Chapter 8: Nine Nether Departing Water Art

"Did you hear? Someone's challenging someone to a duel?"

"Who?"

"Luo Yao and Zhao Lili?"

"I know Zhao Lili, but who's Luo Yao?"

"That girl with the worst talent in the Outer Sect—they say she's been stuck at Qi Refining Layer 1 for three years."

"That Luo Sanming?"

"No way, if she can't even break through Qi Refining Layer 1, what's the point of cultivating? Go home and farm!"

"Who cares if she was tricked? It's none of our business—as long as there's entertainment, that's all that matters."

Early the next morning, after a night of cultivation, her Qi Refining Stage 5 power was now solidified.

"Such a strong aura?"

She infused her Divine Sense into the Jade Slip, and the technique's content appeared in her mind.

With the new technique, she no longer needed to cultivate the old one; luckily, she was still in the Qi Refining stage and hadn't practiced long enough for switching to cause any adverse effects.

As soon as Luo Yao returned to the sect, she heard everyone buzzing—clearly, Zhao Lili and the others had spread rumors to pressure her into staying, cutting off her escape route.

This was a Dharma Treasure that combined offense and defense, with many functions.

As Luo Yao formed the spell hand seal, an ice spike as thick as her thigh instantly formed around her—previously, her Ice Spike Technique had only produced one as thick as her arm.

But that was only now—it didn't mean she couldn't afford it later.

"Qi Refining Layer 1 versus Qi Refining Layer 3? That's suicide!"

This spell was definitely practical.

"Wait, it shouldn't be called the Ice Soul Art anymore."

This was another offensive spell, far more powerful than her current Ice Spike Technique.

"I heard she was brought back by some Elder—how did she end up in the Outer Sect?"

"Thousand Illusion Ice Silk?"

After an unknown length of time, just as the items in her Cave Abode were nearly turned to ice sculptures, Luo Yao slowly woke up—her transformation had succeeded.

Then, Luo Yao took out the Ice Soul Art.

This was the first time Luo Yao had rolled a 6.

She closed her eyes and began exclusively cultivating the Nine Nether Departing Water Art.

Six copies of the Ice Soul Art did not appear.

"It must be true—spread by Zhao Lili's people."

Everyone shook their heads, "Probably Luo Yao got tricked!"

Luo Yao exhaled in relief, yet nervously picked up the technique.

Back in her Cave Abode, she first set up the Array, then sat in meditation—after all, her Golden Finger could only be used once per day.

"Mystic Ice Ring... Cold Ice Blade..."

Luo Yao continued studying the spells usable at the Qi Refining stage.

Either way, this trip to the Market was an absolute windfall.

Previously, Luo Yao avoided places where Beasts appeared—but now, she actively sought them out.

But now, this was the real profit.

Ignoring the crowd's gossip, Luo Yao cared more about whether her Golden Finger could work on techniques.

In battle, if a Defense Magical Treasure were destroyed, a spell that could be cast instantly could still buy time—even if it couldn't fully block the attack.

"6!"

This meant the new technique was even stronger than she'd imagined.

However, what Luo Yao now looked forward to wasn't these spells, but the Dharma Treasure crafting methods recorded within.

"Cold Ice Blade!"

"Hey, aren't you guys going off-topic? Weren't we talking about their duel? Is it real or not?"

Moreover, it could be consecrated starting from the Qi Refining stage, unlike other techniques that required waiting until Foundation Establishment Stage to consecrate one's Life Dharma Treasure.

But she didn't show any joy—she kept reading; until the result was final, she couldn't be sure what the number meant.

She was still Qi Refining Stage 5, but the surging Spirit Power within her made it clear: if she faced her former self before cultivating the new technique, she could crush her utterly.

She'd dared to challenge Zhao Lili even when she was Qi Refining Layer 1, because she had confidence—now that she'd broken through to Qi Refining Stage 5, she had even less reason to fear.

"Who'd let her? Her talent's terrible—how could Gongsun Elder ever take her as a disciple?"

Mystic Ice Ring was a Defense Spell that summoned a ring of light around the caster, protecting them—any offensive spell would be frozen by the ice released from the Mystic Ice Ring, shielding the caster.

The principle was similar: Cold Ice Blade formed a blade of frozen ice and struck the enemy.

"Even if I can't craft Thousand Illusion Ice Silk now, I can still cultivate the Ice Soul Art..."

Luo Yao's expression turned grim—this Beast was far stronger than Qi Refining Stage 5.

The mountains held countless Beasts, the weakest at Qi Refining stage, and others rivaling Foundation Establishment Stage.

Boom!

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed—a giant serpent, as thick as a water barrel, crashed down from a tree directly before Luo Yao.

However, crafting Thousand Illusion Ice Silk required extremely rare materials; with Luo Yao's entire fortune—less than a hundred Spirit Stones—she couldn't even afford the simplest component, Star Frost Silver.

Even if the Golden Finger failed, she wouldn't lose anything.

Even if she was eager, she could only use it again tomorrow.

"Uh, I heard she's an orphan—she doesn't even have a home to farm at."

Then, Luo Yao decisively left her Cave Abode and headed toward the Back Mountain—the endless range where most disciples undertook their quests.

As the cultivation method circulated, a thin mist of cold air filled the Cave Abode, and the temperature plummeted by dozens of degrees.

The complete version of this cultivation method is an Earth Grade technique; however, since only the Qi Refining stage portion is available now, it can be considered a Yellow Grade technique.

"That's right, but I don't know if the betting will open again this time."

After the Golden Finger repaired it, Luo Yao learned the full name of this technique: "Nine Nether Departing Water Art".

Although it cost fifteen Spirit Stones, the return was something even tens of thousands of Spirit Stones could not buy.

"Thousand Illusion Ice Silk!"

Then, there was no "then" after that.

Strange names appeared one after another, yet Luo Yao instead wore an expression of wild joy.

The originally incomplete "Ice Soul Art" contained none of these Dharma Treasures or Spells, but now, after the Golden Finger's repair, it not only allows cultivation to Foundation Establishment Peak but also includes various unique Spells and even the methods to forge one's Heart Dharma Treasure.

Ding!

Soon, the Seven-Colored Dice stopped spinning, revealing a number.

You must know, when she bought it before, it only had the Qi Refining stage cultivation portion, then whether it had offensive Spells, let alone the method to forge a Heart Dharma Treasure; so, although she thought she profited from the fifteen Spirit Stones, she actually did not profit.

She bought it for fifteen Spirit Stones, which counts as a huge profit.

Clearly, just from this point alone, one could see the terror of this new cultivation method.

"No, no, I cannot think like this; I must think positively."

If six copies of the "Ice Soul Art" appeared, would that be a loss or a profit?

A seven-colored dice appeared above the cultivation method, spinning dizzily; Luo Yao held her breath, staring fixedly at the seven-colored dice.

The moment the thought arose, Luo Yao saw a beam of white light appear on the cultivation method, and then...

"If I master these Spells, my strength will definitely advance another step."

But she felt no fear; instead, she was eager to try, for the day after tomorrow was her duel with Zhao Lili.

She did not worry about Zhao Lili; she only worried that if she accidentally killed Zhao Lili, whether she could withstand the retaliation from the people behind Zhao Lili, after all, as an Inner Sect disciple, she possessed at least the strength of the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refining.

And now, she wanted to test what her limit was!

(End of this chapter)