18: Chapter 18 Earth's Core Milk

The morning mist had not yet fully dissipated, and the Disciples at the Panshi Martial Arts Hall's training field had already begun practicing the familiar Panshi Stake Technique. However, Lin Qing did not appear there today.

He had gone to the Management Office early in the morning to request a leave of absence. Last night, he had spent his energy outwitting the Martial Artists searching for Sun Shaoping, and later listened to him talk extensively about the world outside the Hundred Thousand Mountains. He was already exhausted to the point of collapse.

Returning to his small courtyard, Lin Qing fell asleep immediately. This sleep was extremely deep, and it wasn't until mid-afternoon that he finally woke up slowly.

After having lunch and taking a dose of Qi and Blood Potion from the Baicao Hall as usual, Lin Qing eagerly returned to his courtyard. He closed the courtyard gate, and his expression instantly became incredibly solemn.

He took a deep breath and pulled out a translucent white jade bottle from the stove. The jade bottle was ice-cold to the touch with a delicate texture; inside was the treasure Sun Shaoping had left him—earth core milk.

Tilting the bottle's mouth, a drop of lustrous, jade-like milky white liquid emitting a faint fragrance slowly rolled out. Without hesitation, Lin Qing opened his mouth and swallowed it.

In the next instant, an indescribable sensation of coolness rushed straight to his brain. His thoughts became incredibly clear, his mind reached a state of absolute clarity, and even the slightest sounds of wind blowing through the grass or insects and ants crawling nearby reached his ears distinctly.

Lin Qing did not dare delay for a moment. He immediately stood firm in the center of the small courtyard, focused his mind, calmed his breath, and began practicing the Panshi Stake Technique.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed in a flash. Lin Qing finished his stance and stood still, his breathing steady. With a thought, a light blue panel expanded before his eyes.

[Host: Lin Qing]

Realm: Mortal (Breakthrough Time: 10 years)

Fused Cultivation Techniques: An Yuan Gu Ben Technique, Spleen Strengthening Health Preservation Technique (Expand)

Recorded Cultivation Techniques: Panshi Stake Technique (207/500)

On the panel, the progress of the Panshi Stake Technique had remarkably jumped from its original 202 points straight to 207 points!

A single practice session had directly increased his progress by 5 points. Five times the cultivation efficiency—the effects of the earth core milk were truly Heaven-Defying!

After the initial pleasant surprise, Lin Qing quickly calmed his emotions. This period of high-efficiency cultivation was precious and could not be wasted. He immediately adjusted his breathing and threw himself back into practicing the Panshi Stake Technique once more.

Every time he completed a session, he would open the panel to check his progress. Seeing the numbers rise steadily at a speed far exceeding the norm, his excitement grew with every step.

Two hours passed quietly. The sun began to tilt westward, and the golden afterglow spilled onto the ground through the courtyard walls.

Lin Qing suddenly noticed the clear and transparent feeling in his mind gradually fading. After finishing the session and opening the panel, it was just as he expected—this round of cultivation only increased the progress of the Panshi Stake Technique by 1 point.

Lin Qing understood; it seemed the medicinal power of one drop of earth core milk could last a bit over two hours. In these two-plus hours, the progress of his Panshi Stake Technique had increased by 41 points—five times the efficiency for the first eight sessions, and back to normal for the last one.

Feeling the efficacy of the earth core milk, a smile curled at the corners of Lin Qing's mouth. The appearance of the earth core milk and the sudden five-fold cultivation efficiency broke his previous cultivation plan. Many arrangements he had intended to take step-by-step now had to be moved up the schedule.

First was the issue of cultivation resources.

As the proficiency of the Panshi Stake Technique continued to improve, his Physical Body's demand for energy grew larger and larger. One dose of Qi and Blood Potion a day was no longer enough to keep up with the consumption.

His original plan was to find another pharmacy during dinner time in the coming days. This way, one dose each at noon and night would be enough for short-term cultivation. But now that his cultivation speed had advanced by leaps and bounds, even two doses of potion would be a drop in the bucket.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Qing decided to skip the stage of using two doses of potion and directly use Vicious Beast meat for his cultivation.

Vicious Beast meat contained pure and vast Qi and blood, far beyond what any potion could offer; it was a resource usually only used by formal Martial Artists. However, Vicious Beast meat wasn't as easy to buy as potions, and since he was so young, buying it without permission would inevitably arouse suspicion. This matter needed careful planning.

Another urgent matter was finding a new Stance Training.

