11: The Temptation and Plan of Black Stone Milk

As night deepened, the lights in the Liu Family courtyard gradually extinguished, leaving only a few lanterns swaying in the corners, illuminating the figures of the patrolling clansmen.

In General Manager Liu Yuan's wooden hut, candlelight blazed.

General Manager Liu Yuan, Liu Shan, and Liu Zhi sat together, while Mo Chu coiled by General Manager Liu Yuan's hand, quietly listening to their discussion.

"Black Bear's Breakthrough to Lianqi Sixth Layer requires a large amount of Heishi Milk, which is an opportunity for us," General Manager Liu Yuan said in a low voice, his eyes flickering with contemplation. "Heishi Milk contains pure Spiritual Qi, which can not only aid in Breakthrough but also greatly benefit Mo Chu's growth."

Liu Shan frowned: "But the Black Wind Stronghold is heavily guarded, especially the rear mountain cave. For us to go and snatch the Heishi Milk now would be like plucking teeth from a tiger's mouth."

"Father is right," Liu Zhi echoed. "Although Black Bear is in seclusion, there are still two Qi Refining Fourth Level leaders in the Stronghold, and we might not be able to defeat them."

General Manager Liu Yuan did not immediately refute but looked at Mo Chu: "Mo Chu, what do you think?"

Mo Chu raised his head, his snake eyes glinting in the candlelight.

His Spirit Vision talent had been fully activated, and he was currently processing information about the Heishi Milk—it was a natural spiritual liquid containing the Spiritual Qi of the earth, with a strong nourishing effect on the Physical Body and Spiritual Qi of Cultivators and Spirit Beasts. Especially for a Spirit Beast of his common lineage, it was an excellent medicine for improving his Foundation.

More importantly, the System had just issued a new mission:

【Ding! Main quest triggered: Seize the Heishi Milk, prevent Black Bear from Breaking through to Lianqi Sixth Layer, and weaken the Black Wind Stronghold's strength.】

【Quest Reward: 500 Contribution Points, Common Evolution Opportunity (Elementary) x1.】

Common Evolution Opportunity!

Mo Chu's heart skipped a beat. This was exactly what he had always dreamed of! Once he broke free from the shackles of his common lineage, his growth rate would greatly increase, and he might even Awaken new talents.

"Must go," Mo Chu tapped the table lightly with his tail, making a clear rhythm, as if emphasizing.

General Manager Liu Yuan understood his meaning and nodded: "I also think we must go. Once Black Bear Breaks through to Lianqi Sixth Layer, we will be the first ones he won't let go of. Rather than sit and wait for death, it's better to take the initiative."

He paused, then continued: "Moreover, we don't necessarily have to fight head-on."

"Does Old Ancestor have a plan?" Liu Shan and Liu Zhi looked at him simultaneously.

A hint of cunning flashed in General Manager Liu Yuan's eyes: "Black Bear is in seclusion, attempting a Breakthrough to a new Realm, and the most taboo thing is to be disturbed. We can create a diversion—some people can pretend to attack the front gate of the Black Wind Stronghold to attract their attention; while others can take the opportunity to sneak into the rear mountain and seize the Heishi Milk."

"But the Black Wind Stronghold still has two Qi Refining Fourth Level Cultivators…" Liu Shan was still a little worried.

"What about Qi Refining Fourth Level?" General Manager Liu Yuan snorted coldly. "These past few days, I've been conditioning my Physical Body with Body Tempering Powder and Spring Return Pill, and my cultivation has stabilized at the Peak of Qi Refining Third Level. With Mo Chu's Spiritual Qi sharing, we might not be without a chance to fight."

He looked at Liu Shan: "Shan'er, you take Zhi'er and two clansmen to be responsible for the feint attack. Make as much noise as possible, but remember not to get bogged down in a prolonged fight; just attract attention."

"Yes!"

"I will take Mo Chu and two other skilled clansmen to sneak into the rear mountain," General Manager Liu Yuan's gaze became resolute. "There is only one objective—the Heishi Milk! Retreat immediately after obtaining it, no delays."

