"Haha, awesome," Xiao Qingyu roared arrogantly.
He hadn't expected the milk to have such a powerful effect.
He had only tried it on a whim, as it was something he had read about in ancient texts.
To his surprise, it actually worked.
"Qingyu, do you have any more? I'll buy it with spirit stones," Wang Teng pleaded, his eyes fixed on Xiao Qingyu.
This was incredible! A single bottle could help one break through a minor realm. Such an effect was even more reliable than elixirs.
"None left. I had just filled a bottle when I was discovered," Xiao Qingyu spread his hands.
Just as he said, he had barely filled a bottle when the wild oxen discovered him.
He quickly signaled Lin Yue Ru, who was keeping watch, and they fled.
...
Lin Yi Chen and Li Yao looked at Xiao Qingyu with envy.
Although the experience sounded perilous, the young man's luck was extraordinary.
He had just broken through to the mid-stage Golden Core, and it hadn't been long since he reached the early-stage Golden Core.
"Does everyone want to break through?" Zhang Er Gou suddenly asked as they all envied Xiao Qingyu.
"Huh?"
Lin Yue Ru, Xiao Qingyu, Wang Teng, Lin Yi Chen, and Li Yao looked at Zhang Er Gou in surprise.
"Er Gou, do you have a way?" Lin Yue Ru asked hopefully, looking at Zhang Er Gou.
Seeing Xiao Qingyu's breakthrough, she was naturally envious.
Wang Teng, Lin Yi Chen, and Li Yao also looked at Zhang Er Gou with anticipation.
Zhang Er Gou nodded, "Yes. Wait here."
With a flash, Zhang Er Gou disappeared.
"Where did Er Gou go?"
Lin Yue Ru and the others frantically searched their surroundings, but Zhang Er Gou was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, Xiao Qingyu pointed behind the herd of oxen, "Look there."
Lin Yi Chen and the others widened their eyes.
At that moment, Zhang Er Gou was clinging to the underside of a wildly galloping cow.
Then, they saw white liquid flowing directly into a jade bottle below.
Li Yao and the others watched in disbelief.
Was this even possible? Was Zhang Er Gou risking his life?
The cow seemed to sense something amiss and ran even faster, kicking its hind legs.
Yet, Zhang Er Gou remained firmly attached to its belly, clinging on despite its struggles.
Lin Yue Ru and the others were stunned.
"Er Gou..."
However, that was not what surprised them most.
After a while, Zhang Er Gou suddenly vanished.
When he reappeared, he was on the underside of another cow.
Another jade bottle appeared below, and the white liquid flowed steadily into it.
Lin Yi Chen and the others watched nervously as Zhang Er Gou frantically milked the cows amidst the stampede.
They were speechless.
Their mouths hung open, wide enough to swallow a demon beast's inner core.
...
Rumble.
Dust flew everywhere as the herd of oxen continued to gallop through the valley.
Where they passed, devastation followed.
Lin Yi Chen and the others had never witnessed such a scene.
They followed the herd along the mountainside. Since the oxen couldn't climb, they were relatively safe.
But Zhang Er Gou was still relentlessly milking them.
He transferred from one cow to another.
The cows he had "visited" kicked their hind legs more furiously.
Yet, Zhang Er Gou paid them no mind.
In the blink of an eye, he had collected over twenty bottles of milk.
With another flash, Zhang Er Gou disappeared again.
Then, Zhang Er Gou suddenly reappeared before Lin Yi Chen and the others.
The group stared at him with wide eyes, as if they had seen a ghost.
"Here, drink them," Zhang Er Gou said, conjuring six jade bottles with a wave of his hand.
Lin Yi Chen and the others didn't hesitate.
They quickly grabbed the jade bottles and guzzled the milk.
They had personally witnessed Xiao Qingyu's breakthrough from the early to mid-stage Golden Core in less than half an hour.
They had no time for modesty now.
Even Li Yao snatched a jade bottle and drank the milk in one gulp.
Lin Yue Ru, though envious of Xiao Qingyu's breakthrough, drank her bottle sip by sip.
"Here, Qingyu, keep drinking. See if it still works," Zhang Er Gou handed a bottle to Xiao Qingyu.
"There's more for me?" Xiao Qingyu looked at Zhang Er Gou in disbelief.
He never imagined Zhang Er Gou would give him another bottle, especially after he had just drunk a full one.
"Nonsense, just take it if I give it to you."
Xiao Qingyu didn't stand on ceremony. Their relationship with Zhang Er Gou had long surpassed that of ordinary friends.
After they drank the milk, Lin Yi Chen, Wang Teng, and Li Yao's faces immediately turned red.
White mist began to rise from their heads, just as it had for Xiao Qingyu.
Lin Yi Chen and the others hurriedly sat down to meditate.
After a while, Lin Yue Ru's face also turned red.
She quickly went to the side and began meditating.
...
About half an hour later, Lin Yi Chen stood up, his face beaming.
"How is it? Did you break through?" Zhang Er Gou asked nervously.
"Of course! Haha," Lin Yi Chen laughed, marveling at their immense gains so soon after entering the secret realm.
Next, Wang Teng stood up with a look of joy.
Shortly after, Lin Yue Ru also stood up, her eyes full of happiness.
There was no doubt, both of them had broken through.
Another incense stick's time passed, but Li Yao still hadn't stood up.
The others could only wait by the side.
Li Yao's eyes were tightly shut...
Another incense stick later, Li Yao finally opened her eyes.
"How is it?" Zhang Er Gou and the others crowded around.
Li Yao shook her head, a hint of disappointment on her face.
"Is the milk not enough?" Zhang Er Gou mused. Li Yao was already at the mid-stage Golden Core.
With that thought, he took out another bottle of milk and handed it to Li Yao.
"Drink it."
Li Yao looked at Zhang Er Gou in astonishment, surprised he would give her another bottle.
She had seen him risk his life to collect this milk.
"Just drink it if I tell you to, stop being so hesitant!" Zhang Er Gou glared at Li Yao.
A flicker of struggle crossed Li Yao's eyes. The temptation of a breakthrough was too great.
"Thank you," Li Yao nodded heavily at Zhang Er Gou.
She took the jade bottle.
Gulp... gulp... gulp.
Another bottle of milk went down Li Yao's throat.
Her face immediately turned red again, and she hurriedly sat down to meditate.
...
"Er Gou, not good, look!"
Just as Li Yao sat down, she heard Xiao Qingyu's urgent cry.
Everyone looked in the direction Xiao Qingyu was pointing.
What they saw startled them.
The herd of oxen that had galloped away had returned.
Even more surprisingly, the herd was climbing the mountain.
They were rapidly approaching Zhang Er Gou and the others.
Zhang Er Gou and the rest knew that none of these oxen were weaker than early-stage Golden Core cultivators...