Dragon Emperor's Blood Essence

In the underground world filled with stalactites, Xiao Qing appeared once more. This time, however, a small figure stood beside him.

"Is this the place with the treasure you mentioned?"

Zi Yan sniffed delicately. Sensing something good here, her eyes immediately lit up.

Xiao Qing nodded with a smile. "That's right, but I'll need your help in a moment."

"Don't worry. Since you didn't forget about me after finding treasure, leave this to me."

Zi Yan patted her chest with her little hand, looking utterly confident.

Xiao Qing nodded, somewhat amused, then walked ahead to lead the way.

Seeing this, Zi Yan hurriedly trotted after him on her short little legs, her large, bright black eyes curiously examining their surroundings.

The two traveled through the stalactite-filled world for more than ten minutes. Only when they reached the location of the Earth Core Tempering Milk did Xiao Qing stop.

"This is it. The treasure is atop that largest stalactite. Zi Yan, fly me up there."

Xiao Qing pointed at the enormous stalactite rooted in the rock layer and spoke to Zi Yan beside him.

Zi Yan sniffed, withdrew her gaze from the groove in the bluestone, and grinned.

"Hold on tight!"

Purple Dou Qi wings emerged from behind her. Zi Yan wrapped one little arm around Xiao Qing, then flapped her purple wings and flew toward the top of the massive stalactite rooted in the rock layer.

As the ground below grew farther and farther away, Xiao Qing's expression remained unchanged, his gaze shifting to the rock layer overhead.

Seeing that Xiao Qing's expression had barely changed while in her arms, Zi Yan pouted and muttered softly, "No fun."

The howling wind rushed past their ears as they traveled upward along the enormous stalactite, which stretched over a hundred meters from the rock layer. Before long, they reached the top of the rock layer.

After signaling Zi Yan to move closer to the stalactite's surface, Xiao Qing took a sharp jade knife from his Storage Ring and gently cut into a spot near the base of the stalactite.

As the jade knife slowly cut open a tiny crack, a dazzling burst of light suddenly gushed out from within, causing Xiao Qing to narrow his eyes slightly.

Looking through the crack, he saw a mass of emerald-green viscous liquid floating inside the stalactite. As though it possessed intelligence, it slowly drifted within.

Sensing the energy contained within the emerald-green viscous liquid, Zi Yan began to drool and nearly let go of Xiao Qing. Fortunately, she still understood the difference between one full meal and being full for every meal thereafter.

Unaware that he had just hovered at the edge of life and death, Xiao Qing took out a jade spoon from his Storage Ring. After a few scoops, he extracted more than half of the Earth Core Tempering Milk and stored it in jade bottles.

Seeing that Xiao Qing did not intend to take the remaining Earth Core Tempering Milk, a trace of confusion flashed through Zi Yan's eyes.

"Why aren't you taking out the rest of the treasure?"

Seeing Zi Yan's greedy appearance, Xiao Qing explained rather patiently:

"Always leave some room. The roots of spiritual treasures born of heaven and earth must not be severed. This Earth Core Tempering Milk is extremely difficult to form. If we take it all, this stalactite that took ten thousand years to take shape will likely gradually collapse before long. Better leave some behind to nourish it."

Hearing this, Zi Yan nodded, seeming to understand.

Although she did not quite understand the point of doing so, since Xiao Qing could refine pills for her, listening to him was the right thing to do.

After collecting the Earth Core Tempering Milk, Zi Yan flapped her wings and slowly descended while holding Xiao Qing.

As his feet touched the ground once more, a sense of solidity rose naturally within him.

Xiao Qing slowly let out a breath, took out the jade bottle containing the Earth Core Tempering Milk from his Storage Ring, separated one-third of it into another jade bottle, and handed it to Zi Yan before him.

"I found this Earth Core Tempering Milk, so I'm taking two-thirds. You don't have any objections, right?"

Zi Yan shook her head. She could obtain treasure simply by flying Xiao Qing around for a while, so naturally she had no objections.

After taking the jade bottle, Zi Yan sniffed at its opening, and a satisfied smile appeared on her little face.

Xiao Qing played with the jade bottle in his hand. Seeing Zi Yan's expression, he could not help tempting her.

"Zi Yan, do you want the remaining Earth Core Tempering Milk in my bottle?"

Zi Yan's eyes lit up. She hurriedly wiped the glistening drool from the corner of her mouth and nodded repeatedly.

"I do! Xiao Qing, are you giving me your share?"

"As long as you help me with a small favor, I'll give it to you. What do you say?" A sly glint flashed through Xiao Qing's eyes.

Zi Yan blinked her bright black eyes and asked curiously, "What favor?"

Xiao Qing gave a sinister chuckle.

"I want you to help me cultivate!"

A moment later, Zi Yan hugged her jade bottle with a pale face, grinning foolishly with drool hanging from the corner of her mouth.

Xiao Qing looked at his handiwork in satisfaction.

A drop of purple-gold blood essence emitting terrifying pressure lay quietly within the jade bottle in his palm.

Now that he had successfully obtained the Dragon Emperor's Blood Essence, he could finally cultivate the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique.

He had long looked forward to this signature ultimate art of the Martial Ancestor.

After carefully storing the jade bottle in his Storage Ring, Xiao Qing turned his gaze back to Zi Yan.

Seeing her somewhat pale face, a trace of heartache flashed through Xiao Qing's heart.

"Zi Yan, how are you?"

Zi Yan came back to her senses, scratched her head, and gave a silly grin.

"It's nothing. I'll be fine after resting for a few days."

Xiao Qing was somewhat speechless. After a long while, he sat down cross-legged on the spot.

He took out a brand-new medicinal cauldron and numerous high-grade medicinal ingredients from his Storage Ring. Green Spirit Flame flickered in his hand as he began refining pills with fluid, practiced movements.

Several hours later, Xiao Qing held a fourth-tier Essence Cultivating Pill between his fingers.

After examining the pill for a moment, Xiao Qing walked over to Zi Yan, who had been watching from the side for a long time.

"Take this pill. It should make you feel better."

Without refusing, Zi Yan accepted the pill Xiao Qing handed her and swallowed it in one gulp.

Before long, a hint of color returned to Zi Yan's pale face.

"Let's go. We'll return to the Inner Academy first. There are still a few empty rooms in my pavilion, so stay there for a few days. I'll help you restore your body."

Xiao Qing reached out and pulled Zi Yan up from the ground. After confirming that she was fine, he took the lead toward the outside world.

Zi Yan followed behind Xiao Qing, her large black eyes fixed intently on his back as she wondered about something unknown.

Several days later, inside the pavilion.

Zi Yan sat obediently at a wooden table, her complexion restored to its usual rosy color. Her short little legs swung constantly beneath the table.

Before long, Xiao Qing slowly emerged from the room, carrying a bowl of steaming medicinal soup.

"Drink this. After these past few days of nourishment, the blood essence you lost should have mostly recovered. In a few days, whether you leave or stay will be up to you."

"But even if you stay here, there won't be any more medicinal soup for you to drink."

After placing the medicinal soup on the wooden table before Zi Yan, Xiao Qing spoke softly.