Chapter 328: Chapter 326: Xuan Bing (Congratulations to Elvin2016 for joining the Silver Alliance!!!) _1
Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm.
A verdant streak of light transformed into a long rainbow, hurtling through the sky, within which resided a white-robed Core Formation stage Cultivator, remarkable with his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes.
"Not bad at all... My Externalization’s aesthetic taste is pretty decent."
Within the Escape Light, Fang Xi touched his cheek, murmuring to himself.
Since he had set his plan, he naturally began summoning his Externalization to create a magic artifact to disguise his appearance, while searching for ’Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice’ and similar Spiritual Objects within Yuan Country.
After inquiring around in the marketplaces, he indeed found a clue.
To the northeast of Yuan Country lay a Core Formation Sect, nestled within a land of ice and snow, famed for its ice attribute techniques. The Sect was likely to have ’Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice’ in storage.
"Profound Ice Palace..."
Fang Xi silently recited the name of this Sect.
"This Sect ranks at the bottom among the Core Formation Sects of Yuan Country... with only one Jia Dan Cultivator as its figurehead... I fear even Li Haifeng from the Golden Sword Gate could easily defeat its Supreme Elder..."
"Wait... I’m here to trade fairly, why am I thinking about comparative combat strength?"
Fang Xi was slightly exasperated.
Three days after he transformed into a green rainbow, he entered into a realm of ice and snow.
The northern wind was as sharp as a knife, and the snow fluttered all around!
As far as the eye could see, everything was draped in a silver coat; the temperature plummeted, with hardly a human city in sight.
However, to a Core Formation Cultivator, such changes were almost negligible.
With a long howl, Fang Xi, amid a sky filled with blue light and countless spiraling snowflakes, appeared as if pushed aside by an invisible force, revealing a path.
...
Profound Ice Palace.
The palace stood on top of a crystalline lake, its walls seemingly built of jade, emitting tri-colored mysterious light.
The Cultivators of this palace mainly possessed water and ice Spiritual Roots, with a majority being female disciples.
On this day.
A group of female disciples in white robes, with graceful figures, frolicked on the ice, like larks and swallows in flight.
"Senior Sister Jiang... Your ’Ice Armor’ is so powerful, could you teach it to your junior sister?"
"I heard that Junior Sister Zhang discovered a stalk of ’Ice Heart Grass’ in the Ice Cave yesterday; it can be used to refine an ’Ice Element Pill’, which is greatly beneficial for Qi Refining..."
"Monster beasts have been roaming nearby these past few days... If only we had already reached Foundation Establishment, we could take up swords and uphold justice, slaying monster beasts to ensure peace in the region..."
...
The group of female disciples chirped and chattered, lively as ever.
Sister Jiang, with a gentle expression and long hair cascading down to her waist, with a hint of deep sea blue in her eyes and exquisite beauty, simply smiled in response, "The ’Ice Armor’ technique is easy to learn but hard to master... It would be best to purchase a few ’Ice Armor’ Talismans to cast on oneself first, to experience the flow of Spiritual Power..."
This female disciple’s Cultivation was the highest among the group, bordering on complete Qi Refining.
As the girls discussed, a flash of blue light suddenly streaked across the sky.
Then, a long howl sounded, its voice reaching far and wide, causing the blood of those Cultivators to boil, almost as if their Magic Power was about to disperse.
"Not good... A Core Formation ancestor has arrived!"
The group of female Cultivators toppled over, with only Senior Sister Jiang barely managing to stand, though her face turned very pale.
Boom boom boom!
Around the external walls of the Profound Ice Palace, dazzling white runes flashed in succession.
Whoosh whoosh!
The Ice Wind surged, carrying a great amount of ice crystals and snowflakes, almost like a hurricane, protecting the Profound Ice Palace within.
This was the Profound Ice Palace’s Sect-protecting Great Array—’Ice Wind Array’!
Its rank was of a third-grade intermediate level, but with the advantage of terrain, it barely possessed the might of a third-grade superior Array!
"Just a greeting... activating the protective Array seems a bit much, doesn’t it?"
Fang Xi stopped in midair, purple light flickering in his eyes. Once he clarified the situation, he couldn’t help but feel speechless.
"But this place is not bad... This Array augmented by the ’Eye of Cold Air’ wields subtly enhanced power... and the Spiritual Vein here is also quite remarkable, having reached the third-grade superior level."
While he pondered, a beam of White Light shot out from the Ice Wind Array, revealing a female Cultivator in white attire with a pale countenance and an icy demeanor.
This female Cultivator appeared to be in her twenties or thirties, but her body emitted a scent of decay, clearly indicating her actual age was far greater.
Her Cultivation had reached the Jia Dan level; she must be the only Supreme Elder of the Profound Ice Palace.
"My name is Mu Yu... May I know who this may be?"
Around Mu Yu swirled a life-bound magical artifact that resembled a white jade Ice Spirit Flying Knife, as she cautiously looked at Fang Xi.
Helpless as she was, even though the visitor was only at the early stage of Core Formation, and as a Jia Dan Cultivator she might enjoy the long lifespan of a Core Formation Cultivator, her Magic Power could never progress further, making her even less capable than a freshly advanced early Core Formation Cultivator.
"It’s Mu Yu... My name is ’Qing Yuzi’, and I wish to engage in a trade with you..."
Fang Xi replied leisurely.
"Qing Yuzi? Within Yuan Country, there seems to be no Core Formation Cultivator who goes by this name..."
Mu Yu’s expression was cold and sharp.
