Although Zhong Shenxiu and Robin could have crossed this mountain quickly, they deliberately stayed on the summit for a night in hopes of finding some rare treasures, only to be disappointed by the utter lack of anything.

Refusing to accept defeat, Zhong Shenxiu lingered on the peak for another day, but still came up empty-handed.

Finally, Zhong Shenxiu had no choice but to head down the mountain with Robin.

There is an old saying: The iron shoes are worn out searching in vain, yet what you seek appears effortlessly when you stop looking! In a strange twist of fate, this proverb proved true right then and there.

Just as Zhong Shenxiu was losing all hope, he stumbled upon another fortuitous encounter: he discovered a stone cave.

It was just large enough for a person to squeeze through, and driven by his fearless spirit, Zhong Shenxiu wormed his way inside.

Heaven had not disappointed him; within the cavern, he made a new discovery—one that stunned and astonished him more than any finding he had made previously.

It was none other than "Spiritual Milk," condensed essence of the vast, celestial Ling Qi. The milky-white liquid pooled in a stone indentation the size of a platter, emitting a soft, pure white luminescence.

At that moment, Zhong Shenxiu could distinctly hear his own heart hammering wildly against his ribs from sheer excitement.

No one understood the power of Spiritual Milk better than Zhong Shenxiu, and yet, it was precisely what he needed most at this very moment. How could he not be thrilled?

Everyone must understand that this small amount of milky substance was a divine treasure that took eight or ten thousand years to coalesce into a single drop. Its effect included purging the marrow and transforming the muscles, but more importantly, it could instantly boost a person's Ling Li (or magical power). This was exactly what Zhong Shenxiu desperately required! Only with sufficient magical power could he more freely accomplish all the things he intended to do.

With this "Spiritual Milk," not only would Zhong Shenxiu's cultivation speed multiply exponentially, but it could also assist Robin in refining the meridians within her body. In essence, with the aid of this "Spiritual Milk," Robin too could begin practicing cultivation techniques.

Excitement! Such overwhelming excitement! Fortunately, Zhong Shenxiu carried spare bamboo tubes with him; otherwise, being unable to take such a precious substance away would have pained him more than lying in a refuse heap again.

The Ling Li contained within this "Spiritual Milk" was too immense; even with Zhong Shenxiu’s current strength, he could only safely absorb a single drop. Exceeding that limit carried the grave danger of his body exploding from the excess power.

As for Robin, she could only dilute one drop with water for gradual use, or she too faced the risk of fatal bodily rupture.

Waiting outside the cave for half a day, Robin finally let out a sigh of relief when Zhong Shenxiu finally emerged.

Zhong Shenxiu meticulously collected every last drop of the "Spiritual Milk" but did not consume any immediately, for to do so would necessitate a long session of meditative absorption—and no one knew how long that might take.

“Robin, we are truly rich now. Once we find a secure dwelling, I will begin tempering your meridians. Then you won't have to wait long before you can immediately start practicing the cultivation arts,” Zhong Shenxiu said, his face alight with smiles.

“Master, is that true? That’s wonderful!” Robin was visibly overjoyed. She had long dreamed of practicing cultivation techniques because Zhong Shenxiu had once told her that cultivators could ride on swords through the air—what a magnificent prospect!

Amidst light conversation, the two entered the Demonic Beast Forest.

The trees grew denser, and the sounds of various demonic beasts became progressively clearer.

So this is the Demonic Beast Forest? It truly is an impressive place. Thanks to the experience with the "Spiritual Milk," even seeing fields carpeted with thousand-year-old Lingzhi mushrooms now hardly caused Zhong Shenxiu any surprise.

This world is wild; rare herbs sprout everywhere!

However, one thing deeply disappointed Zhong Shenxiu. He had expected the demonic beasts of this world to be fearsome creatures, but they amounted to little more than beings capable of spitting fireballs or wind blades—pathetically weak, even inferior to the lowest-tier Yao Shou he knew.

Having lost interest in the local beasts, Zhong Shenxiu decided to continue traveling due north. Beyond this forest lay a large city named "Gulu City," where perhaps he could find items like a "Magic Ring."

According to the map, the Demonic Beast Forest was vast; at Zhong Shenxiu’s current pace, traversing it would not be a matter of a short time.

Zhong Shenxiu, Robin, and a horse laden with supplies moved forward slowly when, suddenly, a colossal bird began circling above them. It was immediately clear that this visitor was no friend.

This enormous bird was a Tier Three Wind-elemental Demonic Beast—a Swift Eagle. These beasts possessed incredible speed, razor-sharp talons, and could unleash Tier Three Wind magic.

Watching the Swift Eagle continuously circle, seemingly scouting for an opportunity to strike, Zhong Shenxiu merely cast a dismissive glance, giving it no real thought. With his current strength, a single snap of his fingers could send it plummeting.

As Zhong Shenxiu and Robin continued walking as usual, the Swift Eagle finally launched its attack. It first cast a Tier Three spell, "Blade of Wind," then tucked its body and dove with lightning speed, aiming to snatch its prey dead with one strike.

In response, Zhong Shenxiu merely told Robin, "Leave it alive!"

The words had barely left his lips when the Swift Eagle dropped straight down like a malfunctioning aircraft. Robin promptly darted forward to restrain the massive body.

Zhong Shenxiu walked over and surveyed the Swift Eagle with a look one usually reserves for livestock.

Weak, yes, but it might be barely adequate! Zhong Shenxiu thought, as a sphere of black light began to coalesce in his hand. As the light solidified into a ball, Zhong Shenxiu thrust it forward; the black orb drilled directly into the Swift Eagle’s body.

The technique Zhong Shenxiu employed was the sorcery known as the "Control Charm." This art allowed him to exert influence over any person or object weaker than the caster, turning them into a controllable puppet.

Zhong Shenxiu targeted the Swift Eagle specifically because he valued its ability for high-altitude reconnaissance. Since his own power had not yet reached the level of true flight, this creature, though too small to carry him, could serve as his eyes in the skies for surveying terrain. This was the benefit of the "Control Charm"—what the puppet saw and heard could be transmitted back to the caster, making it the perfect tool for scouting.

Zhong Shenxiu made a signal to Robin, who immediately released the Swift Eagle. The bird, as if nothing had happened, shot back into the sky and began circling once more overhead.

Zhong Shenxiu then formed a complex sequence of hand seals, holding a very strange posture. Suddenly, he uttered a sharp command: “Sight and hearing follow my will—Bind!”

Instantly, Zhong Shenxiu’s vision shifted. A vast expanse of forest spread out beneath his sight, the movements of various beasts laid bare, and the entire topographical layout unfolded before him with perfect clarity.

Satisfied with the effective result, Zhong Shenxiu relaxed his seals and said to Robin, "Let's walk a bit further ahead; there should be a river there."