit.
'Though she has yet to reach maturity, her brutal strength never ceases to amaze me…' Xiao Hua murmured inwardly, a trace of astonishment flickering in his heart as he recalled the scene of her effortlessly beating down multiple Magical Beasts with sheer physical might.
"Hm? So it becomes easier to take human form? Is that why this fellow can speak in the human tongue?" Zi Yan raised her brows, gazing curiously at the Snow Demon Sky Ape's face, where a reluctant expression lingered.
"Most likely," Xiao Hua replied calmly. "This fellow is only a fifth-ranked Magical Beast. Perhaps it's due to the Core Quenching Body Milk that it managed to develop the ability to mimic human speech."
Under normal circumstances, Magical Beasts at the fifth rank—equivalent to a Dou Wang—might already possess a basic level of intelligence. However, opening their mouths to speak like a human was something far beyond the norm.
"Core Quenching Body Milk, huh… According to Xiao Hua…" Zi Yan muttered inwardly, her thoughts drifting to the emerald-colored, viscous liquid she had once saw and described to him.
The Core Quenching Body Milk is formed deep underground, after being tempered by the pressure of the earth for a hundred years. It first takes the form of a mist known as 'Core Fog,' which alone carries the power to temper the body.
Only after accumulating and condensing for over a thousand years does it liquefy into what is known as Core Quenching Body Milk. If the quality is high enough, it gains the miraculous ability to wash and refine one's bones, greatly enhancing the physical foundation.
"So that's how it is… No wonder this fellow accepted your terms for the Core Quenching Body Milk," Zi Yan said, her gaze shifting toward the Snow Demon Sky Ape, whose face still held a reluctant expression.
"Begrudgingly, of course…" Xiao Hua replied with a soft laugh. He could clearly sense that the Snow Demon Sky Ape had attempted to raise the price—only to fall silent beneath Zi Yan's threatening glare.
"It's his own fault for trying to push his luck despite being weaker than us," Zi Yan snorted coldly, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
Xiao Hua didn't respond—he merely chuckled softly, while the Snow Demon Sky Ape could only lament the injustice of the sharpness of the Brute Queen's words.
With the Snow Demon Sky Ape's familiarity with the terrain and its swift pace, it didn't take long for them to arrive at its lair—a shadowy mountain cave nestled at the far end of the valley.
"Looks like we've arrived," Xiao Hua said, his gaze sweeping over the cave. A faint, beastly scent lingered in the air—wild and cold—distinctly reminiscent of the Snow Demon Sky Ape itself.
"Mm. This is the place," Zi Yan nodded, recognizing the cave she had once entered and where she first laid eyes on the Core Quenching Body Milk.
Though she hadn't taken any at the time, she couldn't deny her lingering curiosity. That curiosity had, in the end, made her a bit... forceful toward the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
Unsurprisingly, the mountain cave was quite big. Otherwise, it is quite difficult for the huge Snow Demon Sky Ape to accommodate in this cave. With at least ten meters tall, rubbles spread all over the place within the mountain cave, and white fur could be seen everywhere.
The Snow Demon Sky Ape continued forward and came to a stop before a section of the mountain wall. At its base lay a heap of debris—broken rocks and thick branches piled together in a crude attempt at concealment.
"It's here," the Snow Demon Sky Ape muttered, sweeping aside the pile with a single swing of its massive arm. The rubble scattered, revealing a deep, pitch-black hole hidden beneath.
"You're still using the same method to hide it, even though I've already seen through it before," Zi Yan said with a faint shake of her head.
"There are no humans or Magical Beasts who dare venture this deep… aside from you," the Snow Demon Sky Ape murmured in quiet protest.
"Ah?" Zi Yan's gaze turned sharp, shooting the huge ape a cold glare. The Snow Demon Sky Ape immediately shut its mouth, its earlier resentment vanishing without a trace.
'She's slowly becoming more like Cai'er…' Xiao Hua mused inwardly, recalling the times he had unintentionally angered his one of his lovely women. That same chilling aura—silent yet terrifying—had once made even him hesitate.
Shaking his head to clear the thought, Xiao Hua lifted his hand and summoned five flames, each burning in a different hue. The radiant lights flickered gently, pushing back the darkness that clung to the cave's depths.
