Chapter 255: Made a Killing

In the end, Xiao Yan unceremoniously stuffed the corpse of the Snow Demon Sky Monkey into his storage ring, stood up, and gazed at the valley before him, smiling faintly as he said slowly, "Since we've slain the beast, it's time for us to claim our reward."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, even the six members ranked among the Inner Court's Strong List top tier couldn't help but smile with delight.

This had nothing to do with greed—no effort, no reward. They had answered Han Yue's call from the start, endured life-or-death battles, and truly deserved a generous share. After all, who would risk their life without reward? That's only human nature.

Even Han Yue only knew from Zi Yan that the Snow Demon Sky Monkey's cave held Earth Heart Tempering Milk; she had no idea what exactly it was like.

Even Lin Xiuya, a Half-step Dou Wang who had weathered countless storms and seen many rare treasures, still found Earth Heart Tempering Milk worthy of anticipation.

Xiao Yan and the others finally entered the valley. With the aid of torchlight, Xiao Yan realized the valley's interior was astonishingly spacious—trees grew thickly, jagged rocks stood everywhere, yet no other living creatures remained; clearly, all had been driven away by the Snow Demon Sky Monkey.

"It should be here," Han Yue whispered.

Xiao Yan sniffed the air and found the cave's size matched the demon monkey's body precisely—it must have been its dwelling.

The seven of them advanced cautiously into the cave. After about ten minutes, as their feet stepped out of the dark passage, Xiao Yan suddenly felt brightness flood his vision. After briefly adjusting to the light, he turned his gaze around—and upon seeing the surroundings, astonishment surfaced on his face.

Before Xiao Yan lay an underground world blanketed in stalactites. Endless milky-white stalactites stretched to the horizon, emitting a pale white glow that banished all darkness. Stalactites sprouted everywhere—some hung from the ceiling, others stretching over a hundred meters long. Looking around, the cavern roof was densely lined with massive stalactites, occasionally dripping drops of white milky fluid that splashed into milky-white ripples on the ground.

"What a remarkable underground world."

"Are those Earth Heart Tempering Milk?"

"They don't seem to be—the energy here is too weak."

As the seven continued forward a short while, a crystal pillar over a hundred meters long and as thick as two men could embrace appeared before them.

Beneath the pillar was a depression, as if worn by dripping water, filled with two inches of milky-white liquid. A faint white mist hovered above the liquid, strangely persistent no matter how it drifted. Xiao Yan took a light breath—and instantly felt a strange numbness spread through every bone in his body.

Even without Xiao Yan speaking, everyone knew this was Earth Heart Tempering Milk.

Eyes locked on the milky liquid in the depression, Xiao Yan involuntarily swallowed hard, excitement surging across his face.

What Xiao Yan needed right now was precisely something like Earth Heart Tempering Milk—a Heavenly Material or Earthly Treasure capable of enhancing physical constitution.

After fighting Zi Yan, Xiao Yan had deeply realized his physical strength was far from strong—he still had a long way to go before true power.

The seven exchanged glances. As the host of this event, Han Yue spoke first: "Today's feast is for everyone. But before we share, I have a request: defeating the Snow Demon Sky Monkey was largely thanks to Xiao Yan. So I believe he should take the first share."

"I have no objections. Today, Xiao Yan truly bore the greatest burden," Lin Xiuya nodded.

"Hahaha, I'm not the petty type—today we owe it all to Xiao Yan. Let him take the first portion—it's only fair," Yan Hao and the others all voiced their agreement.

"I'm the one who got lucky—you all fought long and hard, yet I've come to claim a share," Xiao Yan said.

"Just take it already—if you don't move, we're all just standing here staring."

Xiao Yan smiled, not refusing. He extended his Soul Perception, waved his hand, and a strand of milky-white liquid floated upward. With swift, precise motion, he pulled out a Jade Bottle and filled it with Earth Heart Tempering Milk.

Xiao Yan took exactly what he needed—not more, not less: precisely one-seventh.

Seeing Xiao Yan take only one-seventh despite the abundance, the others secretly admired him.

With Xiao Yan setting the example, none dared take more—they each took only one-seventh. By the time it reached Han Yue's hands, the amount matched Xiao Yan's exactly, down to the last drop.

Moments later, the seven exited the cave, their faces all lit with smiles.

"With this Earth Heart Tempering Milk, my strength will surely rise another level at the Strong List Conference."

"Hahaha, Yan Hao, even if I meet you early, I won't hold back."

Lin Xiuya looked at Xiao Yan, a spark of Battle Intention flashing in his eyes: "Xiao Yan, you're strong. But if we meet, I won't lose to you."

Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly: "Of course. I don't expect you to hold back either—we'll settle it then."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, everyone grew eager to return, rushing toward the Inner Court. Only Xiao Yan, who possessed the Flying Dou Technique, vanished ahead of them all, disappearing beyond the horizon.

