Chapter 937
Real People as Pawns, Fang Yi Plots to Worship Fire
Chapter 937 Real People as Pawns, Fang Yi Plots to Worship Fire
One month later.
Ziyuan Academy, Baoyan Pavilion.
Surrounded by crimson maple trees, the intense heat became suffocating. Ao Peng paced back and forth with a gloomy expression, puzzled.
"This shouldn't be the case."
He held three jade talismans in his palm; these were information gathered by the Ao family cultivators.
"It's one thing for Qin Yu and Li Heng to protect Fang Yi."
Why then did Shen Che, Xie Qingtang, and Su Yunni also go into seclusion?
Could the news have been leaked?
Ao Peng frowned, puzzled. "Old Zheng has been cooperating with the clan for over two hundred years; it's impossible for him to leak information. This would bring him no benefit whatsoever."
Could it be the Devouring Spirit Particle?
Or perhaps the Crimson Bone Corpse King?
He shook his head slightly and immediately denied it, saying, "With Xuan Yang Mountain's shallow foundation, it's already a stroke of luck that it was able to take root in Huitong Ancient City."
Fang Yi, that penniless wretch, how could he possibly have the wealth to bribe Devouring Spirit Child and Crimson Bone Corpse King?
A Great True Person capable of traversing the path of tribulation cultivation cannot be bribed by ordinary third-tier treasures.
"Could it be that he's just lucky?"
Ao Peng pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling extremely depressed. If Fang Yi turned a coward, how could he explain it to Luo Yuzhou?
Accepting the Little Flame of Light from the Zoroastrian Church will come at a considerable price.
"."
"Thump! Thump! Thump-thump!"
The sound of a wooden cane striking a stone slab rang out, and Ao Xun, dressed in hemp clothing, hunched over.
He gazed at Ao Peng, whose aura was oppressive and fiery, like a volcano about to erupt with stagnant magma.
"Clan leader, I released information about Ice Soul through an old friend in the clan, and the Three Apertures True Man Xu Zangze is aware of it."
Shen Che and Xie Qingtang, two Core Formation cultivators from Xuanyang Mountain, have been desperately seeking this elixir to repair their foundations; they will surely be tempted upon hearing the news.
"but.
"Ice Soul Seeds are extremely rare; only one is produced in a blessed land of the third-tier cold element every hundred years."
Ao Xun's eyes were cloudy, his pupils reflecting the inscrutable expression of Ao Peng. "But this won't catch a big fish like Fang Yi."
"The Heart of Cold Jade Marrow?" Ao Peng's face darkened, and he instantly understood the meaning behind the words.
"The entire foundation accumulated by the clan over two hundred years was used as payment to finally persuade the Crimson Bone Corpse King and Old Ghost Zheng to join."
Not to mention that the clan lacks the financial resources, even if they did, this Cold Jade Marrow Heart couldn't be purchased with spirit stones alone.
He considered his words carefully before speaking: "First, use the Ice Soul Seed to entice Shen Che and Xie Qingtang."
There are only five Core Formation True Immortals in Xuanyang Mountain in the city. Let Old Ghost Zheng do things more skillfully.
I refuse to believe that with half of the sect's members missing, Fang Yi can remain unmoved and holed up in Changqing Prefecture.
“That’s fine then.” Ao Xun’s sallow face was pressed tightly together as he said in a low voice, “The only way to obtain the Cold Jade Marrow Heart is to rely on the power of the Fire Worship Sect.”
His face twitched, as if reminding someone, or perhaps talking to himself: "Luo Yuzhou is ruthless and cruel. His cultivation level plummeted and his vital energy was severely damaged because of Yang Xu's cultivation."
His benefits weren't so easy to obtain either.
"Uncle Xun, rest assured, I have broken through to the Great True Person realm!" Ao Peng extended his long five fingers, a wisp of gray-blue medicinal energy enveloped in flames.
The gray-blue medicinal energy, emanating from the torque, transformed into a spirit snake that hissed and breathed.
"Buzz!"
He clenched his five fingers to suppress the spiritual energy of the medicine, but did not destroy it.
"Hey, this wonderful medical method that incorporates the essence of numbness and spirituality has already achieved the wonder of both method and primordial spirit."
What a grand gesture!
What ruthless supernatural power!
"Uncle Xun, no wonder Fang Yi is so calm and unmoved, hiding in Changqing Prefecture to cultivate."
During the battle at our ancestral land, he secretly left behind some tricks in my dantian, qi sea, internal organs, and bone marrow, which allow him to remotely sense my qi.
If Ao Yanfa had not mastered the technique and refined his body's spiritual bones, flesh, and skin, he would not have been able to discover such a deeply hidden and powerful technique.
