Chapter 252: Stone Milk (Bonus Chapter—Requesting Moon Tickets)

Bang!

That figure directly braved countless light blades, broke through the encirclement, stepped into empty air, and vanished in an instant toward the horizon.

"This body cultivator… is incredibly strong!"

Song Song Ningjing showed not the slightest intention to pursue, still shaken.

"This person… may hold a grudge against us, or may have merely crossed paths and acted on impulse…"

Fang Xing retracted the light blades, his expression grave: "This trip to the blessed land is ten to a hundred times more dangerous than before! We must finish swiftly—head straight for the cavern. I'll pilot the flying chariot myself; Song friend, please guide us."

These Golden Core cultivators were all as shrewd as demons.

Even Song Song Ningjing was no exception—she'd only given a rough location for the "Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Milk Cavern."

Once they arrived, they'd still need her to lead the way.

After revealing her Late-Stage Golden Core realm, Fang Xing could single-handedly suppress the four female Golden Core cultivators, and immediately took command, piloting the flying chariot forward.

Whoosh!

The four women felt a fierce gale slamming into them, as if even the chariot's built-in protective barrier might be torn apart, while the scenery on either side blurred backward at blinding speed.

"Is this the power of a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator?"

Meng Meng Xingyu's face brimmed with envy and admiration…

But Meng Meng Xingtong felt something was off—such speed wasn't typical even for an ordinary Late-Stage Golden Core master.

…

Wanzang Mountain.

The mountain towered to the heavens, radiating a chilling, gloomy aura; countless nameless, desolate graves dotted its slopes, and occasionally, white bones emitted eerie green phosphorescent flames.

"What a magnificent underworld vein—truly the ultimate spiritual land for ghost cultivators."

Fang Xing stood atop the flying chariot, gazing at the distant mountain range, and chuckled softly.

"This mountain range teems with ghostly beasts; rumors say even stronger ghost entities, nearing Golden Core peak, dwell deep within. Fortunately, they usually lie dormant—so long as we don't trespass on their tombs, they won't attack…"

Meng Meng Xingyu explained, her face pale.

The speed at which this Wind Elder piloted the flying vessel was truly terrifying, leaving all four women struggling to adjust.

"Song friend."

Fang Xing turned to Song Song Ningjing.

"Rest assured."

Song Song Ningjing formed a hand seal, and a peculiar talisman shot forth.

"Go!"

She murmured incantations as her Autumn Water Sword lightly tapped the talisman.

The talisman instantly transformed into a glowing orb, flying toward a specific spot on Wanzang Mountain.

"This Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Milk Cavern is recorded in a secret manual of my sect. A thousand years ago, during the opening of the Linlang Blessed Land, one of our elders accidentally entered it—but could not overcome the Crystal-Origin Divine Light, and returned empty-handed, dying in despair…"

"After much effort, our sect finally unearthed the 'Mirror Light Technique,' uniquely suited to counter the Crystal-Origin Divine Light seal. But five hundred years ago, our sect declined, unable to secure even a single entry slot…"

Song Song Ningjing gestured for Fang Xing to follow the guiding talisman as she explained: "When I was about to condense my Sword Golden Core, I happened upon this rare opportunity of the Linlang Blessed Land opening, and decided to come inside…"

"Since this is your sect's legacy, Sister Song, I won't claim any share," said Die Rui Lady with a smile.

The Meng sisters exchanged glances: "We're here solely for the Nine Lie Catching-Dragon Grass. As long as you don't take it, we have no objections."

They could tell Fang Xing valued this item greatly; their declaration was simply following the natural order.

"This is the place."

Seeing the talisman's glowing orb draw near the heart of Wanzang Mountain, Song Song Ningjing's face grew anxious.

Fortunately, the guiding talisman's orb flickered several times at the edge of the core zone, then sank into the earth.

"Go!"

Fang Xing formed a hand seal; a layer of earth-yellow light enveloped the entire chariot, causing it to sink into the ground as if into water, vanishing instantly…

"Wind Elder, impressive earth-dodging technique."

Die Rui Lady's eyes gleamed, her gaze toward Fang Xing dripping with seduction.

Earth-dodging was merely an ordinary mobility technique, but mastering it to this level was no feat of a day or two.

"Nothing special—just practice."

Fang Xing replied calmly.

In truth, he'd only briefly studied earth-dodging and similar arts.

Yet with Nascent Soul-level spiritual power behind him, the effect was already formidable—a classic case of brute force overcoming technique.

After descending a hundred zhang underground, the chariot's view brightened, revealing a vast stalactite cavern.

The ground was littered with strange pillars resembling solidified lava; the ceiling hung with countless stalactites.

Some emitted multicolored glows, creating a dreamlike, surreal scene.

"It's remarkable your sect's elder found such a hidden place."

