Chapter 294

Ice Phoenix?

Yunhe saw a pair of ice-crystal-like wings, surrounded by thick icy spiritual power.

This place actually buries an Ice Phoenix corpse?!

But as his divine sense struggled to penetrate, Yunhe quickly discovered that this was not a complete Ice Phoenix corpse, but only a pair of wings.

Or perhaps, over a long time, the rest of the corpse has disappeared, leaving only this pair of wings.

However, from this pair of wings, Yunhe could clearly sense danger.

Considering his previous divine sense could barely match an early Yuan Ying Stage cultivator, yet couldn't penetrate this thick icy aura, and now his soul has greatly increased, sensing danger indicates these Ice Phoenix wings are at least from a late Fourth Level Ice Phoenix-blooded demon beast!

Late Fourth Level demon beast! That's an existence comparable to a late Yuan Ying Stage cultivator! Only after breaking through to Yuan Ying Stage can one understand how big the gap between each minor realm within Yuan Ying Stage is.

Without exaggeration, a normal mid-Yuan Ying Stage cultivator can at least match two to three early Yuan Ying Stage cultivators! Though called a minor realm difference, the gap is not small at all.

And the wings of a late Fourth Level demon beast: 'The main point is, these wings seem to have been placed here, being tempered day and night by the naturally born icy aura of this place, so that the wings not only do not dissipate spiritual power over time, but become more condensed and strong!'

No wonder the Cold Chant Flood Dragon merely by absorbing the icy spiritual power leaking out could cultivate to late Third Level and also possess decent bloodline purity.

Although the Ice Phoenix and Cold Chant Flood Dragon are not the same kind of demon beast, the spiritual transmission between demon beasts still grants the Cold Chant Flood Dragon considerable benefit.

Actually, Yunhe had also guessed earlier.

But his guess was that perhaps this place possesses something related to the Cold Chant Flood Dragon, maybe a corpse of an ice-attribute flood dragon.

Otherwise, why would the Cold Chant Flood Dragon appear in this sealed abyssal cold pool? It's really inexplicable.

But unexpectedly, it is indeed a corpse of an ice-attribute demon beast, but unrelated to the flood dragon; it is a pair of Fourth Level Ice Phoenix wings.

But no matter how you say it.

These are priceless treasures.

Could it be that the Yuan Ying Elder of the Ice Immortal Pavilion placed it here originally? But due to some special reasons, she didn't have time to take it away.

Yunhe rubbed his chin, secretly guessing.

No, that's wrong. According to the information left by the Ice Immortal Pavilion, that Yuan Ying Elder was only early Yuan Ying Stage; with the ability of an early Yuan Ying Stage cultivator, let alone placing this object, she probably couldn't even penetrate with her divine sense. How she obtained the late Fourth Level demon beast wings cannot be explained.

Moreover, if it were truly the last thing she left behind and she didn't have time to take it away, she should have left enough information for future generations to benefit.

Therefore, a greater possibility is that the Ice Immortal Pavilion's Yuan Ying Elder discovered the secret of this place's existence, but she couldn't figure out the cause, so she sealed it.

This speculation seems relatively reasonable to him.

But the icy aura has accumulated for too long, exceeding the wings' capacity, so it lingers around them.

And every hundred years, the icy aura erupts because the accumulated icy aura here is too great, forcing a partial explosion to accumulate and maintain the current state.

Regardless of why these Ice Phoenix wings are here, or why the Cold Chant Flood Dragon lives there, the problem now facing Yunhe is: if he wants to obtain this object, how to dispel this thick icy aura before him is his biggest challenge.

After standing here and pondering for a while.

Yunhe suddenly moved.

Seen, he raised his palm, and a gentle five-element power appeared in his palm.

Five Elements Mutual Generation, Fire!

Accompanied by a soft shout, the five-colored power in his palm mutually flowed, and the red light halo suddenly became thick.

Using the power of Five Elements Mutual Generation to generate fire power, it can be transformed into pure fire-attribute magical power.

Sizzle—

When Yunhe brought that red red light near the icy aura, it immediately made a 'hiss-hiss' sound, and the fire-attribute power in his palm dissipated at a visible speed.

It can actually be worn down.

But that extremely thick icy aura, his cluster of power only wore down a part of it.

Looking at the icy aura concentration here, 'I'm afraid one would have to run the Five Elements power without eating or drinking for decades or even longer to completely wear it down, not to mention that this place continuously generates icy aura, making the wear-down difficulty increase geometrically.'

