Chapter 282

In a flash.

Several years passed.

Yunhe, sitting cross-legged atop the congealed-fat ice-pure lotus, opened his eyes, feeling the surging mana within his body, yet his heart remained largely undisturbed.

Yunhe lightly pinched his fingers.

A hint of vicissitude flashed in his eyes, but then quickly faded.

"Unbeknownst to me, I am already two hundred years old."

This is three or four lifetimes for an ordinary person, and also the lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Even if for him, who possesses a long lifespan, it might merely be a 'beginning,' but for someone who has never experienced it, two hundred years is certainly not short.

Yunhe's gaze swept over the several empty jade bottles before him, and he let out a light sigh.

"Spirit Grain Elixir" has been finished; his mana growth is not bad, yet there is still a considerable distance to reaching Golden Core perfection.

"No wonder I have encountered quite a few Late Jie Dan Stage cultivators, but only the Nine Ghosts Old Monster has achieved Golden Core perfection."

"If one were to calculate, the mana accumulation from Late Jie Dan Stage to Golden Core perfection is likely even greater than that from Initial Jie Dan Stage to Late Jie Dan Stage."

"Although it seems there is no bottleneck, such a vast mana gap is in itself a bottleneck."

Countless talents have cultivated all the way to Late Jie Dan Stage, awaiting only to refine to Golden Core perfection to look forward to Nascent Soul, yet they fall short here.

If relying solely on cultivation, one would likely need at least a hundred years, if not several hundred, of accumulation.

Thus.

Many old monsters who successfully formed Nascent Soul are heavenly spiritual roots.

Although heavenly spiritual roots do not help much in forming Nascent Soul.

But heavenly spiritual roots cultivate quickly, with high efficiency in absorbing heavenly and earthly spiritual energy; even the conversion rate of ingesting elixirs to draw elixir power is higher.

Thus they can cultivate to Golden Core perfection before their lifespan expires, thereby gaining the opportunity to attempt a breakthrough to Nascent Soul.

Even earthly spiritual roots fall short; one also needs luck, let alone upper-grade spiritual roots beneath earthly roots—without tremendous fortune, even if one fortuitously cultivates to Late Jie Dan Stage, the vast mana gap from Late Jie Dan Stage to Golden Core perfection is not easily crossed.

Although Yunhe possesses the 'minor five-element spiritual body,' it is merely somewhat superior to upper-grade spiritual roots, and still inferior to earthly spiritual roots.

Actually, his 'Spirit Grain Elixir' was completely consumed four years ago.

Fortunately, there is the 'Three Lives Three Deaths Bitter Heart Milk,' which allowed his secluded cultivation to continue for a period of time.

The 'Three Lives Three Deaths Bitter Heart Milk,' considered solely for its effect on cultivation base and mana advancement, is inferior to the 'Spirit Grain Elixir,' but it also tempers the mind, strengthens the flesh, and condenses magical treasures, which also benefited him greatly.

"There is still a bottle of it on the Demon Beast Body side, but there's no rush to use it."

Even if he were to consume that bottle of Three Lives Three Deaths Bitter Heart Milk from the Demon Beast Body side, for him the distance to Golden Core perfection remains considerable.

"Forget it; worst case, I'll just grind it out slowly with time—given my several-thousand-year lifespan, what's wrong with spending an extra hundred years?"

Anyway, staying in the Ice Immortal Pavilion, his safety is assured.

"On the other hand, his physical body has made considerable progress over these years."

He is unwilling to put the flesh and blood of a late-stage third-rank demon beast into the 'Nine Turns Gourd' for refinement, as those are all top-grade materials.

But for early- and mid-stage third-rank demon beasts, aside from some materials Yunhe finds noteworthy, he has thrown many into the Nine Turns Gourd; after refinement by the gourd, they have become the purest spiritual liquid, which he consumes daily, so his physical strength has naturally risen to a higher level.

He is not far from attaining the physical body of a mid-stage third-rank.

"The Myriad Insects Myriad Worms Art' is likewise."

Since last consuming the 'Wisdom Spirit Elixir' and gaining enlightenment, Yunhe has gained more understanding and cognition of the fourth layer of the Myriad Insects Myriad Worms Art.

Although it does not enable him to instantly master the fourth layer's technique, it also gradually advances his divine sense and divine soul.