To plot against him is utterly absurd and virtually impossible.
"So there was a follow-up move?" Ao Xun looked wary and spoke in a low voice. "No wonder the clan provoked us so many times. After Fang Yi obtained a piece of Cold Jade Marrow Heart, he closed his cave and never showed himself again."
"To be so confident in seclusion to cultivate the technique, they've got my Ao family cornered!"
"That old tortoise Fang is treacherous." Ao Peng felt a chill of fear. If Ao Yan hadn't mastered the Great Technique and gone out alone to Huitong Ancient City to seek opportunities, he would have been in serious trouble if he had encountered Fang Yi.
The odds are against them!
When the great cold wave rises, spiritual entities emerge from the depths of the frozen earth.
No ambitious cultivator in the ancient city would miss this greatest opportunity since the beginning of the Ice Plains.
But now...
Ao Peng's eyes flashed with a fierce light, his aura turning fierce, like a beast king hunting in the forest.
"Heaven is helping me!"
If this underhanded maneuver goes undetected, all my movements will be exposed to Fang Yi.
Once the hidden hand is discovered, the roles of hunter and prey are no longer the same.
Once I cut off Fang Yi's head, the Ao family will no longer owe the Zoroastrian Church any favors or karmic debts.
Afterwards, they reclaimed the spiritual land of the six prefectures of Huitong.
With anticipation in his eyes, Ao Peng muttered to himself, "Under my leadership, the family will surely surpass our ancestor Ao Rui!"
The following day, the sun shone brightly, but its warm rays could not dispel the biting cold wind.
A fierce wind howled, and the chill relentlessly eroded the ancient city of Huitong. Even the Qi Refining cultivators, who possessed bodies impervious to heat and cold, were now wrapped in robes of the Yang and Fire elements.
Xu Zangze hummed a little tune as he strode along the bluestone path, occasionally passing by cultivators wrapped in crimson warm-sun robes.
"Ok?"
He frowned slightly, recalling what he had seen and heard over the past few months.
"Compared to three years ago, the cold wave over the ice field is even more frigid."
Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators must return within a day at most after venturing into the icy plains, otherwise the cold wind will damage their meridians and foundation, making it impossible for them to break through to the next realm.
The emergence of the sacred cave caused the ancient cold accumulated in the frozen soil to be released unexpectedly.
"With such a magnificent cold wave, I wonder what kind of sacred sites will emerge?"
Xu Zangze's face showed anticipation. "Hey, now I, Old Xu, am a cultivator with powerful backers."
With one of the Six True Men as a backer, we're sure to reap a huge benefit this time.
Unlike the cold wave forty years ago, when people were wary of powerful cultivators, various tribulation cultivators, and unorthodox practitioners, and dared not claim even great benefits.
Thinking of the bright future, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, forming a smile.
"To have Fang Yi as my ally is truly the most successful investment of my life."
That Dong Yunge and Shi Kui were making alarmist claims, saying that Xuan Yang Mountain was no match for the Fire Worship Cult.
If Fang Yi could crush the Zoroastrianism, would we rogue cultivators even need to pledge our allegiance?!
Fifteen minutes later.
Inside the Jinzunlou restaurant, in a private room filled with the aroma of meat, a landscape screen separates the space.
"Brother Xu, is what you say true?" Shen Che's face was as sharp as if carved by an axe, his eyes as black as lacquer. Wearing a purple bamboo crown, his expression was one of extreme excitement. "There really is news of Ice Soul Child?!"
"Well, Fellow Daoist Shen is a True Person of Xuan Yang Mountain, and is highly regarded by Sect Leader Fang Yi. Would I, Xu, dare to deceive you?"
Xu Zangze took out a palm-sized brocade box from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Shen Che.
“The ancient cold accumulated deep in the frozen soil has been released, and ice crystals have condensed in a near-third-tier spiritual cave.”
This is a wisp of chilling Daoist essence gathered by Yan Huai, a wandering cultivator in the city.
Xie Qingtang was draped in a rainbow-colored feathered robe, her exposed skin gleaming with a jade-like luster, like green branches after the rain, exuding a refreshing feeling.
With a flick of her slender hand, the cold Daoist energy within the jade box flowed through her meridians and was absorbed into her dantian.
"Buzz!"
A wisp of pure and refined primordial yang energy emerged, transforming into a great sun that sank into the cold current formed by the Daoist rhythm.
A short while later.
"How are you feeling, Qingtang?" Shen Che asked with concern, holding the girl's delicate hand.
"call!"
Xie Qingtang's chest heaved as she exhaled a breath of stale air.
