After about five breaths, Han Yue slowly opened one eye and secretly looked at Xiao Tian. She saw him holding a giant ball of sand in his hand. He casually tossed it behind him.
"What are you imagining over there? Hurry up and follow."
Xiao Tian glanced at Han Yue teasingly and walked down toward the cave entrance.
Han Yue's face flushed with shame and anger. She bit her lower lip, realizing that Xiao Tian had tricked her. He must have known where the item was all along. He had deliberately played with her. Looking at Xiao Tian's back, she stared at him resentfully, feeling both angry and helpless. She couldn't do anything about him. Ever since she met this guy here, he kept messing with her, leaving her unable to maintain her usual demeanor.
She took a deep breath, gently patted her face, and tried to calm herself down. She secretly swore that she would definitely find an opportunity to "severely retaliate" later. As she thought about it, her mood brightened, and she quickly followed Xiao Tian's footsteps.
Xiao Tian looked back at Han Yue and couldn't help but find it a little amusing to see the constantly changing expressions on her face.
"What, are you thinking about how to get revenge on me?"
Xiao Tian's voice carried a hint of teasing.
When Han Yue heard his words, her face flushed slightly, and she thought to herself, Can this guy read minds? Outwardly, she pretended to be unconcerned and said, "I… I was just wondering what it's like down there."
Xiao Tian had already confirmed her thoughts and pointed to the dark passage. "You're so curious, why don't you go down first?"
"I'll go, hmph."
Han Yue, holding the moonstone, quickly walked past Xiao Tian and entered the cave entrance.
"There might still be a Bloodfiend Sky Ape inside, you know~" Xiao Tian deliberately drew out his words from the side.
Han Yue's steps paused, but quickly firmed up again. She turned back and glared at Xiao Tian. "Bloodfiend Sky Apes are not pack animals. How could there be another one?"
Xiao Tian looked at Han Yue, who always presented herself as cold and aloof, keeping people at a distance. Her actions of getting angry and glaring seemed inexplicably… cute?
"What if they're a couple, a male and a female?" Xiao Tian's devilish words rang out again.
"Don't think you can scare me by saying that. I'm not afraid."
Xiao Tian couldn't help but smile when he heard her words. Her voice sounded no different from usual, but the slight tremor in her hand, gripping the moonstone, betrayed her inner nervousness.
Xiao Tian gently shook his head, took the moonstone from her hand, and walked into the cave entrance. Han Yue's eyes also flashed with a hint of surprise as she watched Xiao Tian's actions, and she quickly followed. Although Xiao Tian knew there was no danger inside, he didn't know if things had changed because of him.
A dark purple flame appeared in his other palm, splitting into a dozen clusters that flew forward continuously, acting as scouts.
Han Yue silently followed behind Xiao Tian, watching his figure and his actions. She deeply approved. Although his words could sometimes be infuriating, he was quite reliable in certain matters.
"Is that flame a Heavenly Flame? Are you also an Alchemist?"
Han Yue felt a terrifying temperature from the flame.
"Yes, why?"
When Han Yue heard Xiao Tian's words, her eyes instantly widened, and her heart pounded wildly. Heavenly Flame, Alchemist, an eighteen-year-old Dou Wang. These terms were easy enough to understand separately, but what did they mean together? Is this still the world I know? This world must be crazy.
Realizing that she was gradually being swallowed by darkness, Han Yue didn't have time to think much and quickly followed Xiao Tian's footsteps. The entire passage was winding. After walking for about ten minutes, a white spot of light appeared in the distance ahead.
"We're almost there. Stick close to me."
Xiao Tian called out to Han Yue behind him. Han Yue came to Xiao Tian's side, and the distance between them was only about two fist-lengths. He could faintly smell a fragrance on Han Yue, a scent similar to osmanthus.
A minute later, Xiao Tian led Han Yue out of the dark cave entrance and into an underground world.
"What a magnificent underground world," Han Yue exclaimed as she surveyed everything around her, her mouth slightly agape.
Xiao Tian also nodded in agreement. The entire space was filled with countless huge stalactites, dozens of meters long, growing everywhere. The stalactites emitted a white light, illuminating the entire space.
"It seems the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid is here. But this place is so big — how do we find it?" Han Yue said excitedly, but looking at the vast underground world, she instantly lost her spirit.
Xiao Tian didn't speak. He closed his eyes and sensed the place with the most concentrated earth power. After about three breaths, he slowly opened his eyes. He walked to the left. "Follow me."
Han Yue quickly followed Xiao Tian's footsteps, her eyes fixed on him, very curious. This man seemed to be very familiar with this place. They walked for ten minutes in this underground world.
Xiao Tian stopped in his tracks and stood still. Han Yue, who was behind him, was lost in thought and didn't notice what was ahead, directly bumping into Xiao Tian's back. Xiao Tian felt a soft yet elastic impact. Han Yue bounced straight back. Xiao Tian quickly turned around and reached out to grab her hand. He pulled her back with force, and Han Yue used the momentum to steady herself.
"What's wrong with you?"
"I… I was just looking around. I… I didn't pay attention." Han Yue's eyes darted around, looking everywhere, and she made up a clumsy excuse.
"We're almost at our destination."
Xiao Tian took her hand and walked forward. This was Xiao Tian's usual habit, so he didn't notice anything amiss. Han Yue, being led by Xiao Tian, opened her mouth as if to say something, but seeing Xiao Tian's back, she ultimately didn't utter a sound and silently followed him.
"We're here. This is it."
Xiao Tian's words reached her ears, interrupting her wild thoughts. Appearing before them was a hundred-meter-long, massive stalactite hanging upside down, its light far brighter than the other stalactites.
"Can… can you let go of my hand?"
Han Yue's weak voice came, and only then did Xiao Tian realize he was still holding her hand. He quickly let go. "I'm sorry. I forgot for a moment."
"It's… it's okay. You didn't do it on purpose. I suppose it was because you were in a hurry," Han Yue said in a faint voice, even helping Xiao Tian convince himself.
The two of them looked at the huge stalactite. Below it was a large bluestone, and on the bluestone was a groove, filled with a considerable amount of milky-white liquid.
"Is this the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid?"
Han Yue stepped forward, her eyes excitedly fixed on the milky-white liquid, and spoke out. She took a deep breath, and a sensation of tingling bones spread throughout her body, making her feel much lighter.
"Yes."
"So much? The information said only one drop forms per year. This looks like a small bowlful. How many years would that take to form?" Han Yue's heart pounded as she stared intently at the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid before her. This item could improve her aptitude and cultivation. She then smacked her lips and stepped back.
"As I said before, this is all yours. Take it. I'll also keep it a secret for you."
Han Yue looked at the milky-white liquid with reluctance. She had said she didn't want this item, and it wasn't something she had obtained herself.