Zhang Fan was speechless. This young man was probably a disciple of some prominent family, rarely venturing out to train. He had merely heard some rumors and then rushed into Star Lake Forest, not even knowing his own purpose.
"The universe and the starry sky are vast and boundless, with dangers and opportunities everywhere. But not every opportunity is suitable for you. Wandering around blindly like this, you'll lose your life sooner or later," Zhang Fan said.
The brief interaction allowed Zhang Fan to understand that this young man was extremely pure-hearted, which was why he spoke a few more words.
"What's there to fear? I inquired thoroughly before coming. The most powerful demonic beast in Star Lake Forest is just a White Cloud Tiger that has endured the third tribulation of the Nascent Soul stage. It poses no threat to me. Even if I can't defeat it, escaping is easy enough."
Facing Zhang Fan's lecture, the jade-crowned youth appeared unconvinced and said with full confidence.
Zhang Fan shook his head. This youth was indeed too naive. How much truth could there be in the information he had gathered?
Although his body was formidable, even if he lay there to be gnawed by a Golden Core stage demonic beast, its teeth would likely break, and his life would not be in danger.
However, this youth was a stranger to him, yet he had stayed by his side while he was unconscious. To Zhang Fan, this was a considerable favor.
Zhang Fan flipped his hand and took out a bottle of spirit pills from the Star Elephant Space, handing it to the jade-crowned youth. "Thank you for guarding me these past few days. This bottle of spirit pills is a small token of my appreciation."
"You can refine pills?"
The jade-crowned youth did not reach out to take it. Instead, he stared at Zhang Fan with a hint of surprise and asked.
Cultivators of the Dao of Alchemy, like those of the Dao of Formations, were extremely rare in the myriad domains of the starry sky. Although their combat power was generally weaker, due to their different cultivation paths, their status was considerably higher than cultivators of the same level.
It was akin to True Monarch Tian Hua, who, during the Golden Core stage, could associate with cultivators of the Nascent Soul stage as equals.
"A little," Zhang Fan replied humbly.
"Alright, since you are an alchemist, I won't be polite then."
The jade-crowned youth took the spirit pills, pried open the stopper, took out one pill, and examined it for a long time before recognizing it with surprise. "It's actually a Heavenly Grade Blood Spirit Pill."
The gaze the jade-crowned youth cast upon Zhang Fan shifted slightly. He hadn't expected Zhang Fan to be so generous, and he was also somewhat shocked by Zhang Fan's alchemy skills.
It was indeed rare for someone merely in the Golden Core stage to be able to refine Heavenly Grade spirit pills.
...
"There's movement over there."
"Let's go take a look."
Just as Zhang Fan was about to bid farewell again, two sounds of breaking wind echoed from the dense forest in the distance. Within a few breaths, two figures were seen traversing the woods, rapidly approaching Zhang Fan and the other.
The leader was a middle-aged man in a blue robe with star patterns. Beside him was a yellow-robed woman with a rather delicate appearance.
"What is this?"
As the two approached, the first thing they saw were the corpses of several Shadow Leopards, all bisected. Ancient trees dozens of feet in circumference were also cut in half.
Judging by the cut surfaces and the surrounding destruction, it seemed to be caused by a sharp sword energy.
Such powerful attacks could only be accomplished by cultivators of the Nascent Soul stage.
"I presume you two fellow daoists are also here for the opportunity in Star Lake. May I know your names, esteemed friends?" the middle-aged man asked politely after observing the tragic scene.
"My name is Liu Mu," said the jade-crowned youth.
"Zhang Fan," Zhang Fan replied indifferently after glancing at the two.
"So, you are fellow daoist Liu Mu and young friend Zhang Fan. The competition for this opportunity is exceptionally fierce. Fellow daoist Liu Mu's strength is not weak. How about we travel together?" the leading middle-aged man asked.
Liu Mu was about to agree but suddenly remembered that he still didn't know what the opportunity emerging in Star Lake Forest was. He became somewhat hesitant, unsure of what to do.
"Actually, we are not here for the opportunity in Star Lake Forest. But recently, there have been rumors circulating on Great Rock Star. We were wondering what exactly the opportunity in Star Lake Forest is?" Zhang Fan said.
"Oh?"
"Do you two not know?"
The man in the star-patterned robe appeared surprised, then he spoke, "A few months ago, a Golden Core stage cultivator accidentally entered Star Lake and discovered that the lake was rolling with magma. The entire Star Lake was already covered in lava, but in the lava, they found Earth Core Saliva. Some demonic beasts that were not afraid of death swallowed the lava and absorbed a small amount of Earth Core Saliva. Some beasts died, but others significantly increased their strength."
"Earth Core Saliva?"
Zhang Fan was slightly taken aback. No wonder.
Earth Core Saliva only forms in volcanic lava and grows from the earth's core. When spiritual herbs are drawn into volcanic eruptions and are roasted for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, the lava refines them into extremely precious Earth Core Saliva.
If the emerging lava carries a trace of Earth Core Saliva, it can be concluded that a large amount of Earth Core Saliva must have formed beneath the lava.
"I see that young friend Zhang Fan is also currently in the Golden Core stage. If you can obtain a portion of Earth Core Saliva, you might be able to form your Nascent Soul."
The man in the star-patterned blue robe did not take Zhang Fan's strength seriously but felt that Liu Mu's strength was formidable and worth recruiting.
After all, the competition for Earth Core Saliva this time was extremely fierce. All three Nascent Soul families on Great Rock Star had sent representatives, and even powerhouses from outside Great Rock Star were involved. He had not seen Liu Mu before, so he assumed they were cultivators from outside Great Rock Star.
"So it's Earth Core Saliva..."
Liu Mu, who had been full of interest, appeared somewhat disappointed upon hearing the words of the blue-robed star-patterned man. He had already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, and Earth Core Saliva was not of much use to him.
Zhang Fan glanced at Liu Mu and said, "Earth Core Saliva is indeed of little use to you. If you're not interested, you can leave Star Lake Forest early."
Originally, he had planned to leave Great Rock Star to search for Qin Luoshui and the others, but Earth Core Saliva was indeed of considerable help to him now, so he decided to go and take a look.
"Are you planning to go alone?"
Liu Mu stared at Zhang Fan with surprise. He had witnessed Zhang Fan's cultivation process and knew that Zhang Fan was definitely not an ordinary Golden Core stage cultivator, but he also knew that Zhang Fan was injured.
"Yes."
Zhang Fan nodded. Although his Golden Core had not fully recovered, his combat power in body refinement would not be affected.
And although he was still in the initial stage of Minor Accomplishment of the Divine Body, he was far stronger than when he had first broken through to Minor Accomplishment of the Divine Body. With his physical body alone, he could fight against ordinary cultivators in the second tribulation of the Nascent Soul stage.
Liu Mu hesitated for a moment, recalling that Zhang Fan was the first person he had met after arriving in the Wu Shan Star Domain. Just by observing him curiously for a few days, Zhang Fan had given him a bottle of Heavenly Grade Blood Spirit Pills, making him feel indebted.
"Forget it, I'll accompany you then."
Liu Mu felt that although Earth Core Saliva wasn't very useful to him, he had nothing else to do anyway. Besides, it would be quite lively then, so he might as well join in.
...