Actually, before Lin Miao arrived, Si Miaoxue had quietly entered and explored several times, although each time she went further.

But each time she returned empty-handed, except for discovering many fish in the underground river, the largest of which weighed over a hundred pounds and had extremely sharp teeth.

In terms of fierceness as individuals, they could compare to the piranhas Si Miaoxue used to keep in the backyard pond, but to confront an expert at the Meridian Passage Realm like Si Miaoxue was futile.

The section Si Miaoxue explored is estimated to be about three or four kilometers long, which seems quite lengthy.

Actually, with all the twists and turns, the straight-line distance might be just four to five hundred meters, but the general feeling is that it’s extending downwards.

Because the underground water level doesn’t change.

"Mr. Lin, this should be where the giant pythons hunt, otherwise, relying on external sources for food, they probably couldn’t sustain their growth..."

"Agreed, the underground river harbors numerous fish, many of which are rare species. The quantity a giant python consumes is enormous; if they only hunted outside, surely someone would’ve noticed by now and caused trouble for them. They only attack those who invade their territory." Lin Miao analyzed.

Si Miaoxue nodded in agreement, "Well, these two beasts seem quite smart."

"If they weren’t smart, they would’ve been skinned and gutted long ago; how could they still be alive now?" Lin Miao chuckled, "Perhaps we’re overthinking it, maybe this environment nurtures mystical creatures like silver pythons?"

"If it were a single silver python, that analysis might hold true, but there are two now. Doesn’t that seem odd?"

"What kind of rare treasures in this world could allow ordinary giant pythons to evolve into mystical beasts?" Lin Miao inquired.

"No idea, but there are many places humans still cannot reach, what’s there, nobody knows."

"Isn’t there a book that introduces rare treasures?"

"There is, but they are secrets not easily shared, like the Moon Pool of our Moon Worship Sect, the Refining Heart Platform of the Wayfarer Sect, and the snow lotuses of the Snow Mountain Sect. These are publicly known rare treasures, and these sects’ headquarters used to be deep in the mountains..."

"Alright, let’s venture further inside; if we find nothing, we’ll return. We’ve claimed the spot, so we can come again next time."

"Okay." Si Miaoxue nodded.

Continuing along the underground river, they delved further, walking for more than half an hour, half of which involved wading through water.

The clothes clung to the body when wet, especially on Si Miaoxue’s already graceful figure, enticingly. If Lin Miao’s resolve weren’t strong enough, he might have succumbed to desire right then and there.

"Miaoxue, did you notice that the temperature seems a bit higher than before?"

"There are natural hot springs underground, so an increase in temperature is normal." Si Miaoxue didn’t find anything unusual.

Lin Miao didn’t say much, stopped to softly sniff the air, then asked, "Miaoxue, do you smell something?"

Si Miaoxue laughed coyly, "Mr. Lin, you’re terrible."

"I wasn’t talking about your fragrance..." Lin Miao chuckled; what’s on this woman’s mind when she accompanies him?

Si Miaoxue blushed like rouge, she sniffed the air but didn’t seem to detect anything, shaking her head, "No, I didn’t smell anything."

"Over there, let’s take a look." Lin Miao’s nose was exceptionally keen, pointing towards the source of the scent.

"Wait for me."

The two continued forward in the dark cave, about the duration of a cup of tea, Si Miaoxue also sensed the scent Lin Miao mentioned.

"Mr. Lin, why do I feel this aroma can stir my inner flow of energy? I wasn’t actively circulating energy, yet my inner energy involuntarily reacted?"

"I have the same feeling, it seems our guess is correct, there must be a treasure here!" Lin Miao said.

"Really?"

"Though we don’t know what it is, anything emitting a scent that can affect our inner energy must be extraordinary!" Lin Miao stated.

"Yes." Si Miaoxue agreed with Lin Miao’s analysis and judgment.

Feeling even warmer, the perceived temperature was hotter than under the scorching sun outside. Yet, with the treasure ahead, how could Lin Miao and Si Miaoxue give up?

It was uncertain when they’d return again. Since they were here today, leaving without the treasure would be regrettable.

A weak red light suddenly pierced through the darkness, appearing before their eyes, causing Lin Miao and Si Miaoxue, accustomed to the darkness, to shrink their gaze with excitement.

They exchanged a glance, this could be what they were looking for.

Continuing forward another twenty or thirty meters, the red light grew stronger and the scent in the air intensified, with a single breath stirring waves of energy in their Dantians.

What is this thing, to be so formidable, but certainly a treasure beyond compare.

This item should have been left by the two giant pythons for themselves or their offspring, now it’s falling into their laps.

Proceeding another ten meters, a space appeared before them.

This was already the depths of the cavern, a place where darkness and silence intertwined, and even the lightest breath could be clearly heard.

