"As long as it tastes good, you should drink it quickly, lest the energy contained within dissipates."
Different medicinal ingredients have different handling and preservation methods. Some are as precious as a young lady of a wealthy family, requiring careful collection and special containers for storage, as even a slight bump can cause them to lose their medicinal properties.
Others are like King Kong Barbies, as hard as rock. Forget about crushing them; even Alchemists using Heavenly Flame need to calcine them for a long time before their skin breaks.
It was also thanks to the relatively conventional preservation and usage methods of the Earth Lotus Fruit that Chen Xiao was able to process it simply.
"I don't feel any difference in the energy."
Zi Yan mumbled in response, took a few big gulps, and drank it all down, letting out a satisfied burp.
"Oh right, my name is Zi Yan, what's your name?"
Feeling the energy of the Earth Lotus Fruit integrating into her body, the cheerful Zi Yan finally remembered something important.
"Chen Xiao."
"Chen Xiao... Hmm, I remember it. From now on, in the Inner Academy, if anyone bullies you, just tell them my name. It's guaranteed to work. But your strength is actually pretty good, there aren't many people who can bully you."
Although Zi Yan was short, her ability was top-notch.
Moreover, her personality was very straightforward. At this moment, she offered protection without any ulterior motives, and the reason was so simple it was unbelievable.
She simply found him pleasing to the eye.
"As long as you don't attack me, I'm quite confident I can surpass others in a short time."
The two chatted as they went deeper.
After more than an hour, they didn't find the Snow Demon Sky Ape, but they became more familiar with each other, not at all like they had just met today.
"It's getting a bit late, let's go back first. We can continue searching tomorrow," Chen Xiao said.
"No need to go back, so we don't have to run all the way again tomorrow. I'm very familiar with these deep mountains. I didn't have much hope for the places we just searched. The areas ahead are where Magical Beasts above rank five frequently appear, and there are even rank six Magical Beasts active there. I don't dare to be too reckless. Let's stay here for the night, get a good night's sleep, and replenish our energy. We'll definitely be able to help you find it tomorrow."
Zi Yan waved her small hand and led Chen Xiao to a cliff face.
Under Chen Xiao's astonished gaze, she flew up to the middle of the cliff, grabbed a protrusion on the cliff face, and pulled hard.
The next moment, a stone as large as two adults embracing was forcibly moved out by her, falling to the ground with a rumble.
And on the cliff face, a stone cave, not wide but large enough to accommodate a few people, came into view.
"We'll stay here tonight. The Magical Beasts nearby have all been beaten up by me and don't dare to come over."
Standing inside the stone cave, Zi Yan turned around to look at Chen Xiao below, clapped her small hands, and said loudly.
Seeing her calm demeanor and looking at the large stone that had fallen not far away, Chen Xiao felt he had misunderstood.
This little dragon person, you might think she's very simple and doesn't understand anything.
However, in reality, she's just fearless because she has something to rely on!
When you're with her, you shouldn't worry about her safety; you should worry more about yourself!
Staying overnight in the deep mountains infested with Magical Beasts was something Chen Xiao had to consider carefully, but seeing Zi Yan's practiced manner, it was clear this wasn't her first time.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Xiao stopped thinking too much, tapped the ground with his toes, and leaped towards the stone cave. In mid-air, he condensed an Ice Spear to borrow some force, and easily entered the stone cave.
"Is this the weapon you usually use?" Zi Yan looked at the very cool Ice Spear in Chen Xiao's hand.
"I haven't specifically practiced with it, but I'm more used to using swords and spears. Why?"
"Nothing, I just remembered Old Man Su rambling on about how a person's weapon reflects their habits and personality, and that I should avoid getting involved with people who use hidden weapons."
The Old Man Su she mentioned was undoubtedly Grand Elder Su Qian.
Chen Xiao was slightly surprised and glanced at the Ice Spear in his hand.
What the Grand Elder said was a bit absolute, but it wasn't entirely without reason.
He remembered that before meeting Ice Emperor Hai Bo Dong, Chen Xiao had been using a long saber that he was more comfortable with. But ever since meeting Hai Bo Dong, although they didn't spend much time together, Chen Xiao was still subtly influenced.
"What the Grand Elder said is indeed correct."
Chen Xiao nodded in agreement, not mentioning a word about the many packets of poison he had hidden in his Storage Ring.
"Old Man Su is a good person, just too long-winded. Oh right, since you don't even know where the Snow Demon Sky Ape is, why are you so determined to find it? If it's for the Magic Core, we can just find any rank five Magical Beast tomorrow morning."
"It's not for the Magic Core. I got some unofficial news that there seems to be something good in the place where the Snow Demon Sky Ape is located."
This question was not easy to explain in detail. Fortunately, he had already used the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk beforehand. If nothing unexpected happened, the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk in that cave was already gone. This trip was just to complete the process.
Therefore, it was fine to tell Zi Yan in general terms.
"We'll know when we go see tomorrow."
Hearing that there was something good, Zi Yan's eyes lit up, and she became even more excited. She was already silently calculating in her mind how to distribute the good stuff if they found it.
After all, she had only promised to deal with the Snow Demon Sky Ape, not to split the gains equally.
Eighty-twenty split, no, let's make it seventy-thirty. Providing the information is also a contribution.
Hehe, how clever of me!
...
The night was peaceful, so calm it didn't feel like they were in the deep mountains where Magical Beasts roamed.
From this small detail, it could be seen that Zi Yan was not only famous in the Inner Academy, but also held great prestige among the Magical Beasts.
Chen Xiao withdrew from his cultivation state and was about to get up when he suddenly felt the Dou Qi within his body accelerate uncontrollably.
A look of joy appeared on his face. Chen Xiao closed his eyes again and focused on breaking through by circulating his cultivation technique.
Seeing his actions, Zi Yan immediately pouted slightly, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes.
Although she could also feel her strength steadily increasing with each day as she continuously consumed medicinal ingredients, she still had no feeling of advancing even now. She didn't even know how much more time she would need or how many more medicinal ingredients she would have to eat before she could advance.
Without making a sound to disturb him, Zi Yan sat on the edge of the stone cave, dangling her feet, and stared blankly at the deep mountains that were more familiar than familiar.
She endured the unpleasant taste every day, consuming medicinal ingredients, all for the sake of growing up quickly, getting rid of the influence of the Shapeshifting Grass as soon as possible, and then figuring out what kind of Magical Beast she was and if she still had a tribe.
Or perhaps, family.
Time passed minute by minute. As the morning sun rose, Chen Xiao, who had his eyes tightly closed behind her, trembled slightly.
He opened his eyes, joy overflowing.
"Five-star Dou Ling!"
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