"The Sect Leader is willing to offer up a drop of Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk as a reward?"

Nie Shanshan’s voice trembled slightly.

She knew full well its significance.

Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk was the very essence of the Earth’s Core Milk Spring in Dingbo Lake, an accumulation condensed over three centuries. Its effects were far beyond what the hundred-year-old version could ever compare to.

According to legend, not only did it contain an immense and pure energy, but it also had an unimaginably potent effect on refining one’s Root Bone and solidifying one’s foundation.

Even her master, Chu Jinyun, had only been granted a single drop by the Sect Leader upon becoming a Dean!

Its value was such that throughout the entire Wutai Sect, it was considered a treasure on par with those guarding the sect’s vaults.

Chu Jinyun nodded slowly, her eyes burning with intensity. "It’s absolutely true. Elder Sang personally conveyed the Sect Leader’s decree. This is an opportunity of a lifetime! Shanshan, do you realize what this means?"

She took a step forward, her tone laced with fervor. "You were born with an Eight Forms Root Bone, which already makes you a one-in-ten-thousand talent. If you can harness the power of this Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk, you could very well push your Root Bone to the Nine Forms! That would make you a true prodigy of the Martial Arts. Once you connect the Heaven and Earth Bridge and draw in Primordial Qi to temper your body, your chances of shattering the shackles of the Astral Force realm will increase substantially."

"A Nine Forms Root Bone..."

Nie Shanshan repeated in a low voice, shaken to her core.

The difference between Eight Forms and Nine Forms might have seemed like a single step, but in reality, it was a watershed moment for the potential of one’s Root Bone.

Achieving the Perfection of Nine Forms represented reaching a state of near-flawlessness.

For her, the temptation was simply irresistible.

"I must contend for it this time!"

Chu Jinyun spoke with iron certainty. "The path of Martial Arts is like rowing upstream: if you don’t advance, you fall back! How can you let such an opportunity pass you by?"

"Martial artists must compete for fame, for profit, for resources! I taught you to lay low and bide your time so you could accumulate strength and seize even greater rewards at the critical moment."

She took a deep breath. "Besides, Shanshan, you’ve seen it yourself. The waters in Yunlin are only growing murkier and more treacherous. A treasure like this, one that strengthens your very foundation, is best held in your own hands as soon as possible. The stronger your foundation, the greater your chances of remaining undefeated, no matter what storms the future holds. To hesitate is to invite disaster!"

Nie Shanshan cupped her fist. "Disciple understands! I will do everything in my power to obtain the Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk—for the Gui Water Institute, and for my own martial path!"

A gratified smile finally appeared on Chu Jinyun’s face as she nodded firmly. "Good! Go all out! I will await the moment you take the stage!"

.....

Meanwhile, Chen Qing returned to the Cyan Wood Institute.

The air in the institute was thick with suppressed indignation.

Disciples gathered in small groups, their faces flushed with anger.

"Senior Brother Yan... Sigh, who would have thought he’d lose so quickly..."

"Cold Jade Valley has gone too far!"

"And that Xiao Bieli had the gall to say he’d be back. The arrogance!"

Clearly, whatever squabbles existed between the institutes on a normal day, they were all forgotten in the face of Cold Jade Valley’s crushing display of power. The Wutai Sect disciples’ collective sense of honor had been thoroughly provoked.

All the Wutai disciples felt Yan Yaoyang’s defeat personally; it was like a bone caught in their throats.

Yu Bao’Er hurried to Chen Qing’s side, her young face etched with anxiety. "Chief Brother! You’re back!"

"Where have you been?"

Chen Qing asked coolly, without breaking his stride.

Yu Bao’Er followed closely behind him, her voice hushed to a whisper. "I just came back from the Geng Metal Institute. I asked a few sisters I know there, and... Senior Brother Yan is seriously injured! Elder Sang went to see him personally and bestowed a bottle of Nine Revolutions Jade Dew Pills, which they say are a top-grade healing elixir."

"But I heard from the senior brothers at the Geng Metal Institute that the Sword Qi from Xiao Bieli’s final strike was exceptionally vicious and sharp. Not only did it damage Senior Brother Yan’s organs and main meridians, but it seems to have carried a trace of extremely cold True Qi that has settled in his wounds, making it incredibly difficult to dispel! Conservatively, without at least three months of quiet recuperation and the aid of precious medicines, I’m afraid Senior Brother Yan won’t be able to make a full recovery!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing’s brow furrowed instantly.

Three months! And that was a conservative estimate?!

A trace of extremely cold True Qi had settled in his wounds?

