Immortality Begins With The Alchemical Master Chapter 803: The Sleeping Ice Fortress - Novel Cool

Chapter 803: The Sleeping Ice Fortress

Chapter 803: The Sleeping Ice Fortress

Dressed in a floor-length light blue silk gown, her figure was like a flowing stream, graceful and ethereal. As she knelt, her delicate waist, accentuated by a matching sash, exuded a slender and graceful aura.

The once cold and aloof demeanor was gone, replaced by a lingering sense of humiliation.

In the past, she was the Heartless Fairy, a lofty and unapproachable figure, while he was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator struggling in the wilderness.

When they first met in the Ice Wave Palace, he didn't even dare to look up at her.

But now, time had changed everything.

With their positions reversed, she was no longer the fairy who was indifferent to love; instead, she had become a Golden Core Cultivator seeking help from others.

And he, on the other hand, was the renowned Dan Zong, a towering figure even among the top powerhouses.

Under normal circumstances, given her personality, she would have avoided any association with him, even if it meant never interacting until death.

Their relationship was primarily transactional, without any deep-seated grudges.

If one were to nitpick, it was perhaps her previous order that sent the Heavenly Gate Sect cultivators to the Thunder Mountain battlefield, which had once inflicted heavy losses on the Heavenly Gate Sect.

Recalling Luo Chen's past tendency to seek revenge and his aggressive nature, leading his forces to attack the Flame Alliance, she anticipated that this visit might end in humiliation.

However, there were things she had to do, no matter how slim the chances.

So, she mustered her courage and came.

The surroundings were quiet, and the only sound was the rustling of her dress as her body trembled slightly.

At this moment, time seemed to freeze.

Amidst the heavy and subtle atmosphere, an invisible force suddenly descended upon the woman.

Before the Heartless Fairy could react, Luo Chen's voice echoed.

"You and I are old acquaintances; it's not easy for us to meet again. Why put on such an act?"

Supported by his spiritual power, the Heartless Fairy stood up, unable to resist.

As the feeling of humiliation gradually faded, she was also stunned by his strength.

Was this the power of a Nascent Soul True Man? She had no room for resistance.

She lifted her head, meeting Luo Chen's squinting gaze.

He looked as young as he did back then, but his eyes now held a hint of vicissitude.

Unable to bear looking directly at him, the Heartless Fairy slightly lowered her head, her lips parting.

"You, a renowned Dan Zong, are busy managing myriad affairs. It is a blessing for me to have this audience, and I dare not be impolite."

Her words were filled with social grace and etiquette.

However, it was evident that he was not adept at such speech.

His words were disjointed and unclear, and some might even mistake her for being cryptic.

Luo Chen chuckled, well aware of her personality, and chose not to nitpick.

He casually sat down in a nearby chair and asked, "I heard from Xiao Liu that during the Great Snow Beast Tide, the Ice Fortress suffered severe damage, nearly leading to its extinction. Only a few managed to survive, right?"

The Heartless Fairy's body trembled, and her eyes seemed to reflect the scene from that time.

She nodded painfully.

"The Ice Fortress wasn't particularly strong. To assist Canglang Shijie in breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage, we even exchanged half of our Golden Core battle strength."

"When the war broke out, our sect planned to support the Harmony Sect and sent Yun He True Man to help."

"The moment the beast tide surged out from the Great Snow Mountain, the Ice Fortress was destroyed in an instant."

"Even though I gathered many surviving sect members, after a hundred years, only about ten people remain by my side."

After listening to her story, Luo Chen couldn't help but sigh.

The Ice Fortress was once a powerful force within the Golden Core Sect, one of the nine major powers in the Jade Tripod North Region.

They commanded tens of thousands of cultivators and had numerous vassals, including Luo Chen's own Heavenly Gate Sect, which had once been a vassal of the Ice Fortress.

However, faced with overwhelming circumstances, they remained fragile and eventually dwindled to a pitiful group of ten or so cultivators.

Rather than saying that the Heartless Fairy still held onto the name of the Ice Fortress, it would be more accurate to describe them as a group of scattered cultivators seeking mutual support.

This was the consequence of a major power lacking a Nascent Soul True Man.

