Earth Core Body Tempering Milk

"Why aren't you staying in your Lava Land? What are you doing in my Dark Forest?"

"Can fifth-tier magical beasts speak human language already? Isn't it only at the Dou Wang level?" Xun'er stared blankly at the Snow Devil Sky Ape ahead, somewhat astonished.

"I'm not sure, but this fellow is far beyond your ability to handle." Yun Xi's voice rang out in Xun'er's heart.

"Hehe, don't I still have you?" Xun'er snickered. Yun Xi kept saying how powerful he was, but she had never seen him use any of his abilities. Maybe this time, she would get to see something amazing.

Yun Xi: ...

"You can't put all your hopes on me. Cultivation is your own matter, not mine, right?" Hearing the dependence in Xun'er's tone, Yun Xi was pleased, but also somewhat worried.

After all, he could protect and look after Xun'er for a while, but he could not protect her for her entire life. She still had to walk her own path herself. All he could do now was slowly teach her how to cultivate.

"Alright~ I understand." Hearing the instructive meaning in Yun Xi's words, Xun'er nodded slightly.

"Mm..."

Roar! As the Fire Devouring Giant Rhino roared, fiery breath surged from its mouth and nostrils, tongues of flame flickering in and out of view.

Ordinary fifth-tier magical beasts possessed, at most, high intelligence. They were still short of being able to speak human language. The Fire Devouring Giant Rhino belonged to this category. Though no one knew why the Snow Devil Sky Ape could speak, it did not hinder communication between them.

"Oh?" The Snow Devil Sky Ape looked slightly puzzled. "Borrow something? What do you want to borrow?"

Roar!

Boom! At those words, the blood-red gleam in the Snow Devil Sky Ape's eyes intensified. Its fists, bulging with veins, pounded heavily against its white-furred chest, sending ripples through the air as they rapidly spread outward from its body.

"Do you know what you're saying?!" the Snow Devil Sky Ape roared furiously. "You want Earth Core Body Tempering Milk? Keep dreaming!"

Indeed, it guarded Earth Core Body Tempering Milk here. It was not the only one—every Snow Devil Sky Ape would develop a unique sense for this wondrous treasure after reaching adulthood, because only Earth Core Body Tempering Milk could allow them to advance into sixth-tier magical beasts at the Dou Huang level.

Earth Core Body Tempering Milk was born beneath the earth. Newly formed Earth Core Body Tempering Milk took the form of mist, so it was also known as Earth Core Mist. It possessed the effects of a solid substance. Later, after a thousand years, the Earth Core Mist would condense into liquid. Due to its powerful effects, people called thousand-year Earth Core Mist Earth Core Body Tempering Milk. It could cleanse the bones and temper the spirit, offering tremendous benefits to certain high-tier magical beasts and cultivators.

"Earth Core Body Tempering Milk?!" Xun'er's little face went blank. Then she lightly slapped her forehead. "Of course! If there's a Snow Devil Sky Ape, there must be a wondrous treasure like this! How could I forget?"

Hearing Xun'er's words, Yun Xi asked in confusion, "Earth Core Body Tempering Milk? What is that?"

"Earth Core Body Tempering Milk is... forget it, I'll explain it to you later. Anyway, it's extremely precious. Old Ling mentioned it once when he used to tell me stories." Xun'er had been about to explain, but after glancing around, she realized this was hardly the time for idle chatter, so she could only brush it off.

Boom!

A sudden thunderous crash erupted, and Xun'er immediately felt her ears go temporarily deaf. However, her hearing returned after only a moment.

"What happened?" Xun'er asked as the hearing in her ears gradually recovered.

"There, look."

She shifted her gaze toward the two beasts. The Snow Devil Sky Ape had just punched the Fire Devouring Giant Rhino in the forehead, causing the enormous sound from before.

When the two beasts fought, they did not hold anything back as humans did. The moment they began fighting, they went all out.

The Snow Devil Sky Ape stomped heavily against the ground, then shot into the sky like a white cannonball. Frost gathered over its hands, forming an enormous chunk of ice. Its arm suddenly exerted force, raising the icy mass overhead with one hand before smashing it ruthlessly toward the giant rhino on the ground.

Roar!

Staring fixedly at the giant ape descending from the sky, the Fire Devouring Giant Rhino spewed flames from its nostrils. Its thunderous roar nearly echoed throughout the entire forest.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Pillars of magma burst violently from beneath the ground. Though they erupted from different locations, they all aimed in exactly the same direction—the giant ape falling from above.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

Under the Fire Devouring Giant Rhino's control, pillar after pillar of magma blasted against the ice clutched in the Snow Devil Sky Ape's hand, gradually filling the sky with mist accompanied by strange sounds—the sound of water vaporizing in the intense heat.

"Go. Now is the best time to head inside." Yun Xi's voice sounded in her heart.

"Huh?" Xun'er, who had been marveling at the battle between the two beasts, could not quite react to Yun Xi's sudden words.

"Do you still want to go in and get that Earth Core... whatever milk?"

"Yes."

"Then go!"

"Now?" Xun'er asked. The two beasts were fighting fiercely right now. Whether she would be discovered if she rashly went in was another matter altogether.

Yun Xi gave a half-smiling, half-mocking reply. "If not now, what? Are you planning to learn some fighting techniques from them?"

"No! No!" Xun'er imagined herself in the future, sporting bulging muscles and brawling with enemies at close quarters, and vigorously shook her head.

"Let's go." As Xun'er shook her head, a golden barrier emerged from within her, forming a shield of golden flames around her petite body.

"Just like this?" Looking at the exceedingly conspicuous golden flame barrier, Xun'er was doubtful. "Yun Xi... are you sure something this flashy won't be noticed by those two?"

"Don't worry. If they notice us, I'll just flatten this entire mountain range. It's no big deal." Yun Xi's calm voice came through.

Xun'er was left speechless. Yun Xi's talent for bragging was probably something he had been born with.

No longer dwelling on it, Xun'er carefully left the bushes. Just as she was about to circle around the two beasts and head into the cave, Yun Xi's voice sounded once more.

"No need to go around. Just pass directly between them."

"What?" Xun'er was dumbfounded.

Was he kidding? Xun'er was supposed to walk right between two fifth-tier magical beasts under their watchful eyes, then enter the Snow Devil Sky Ape's cave to search for treasure. This was not cultivation—it was an extreme sport!

"I won't!" Xun'er shook her head and said angrily. After all, she was still a child. She simply did not have the courage for something like this.

"I'm always here."

Hearing those four simple words from Yun Xi, Xun'er's heart stirred slightly. At last, she gently nodded in agreement.

Taking her first step, Xun'er gritted her teeth and slowly entered the battlefield.

The path ahead was not dangerous at first, but just as she reached the very center of the area, a sudden change occurred!

The Snow Devil Sky Ape, which had been fighting nearby, suddenly swung a fist at Xun'er, who was covered by the barrier. The move filled her with terror, and a moment later, a cry escaped her small mouth.

"Yun Xi!"