With the plan set, the three began to discuss the details, including departure time, route, and retreat signals. Although Mo Chu couldn't speak, he always managed to point out flaws in the plan with his actions at critical moments, such as abnormal Spiritual Qi fluctuations on a certain route that might indicate a trap, or the moonlight being too bright at a certain time, which would be unfavorable for stealth.

The more General Manager Liu Yuan and the two discussed, the more surprised they were. Mo Chu's observation skills and sensitivity to Spiritual Qi were even keener than theirs, despite them having Cultivated for many years.

"With Mo Chu, this time we will definitely succeed," Liu Shan said confidently.

By the time the discussion concluded, it was already late at night.

Liu Shan and Liu Zhi each went back to prepare, while General Manager Liu Yuan took out a simple map of the Qingmang Mountain Range, marking the location of the Black Wind Stronghold and the approximate direction of the rear mountain cave.

"Mo Chu, I'm afraid you'll have to endure some hardship this time," General Manager Liu Yuan said, looking at Mo Chu with a hint of apology in his eyes. "During the infiltration, you might have to stay in my arms and can't come out."

Mo Chu gently rubbed his hand, indicating it was fine.

General Manager Liu Yuan smiled and put away the map: "Get some rest. We leave at dawn tomorrow."

Mo Chu nodded, curled up in a corner, and closed his eyes. But he wasn't really asleep; instead, he was simulating the infiltration route and possible contingencies in his mind.

The opportunity for common evolution was right before him; he couldn't afford any mistakes.

...

The next day, at dawn, before the sky was light, the night was as dark as ink.

In the Liu Family courtyard, several dark figures gathered silently.

Liu Shan, with Liu Zhi and two clansmen, carrying bows, arrows, and ropes, prepared to depart from the direction of the Black Wind Stronghold's front gate.

"Father, Old Ancestor, you must be careful," Liu Zhi said, looking at General Manager Liu Yuan, his eyes full of worry.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine," General Manager Liu Yuan patted his shoulder. "Remember the plan, safety first."

"Yes!"

The two groups split into two paths and disappeared into the darkness before dawn.

Mo Chu lay in General Manager Liu Yuan's arms, feeling the old man's steady heartbeat and deliberately restrained Spiritual Qi. The surrounding darkness was nowhere to hide under his Spirit Vision, and the flow of Spiritual Qi was as clear as veins.

They moved stealthily along the edge of the dense forest, not fast, but exceptionally steady.

Half an hour later, the outline of a stronghold vaguely appeared ahead. The stronghold walls were built of black stone, with several black flags planted on top, each adorned with a ferocious Black Bear—it was the Black Wind Stronghold.

Around the stronghold walls, patrolling figures moved indistinctly. The Spiritual Qi fluctuations, though not strong, were dense.

"Stop," General Manager Liu Yuan whispered, hiding behind a large tree. "Ahead are the open sentries. We'll bypass them from the cliff on the side; that should be a weak point in their defenses."

Mo Chu swept the cliff direction with his Spirit Vision, and indeed, the Spiritual Qi fluctuations there were sparse, with only two Qi Refining First Level guards dozing off.

"Go."

General Manager Liu Yuan, with the two clansmen, darted out like civets, silently circling to the base of the cliff. The cliff wasn't too high, only a dozen zhang, and was covered in vines.

General Manager Liu Yuan gestured for the clansmen to go first, while he brought up the rear.

Just then, Mo Chu suddenly felt a faint, unusual Spiritual Qi fluctuation coming from behind a rock above the cliff.

There… was a hidden sentry!

Mo Chu immediately tugged lightly on General Manager Liu Yuan's clothes with his tail, then pointed to the rock.

General Manager Liu Yuan's heart tightened, and he immediately signaled the clansmen to stop. He circulated his Spiritual Qi, carefully sensing, and indeed detected a faint hint of breathing.

"That was close," General Manager Liu Yuan whispered, a trace of lingering fear in his eyes. "We almost walked into an ambush. Mo Chu, thanks to you."

He made a gesture, signaling the two clansmen to climb the vines on the left to attract the hidden sentry's attention, while he, with Mo Chu, quietly ascended from the right.

