I, a cultivator, have ended up in the world of tomb raiding.

After a pause, seeing that no one in the room had any objections, Chen Yulou nodded in satisfaction and immediately gave the order:

"Immediately send people back to Xiangyin to transport more grain, lime, gunpowder and other supplies. The rest of the troops should stay at the foot of Ping Mountain and do their best to dig the tomb passage in preparation for a second entry into Ping Mountain."

He then looked at Li Yue, his tone sincere: "Brother Li, in the future, when we go into tombs, we will have to rely on your skills. If there is anything that Changsheng Mountain can do to help us, just ask."

He was certain that Li Yue must have unique methods against demons, evil spirits, and poisons.

In Ping Mountain, we are bound to encounter poisonous insects and ferocious beasts again. It's no big deal to say a few nice words beforehand.

Li Yue was well aware of Chen Yulou's intentions, but he didn't care and nodded slightly.

"You're too kind, Chief Chen."

What he sought was the Yin energy, demon cores, and opportunities of Ping Mountain; gold, silver, and antiques were merely incidental items, which he would take with him when he left.

The group then discussed the details of rest and resupply, but Li Yue didn't participate at all and had nothing to say.

After chatting for a while, Li Yue heard the conversation gradually turn to things like raising an army and building an empire, so he couldn't sit still any longer and prepared to get up and take his leave.

His mind was completely focused on the inner core of the six-winged centipede. He only wanted to find a quiet opportunity to refine it as soon as possible and strive to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining in one fell swoop.

Unexpectedly, Miss Hong left before him, her face still showing a hint of coldness.

It seems that once the important matter was settled, she didn't listen to a single word of the empty talk that followed.

Stepping out of the side room, it was already late at night, and the campfire in the courtyard was gradually dying down. Many of the Xieling brothers had already fallen asleep on the spot, fully clothed.

Li Yue and Hong Guniang walked one after the other under the corridor.

Each lost in their own thoughts, they remained silent the entire way.

We continued until we reached a quiet corner in the courtyard, where there was a row of very small rooms.

This charitable institution was originally a dilapidated mountain god temple that was converted into a shrine. These small houses were likely originally the residences of the temple keeper, or temporary rest rooms for pilgrims and mountain dwellers passing through the mountains.

But the mortuary is now full of people, and this room was given to him by Chen Yulou, who said he preferred quiet.

Li Yue knew perfectly well what was going on, but he also found it somewhat absurd.

Although Chen Yulou sincerely wanted to show preferential treatment, he was also being generous with other people's money.

This place was originally a place for storing coffins, but now the living are more crowded than the dead, and the coffins in the hall have been pushed to the back and squeezed together.

Chen Yulou is so generous; I wonder what the corpses here would think.

Without stopping, he arrived at the door at the end of the room. Just as he was about to push the door open and enter, he was suddenly lightly bumped in the lower back, followed by a short "Ouch!"

Li Yue turned around and saw that the girl in red was standing behind him.

Clearly, he was thinking about something and walking too close, so he didn't notice and bumped into me.

The girl in red froze for a moment, then a look of annoyance quickly spread across her face.

Those usually clear and sharp eyes dared not meet his gaze, glancing at him briefly before hastily looking away.

Before Li Yue could speak, she couldn't stay any longer.

Without saying a word, he suddenly turned around, his steps slightly unsteady as he quickly walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the pillars, as if fleeing.

Li Yue watched her hurried departure and felt a little amused.

This woman, who was usually bold and fearless, was now so ashamed by this trivial matter that she fled in panic, a stark contrast to her usual aloof and unapproachable demeanor.

He did seem somewhat cute... He shook his head, stopped thinking about it, turned around, and pushed open the door to go inside.

The house was indeed very simple; there was only a wooden bed inside, and not even a chair.

But Li Yue was quite content.

These conditions are much better than sleeping in the open.

The doors of the mortuary had been neglected for a long time and most of them were damaged.

The wooden door to this house also had a broken latch, so it could only be slightly ajar.

