Chapter 614: Ice Crystal, Still a Treasure

Chapter 614: Ice Crystal, Still a Treasure

A complex emotion flashed through Xi Wenxia's eyes upon hearing Chu Ning's words.

The admiration in her heart had never truly faded.

If possible, she would have preferred other options.

But in the blink of an eye, Xi Wenxia suppressed this thought deep within her heart.

The complexity in her expression vanished, replaced by joy.

She bowed deeply towards Chu Ning in reverence.

"Disciple is willing!"

Chu Ning nodded again, expressing satisfaction with the straightforwardness of both Chang Lingshan and Xi Wenxia.

"Then, you two should pack up these days and move to the Longsky Hall.

I'll have Elder Wu arrange everything for you."

"Yes!"

After both of them responded, Chang Lingshan immediately cupped his hands and said, "Chamberlain, this subordinate is about to head to an island for some tidying up, so I'll take my leave now."

"Good!"

Chu Ning responded, and seeing that Xi Wenxia was about to stand up as well, he waved his hand and said, "You don't need to rush, I'll give you some cultivation pointers later."

"Yes!" Xi Wenxia replied, her voice filled with delight.

Chang Lingshan took the lead in leaving the Heavenly Long Pavilion, and at this moment, Chu Ning turned to Xi Wenxia and said, "First, attack me with all your strength, and I'll see your current cultivation level."

Hearing Chu Ning's words, Xi Wenxia immediately waved her hands, and two golden beams of light assaulted Chu Ning.

Sensing the Heaven Metal Aura emanating from them, Chu Ning's eyes flickered slightly.

With a wave of his hand, the two golden beams of light vanished.

Based on the power of these attacks, he had a rough assessment of Xi Wenxia's cultivation.

"You're still cultivating the technique I gave you back then, but this spell is quite powerful. It must be something you acquired elsewhere."

When Chu Ning initially taught Xi Wenxia the charm crafting technique, he had also imparted a technique, a spell, and a treasure to her.

Naturally, he could tell at a glance.

Xi Wenxia immediately responded, "The technique that Master taught me was quite exquisite, so I've been cultivating it ever since.

This spell was something I obtained when I was at the Pseudo Core Stage, in the mansion of a cultivator.

It was also due to this opportunity that I acquired some treasures, which truly allowed me to successfully form my Golden Core."

Chu Ning nodded and asked her, "Then, where is your Soulbound Treasure?"

Xi Wenxia opened her mouth and spat out a pair of golden rings.

"I obtained this treasure by chance, and since it has a metal attribute, I refined it into my Soulbound Treasure."

Chu Ning reached out and took the treasure, then handed it back to her.

"This treasure is just average. After some time, I'll help you refine a better one.

You can manipulate the Heaven Metal Aura, so your attack power is stronger than that of ordinary cultivators of the same level.

You need a treasure that can better unleash your killing power."

After speaking, Chu Ning took out two jade slips from his storage bag and transferred the contents of one jade slip to the other, which was blank.

He then handed it to Xi Wenxia.

"This technique is the top-tier metal attribute technique of the Longsky Hall. You should study it during this time.

If there's anything you don't understand, ask me after some time."

"Thank you, Master," Xi Wenxia said, taking the jade slip with delight and immediately scanning it with her divine sense, only to exclaim in surprise.

"A top-tier Heaven Rank technique!"

The jade slip contained one of the three top techniques cultivated by Lu Xuedaodao in the Longsky Hall.

It was indeed a Heaven Rank technique, and like the Frost Ice Profound Sky Record, it was a top-tier Heaven Rank technique.

However, in terms of power, it was slightly weaker than the Frost Ice Profound Sky Record.

If one had to compare, the Frost Ice Profound Sky Record could be considered the pinnacle of top-tier Heaven Rank techniques.

This technique, on the other hand, was equivalent to an entry-level top-tier Heaven Rank technique.

Even so, it was still extremely profound.

It was one of the top cultivation techniques in this world.

Chu Ning had only glanced at this technique without delving deeper into its mysteries.

However, he knew it was good, and now he took the opportunity to pass it on to Xi Wenxia.

"This technique is a secret of the Longsky Hall. You must not reveal it outside. Wait until you return to the hall to cultivate it."

Chu Ning instructed her.

He didn't yet have complete control over the Longsky Hall, and it wouldn't be good if the high-level cultivators in the hall found out that he had spread the technique.

Xi Wenxia immediately took the jade slip with utmost seriousness.

"Disciple understands, thank you, Master!"

At this moment, Chu Ning casually took out two bottles of pills from his storage bag and handed them to Xi Wenxia.

"These pills aren't very effective for me anymore, but they're quite beneficial for Golden Core cultivators. You can take them as needed.

As for other spells and the like, I'll teach them to you after you've cultivated this technique for a while.

Now that you've been accepted as my disciple, you don't need to be as eager as before to hunt down beasts for resources.

Your task is to improve your cultivation, and I'll naturally have more important tasks for you in the future."