Currently, the Heavenly Gate Sect has Luo Chen as its leader, but in the future, when the Dong Huang Demon Origin Sect's forces arrive, their military strength will likely be hundreds or even thousands of times greater than the Great Snow Mountain beast tide.

How much better off will the Heavenly Gate Sect be compared to the Ice Fortress?

Luo Chen dared not dwell on these thoughts, and his mood, which had been uplifted by the reunion with an old acquaintance, was now dampened by the tragic fate of the Ice Fortress.

"Xiao Liu mentioned that you wanted me to save someone?"

Luo Chen's direct mention of his purpose brought a glimmer of joy to the Heartless Fairy's heart.

She had been worried that he would beat around the bush and intentionally avoid the topic.

Taking a deep breath, the Heartless Fairy solemnly retrieved an item from her storage bag.

The box was sealed tightly with several talismans.

"I know that other True Men ask for a high price for their services. So, I specifically inquired and used all my savings to obtain a strand of Celestial Qi. I hope you are satisfied."

Luo Chen scanned it with his divine sense and shook his head.

The item in the box was indeed a strand of Celestial Qi, but it wasn't one of the three types he desired.

This situation was quite normal; the Heartless Fairy was only a Golden Core Cultivator and might not have accurate information about the exchanges between Nascent Soul True Men.

Moreover, Celestial Qi was a Nine Heavens Spirit Essence, and only Nascent Soul True Men could gather it from the Azure Abyss, making it invaluable.

The other party had exerted great effort to obtain a mere wisp, a challenging feat.

Thus, he was curious about the identity of the person they intended to save.

"You might not understand, but transactions between fellow cultivators are usually based on assessing the difficulty of the task before discussing the reward."

"Moreover, I can't guarantee that I'll be able to save the person you want to rescue."

"So, let's first understand the specific situation before making any promises!"

"Who do you want to save?"

Hearing these words, Heartless Fairy's already pale complexion turned even whiter.

Fortunately, Luo Chen finally asked about the situation. Without hesitation, she waved her hand, and a miniature ice fortress appeared in her palm.

Luo Chen's gaze sharpened, recognizing it as the Moon Ice Castle, the inherited treasure of the Ice Fortress. However, unlike its hasty glimpse on the snowy mountain years ago, the current Moon Ice Castle had lost three of its nine layers, leaving only six layers, all of which were marred with cracks.

The fortress bore signs of water and fire damage, the force of metal and stone, and even traces of lightning strikes.

A once top-grade treasure had fallen into such a state.

As spiritual power circulated, the small fortress gradually expanded. When it reached a height of two zhang, a door slowly opened.

Heartless Fairy's expression was tense as she struggled to manipulate the ice fortress with her spiritual power.

Her technique was not very refined, and it was evident that she had not truly mastered this treasure, making the task even more challenging.

But even so, an object eventually appeared within the doorway.

It was a coffin overflowing with cold air!

Whoosh!

Luo Chen stood up and fixed his gaze on the person within the ice coffin.

The figure inside was lifelike, just like the gentle Gu Xiaorou from years ago.

Her delicate eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if enduring immense pain.

This sleeping ice beauty was the old acquaintance Luo Chen had thought of many times.

"Canglang... Senior Sister."

Thump!

The Moon Ice Castle landed on the ground, but the ice coffin remained suspended in mid-air.

However, this time, it was Luo Chen's spiritual power that supported the ice coffin, preventing it from falling.

Seeing this, Heartless Fairy breathed a sigh of relief. Only the Sect Master and Supreme Elder of their sect knew how to control the Moon Ice Castle, but with Canglang in a deep slumber and the former Sect Master's icy soul long gone, it was challenging for her to manipulate the treasure without the proper techniques.

"Senior Sister Canglang forcibly attempted to breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage but ended up damaging her spirit, energy, and essence. Fortunately, Supreme Elder Han Zhan of Luoyun Sect used a secret technique to gather her scattered soul, and with our sect's treasure coffin, her physical body was preserved. That's how she has managed to survive until now."

Luo Chen pursed his lips, as Han Zhan had told him the same story years ago, and there were no discrepancies.

