The item retrieved from the crocodile's belly, at first glance, is a fireplace.

Its shape resembles a bud about to bloom, and upon closer inspection, one can see exquisite flame-like patterns etched onto it.

At the center of the fireplace's interior, there flickers a strand of candlelight, emitting a faint golden flame.

No matter what means Su Mu tried, he was unable to extinguish this strand of candle flame.

....

Then, Su Mu reached out his hand to touch the surface of the fireplace. After just a few seconds of contact, he felt a burning sting on his skin.

Seeing this, Su Mu's eyes lit up. This was definitely not an ordinary fireplace, for even with his strong physique, he almost got burned.

Approaching the fireplace, feeling the golden flame it emitted warmed his dantian and nourished it along with his entire body with soothing currents.

Feeling the changes in his body, Su Mu was delighted; it seemed that this was an artifact that could aid in his cultivation!

Su Mu set the fireplace aside and continued scavenging in the crocodile's belly, hoping to find more treasures.

Unfortunately, besides some internal organs, there wasn't anything else to be found.

After dismembering the Treasure Crocodile, he obtained crocodile skin, teeth, meat, and bones.....

In ancient times, Pao Ding dissected a cow, now Su Mu dissects a crocodile. After being here so long, he hadn't learned much else, but his dissection skills have certainly improved.

However, it was Su Mu's first time dissecting a crocodile, and it took him half an hour to finish.

As for the crocodile skin, he considered using it as a mattress because Su Mu preferred a harder bed.

As for the crocodile teeth and bones.... he couldn't think of a use for them at the moment, so he decided to keep them for now, storing them inside.

Finally, there's the crocodile meat, which could be eaten directly, but he'll store it for now since he's had enough to eat today and needs a break.

[Congratulations, you maintained the riverbank and received a reward of 5000 Favor Points]

The system's rewards came late, but you finally arrived, just as I was about to give up~

Another 5000 Favor Points added~

...

Under the willow tree, on this day.

Su Mu sat upright at a stone table with a fireplace in front of him, roasting a few spirit fruits beside him and warming a teapot.

On the table were slices of crocodile meat. Picking up a slice with chopsticks and placing it on the fireplace, in mere seconds, the tough crocodile meat was sizzling with oil.

He picked up the cooked crocodile meat and put it in his mouth. With a gentle chew, it felt like beef, though a bit firmer.

After finishing one piece, Su Mu felt a burning sensation throughout his body, his skin turning red from the heat.

He picked up the heated teapot beside the fireplace and poured himself a cup of Lycoris Tea. A cold sip brought instant relief to the heat, making him sigh with comfort.

Even a small piece of crocodile meat filled his body with ample energy.

And the meat roasted using this fireplace absorbed a special flame energy, continuously refining every inch of his flesh.

The Lycoris Tea, being cold-natured, complemented the meat well.

After eating a slice of crocodile meat and sipping the tea, Su Mu began meditating, running his cultivation technique to absorb the energy within.

The energies held in this crocodile meat and Lycoris Tea were so vast that after each slice and sip, he needed half an hour of rest.

After fully absorbing, Su Mu's aura grew significantly stronger.

It's undeniable that most of Su Mu's cultivation was gained through eating. This Treasure Crocodile's meat contained more and stronger energy than a carp. Even a small piece made it feel as if his entire flesh would melt.

Thus, after consuming five slices of crocodile meat and a half cup of Lycoris Tea, Su Mu was surrounded by an ethereal flame, his face flushed red, while strands of spiritual power turned into a fierce wind swirling around him.

Suddenly, a breaking sound emanated from his dantian.

Four Tribulations Realm!

In less than five days, he'd consecutively broken through two realms, skyrocketing from the second to the fourth tribulation.

This rate of improvement made Su Mu doubt the authenticity of those ancient texts he had read.

According to ancient texts, when cultivators cross realms, just advancing by one tribulation requires enduring numerous near-death experiences, being reborn from the ashes to break through. Typically, it takes hundreds of years, and those who manage to break through a tribulation within decades are one in a billion geniuses.

But, breaking through two tribulations in five days?

How does one explain this speed?

Because Su Mu was trapped here alone, with nothing to compare to, he often wondered if he was cultivating as a fake immortal.

....

After finishing his meal, Su Mu took a short nap for an hour before getting up to start his chores.

He first went to the vegetable garden to check on the growth of the Lycoris Radiata and the White Kui Medicine King.

"Hmm?"

Upon getting closer, Su Mu discovered that the Lycoris Radiata he transplanted a few days ago had withered.

However, the White Kui Medicine King was thriving, its tiny radish-white body plump and healthy, while the Lycoris Radiata had withered, puzzling Su Mu.

The White Kui Medicine King is a king among medicines, so if it can thrive, why can't the Lycoris Radiata?

Filled with this question, Su Mu slung a basket over his back, grabbed a sickle, and headed towards a quiet part of the river.

...

Soon, he reached a deeper, darker area of the river.

Upon arriving at this peculiar water region, he noticed that the faint black mist still shrouded it.

The next moment, Su Mu waved his hand and temporarily dispersed the black mist, revealing the stone bridge underneath.

.....

As Su Mu approached the stone bridge, he discovered a patch of Lycoris Radiata growing in the same location as before.

A while back, he plucked two of these; one he brewed into tea and drank, the other he planted in his vegetable garden only to see it die.

...

Yet, just a few days later, two new Lycoris Radiata bloomed where they had been uprooted.

It seems the Lycoris Radiata can only grow here under these particular conditions.

So if he wanted to make tea in the future, he'd have to come here to gather them, but that's no problem as it's not far away.

Su Mu used a sickle to cut five plants and put them in his basket.

Since they'll grow back, he might as well gather five at a time and return after consuming them.

After harvesting, Su Mu prepared to leave.

As he passed by the stone bridge, he noticed the endless stream of ants crossing it.

Su Mu had tried these ants before, they tasted of corpses and were not pleasant, so he paid them little mind.

Suddenly, Su Mu's pupils contracted as his gaze spotted something unique among the swarm of ants.

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