"That’s because I am an Individual Cultivator from Jiang Country who has recently been fortunate enough to achieve Core Formation," Fang Xi replied with a slight smile. "I am in need of a piece of ’Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice,’ and I must ask Sir Mu to part with it... As for the object of exchange, be it Spirit Stones, elixirs, or magical artifacts... we can discuss that."
"An Individual Cultivator from Jiang Country?"
Mu Yu released her Divine Consciousness but failed to find any flaw in Fang Xi. "Guests should be treated as such; please follow me back to the palace."
She rode the Ice Spirit Flying Knife, transforming into a white light before diving back into the Ice Wind Array.
Soon, a blizzard parted, forming a pathway by itself.
Fang Xi chuckled, transforming into a stream of light, and entered the array without hesitation.
This array was merely third-tier; not to mention he was a third-tier Array Master, even relying on the ’Earth-shaking Treasure Talisman,’ he could easily destroy it, so naturally, he had no fear.
Unknown to him, at the moment he entered the array, a piece of ice mirror surfaced in Mu Yu’s hand.
In the mirror was the image of Fang Xi, though still in the guise of ’Qing Yuzi.’
Clearly, Profound Ice Palace’s probing techniques had still been shielded.
Ice Spirit Palace.
"Since our guest has traveled from afar, please enjoy this ’Ice Leaf Tea’... This tea tree only grows atop millennium-old ice and indeed has a unique flavor," Mu Yu said with a gentle smile while sitting at the head of the table, her attitude seemingly improved from before.
"Thank you!"
After scanning with his spiritual eyes to ensure there were no issues, Fang Xi took a small sip. Indeed, he felt a stream of icy spiritual power sliding down his throat, followed by a warm current rising after the extreme cold. "This flavor is indeed peculiar..."
"As long as Sir likes it, that’s all that matters..." Mu Yu appeared to be quite pleased.
"I just don’t know about this Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice..." After some light conversation, Fang Xi turned the talk back to business.
"The Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice is of utmost significance to our sect, as numerous fierce cultivation techniques and Divine Skills require it for cultivation to reach the peak," Mu Yu’s face showed a trace of difficulty.
"I must ask Sir to part with it, as it is also extremely important to me," Fang Xi earnestly said.
"Sigh... Since Sir has asked, I can only allocate a piece from my own share to you..."
Mu Yu seemed to go through an internal struggle before reluctantly agreeing.
"Thank you, Sir. What would you like in exchange? I do have quite a few possessions..." Fang Xi’s smile showed a hint of satisfaction.
"I do not need Spirit Stones or Spiritual Objects... rather, I wish to ask a favor of you," Mu Yu suddenly said with a solemn tone.
"Oh? What might that be?" Fang Xi’s eyes narrowed slightly, his face becoming expressionless.
If this woman thought she had leverage over him, she shouldn’t blame him for thinking of other methods.
"To be candid... our palace was about to face a powerful enemy, which is why I was overly tense upon seeing your arrival..." Mu Yu’s face displayed a trace of indignation. "This all started several months ago... Near our sect, there is another Golden Core Sect called ’Icefiend Sect.’ The sect’s young master abducted a female disciple of ours, intending to carry out the act of forced dual cultivation. I have always loathed such acts, and upon discovering it, I injured the young master severely..."
"The Icefiend Sect’s sect master, Lord Xuan Bing, refused to let the issue go and has already sent word that he wishes to confront me... I am but a Jia Dan, and this man has advanced to early Core Formation many years ago; I am certainly no match for him. When the time comes, I hope you can support our stance... As long as you make an appearance, and upon settling the matter, the Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice will be offered with both hands!"
Fang Xi fell silent upon hearing this.
With his fingers lightly tapping on the long table, the atmosphere within the hall seemed to grow incrementally heavy.
"Sir Mu... I came here simply to purchase a piece of Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice, not planning to risk my life against a cultivator of the same rank over it... Especially since the Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice is not solely owned by Profound Ice Palace," responded Fang Xi seriously.
Although he truly did not care about the so-called Lord Xuan Bing, the persona of the early Core Formation cultivator Qing Yuzi still had to be maintained.
"Of course... but I can assure you, just by making an appearance, there will be no need for a confrontation," Mu Yu pondered briefly and then smiled before continuing. "Moreover... if you would lend us this favor, I can make a decision and allow you to choose any Secret Skill from our palace’s library. Our Profound Ice Palace is known for our ice-based magic techniques. Since you need the Ten Thousand Years Profound Ice, you probably also require the corresponding Secret Skills, right?"
"That... is indeed something I should consider carefully..."
Just as Fang Xi was about to say more, he suddenly perceived something with his Divine Consciousness and sighed, "Nevermind... Seeing as it has come to this, I will agree to your request."
"Excellent!"
Just as Mu Yu’s face began to show joy, a booming voice descended: "Where is Mu Yu? Come out to meet me..."
Above Profound Ice Palace, unbeknownst to them, a figure had appeared.
With white hair and beard, a face that was rugged and forthright, wearing a robe adorned with snowflakes, it was Lord Xuan Bing!
’Indeed... Profound Ice Palace had mistaken the identity before...’ Fang Xi thought to himself with an inward sigh. ’However... if it weren’t for sensing this person’s arrival, I wouldn’t have agreed so quickly... After all, there’s no avoiding it now.’ Fang Xi sighed inwardly, yet a faint smile appeared on his face: "In that case... Sir Mu, let us go out together to meet this fellow Daoist Xuan Bing..."
"That is only proper."
Mu Yu felt something off about Fang Xi’s previous consent but had no time to dwell on it. The two transformed into Escape Light and moved into the snowstorm array to confront Lord Xuan Bing.