Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid
Generally speaking, due to the harsh conditions required for the formation of this Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid, very few people have actually encountered it. He only generously gave Zi Yan a small bottle because the system rewarded him with ten jin. It's normal that Cailin hasn't seen it before, but he still has more than ninety bottles in his hand, so he doesn't particularly need it.
But since we're already here, we can't leave empty-handed.
"This Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid is different from the one you gave me last time, Lin Qing! Could it be fake?"
Zi Yan lay down on the edge of the groove, which resembled a small emerald bowl, and eagerly licked a mouthful of the milky white stalactite liquid inside. Then, she frowned slightly and complained to Lin Qing.
"I have been guarding this treasure all along, it can't be fake!" the Snow-Heaven Demonic Ape immediately retorted.
This is what it usually guards; it's even drunk quite a bit of it. It's certain that this is the Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid they're talking about.
"Because this is just a diluted product, but even though it's diluted, it still takes a year to form a single drop. These would take at least several hundred years to accumulate, so they're still considered good stuff."
Lin Qing patted Zi Yan's head, then took out four Jade Bottle and filled them with all the diluted Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid, making a total of four bottles.
Meanwhile, the Snow-Heaven Demonic Ape watched helplessly as Lin Qing took all the Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid. At that moment, it felt its heart bleeding.
"Here, these are for you!"
Lin Qing poured more than ten drops from one of the bottles into another Jade Bottle and handed it to the Snow-Heaven Demonic Ape.
After all, it had been guarding this place for so long and had even been a guide, so he didn't choose to kill it. Instead, he shared some diluted version of the Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid was equivalent to more than ten years of accumulation, which could be considered its salary. He was always quite generous to those who knew how to compromise.
The Snow-Heaven Demonic Ape carefully took the Jade Bottle from Lin Qing's hand. It had been prepared to have everything taken from it, but it hadn't expected to get a share.
"Alright! It's time to show you the real Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid!"
After saying that, Lin Qing flapped his wings and flew upwards along the huge stalactite column that was vertical and over a hundred meters long. The others followed suit, and a moment later, they flew to the top of the mountain.
Looking down from here, those stalactites that once seemed quite huge now appear to be only the size of ants. Looking around, one can see other stalactites hanging in the mountain sky, their faint light bringing illumination to the entire underground world.
Lin Qing ignored the surrounding stalactites and stopped at the base of the largest one.
"It's right here!" Zi Yan rushed forward and hugged the crystal-clear stalactite in front of her, pressing her nose against it and excitedly muttering, a few Dragon Saliva dripping from the corner of her mouth.
"Zi Yan, step aside first. This genuine Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid is extremely fragile. Only the most lustrous jade can protect it from damage. If any other object touches it, even the slightest contact will turn this clump of Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid, which has been condensed for countless years, into a pile of useless junk on the spot. So let me get it, and I'll give it to you later."
Lin Qing called out immediately.
"Oh!" Upon hearing Lin Qing's words, Zi Yan released the stalactite and flew back to the group, but her gaze remained fixed on it.
"Lin Qing, hurry up!"
Zi Yan urged.
Lin Qing stepped forward, his Soul Strength surging forth from his body to locate the Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid. He then took out a snow-white jade knife, wrapped it in his Dou Qi, and gently cut into the bottom of the stalactite. Because it was wrapped in Dou Qi, the jade knife was exceptionally sharp. With just a light touch, the tip of the jade knife disappeared into the crystal-like stalactite with a slight hissing sound.
Holding the jade knife in his hand, Lin Qing precisely made circular cuts, the subtle hissing sounds echoing continuously in the quiet high sky.
"Crack..." In a short while, the circle was formed, and immediately, a fragment of the stalactite circle broke off from the main body. Lin Qing caught it with lightning speed.
Then a burst of intense light suddenly shot out from where the fragment had broken off, the blinding light causing everyone to quickly close their eyes.
A moment later, everyone looked into the cut circular opening and was surprised to find that inside the stalactite, there was a viscous liquid of emerald color suspended.
The liquid seemed to possess a spirit, flowing slowly within the stalactites, but its movement was confined to the vicinity of the circle's opening, never venturing beyond a single line.
The pure energy contained in this viscous, jade-colored liquid is more than ten times more concentrated than the Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid in the bluestone groove below.
"This is the real Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid!" Lin Qing said to everyone with a smile.
"That's amazing!"
Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "This Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid is so real and fake, it's hard to tell the difference!"
"Perhaps this is a trick used by rare and precious materials to protect themselves! Even if ordinary people find this place, they will only take the diluted ones at the bottom." Lin Qing nodded slightly, then took out a jade spoon. As Alchemist, jade is the best vessel for holding pills, so he also keeps all kinds of jade items in his Storage Ring.
Carefully inserting the jade spoon into the stalactite, Lin Qing deftly rotated his wrist, and in a few quick movements, he removed most of the Earth Core Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid. Leaving some behind, he reattached the stalactite circle fragment in his hand. Instantly, the intense light gradually diminished, and the stalactite returned to its previous calm state.
"Lin Qing, why didn't you take them all?" Zi Yan asked, somewhat puzzled. She felt it was a pity not to take everything.
Seeing the questioning looks from the others, Lin Qing explained:
"It's like being a person; always leave a way out. When you encounter rare and precious materials, you must preserve them. This Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid is extremely difficult to form. If we take it all away, this stalactite, which took ten thousand years to form, will probably gradually collapse. So we must leave some to nourish it, so that future generations will still have Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid to use when they come here."
Lin Qing divided the extracted Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid into two Jade Bottle, then handed one of Jade Bottle to Zi Yan: "Here, this is yours."
Although he still had more than ninety bottles of Earth-Center Body-Tempering Fluid, he would still accept what was rightfully his, so he only gave half to Zi Yan.
As for Lion and Cailin, they are subordinates, so there's no need to give them anything. Xiao Yi Xian has already used them, so there's no need to give them anything either. Qing Lin doesn't need to be given anything either; we can just prepare some for her to use later.
"Let's go! Now that we've found the treasure you wanted, we need to find a place to spend the night! But this stuff has a huge amount of energy, much more than the one I gave you last time, so don't drink it all at once."
Lin Qing gently rubbed Zi Yan's head.
"Got it!" Zi Yan replied with a grin, then poured a few drops into her mouth and revealed a satisfied smile.
Looking at Zi Yan's expression, Lin Qing sighed. It seemed that this girl's gluttonous nature was hard to change.
Lin Qing greeted everyone and then headed back outside.