Chapter 1715: The Child of Fortune Huang Fugui

"He went treasure hunting? Is he really that bold?"Wang Ruyan was somewhat puzzled. From what she knew of Huang Fugui, he wasn't someone known for great skill or daring. She didn't dwell on it. For Huang Fugui to cultivate to the mid-Nascent Soul stage as a rogue cultivator was nothing short of a miracle; one could only attribute it to incredibly good fortune, which, after all, was also a vital asset. Given Huang Fugui's timid nature, his willingness to venture deep into the Demon-Burying Ice Plains for treasure suggested he must have had some hidden advantage or reliance.

"Forget about him for now. You all must not leave here easily; remain vigilant and hold your positions," Wang Ruyan commanded sternly."Yes, Grandmother," Wang Qiuming and the others replied.

Rumble!In the distance, lightning flashed and thunder roared. Thick silver bolts tore through the sky, striking the Wood Demon and the Qilin Turtle. The area was engulfed by fierce winds, sweeping up countless white snowflakes. Dark clouds pressed down from above, creating an apocalyptic scene.

After about fifteen minutes, the two thunderclouds dissipated. Scattered across the snow were numerous broken thorns, their surfaces scorched black and still smoldering. Wang Ruyan flew down in front of the thorns, her brow furrowed. "Did it fail?" she murmured to herself.

Just then, a black thorn bush, about three meters long, suddenly glowed with a vibrant green light, sprouting tender buds. It quickly transformed into a jade-green thorn bush over a hundred meters tall, its surface covered in sharp thorns and small purple flowers. Wang Ruyan breathed a sigh of relief. The Wood Demon had successfully advanced to the fourth rank, which was not surprising given it had previously devoured many Wood Demon cores.

A low growl sounded, and spots of blue light suddenly brightened beside Wang Ruyan, coalescing into the form of the Qilin Turtle. The Qilin Turtle's shell was somewhat scorched, but its aura was significantly stronger than before, indicating it had also clearly advanced to the fourth rank. There was some fresh blood on its head. Given its Qilin bloodline and sturdy shell, it was only natural for the Qilin Turtle to advance to the fourth rank. The Qilin Turtle rubbed its head against Wang Ruyan's pant leg, letting out another low growl.

"Your husband will surely be thrilled if he knows you've both advanced to the fourth rank. For now, rest and recover," Wang Ruyan said with a smile.

With a stomp of its right paw, the Qilin Turtle caused a massive rumble overhead. A colossal dark cloud materialized in the sky, from which heavy rain suddenly poured down. The rain concentrated in one direction, forming a blue wall of water over thirty meters high, which quickly froze into an ice wall. In less than twenty seconds, a simple ice palace appeared on the snowy ground, where the Qilin Turtle and the Wood Demon retreated to rest.

After giving a few more instructions to Wang Qiuming and the others, Wang Ruyan returned to her cultivation.

Deep within the Demon-Burying Ice Plains, on a vast snowy expanse, heavy white snowflakes drifted down from above as cold winds whistled past. A deafening roar echoed as a snow mountain exploded, and a yellow light shot out. It was Huang Fugui, his eyes wide with terror. He transformed into a streak of yellow light and vanished through the air, his escape speed remarkably fast. Dozens of house-sized white snowballs rolled down from the mountain peak, hurtling towards Huang Fugui. The snowballs grew larger and larger; if he were struck by so many, he would be crippled, if not killed. Huang Fugui was startled and significantly increased his escape speed.

Just then, a sharp, piercing shriek echoed, resembling a beast's roar, yet upon closer listening, it sounded somewhat like an infant's cry. Huang Fugui's head spun, and his speed slowed. A snowball slammed into Huang Fugui, sending him flying backward like a kite with a broken string. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his yellow armor bore several terrifying claw marks, seemingly left by a fierce beast.