’This Xiao Bieli... his methods are truly vicious!’

He put on the facade of a gentleman who practiced restraint, appearing gentle and courteous, but in reality, his intentions were utterly malicious.

Chen Qing scoffed inwardly. ’This man is a deep schemer, nothing like the noble and magnanimous person he pretends to be.’

’If he could do this to Yan Yaoyang today, he would show no mercy to me or any other disciple of the Wutai Sect he considered a threat, given the chance.’

’I’ll have to be on my guard.’

Chen Qing’s expression remained impassive. He said to Yu Bao’Er, "I understand. Don’t spread this around. Keep the other disciples in the institute in line. Focusing on their cultivation is what’s most important."

"Yes, Senior Brother!" Yu Bao’Er quickly agreed.

Chen Qing then called over Luo Xinyi and gave her a few brief instructions.

Just then, a Steward from the Internal Affairs Hall arrived at the Cyan Wood Institute.

"Chief Chen, Elder Sang requests your presence."

"I’ll go at once."

Chen Qing nodded and followed the Steward at a brisk pace to the Internal Affairs Hall.

The scent of sandalwood curled through the hall.

When Chen Qing stepped into the Council Hall of the Internal Affairs Hall, Nie Shanshan, Li Wang, and Li Lei were already there.

Yan Yaoyang was absent due to his injuries.

Sang Yanping sat on the main seat, his gaze as placid as an ancient well. It swept over the four people present before finally landing on ten small cold jade bottles arranged neatly on the table before him.

"An order from the Sect Leader."

Sang Yanping’s voice rang out, calm and steady, yet every word carried immense weight. "To motivate the disciples to cultivate diligently, starting this month, the supply of Centennial Earth Core Milk will be doubled. Here are ten drops for the four of you to share."

Ten drops!

Even though they had been mentally prepared, an irrepressible, fervent light erupted in the eyes of Li Wang and Li Lei, and their breathing grew heavy.

A sharp glint flashed in Nie Shanshan’s eyes as well.

Chen Qing’s heart skipped a beat. ’If used properly, these ten drops could save me an immense amount of hard work and allow me to aim directly for the Eighth Main Meridian!’

And most importantly, there would be more every month.

Sang Yanping took in everyone’s reactions and continued, "Furthermore, the Sect Leader is also considering offering a drop of ’Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk’ as an incentive."

"Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk?!"

As soon as he spoke, the temperature in the hall seemed to rise.

Li Lei gasped, while Li Wang’s body trembled slightly. The desire in his eyes was plain to see, but it was quickly replaced by a look of dejection.

’How could a Chief like him, at the bottom of the pack, dare to hope for a sect treasure capable of completely transforming one’s body and laying an unparalleled foundation?’

The hand inside Nie Shanshan’s sleeve tightened into a fist.

Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk!

’I must have it!’

Sang Yanping said slowly, "However, a decision on the Three Hundred Years Earth Core Milk will not be made for a few months. First, you all must decide how to divide these ten drops of Centennial Earth Core Milk."

The hall fell into a brief silence.

The doubled resources and the temptation of an even greater treasure instantly shattered the fragile, superficial balance they had maintained until now.

With such benefits on the line, who could possibly remain calm?

Nie Shanshan took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Her gaze swept over Li Wang, Li Lei, and Chen Qing.

"We are all fellow disciples, and I have no desire to damage our camaraderie over resources. Of these ten drops of Earth Core Milk, you three junior brothers may each take one. The remaining seven are mine. Would that be considered fair?"

Seven drops!

Li Wang’s mouth opened and closed, a bitter feeling welling up in his heart.

Li Lei’s brow furrowed. Although he had recently broken through to the Eighth Main Meridian, his foundation wasn’t fully stable. He was no match for Nie Shanshan at all.

In the end, he reluctantly chose to remain silent, tacitly agreeing to Nie Shanshan’s proposal.

Sang Yanping calmly watched Nie Shanshan assert her dominance, smiling to himself. ’That’s more like it! This competitive edge is exactly what the Sect Leader wants to see.’

’The temptation of resources should draw out their hidden fangs.’

Nie Shanshan’s move, while overbearing, was exactly what he had hoped for.

Just as Sang Yanping thought the matter was settled and Nie Shanshan was preparing to step forward and collect her seven drops of Earth Core Milk—

A calm yet exceptionally clear voice shattered the delicate balance that had just formed in the hall:

"I disagree."

The voice wasn’t loud, but it landed like a clap of thunder!

SWOOSH!

Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on the source of the voice.

Chen Qing!