"Disciple will follow Master's instructions," Xi Wenxia replied again.

Seeing this, Chu Ning was about to signal Xi Wenxia to leave, but then he thought of something and asked, "By the way, have you made any close friends in Ice Island Immortal City these past years?

Master is currently in need of trustworthy cultivators, so if you know of any, you can recommend them to me."

Xi Wenxia's face showed a hint of hesitation upon hearing this, but after some thought, she said, "I did make a good friend, but she's also from Longsky Hall."

"Master should know her too. I became friends with her when I went to help Master sell charms."

"Bai Ruo?"

Chu Ning's eyes lit up as he heard Xi Wenxia's words, and he said thoughtfully, "You mean the Foundation Establishment female cultivator who was in charge of managing and selling our charms and various items?"

Chu Ning had some vague memories of this female cultivator.

She had managed his charm sales and gained quite a few benefits from him.

Chu Ning had also witnessed her progress from the early to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

"Her cultivation was higher than yours back then. Has she reached the Core Formation stage now?"

"No," Xi Wenxia shook her head.

Then, under Chu Ning's astonished gaze, she slowly explained, "Just as Bai Ruo reached the late-stage of Foundation Establishment, she caught the eye of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator from the hall who wanted her as his consort.

Bai Ruo didn't like his character, so she refused.

As a result, she was suppressed by him, and her access to resources was greatly restricted. She's been stuck in the Pseudo Core stage for several years now, unable to break through."

Chu Ning was still surprised and asked, "Didn't she go to Wu Lingwei?"

After all, Wu Lingwei had been in charge of Frostmoon Pavilion, and Bai Ruo was technically under her direct line.

Xi Wenxia shook her head, also puzzled, and said, "I asked her about it, and she only said that Elder Wu is no longer involved with Frostmoon Pavilion, so it's not convenient for her to intervene."

Chu Ning nodded thoughtfully after hearing this.

He had also learned about this from Wu Lingwei during this time.

Although Lu Ziyou managed most of the affairs within Longsky Hall, Frostmoon Pavilion was under Ren Heng's jurisdiction.

It seemed likely that the late-stage Golden Core cultivator was indeed one of Ren Heng's people.

Wu Lingwei had only recently advanced to the early stage of Nascent Soul, and her position wasn't entirely secure yet.

Given her resourcefulness, it was understandable that she wouldn't want to cause a rift with Ren Heng over a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Chu Ning couldn't help but shake his head upon hearing this. It seemed that in the decades since Fan Ze Xian and Lu Xuedao left, Longsky Hall had become a hotbed of intrigue.

Chu Ning didn't mention this matter to Xi Wenxia. Instead, he said to her, "Alright, I understand. Bring her along next time, and I'll meet her."

Bai Ruo was a Longsky Hall cultivator and had been in Frostmoon Pavilion for a while, making her a suitable choice to gather information.

Moreover, with Bai Ruo being suppressed by Ren Heng's people and Wu Lingwei being on Lu Ziyou's side without protecting her, Chu Ning thought that if he gave her a helping hand, she should be able to understand the situation, as long as she wasn't foolish.

After dismissing Xi Wenxia, Chu Ning called Wu Lingwei in.

He informed her of his plan to appoint Chang Lingshan as a guardian and take Xi Wenxia as his disciple.

Wu Lingwei immediately assured him that she would make the necessary arrangements.

Chu Ning then returned to his mansion.

With half a month left until the ceremony to invite various powers, his top priority was to expel and refine the ice crystals within his body.

In the following days, Chu Ning repeatedly expelled and refined the ice crystals, then replenished his Purple Yang Spirit Flame.

Three days passed in this manner.

"Today, I'll do one last expulsion and refinement, and these ice crystals should be completely expelled and refined."

The seal on the Purple Yang Spirit Flame was opened again, and Chu Ning drove the Purple Yang Spirit Flame within his body to expel and refine the ice crystals.

Under the envelopment of the Purple Yang Spirit Flame, the last remnants of the ice crystals began to melt and dissipate.

Several hours passed in this manner.

Chu Ning examined the small ice crystal within his body, feeling astonished.

"Only a tiny bit remains, but it's impossible to refine it. Moreover, this little bit seems a bit different."

At this moment, Chu Ning slowly tried to retract the Purple Yang Spirit Flame.

His heart was filled with even greater astonishment.

In the place where the ice crystal had been, there was now a white ice crystal roughly one-tenth the size of the previous one.

Unlike before, Chu Ning didn't sense the bone-chilling coldness on it but instead, an exceptionally pure energy.

"This is pure Ice Attribute Spirit Qi, no, it's not just Ice Attribute Spirit Qi, but rather Ice Attribute... Essence Qi, fused with the power of the origin!"

After carefully sensing it, Chu Ning was both surprised and delighted.

This was clearly similar to the unrefined Essence Qi he had consumed from the Ten Thousand Arts Fruit.

However, the Ten Thousand Arts Fruit didn't have a distinct attribute.

The energy within his body, at this moment, was Ice Attribute Essence Qi.