"Originally, if there were no unexpected events, this treasure coffin, stored within the Ice Fortress's forbidden area, could have kept Senior Sister Canglang alive for hundreds of years. We were just waiting for our sect to produce a Nascent Soul cultivator who might be able to rescue her."

"But with the Ice Fortress destroyed, the treasure coffin no longer receives the nourishment of the ten-thousand-year-old mystical ice, and its effect of preserving Senior Sister's physical body has been greatly compromised."

"Based on my deduction, at most, the treasure coffin will fail in a few decades. By then, Senior Sister will reappear under the blue sky, but she will likely vanish in an instant."

Luo Chen's hand hovered above the ice coffin, his mind already made up.

This ice coffin was not a treasure or a true artifact; it was a piece of ten-thousand-year-old mystical ice of exceptional quality, augmented by an array, which preserved the physical body from decay and isolated it from external spiritual energy.

Without the icy environment to support it, this coffin couldn't last much longer.

"Have you sought help from others?" Luo Chen asked.

Heartless Fairy shook her head. "No."

"Why?"

"I dare not!"

As Luo Chen puzzled over her words, Heartless Fairy whispered, "In the current situation, with people's hearts filled with ghosts and demons, no one can be trusted. Moreover, Senior Sister's constitution is unique. If she falls into the hands of evil people, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"A unique constitution?" Luo Chen furrowed his brows.

Heartless Fairy hesitated for a moment, then said, "I didn't know about this matter either, but later, the Harmony Sect was destroyed by a powerful Demon Sovereign. I happened to meet a Golden Core cultivator who escaped from the Harmony Sect. While fighting him, I learned that the reason Yun He True Man chose the Ice Fortress as a partner to open up the snowy mountain was because he had his eyes on Senior Sister's constitution. However, at that time, with Han True Man's protection, it wasn't easy for him to make a move openly."

Luo Chen's brows furrowed even tighter as he realized the extent of the hidden story behind this.

He hadn't heard Han Zhan mention this before!

Looking at the woman with slightly furrowed eyebrows in the ice coffin, Luo Chen grew impatient.

"What exactly is this constitution?"

At this point, Heartless Fairy seemed to have thrown caution to the wind.

She stopped beating around the bush and spoke directly, "Senior Sister Canglang possesses a Seven Orifices Crystal Body. Apart from the Dantian, she has an additional heart orifice that can store vast amounts of spiritual power. Even after her failed breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage, her cultivation base did not decline, and her spiritual power remained no less than that of a Golden Core cultivator at the peak of perfection! Therefore, Han Zhan True Man solidified her soul, and our sect's ice coffin protected her body, and we were only concerned about her spiritual power."

"This Seven Orifices Crystal Body not only makes a cultivator innately intelligent and powerful but also has another unique aspect. During dual cultivation with a partner, it can forcibly elevate the partner's cultivation base!"

"Yun He True Man was interested in this aspect. That's why he wanted to take advantage of the war to open up the snowy mountain, reasonably swallowing our Ice Fortress, and then make a move on Senior Sister."

"Master Sister never married her entire life, even when faced with a talented man like Han Zhan, she remained chaste. She feared falling into the hands of others, becoming their furnace and cauldron."

Luo Chen was stunned by these words.

He never expected there to be such a complex backstory.

Previously, he had felt that Cang Lang and Han Zhan's relationship was unusual. Cang Lang had cultivated the Soul Severing Art ahead of time to assist Han Zhan in his Foundation Establishment, and Han Zhan, despite the threat of the Bone Demon Snake, had helped Cang Lang forcefully ascend. Yet, the two never ended up together.

Han Zhan's explanation was that the Ice Fortress had prioritized Cang Lang's cultivation, preventing her from marrying outside. Han Zhan, confident in his own talents, didn't force the relationship.

But upon closer inspection, the Ice Fortress had never had such a rule.

The Heartless Fairy had a Dao companion in the past.

Her disciple, Shi Lan, had also given birth to a daughter with Xu Xiaoliu of the Heavenward Sect.

Now it seemed that Cang Lang had rejected Han Zhan.

Of course, Luo Chen didn't want to delve too deeply into the truth.