At his current speed, the Panshi Stake Technique would reach Perfection within three or four days. By then, it would be integrated into his physical instincts, and he would no longer need to actively Cultivate it. He had to find other Stance Trainings; just like with the health preservation techniques, stacking multiple Stance Trainings might significantly increase his Breakthrough speed.

A thought flashed through Lin Qing's mind—the black market.

Wang Yuan had mentioned that one could buy Stance Trainings from various martial arts halls at the black market. Perhaps the issue of the Vicious Beast meat could also be solved there.

Having made up his mind, Lin Qing decided to ask Wang Yuan about the specifics of the black market tomorrow.

He had practiced his Stance Training one more time than usual this afternoon, and the night was already deepening. Furthermore, with the massive increase in his proficiency, a long-lost sense of hunger emanated from his stomach.

Lin Qing didn't delay any further and went out to settle dinner, stopping by an ordinary pharmacy to buy a dose of Qi and Blood Potion to take. That night, Lin Qing did not Cultivate any further.

The next day, Lin Qing took a drop of earth core milk before heading to the martial arts hall. Unfortunately, the travel time and the collective breaks in between wasted some time. Of the eight sessions in the morning, only seven were at five-fold efficiency. By the end of the morning cultivation, the progress of the Panshi Stake Technique had reached 279 points.

The cafeteria of the Panshi Martial Arts Hall was bustling with people. Having finished their morning cultivation, the Disciples were all there eating to replenish their strength. Carrying his meal, Lin Qing walked straight to Wang Yuan and sat down.

Wang Yuan was wolfing down his food. Seeing Lin Qing approach, he greeted him with a smile.

Lin Qing didn't beat around the bush and asked directly,

"Wang Yuan, I heard you mention the black market in Qingyang County last time. Do you know how to get there?"

Hearing this, Wang Yuan gave a mischievous grin, leaned in closer, and lowered his voice,

"Why, do you want to join the excitement too?"

Lin Qing raised an eyebrow slightly. "What excitement?"

Excitement danced in Wang Yuan's eyes:

"The Vicious Beast incident at Qingyang Mountain just ended, and many out-of-town Martial Artists haven't left yet. These past few days, the black market is more than ten times more lively than usual. You might even be able to scavenge some goods from out of town."

Lin Qing's heart stirred; he hadn't expected the timing to be so perfect.

Wang Yuan patted his chest and continued,

"It just so happens I plan to visit the black market tonight. I'll take you along when the time comes!"

Lin Qing immediately nodded in agreement, and the two set a time and place to meet that night.

Returning to his courtyard, Lin Qing wasted no time. He took out the white jade bottle and swallowed another drop of earth core milk, immersing himself in the cultivation of the Panshi Stake Technique. Under the high-efficiency state, his proficiency climbed steadily, reaching 319 points.

After dinner, he first found another medicine hall to buy and take a dose of Qi and Blood Potion, then ducked into an inconspicuous clothing store.

After some meaningful looks and gestures, the shop owner finally pulled out that essential item for any transmigrator from beneath the counter—a hooded black robe.

Having successfully purchased this Divine Artifact, Lin Qing rushed toward the meeting spot with Wang Yuan.

When he arrived, Wang Yuan was already waiting. Seeing Lin Qing, he immediately waved him over.

The two didn't say much. Wang Yuan led Lin Qing into the complex network of alleys behind them. The alleys crisscrossed like a spiderweb, and after many twists and turns, Lin Qing soon lost his sense of direction.

Lin Qing couldn't help but ask, "Wang Yuan, do you come to the black market often?"

Wang Yuan waved his hand. "No, I've only been here once or twice."

Lin Qing looked skeptical. "Then how are you so familiar with the route?"

Wang Yuan stopped and pointed to an inconspicuous white mark on the wall beside them, saying with a smile, "There are markers."

Lin Qing was rendered speechless.

The outer alleys led in all directions, but there was only one entrance to the black market. As the two went deeper, more and more people converged from different alleys.

Before long, they arrived at a quiet small courtyard. Hidden inside was a staircase leading underground. People were coming and going at the entrance; just as Wang Yuan said, the black market these past few days was indeed exceptionally popular.

The two were in no hurry to enter the black market. Instead, they went into a room in the courtyard to change their gear. Large robes concealed their figures, and the brims of their hoods were pulled down, hiding Lin Qing's face.

Stepping out of the room, the two looked at each other. Seeing their identical outfits, they simultaneously let out a weird 'jie jie jie' laugh.

After laughing, they didn't delay any longer and stepped down the stairs.