Chapter 302: She Drinks Soy Milk, I Drink Cow Milk

Qin Feng's finger landed effortlessly on the smooth Ice Wall.

There was no earth-shattering roar, no burst of radiant energy. The immense, seemingly eternal Ice Wall, the moment his fingertip touched it, rippled like a calm lake stirred by a stone, sending out gentle, water-like waves.

The ripples spread from the point of contact, swiftly engulfing the entire Ice Wall. The flowing blue luminescence within the wall accelerated, and the ancient runes, once faint and elusive, reappeared, growing clearer and brighter until they linked into a complex, orderly network of light.

Hum—

A low, distant hum seemed to rise from deep within the earth, or perhaps having traversed countless ages of time and space, resonating within the soul of every person.

Under the stunned gazes of all, the massive Ice Wall began to turn transparent, finally dissolving soundlessly like melting mist, revealing what lay behind it.

It was not the cave or palace they had expected, but a space… beyond description.

It resembled a Small Plane detached from the world. The sky bore a soft, eternal twilight hue, devoid of sun, moon, or stars, yet radiating uniform, warm light. Beneath their feet lay a soft, grassy expanse emitting a faint, sweet fragrance. In the distance, faint silhouettes of trees composed of pure energy, crystal-like in structure, could be seen, their branches and leaves flowing with seven-colored halos. At the center of the space stood an Altar—neither metal nor stone, entirely luminous white, simple and archaic in design.

A thick, ancient, vast, yet vibrantly vital energy surged toward them.

Was this where "Jing Yi" resided?

The members of the Exploration Squad stood frozen, as if they had stepped from the harsh highland glaciers into a mythical fairyland.

"Stay alert, enter in formation," the Tactics Captain recovered first and issued orders. The team swiftly reorganized, carefully crossing the boundary where the Ice Wall had been, entering the strange space.

Xia Wan took a deep breath, forcing down the chaotic thoughts about "slipping her hand," and stepped in right after Qin Feng. As soon as she entered, her Bloodline Power stirred like returning to its mother's womb—alive, joyful, resonating harmoniously with the surroundings. She felt a strong call emanating from the direction of the Altar.

Qin Feng walked straight toward the luminous white Altar. It was not tall, only nine steps high, empty except for a palm-sized depression at its center, shaped vaguely like the Inheritance Crystal Stone Xia Wan had obtained in Kunlun, yet subtly different.

Just as the team stepped onto the Grassland before the Altar, preparing to examine it closely, a slight distortion in the space beside the Altar caused two figures to slowly coalesce.

Two children, no older than seven or eight, one boy and one girl, wore simple white short robes of unknown material, barefoot. Their faces were exquisitely carved like jade, their eyes clear yet bearing an age-inappropriate weariness and detachment.

The boy held a jade bowl filled with milky-white liquid, radiating intense life energy and a faint metallic scent. The girl held a similar bowl containing a rich, yellowish-brown paste, fragrant with the scent of legumes.

Their appearance was utterly unexpected; their aura merged seamlessly with the space. Had they not been seen, their presence would have been undetectable.

The Exploration Squad tensed instantly, instinctively gripping their weapons. These two children were clearly no ordinary mortals.

Yet Qin Feng seemed to have anticipated them—he did not pause, continuing toward the Altar.

The boy lifted his clear, detached gaze toward Qin Feng, who led the way, and spoke in a childish, flat tone, his voice resonating directly in everyone's minds:

"To meet 'Jing Yi,' you must drink 'Suoyuan.'"

The girl spoke next, her voice like clear spring water striking stone: "To obtain the 'Key,' you must accept the 'Cause and Effect.'"

Their gazes swept over the group, finally settling on Xia Wan—within their detached eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible scrutiny emerged.

"What is 'Suoyuan'?" the Tactics Captain asked gravely, not daring to underestimate.

The boy raised his jade bowl: "This is 'Dragon Milk,' forged from the heart's blood of the Ancient True Dragon. Drinking it purifies Bloodline impurities and strengthens the origin—but may also overwhelm you with its tyrannical Dragon Qi, causing your body to explode."