Li Yue closed the door, entered the room, and sat down on the bed.

Instead of immediately sitting cross-legged in meditation, he first slowly spread out a wisp of his divine sense, covering the area within dozens of feet of the small house.

All that could be heard inside and outside the courtyard were the sounds of snoring, interspersed with a few whispered murmurs from the Xieling brothers, but no other unusual activity.

Once he was sure that no one was watching him and that the surroundings were completely safe, he slowly turned his palm over, revealing the crimson crystal he had extracted from the six-winged centipede's abdomen earlier that day.

This object is not perfectly round, with visible ridges, and its color is dark red like congealed bloodstone.

Although it was also surrounded by wisps of pure demonic energy and chilling malevolent aura, it was far less refined and condensed than a true demon core, with its spiritual light contained within.

Li Yue lightly brushed his fingertips together, understanding dawning on his mind.

Its irregular shape and slightly mixed aura can only be strictly described as a demon core.

This refers to the crystallized essence that ordinary demons accumulate within their bodies before they reach the stage of human form.

Only a great demon that cultivates intelligence and condenses its own natal core can be considered a true demon core.

Although they appear similar, their effects are vastly different.

Demon cores can only be used to quickly improve cultivation and strengthen one's qi.

The demon core contains the cultivation and original spirituality of a demon's entire life, which can cleanse the marrow and strengthen the meridians, build a foundation for the Dao, and even allow one to comprehend some demonic magic and supernatural powers.

This one today, though merely a demon core,

The six-winged centipede, which comes from the thousand-year-old spiritual land of Ping Mountain and is nourished by the rich demonic mirage, possesses both yin and evil demonic energy within its body. It is a mutated demon, rather than a wild mountain spirit.

He raised his eyes and focused his gaze on the pale blue panel in the void, visible only to himself.

Almost the instant he grasped the demon core, words slowly appeared on the panel:

[Unknown monster core detected...]

[Analyzing... Yin energy concentration 18%... Demonic energy component 14%... Evil energy component 4%...]

[Source: Ping Mountain's Thousand-Year-Old Poisonous Insect - Six-Winged Centipede (Unformed Elixir)]

[Quality: Mid-grade Demon Core]

[Effect: Can be directly absorbed and converted into one's own cultivation level]

[Should we choose to devour it?]

A hint of surprise flashed in Li Yue's eyes.

He thought to himself, "Just as I expected."

After killing the six-winged centipede at Ping Mountain today, he touched the insect's body while searching for the demon core, and a similar prompt appeared on the panel.

He devoured the life force of the six-winged centipede.

This is the key reason why the six-winged centipede's body was suddenly digested.

Li Yue was overjoyed to discover that this panel could not only absorb Yin energy, but it could also directly absorb the blood and energy of demons and demon cores.

Without further hesitation, he silently vowed, "Devoure."

As soon as he finished speaking, a fine red light appeared on the surface of the crimson demon core in his palm, and wisps of pure demonic energy steamed out from the core, rushing into his palm through the meridians.

A surge of intense heat instantly swept through his limbs and bones, as if an invisible current of heat was surging and crashing through his meridians. Every pore on his body opened up, and a faint white vapor rose from the top of his head.

The malevolent and evil energy of the thousand-year-old poisonous insects contained within the demon core also surged into his body. He forcibly refined and purified it through his cultivation technique, transforming it into the purest spiritual energy, which flowed into his dantian.

In the palm of his hand, the crimson demon core shrank and dimmed at a visible speed, its surface luster gradually faded, and its sharp edges slowly melted away.

Before long, the demon core, which was originally the size of a thumb, shrank into a tiny, almost imperceptible ash, which was scattered in the palm of the hand by the wind, leaving no trace.

"This speed is a hundred times faster than what I can absorb myself!" Li Yue was secretly shocked.

Moreover, this energy can be directly converted into one's own cultivation level, without the need for refining and removing impurities and toxins.

The main focus is on making the most of everything!