"Could the Ice Crystal Colossus actually condense pure Ice Attribute Essence Qi?"

At this moment, Chu Ning didn't attempt to refine it further. He slowly opened his eyes, deep in thought.

In fact, he had some vague speculations about the previous Ten Thousand Arts Tree.

Perhaps it was a tree from the Immortal Demon Realm, brought into this world by a cultivator from the Immortal Demon Realm ten thousand years ago, or even twenty thousand years ago.

And now, the Ice Crystal Colossus further solidified Chu Ning's suspicions.

"The attack power of this Ice Crystal Colossus is almost on par with a Nascent Soul cultivator, if not quite as strong."

It's highly likely that this is a Spirit Tree from the Immortal Demon Realm, but I'm not sure if the pure ice attribute essence energy it gathers is a remnant from the past or something that developed later."

With this thought flashing through his mind, Chu Ning became even more curious about the Ice Crystal Colossus.

However, Chu Ning was also well aware that his escape from the Ice Crystal Colossus had been somewhat fortuitous.

He believed that the Ice Crystal Colossus hadn't anticipated Chu Ning's strength.

Otherwise, if the tree had launched an attack with over ten roots from the beginning, Chu Ning might have been defeated right there.

Of course, it was also possible that the tree had other restrictions.

For example, its attack distance seemed to be fixed.

Although the Ice Crystal Leaves' attack power was weaker, their attack range was stronger than the roots, and they were faster.

When Chu Ning finally escaped, the Ice Crystal Leaves seemed to teleport and appeared right in front of him.

"When I reach the late-stage Nascent Soul or even the half-god realm, I'll definitely go back and take another look.

This tree holds a great secret!"

With this thought in mind, Chu Ning turned his attention back to the small Ice Crystal within his body.

"Since this object already contains pure ice attribute essence energy, it's normal for the Purple Yang Spirit Flame to be unable to refine it.

But it doesn't necessarily mean that other methods won't work."

At this moment, Chu Ning began to circulate both the Primordial Divine Art and the Nine Transformation Body Cultivation Art simultaneously.

As he expected, a tiny, extremely weak thread of essence energy was refined from the Ice Crystal.

This discovery allowed Chu Ning to breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"My Primordial Divine Art and Nine Transformation Body Cultivation Art don't have ice attributes, so the refinement process is slow.

If I wait for the Primordial Divine Art to merge with the ice attribute to create a second layer, this object might still be a treasure."

At this point, Chu Ning had already classified this object in the same category as the Spirit Seed and the Origin Water Droplet.

These were treasures that could accelerate cultivation.

With his injuries healed and this new treasure in hand, Chu Ning truly relaxed, and his mood greatly improved.

He reached into his storage bag and took out a jade slip.

It was the Frosty Heavenly Record that he had obtained from the fifth floor of the Treasure Pavilion.

For the next five days, Chu Ning carefully contemplated the Frosty Heavenly Record.

Although he had never cultivated ice attribute techniques before, his special talent as a Primordial Spirit Body allowed him to understand various techniques far beyond ordinary people.

The Frosty Heavenly Record was profound, but after five days, Chu Ning had grasped most of its contents.

"I can try cultivating it for a while to better understand ice attribute spirit qi.

This will make it easier to integrate ice attribute spirit qi into my Primordial Divine Art.

But this place isn't very suitable..."

At this moment, Chu Ning flipped his hand and took out the Sky Order he had obtained from Lu Ziyou.

The corresponding mansion belonged to one of the three grandmasters of Long Sky Pavilion, who specialized in ice attribute techniques.

The layout there should be more suitable for sensing and cultivating ice attribute spirit qi.

Holding the Sky Order, Chu Ning carefully sensed the seal within it.

The order had been artificially sealed, and for the vast majority of late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, it was likely an unsolvable puzzle.

However, Chu Ning's understanding and research of various seals far exceeded ordinary people, and he had even comprehended ancient seals like the Nine Intent Spirit Seal.

Within half a day, Chu Ning had already lifted the seal.

Holding the Sky Order, Chu Ning walked out of the mansion and approached the small palace carved from ice.

He infused essence energy into the Sky Order, and it emitted a white light that shot towards the palace's seal.

Immediately, the two large doors slowly opened.

Chu Ning used his divine sense to scan the palace, which was neatly arranged and contained various small seals.

However, there didn't seem to be anything too extraordinary.

He held the Black Tortoise Shield and simultaneously activated the Primordial Divine Art and the Immortal Golden Body, heading towards the palace.

Entering this mansion, Chu Ning was much more cautious than when he entered Fan Ze Xian's mansion.

According to Chu Ning's speculation, the owner of this place seemed to be wary of both Fan Ze Xian and Lu Xuedao.

Just as Chu Ning stepped into the palace, the two ice dragons above the main gate suddenly seemed to come to life.

Two beams of ice-blue light shot out from their mouths, merging into one, transforming into a lifelike ancient ice dragon that charged towards Chu Ning.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end