Seeing Xiao Feng's sudden movement—
as he rose calmly into the air without even a hint of hesitation—
Zi Yan's bright amethyst eyes immediately lit up with excitement, as if she had already realized something important.
Without pausing for even a single breath—
she quickly followed after him, her small figure darting upward with surprising speed, completely ignoring everything else around her.
Below them—
the Snow Demon Heaven Ape lifted its massive head, its blood-red eyes tracking their movements as they ascended higher and higher.
For a moment—
it seemed like it wanted to follow.
But in the end—
it did not move.
It understood…
very clearly.
The treasure hidden here—
was no longer something it could lay claim to.
And so—
it could only remain where it stood, its massive figure rooted in place, staring upward silently as the two figures disappeared into the height above, a trace of unwillingness and helplessness flickering deep within its gaze.
Meanwhile—
Xiao Feng and Zi Yan continued flying upward along the enormous stalactite that stretched like a divine pillar between the underground world and the mountain ceiling.
The further they ascended—
the more astonishing the view became.
The stalactite beneath them was over a hundred meters long, thick and ancient, carrying the marks of countless years of accumulation.
And as they climbed higher—
the world below began to shrink.
Those towering stalactites that once seemed massive and imposing—
now appeared no bigger than small spikes.
Like ants.
The entire underground space—
was revealed in its full glory.
A vast, glowing crystal world—
illuminated by countless pale white lights.
Silent…
mysterious…
and filled with an ancient, almost sacred atmosphere.
Yet—
Xiao Feng paid no attention to any of it.
His eyes remained sharp and focused—
locked onto a single point.
The very top of the largest stalactite.
The place where it connected—
to the mountain ceiling.
There—
a faint, almost ethereal fluorescent glow seeped from within the stone, as if something deep inside was slowly radiating energy outward.
The entire structure looked almost transparent—
like a flawless crystal carved by heaven itself.
Beautiful—
but hiding something far more valuable within.
Xiao Feng slowly stopped his ascent, his body hovering steadily in the air right beside the base of the stalactite.
He did not rush.
Instead—
he calmly observed it for a moment.
Then—
he slightly turned his head toward Zi Yan, who had just caught up beside him.
His voice was low—
yet filled with quiet certainty.
"Zi Yan…"
"Sense it again."
Even before his words fully fell—
Zi Yan had already reacted.
The moment she reached this height—
she had felt it.
That familiar pull.
That irresistible attraction that seemed to call directly to her bloodline.
Without hesitation—
she rushed forward.
Her small hands and feet tightly wrapped around the crystal-like stalactite, hugging it firmly as if she had found something she could never let go of.
Then—
she pressed her cheek directly against its smooth, cold surface.
Her eyes slowly closed—
as her senses extended inward.
Silence filled the air.
Time seemed to pause.
For a few breaths , nothing moved.
And then suddenly her eyes snapped open.
A burst of excitement exploded across her face, her expression lighting up with pure joy and certainty.
"That's it!"
Her voice echoed clearly in the vast underground space.
"It's here…!"
"This is the treasure I sensed all along!"
Her grip tightened unconsciously, as if afraid the stalactite might disappear the next second.
Her purple eyes shimmered brilliantly—
filled with anticipation, excitement…
and a hint of greed.
Beside her—
Xiao Feng watched calmly.
And slowly a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Everything was exactly as he expected.
The so-called Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid below—
was merely a diluted remnant.
The true essence—
the real treasure was hidden at the very source.
At the heart of this ancient crystal pillar.
After Zi Yan's mood had recovered for a while, Xiao Feng said:
"Since it's confirmed that the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid is here, step aside for a moment and let me collect it."
"Oh!" Hearing this, Zi Yan nimbly flew to Xiao Feng's side, though her eyes remained fixed on her previous position, reluctant to look away.
Xiao Feng flew up to the position Zi Yan had just occupied. Soul Power surged from between his brows to probe the exact location of the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid. Only then did he take out a high-quality white jade flake from his storage ring with a smile.
Wrapping the surface of the jade flake in Dou Qi, Xiao Feng then gently sliced it into the position he had just probed.
Due to the Dou Qi coating, the jade flake became extremely sharp. With just a gentle touch and a faint squelching sound, the tip of the jade flake sank into the crystal-like stalactite.
Gripping the jade flake tightly, Xiao Feng performed a precise circular cut. The faint sound of slicing echoed continuously in the quiet, high-altitude space.
"Click..."
Suddenly, the jade flake in his hand completed the final segment of the circle. Immediately, a circular fragment of the stalactite fell away from the main body.
Xiao Feng's eyes were sharp and his hands quick as he grabbed it. He looked up, and a burst of intense light suddenly shot out from where the fragment had fallen.
This level of light didn't affect Xiao Feng much. He could look directly into the interior of the circular opening he had cut.
Inside the cut-open stalactite, a mass of emerald-colored viscous liquid was suspended.
This mass of liquid seemed to possess a form of spirituality, flowing slowly within the stalactite. However, its range of movement was limited to the vicinity of the circular opening, never exceeding it by a hair's breadth.
The pure energy contained within this emerald-colored viscous liquid surprised even Xiao Feng. This purity was more than ten times more concentrated than the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid in the bluestone basin below, far surpassing ordinary Heaven And Earth Treasures.
As the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid was revealed, a thick, mellow fragrance drifted out. Beside him, Zi Yan closed her eyes with an intoxicated expression. Her body unconsciously floated in front of the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid, her mouth wide open, and a hint of glisten could be seen at the corners of her lips...
