"You won't take the Earth Milk Essence and run away, will you?" Lu Li stared strangely at Wu De.
"How could that be? This old man isn't that kind of person. Rest assured, after I take the Earth Milk Essence, I'll come out to help you... scold him. Then we'll each rely on our own abilities. If he chooses to chase me, I won't need your help. In half a month, we'll meet up at Drifting Snow Town, and I'll share the Earth Milk Essence with you then!"
"Are you sure he isn't fast?"
"Don't worry, I've already been here last time. He couldn't even catch up to this old man, how could he possibly catch up to you."
"Alright." Lu Li was half-believing, half-doubting. Although he was prepared to trick this old guy, if the other party was too strong, he might end up lifting a stone only to drop it on his own foot.
As they spoke, the two of them followed the small path on the cliff wall downward. The path was quite steep; if ordinary people saw it, they probably wouldn't dare to walk it at all. However, as cultivators, not only was their courage far beyond that of ordinary people, but their control over their bodies was also quite precise.
Before long, the two of them reached the bottom of the valley.
Upon reaching the bottom, Lu Li realized that those unremarkable-looking stones seen from above weren't small at all. Each cluster was large enough to conceal an adult's figure, especially the one Wu De had pointed to earlier-it was as tall as a two-story building.
Stepping on the cobblestones on the ground, the two of them headed straight for the dark cave opening ahead.
The giant rock beside the cave opening was the hiding spot Wu De had mentioned.
Arriving beside the giant rock, Wu De stopped and earnestly instructed, "Kid, although that guy is slow, you're only at the third layer of Qi Refining. If you hold back and get slapped to death by him, don't blame this old man for not warning you."
Lu Li glanced faintly at Wu De. "Don't worry, I don't want to die yet."
After exchanging a few more words, Wu De secretly hid behind the giant rock.
Lu Li took a deep breath before cautiously walking toward the stone cave. According to Wu De, that person was at the sixth layer of Qi Refining. He had never faced someone at the sixth layer of Qi Refining before, which made him uneasy.
The light inside the stone cave wasn't very good, but it wasn't too dark either, allowing for normal walking. However, the path wasn't very wide, and water dripped from the stone ceiling above from time to time.
According to Wu De's description, this passageway was over thirty zhang long and winding. As long as he was careful, he wouldn't be discovered.
After walking a few steps, Lu Li still felt somewhat uneasy, so he took the God-Concealing Jade from his waist and slowly channeled True Qi into it. Only when the God-Concealing Jade emitted a purple light did he put it back at his waist and continue forward.
Each time True Qi was channeled into the God-Concealing Jade, it could be used for about half an hour. During that period, it could block any Qi Refining stage cultivator's Divine Sense detection, which was quite useful.
After turning two corners, the passageway ahead was now less than one zhang wide.
Ahead in the passageway, a yellowish-brown stone basin about two to three chi in diameter and half a chi high came into Lu Li's view.
In the center of the stone basin stood an upright stalagmite. Around the stalagmite, milky-white liquid shimmered and swayed, emitting a rich and peculiar scent.
Lu Li focused his gaze and saw that milky-white liquid was slowly flowing out from the tip of the stalagmite, trickling down the stalagmite's surface and into the stone basin. However, the speed was quite slow; if one didn't look carefully, they wouldn't notice it at all.
"Earth Milk Essence!"
Lu Li's heart pounded wildly. The final spiritual ingredient for the Piercing Acupoint Pill, the Earth Milk Essence, was finally found.
As long as he obtained the Earth Milk Essence, he could begin preparing to refine pills. He had waited for this day for far too long.
Suppressing his excitement, Lu Li tiptoed out from the corner, then carefully stepped into the one-zhang straight path. According to Wu De, there was a stone hollow beside the stone basin, and that sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivator was cultivating inside that stone hollow. He had to be careful.
The passageway was narrow, so Lu Li couldn't see where the stone hollow was. He could only continue forward, sticking close to the stone wall.
There was a mountain hollow beside that stone basin. Under the mountain hollow sat a gray-robed old Daoist. The old Daoist had a withered, thin figure, his face covered in dark spots, with white hair and beard, looking somewhat eerie.
At this moment, the old Daoist was cultivating with his eyes closed, completely unaware that Lu Li had entered.
At a spot one chi away from the passageway exit, Lu Li stopped, slowly poking out half his head and looking toward the right side of the stone basin.
At this glance-
"My goodness, Zhang Song!"
Lu Li cried out loud, mentally cursing Wu De's ancestors for eighteen generations. Was this the sixth layer of Qi Refining? He was clearly being set up! Without even thinking, he immediately turned around and fled.
"Who is it?!"
Upon hearing the sound, Zhang Song's eyes instantly snapped open as he rushed toward the passageway like lightning.
Lu Li's soul almost left his body. He fled for his life directly. Five years ago, this fellow was already at the eighth layer of Qi Refining! Although he wanted to kill Zhang Song, with his current cultivation level, he probably couldn't withstand even a single slap from the other party.
After several flashes, Zhang Song finally caught sight of Lu Li's shadow. His small eyes seemed to show a look of anticipation as he shouted excitedly at the top of his lungs, "Kid, are you that kid? Stay! This old man won't harm you! Stop right there, or this old man will kill you!"
Lu Li paid no attention. While running, he felt he wasn't fast enough, so he summoned a talisman of swiftness and stuck it to his feet. Instantly, wind rose beneath his feet as he shot out of the passageway in a blur.
Then he made a turn, heading straight behind the giant rock where Wu De was hiding, and shouted at Wu De, "Old Wu, run! He's at the eighth layer of Qi Refining! You can't hide anymore!"
He shouted loudly, as if afraid Zhang Song behind him wouldn't hear.
Upon hearing this, Wu De's face turned green. He mentally cursed Lu Li over and over again, instantly leaping straight up into the air.
"Goodness! It's you again, you old turtle bastard!" Just as Zhang Song rushed out, seeing Wu De emerge, he recognized Wu De by his figure. In his anger, he tapped his foot and charged toward Wu De.
"Kid, how dare you disrespect your ancestor!" Wu De's hair stood on end as he threw a talisman behind him with a backhand motion.
Boom!
With an explosive sound, Zhang Song only paused momentarily before resuming his pursuit. "Old turtle bastard, you won't escape today! And that kid in front, stop! Help me capture this old turtle bastard, and I'll give you the Earth Milk Essence!"
Zhang Song chased while screaming, though it was unclear whether what he said was true or false.
Lu Li didn't believe Zhang Song's nonsense at all. Perhaps the other party wanted to capture him even more. Running wildly all the way, within a dozen breaths, he climbed to the top of the sinkhole.
Wu De cursed incessantly from behind. Using the talisman of swiftness wasn't enough; he also took out a small green triangular flag and held it in his hand. The small flag fluttered in the wind, actually carrying him directly up to the top of the sinkhole.
This time, Zhang Song seemed to have gone crazy, relentlessly chasing after both of them.
Before long, Lu Li, running at the front, had already entered the forest. The moment he entered the forest, he leaped and landed on a dark blue, sky-shading ancient tree.
After leaping to the top, Lu Li immediately forced himself to hold his breath, remaining completely motionless.
A few breaths later, Lu Li saw Wu De making strange noises as he flashed past beneath his feet. After another two breaths, Zhang Song also swept past like the wind.
After holding steady for a moment, Lu Li jumped down from the tree and flew straight back toward the sinkhole.
The Earth Milk Essence was right before his eyes; he had to take the risk.