Chapter 11: Lonely Mountain 3

"Woof woof!"

Xiaobai, who had seemed invisible, suddenly called out twice. Yun Shang looked in the direction of the sound and found that this guy was standing in front of the python's corpse, his tail wagging wildly, with sparks of anticipation in his eyes.

"Xiaobai, what are you doing…?" Yun Shang asked in confusion.

"Ahhh!" Little White's tail wagged even more happily.

Yun Shang: ???

Gu Xian pondered for a moment and suddenly realized, "I know!"

"Know what?" Yun Shang was puzzled.

Gu Xian pointed at the python's corpse and asked Xiao Bai, "Are you trying to remind us that this snake still has an inner elixir?"

Xiaobai jumped up on the spot and yelled excitedly several times. But yelling was not enough, he also bit his tail proudly.

"So that's the reason..." Yun Shang rubbed Xiao Bai's head, pinched her nose and walked to the python's body. Looking at the pile of green and black organs, she was a little overwhelmed, "Is the inner elixir here?"

"It shouldn't be here." Gu Xian shook his head. "Based on the giant python's cultivation, its inner elixir should have just been formed and is still very fragile. It will be protected in a safe place instead of in its soft belly."

"..." Yun Shang blinked, "I thought the inner elixir of animals, like the golden elixir of humans, was in the abdomen."

"It's different. Animals are born in nature and die in nature. They absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth faster than humans and are more in line with the laws of nature. With some chance, some wild animals can form inner elixirs during the Qi Refining stage." Gu Xian looked very serious and mature when he was disseminating scientific knowledge, which was in stark contrast to his handsome and cute appearance.

"Humans must break through the shackles of foundation building to form elixirs and reach the Golden Elixir level. Human inner elixirs are in the abdomen, while animals' inner elixirs can be placed in any part of their bodies."

Yun Shang asked: "The giant python's cultivation is not very high, and its inner elixir is so fragile. It is not very beneficial to the cultivator, right?"

Gu Xian nodded, "Wild beasts and raptors are not cultivating the same path as us humans. Humans and beasts have different paths. Even if it is the inner elixir of a high-level magical beast, it can only be taken after being refined into a pill. The inner elixir of this giant python is indeed worthless to us."

The four words "humans and beasts have different paths" reminded Yun Shang of the fox spirit who fell in love with the scholar in the stories of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio. Even though they experienced a tragic love, it ended tragically in the end.

Maybe, this is the way of nature, cruel but realistic.

"but..."

Gu Xian's transition sentence brought Yun Shang's somewhat wandering thoughts back to normal, "But what?"

"But the inner elixir is a good thing for Xiaobai. He can improve his cultivation level by eating it directly." Gu Xian smiled and said, "That's why Xiaobai is so excited."

"Woof woof woof!" Xiaobai responded to Gu Xian's words with a loud bark.

"My Xiaobai is very smart. With the inner elixir, maybe he can become enlightened." Yun Shang was very happy that Xiaobai had such an opportunity. If he had followed his owner, he would probably still be beaten and eating leftovers.

Gu Xian said: "I also think that Xiaobai is not like an ordinary hound. His eyes are bright and he can understand human language. He is extremely intelligent."

Yun Shang bowed and said, "Brother Xian, please find the inner elixir of the giant python."

The python is cunning by nature, so the inner elixir is naturally hidden in a safe place. It is unrealistic to find it with the naked eye, so has to rely on Gu Xian. The young Taoist priest is honest and reliable, so Yun Shang is willing to call him brother.

Hearing this address, Gu Xian smiled brightly: "Okay, I have decided on you as my sister. I must help you."

Yun Shang was smart and brave at a young age. She remained calm in the face of danger and saved his life. Gu Xian really admired her.

…

Without further ado, Gu Xian began to use his spiritual power to search for the giant python's inner elixir.

A light blue light emanated from his fingers, scanning the python's body like an X-ray.

The giant python's body suddenly became transparent, revealing its skeleton, muscles and blood vessels.

When the blue light swept close to the head, Yun Shang saw a small black shadow, probably only the size of a bar of marshmallows.

"It turns out that the giant python hides the inner elixir in its head." Gu Xian retracted his spiritual power, "I will go dig out the inner elixir."

He moved very skillfully and quickly cut the python's head into eight pieces and took out the inner elixir.

This inner elixir is not pure black, but is stained with some other colors, and its shape is not a perfect circle.