No wonder that Ice Immortal Pavilion's Yuan Ying Elder couldn't take it out; this difficulty is truly not something an ordinary early Yuan Ying Stage cultivator can achieve.

Yunhe slightly furrowed his brows, pursed his lips, and with hands behind his back began to pace slowly.

After a good while.

Only then did he slap his storage bag and take out a set of formation plate and flags.

He planted those flags one by one around this place, and soon skillfully set up the formation.

Finally, he cast the seal and infused it into the formation plate.

Minor Five Elements Inversion Formation, activate!

As he channeled spiritual power, the patterns on the formation plate rotated, and with a 'hum' sound, it enveloped this place.

The Minor Five Elements Inversion Formation is also called the Minor Prohibition Formation.

First seal the naturally born icy aura of this place, then wearing it down becomes possible.

This third-level upper-grade formation stems from the secret art 'Five Gods' Illumination' in his cultivation method 'Great Longevity Five Elements True Scripture', sufficient to seal the generated icy aura.

Immediately after, he took out another set of formation and quickly laid it down.

Minor Five Elements Mutual Generation Formation, activate!

Afterwards, after a brief ponder, he took out a late Third Level fire-attribute demon beast inner core and placed it in the 'Minor Five Elements Mutual Generation Formation'.

Five Elements Mutual Generation produces Five Elements, fire arises!

Seen, within the Five Elements Mutual Generation Formation, five-colored flowing light interwove, and finally under Yunhe's control transformed into pure fire power, injected into that late Third Level fire-attribute demon beast inner core.

And that demon beast inner core immediately surged with a mighty fire-attribute spiritual power, constantly colliding with the icy aura.

However, the fire-attribute spiritual power condensed this time is far weaker compared to the power Yunhe previously exerted.

So the wear-down speed is also unknown how much slower.

According to this pace.

I'm afraid that even a hundred years wouldn't be enough to dissipate this cold energy.

"The 'Minor Five Elements Mutual Generation Array' is ultimately just a third‑level upper‑grade formation; even if we add that fire‑attribute third‑level late‑stage demon beast core, compared to the fourth level it still falls short by more than a little."

Actually, giving Yunhe a few more years, although he could not guarantee his formation Dao would reach Fourth Level, relying on his own cultivation method and secret techniques, he still had a fair chance to raise these two formations he was most skilled at to Fourth Level.

By then, the consumption speed would undoubtedly be much faster. But for now, that's all he can do.

However, there's no need to rush; even if he obtained those Ice Phoenix wings, he hasn't yet decided how to use them, so they'll just sit in his storage bag gathering dust.

These wings of a late Fourth‑level Ice Phoenix are certainly extraordinary, no doubt about it.

But precisely because of that, it cannot be casually refined and used; its value must be developed to the fullest.

However, Yunhe already has a rough idea in mind and needs time to perfect it.

Let's leave it at that for now; we'll revisit after raising these two formations to Fourth Level.

Anyway, the entire Ice Immortal Pavilion is now under his control, so those wings won't just run away.

Yunhe lightly pinched a seal and left that deep abyssal cold pool.

Seven days later.

Outside the Snow Sword Sect's mountain gate.

Yunhe emerged from his evasion technique, gazing at the towering snow‑white peak that rose like a giant sword piercing the ground, the layered pavilions and towers nestled among its ridges, and the swirling, hazy mist that lent the scene an air of ethereal immortality.

No wonder it's the greatest cultivation sect of Wu Kingdom; compared to the Snow Sword Sect, the Ice Immortal Pavilion falls far short.

But the Ice Immortal Pavilion has its own merits; at least those lovely singing and dancing girls are still quite pleasing to the eye.

Hahaha—Daoist Bee's visit brings glory to our humble Snow Sword Sect!

From that swirling mist flew a figure, accompanied by a hearty laugh—none other than one of the Snow Sword Sect's two Yuan Ying cultivators, Cold Sword True Lord Jiang Han Ning!

Seeing where he emerged, Yunhe involuntarily narrowed his eyes.

'A Fourth‑level medium‑grade formation, the Nine Swords Kan Water Array!'

But he quickly composed himself, smiled, and clasped his hands, saying, 'Sorry for the disturbance.'

Not at all! Please, Daoist Brother—my senior brother knew you were coming and has already prepared tea.

Under Jiang Han Ning's guidance, Yunhe entered the Snow Sword Sect's mountain gate, passing through its many halls and pavilions, arriving at a secluded spot further up, blanketed in ice and snow.

