Chapter 151: Lingquan Cold Pool, the Sleepy Elder

Early morning.

The Three Young Masters of Reverse Spirit, rarely seen awake so early, saw Wang Yu stretching in the courtyard and praised him admiringly: "Fourth Brother's perseverance is extraordinary. To be able to overcome human laziness and possess such unwavering will, you are truly a role model for our generation!"

Wang Yu stopped his movements, feeling speechless internally. The praise was too cringeworthy. Even with skin as thick as a city wall, he couldn't quite bear it, so he proactively asked, "Are you three elder brothers looking for me for something?"

Calling them "elder brother" came naturally to him, and he felt no shame at all. In fact, the Three Young Masters were nearly three times his age, all being youths over a hundred years old. In the mortal world, he'd have to call them ancestors, let alone brothers.

"Of course, we have something good for you." Zuoqiu Ming leaped gracefully over the corridor railing and approached Wang Yu. "Of the conditions we agreed upon yesterday, one can be fulfilled today. This is the 'Spiritual Spring Cold Pool Token' from Cold Blood Peak. As the name suggests, it allows free entry for a soak in the Cold Pool. It's valid for ten years, so Fourth Brother can go anytime. How about it—does this show our sincerity?"

Wang Yu took the token and scanned it with his spiritual sense, surprised to find that even the route was already mapped out. This token was originally intended for cultivating true disciples. It's said that the top ten inner sect disciples in each Cold Blood Peak Grand Competition, upon completing their true disciple trial mission, receive substantial resource rewards, and the Cold Pool is one such reward.

His "Cold Blood Spirit Ascension Art" was already perfected, and his cultivation had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage. The art's effect of enhancing cold attribute aptitude could actually be activated. Previously, it had been inconvenient for him to undergo long-term cultivation and transformation in the wilderness. After returning, his dealings with the Three Young Masters of Reverse Spirit made him aware of the Cold Pool's effects, so he held back. He planned to activate them together when he soaked in the Cold Pool, hoping their combined effect might produce unexpected surprises.

"Many thanks for your help, Brother Ming. I am certainly satisfied."

"Hahaha, good that you're satisfied, there's one more thing." Zuoqiu Ming patted Wang Yu's shoulder, subtly using his body to block, and quietly pointed at Yu Xing. "Old Yu lent you the Heavenly Enlightenment Cushion for five years, and you'll have to return it when it expires since it's sect property. So, regarding your external deployment and establishing a residence in a town, how about we fulfill that promise five years from now? That way, you won't have to go back and forth."

"—Reasonable!" Wang Yu naturally wouldn't haggle over such a small matter and chuckled. "Forget five years, ten years is fine too. I just happen to need time to perfect my Foundation Establishment stage spells and secret incantations. Even if you granted it to me now, I wouldn't depart anytime soon."

"That's good then. Although it's understood, it's always best to make things clear to avoid any misunderstandings between us brothers."

"You can rest assured, I, Wang, am not someone who seeks quick gains or harbors sinister intentions." All four immediately exchanged friendly smiles.

Three days after that, Wang Yu finally contacted Gu Zhengshun, stating his desire to purchase a left arm from a third-tier refined corpse. He preferred an Armored Corpse, and a Divine Strength Corpse would be ideal, with the price being negotiable. In his reply, Gu Zhengshun expressed some difficulty, asking Wang Yu to give him a month to make inquiries. After all, third-tier refined corpses, regardless of type, are powerful entities. Not only are they expensive, but they are also quite rare, making them very difficult to obtain without proper connections.

His relationship with Gu Zhengshun was quite delicate, evolving from cooperation to enmity, then back to a renewed friendship. After returning to the sect, their relationship was purely transactional, with Gu Zhengshun often helping him liquidate his gains. This transaction was not only for a third-tier corpse arm but also to dispose of the large number of frozen corpses, spoils of war, and other items in his storage bag. Although storage bags can hold many items, time still passes within them. Corpses spoil if left too long, but freezing them can preserve them for a considerable period. Most importantly, their spiritual energy and essence must be preserved, as only such corpses hold value for recycling. The busyness, while demanding, was also fulfilling.

That noon, as Wang Yu sat cross-legged, attempting to absorb the essence of the midday sun, a spiritual light suddenly flashed from the spirit beast pouch at his waist. It was the Snow Jade Fox. It had grown considerably, now about the size of a Shiba Inu, with snow-white fur all over its body and ice-blue patterns on its tail tip, ear rims, and forehead, making it both cute and mysterious.

"Yelp!" After jumping out on its own, it yelped a few times at Wang Yu, and its aura began to surge wildly.

"A breakthrough?" Wang Yu was slightly surprised but didn't remain idle. Instead, following the techniques from the beast-taming cultivation method he had acquired, he cast arrays of ice-attribute spiritual seals, injecting them into the Snow Jade Fox's body. This was to assist its breakthrough. This is one of the cultivation methods of orthodox beast tamers, allowing them to use beast-taming spiritual seals to interact with and mutually assist their spirit beasts in cultivation. It's a life-bound relationship on the path of cultivation, encompassing both master-servant and kin. Thus, when a beast-taming cultivator perishes, their spirit beasts often continue to assist their descendants. Of course, this describes the normal practice; there are also unorthodox, sinister methods of exploiting spirit beasts.

With Wang Yu's true essence assistance, the bottleneck preventing the Snow Jade Fox's advancement broke with almost no effort.

"Late first tier, equivalent to roughly the seventh level of Qi Condensation. You've certainly picked a good time." The Snow Jade Fox swayed its head, showing a joyful expression. Although it couldn't understand Wang Yu's words, it sensed his intention that something good was about to happen. It let out a happy yelp, then leaped into his arms, rubbing against him.

