Chapter 1726: Ten Thousand Year Mystic Jade and Cold Marrow

This was a ghost from the late Nascent Soul stage. Humanoid ghosts are quite rare, and this one was attached to a high-grade Level 4 demonic beast, indicating it was certainly no ordinary ghost. It was either a ghost cultivator or a sentient ghost.

Ghost cultivators are categorized into two types: those who practice ghostly arts, and cultivators who have switched to the ghostly path and exist in a spiritual body.

The discovery of a late Nascent Soul stage ghost deep within the Demonic Burial Icefield suggested it might hold the secrets of this place.

Countless blue water vapors surged from the void, transforming into numerous blue water ropes that bound the white-robed woman.

The white-robed woman struggled intensely, but the blue water ropes proved impossible to break. These were no ordinary ropes; Wang Changsheng had conjured them by manipulating the surrounding water spiritual energy, making them far from easy to escape.

"Do not resist, or I will not hesitate to destroy you," Wang Changsheng stated, his tone icy. This ghost was proficient in ice-elemental divine abilities; if Wang Changsheng hadn't advanced to the God Transformation stage, he might not have been able to subdue her.

Realizing escape was futile, the white-robed woman wisely pleaded, "Please spare me, Senior Martial Uncle. This disciple meant no offense and is willing to serve you. I know many secrets about the Demonic Burial Icefield."

Judging by her words, she mistook Wang Changsheng and his three companions for cultivators from the Tianlan Sect, implying she had been a Tianlan Sect cultivator in her former life.

"I was in seclusion," Wang Changsheng began, playing along. "Whose disciple are you? And why did you convert to the ghostly path instead of returning to the sect?" Wang Changsheng decided to go along with the ruse. The Tianlan Sect had previously organized expeditions to explore the Demonic Burial Icefield, suffering heavy losses. It was probable that the white-robed woman was among the cultivators who perished there.

"My name is Lu Tianxue, and I am the grand-disciple of Venerable Heavenly Demon," the white-robed woman slowly explained. "Five hundred years ago, I followed Senior Martial Uncle Sun and his group to explore the Demonic Burial Icefield. However, I accidentally triggered a restriction that transported me to another location, causing me to lose contact with Senior Martial Uncle Sun. My physical body was destroyed, and with no suitable new body, I could only convert to the path of corpses, attaching myself to a deceased Wind Roar Beast. I tried to leave, but the restrictions here are too powerful for me to break through, which is why I've remained."

"Do you think I'm that easily fooled?" Wang Changsheng's expression turned cold. The blue water ropes binding the white-robed woman tightened fiercely, creating ripples in the void.

"This disciple wouldn't dare. Senior Martial Uncle, please spare my life," Lu Tianxue cried, her face turning pale.

The blue water ropes ceased pulling, and the white-robed woman felt the pressure ease.

"This disciple discovered some Myriad-Year Profound Jade," Lu Tianxue stated truthfully. When her physical body was destroyed, she was only at the early Nascent Soul stage. By chance, she discovered some Myriad-Year Profound Jade in this ice cave, which is why she had remained there to cultivate. "As I am currently in a ghostly form, cultivating with the Myriad-Year Profound Jade offers hope of advancing to the God Transformation stage."

"Myriad-Year Profound Jade!" A hint of joy appeared in Wang Changsheng's eyes. He had little Myriad-Year Profound Jade left, and acquiring enough would allow him to refine more Moonlight Pearls.

"Besides the Myriad-Year Profound Jade, what dangers does the Demonic Burial Icefield hold?" Wang Ruyan asked, her voice devoid of emotion. "You've been here for so long; you must know. Think carefully before answering; you only get one chance."

Lu Tianxue quickly replied, "There are Ice Spirit Restrictive Lights here, which freeze everything. Additionally, there are Level 5 demonic beasts, which is why this disciple dared not wander around."

Wang Changsheng frowned and pressed, "Level 5 demonic beasts? Where is its lair?" He didn't want to confront a Level 5 demonic beast right now. If he knew its lair, he could seek it out later.

