Chapter 295: Do You Know Water and Fire?

While Yuan Muyu and Pei Chuyun were locked in an epic clash, Lu Xingzhou had already been trapped within the freezing ice for a long time.

"The Heavenly Yao Sacred Land truly has not been destroyed. I am not a soul-banner evil cultivator, nor a spy controlled by the Chastity Maiden Profound Art. Believe me, senior."

"There is someone who complains every day about why the Heavenly Yao Sacred Land hasn't been destroyed yet, and that person is currently being protected like a treasure in the Ten Thousand Swords Graveyard. I am much better than her. I wish the Heavenly Yao Sacred Land eternal prosperity."

"You cannot distinguish loyalty from treachery!"

"Oh, damn."

The ice crystals were not merely freezing; there was also an intensifying extreme cold, along with various ice shards stabbing wildly, showing absolutely no sign of "the seniors' benevolent trial." Lu Xingzhou clumsily dodged left and right until his buttocks were poked, at which point he finally lost his temper and erupted.

"I just didn't want to go all out with you. Do you really think I fear you?"

A lotus-flame shape suddenly appeared in his palm, slamming heavily against the ice wall before him.

The Soul Sea seemed to hear an "Eh?" sound, then fell silent. The lotus flame crashed onto the ice wall; although the temperature alone seemed unable to melt the frost, the flame contained a power of destruction and annihilation that forcibly blasted the ice wall apart.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Xingzhou threw his whole body into a collision. The ice wall displayed spiderweb-like cracks and could no longer trap anyone, so he threw his whole body out through the wall.

Before his eyes stood a tombstone condensed from freezing ice, with a treasure shaped like a teapot hovering before the stele.

"Red Lotus Calamity Flame, Annihilation Golden Fire... Inferno Setting Sun." That voice said in confusion, "Since you possess the Inferno Setting Sun, you must be a disciple of our sect; since you possess the Red Lotus Calamity Flame, why cultivate a soul banner?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "This is the Human Emperor Banner. Senior has slept too long and mistaken it."

Ancient Soul: "?"

It was merely a wisp of a remnant soul, retaining only the extremely profound cultivation cognition and combat instincts from its life, but truly possessing very little conscious thought. Being spoken to this way, it actually began to doubt itself, wondering if it had made a mistake.

Mainly because it genuinely did not sense any malice from the intruder; even after being trapped for so long, it had no temper left.

Immediately, Lu Xingzhou was seen pulling out three sticks of incense from somewhere, and respectfully offered them to the tombstone.

The remnant soul's brain was fried.

He suddenly realized that the disciples coming here for trials were not actually many who came to offer incense; each one expected to gain some enlightenment from the seniors, or a fragment of a treasure.

Although offering incense seemed to have no practical meaning to them... but wasn't it comforting for the heart? So why didn't the disciples do it? Did cultivators not believe in superstition?

Seeing that Lu Xingzhou was about to leave after respectfully offering the incense, the Ancient Soul suddenly called out, "You are also here for a trial; why do you not look at me?"

Lu Xingzhou: "Hah?"

You are an ice mage, aren't you? Only Little Bai Mao would be suitable. He, Lu Xingzhou, has always been a fire mage; since childhood he had little research into water systems, and now that he possessed the Water Bone, his usage frequency was low, so he hadn't really pondered in that direction. Even when he obtained a skill book, he cultivated the healing and support system, which was proof enough.

Moreover, what this one said was too hard to take seriously; why did it sound a bit resentful? Didn't you just poke my butt a moment ago...

The Ancient Soul did not say more; it was actually quite difficult for it to organize language, so it was better to give an image.

In the next moment, the scene in Lu Xingzhou's eyes changed.

It seemed as if he were in the midst of a river breaching its dikes, facing a torrent that human power could not resist.

This point actually required no one to say; any cultivator of the water system knew one principle: water systems usually appear to have no damage, being only more advantageous for endurance and longevity, but when they truly erupt, they are like a river breaching its dikes or a tsunami raging, absolutely extraordinary. However, the problem lies in the fact that to unleash power like a river breaching its dikes, the requirement for one's own cultivation is very high; if you can make the opponent feel the oppressive force of a tsunami, generally your own cultivation is already crushing the opponent, so isn't that like taking off your pants to fart?

At most, one could learn methods that accumulate before exploding, which is recorded in the Yin Yang Ultimate Art, and Lu Xingzhou learned it quite well.

So water-system cultivators basically choose to walk the ice path; the ways ice can inflict damage are far more numerous than water, and isn't this Ancient Soul itself cultivating ice?

Just as he thought this, the torrent surged onto his body, yet he felt no impact. Just as Lu Xingzhou thought this was merely an image with no damage, his sensation changed.

That feeling of breath and every pore on his body being sealed shut, how to put it... after reaching third grade, one actually didn't care much, but it was incredibly effective against lower levels, commonly known as suffocation; this had the effect of using four ounces to move a thousand pounds when dealing with a large crowd of lower-level attackers.

Additionally... even with breath held, the water still quietly invaded inward through the pores, silently seeping into the blood.

Lu Xingzhou's heart finally stirred slightly.

Especially since this was cultivation; it was not merely a mortal having water invade their blood. After water spirit entered the body, it could achieve many damage modes; if it resonated with oneself, it was guaranteed to make the opponent feel like they were ascending to immortality, dying without even knowing how they died.

This attack method was both treacherous and effortless; it seemed very suitable for himself.

The key was that it also matched the newly learned Azure Water Cleansing Dust very well, making it easy to unleash.

Lu Xingzhou thought he had found something good and showed joy on his face, but the Soul Sea transmitted the Ancient Soul's disappointed sigh.

"You are already third grade." The Ancient Soul's voice finally came again: "Having entered Cloud Soaring, one should explore the mysteries of the immortals, not merely consider how to drive damage as in lower levels. The Ten Thousand Swords Graveyard emphasizes sword intent, not learning sword techniques, and the Ruins of the Five Elements naturally possess the intent of the Five Elements. Do you know water and fire? When you know water, how can the water element within the opponent's body not be used by you?"

Lu Xingzhou remained silent for a moment, then bowed once more to the tombstone: "I humbly receive your teaching."

"Go." The Ancient Soul seemed very exhausted, left the final two words, and fell silent once more.

Lu Xingzhou stood silently for a long time, then suddenly did not want to visit other tombs.

Just this single "Do you know water and fire?" was enough for him to digest for a long time.

If one drew inferences from one instance, was there also "Do you understand fists and feet?"

Swords have sword intent; do fists and feet only have techniques to learn? There is naturally fist intent. I have never been able to contact these, but the techniques of the Inferno Setting Sun already carry a bit of "intent"; if one can comprehend more, it would be stronger than anything.

This indeed requires coming to the Ten Thousand Swords Graveyard and the Ruins of the Five Elements; one can find all insights that match one's own "intent." Even if the number one under heaven taught you, it might not be so perfectly fitting.

Lu Xingzhou silently sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and perceived the water intent swirling around this tombstone for a thousand years, completely entering meditation.