Die Rui Lady gazed at an unassuming stalactite pillar beside her, her eyes brightening; she instantly formed a hand seal.

A pink spiritual light sank into the pillar, and soon, several drops of milky-white, sweet liquid dripped out.

"A thousand-year stone milk?!"

Meng Meng Xingyu stared blankly: "The Linlang Blessed Land truly teems with divine treasures… even these peripheral thousand-year stone milks must be worth a fortune in spiritual stones!"

This "thousand-year stone milk" was an excellent restorative for Golden Core cultivators, with zero medicinal toxins.

Before entering the blessed land, the sisters had each scrambled to prepare half a vial.

Now, looking at the nearly a thousand such pillars around them…

Even Meng Meng Xingtong began considering staying as a miner for a few days.

They had no interest in the ten-thousand-year variety, but these thousand-year ones—if Wind Elder didn't want them—they were more than welcome.

"This place is extremely concealed. My sect's elder stumbled upon it while trying to capture a burrowing beast with a trace of Zhen Shui Yin blood…"

Song Song Ningjing arrived at the cavern's center, where a sky-blue stalactite stood.

It radiated multicolored light, thick and massive, dominating the cavern like a sovereign.

Around it, however, lay a semi-transparent seal.

It resembled a thick layer of ice, two or three meters deep, completely sealing off the surroundings.

"Indeed—the Crystal-Origin Divine Light seal… condensing divine light into crystalline form—even a Nascent Soul elder might struggle to break it for a long time…"

Meng Meng Xingtong murmured, staring at the seal.

"Have you tried flying or earth-dodging?" Die Rui Lady murmured, then sighed bitterly: "Ancient cultivators' seals never had such flaws—if it were this easy, the ten-thousand-year stone milk would've been taken long ago."

"Song friend, it's your turn."

Fang Xing decided to try the technical route first; if the Break rank speed was too slow, he'd switch to brute force.

"Please guard me, all of you."

Song Song Ningjing sat cross-legged, her Autumn Water Sword resting across her knees; she formed hand seals and chanted strange incantations.

Before her, a mirror-like shadow materialized.

The mirror was merely a hazy gray, yet a beam of piercing light shot forth, striking the Crystal-Origin Divine Light seal.

Strangely, the Crystal-Origin Divine Light—which repelled most attacks in the cultivation world—now retreated before this mirror-light, the beam striking the crystalline core of the seal.

Countless divine light crystals immediately melted like snow under the sun, slowly but steadily…

Fang Xing's spiritual sense swept over it, silently calculating: "This Break rank speed is slightly faster than my brute force… Indeed, each art has its specialty—or perhaps… this cultivation world truly holds countless extraordinary techniques, especially adept at one thing countering another?"

"Hmm?"

His spiritual sense suddenly swept toward another direction; his brow furrowed: "It seems cultivators are approaching…"

"What?"

Hearing this, the Meng sisters immediately raised a veil of starlight, shielding the five of them; Die Rui Lady's face still smiled, but a massive axe now appeared in her hand.

Her treasure seemed wildly mismatched with her physique—Fang Xing had been startled the first time he saw it.

As the three women activated their treasures, from the other end of the cavern, a yellow-skinned, rat-eyed rodent suddenly clawed through the soil and emerged.

"Hah! Worth every last bit of coin we spent before entering the blessed land to upgrade your second brother to third rank—sure enough, we found a big treasure right away."

With a booming laugh, three figures stepped out of the tunnel; upon seeing Fang Xing's group, they froze.

"Demon cultivators!"

The Meng sisters, seeing the markings on the three men, turned pale.

All three were Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivators, clad in garish robes bearing the Five Poisons emblem—clearly from the demonic sect, Wangu Zhai!

Wangu Zhai cultivators were famed for their poisons and mastery of venomous insects and Gu, feared even among demon cultivators.

"Oh? Four little girls too!"

The leader's spiritual sense swept over them; when he saw Song Song Ningjing, his face lit up: "And one who can break seals—hah! Kill the man, capture the women."

"Cough!"

Fang Xing cleared his throat: "Though most demon cultivators go mad and lose their wits… I am a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator."

"So what if you are?" the leader growled: "Brother Two! Brother Three!"

The two immediately placed their hands on the leader's shoulders, channeling their spiritual power into him; in an instant, his power surged past Late-Stage Golden Core.

"It's the Hua Family's Three Fiends from Wangu Zhai!"

Die Rui Lady seemed to recall something: "These three, when united, have slain Late-Stage Golden Core cultivators before…"

"Only now recognizing your Hua Grandpa? Too late… Little beauty, you're quite lovely."

Hua the Elder sneered, waving his hand; a massive black cauldron materialized, its cloud patterns gleaming—clearly a formidable treasure.

At the same time, the treasure-hunting mouse let out a strange shriek and conjured thick yellow earth spikes, scattering like a shower of flowers.

