Chapter 159: Chapter 158: Consuming the Earth Core Stone Milk
Earth Core Stone Milk!
In an instant, the reception room fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Huang Ling’er’s eyes flew wide open, and she subconsciously clapped a hand over her mouth.
Shi Meng’s rugged face was filled with incredulous ecstasy.
The arm with which Li Feng cradled his long saber tightened slightly, and a terrifying glint erupted in his eyes.
Even the ever-cool Yun Qianyue’s eyes, visible above her purple veil, lit up in an instant, as if they had captured the stars.
Fang Han felt his heart leap. A tremendous wave of joy washed over him, so intense it made his fingertips tingle.
He took a deep breath, barely managing to suppress his excitement.
’Earth Core Stone Milk... this is one of Heaven and Earth’s Wondrous Treasures, capable of Yijing Marrow Cleansing and changing one’s Root Bone!’
Its value was simply impossible to measure in Contribution Points!
Although he had anticipated it, he couldn’t help but be overjoyed now that he had actually received the reward.
Elder Chen Xuan took in all five of their reactions and nodded in satisfaction, then took out five small Jade Bottles.
The Jade Bottles were smooth and warm to the touch, flawlessly white. They were sealed extremely well, but one could vaguely sense a faint, strange fluctuation seeping out from within.
He carefully handed a Jade Bottle to each of the five disciples, then took their Identity Jade Tokens and transferred two thousand Contribution Points to each of them.
"The Earth Core Stone Milk has miraculous effects. When you take it, you must calm your mind and focus your spirit. It is best to do so in a place of absolute safety. After you return, be sure to use it with caution. Do not fail the Sect’s high hopes for you."
Elder Chen Xuan instructed them in a serious tone.
"We disciples will remember the Elder’s teachings!"
The five of them replied in unison, their voices filled with excitement and gratitude.
"Go on. Make good use of what you’ve gained."
Elder Chen Xuan waved his hand.
The five disciples bowed again before turning around, almost impatiently, and quickly left the reception room.
Once outside the hall, the five of them exchanged glances, each seeing the irrepressible urgency in the others’ eyes.
Without another word, they separated with perfect understanding, nearly breaking into a run as they headed back to their respective quarters.
Fang Han clutched the cool Jade Bottle, which felt as heavy as a mountain, and quickened his pace.
Returning to Room C-7, he swung the door shut behind him, slid the bolt into place, and temporarily cut himself off from the outside world.
The room was clean and tidy; the servant had done a thorough job.
Sunlight filtered through the window paper, landing on the small Jade Bottle in his hand and refracting into a soft halo.
"Earth Core Stone Milk..."
Fang Han walked to the table, gently placed the Jade Bottle upon it, and slowly sat down, his gaze fixed on it with burning intensity.
’So this is the Earth Core Stone Milk that can improve my Root Bone!’
An intense desire welled up within him. He couldn’t wait to swallow it down.
But he didn’t act rashly. He took a deep breath, then another, and another... until the lake of his heart was completely calm.
He pinched the specially sealed cork between his thumb and forefinger and applied a bit of force.
POP—
With a very faint, crisp sound, the cork came loose.
In that instant, an indescribably refreshing fragrance spread out, as if the essence of heaven and earth, accumulated for millions of years, had suddenly been released.
The scent wasn’t overpowering, but rather elegant and far-reaching. It carried the freshness of a forest after rain, like exotic, spirit-infused herbs at the crack of dawn. It drilled into his nostrils and shot straight to the top of his head.
Just one whiff was enough to invigorate Fang Han. The last vestiges of fatigue from days of travel and the previous competition seemed to be washed away, leaving his mind exceptionally clear.
He steadied his mind and looked at the mouth of the bottle.
"So this is the Earth Core Stone Milk, more precious than ordinary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures... capable of changing one’s Root Bone?"
Inside the bottle was a large drop of viscous liquid, the color of warm, milky white.
When he swirled it slightly, it didn’t ripple like water. Instead, it had a gelatinous, stagnant feel, like jelly, and it shimmered with a precious glow in the light filtering through the window paper.
Without further hesitation, Fang Han tilted his head back, brought the bottle to his lips, and carefully poured the incredibly precious drop of Earth Core Stone Milk down his throat.
As the stone milk entered his mouth, it wasn’t as thick as he’d imagined. Instead, it slid down his throat on its own, as if it had a life of its own.
The taste wasn’t complex, only an ultimate purity and sweetness, as if he had swallowed a mouthful of concentrated essence of heaven and earth.
The next moment, the stone milk settled in his stomach.
At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But just a few breaths later, an extremely comfortable, icy-cool aura suddenly erupted from the depths of his Dantian and Qi Sea!
This iciness wasn’t the bone-chilling cold of deep winter, but the kind of soul-deep coolness one feels when drinking from a sweet spring in the heat of summer, or when soaking in a ten-thousand-year-old frigid pool.
The cool sensation spread rapidly, like an invisible tide, instantly surging through his limbs and bones, into every meridian, every inch of bone, and even every single cell.
"Nghh..."
Fang Han couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh, his body leaning back involuntarily against the chair.
The feeling was too wondrous. It was as if his entire body was enveloped in an indescribable comfort.
The cool aura washed over and cleansed his body. Wherever it passed, his body began a mysterious transformation.
