36: Jade Essence Milk and the Initial Power of the Domain

The crisp ringing sound and the faint medicinal fragrance emanating from deep within the grotto, like bait, attracted The core five people who had just completed their Breakthrough.

Maintaining the upgraded "Inner Network" connection (though the "Star Domain" wasn't expanded, the connection was more stable and smooth), Wen Youyi led the way, Zhao Iron Pillar brought up the rear, and The core five people, in a vigilant formation, cautiously advanced step by step along the underground riverbed, deeper into the grotto.

The deeper they went, the denser the glowing stalactites hanging from the dome became, illuminating the passage as if it were daytime. The Spiritual Qi in the air also grew richer and purer, even more comfortable than the Spiritual Qi in normal areas outside.

"This place is truly a treasure trove!" Wang Wu took a deep breath, feeling all the pores on his body open up.

After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the path suddenly opened up to reveal a huge cavern. In the center of the cavern, there was a natural stone mortar the size of a washbasin. Above the mortar, the tip of a thick stalactite, carved like white jade, was slowly condensing a drop of milky white liquid, exuding a rich spiritual glow and an intoxicating medicinal fragrance.

"Drip."

That drop of liquid fell into the stone mortar, emitting the crisp sound of jade striking, which was the ringing they had heard earlier. A thin layer of this milky white spirit liquid had already accumulated in the stone mortar, and the swirling Spiritual Qi had almost materialized.

"It's... it's jade marrow spirit milk!" Senior Brother Li's voice trembled with unbelievable ecstasy. "A spiritual item formed by heaven and earth, a single drop is enough to allow a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator to be reborn, cleanse their marrow and tendons! It can also greatly nourish the Divine Soul and repair hidden injuries! This... so much of it!"

Everyone was stunned by this huge surprise. The star core fragment was a long-term strategic treasure, while this jade marrow spirit milk was a supreme Opportunity that could immediately enhance their Foundation and strength!

However, where there is treasure, there must be guardians.

The moment their gazes were drawn to the jade marrow spirit milk, four pairs of crimson lights suddenly flared in the shadows of the cavern's corner!

"Hiss hiss——"

Accompanied by a grating friction sound, two monstrous snakes, as thick as water buckets, covered in white jade-like scales, and sporting a single horn on their heads, slithered out! Their aura had surprisingly reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer Peak! Their cold, vertical pupils locked onto the intruders, and their forked tongues flickered, emitting a powerful pressure.

"They're White Jade Pythons! And two of them!" Wang Wu's face turned pale as he recognized this powerful guardian Yao Beast. White Jade Pythons possessed immense strength, sturdy scales, and could even spew icy breath, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

If it were before, encountering these two White Jade Pythons would have meant nothing but turning tail and running. But now... Wen Youyi's eyes were sharp; not only did he not retreat, but he stepped forward and shouted, "Perfect! Let's test the power of our 'Star Domain'!"

"Form the array! Expand the Domain!"

With the command given, The core five people instantly drew close, the star core fragment held in Wen Youyi's hand, and the upgraded "Inner Network" operated at full power!

"Buzz——"

A faint silver starlight barrier suddenly expanded from Wen Youyi as its center, forming a perfect spherical Domain with a diameter of one zhang, enveloping The core five people! Within the Domain, starlight flickered, and the Spiritual Qi was pure and active, completely isolating the invisible binding sensation of the net!

The two White Jade Pythons seemed startled by the sudden appearance of the Domain, but their instinct to guard the spirit milk overwhelmed everything. One of them suddenly opened its huge mouth, and a pale white icy breath, capable of freezing blood, shot towards the Domain like a bolt of silk!

"Boom!"

The icy breath collided with the faint silver barrier, emitting a dull roar! The barrier fluctuated violently, starlight flickered, as if it could shatter at any moment! The core five people within the Domain all felt a chill penetrate their bodies, and the circulation of their Qi and blood paused slightly.

"Such a powerful attack!" Zhao Iron Pillar exclaimed. If not for the Domain, they would probably have been frozen into ice sculptures instantly.

"Hold steady! The Domain is tougher than we imagined!" Wen Youyi felt the state of the Domain; although the fluctuations were violent, the core star core fragment was as stable as a rock, rapidly absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Qi to repair the barrier. "Iron Pillar, Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Li, spiritual power recovers extremely quickly within the Domain, don't be stingy, harass them with long-range Spells! Senior Brother Zhang, prepare Talismans! We'll wear them down!"

Within the "Star Domain," their spiritual power recovery speed was several times faster than outside! This was the home-field advantage!

For a time, Mud Swamp Technique, Entanglement Technique, Wind Blade, water arrows, and various low-tier Talismans rained down from within the Domain. Although they couldn't inflict fatal wounds on the thick-skinned White Jade Pythons, they greatly hindered their movements, making them incredibly agitated.

The two White Jade Pythons continuously spewed icy breath or struck the Domain barrier with their huge tails, making the barrier flicker erratically, but they were consistently unable to break through it! Meanwhile, Wen Youyi and The core five people, hiding within the Domain, consumed spiritual power far slower than they recovered it, allowing them to continuously output harassment.

As one side weakened and the other strengthened, the scales of victory began to tip.

One White Jade Python, unable to break through after a prolonged assault, became increasingly frenzied. Disregarding the other's hissing warning, it suddenly slammed its head into the Domain barrier!

"Now!" Wen Youyi's eyes blazed with sharp light. "Shrink the Domain to five chi, concentrate all spiritual power, and attack its seven-inch reverse scale!"

The Domain instantly contracted, and its defensive power sharply increased! Simultaneously, The core five people channeled their internal spiritual power through the "Inner Network" without reservation into Wen Youyi's body! Wen Youyi combined this power with a trace of the star core fragment's Star Power, pointed his fingers like a sword, and an incredibly condensed faint silver starlight shot out like a sharp arrow, precisely hitting the slightly backward white reverse scale beneath the White Jade Python's neck!

"Pfft!"

The reverse scale shattered, and blood splattered! The White Jade Python let out a mournful shriek, its massive body crashing heavily to the ground, twitching a few times before falling still.

The other White Jade Python, seeing its companion killed, let out a desperate hiss. It no longer attacked the Domain but suddenly turned its head and pounced towards the stone mortar, attempting to swallow the jade marrow spirit milk!

"Don't even think about it!" How could Wen Youyi allow it to succeed? The Domain expanded again, and The core five people, working together, unleashed all their Spells and Talismans to stop its actions.

Ultimately, with The core five people's tacit cooperation and the powerful support of the "Star Domain," the other White Jade Python also became covered in wounds, exhausted, and died.

The battle ended!

Looking at the two powerful Yao Beasts lying on the ground, and then at the intact stone mortar, The core five people felt a sense of unreality.

They, with their Qi Refining First and Second Layer cultivation, had actually directly killed two White Jade Pythons at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer Peak?!

"We... we really did it..." Wang Wu murmured, tears of excitement welling in his eyes.

Zhao Iron Pillar excitedly waved his fists: "Haha! This 'Star Domain' is awesome!"

Wen Youyi's heart was also surging. This battle had thoroughly validated the value of the "Star Domain"! It was not only a safe Shelter but also a strategic Sharp Weapon for overcoming the strong with the weak!

He walked to the stone mortar, looking at the thin layer of jade marrow spirit milk, exuding Spiritual Qi, and a brilliant smile appeared on his face.

"Brothers, are you ready... to be reborn?"

(End of this chapter)