Seeing the path ahead illuminated, the Snow Demon Sky Ape leapt into the pitch-black hole without hesitation, swiftly advancing through the winding, cavernous tunnel beneath the earth.
After more than ten minutes, a faint white glow began to appear at the edge of the long, shadowed passage. As the Snow Demon Sky Ape drew nearer, the light gradually brightened, eventually forming a glowing entrance into a new chamber bathed entirely in pale luminescence.
The moment its feet stepped out of the dark tunnel, the surroundings lit up, revealing a hidden underground world.
Unlike Zi Yan and the Snow Demon Sky Ape, this was Xiao Hua's first time here. His gaze swept across the scene, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
The space before him was an expansive domain of stalactites. Cream-colored mineral pillars stretched endlessly into the distance, glowing faintly with a pale white light that drove away all shadows. The ceiling above was covered in massive stalactites—some reaching lengths of over a hundred meters—looming like ancient fangs of the mountain itself.
Occasionally, droplets of milky-white liquid dripped down from above, landing softly on the ground and blooming into delicate, flower-like splashes upon impact.
"What an amusing underground world…" Xiao Hua murmured involuntarily, his voice soft with awe as he took in the breathtaking scenery.
The Snow Demon Sky Ape, hearing the praise, puffed up with pride and continued forward through the vast forest of stalactites, heading toward the area where the earth's energy was most concentrated. Their journey lasted for another ten minutes.
At last, the Snow Demon Sky Ape came to a halt.
Xiao Hua looked up—and couldn't help but draw in a quiet breath of astonishment.
What stood before him was an incomparably colossal stalactite, descending straight from the peak of the mountain dome above. Its sheer size was staggering—easily over a hundred meters long, with a thickness so wide that even two grown men linking arms could barely encircle it.
A gentle white glow radiated from its surface, casting it in a crystalline brilliance that shimmered like a sacred pillar.
Without question, this stalactite was the ruler of this underground domain. Its immense form stood tall at the heart of the cavern, surrounded by countless smaller stalactites that seemed to bow in silent reverence—as though paying homage to their emperor.
However, Xiao Hua's gaze did not drift downward. He paid no mind to the massive green rock beneath the colossal stalactite, nor to the creamy liquid it cradled—its surface veiled by a faint white fog that drifted yet never dispersed.
Though the fog possessed an unusual quality, endlessly swirling without scattering, Xiao Hua understood the creamy liquid is but a minor treasure compared to the true prize hidden within the stalactite itself.
"As expected…" Zi Yan cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Hua's face before stepping toward the stalactite, her gaze locking onto it. "You already knew about the precious natural treasure sealed inside, didn't you, Xiao Hua?"
With her innate ability to sense rare natural treasures, Zi Yan had long been aware of the treasure within the stalactite. Yet she had never made a move to claim it. Instead, knowing others might be drawn to its presence, she had quietly informed Xiao Hua—while Han Yue and Xiao Yu, who happened to be nearby, overheard as well.
Meanwhile, the Snow Demon Sky Ape stiffened in shock, its body trembling slightly at their words. Clearly, it had never realized where the true treasure lay. From their conversation, it now understood—its so-called lair's greatest prize was not the mist-veiled pool below, but the very stalactite that loomed overhead.
A wave of bitter regret surged within the beast's heart. If it had known earlier... if it had only realized what was hidden inside that towering pillar, it would have taken it long ago and hidden it somewhere far from prying eyes.
Without another word, Xiao Hua and Zi Yan soared upward, their figures flashing through the air as they ascended several hundred meters along the vertical length of the stalactite. In mere moments, they reached the peak of the mountain dome.
"From up here… those massive stalagmites below look no bigger than ants," Zi Yan muttered in awe, gazing down at the vast subterranean world.
Her eyes swept across the cavern dome, where countless stalactites hung in all directions, their pale radiance casting a soft light over the entire underground realm.
Xiao Hua, however, paid no attention to the surrounding stalactites. Suspended in midair, he came to a halt at the very tip of the largest stalactite.
There, at the very end of the crystal-like structure, a faint fluorescent glow pulsed gently—seeping from within and illuminating the stalactite until it gleamed like flawless jade. Its beauty was otherworldly, like something sculpted by the heavens themselves.