"This disciple doesn't know its exact location," Lu Tianxue replied. "I only saw it once several centuries ago, and it devoured over twenty Level 4 demonic beasts in a single instance." Lu Tianxue then described the Level 5 demonic beast's appearance; it strongly resembled a Pixiu, likely an exotic beast possessing the Pixiu bloodline.

"I will place a restriction on you," Wang Changsheng's tone was indifferent. "You had best not resist, or I will destroy you immediately." After all, she was a late Nascent Soul stage ghost, and since he wasn't a Tianlan Sect cultivator, placing a restriction was a safer course of action.

Lu Tianxue naturally dared not refuse and obediently allowed Wang Changsheng to place the restriction.

"Let's go!" Wang Changsheng commanded. "Lead us to the Myriad-Year Profound Jade."

Lu Tianxue honestly led the way, with Wang Ruyan and the other two following closely behind.

After a while, they entered an ice cave approximately a mu in size that extended deep underground. The protective spiritual light on their bodies began to show white ice shards and started to freeze.

The ice wall on their left emanated an astonishing chill. The ice itself was pure white and uneven.

"Myriad-Year Profound Jade!" Huang Fugui's eyes gleamed with fervor; even a pigeon-egg-sized piece of Myriad-Year Profound Jade, when refined into an ice-elemental magic treasure, could significantly enhance its power.

Wang Changsheng struck the ice wall with a punch, causing the entire ice cave to shake violently and numerous cracks to appear on the wall. After Wang Changsheng delivered two more blows, the cracks grew wider, and some pale silver liquid flowed out.

"This is Cold Marrow!" Wang Ruyan exclaimed in surprise and quickly took out a white jade bottle, collecting the Cold Marrow. Myriad-Year Profound Jade often harbors Cold Marrow, which is itself an ice-elemental refining material. However, its most significant use lies in weakening the power of heavenly lightning tribulations, thereby increasing the chances of spirit beasts advancing to Level 4, especially spirit insects with weaker physical bodies.

Wang Ruyan had tamed a Lion-Scale Beast, which was injured by lightning tribulation when advancing to Level 4. Similarly, her Tree Spirit, Twin-Eyed Rat, and Golden Devouring Ant Queen were all injured during their advancement to Level 4. While the Golden Devouring Ant Queen was naturally invulnerable to blades and spears and thus more resilient, the Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada and Azure-Eyed Cold Silkworm were different. With Cold Marrow, their chances of advancing to Level 4 would be significantly higher. Wang Ruyan collected half a bottle of Cold Marrow, enough for over a dozen spirit insects to attempt advancement to Level 4.

There were over a thousand pieces of Myriad-Year Profound Jade, varying in size. If one's refining skill was high enough, there would be no problem crafting a Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure from them.

Wang Changsheng gave Huang Fugui a fist-sized piece of Myriad-Year Profound Jade. Huang Fugui was so overjoyed that tears almost streamed down his face. This was a top-tier ice-elemental refining material, eagerly sought even by God Transformation cultivators, and utterly unattainable for ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Senior Wang," Huang Fugui respectfully said, "I just remembered something. When I was hiding from the Snow Ape and its food container, I discovered an underground ice abyss. There might be more treasures there." He wasn't intentionally hiding anything; having not explored the abyss, he naturally didn't dare claim there were treasures.

Wang Changsheng nodded, then looked at Lu Tianxue and asked, "Are the Ice Spirit Restrictive Lights far from here?"

"Two thousand li to the west," Lu Tianxue cautiously replied. "There are many restrictions here, so this disciple doesn't dare to trespass carelessly." She spoke cautiously, hoping to leave this place and return to the Tianlan Sect to cultivate. After all, by presenting the Myriad-Year Profound Jade, she believed she had rendered a service. She had no idea that over the past few centuries, the Tianlan Sect had undergone tremendous changes, and Wang Changsheng and his companions were not Tianlan Sect cultivators at all.

"Let's leave here first and go check out that ice abyss," Wang Changsheng murmured, pondering for a moment. He intended to return the way they came. Tianlan Sect cultivators had suffered heavy losses exploring the Demonic Burial Icefield, and he certainly didn't want to trigger powerful restrictions or encounter Level 5 demonic beasts.