Now his divine sense has already surpassed a hundred-mile range, breaking the theoretical limit that Golden Core cultivators can achieve.

Besides that.

During this time, he also finally managed to draw out the three generations of 'Cloud Escape Talismans'.

If Yunhe's previous 'Cloud Escape Talisman' was merely fast in speed, then this time his 'Cloud Escape Talisman' genuinely touches a certain void power.

With this talisman in hand, as long as it's not a Yuan Ying Cultivator gone mad, using their Yuan Ying to leave the body for greater speed, he believes he should have a decent chance to escape from a Yuan Ying Cultivator's grasp.

As for the carrier of this talisman.

For Yunhe now, it's not hard to find; after all, he has a late-stage third-rank Cold Chant Flood Dragon, whose scales are undoubtedly one of the best materials for making talisman paper.

Moreover, he also took some time to try refining some magical treasures, most of which are based on third-rank demon beast materials.

Although this also limited him from being able to refine top-tier third-rank magical treasures, he did manage to refine some upper-tier third-rank magical treasures, which, if sold, should fetch a decent number of Spirit Stone.

He gave a long lazy stretch.

Yunhe's feet stirred wind; in just a few steps he stepped out of the cave dwelling and arrived at the pavilion beside the cold pool.

Outside.

Goose-feather-like snowflakes swirled down, adding a bit more vitality to the already simple pavilion.

Yunhe rolled up his sleeve, sat in the pavilion, took out a fishing rod, and began to fish leisurely.

Cultivation of immortality is nothing more than cultivating the body, the Dao, and the mind.

The Cold Chant Flood Dragon quietly poked its head out of the cold pool, gazing at its master, and involuntarily shrank its neck.

I don't know why, although it feels the master hasn't changed much, it increasingly feels a sense of admiration.

It seems that, from the perspective of viewpoint, the height of its master's field of vision is already on a different level from its own.

"Let's calculate the time; the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart should be about to condense, right?"

Yunhe gave the Cold Chant Flood Dragon a sideways glance and spoke in a calm tone.

Upon hearing that, the Cold Chant Flood Dragon nodded its head.

"About right, master. If we follow the usual pattern of the cold pool's rampant cold energy, the cold energy burst should be ending about now."

His divine sense swept out, covering the entire Ice Immortal Pavilion.

He saw.

The Ice Osmanthus Fairy was currently leading a group of disciples outside the seal of the Abyssal Cold Pool; each had a stern expression, and under her guidance they formed the Ice Immortal Formation, gathering the disciples' power and converting it into a special Ice Immortal power, causing a mist of icy frost to rise on the seal pillar.

"So one must actually use the power of the Ice Immortal Pavilion's cultivation method to obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart from within? No wonder I didn't notice anything abnormal when I last reinforced the seal."

His divine sense still could not penetrate the seal, but he could feel the rapid condensation of cold energy outside the Abyssal Cold Pool.

If one were not a cultivator practicing ice-attribute techniques, being in that place right now would probably freeze them straight into an ice stick.

Even if they were disciples of the Ice Immortal Pavilion, without the protection of the Ice Immortal Formation, likely only the Ice Osmanthus Fairy could move freely.

"That cold pool is indeed somewhat interesting."

Yunhe's curiosity rose again in his heart.

However, recalling the biting cold he encountered when he previously delved to the bottom of the cold pool, Yunhe temporarily suppressed this curiosity.

"Ning Xuan, this is also your chance—come with me, Master!" the Ice Osmanthus Fairy called out, presiding over the great formation.

"Yes, Master!"

Dong Ning Xuan, whose cultivation base had already reached late Foundation Establishment, wore a solemn expression on her pretty face.

With hand signs, she stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ice Osmanthus Fairy; a surging, icy-cold spiritual energy burst forth from the seal pillar, and the Ice Osmanthus Fairy deployed her treasure, the Ice Immortal Fan, to block it, while allowing a wisp to drift toward Dong Ning Xuan.

At this moment she also exerted herself to circulate the Ice Immortal Pavilion's technique, the Condensing Ice Calm Mind Immortal Method, absorbing the overflowing cold into her body.

Cry!!!

In the haze, Dong Ning Xuan's body emitted a faint, intermittent long cry; the incoming icy aura vaguely condensed into an ice phoenix illusion, which struck her with a "Bang!"

Yunhe, who was observing this scene with his divine sense, showed a hint of surprise.