Zi Yan flapped her wings and followed silently behind. Though her senses told her there was nothing particularly unusual about this spot, her instincts said otherwise. Deep within, she could feel it—something hidden… something extraordinary.
Xiao Hua raised his hand and opened his palm. A piece of jade quietly appeared, retrieved from his storage ring, resting silently on his hand.
Zi Yan, noticing the jade piece, tilted her head slightly. A puzzled expression surfaced on her delicate, pretty face. With curiosity in her voice, she asked, "Why bring that out? Can't you just use your Dou Qi to cut it open directly?"
Without responding right away, Xiao Hua enveloped the jade piece in a layer of Dou Qi, causing its sharp edge to glow faintly as it became even more refined and deadly. Then, with careful precision, he inserted the jade blade into the surface of the crystal-like stalactite.
A soft sound echoed as the edge sank in. While gently carving a circular outline into the stalactite, Xiao Hua began to explain calmly.
"The true Core Quenching Body Milk lies within this stalactite. What's in the pool below is merely a diluted form. There are some across the continent who know of the Core Quenching Body Milk… but very few are aware that the genuine essence is hidden at the precise point where the stalactite connects with the earth."
Zi Yan blinked, then quietly smacked her lips in surprise. The existence of two types—the true and the diluted—was something she had never considered.
'No wonder the pool below didn't draw me in…' she thought to herself. The sensation she'd felt earlier now made sense. A soft admiration welled in her heart—not for Xiao Hua this time, but for the mysterious, intricate workings of the natural world itself.
Xiao Hua continued carving the circular shape with steady hands, his tone calm as he resumed explaining.
"However, the true Core Quenching Body Milk is extremely delicate. Only the gentlest jade tools can touch it without causing harm. If one were to use metal or any other coarse material, the essence that has condensed over countless years could instantly degrade into a useless, wasted liquid with just a single touch."
Hearing this, both Zi Yan and the Snow Demon Sky Ape—who was still watching from below—were stunned. A chill ran down their spines, and they subconsciously wiped away cold sweat from their foreheads.
Zi Yan silently sighed in relief, thankful she hadn't tried to forcefully extract the treasure during her last visit. As for the Snow Demon Sky Ape, it felt a deep sense of gratitude that it had never discovered the true Core Quenching Body Milk in the first place.
Had either of them acted rashly out of greed, they would have ruined this precious treasure before even realizing its value.
After finishing his explanation, Xiao Hua completed the carving. With a faint cracking sound, the circular section of the stalactite loosened and fell. His eyes gleamed as he swiftly reached out and caught the crystalline fragment before it could hit the ground.
Zi Yan leaned in, peering into the circular opening he had made—only for a sudden, brilliant light to shoot out from within, so intense it momentarily caused her to narrow her eyes.
"Ah!"
The sudden burst of piercing light caused Zi Yan to flinch and retreat instinctively. Her purple wings fluttered reflexively, propelling her body backward by several dozen meters before she gradually came to a stop in midair.
"Ke ke, it's nothing serious. No need to be alarmed," Xiao Hua said with a light laugh, his tone tinged with amusement as he watched Zi Yan slowly reopen her eyes.
Hearing his voice, the tension in Zi Yan's heart eased. She exhaled softly, then raised her gaze toward the source of the dazzling light. Her brows furrowed in curiosity before she cautiously flew back toward the stalactite once more.
Hovering close, she leaned forward to peer into the circular opening—and what she saw left her stunned.
Suspended within the hollow of the stalactite was a cluster of emerald-colored, viscous liquid. Strangely, it appeared to possess a faint trace of sentience, flowing gently within the confines of the opening.
Though the liquid shifted ever so slightly, it never crossed the boundary of the carved circle, as if held back by an invisible force. It did not overflow, nor did it stray even a hair's breadth beyond the edge—perfectly contained, as if the stalactite itself refused to let it escape.
Moreover, she could feel that the pure energy contained within this emerald-like, viscous liquid was at least ten times richer than the one cradled by the large green stone below.
"So this is the one that drew me to this place!" Zi Yan's eyes lit up in realization. The sensation was unmistakable—it was the exact same surge that had triggered her innate instinct to detect rare and precious natural treasures.