The girl raised her bowl: "This is 'Jade Nectar,' brewed from ground seeds of the Primordial Blue Lotus. Drinking it clarifies the mind and enhances comprehension—but may also cause you to lose yourself in endless Dao resonance, sinking your soul into oblivion."

Choose one?

And either choice carries immense risk!

Everyone's expressions turned grim. This was not merely an opportunity—it was a deadly trial!

Xia Wan stared at the two liquids, their energies utterly distinct. She felt the "Dragon Milk" exerting a powerful pull on her Bloodline, as if calling to its kin. Yet its tyrannical aura also stirred her caution. The "Jade Nectar," by contrast, radiated calm serenity—easier to accept.

How should she choose?

She instinctively glanced at Qin Feng, seeking guidance.

Qin Feng had reached the foot of the Altar, only a few steps from the two children. He looked at the boy's "Dragon Milk," then at the girl's "Jade Nectar." His face showed no hesitation, no evaluation.

Just as Xia Wan thought he might offer advice—or like before, simply "break" the puzzle—he made an action that stunned everyone again.

He reached out calmly, first taking the bowl of "Jade Nectar" from the girl, then, before the stunned gaze of everyone—including the two detached children—he turned and handed the bowl to Xia Wan, who followed behind him.

"You," he said, his tone as ordinary as assigning breakfast, "drink this."

Xia Wan stared, mechanically taking the bowl—its surface warm and smooth, fragrant with legume scent—still not fully comprehending.

Then Qin Feng turned back, effortlessly, almost snatching, the bowl of "Dragon Milk" from the boy's hands.

And before everyone's stunned stares, he lifted the jade bowl, brought it to his lips, and drank a sip of the "Ancient True Dragon Heart's Blood" liquid—said to cause explosion and death—with the casual ease of sipping ordinary tea.

He even savored it slightly, then turned his head toward Xia Wan, still dazed, and said in the most ordinary tone imaginable—as if commenting on the weather:

"She drinks soy milk. I drink cow milk."

Xia Wan: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Even the two emotionless children, their clear, detached eyes, flickered with a rare, almost "confused" ripple.

Soy... milk?!

Cow... milk?!

You call the "Primordial Blue Lotus Jade Nectar" soy milk?!

And the "Ancient True Dragon Dragon Milk" cow milk?!

And you assign them so naturally? Hers to "her," his to "me"?

This... this isn't just breaking convention—it's flipping the entire table!

Yet what left everyone—including the two guardian children—speechless was that after speaking, Qin Feng ignored them entirely, downed the entire bowl of "Dragon Milk" in a few gulps, his face showing not even a blush—as if he'd merely drunk a glass of ordinary milk.

He casually returned the empty bowl to the boy, whose eyes had gone slightly glassy, and added:

"Tastes fine. A bit fishy, though."

The boy: "..."

On the other side, Xia Wan looked at the bowl Qin Feng had called "soy milk"—the "Jade Nectar"—then at Qin Feng, calm as if nothing had happened. She clenched her teeth, tilted her head, and drank the entire contents in one gulp.

The liquid entered warm and smooth, fragrant with legume scent and an indescribable sweetness, instantly dissolving into a warm flow that spread through her limbs and marrow. No discomfort followed—instead, her spirit felt crystal-clear; obscure, difficult points from her cultivation and Bloodline awakening now seemed suddenly lucid. Her soul felt washed, transparent, and at ease.

It really... was like drinking a super-effective soy milk?

The two guardian children watched the pair—one drinking "Dragon Milk" like cow milk with no ill effects, the other drinking "Jade Nectar" like soy milk and gaining profound benefits—and their eternal, detached expressions finally cracked.

They exchanged a glance, both seeing the same bewilderment—and helplessness—in each other's eyes.

Is this even how you're supposed to do this test...?

But Qin Feng gave them no time to think further; after finishing the "milk," his gaze settled on the indentation atop the Altar, and he spoke calmly:

"The drink is finished. Jing Yi, aren't you going to show yourself?"