By a small unfrozen pond, beneath a towering snow‑pine tens of zhang high.

Bitter Sword True Lord Tang Yi'er sat at a stone table, tending two small stoves with burning flames before him.

One brewed fragrant spiritual tea; the other seemed to be warming wine.

The aromas of wine and tea intertwined; though they seemed mismatched at first glance, they now complemented each other quite well.

Yunhe and Jiang Han Ning then descended to that spot.

Tang Yi'er halted his actions, smiled, and clasped his hands, saying, 'Daoist Bee.'

'Daoist Tang,' Yunhe replied with a courteous bow after landing.

Please have a seat.

The three of them sat around the two small stoves.

You two Daoists truly live carefree and at ease," Yunhe couldn't help but exclaim.

He has cultivated all the way to now; over two hundred thirty years, day and night diligent and austere, his mind held only cultivation and the Dao—aside from occasionally fishing, he had never enjoyed such leisure as they do.

Upon hearing this, Tang Yi'er rose and poured a cup of spiritual tea for Yunhe and Jiang Han Ning respectively, smiling as he said, 'For cultivators of our level, progress in cultivation is not something achieved overnight; to advance further requires some fortune, so it's better to do what we enjoy.'

Yunhe nodded thoughtfully, lifted the teacup, and took a careful sip; his eyes instantly brightened slightly.

Good tea.

Upon entry the tea is mildly bitter, the bitterness spreading through the mouth before turning into extreme sweetness; this blend of bitter and sweet actually evokes a faint insight—though not as potent as a Dao Comprehension Pill, achieving this is still remarkable.

Jiang Han Ning downed the cup of spiritual tea in one gulp and explained, 'Daoist Bee, you may not know this tea is the "Bitterheart Tea" personally planted, tended, pan‑fried, and cooked by my senior brother; it's somewhat renowned around the Wu Kingdom.'

Oh?

'Giving you this tea is really a waste,' Tang Yi'er muttered, glancing at Jiang Han Ning's empty cup, unable to help but tease.

Afterward he still poured him another cup, saying:

'The Way of Tea and the Way of the Sword are ultimately the same Dao; myriad methods, different paths leading to one goal. I, old and with limited lifespan, am trying to take a side‑path with the sword.'

This is actually similar to the path of formations, elixirs, instruments, and talismans—one principle opens all. After Yunhe successfully broke through to Fourth Level, his other pursuits would proceed more smoothly; just as he is confident that, within a certain time, he can elevate the 'Five Elements Mutual Generation, Inverted Formation' to Fourth Level.

Conversely, if he could elevate that formation to Fourth Level before breaking through to Nascent Soul, it would also greatly benefit his cultivation.

Those few brief words gave Yunhe considerable food for thought.

'Thank you for your guidance, Daoist,' he said, clasping his hands again toward Tang Yi'er.

Seeing this, Tang Yi'er waved his hands repeatedly, saying, 'However, I imagine Daoist Bee has just condensed his Nascent Soul, so you still have plenty of time to raise your cultivation.'

These words are both a veiled compliment and a simple probe.

Yunhe finished the tea in his cup, set it down, and slowly said, 'Counting on my fingers, I too have cultivated for over two hundred years.'

'What, two hundred years old?' Jiang Han Ning's face changed upon hearing this, revealing deep surprise.

They too are Nascent Soul cultivators, and moreover veteran ones—Bitter Sword True Lord Tang Yi'er is now over nine hundred years old, while Cold Sword True Lord Jiang Han Ning, though younger, is already over seven hundred.

Thus they clearly understand what it signifies to achieve Nascent Soul at over two hundred years of age.

At the very least, it offers hope of reaching mid‑Nascent Soul! 'What's wrong?' Yunhe glanced at the two of them.

Jiang and Tang also couldn't help but exchange a glance; after a brief look, Bitter Sword True Lord Tang Yi'er rose, bowed to Yunhe, and solemnly said, 'Our Snow Sword Sect wishes to form an alliance with your Ice Immortal Pavilion.'

This truly caught Yunhe off guard.

He saw their solemn expressions; they didn't seem to be joking.

An alliance?

He had a feeling, for some reason, that it was related to Cold Sword True Lord Jiang Han Ning's earlier injury.

———

PS: Thanks to the alliance leader and monthly votes from the big snail who doesn't play games! The last two days of double monthly votes—please cast your monthly vote!

(End of chapter)