"No wonder I thought I had sensed wrong when I saw that pool earlier!" she added in surprised exclamation, her voice carrying a trace of frustration and wonder.
Though she had shown little interest earlier, the fact that her instincts had reacted so strongly meant that this Core Quenching Body Milk was of an extraordinary grade. The energy within it was so rich and dense that it seemed to pulse like a living entity.
"Just as I expected..." Xiao Hua murmured softly, his expression calm but pleased as Zi Yan spoke. He had already guessed the reason for her lack of interest—it was due to her having only seen the diluted Core Quenching Body Milk below, causing her to doubt her own senses.
"What should we do now?" Zi Yan's gaze lingered on the emerald viscous liquid slowly flowing within the stalactite. After hearing Xiao Hua's explanation earlier, she now fully understood how delicate this natural treasure is.
Xiao Hua smiled faintly and retrieved a jade ladle from his storage ring. As an alchemist, he had long prepared a variety of jade utensils—after all, jade was the most suitable material for preserving rare herbs and pills, especially those with volatile properties.
With steady hands, he carefully inserted the jade ladle into the circular opening. His movements were slow and deliberate, repeating the process of scooping and transferring the liquid several times. After a short while, he had collected a significant portion—more than half—of the Core Quenching Body Milk.
However, he made no attempt to extract all of it.
As an alchemist, Xiao Hua followed the unspoken rule in alchemist's world: 'When harvesting a natural treasure, never destroy its root!'
This Core Quenching Body Milk had taken countless years—perhaps more than ten millennia—to form. If all of it were removed, the stalactite itself would lose its balance and begin to decay, eventually cracking and withering into ruin. Therefore, he left a portion behind, ensuring that the essence could continue to grow and the treasure might one day be reborn.
After leaving behind a portion of the Core Quenching Body Milk, Xiao Hua gently placed the fragment of the stalactite back into its original position. As soon as it settled into place, the intense light began to fade, and the stalactite gradually regained its previous tranquil appearance.
He then stored the emerald-like liquid into a jade bottle. Observing the liquid still flowing within the container as if it possessed a life of its own, Xiao Hua gave a satisfied nod.
"Let's head down." He stored all but one of the jade bottles into his storage ring and descended lightly to the icy ground, landing beside the green rock and the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
Turning toward the beast, Xiao Hua extended the final jade bottle he had kept in hand and offered it with a faint smile.
"As thanks for guiding us to the Core Quenching Body Milk. I trust you won't attempt to forcibly extract the true essence from within the stalactite and leave it drained."
"Ha ha! Many thanks, Master Xiao Hua. You have my word—the true Core Quenching Body Milk shall not be depleted under my watch!" The Snow Demon Sky Ape was startled for a moment but soon laughed heartily. It cupped its hands respectfully as it received the jade bottle.
Naturally, the Snow Demon Sky Ape had learned from their actions and explanations. While it was tempted by the treasure, it now understood the delicate method required to harvest it—and the heavy consequences of failure. Greed, in this case, would only lead to tremendous loss.
After handing over the true Core Quenching Body Milk and giving the promised rewards, Xiao Hua departed the mountain valley alongside Zi Yan. With their business concluded, there was no need to linger.
"Now, I just need to prepare the Core Quenching Body Milk properly for Xiao Yu and Han Yue," Xiao Hua murmured softly.
"You're spoiling them far more than you ever did with me! Don't tell me you're planning to steal their hearts?" Zi Yan snorted coldly, her purple-coloured eyes narrowing as she cast a sharp, accusing glare his way.
"Why would I even want to do that?" Xiao Hua let out a sigh, sounding both tired and helpless in the face of her accusations.
"This Core Quenching Body Milk is far too dangerous in its raw state. I'll need to refine it and fuse it with other medicinal ingredients. Do you think there's anyone else in Jia Nan Academy capable of such a thing?"
"Hmph. Keep telling yourself that." Zi Yan crossed her arms and turned away with a cold snort.
Though she had to admit that Xiao Hua's pill refinement skills were unparalleled across the entire Black-Corner Region, she still fumed at how much attention he gave to Han Yue and Xiao Yu in comparison to her.
'Haven't I spoiled you enough already…? How many high-tier medicinal pills have I given you to consume?' Xiao Hua smiled faintly and shook his head helplessly as that thought passed through his mind.
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