Born beneath the Earth's core, this essence is the refined power of the land, compressed over time—after a century it transforms into a mist form, known as Earth Core Mist, possessing the miraculous effects of a solid. After a millennium of consolidation, it becomes a liquid; and if of even higher quality, it is hailed as Earth Core Body-Nourishing Milk, renowned for its divine effects of purifying the marrow and refining the bones. Furthermore, due to its exceptionally pure and potent terrestrial energy, it can even assist those nearing the pinnacle of their stages in overcoming the barriers between stages—though naturally, such breakthroughs are not guaranteed and come with a significant rate of failure. Generally, because of the stringent conditions required for its formation, few people have truly encountered it. Even Xiao Yan, who had only heard of it once, casually mentioned by the Elder of Medicine, remembered it particularly due to its exquisite, bone-refining effects. Yet he never expected to hear about this relatively obscure celestial and terrestrial treasure today. The joy on his face gradually subsided after a while, and Xiao Yan carefully suppressed both his breath and his aura, his eyes instinctively fixed upon the valley below, murmuring softly to himself, "Is the 'Earth-Core Body-Infusing Milk' among these?" "Are you finally moved?" the sound of the old pharmacist's laughter echoed within Xiao Yan's mind. "Ha, ha, how could I not be touched by such a rare treasure? If I could even obtain a single drop of the Earth-Core Body-Infusing Milk, I believe I could reach the Dou-Ling level within just a few months. And as my teacher mentioned, this milk not only strengthens the body but also purifies the marrow and refines the bones. If I can secure it, I'm certain it will bring immeasurable benefits to my future breakthrough to Dou-Wang level." Xiao Yan didn't hide his longing for the "Earth-Core Body-Infusing Milk." He carried a heavy burden—his father's disappearance, the dishonor of being driven out of the Empire by Yunlan Sect, and the looming threat of facing off against that enigmatic "Spirit Palace" due to his connection with the old medicine master. All these required him to possess extraordinary strength. Otherwise, not only would he be unable to find his father or protect the old medicine master, but even the Jiamai Empire itself might be beyond his reach. What kind of a man would he be, then, if he were merely a homeless wanderer, unable to return home, yet pretending to live a carefree life abroad? "Honestly, it's quite surprising that I've come across the 'Earth-Core Body-Infusing Milk' here. It's undoubtedly beneficial for you to obtain it. However, this Snow-Monkey-Tian-Yuan isn't exactly a passive creature. While most beasts of the Battle King level have developed some intelligence, they still fall short of being able to speak. I suspect this is directly related to the 'Earth-Core Body-Infusing Milk' it guards." The old medicine master smiled and said. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Even the celestial serpent, a primordial beast, couldn't speak at the level of a Battle King. Though the snow-magic tigress was also a rare creature, it still fell far short of being comparable. Thus, the only plausible explanation for its remarkably high intelligence was the legendary "Earth-core body-nectar." Xiao Yan was taken aback, then blushed slightly, saying, "If they didn't recognize her at all, that would have been fine. But Han Yue—Xiao Yan actually thought she was quite good. From what he heard in their earlier conversation, it seemed she had been the one who first discovered this place. If Xiao Yan were to act like a mere spectator and simply seize their spoils, that would truly be rather... 'Haha, you've certainly held these people in high regard. Though this Snow Demon Celestial Ape has only recently entered adulthood, it's still a rare kind of mythical beast. This creature carries a wild, turbulent bloodline within its body. If that bloodline hasn't awakened, it's not too bad. But once it does awaken, even five-star Battle Kings would have to retreat and wait in the shadows. They don't even have a single official Battle King among them—how could they possibly defeat it? And if things go poorly, they might even suffer casualties." The Elder of the Herbs smiled and said this. Upon hearing this, a spark of astonishment flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. He hadn't expected the snow-mage tigress to possess such formidable power—seemingly, the chances of Han Yue and her companions prevailing were not very promising. As Xiao Yan and Yao Lao discussed strategies, the tense atmosphere at the valley entrance suddenly erupted. Five figures blurred into indistinct shadows, each radiating powerful, fierce energy, like colorful ribbons of force, charging fiercely at the proud snow-mage tigress standing steadfastly before them. Amid the thunderous roar of the Snow Demon Celestial Monkey, the figures of Lin Xiu'ya and his companions noticeably slowed. At the very moment their pace eased, the Snow Demon Celestial Monkey slammed her foot hard into the ground, causing the entire valley to tremble. Leaning on the powerful thrust, she surged upward like a colossal white cannon, reaching the forefront warrior Yan Hao in a flash. With a grip of her claws, frigid energy rapidly condensed, forming a half-shou-long icicle claw within an instant. The agility of