Chapter 22: Mysterious Ice Technique

**Chapter 22: Profound Ice Art**

With long hair draped over her shoulders and a cool, elegant face, it was Yan Bingxuan.

She was carrying a school bag and holding a book. As she walked in, she ran into Chen Mobai and tilted her head slightly, appearing surprised.

“I forgot my textbook, so I came to borrow one here.”

After hearing him, Yan Bingxuan looked at the Five Elements Cultivation Method book in his hand. Her clear eyes narrowed slightly, full of confusion. Hadn't this basic cultivation method already been fully taught in the first year of high school?

However, Yan Bingxuan had no intention of probing Chen Mobai's words. She raised her fair, rounded chin, nodded gently in response, and then stepped past him to the female teacher who managed book borrowing and returns.

“Hello, I'm here to return a book.”

As she finished speaking, Chen Mobai turned his head and happened to see the book she was returning: Condensation Frost Art!

It was the cultivation method Old Man Ding had mentioned, one that could transform a spirit root into an ice spirit root.

“You finally decided to return it. You've almost had this book for a year, haven't you?” The female teacher with round-rimmed glasses seemed to know Yan Bingxuan. After taking the Condensation Frost Art, she said something playfully, and Yan Bingxuan, rarely showing a hint of a smile, responded with an expression like a spring breeze melting into rain. This left Chen Mobai, who had only seen the beautiful Yan with a cold expression for the past year, utterly stunned.

“I heard you dropped out, and I thought you must have succeeded,” the teacher said. “Now that you're here to return the book, it confirms it even more.”

While processing the book return, the female teacher said something seemingly inadvertently. This made Chen Mobai's heart stir, and he vaguely felt he knew the real reason for Yan Bingxuan's withdrawal from school.

“Yes, I can already sense the frost, so I've essentially cultivated the ice spirit root,” Yan Bingxuan replied. “But my attribute points are still insufficient; it will take quite some time to raise them.”

Yan Bingxuan was usually a person of few words, but the female teacher with round-rimmed glasses seemed very familiar with her. Yan Bingxuan smiled and shared her cultivation progress.

“If it's you, you're sure to succeed.”

“Thank you.”

Unlike her usual aloof demeanor in class, Yan Bingxuan at this moment was incredibly gentle and amiable, making Chen Mobai feel the charm of his classmate for the first time.

“It must have been difficult for you,” the teacher commented, “to make yourself so aloof in daily life, just to match the ice spirit root.”

“It's fine, it's quiet.”

So she was just putting on an act all this time.

As Chen Mobai was thinking this, the female teacher had already completed the return procedure for the Condensation Frost Art and handed Yan Bingxuan's student ID card to her.

“I don't need it anymore.”

But Yan Bingxuan merely glanced at it wistfully, then shook her head and turned to leave.

Yan Bingxuan walked to the doorway and saw Chen Mobai standing there. Their eyes met. She hesitated, then nodded, as a farewell to their brief time as classmates.

They weren't in the same class during their first and second years of high school; they were only grouped together when they specialized in their third year. It could be considered a small, yet significant, twist of fate.

“After reaching the seventh level of Qi Cultivation,” Chen Mobai suddenly asked, “you can give up cultivating the Five Elements Art and switch to other cultivation methods suitable for your spirit root attribute. What did you choose?”

After learning about spirit root enhancement methods from Old Man Ding, he had also specifically searched for information on this topic online. He knew that while spirit root enhancement methods were indeed arts, they leaned more towards being spells. Cultivators needed to practice diligently and consistently for extended periods; sometimes, even after a month, they might not see any increase in their spirit root attribute points. Many predecessors would advise cultivators to find a cultivation method that matched their spirit root. This would prevent their cultivation level from falling too far behind and also allow it to mutually promote their spirit root enhancement art, achieving the best of both worlds.

“Profound Ice Art.”

Yan Bingxuan answered subconsciously, only then realizing why she had answered.

