Chapter 325: Ice Marrow Secured

BOOM…

The Nine Radiance Dragon-Slaying Flag's single strike punched a massive hole through the ten-zhang-thick ice layer.

He Pingsheng's body shattered through the ice and burst forth.

Immediately after, Su Zhen also shot up from beneath the water.

The two landed on the lake's surface.

Their soaked bodies felt miserable.

He Pingsheng was fine—he simply rotated his fire spiritual energy, and the moisture on his skin instantly dried.

But Su Zhen suffered; she possessed a wood elemental root and could not instantly shed the water like He Pingsheng.

Then came an awkward scene.

Countless eyes turned toward her.

Before, people had only thought her beautiful; now, with her wet clothes clinging to her, they realized she was a masterpiece.

He Pingsheng extended his hand, palm facing hers, and transferred some of his fire spiritual energy into her.

WHOOSH—the water clinging to Su Zhen vanished under the heat.

People on the lake's surface began whispering.

"This woman is truly a masterpiece!"

"I never realized her figure was this incredible!"

"Tsk tsk tsk—anyone who becomes her Dao partner is blessed!"

"Hehehe… but I fear he won't live long!"

Amid the murmurs, the Thirteenth Imperial Prince walked toward He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng instantly grew wary—but after two breaths, he realized he'd misread the situation.

The man wasn't coming for him—he went straight for Su Zhen.

"Lady Immortal, greetings!" The Thirteenth Imperial Prince smiled warmly: "I am Liang Zhiyan, Thirteenth Imperial Prince of the Liang Kingdom!"

"Might I inquire after your maiden name?"

The Thirteenth Imperial Prince bowed respectfully to Su Zhen.

Those who had just been disparaging her fell silent.

Liang Zhiyan assumed Su Zhen would gladly reveal her name—but she simply shook her head. "Your Highness, I'm sorry—I'm already married. I have a Dao partner."

"I cannot disclose my name."

The Thirteenth Imperial Prince froze.

This…

She refused?

His gaze shifted to He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng said: "Don't look at me—it's not me!"

He wouldn't take that blame.

Saying this, he sat cross-legged on the ground and pulled out the Five Elements Anti-Poison Pearl to continue refining it.

At this moment, the effect of the Twin Divine Pills he'd taken was still active.

His spiritual sense remained powerful.

He Pingsheng calmly refined the magic treasure, while Su Zhen sat beside him, never leaving his side.

After roughly eight days, the effect of the Twin Divine Pills fully dissipated.

Simultaneously, he had refined two more layers of the pearl's seals.

Altogether, eleven layers were now refined.

Just one layer remained.

He Pingsheng's plan was to consume another supreme Twin Divine Pill and refine the final layer.

But the Water Dragon Gully was about to close, and even if he swallowed the pill now, he couldn't refine the twelfth layer before then.

Forget it.

Let's go deeper!

"Xu Daoist, are you going in again?"

Su Zhen asked as He Pingsheng stood up.

He Pingsheng nodded. "I want to try again."

"Alright…" Su Zhen said. "I'll come with you. And… I'd like to ask you a favor."

"If…"

"I mean, if you obtain the Ice Marrow, could you give me a chance to trade with you?"

"I need this desperately!"

"I've already gathered all other ingredients for the Ice Soul Pill—only the ten-thousand-year Ice Marrow is missing!"

He Pingsheng looked at Su Zhen, paused, then said: "Let's see after I get it."

If he truly obtained the ten-thousand-year Ice Marrow, he'd have to consider the quantity.

If there was little, he wouldn't trade—it must be reserved for his wife, Qiao Huizhu.

After all, Qiao Huizhu possessed an Ice Elemental Root.

Ten-thousand-year Ice Marrow was an excellent tonic for Ice Elemental Roots.

Of course, if he obtained a great deal, he might consider trading with this woman—depending on what valuable item she could offer.

He Pingsheng pulled out the Nine Radiance Dragon-Slaying Flag again!

As his spiritual energy surged, he drilled another massive ice hole through the ten-zhang-thick layer.

The moment the hole opened, the lake water instantly flooded in.

He Pingsheng didn't hesitate—he dove straight in.

Su Zhen followed close behind.

Just as before, soon after entering the water, the hole above them refroze.

The same biting cold struck again.

Underwater, no sound could be made, no spiritual sense could communicate—they could only move their bodies and use hand signals.

Of course, there wasn't much to communicate—he turned his head and continued toward the Water Dragon Pillar.

Soon they reached the ten-zhang range.

The same sensation returned.

Beyond ten zhang, every step forward became excruciatingly difficult.

But it didn't matter.

He Pingsheng immediately summoned a Earth-elemental shield and activated the Five Elements Anti-Poison Pearl, now refined to eleven layers.

Suddenly, it became much easier.

Push forward!

Eight zhang!

Six zhang!

Five zhang!

Four zhang!

Soon they reached the previous bottleneck.

But this time, because he had refined two additional layers, the pearl's ability to repel the Five Elements' energy had increased dramatically.

He Pingsheng took one step—and advanced significantly.

Keep going!

Two steps!

Three steps!

Soon they reached the three-zhang range from the Water Dragon Pillar.

But this was his limit.

Correct.

Even with eleven layers refined, He Pingsheng could still advance no closer than three zhang from the ice pillar.

But… three zhang was enough.

Many Ice Marrows had already extended beyond the three-zhang mark.

And at this distance, the 【Ice Source Jiazi Dew】 was even more abundant.

He Pingsheng didn't rush to harvest the ten-thousand-year Ice Marrow—he first gathered some Jiazi Dew.

After half a day, he collected two vials and deemed it sufficient, then stopped.

He ceased collecting Jiazi Dew and turned his attention to the Ice Marrows extending outward.

Circling the three-zhang perimeter, he quickly found one.

This Ice Marrow extended beyond the three-zhang boundary.

It was white, roughly the thickness of an infant's arm.

He Pingsheng didn't hesitate—he reached out and grasped the Ice Marrow.

The chill pierced to the bone.

"Crack…" As He Pingsheng twisted his grip, he snapped off a segment of ice marrow.

Then, with lightning speed, he sealed the ice marrow inside a jade box.

The ice elemental rules on its surface continuously leaked out, making the cold unbearable.

Too painful.

Keep going!

"Crack…"

Second one!

Third one!

Fourth one!

He Pingsheng circled the line three zhang from the Water Dragon Pillar, tracing a full loop along the cylindrical surface, snapping off twenty-three segments of ice marrow.

The longest were nearly two chi long.

The smallest were about the size of a cucumber.

Enough!