He turned to the ice coffin, his expression thoughtful.

"According to you, Master Sister possesses a special physique with the ability to forcibly elevate others' cultivation."

"You fear her physical body falling into the hands of villains, meaning that even in her slumber, her physique remains..."

"Luo Chen!"

Before she could finish, the Heartless Fairy interrupted with a sharp voice, even addressing Luo Chen by his full name.

Luo Chen gave her a cold glance.

The Heartless Fairy stiffened her neck, meeting his gaze, but gradually, she couldn't withstand the pressure, and cold sweat trickled down her pale face.

She opened her mouth, struggling to speak, "I sought you out because of our connection, and Master Sister treated you exceptionally well back then. Now, with your Alchemy Sect's reputation, just like the fame of the Fire Spirit Lord, I trust you."

"If you're dissatisfied with the celestial qi as compensation, if you still resent me for forcing the Heavenward Sect onto the battlefield, I... I... I'm willing..."

As she spoke, the woman found it almost impossible to continue, her thin lips nearly bitten through.

"No need for more words, I will save her!"

Luo Chen waved his hand, and the ice coffin that had fallen to the ground instantly flew up.

The residual divine sense imprints inside were instantly annihilated.

As the Moonlight Ice Castle fell into his hands, Luo Chen, with his rich experience in artifact refinement, instantly grasped the control techniques of this treasure.

Like the Primordial Cauldron, this treasure contained spatial storage abilities, allowing it to accommodate Cang Lang's physical body.

The Heartless Fairy seemed slightly dazed, perhaps from Luo Chen's words or from being interrupted mid-sentence.

She stared at Luo Chen, as if waiting for him to finish his thought.

However, Luo Chen merely smiled.

"Master Sister Cang Lang treated me well back then. Saving her is my duty, and I don't need any compensation."

"Let her stay by my side, and I'll find a way to cure her."

His words were sincere, and his smile was warm.

At this moment, his deep eyes were open and honest, without a trace of deceit.

The woman was caught off guard, but this answer seemed to be within her expectations.

She took a deep breath and bowed to Luo Chen.

"Gu Xiaorou thanks the True Man!"

...

The Heartless Fairy left.

But only temporarily.

After understanding the situation of the remaining cultivators in the Ice Fortress, Luo Chen asked Xu Xiaoliu to find Yang Pingdu and have him recruit the female disciples of the Ice Fortress under Luo Chen's name, making it easier to care for them.

After she left, Luo Chen smirked.

Today, seeing the fragile Heartless Fairy, he realized she was still as formidable as before!

In her words, she constantly used Luo Chen's good reputation as a "weakness" to provoke him.

One could imagine that if Luo Chen hadn't saved Cang Lang or had any intentions towards her physical body, the Heartless Fairy might have been willing to ruin his reputation.

This wouldn't have been a good thing for Luo Chen.

His current reputation could help him build connections and oppose the old master of the Five Elements Divine Sect in the future. It could also make him more valuable in the eyes of the Abyss School, making them more cautious about pursuing the old affairs of Cangwu Mountain.

Therefore, his reputation must be protected!

Moreover!

Luo Chen's gaze fell on the ice coffin in front of him, which he had just rearranged with his array, and his eyes revealed a hint of sigh.

Master Sister Cang Lang had indeed treated him well in the past.

She had helped him refine the Prosperity and Withering True Fire in the forbidden area of the Ice Fortress, shared her Core Formation experiences, and made him aware of the strengths and weaknesses of his own talents.

It could be said that Cang Lang had contributed significantly to Luo Chen's current cultivation.

Most importantly, Cang Lang was one of the few who genuinely helped him without any ulterior motives! Along his journey, Luo Chen had encountered many "benefactors."

However, whether it was Mi Shuhua, the Heartless Fairy, Han Zhan, or Fu Chaosheng, they all had hidden agendas.

Some coveted his alchemy abilities, some coveted his physical body for possession, and some even caused him to lose fifty years of his lifespan.

Only Cang Lang wanted to forge a good connection with him.

As Luo Chen caressed the cold coffin lid, a sincere smile appeared on his face.

"She will wake up!"

(End of Chapter)

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