Chapter 175: Chapter 172: Transformation and Attack
Heavenly and Earthly Treasures that can improve one’s Cultivation Talent are never cheap.
And yet,
once the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk was severed from its connection to the earth veins, its Spirit Charm would dissipate, rendering it useless.
This also made it impossible to trade.
And so,
after Nangong Cheng discovered this place of opportunity, used it to improve his own body and mend his deficiencies,
his only option, if he didn’t want the rest of the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk to go to waste, was to tell someone else about it.
However, the entrance to the underground cavern was located deep within a rarely trodden region of the Demon Beast Forest.
Without sufficient strength,
accidents could happen even if he personally led the way.
As time went on,
more and more outside Cultivators were entering the Border Desolate Land to explore, searching for any sign of Cyan Essence Water Grass.
The location of the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk could be discovered at any moment,
and whoever found it might sell the information or give it to their friends and family.
He had to make a decision, and quickly.
It was around this time that,
with a push from several major merchant associations, news of Zhang Qingyuan’s exploits and fame began to spread throughout the surrounding area.
This was bolstered by the astonishing feat attributed to Zhang Qingyuan: defeating an Eighth Layer Realm Tribulation Cultivator while only at the Seventh Layer Realm.
The wider his fame spread,
the more people on the streets began to talk about this figure of Celestial Pride Level who had appeared out of nowhere.
And this,
happened to catch Nangong Cheng’s attention.
He recalled that Zhang Qingyuan was said to be one of the people who had helped hunt down the Blood Slaughter Three Demons.
He then remembered how Shen Changchuan and his companions had not only dealt with the Blood Slaughter Three Demons, but also removed the hidden malady in his body, allowing him to continue on his Path of Immortal Cultivation.
Nangong Cheng decided to use this opportunity to repay them for saving both his life and his future on the path of cultivation.
’Originally,’ Nangong Cheng thought,
’since that Zhang Qingyuan can easily slay a Late Stage Eighth Layer Realm Cultivator,’
’his combat power must be approaching the level of a Ninth Layer Realm Cultivator, if not already there.’
’If we teamed up,’
’two fighters at the Ninth Layer level protecting Shen Changchuan—a little brother at the Qi Introduction Fourth or Fifth Layer—deep in the Demon Beast Forest shouldn’t be a problem at all.’
And so, he had extended an invitation to Shen Changchuan.
But to his surprise, Zhang Qingyuan hadn’t come.
Yet Shen Changchuan had handled the dangers of the journey with surprising ease, which allowed him to relax.
"Ah well, this outcome is for the best."
Nangong Cheng let out a breath.
Admittedly,
he knew the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk was exceptionally precious. If a great clan or noble family had found out about it, they might have paid thousands, or even tens of thousands, of Spirit Stones just for the information.
But the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk was a natural treasure that couldn’t be moved,
and in the current circumstances, never mind how long it would take to find a buyer—by the time he did, someone else would have likely discovered the place already.
It was better to give it away now and repay his debt.
In any case, since he had already used it once, the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk would no longer have any effect on him.
The last trace of regret in his heart vanished.
Nangong Cheng felt a wave of enlightenment wash over him. His mental state and Cultivation advanced in tandem, and he could feel a subtle improvement...
...
As for what was going through Nangong Cheng’s mind,
Shen Changchuan, of course, had no idea.
At this moment,
he had no capacity to focus on anything else.
His entire body was submerged in the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk,
and wisps of a clear, bright energy began to seep into his body through his skin.
Shen Changchuan felt a bone-deep pain welling up from his very flesh and marrow. It was an itching, aching torment, as if countless ants were gnawing at him from the inside!
His powerful Divine Soul only magnified the sensation!
But despite this,
there wasn’t a trace of fear on Shen Changchuan’s face.
Instead, a look of delight appeared.
He could feel that as the Spiritual Qi from the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk seeped into him, wisps of Dao Charm followed, flooding every part of his body.
In the process,
it was as if a parched field was receiving a welcome rain. His flesh and bones were being nourished by a latent Vitality. While his entire body was filled with that itching ache, he also felt as if he were soaking in a warm, pleasant liquid.
The hidden injuries his body had sustained from past cultivation and battles were rapidly healing.
The Elixir Poison and residual Medicinal Power left from taking Elixirs, hidden deep within his flesh, were like ice meeting a blazing flame—rapidly melting and evaporating away...
His flesh and bones were being strengthened.
The Magical Power in his body grew more consolidated with every Circulation...
Shen Changchuan took a deep breath, immediately suppressing all other thoughts.
He began to meditate within the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk,
focusing all of his Heart Spirit
to absorb as much of the surrounding Spirit Charm as he could, refining his body and maximizing the effects of the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk.
Had it been anyone else,
they likely would have found it impossible to sit and cultivate while their body was being reforged and itching uncontrollably, thus wasting most of the Spirit Charm.
But the one here was Shen Changchuan.
Before this,
while escorting the United Trade Team’s cargo, he had tempered his mind by meditating in a jolting carriage. He had already reached a state where he could remain perfectly calm, as if reading a book in a bustling market, transcending his physical surroundings.
With his experience, Shen Changchuan needed only a moment to adjust to the mere physical sensations before entering a state of deep meditation.
At that moment,
on a large rock not far away,
Nangong Cheng watched this unfold.
When he saw the Spirit Charm in the air begin to swirl into a vortex, continuously converging on Shen Changchuan, a look of astonishment crossed his face.
"To think he can do something like this..."
As someone who had used the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk himself, he knew exactly what it felt like to be submerged in it.
While soaking, the body’s transformation made it difficult to even concentrate.
’Let alone meditate and cultivate?’ he thought.
Recalling Shen Changchuan’s performance throughout their journey,
Nangong Cheng couldn’t help but re-evaluate him.
「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」
The Earth Vein Spiritual Milk in the pool had become visibly clearer.
Its Spirit Charm had evidently been all but absorbed by Shen Changchuan.
This caused Nangong Cheng to sigh in amazement once again.
’He absorbed so much of the Earth Vein Spiritual Milk... I doubt I even absorbed a third of that amount when it was my turn.’
’Forget the improvements to his physique; the foundation he’s building for the future will be immeasurably profound!’
’Could this be the kind of foundation a disciple from a great clan possesses?’
"It’s Earth Vein Spiritual Milk?! Damn it! We’re too late!"
Just then,
a frustrated and astonished cry echoed from the entrance of the cavern.