Huang Fugui quickly pulled out a pale golden talisman and threw it behind him. The golden talisman transformed into a streak of golden light, hurtling towards the dozens of white snowballs. One white snowball suddenly exploded, revealing a six-meter-tall white ape with a gaping mouth and fangs. Its body was covered in white fur, and it had a long tail. Its eyes were pure white. This white snow ape was only of the high third rank. The white snow ape opened its mouth and spewed out a blast of white, icy wind, directed at the golden light. Before the icy wind could reach it, the golden light suddenly exploded, forming a golden sun with a diameter of over ten kilometers, engulfing an area of the same radius. The dozens of white snowballs caught within the golden light instantly froze, motionless. The white snowflakes, too, were suspended in mid-air as if fixed in place.

Seizing this opportune moment, Huang Fugui's escape speed dramatically increased, and he soared into the sky. He had only flown a few kilometers when the dozens of white snowballs began to explode one after another, transforming into giant white snow apes. Most were third-rank, but five were fourth-rank. The dozens of white snow apes simultaneously let out angry roars, causing the void to vibrate and distort. The golden light, like a shattered mirror, developed cracks.

After Huang Fugui had flown over fifteen kilometers, the golden light suddenly shattered, freeing the dozens of white snow apes. They all let out furious roars, one after another, shaking the void. A violent gust of wind suddenly rose, heading straight for Huang Fugui. Upon hearing the roars, Huang Fugui felt dizzy. By the time he recovered, a white icy wind, over three kilometers long, was already behind him. Huang Fugui's body glowed with yellow light, and he spun in place, transforming into a yellow tornado over three hundred meters tall, meeting the attack head-on.

Boom!After a loud crash, Huang Fugui was sent flying backward, spitting blood continuously, his face pale.

Ahead lay an open expanse, devoid of even a single snow mountain. Huang Fugui noticed a long, thick crack several hundred meters away. As he flew closer to the crack, he realized it wasn't merely a crack but a bottomless abyss, tens of thousands of meters long and over thirty meters wide, flanked by steep ice mountains. With dozens of snow apes in pursuit, Huang Fugui didn't hesitate and immediately leaped into the abyss. The dozens of white snow apes reached the abyss entrance. They exchanged glances, then suddenly turned and retreated the way they came, either abandoning the chase or sensing a terrifying monster within the abyss.

At the bottom of the abyss, Huang Fugui stood in the snow, enveloped in a layer of yellow spiritual light. Despite the protective aura, he shivered from the cold. Unsure if the snow apes would follow, he quickly searched for a place to hide. In the distance, there was a long fissure. Huang Fugui extended his divine sense but found it severely restricted, capable of extending only a hundred meters; anything further was beyond detection. Huang Fugui cautiously approached the fissure. Behind it was a vast ice cellar with five passages leading to unknown destinations. Numerous ice cones hung from the ceiling, exuding an intense chill. Huang Fugui walked towards the central passage, his expression tense.

After about fifteen minutes, Huang Fugui found himself in an ice cavern over three hundred meters wide. The cold was astonishing, causing him to shiver uncontrollably, and even the spiritual light around his body began to freeze. As he navigated a bend, he rounded the corner and saw a tall, white-robed old man with wide, furious eyes. Huang Fugui's legs gave out, and he immediately knelt, pleading desperately, "Senior, I didn't know this was your cave dwelling. Please, in your great wisdom, spare my life! I am willing to serve you like an ox or a horse." His situation was dire; he was no match for other Nascent Soul cultivators. To survive, he had directly addressed the figure as "Senior."

After a long moment, Huang Fugui noticed there was no response. Cautiously, he raised his head and realized that what lay before him was merely an ice sculpture—or, more precisely, a cultivator frozen in ice. Huang Fugui's fear turned into delight. So, it was a dead person; then he was in luck! Huang Fugui shattered the ice sculpture and found that the cultivator inside was indeed deceased, but their storage pouch remained.

"It's true what they say: 'seek and you shall find, without even looking!' My luck is unparalleled," Huang Fugui declared triumphantly as he began to sort through the contents of the storage pouch. He gasped, his face flushing crimson. Inside were two spirit treasures and over a dozen fourth-rank ice-attributed demon cores. He had struck it rich overnight! Huang Fugui burst into laughter, feeling a profound sense of relief after his arduous journey. He had nearly died at the hands of the demon beasts, but at least his efforts hadn't been in vain.

"Taking loot from the dead is certainly easier; stealing from demon beasts is far too dangerous," Huang Fugui chuckled to himself, a smug smile on his face.