Xia Zihan was slightly shaken. This was an extremely rare alchemy technique; if sold, it could fetch at least several hundred high-grade spirit stones.

It should be noted that one high-grade spirit stone can be exchanged for one thousand mid-grade spirit stones, while one mid-grade spirit stone can be exchanged for one hundred low-grade spirit stones.

A cultivator at the Spirit Vortex Realm only possesses a hundred high-grade spirit stones.

Thinking of this, she was slightly moved when she saw Qin Luo's expression of no regret. She knew that if the royal family wanted to be revived, funding would be the most scarce resource. That was why she valued this alchemy book so much.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Wu, do you know the value of this book?" Xia Zihan couldn't bear the pangs of her conscience and asked again.

“Fellow Daoist Zhao Jiu, I am naturally aware of the value of this alchemy book, but it is of little use to me. It would be better to give it to you.”

Qin Luo looked at her with utmost sincerity.

"Can......"

"Fellow Daoist Zhao Jiu, there's no need to say more. My mind is made up. If you really want to give it to me, then I can only tear it up. Anyway, this book isn't of much use to me."

Qin Luo interrupted her, speaking in an annoyed tone.

Xia Zihan knew he was only saying that to get her to accept it, and she reluctantly accepted this extremely important alchemy manual.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Wu, rest assured, after we arrive in the Southern Region, I will send you back items of equal value to the opportunities found in the cave."

Xia Zihan's expression shifted slightly, revealing a determined look in her eyes.

"I don't care what you give me, just accept the alchemy technique." Qin Luo breathed a sigh of relief after seeing her accept it, and the system's voice rang in his mind just in time.

[Xia Zihan has obtained an opportunity: an introductory book on alchemy. Based on her current affection level for the host (10), the return bonus will be randomly distributed between 11 and 55 times the original amount.]

[The chance to win is doubled, with a multiplier of 45%, and you will gain all the insights of a second-grade alchemist.]

In an instant, an immense amount of knowledge flooded into Qin Luo's mind, with countless complex pharmacological principles, alchemy techniques, and medicinal properties intertwining and colliding in his consciousness.

After a while, he gained a completely new understanding of alchemy, which seemed to open a door to a mysterious realm for him.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Wu, what's wrong with you?"

Xia Zihan saw him suddenly standing there in a daze and asked him in confusion.

"It's nothing, I just remembered some things. Now that we've obtained the opportunity in the cave, let's continue on our way."

After Qin Luo finished speaking, he left the cave and headed towards the Southern Region.

Xia Zihan watched him leave, silently put away the alchemy book, and then followed him...

After two days of travel, the two finally arrived at the primeval forest in the Southern Region. Only by passing through this primeval forest could they reach the true Southern Region.

This forest is vast, seemingly without boundaries; as far as the eye can see, it stretches out like an endless sea of ​​trees.

A thin layer of mist hung in the forest, making the entire forest appear even more mysterious. The light became hazy in the mist, making it difficult to see the distant scenery.

Moreover, the two could see some giant monsters that appeared from time to time. This was only on the outskirts of the primeval forest. If they went deeper into it, things would be terrible.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Wu, once you enter this primeval forest, remember to stay close to me. That way, if anything unexpected happens, I can take care of you immediately."

Xia Zihan said to Qin Luo with a serious expression.

Qin Luo nodded quickly. He knew how terrifying the primeval forest was; after all, neither of them had ever managed to escape during the simulation.

Seeing this, Xia Zihan didn't say anything more and took the lead to go in, with Qin Luo following closely behind her.

Over the past two days, he could clearly sense a change in Xia Zihan's attitude towards him. Her tone was no longer cold, but rather like that of a normal friend.

As Qin Luo stepped into the mist, a damp and sticky sensation emerged on his skin. The spiritual energy within his body instinctively tried to rise and resist the mist's corrosive influence, but Qin Luo suppressed it firmly.

If his breakthrough to the Spirit Gathering Realm were revealed at this moment, he would be unable to defend himself.

But just as he was thinking this, a gentle purple glow shone on him, instantly dispelling the dampness on his skin.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao Jiu, won't using your spiritual energy like this put a burden on your body?"

Qin Luo looked at the figure in front of him and asked with some concern. This was his only investment right now, and he couldn't let it die like this.

"It's alright. Thanks to the opportunity that Fellow Daoist Wang Wu gave me in the cave, I was able to use some weak spiritual energy without any burden."

Xia Zihan forced a smile and replied.

During the past two days, she took the time to refine the entire bottle of Spirit Gathering and Body Strengthening Pills during her breaks. Thanks to the strengthening effect of the pills, her physical condition was now able to utilize some weak spiritual energy.

Just then, Xia Zihan's expression changed, and she pushed Qin Luo away.

Qin Luo, who was suddenly pushed away by her, only saw Xia Zihan being slapped away by a claw half the height of a person and disappear into the mist in the blink of an eye.

Qin Luo was startled by the sudden turn of events. He quickly realized what was happening and stopped concealing his cultivation level, letting a pure purple aura cover his surface.

Only then did he finally see the culprit that sent Xia Zihan flying: a giant hunting horse with a ferocious appearance, whose two front hooves were as tall as half a person and had sharp claws.

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