Everything proceeded in silence.

When the hidden sentry was drawn by the movement on the left and peered out to investigate, General Manager Liu Yuan lunged like a leopard, chopping his palm onto the sentry's back of the neck.

The sentry didn't even make a sound before collapsing to the ground.

Having dealt with the hidden sentry, the group dared not delay and immediately rushed towards the rear mountain cave.

The rear mountain of the Black Wind Stronghold was even quieter than expected, with only occasional insect chirps.

Mo Chu's Spirit Vision operated at full power, constantly scanning the surroundings, avoiding patrolling guards and hidden traps. Under his guidance, General Manager Liu Yuan and the two clansmen moved as if entering an unmanned territory, and soon arrived before a mountain wall.

On the mountain wall was a dark cave entrance, from which a rich Spiritual Qi emanated—it was the entrance to the cave.

Outside the cave entrance stood two Cultivators with steady auras, both at the Qi Refining Fourth Level.

"As expected, there are experts guarding it," a hint of solemnity flashed in General Manager Liu Yuan's eyes. "It seems we can only outsmart them."

He looked at Mo Chu, giving a meaningful glance.

Mo Chu nodded, slowly closing his eyes.

He was going to use another ability of Spirit Vision—perceiving emotional fluctuations.

Soon, he "saw" that the guard on the left had somewhat agitated emotional fluctuations, seeming eager to leave; the one on the right was relatively calm, but his eyes occasionally glanced towards the inside of the cave, as if worried about the situation within.

Mo Chu drew a character for "split" on the ground with his tail.

General Manager Liu Yuan immediately understood his meaning—distract them.

The old man pulled out two small pebbles from hisin my arms, circulated his Spiritual Qi, and threw them towards the dense forest on both the left and right sides.

"Who's there?"

Both guards became alert simultaneously. The one on the left subconsciously walked towards the dense forest on the left to investigate, while the one on the right remained at the cave entrance, his gaze fixed on the left side.

Now is the time!

General Manager Liu Yuan's eyes sharpened, and he, along with the two clansmen, rushed out like ghosts, directly targeting the guard at the cave entrance!

The guard reacted extremely quickly, immediately drawing his saber to meet the attack, but he hadn't expected the opponents to come so fast, and their strength was not weak.

"Bang!"

General Manager Liu Yuan's wooden staff collided with the opponent's long saber, emitting a muffled thud. General Manager Liu Yuan used the recoil to shift his body, avoiding the blade, and with his other hand, he pointed two fingers like a sword towards the opponent's chest.

The guard was greatly alarmed and quickly retreated, but he was entangled by the two clansmen behind him.

Just then, the guard who had gone to investigate on the left heard the commotion and immediately turned to assist.

As they were about to be surrounded, Mo Chu suddenly darted out from General Manager Liu Yuan's arms, like a black lightning bolt, biting towards the left guard's ankle!

"Hiss—!"

The guard was caught off guard and bitten on the ankle. Intense pain shot through him, and his movements instantly faltered.

"You're asking for death!" the guard roared, swinging his saber at Mo Chu.

Mo Chu was already prepared, released his bite, and dodged nimbly, while simultaneously sweeping his tail at the guard's knee.

The guard lost his balance and staggered backward.

General Manager Liu Yuan seized this opportunity, sweeping his wooden staff and heavily striking the back of the guard's head.

"Thud."

The guard fell to the ground instantly.

Having dealt with the two guards, the group dared not delay and immediately rushed into the cave.

The cave was pitch black, with only a faint light and heavy breathing coming from deep within.

That was… Black Bear's aura!

Mo Chu's Spirit Vision pierced through the darkness, seeing deep within the cave a burly, bald man sitting cross-legged. On a stone platform in front of him lay a jade bottle, from which a milky white liquid continuously flowed, emitting an extremely rich Spiritual Qi—it was the Heishi Milk!

And the bald man's body was emanating extremely violent Spiritual Qi fluctuations, clearly at a critical moment of Breakthrough!

Opportunity!

A glint of light flashed in Mo Chu's eyes.