Once everyone had left, the cave fell silent once more. In the deep, quiet night, a shadow slipped in like a ghost, zipping swiftly into the cave and arriving at the site of the Earth Heart Tempering Milk.

"They truly didn't know—that wasn't the real Earth Heart Tempering Milk," the black-robed figure pulled back his hood, gazing up at the crystal-like pillar.

Miao!! Mao Wu stepped out from the Space above, passing through Space directly into the crystal pillar.

Xiao Yan wore a smug, cunning smile—only he knew the real Earth Heart Tempering Milk wasn't the milky-white liquid.

That liquid was merely what had leaked from the source—diluted Earth Heart Tempering Milk. The true version was hidden precisely at the points where the stalactites met the earth, requiring special techniques and icy jade fragments to cut open the crystal pillar and extract it.

But clearly, with Mao Wu's presence, Xiao Yan didn't need such trouble.

"Indeed, knowledge is power. Without the ancient books in my storage ring, I'd never have realized where the real Earth Heart Tempering Milk lay."

Soon, Mao Wu zipped out of Space with a green, viscous substance wrapped in Void Power.

The true Earth Heart Tempering Milk was extremely fragile—only the gentlest jade vessels could avoid damaging it. Of course, someone like Mao Wu, who simply hollowed out the center of the crystal pillar along with its shell, could take it whole.

"Since you didn't notice, Han Yue Senior Student, don't blame me for not telling you."

Miao miao miao!!

Xiao Yan and Mao Wu grinned slyly, one human, one cat.

Three days later, in his room, Xiao Yan stared at a large wooden tub before him, filled with crystal-clear water. Beside the tub stood a simple wooden rack, piled high with various Medicinal Materials—dozens upon dozens, all gathered after three full days of searching.

He had scoured the entire Inner Court for Medicinal Materials, even questioned every Elder. In the end, one key ingredient was obtained only after Elder Hao personally introduced him to a merchant in the Black Horn Region, trading an Elixir for it.

Pulling out the Alchemy Furnace, Xiao Yan refined all the Medicinal Materials into a single Medicinal Essence. The instant it mixed with the water, a rich herbal fragrance erupted, forming a colored Medicinal Mist.

Merely this batch of Medicinal Essence alone was comparable in potency to a Five-Grade Pill. But that wasn't all—Mao Wu spat out a jade-white sphere to Xiao Yan, who used a jade spoon to scoop out Earth Heart Tempering Milk from the sphere and dropped it into the water.

Hum! As the Earth Heart Tempering Milk blended with the Medicinal Essence, a milky-white radiance bloomed.

Ordinary people couldn't withstand even a drop of Earth Heart Tempering Milk—it was meant for beasts. But Xiao Yan scooped out more than half!

"That should be enough."

Just this single tub of Spirit Liquid would make even a Dou Emperor covet it. Normally, even a Dou Wang couldn't endure it. Only Xiao Yan, whose physique was already formidable and protected by the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame, dared consume so much Earth Heart Tempering Milk.

Xiao Yan stripped off his clothes and submerged himself in the Spirit Liquid. Instantly, a freezing pain pierced his skin and spread through his entire body.

Fighting through the searing pain, Xiao Yan activated the Burning Decree and the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame.

The next instant, the Spirit Liquid's energy surged into every bone in his body. Any bone it touched instantly turned multicolored. Xiao Yan faintly sensed something entering his bones, mingling with his marrow.

As the energy refined his body and bones, a searing pain deeper than marrow spread rapidly, eventually engulfing every corner of his body.

Even Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, veins bulging across his entire frame.

Had he not previously endured the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame's body refinement, he feared he would have screamed aloud.

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth against the pain and activated the Burn Decree to control the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame, combining it with the Spirit Liquid for a dual-pronged assault!

Xiao Yan intended for his physical body, even in its normal state, to reach the level of a Five Rank Demon Beast!

In the remaining time, Xiao Yan did not re-enter the Tian Fen Lian Qi Ta to cultivate, as even Chamber One no longer benefited him much.

With less than two months left, Xiao Yan used the Earth Heart Tempering Milk to strengthen his body while training his Dou Technique and cultivating with the Burn Decree.

Under the immense energy of the Earth Heart Tempering Milk, Xiao Yan not only transformed his bones but also significantly boosted his Battle Qi, ultimately fulfilling expectations by reaching Star Eight Spirit level.

With a splash, Xiao Yan rose from the wooden tub. A month had passed; the tub had long since turned to clear water. He lightly clenched his fist, feeling the explosive power surging through his body.

"So strong—even without using the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame to reinforce me, my physique is now equivalent to that of a Five Rank Demon Beast."

His internal bones, meridians, and other areas faintly emitted a soft luminescence, appearing like white jade, as if concealing boundless power within.

"Hahaha, the Strong List Conference—I, Xiao Yan, will be number one!"

A flicker of Battle Intention flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes—he knew that to claim first place, he must defeat Zi Yan!

(End of Chapter)