Yun Shang patted Xiao Bai on the back and reminded him, "Xiao Bai, hurry up and thank him."

Xiaobai, who was watching intently, finally reacted. He ran to the runway and sat down upright next to Gu Xian. Then he raised his two front paws and bowed to him politely, as if to say: Thank you, thank you so much.

This look is both cute and funny.

Yun Shang said happily: "Xiao Bai, I think you are a little devil even before you get the hang of it."

Gu Xian spread out his hands, his inner elixir still emitting a faint light in the sunlight. He looked at Xiao Bai and said seriously, "You must remember that the path of cultivation is long and difficult. Even if you have opened your mind, you must be kind-hearted and not go astray."

"Aoao!" Xiaobai's eyes were shining like stars, emitting a determined light, and he nodded solemnly.

"Here, it's for you." Gu Xian placed the inner elixir in front of Xiaobai.

Xiaobai rubbed Gu Xian's hand gratefully, and then carefully swallowed the inner elixir, as if he was eating the most delicious delicacy in the world.

But Yun Shang didn't expect that after Xiaobai took the inner elixir, he suddenly became like a drunk, shaking his head, his steps were unsteady, he spun around on the spot for a few circles, and then fell to the ground with a "bang".

"Xiaobai!" Yun Shang yelled, ran over to pick up Xiaobai, and shook its body, her voice trembling, "What's wrong? Brother Xian, what's wrong with Xiaobai? Is the inner elixir poisonous?"

"Don't panic, this is a normal reaction." Gu Xian said, "Don't forget that this is a giant python that is about to advance to the foundation-building stage. Its inner elixir is a strong medicine for Xiaobai. Xiaobai's body can't bear it and will automatically fall asleep. It will be fine when he wakes up."

"Then how long should we sleep?" Yun Shang was relieved when she saw that Xiaobai in her arms was breathing normally and had normal body temperature.

Gu Xian touched Xiao Bai's neck and said, "A day at most."

Yun Shang understood, "That means we have to find a safe place to protect Xiaobai today. We can't let him get into any danger."

"When it wakes up, it will be able to protect you." Gu Xian smiled and said, "That's what we call cause and effect."

Yun Shang nodded. This chance encounter and bond made her feel inexplicably warm in her heart.

"But we have to find a safe hiding place first. We can't just stay here for a few days." Gu Xian tidied up his tattered clothes and said, "Little Yun, let's go."

"okay!"

…

Gu Xian was very familiar with the first level of Lonely Mountain. He took Yun Shang through the woods and introduced to her the dangers and things to pay attention to while they walked. Yun Shang listened carefully and kept them in mind.

They walked in the woods for a while, skirted a small lake, and came to the mountain wall.

"See? There's a cave here." Gu Xian pointed ahead, "It's behind this bunch of dead grass."

He picked up the branch and waved it casually. The dry grass as high as a person separated into two sides, revealing the cave behind it.

"Brother Xian, do you come here often?" Yun Shang smiled when she saw the destination right in front of her.

She held Xiaobai in her arms like an old mother, and they were bumpy all the way, but Xiaobai was sleeping soundly. Fortunately, she had a lot of strength now, otherwise there would be nothing she could do.

"Sometimes if I'm delayed in collecting herbs, I'll sleep here for a night." Gu Xian walked in front to lead the way. "There is a formation I set up outside the cave, and wild animals are not allowed to approach."

"Great, I can finally put you down." Yun Shang looked at Xiao Bai in her arms and muttered, "You don't even know how heavy you are!"

…

The cave is not big or deep, and can accommodate four or five people at most, but it is very dry and suitable for a short stay.

Because Gu Xian would occasionally spend the night here, the small cave was divided into two areas - the area covered with hay was the resting and meditation area, and the other areas were the living area.

There were still traces of the fire he had made the last time he stayed over in the living area.

Yun Shang put the sleepy Xiao Bai in the "resting area", quickly loosened her muscles, looked around, and asked curiously: "Brother Xian, where is this?"

How did you find out? "

"This cliff has the herbs I need, and I happened to find this cave when I was collecting them." Gu Xian found it funny, "At first, this cave was occupied by a nest of weasels, but they found out that I had cultivation and thought I was here to kill them, so they ran away overnight."

Yun Shang laughed, "So you just picked up a ready-made thing without using any soldiers?"

Gu Xian scratched his head. "I guess so. Xiaoyun, you guys take a break. I'll go out and get some firewood and some water."

"good."