Seeing Zi Yan about to lick it, Xiao Feng immediately reached out his right hand to hold back her small head.
"Eh!"
Sticking out her small, fragrant tongue and licking a few times, Zi Yan let out a sound of surprise when she realized she had licked nothing but air, and opened her eyes.
Once she saw the situation—
Zi Yan immediately turned her gaze toward Xiao Feng, her small face filled with a pitiful, pleading expression, her eyes shimmering as if she might start crying at any moment.
Clearly—
The Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid held an irresistible temptation for her.
However—
Xiao Feng did not let go.
Instead, he gently rubbed her small head and said in a helpless tone:
"Don't look at me like that…"
"This true Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid is extremely fragile."
"Only the mildest jade can touch it without damaging its structure."
"If any other object comes into contact with it—even slightly—"
"This mass of energy that has condensed over countless years…"
"Will instantly collapse and turn into useless waste."
He paused slightly—
then added with a faint smile:
"If you take even a single lick now…"
"It will most likely be ruined on the spot."
"So—"
"Let me collect it first."
"After that…"
"You can have your share."
Hearing this—
Zi Yan's expression changed immediately.
Although she was still reluctant—
she understood the seriousness of the situation.
With a small pout—
she slowly backed away a little, her eyes still locked onto the emerald liquid.
"Then hurry up and collect it…" she urged impatiently, her tone filled with anticipation.
Even as she stepped back—
her gaze never left the treasure for even a single second.
Xiao Feng nodded slightly and took out a jade spoon from his storage ring. As an Alchemist, jade was the best material for holding medicinal pills, so he always kept various jade tools prepared for such delicate situations.
Carefully , He extended the jade spoon into the hollow of the stalactite.
His movements were slow…
precise…
and incredibly steady.
With a slight turn of his wrist—
he gently scooped the emerald-colored liquid.
One scoop…
then another…
Each motion was controlled to perfection, ensuring that not even the slightest fluctuation disturbed the fragile energy within.
Soon—
most of the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid had been collected.
However—
Xiao Feng deliberately left behind a tiny portion.
After that—
he slowly withdrew the jade spoon and placed the cut stalactite fragment back into its original position.
The moment it was restored—
the intense light faded gradually.
The stalactite returned to its calm, crystal-like appearance—
as if nothing had ever happened.
Then—
Xiao Feng carefully poured the emerald liquid from the jade spoon into two high-quality jade bottles he had already prepared.
The liquid flowed smoothly—
glowing faintly as it settled inside the containers.
After dividing it evenly—
he turned toward Zi Yan and handed one of the jade bottles to her.
"Here—your share."
His tone was calm, yet slightly serious.
"This Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid has been condensed over thousands of years…"
"It contains extremely dense earth energy."
"If you drink it—do it slowly."
"Don't finish it all at once."
Hearing this—
Zi Yan nodded quickly, though her eyes were already shining with excitement.
"I know!"
She didn't wait even a moment.
Lifting the jade bottle—
she directly poured a single drop into her mouth.
The moment the liquid touched her tongue—
her expression lit up instantly.
She licked her lips with her small pink tongue and smiled brightly.
"It's delicious!"
Clearly to her, this treasure tasted far better than any medicinal herb.
Seeing her reaction—
Xiao Feng couldn't help but shake his head with a faint smile.
"Only a Magical Beast would dare to consume it like this…"
"If an ordinary person took even a sip like that—"
"They would probably explode on the spot."
After that—
he gestured for Zi Yan to follow.
The two descended from the cavern ceiling and returned to the bluestone below.
Xiao Feng's gaze shifted toward the milky-white liquid still remaining in the basin.
Although this portion had been diluted—
it still retained considerable effects.
Even if it couldn't fully cleanse marrow and refine bones—
it was still excellent for strengthening the body.
Without wasting time—
he took out four more jade bottles.
Then—
carefully began collecting the remaining liquid.
Drop by drop—
he filled each bottle with precision.
By the time all four bottles were filled—
only a small amount remained in the basin.
Not far away—
the Snow Demon Heaven Ape watched everything silently.
Its massive body stood still—
but its heart felt like it was bleeding.
The treasure it had guarded for so many years—
was now being taken away piece by piece.
For a moment an overwhelming urge to roar filled its chest.
But it suppressed it.
It remembered clearly the terrifying strength of Xiao Feng, and even more than that, the overwhelming power of his Alchemy—those miraculous pills that could shake realms, break limits, and allow one to advance cultivation at an astonishing speed.
Now, with the Transformation Grass in his possession, Xiao Feng has the chance to refine the Transformation Pill within few years, granting Magical Beasts a chance to change their fate, evolve beyond their limits, and step onto a higher path of cultivation.
Faced with such a person, the Snow Demon Heaven Ape no longer dared to hesitate. The difference between them was not just strength—but destiny itself. Following Xiao Feng meant opportunity; opposing him meant certain ruin.
Xiao Feng turned toward it calmly and spoke, his voice steady yet filled with authority: "Follow me to the Inner Academy. Stay as a Guardian Beast of Canaan Academy. I will fulfill my promise, and you will receive the Transformation Pill in the future."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Not only that—the Academy will also provide you with cultivation resources. Your path will no longer be limited, and your future will no longer be bound by your bloodline."
Hearing this, the Snow Demon Heaven Ape fell silent. The ferocity in its blood-red eyes slowly faded, replaced by a trace of hope. In the end, it lowered its massive head and nodded, choosing to follow Xiao Feng as they rose into the sky together, leaving the valley behind and heading toward the Inner Academy.