Feel the primordial yang energy within your dantian, where the Daoist principles of the transformation between heaven and man are condensing.
Although the Daoist essence was extremely thin, only a wisp, she had already seen the dawn of repairing her foundation.
"It's useful. It's the Shaoyin Yin Qi nurtured by the accumulation of Ice Soul Seeds."
Seeing Xie Qingtang turn around and smile, like the warm afternoon sun melting ice and snow, Shen Che was momentarily captivated, murmuring to himself incessantly:
"As long as it's useful."
"As long as it's useful!"
"fool!"
Xie Qingtang gripped Shen Che's strong fingers tightly, hiding the primordial yang energy in her dantian even deeper.
She murmured to herself, "As long as I refine the Ice Soul Seed and completely eliminate the last bit of primordial yang energy, there will be no more hidden dangers."
Let's find a day and invite the headmaster to officiate the wedding, so that Che Ge'er and I can become Daoist partners.
This fool has waited 172 years; he should be getting impatient by now.
"call!"
Having received a response from his beloved, Shen Che suppressed his overwhelming joy and gripped the soft hand tightly.
"I will remember Xu Daoyou's favor."
Once this is accomplished, I will go through fire and water without hesitation.
His face was masculine, as if carved by a knife and axe, and his expression was solemn. He asked in a deep voice, "This Ice Soul Child has another matter he would like to ask you to clarify, fellow Daoist."
"There's no need to go through fire and water. I only hope that you and your wife will say a few good words for Zang Ze before Fang Yi takes over as the sect leader."
Seeing that the two had accepted the favor, Xu Zangze's expression softened slightly. He picked up the jade cup, drank it all in one gulp, and squinted his eyes contentedly.
"Fellow Daoist Shen suspects that Yan Huai, being a sixth-level Core Formation cultivator, and with the Ice Soul Seed being a rare treasure of the Cold element, why doesn't he take it himself?"
“That’s right.” Shen Che’s back was straight, like a javelin standing tall, his eyes sharp and piercing Xu Zangze’s heart.
Even knowing that this Eye-Crystal Master was favored by the Sect Leader, he still tried to curry favor with Xuan Yang Mountain Master.
Qin Yu, Li Heng, Su Yunni, and even Zhuang Mu, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, all benefited.
He was still worried!
"Please tell me, fellow Daoist, what dangers lie within the spiritual aperture that nurtures the Ice Soul Seed, and why Yan Huai does not take this rare treasure?"
"With such a rare treasure before us, it's not that Yan Huai won't take it, but the time is not yet right." Xu Zangze took out a brown scroll from his sleeve and placed it on the sandalwood table.
The scroll unfolds, revealing tiny characters flowing through it, revealing a clearly structured third-tier legal contract. In the lower right corner of the contract, the two characters "Yan Huai" are visible, a spiritual seal.
"Fellow Daoist Shen Che, do you know that there is a Fire Gold Lake 1,700 li north of the city?"
"Fire Gold Lake?" Shen Che asked thoughtfully, puzzled.
"That spirit lake contains a second-order fire vein, where water and fire complement each other. A hundred years ago, a third-order precious material, Water Warm Jade, was born there."
Now that it's rumored to be completely frozen by the Frost Fiend, how could it possibly produce Ice Soul Seeds?
What didn't work before might not work now.
As a severe cold wave approaches, a spiritual aperture belonging to the cold element rises from deep within the frozen earth and happens to touch the Fire Gold Lake.
Unfortunately, it is blocked by the cold and evil energy and will be difficult to be born within three years.
If you want your spiritual aperture to emerge ahead of time, you must invest at least three portions of third-grade cold-attribute precious materials to nurture the spiritual aperture.
With a major cold wave approaching, it is foreseeable that many superior spiritual sites will emerge in the future.
The Ice Plains are full of opportunities, but three years and three ice-related treasures were spent just for one Ice Soul Seed?
This isn't a good deal for a True Immortal at the sixth level of Core Formation.
Xu Zangze pointed to the brown magic contract and said smugly, "With this third-tier magic contract, Yan Huai cannot deceive me."
As for whether to go or not, that depends on the wishes of you two fellow Daoists.”
After saying this, Xu Zangze got up and left, leaving behind only the two Daoist partners with joyful expressions.
Xie Qingtang took down the brown legal document and studied it carefully. He found it to be well-organized and without any flaws.
"Brother Che, the emergence of the Fire Gold Lake Spiritual Aperture can't be kept secret for long."
We need to hurry and set off immediately.
"No rush!" Shen Che frowned slightly, lost in thought.
Before Sect Leader Fang Yi went into seclusion for cultivation, he instructed that the disciples should not leave the Huitong Mall without permission, lest they attract the wrath of the Ao family and the Fire Worshiping Sect.