"So that's how it is, Brother Song—you need not act. I'll handle everything."

Fang Xing merely waved his hand, and a curtain of light appeared.

Both the giant cauldron and the earth spikes were halted beyond the light barrier.

He turned and flicked his finger.

A blade of qi emerged, slicing a peculiar two-tailed centipede cleanly in half.

The centipede had already crept behind the five of them, poised to strike—but now it lay motionless on the ground, lifeless.

"All these treasures and spirit pets… are just distractions. Your true killing weapon… must be this third-rank superior Guchong, right?"

"So your initial arrogance was deliberate… Your acting is a bit too forced. You need more practice."

He stood with his hands behind his back, smiling.

"Big brother, this guy's tough…" Hua's second brother immediately recalled the treasure-hunting mouse, commanding its third-rank beast body to swell and block the three brothers, his face grim.

With this combined technique, the three brothers could at most hold their own against a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Their true killing weapon was this "Two-Tailed Golden-Swallowing Centipede"—this Guchong had even killed a late Foundation Establishment cultivator through treachery.

This Guchong excelled at stealth; even a late Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual sense struggled to detect it, and it was especially adept at piercing through all forms of protective barriers.

Its poison was devastating—even a third-rank body cultivator could not resist it.

Yet they never imagined their killing weapon had just been cut down by a single sword strike!

"Of course I know he's tough—no, this isn't tough, this is a headache…."

"Even our sect's 'Cultivation God's Child' might not kill the Two-Tailed Golden-Swallowing Centipede with one blow."

Hua's eldest brother's forehead was drenched in sweat, yet he suddenly laughed with boldness: "Since this place is already taken, we won't steal what others have claimed. Let's go!"

He waved his hand, ready to leave.

But the next instant, a blade of light slashed through.

The blade moved too swiftly to comprehend—the third-rank beast body of the treasure-hunting mouse offered not the slightest resistance, pierced clean through with a gaping hole.

Behind the hole, Hua's eldest brother's protective barrier shattered instantly, revealing a single drop of blood on his forehead.

"Big brother!"

Hua's second and third brothers cried out in shock, faces twisted with murderous intent—but their bodies betrayed them, retreating swiftly, abandoning even their spirit pet.

"Think you can escape?"

Fang Xing sighed, took one step forward, as if shrinking distance into a single stride, passing over the treasure-hunting mouse and entering the cave.

Within a few breaths, he returned to the cavern, holding Hua's second brother by the neck.

Seeing this, the Meng sisters and Lady Die Rui fell into stunned silence.

Was this really the Hua Trio of Terror?

How could they feel weaker than three Foundation Establishment cultivators?

"You… are truly Master Feng?"

Lady Die Rui's face was filled with disbelief.

"Whether I am or not—shouldn't you know best?"

Fang Xing chuckled softly, then casually explained: "To be honest… the Golden Core I formed was the Imperishable Golden Core."

At these words, the Meng sisters immediately believed him.

Only a late Golden Core cultivator could casually crush three mid-Golden Core cultivators!

"What about Hua's second brother?"

Meng Meng Xingyu looked at Fang Xing, suddenly realizing something.

"Correct. This third-rank treasure-hunting mouse is rare—and quite useful within the blessed land."

Fang Xing pressed his palm against Hua's second brother's forehead and began soul-searching.

Traditionally, controlling spirit pets required crafting a "Spirit Beast Command Tablet"—as long as one held the tablet, one could torment the pet into submission.

This method was convenient: once the tablet was seized, control could be transferred.

The second method, a blood pact, was far more troublesome—when the cultivator died, the spirit pet inevitably perished with them, no exceptions.

After soul-searching, Fang Xing discovered Hua's second brother had used the first method—the Command Tablet. He immediately brought down his palm, killing Hua's second brother outright, then took his storage bag and retrieved a yellowish-brown tablet.

Within the tablet floated a lifelike phantom of a yellow-haired mouse.

"Good. I know you're not dead. Now that I hold the Command Tablet, you will obey my orders. Understood?"

He channeled his qi, instantly refining the treasure-hunting mouse's Command Tablet, and barked at the fallen mouse.

The treasure-hunting mouse instantly rolled over, scrambled to its feet, ignoring the gaping wound still bleeding, raising its paws as if in prayer, its tiny eyes brimming with pleading submission.

"Sister, this treasure-hunting mouse has no spine at all…"

Meng Meng Xingyu spoke with a tinge of envy—this was a third-rank great beast; if made the clan's guardian spirit beast, it could suppress a Golden Core clan's fortune for centuries.

"Spirit pets controlled by Command Tablets are prone to rebellion…"

Meng Meng Xingtong nodded, then stared at the fawning mouse, momentarily speechless: "Still, within this blessed land, it's a tremendous asset."