This was a leap in his level of life, a metamorphosis akin to being reborn!
Time lost all meaning in this moment.
Fang Han was completely immersed in this wonderful process of transformation, forgetting the outside world, forgetting himself.
A sticky, grayish-black sweat with a slightly foul smell began to seep from the surface of his body—a sign that impurities hidden deep within were being expelled.
Unconsciously, an hour slipped by.
When the vast, icy aura in his abdomen finally integrated completely into his body, finishing its modifications and slowly calming down, Fang Han awoke from his state of selfless oblivion.
He gently flexed his fingers. His joints made a series of soft cracks. An unprecedented feeling of lightness and power filled his entire body.
He felt as if a massive burden had been lifted from his body, or as if he had been completely reforged. He felt comfortable all over and was brimming with extreme vigor.
"It stinks..."
However, what followed was an unbearable stickiness and a foul, fishy stench.
Fang Han looked down and saw a thin layer of grayish-black grime covering his exposed skin—the very impurities that had just been expelled from his body.
He frowned slightly and immediately stood up.
There was fresh water and a bathing tub in the corner of the room. He quickly drew water and carefully washed his body, completely removing the filth.
After changing into a clean, blue Disciple’s Robe, he felt refreshed and invigorated, as if even his soul had become much lighter.
’The transformation is complete. Next, it’s time to test the effects of the Earth Core Stone Milk!’
Fang Han sat cross-legged on his bed, took out a Peiyuan Pill, and swallowed it.
The Elixir entered his stomach and dissolved into a gentle Medicinal Power, providing support for the Cultivation to follow.
He cleared his mind of distracting thoughts, silently recited the incantation of the Xunfeng Technique, and began to circulate the Cultivation Technique.
The moment the technique activated, Fang Han’s mind trembled!
’It’s different! Completely different!’
He could clearly sense the difference from his previous Cultivation sessions.
He focused his mind and channeled all his effort into guiding his Inner Qi through one full Circulation of the Heavens.
The moment his Inner Qi finally sank back into his Dantian, completing one full Circulation, Fang Han clearly perceived the growth of his Inner Qi.
Previously, when he completed one Circulation, he would gain about five wisps of pure Inner Qi.
This speed far surpassed his peers and could already be considered terrifying.
But now...
Twenty wisps!
His perception told him, with unmistakable clarity, that in just this single Circulation, the new Inner Qi in his Dantian had reached a staggering total of twenty wisps.
’It’s four times what it was before!’
Fang Han slowly stopped his cultivation and opened his eyes, which shone with an indescribably brilliant light.
Four times! His Cultivation speed had increased fourfold!
’It’s because of the sixteen-fold Root Bone amplification!’
Fang Han fell into deep thought.
’Although Earth Core Stone Milk is a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure capable of Yijing Marrow Cleansing, the effect of a single drop shouldn’t logically be enough to cause such an exaggerated fourfold increase in my cultivation speed. After Yun Qianyue, Li Feng, and the others took it, the effects might be significant, but there’s no way their cultivation speed would skyrocket fourfold like mine. If it truly had such an effect, even the Seven Sects probably couldn’t hold onto the Earth Core Stone Milk. It would definitely be contested by powerful forces from outside the commandery.’
The only explanation was just as he had suspected before—
The stone milk had improved his Root Bone by a certain amount, and this improvement, after being magnified by the terrifying factor of sixteen, was what ultimately manifested as the shocking fourfold surge in his overall Cultivation speed.
’Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like the Earth Core Stone Milk really are far more effective for me than for anyone else!’
An unprecedented, scorching light erupted in Fang Han’s eyes.
This phenomenon meant that the effects of any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or Miracle Elixirs that could improve his fundamental aptitude would be magnified sixteen times for him!
When Yun Qianyue and the others took a drop of Earth Core Stone Milk, their Cultivation speed might increase by a few tenths. But for him, it increased fourfold.
The gap between them was immense.
WHOOSH—
He let out a long, turbid breath. The exhalation was long and deep, as if it contained a burgeoning life force.
One thing was certain: his Cultivation speed was about to experience explosive growth.
’This is just the beginning!’
Fang Han’s eyes burned with intensity.
Besides the Earth Core Stone Milk, he had also received a full two thousand Contribution Points.
With these two thousand Contribution Points, he was not far from unlocking the thirty-two-fold amplification of his Root Bone Talent.
Once he made up the remaining difference in silver coins, his Cultivation speed would skyrocket yet again.
"Chu Feng... the Celestial Pride List..."
Fang Han gazed out the window, his expression calm but holding a restrained, sharp edge.
The pressure from Chu Feng, a True Inheritor on the Celestial Pride List, still existed. But Fang Han was confident that in the near future, he would have the means to contend with him.
’It won’t be long before I can ascend to the Celestial Pride List myself. When that time comes, the pressure from Chu Feng will be a thing of the past.’
He closed his eyes again, once more immersing himself in Cultivation.
This time, the rushing of his Inner Qi was even more joyful.
With every Circulation of the Celestial Qi, he could clearly feel the solid growth of his Inner Qi, feel himself steadily advancing toward the higher realms of the Martial Dao at an unprecedented speed.
The room once again fell silent. Only the faint, invisible currents of air indicated that after an astonishing transformation, an even more rapid period of growth had already begun.
