"A kung fu toad?"
Whether intentional or not, even Ning Beichen found this speculation amusing.
However, amusing as it was, this toad was not to be underestimated.
After failing to defeat Ning Beichen with a single move, "Toad's Heaven Stomp," the red-headed toad surprisingly retracted its limbs, its body transforming into a round, meteorite-like sphere with a surface resembling lunar craters, and charged fiercely at Ning Beichen.
"Yo, I just called you fat and you're already out of breath."
Seeing that the toad wasn't fleeing but instead charging at him, Ning Beichen remained unhurried. As the toad approached, Ning Beichen unleashed a punch, "Great Collapse Annihilation," towards it.
*Clang!*
The red-headed toad was sent flying by Ning Beichen's punch.
After taking a hit from Ning Beichen's "Great Collapse Annihilation," the red-headed toad could no longer get up.
Regardless of whether this red-headed toad truly knew "Toad's Heaven Stomp" or practiced martial arts, it stood no chance against Ning Beichen.
Ning Beichen's "Great Collapse Annihilation" had left the red-headed toad half-crippled. It lay on the ground, trembling, yellow fluid seeping from its uneven skin, a mixture of blood or poison, it was hard to tell.
However, Ning Beichen could sense that the red-headed toad's life force was gradually weakening, and it was unlikely to be able to attack him again.
In fact, Ning Beichen had no intention of killing it. Killing a toad would bring him no benefit.
Could he possibly eat its meat?
Forget it. Even if it were edible, just looking at its pitted skin and the yellow fluid oozing out made Ning Beichen lose his appetite.
"Brother Toad, I don't know if you can understand my words or grasp my meaning. I have no desire to kill you, nor do we have any enmity. I just came in out of curiosity. It's best if we stay out of each other's way."
Ning Beichen spoke loudly to the red-headed toad.
He had conveyed his intentions. If the red-headed toad still harbored any thoughts of attacking him, then it couldn't blame him for being ruthless!
After speaking, Ning Beichen no longer paid attention to the red-headed toad. Instead, his gaze fell behind it.
Behind the red-headed toad was a small puddle, and in the puddle grew a fist-sized flower that resembled crystal.
"Toad Crystal Flower!"
Ning Beichen exclaimed in surprise as he approached the crystal-like flower.
Although the Toad Crystal Flower was not the medicinal ingredient Liu Yilin needed to treat cancer, it was a genuine heavenly treasure. Ning Beichen had learned this from the conversations of those who had transcended.
The Toad Crystal Flower was considered a top-tier heavenly treasure even in the transcendent realm, something cultivators would fight tooth and nail for.
This was because the Toad Crystal Flower could directly boost a transcender's cultivation.
And this applied only to transcenders, not to cultivators below that level.
If someone like a Grandmaster were to consume a Toad Crystal Flower, the consequence would be instant explosive death.
Ning Beichen was already concerned about his slow progress in cultivation. To this day, he had yet to advance to the second level of the "Crossing the Sea of Suffering to the Other Shore" technique.
The second level of "Crossing the Sea of Suffering to the Other Shore" was called "Universal Salvation."
This level was far more difficult than the first, "Lotus of Suffering Ferrying the Body." If he were in the transcendent realm, Ning Beichen believed his cultivation speed would be much faster. But in this world, at his current cultivation level, improving was an extremely arduous task.
The reason was simple: the spiritual energy in this world was extremely scarce, and not only scarce, but also of poor quality, incomparable to the transcendent realm.
If Ning Beichen were to consume the Toad Crystal Flower, he might not reach the second level, but his progress would certainly be much faster than it was now.
However, upon seeing the Toad Crystal Flower, Ning Beichen also realized that this item undoubtedly belonged to the red-headed toad he had crippled. He was unsure whether the Toad Crystal Flower had created the toad or if the toad's presence had led to the flower's appearance.
Regardless, the item was now in his possession. Though he felt a twinge of guilt, Ning Beichen had no intention of giving it up, even if it meant letting down his "Brother Toad."
As Ning Beichen dug up the Toad Crystal Flower, the red-headed toad croaked a few times in unwillingness, but it made no further aggressive moves and remained lying on the ground.
Firstly, it was severely injured. Secondly, it knew that the human before it was not to be trifled with. Despite its reluctance, it had no choice but to accept its fate.
"Apologies, Brother Toad, I must take this. I won't kill you."
Ning Beichen said to the red-headed toad.
The red-headed toad just croaked twice, not getting up. It was unclear whether it had agreed or not.
However, Ning Beichen didn't dwell on it. After storing the Toad Crystal Flower, he took out three pills and placed them on the ground, saying to the red-headed toad:
"I'm taking the Toad Crystal Flower. These three pills should help heal your injuries. Consider them compensation from me."
After speaking, Ning Beichen ignored the red-headed toad. He lightly tapped his toes and floated up, landing on a rock wall seven or eight meters high. Then, with a forceful push of his toes,
*Boom!*
Ning Beichen shot up into the sky like an arrow. With a few moments of maneuvering, he had left the red-headed toad's lair and returned to the location of the waterfall.
Initially, Ning Beichen had planned to return the way he came. However, the hidden channel he had used to enter had a swift current, and he would be swept out the moment he entered. It would be difficult to go back the same way.
Ning Beichen wasn't in a hurry. This was a large cave; there was hope of finding another way out. So, Ning Beichen decided to search the surroundings. If all else failed, he would reconsider returning the way he came, though it would be more troublesome.
Ning Beichen began searching near the waterfall. To his surprise, after some searching, he actually found another passage. However, it was uncertain whether this passage led outside.
But it was better than returning the way he came, so Ning Beichen decided to explore this passage.
About half an hour later, Ning Beichen sensed a draft within the passage, and his face lit up with joy.
A draft meant this passage connected to the outside; otherwise, there would be no airflow.
Ning Beichen confirmed the direction of the airflow and continued forward, arriving at a crevice leading upwards.
This crevice varied in width, ranging from one to two meters, but at its narrowest point, it was only sixty centimeters wide, and Ning Beichen had to squeeze through forcefully.
After a period of struggle, Ning Beichen finally emerged from the crevice and found himself in an area composed of several small caves.
After passing through these small caves, Ning Beichen followed the direction from which the draft was coming. Eventually, he discovered an opening leading to the outside.