Qingtang, please give me the Cold Spirit Stones you exchanged earlier. We can't delay at Fire Gold Lake, but there's no need for us to go together.
I changed my appearance and went there, while you used my aura to disguise that I was still cultivating in Changqing Prefecture.
"No!" Xie Qingtang closed her phoenix eyes slightly, holding Shen Che's large, warm hand tightly, feeling at ease.
She spoke softly, like a mountain stream, melodious and pleasant to the ear.
"We can't let Che-ge take the risk alone, let's go together."
"For the matter of disguising your appearance, you can ask Senior Sister Qijie for help; she's quite beautiful."
A blush crept onto Xie Qingtang's cheeks as she said shyly, "We can have her stay for one day afterward."
"This..." Shen Che hesitated.
Ao Jia Zhenren is no match for Fang Yi. If he were to encounter Xie Qingtang, his life would be in danger.
Why doesn't he take the risk?
"If Brother Che goes alone, I will secretly follow him."
Seeing that Xie Qingtang was determined, Shen Che nodded helplessly. "I'm in charge of this trip. If anything goes wrong, Qingtang, you must leave immediately."
evening.
As the crescent moon rises, its light bathes the ancient city in a silvery glow.
At the North Gate, a handsome cultivator with striking features and a green bamboo robe stood tall and straight, leaving the city with the flow of people.
Just a few feet behind the handsome young man, Shen Che, wearing a gray cloak, stood with a hunched back and a slightly furrowed brow.
"Qingtang's men's clothing fits her perfectly."
A quarter of an hour later, the two left the ancient city, launched their flying boat, and fled towards Fire Gold Lake.
A figure appeared beneath the archway outside the gate.
Ao Peng's eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Hey, they've finally taken the bait."
It wasn't in vain that I sacrificed an Ice Soul Stone.
He felt a pang of heartache; this was the last vestige of the Ao family's accumulated treasures.
Ziyuan Mansion.
The scorching spring water churned, and Yang Xu, shirtless, leaned against the pool wall with his arms outstretched.
He looked at Ao Xun, who was kneeling on the ground with a respectful expression, and said mockingly:
"This Fellow Daoist Ao Peng is quite cunning, and his cultivation has also reached the seventh level of Core Formation."
A seventh-level Core Formation cultivator who devours spiritual fire and cultivates the Flame-Burning Technique is capable of fighting someone a level higher; even an ordinary eighth-level Core Formation cultivator might not be able to defeat him.
"Such a promising clan leader, do you ever regret it?"
Ao Xun's heart trembled, and he became even more respectful, saying, "No matter how profound Ao Peng's Flame-Burning Technique is, it cannot compare to Master Yang."
"So you knew all along," Yang Xu murmured softly, startling Ao Peng so much that his back was instantly soaked with sweat, as if he had been pulled out of the water.
"It seems Ao Rui left behind quite a few secrets."
"Hey, don't worry, I know about this, and Senior Brother Luo also expected it."
"Ao Xun, your bloodline descendant, your cultivation isn't about mastering the Flame-Burning Technique. Just do your job properly, and I won't treat you unfairly."
"Yes!" Ao Xun sighed inwardly, completely giving up hope.
Changqing Prefecture.
In the quiet room, a mirror reflecting one's image hangs high in the shade.
The surging blood and energy transformed into smoke and soared into the sky, only to be stopped by a precious banner.
Fang Yi held the Blood Marrow Pearl in his hand, sat cross-legged, and began to circulate the Four-Nine Mystic Arts.
"Tsk, how petty."
"You think you can lure me out of seclusion with just one Ice Soul Stone?"
"Obtaining another Cold Jade Marrow Heart will help me refine my physical body and allow me to advance to the sixth level of Core Formation."
"At that time, I will obtain the Blood Sea Lotus, a near-fourth-tier spiritual item, at the Grand Trade Fair, and use it to refine my physical body."
"The Great Master of the Dao!"
Qi cultivation is based on the Scripture of Life, Death, Withering and Flourishing, and physical cultivation leads to the realm of a Great True Person.
The Three Yin Slaughtering God Technique shortens one's lifespan and weakens one's foundation; even my peak in my previous life was only comparable to this.
From this day forward, I will have no more reservations about the true immortals in the icy plains.
He murmured softly, then closed his eyes. His body surged with energy, and a majestic phantom of a god or demon appeared behind him.
Fifth level of Core Formation
With the abundant nourishment of blood essence, his body refinement cultivation has stabilized at the fifth level of Core Formation, and he continues to strive for higher levels.
(End of this chapter)