Xue Mo Tian Yuan, far outpacing the size of his massive frame, clearly exceeded Yan Hao's expectations. Yet, Yan Hao was no inexperienced fighter. Startled, he swung his dark iron hammer with almost instinctive force, the hammer tearing through the air with a sharp crack—so loud that even Xiao Yan, hiding in the trees, slightly furrowed his brow. "Boom!" The impact of his hands and the hammer sent a powerful shockwave, scattering ice fragments. Yan Hao recoiled rapidly, his body knocking down trees along the way, most of which were severed right through their trunks. After knocking down over a dozen towering trees, he finally came to a stop, lifting his face to reveal a faint streak of blood at the corner of his mouth. "Ha! Good! Truly a powerhouse of strength—Xue Mo Tian Yuan. But to finish me off in a single blow? You still fall short." Wiping the blood from his lips, Yan Hao smiled, indifferent to the injuries within his body. He gripped the iron hammer tightly once more, stepping forward like a humanoid tank, charging straight toward the Snow Demon Celestial Ape already surrounded by Lin Xiu'ya's four companions. At the valley entrance, several figures darted swiftly, forming a tight array that firmly sealed the massive white figure at the center. Their martial qi surged forth in a relentless, unrelenting flow, pouring out with great force. With each sharp command, powerful techniques were unleashed, generating sharp gusts of wind that struck the Snow Demon Celestial Ape's body with force, sending cascades of ice fragments and white fur scattering in all directions. The intensity of Lin Xiu'ya and his companions' attacks had even surprised Xiao Yan and Yao Lao. These individuals, having earned their place among the top ten of the most accomplished "Strong Ranks" in the Inner Courtyard, truly possessed exceptional abilities. However, despite the vigor of their assaults, the Snow-Magic Celestial Orangutan's defenses were equally formidable—so solid that its fur was almost entirely enveloped by a thick, resilient layer of ice. Any attack striking its surface only stirred a flurry of icy particles, failing to inflict substantial damage. Given this kind of combat, Lin Xiu'ya and his team might not last long, as the Snow-Magic Celestial Orangutan's recovery capabilities far surpassed those of ordinary humans. The battle between the two parties has intensified over time, growing increasingly fierce. The scattered massive stones scattered at the valley entrance have been nearly shattered entirely by the residual waves from their energy collisions. Cracks spreading out like a spiderweb from the site of combat have formed across the ground—such destructive power leaves Xiao Yan, concealed in the shadows, in awe. Indeed, it's no surprise that this warrior is on the cusp of reaching the Battle King level; his combat prowess clearly surpasses that of even seasoned Battle Seers or ordinary Battle Spirits. With a single flick of his hand, the jade-long sword, he lightly touched the spontaneously appearing gust of wind with his toe, lifting his form halfway into the air. Though his face had previously been composed and serene, it now bore a touch of seriousness as he gazed upon the Snow Demon Celestial Gorilla, still vibrant and energetic beneath the encirclement of Yan Hao and his three companions. Frowning slightly, he gently vibrated the sword in his hand, allowing jade qi to surge rapidly from his body through his meridians into the sword's core. As the qi flowed, the jade sword suddenly became translucent, its volume swelling dramatically—by over ten times—and swirling gusts of wind now coiled around its blade, causing ripples to spread throughout the surrounding space. "Yan Hao, hold it!" he commanded, gripping the sword firmly in his hand. Feeling the terrifying gust of wind building up in the air, Yan Hao and the others immediately understood that Lin Xiu'ya was executing his signature technique. Nodding in unison, they intensified their attacks, striving to maintain control and prevent the Snow Demon Celestial Orangutan from interrupting the cohesion of Lin Xiu'ya's combat skill. With a single strike, he drove Yan Hao and the others back. A fierce grimace seemed to form on the snow-mage tigress's face. With a powerful thrust of her foot against the ground, her massive form surged skyward, appearing in an instant before Lin Xiu'ya, who was barely maintaining his balance thanks to the wind's rotational force. She cracked her mouth open, her blood-red eyes blazing with murderous intent, and with sharp, clawed hands, she slammed directly and fiercely at Lin Xiu'ya's head. The momentum suggested that if she struck him, no matter how strong Lin Xiu'ya's prowess, he would surely suffer a splattering of brain matter. Hiding among the trees, Xiao Yan watched as Lin Xiu'ya was pressed by the Snow Demon Heaven Monkey, shaking his head in disbelief. This unfortunate fellow seemed destined for disaster now... Yet, as Xiao Yan silently sighed, he noticed Lin Xiu'ya, suspended in the air with no place to anchor, suddenly trembled at his back. Then, two slender, pale green energy wings burst forth, flaring powerfully. With a single beat, Lin Xiu'ya deftly evaded the Snow Demon Heaven Monkey's decisive strike and gained several feet in elevation. His long sword trembled rapidly, emitting clear, resonant sounds, and the space around him surged violently—clearly, his formidable combat technique had finally coalesced.