Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Big Gains

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    Word Count: 2,115 Words

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    In the end, Xiao Yan unceremoniously stored the corpse of the Snow Demon Sky Ape in his storage ring. Standing upright, he looked at the valley before him, smiled faintly, and said slowly, "Now that we''ve slain the magical beast, it''s time for us to reap our rewards."

    Even the six people who were among the top ranks of the Inner Academy''s Strong Ranking couldn''t help but reveal joyful smiles upon hearing these words.

    This had nothing to do with greed. Where there was effort, there should be reward. They had initially responded to Han Yue''s call, experienced a life-and-death battle, and indeed deserved a generous reward. After all, without any reward, who would be willing to risk their lives in battle? This was human nature.

    Han Yue only knew from Zi Yan that the cave of the Snow Demon Sky Ape contained Core Quenching Body Milk, but even she wasn''t sure of the exact situation.

    Even someone like Lin Xiuya, a half-step Dou King who had experienced countless trials and seen many treasures, was still looking forward to obtaining the Core Quenching Body Milk.

    Xiao Yan and the others finally entered the valley smoothly. With the aid of firelight, he discovered that the area within the valley was surprisingly spacious. The valley was overgrown with trees and strewn with rocks, but there were no other living creatures. Obviously, they had been driven away by the Snow Demon Sky Ape.

    "This should be the place," Han Yue said softly.

    Xiao Yan sniffed and noticed that the size of the cave matched exactly the size of the demon ape''s body; this must be its dwelling place.

    The seven people cautiously walked into the cave. After about ten minutes, their feet stepped out of the dark tunnel and Xiao Yan suddenly felt his eyes brighten. He looked around after slightly adjusting to the light, and a hint of astonishment appeared on his face upon seeing the surrounding environment.

    What appeared before him was an underground world filled with stalactites. Looking around, milky-white stalactites stretched endlessly to the edge of his vision. A faint white glow that completely dispelled the darkness emanated from them. Stalactites grew everywhere; some hung from the cave ceiling above, some even reaching up to a hundred meters in length. At a glance, the cave ceiling was densely covered with huge stalactites, and occasionally, droplets of white liquid dripped down, splashing milky-white water spots on the ground.

    "What an impressive underground world."

    "Are those the Core Quenching Body Milk?"

    "Doesn''t seem like it. The energy in these is a bit weak."

    When the seven of them continued forward for a while, a crystal pillar over a hundred meters long and wide enough for two people to wrap their arms around appeared before everyone. At the bottom of the pillar was a groove that seemed to have been worn away by dripping water over time. About two inches of milky-white liquid sat in the groove. A faint white mist floated above the liquid, which was quite strange. No matter how it drifted, it never dispersed. Xiao Yan took a light breath and instantly felt a strange sensation as if all the bones in his body had gone numb.

    Even without Xiao Yan saying anything, everyone knew that this was the Core Quenching Body Milk.

    Their eyes were fixed on the milky-white liquid in the groove. Xiao Yan couldn''t help but swallow; a hint of excitement surged on his face.

    What he needed now was precisely heavenly treasures like the Core Quenching Body Milk that could enhance his physical body.

    He deeply realized his physical strength was still far from being truly strong only after battling with Zi Yan.

    The seven of them looked at each other. As the organizer of this endeavor, Han Yue took the lead and said, "Everyone will have a share in today''s feast. However, before we distribute it, I have a request. The reason we were able to defeat the Snow Demon Sky Ape this time was thanks to Xiao Yan, so I think it''s most appropriate for him to take the first share."

    "I have no objections. Today, Brother Xiao Yan indeed made the greatest contribution," Lin Xiuya said with a nod.

    "Hahaha, I, Yan Hao, am not such a petty person. Today, we indeed relied on Brother Xiao Yan. Letting Brother Xiao Yan take the first share is only natural." Yan Hao and the others also expressed their agreement one after another.

    "I merely took advantage of the situation. You all fought for a long time, but because of my involvement, the share was divided among one more person," Xiao Yan said modestly.

    "Go ahead and take it. If you don''t make a move, everyone can only stand here and watch." Xiao Yan smiled faintly and didn''t stand on ceremony. His Spiritual Perception extended, and with a wave of his hand, a wisp of milky-white liquid floated up. He swiftly took out a jade bottle and collected the Core Quenching Body Milk into it.

    He took neither too much nor too little, just the right one-seventh.

    The others saw his thoughtfulness in taking only one-seventh and secretly admired him.

    "Alright, this should be enough."

    Just this tub of spiritual liquid alone would probably make even Dou Emperor experts drool with envy. Normally, even Dou Kings would find it difficult to endure. It was only because Xiao Yan''s physique was inherently strong and he possessed the Ten Thousand Beast Flame to protect his body that he dared to use so much Core Quenching Body Milk.

    Xiao Yan removed his clothes and let the spiritual liquid soak his entire body. Instantly, a bone-chilling sensation that made his skin tingle spread throughout his body.

    He endured the stinging pain and began circulating the Flame Mantra and the Ten Thousand

    Beast Flame.

    In the next second, the energy from the spiritual liquid rushed into every bone in his body. Wherever the energy passed, the bones would instantly transform into a five-colored hue. Xiao Yan could vaguely feel something invading his bones and blending with the marrow

    inside.

    As the energy tempered his body and refined his bones, a burning pain that penetrated deep into his marrow rapidly spread, eventually expanding to every corner of his body.

    Even someone as strong-willed as Xiao Yan couldn''t help but grit his teeth in pain, veins

    bulging all over his body.

    If he hadn''t previously undergone body tempering with the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, he

    feared he might have cried out in pain.

    Xiao Yan endured the pain and circulated the Flame Mantra to control the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, cooperating with the spiritual liquid in a two-pronged approach!

    He wanted his physical body to reach the level of a Rank 5 magical beast even in his normal

    state!

    In the remaining time, Xiao Yan no longer entered the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower to cultivate because even the No. 1 cultivation room no longer had much effect on him.

    With less than two months remaining, he split his time between using the Core Quenching

    Body Milk to strengthen his body and practicing Dou Techniques while circulating the Flame

    Mantra.

    He not only transformed his bones but also significantly improved his Dou Qi under the immense energy of the Core Quenching Body Milk. In the end, he reached the 8-star Dou Spirit stage as expected.

    Xiao Yan stood up from the wooden basin with a splashing sound. After a month had passed,

    the basin had long turned into a puddle of clear water. He lightly clenched his fist and felt the power erupting from his body.

    "So powerful. Even without using the Ten Thousand Beast Flame for enhancement, my

    current physique is equivalent to a Rank 5 magical beast."

    His bones, meridians, and other parts of his body faintly emitted a soft glow, appearing like

    white jade. This appearance seemed to conceal boundless power.

    "Hahaha, at the Strong Ranking Grand Competition, I, Xiao Yan, will definitely be number

    one!"

    A hint of fighting spirit flashed through his eyes. He knew that to be number one, he had to defeat Zi Yan!