A dark green plant, probably only half a meter tall, grew lonely beside the stone wall. Its roots were extremely developed, extending like octopus tentacles into the crevices of the rocks to draw the nutrients it desired. At the top, seven or eight red fruits swayed slightly like rubies in the darkness, emitting an enticing fragrance, as if beckoning to Lin Miao and Si Miaoxue.

"Miaoxue, the fire striker."

Si Miaoxue nodded, took out a fire striker from her bosom, and blew on it. The fire light instantly flared up.

This hollowed-out space was instantly illuminated.

Upon closer inspection, the fruits were plump, the skin exuding an alluring and mysterious sheen, as if some magical power was also circulating within.

A drop of milky white liquid dripped down from the sky, splashing on the plant’s branches and leaves. The branches and leaves swayed slightly, seemingly dancing in joy for this rare wisp of moisture.

The fragrance in the air grew increasingly intense.

"Zhu Guo, Mr. Lin, could this be one of the legendary rare treasures of heaven and earth, the Zhu Guo!" Si Miaoxue suddenly exclaimed in excitement.

"Zhu Guo?" Lin Miao was not unfamiliar with this name, but what he knew of Zhu Guo was merely a fantastical plant artificially created in martial arts novels from his past life, with tales of consuming one Zhu Guo granting sixty years’ worth of martial prowess and unlocking the Ren and Du Meridians.

But in reality, is there such a magical thing?

"It’s just speculation; I’ve never seen it. But looking at these fruits, they do resemble the Zhu Guo," Si Miaoxue said.

"Miaoxue, if it’s Zhu Guo, what effect does it have?"

"I don’t know," Si Miaoxue replied, "but I know, once Zhu Guo matures, it must be plucked and eaten, or it will fall, rot, and judging by the fruits on this plant, they seem to be nearing maturity..."

"Mature?" Lin Miao was startled. If they don’t eat the fruits after they mature, they’ll rot. He counted a total of eight fruits.

He, Si Miaoxue, senior sister, the two sisters Lianxin and Liansuo, and if Yue Mei’Er is called, she can make it over. Including Lin Mao, there are just seven people.

Wouldn’t one fruit be wasted?

Perhaps let Yue Wu and Yue Shisan each have half?

"Miaoxue, can ordinary people eat it?" Lin Miao asked, knowing his senior sister had only started practicing martial arts for health purposes.

"They probably can, but the medicinal power of Zhu Guo is very strong. If an ordinary person can’t absorb it, they might suffer from body explosion," Si Miaoxue said.

"These eight fruits won’t mature at the same time, will they?"

"Probably not. I guess they’ll mature one by one and fall one by one. Mr. Lin, look, this one is the reddest, largest, and most fragrant. I bet it will mature soon," Si Miaoxue pointed to the largest fruit on the top.

"Hmm, Miaoxue, I’ll try it first, then you follow, how about that?"

"Mr. Lin, my cultivation is higher than yours, I should go first," Si Miaoxue suggested.

"No, although my cultivation is not as high as yours, I understand the human body far better than you. Even if I can’t absorb the energy of the Zhu Guo, I can guide you, but if you eat it, I can’t understand your internal condition. Also, if I’m okay after eating and getting used to the effects, you’ll have experience when you eat it," Lin Miao explained.

"Alright." Si Miaoxue finally agreed.

"It’ll probably take some time to mature, go get my senior sister and the others, and don’t forget to notify Yue Mei’Er, hopefully she can make it in time!"

"Okay, I’m heading back now." Si Miaoxue nodded, and with a flash, retraced her steps.

Lin Miao found a nearby spot near the Zhu Guo’s growth to sit cross-legged, observing the plant’s growth while analyzing its environmental needs. After all, such rare treasures require very specific conditions.

Only in such unique environments, with specific temperature and nutrients, can this extraordinary treasure be nurtured.

These things are rare opportunities, nearly impossible to cultivate artificially. If they could be cultivated artificially, they wouldn’t be considered treasures.

It would take at least an hour for Si Miaoxue to come and go.

And the first Zhu Guo seemed almost ripe, as the strong fragrance it emitted had a magnetic power, especially when used with Heart Method guidance, it accelerated the speed of cultivation by fifty percent.

If one could cultivate here, it would be much faster than outside.

Of course, this applies to the Zhu Guo’s mature period; at other times it likely won’t have such magical effects.

The branch trembled slightly.

Lin Miao knew this Zhu Guo was fully ripe, though it wouldn’t immediately fall, yet if not picked within a certain period, it’d drop on its own.

Once it falls and touches the soil, it would instantly decay, its medicinal effect returning to the earth.

Since it was ripe, Lin Miao did not hold back, waved his hand, and the cherry-like red Zhu Guo flew from the branch directly into his mouth.

As it entered, the flesh instantly melted, transforming into a stream that slid down his throat into his belly!

Then he felt a warm and powerful force pouring into his Dantian, which swiftly expanded under the influence of this force...