“May we meet again if fate allows.”

After hearing her answer, Chen Mobai's intention to give her the Black Water Art faded. He had originally thought that the Cold Breath and Ice Arts within it would be valuable to her, and wanted to form a good connection. The Profound Ice Art was clearly prepared for an ice spirit root; it seemed he had been presumptuous.

Watching Yan Bingxuan's retreating back, Chen Mobai turned back.

“Can I borrow this book?”

The female teacher with round-rimmed glasses was about to put the Condensation Frost Art back on the shelf when she heard Chen Mobai's voice. She hesitantly pointed to the book in her hand: “This one?”

“Yes.”

“This is a book from Zone A,” she explained. “If students wish to borrow it, they need permission from their main subject teacher.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai nodded slightly, recalling what Old Man Ding had said. Although there were many spirit root enhancement arts, to prevent students with weak self-control from becoming too engrossed and wasting valuable time on foundational studies, access to such knowledge was generally restricted until after they entered university.

“I understand, thank you, teacher.”

The female teacher with round-rimmed glasses had a good impression of the polite Chen Mobai. She thought he had a crush on Yan Bingxuan and wanted to find common ground. To prevent Chen Mobai from delaying his cultivation time, she specifically offered a piece of advice.

“Bingxuan's grandaunt is a perfected Foundation Establishment True Cultivator from the Academy of Nature,” she began. “It's said she's about to attempt Core Formation. This stage is fraught with unpredictable risks, so she plans to cultivate a successor before attempting Core Formation. Bingxuan is one of the candidates, and if the Condensation Frost Art succeeds in forming an ice spirit root, then it will most likely be her.”

After hearing the female teacher's words, Chen Mobai paused, then understood she had misunderstood. However, he knew her reminder was well-intentioned, advising him that he was still young and should prioritize cultivation. If he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he would have over a hundred years to pursue other things slowly.

“A perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator,” Chen Mobai mused, “it's unlikely you'd find one in the entire Danxia City.”

Although the Immortal Sects boasted an orderly lineage and were a cultivation civilization, they still couldn't avoid the agglomeration effect. Cultivators with the talent to advance further generally went to large cave-heaven cities that possessed high-grade spirit veins. Although Danxia City had two major academies and an extremely rare fourth-tier fire vein, aside from Foundation Establishment cultivators who had reached the peak of their cultivation, most would not stay there for long. This was especially true for perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators with the potential for Core Formation.

“Although our city doesn't have any perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators,” the local female teacher said, “we do have two Golden Core True Sages.”

That's true. Among the Immortal Sects' seventy-two blessed lands, some don't even have a Golden Core True Sage presiding over them. But their Danxia City has two, each presiding over one of the two major academies: one is the Crimson Robe True Sage, who returned to his roots in glory, and the other is True Sage Shiqing, who refines magic treasures using Danxia City's fire vein.

“If only I could listen to a Golden Core True Sage give a sermon,” the teacher sighed. “Just one time, and perhaps I'd have the confidence to break through to Foundation Establishment.”

The female teacher was also at the perfected ninth level of Qi Cultivation, but she had never dared to attempt Foundation Establishment. If a Golden Core True Sage were to tell her she could succeed in Foundation Establishment, perhaps she could use that encouragement to push through. But what was the status of a Golden Core True Sage? They were practically the very sky of Danxia City! Let alone her, a mere high school teacher; even students from the two major academies might not have the chance to meet one.

Just then, the class bell rang.

Chen Mobai immediately took his leave and hurried back to the classroom with the Five Elements Art.

He put on his wireless earphones, opened the Five Elements Art lecture video he had downloaded offline last night, and to avoid being seen by his deskmate, he turned off his phone screen, disconnecting from the internet, and hid it under his textbook. Revered Master Qingping's slightly verbose words echoed in his ears. Chen Mobai, without looking, precisely swiped his finger across the screen.

Fast forward!