"Ice Phoenix Spirit Body?"

I never expected Dong Ning Xuan to actually possess the rare Ice Phoenix Spirit Body—this is an excellent spirit body for cultivating ice attributes, and moreover an outstanding dual-cultivation spirit body!

Adding to that, the Ice Immortal Pavilion's special Condensing Ice Calm Mind Immortal Method.

"No wonder both the Lu family and the Blood Rite want their geniuses to become dual-cultivation partners with Dong Ning Xuan."

Yunhe lowered his gaze, his eyes flickering slightly.

"However, from this it seems that whatever lies beneath that cold pool may have some connection to the legendary True Spirit Ice Phoenix."

He withdrew his divine sense.

He took no further action.

After a few hours, the heavy goose-feather snow falling from the sky had turned into drifting light snow.

The Ice Osmanthus Fairy brought Dong Ning Xuan toward the Ice Heart Cave.

As soon as they arrived, they spotted Yunhe fishing by the pavilion.

After the master and disciple exchanged glances, they landed outside the pavilion and quickly entered.

"Bee Elder, mission accomplished—we have successfully harvested the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart!"

Dong Ning Xuan held an ice box in her hand, affixed with a special talisman that sealed the cold within.

Yunhe was not surprised; he flicked his sleeve, and the ice box fell into his hand.

Removing the talisman and opening the ice box, he saw a fist-sized ice crystal lying still inside.

The ice crystal was lotus-shaped, with nine petals, exuding an intensely strong cold air and a faint fragrance; a single sniff left him feeling refreshed and clear-headed, as if all worries and stray thoughts had vanished.

It was undoubtedly the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart.

Actually, although the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart bears the name "ten-thousand-year," its formation is far from taking that long—just as some spiritual herbs may reach a thousand-year age, their growth speed is still affected by factors like soil and spiritual energy.

If it is within a blessed cave heaven, a hundred years can equal a thousand, which is normal.

Otherwise, who would bother to become a spiritual planter?

To spend a lifetime planting just one kind of spiritual herb?

Just like the spiritual fields Yunhe opened in the Yao Shou Shijie, the "Golden Ear Grass" he planted has already reached a hundred years for many, and even longer.

Yet the name "ten-thousand-year" alone is enough to show its preciousness.

"Excellent."

Yunhe gave a slight smile, storing the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart together with the ice box into his storage bag.

His gaze turned to the Ice Osmanthus Fairy and Dong Ning Xuan.

Both wore smiles, but the Ice Osmanthus Fairy's eyes clearly held a hint of worry; she did not know whether Yunhe would remain in the Ice Immortal Pavilion after obtaining the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart.

Yunhe noticed this, but he also did not prepare to say much about it.

Whether to go or stay is up to him; he will not leave the Ice Osmanthus Fairy any promises that would bind himself, otherwise he would not have exchanged "three strikes" for the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart in the first place.

The three strikes—when to strike, whether to strike—are all decided by him.

"These are the major and minor affairs of the martial kingdom's neighboring cultivation realms during this period; following the Elder's instructions, this humble one has ordered disciples to gather them."

The Ice Osmanthus Fairy then handed over a Jade Slip, saying:

Yunhe nodded, put away his fishing rod, and stood up.

"This seat understands."

"Elder, the Snow Sword Sect's discovered Boundless Sea secret realm seems to have encountered some trouble." Seeing Yunhe preparing to leave, the Ice Osmanthus Fairy hurriedly added.

"Oh?" Yunhe was somewhat surprised upon hearing that.

The secret realm's great formation has already been fairly severely damaged; it is not considered strong, since he personally broke its foundation—given the Cold Sword True Lord of the Snow Sword Sect's cultivation base, what unexpected situation could arise?

However, since he has decided not to get involved, it has little to do with him.

"No problem, the Snow Sword Sect will not come to the Ice Immortal Pavilion to raise troops and demand accountability; this matter has little to do with the Ice Immortal Pavilion, so Fairy, you need not worry."

This caused the Ice Osmanthus Fairy to let out a long sigh.

"This seat is preparing to refine Ice Heart Pills; if there are no important matters, Fairy, you may decide on my behalf."

Actually, there isn't much happening; mainly, visitors keep coming in an endless stream.

I don't know who spread it, but saying he likes beautiful women has led to many families recently sending batches of "dance girls," which can be said to be.

I understand!

(End of chapter)