"Hm?"
In mid-flight, Liu Xi abruptly halted, his body hovering in the air as his brows furrowed slightly. Just moments ago, his Spiritual Perception had caught an intriguing phrase carried by the wind.
"...Millennium Ground Essence..."
The Ground Essence Root—a rare plant formed from the condensed, stable energy of the earth itself. Normally, such a root reached maturity after a hundred years; by then, its energy saturation prevented any further growth.
Liu Xi rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a spark of interest flickering in his eyes.
"Ordinary Ground Essence caps at a hundred years, yet a millennium one exists here? That means there's something far greater buried nearby… something that nourished even this."
His curiosity piqued, Liu Xi changed direction, streaking southwest. Within moments—barely a few dozen breaths—he had crossed nearly two thousand meters, the howling wind whipping past as the landscape blurred beneath him.
Soon, his sharp gaze fell upon a burly man whose muscles bulged like iron cables. The man held an iron staff in one hand and a sinister grin on his face, clutching a rhizome the size of a human head.
Were it not for the fact that only alchemists could enter the Pill Realm, Liu Xi would've mistaken him for a bandit rather than a pill refiner. It was difficult to imagine such a brute carefully concocting a delicate pill.
Around the man stood several others, encircling him with greedy eyes fixed on the Millennium Ground Essence. Yet despite his savage aura, the iron-staffed man hesitated—apparently wary of fighting.
Moments later, intimidated by his presence, the surrounding alchemists backed away in defeat and scattered. The man sneered proudly and slipped the Millennium Ground Essence into his ring.
That was when a faint ripple stirred the air—Liu Xi's figure descended like a shadow, silent and swift, landing several steps away.
Startled, the burly man spun around. He hadn't sensed even the slightest fluctuation before this newcomer appeared. Gripping his staff, he roared, "Who are you?! Think you can steal from me? You want this Millennium Ground Essence too—"
But when his eyes fell upon Liu Xi's face, his words caught in his throat. The color drained from his skin, and both legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
Clang!
The iron staff fell from his hands. In the next instant, the man bent double in fear, stammering, "M-Master Liu! I—I didn't know it was you! I'll give up the Millennium Ground Essence! Please… spare me!"
Liu Xi's gaze flicked from the terrified man to the hole in the ground where the herb had been pulled, his tone flat and indifferent.
"Leave."
The man froze, clearly confused. He had expected Liu Xi to claim the prize for himself—but instead, he was simply being told to go.
That didn't feel right…
Then a shiver ran down his spine as realization dawned. One look at Liu Xi's calm expression was enough to quell any further thought. Grabbing his fallen staff, he turned and bolted like a frightened beast, vanishing in a cloud of dust.
Liu Xi smirked faintly. "If there's a Millennium Ground Essence here, then perhaps something even rarer lies beneath… If so, this trip just became worthwhile."
He extended his palm, fingers curling like claws as suction erupted from his hand. Chunks of earth were drawn upward, flung aside in waves.
Within moments, Liu Xi resembled a one-man excavation machine—soil flying in all directions as the pit rapidly expanded.
One zhang… two… three…
Patient as ever, Liu Xi's movements were precise and steady. In no time, a pit over six zhang deep yawned before him, two mounds of loose dirt rising on either side.
At last, something other than soil resisted his pull. His eyes lit up. Leaping gracefully into the pit, he snapped his fingers—an azure flame bloomed at his fingertip, casting pale light across the darkness.
Landing lightly, Liu Xi peered down. Embedded in the earth was a translucent piece of jade, smooth and luminous. Only its upper tip was exposed; the rest was buried deep.
"The Core Mother Jade."
Exhaling softly, Liu Xi's eyes burned brighter. The Core Mother Jade was a priceless treasure. Cultivating beside it could harmonize one's Dou Qi and hasten progress, much like the effect of an Green Core Lotus Platform.
But there existed a treasure far beyond it—Core Soul Marrow, an incredibly rare spiritual essence capable of refining and strengthening the very soul.
Even for someone like Liu Xi, this was no trivial gain. The thought alone made his pulse quicken.
Planting both feet firmly, he gripped the exposed jade with both hands and shouted, "Up!"
With a surge of strength, he pulled. Earth sprayed outward in waves until the half-zhang-tall, arm-wide jade block came free.
A treasure of this size was nearly impossible to find outside.
"Such a massive Core Mother Jade… Then surely the Core Soul Marrow lies within. Don't disappoint me now."
His eyes gleamed. Setting the jade gently aside, he wove his azure flame into the shape of a thin blade. The fiery edge shimmered, razor-sharp and weightless.
With practiced precision, he sliced into the jade. The flame blade cut through it as easily as tofu, shaving off a layer no thicker than a thumb.
A faint, milky mist seeped out from within. The moment Liu Xi inhaled its scent, his soul tingled with vitality, his mind sharpening instantly.
"Yes… this is it. That feeling…"
He continued cutting, each motion deliberate and swift. The white mist grew thicker with every slice until, halfway through the block, a hollow cavity emerged—inside which shimmered a shallow pool of milky liquid.
"Core Soul Marrow," Liu Xi murmured, eyes glowing. "Xiao Yan used this to break through to the Spirit Realm Soul… what a waste of a priceless treasure."
He chuckled softly, rotating the flame into his other hand. With precise movements, he carved the jade into a small box, carefully scooping the creamy liquid within before sealing it. The remainder of the jade essence he stored as well.
"Recently, my training in the Soul Tempering Technique has been pushing my Spiritual Power steadily toward the peak of the Mid Spirit Realm. Perhaps this Core Soul Marrow will let me skip the waiting and step directly into the High Spirit Realm Soul. The Pill Realm truly lives up to its name as an alchemist's paradise."
Dusting off his robes, Liu Xi flexed slightly, then kicked off the ground. His figure shot upward from the pit, streaking through the air like a shooting star.
(End of Chapter)
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