"What a charmingly innocent spirit beast. With you by my side, I won't have to worry about being too lonely. There's no time like the present; I'll take you to the Cold Pool today." Making a spontaneous decision, Wang Yu left the Enforcement Hall of Wicked God's Market, instructing a few disciples to notify Zhuo Shouqing to take over, as he was making a trip back to Cold Blood Peak.

Although it wasn't his first time ascending the mountain, its spiritual energy density, magnificent scenery, and ultra-low temperature environment still made it a coveted cultivation haven for every ice-attribute cultivator. According to the rules, he would need to break through to the Core Formation stage to qualify for establishing a cave dwelling here, a truly difficult feat.

"Is it this way...?" After reaching Cold Blood Peak, the route directed him to an unfamiliar area, seemingly ascending towards a remote, back corner.

Not long after, an octagonal, transparent white stone hall came into view. It wasn't large, and in its center was a pool of ice-blue cold water, covered with a thin layer of mist. The surroundings were desolate and uninhabited, like an abandoned wilderness.

"Halt."

Suddenly, a figure abruptly appeared before him, dressed in a diagonally buttoned, narrow-sleeved water-patterned shirt with an ice-silk robe draped over it. His face was aged, and his hair was mixed with black and white. His aura had clearly reached the Core Formation stage, and Wang Yu quickly bowed in greeting.

"This junior greets the Elder."

"Rise. Do you have a token?"

"Yes."

After handing over the token, the Core Formation Elder chuckled: "As expected, you're the one who received this benefit from Zuoqiu Ming. Do you know the wondrous effects of this Cold Pool?"

"I know a little."

The Core Formation Elder, however, shook his head, then turned and said: "While the Cold Pool is indeed beneficial, the favor of the Zuoqiu family is far more valuable. If you give up now, I can negotiate terms with Zuoqiu Ming on your behalf. But if you insist on going in, you will undoubtedly become entangled in the power transition of a Nascent Soul family. As for the consequences... this old man doesn't need to elaborate."

Wang Yu frowned deeply. This sudden obstruction, seemingly the guardian of the Cold Pool, must have misunderstood something. Or rather, his interpretation of the situation was completely different from reality. Did he believe Zuoqiu Ming owed him a favor? As for being involved in power transitions, he was already mentally prepared. After all, if there weren't some disorder, how could lower-level cultivators climb the ranks?

"Elder, there's no need to say more. This junior is certainly going to enter the Cold Pool."

The Core Formation Elder fell silent upon hearing this, then spoke again: "If you give up, I can give you three thousand mid-grade spirit stones, plus a high-grade second-tier spell art. How about that?"

"Heh, so that's his real intention." Wang Yu immediately understood his scheme. He couldn't help but glance at the token clutched tightly in the Elder's hand. "Thinking for my sake? It's nothing more than coveting the opportunity of this Cold Pool baptism." He dared not offend Zuoqiu Ming, so he could only try to persuade Wang Yu to give up with kind words. How pragmatic! The Cold Pool could enhance ice spiritual energy affinity, indirectly improving spiritual root aptitude, though not as comprehensively as a true spiritual root. It was a treasure in itself, of considerable value. To try and exchange it for a Foundation Establishment spell and three thousand mid-grade spirit stones showed little sincerity. Although Wang Yu was disgusted by his behavior, he didn't want to completely antagonize him. So he cupped his hands and said,

"Senior, you desire this Cold Pool baptism slot, presumably for your descendants, correct?"

His scheme exposed, the Elder said disdainfully: "So what if it is? Just say whether you agree or not. Have you heard of this old man's title, 'True Monarch Flying Snow'? You should know my prestige."

"Heh, heh—" The old man was still putting on airs. "Flying Snow" this, "Flying Snow" that—just an unknown nobody. Wang Yu's expression grew forceful, and he said unceremoniously, "Elder Flying Snow, if you want it, go ask Zuoqiu Ming for it. If you think I'm easy to bully, why not just seize it directly? At such an old age, still running around for your descendants, aren't you afraid of offending too many people and ending up without descendants in your old age?!"

"You—"

Elder Flying Snow was enraged. Observing the remaining life essence in his aura, Wang Yu judged that the Elder was at least seven or eight hundred years old. Although he was in the late Core Formation stage, he was only at the seventh level of that realm. He had no chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage in this life and was even facing imminent death from old age.

Pushing past the old man who was blocking his way, Wang Yu patted his shoulder. A wisp of pure death energy, accumulated over many years, imperceptibly entered Elder Flying Snow's body through the physical contact. Already low on lifespan, the aura of decay and decrepitude on him intensified. Yet, having been in this state for a long time, he didn't detect the wisp of death energy at all.

"Your time is running out. Why make more enemies for your descendants?"

As his words fell, Wang Yu walked towards the Cold Pool, his eyes filled with cold killing intent. Death energy was one of the most potent methods against elders, a trump card he had never used, either because he hadn't met the right person or hadn't found the right opportunity. Now that he had met one, it would become the last straw. Originally, he wouldn't have been so ruthless, but... he, Wang, absolutely would not tolerate threats!

Behind him, Elder Flying Snow seemed to be trembling with rage, his body quivering a few times. Ultimately, he didn't stop Wang Yu from entering the Cold Pool. He didn't have the courage, nor did he dare to forcibly seize it. He could only sigh in dejection, feeling, for some reason, exceptionally tired today. "So tired... I just want to sleep."

(End of Chapter)