novelraw Chapter 153
Chapter 153
Elder Flying Snow showed signs of never waking again.
By the edge of the Cold Pool, with the howling cold wind sweeping in from all directions, even Wang Yu, with his constitution, felt a trace of chill. This showed that this place was extraordinary.
Sensing the increasingly faint breath behind him, Wang Yu turned sharply. His heart was filled with disbelief.
“He… he just passed away like that?”
It was only a wisp of deathly qi.
Against an elder already at death’s door, this truly was a fatal weapon. Its only drawback was the slightly harsh condition that it required direct contact. Otherwise, it had few weaknesses.
As for Elder Flying Snow’s possessions, Wang Yu absolutely could not touch them. A Core Formation elder had left a soul-lamp in the Ancestral Hall of Cold Blood Peak. When a man dies, the lamp goes out. At such close range, reinforcements would definitely arrive at the first moment. He had better enter the Cold Pool.
Shaking his head, he summoned the Snowjade Fox, who had been sleeping inside the spirit beast pouch.
This Cold Pool was not only his own opportunity, but also the opportunity of the little fox. Its aptitude was originally above average. With the baptism of the Cold Pool, it should be able to ascend and completely transform into a superior bloodline.
For demonic beasts, third-rank was a watershed.Inferior bloodline corresponded to first-rank beasts, medium bloodline to second-rank beasts, and superior bloodline to third-rank beasts.
Only upon reaching third-rank would a demonic beast possess the wisdom of a grown human and see a significant rise in combat power. A second-rank beast was equivalent to a seven- or eight-year-old child. A first-rank beast was no different from wild animals.
The above applied only in normal circumstances. If born as a mutated species with pure bloodline exceeding the superior level, then it would be similar to the case of Yu Tangtang.
From birth such a beast would already possess childlike intelligence, growing wiser with age, born enlightened.
Once the Snowjade Fox completed its bloodline ascension, with proper nurturing, it would surely reach third-rank, enough to accompany Wang Yu for hundreds of years. Its potential was very strong.
Stripping off half his robe and baring his upper body, Wang Yu carried the little fox and stepped into the Cold Pool.
“Hiss…”
The extreme cold pierced into his limbs and bones. Instinctively, he circulated his perfected cultivation method. The mysterious blue radiance lingering in his blood ever since his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment was suddenly activated.
This was the effect of the cultivation method enhancing aptitude.
The special power of the Cold Pool continued pouring into his body, baptizing him from the outside in.
Deep within his body, in the hidden storehouse.
It had been several months since the formation of the Mysterious Origin Demonic Embryo. The dual spiritual root imprints belonging to Wang Wu, together with the incomplete yin and ice imprints condensed in Wang Yu’s early years, had all vanished.
They represented the essence of spiritual roots, now completely digested by the Mysterious Origin Demonic Embryo.
Wang Yu’s own five spiritual roots were rooted within the embryo. Each was no longer than a fingernail, but as the external root essences were digested, the water, wood, and fire roots had grown tremendously.
They had clearly become fully his own.
At this moment, under the joint effects of the cultivation method and the Cold Pool, the water root within the embryo began frenzied growth, rising to equal footing with the superior-grade fire and wood roots.
This change gave Wang Yu a faint premonition.
If one day he could raise all five roots to rival the Heavenly Spiritual Root, his constitution might undergo a special transformation.
This kind of inexplicable intuition was what cultivators trusted most. It was like a prophecy and revelation of the future, guiding a cultivator toward the correct path.
With his aptitude enhanced, Wang Yu’s affinity with water, ice, and yin qi multiplied geometrically. His cultivation speed did not increase, but the power of his ice spells had risen to a new level. His comprehension of techniques aligned to these attributes would also deepen.
This was aptitude. This was talent.
Comfort spread through him.
Because of cultivating the Mysterious Origin Demonic Embryo, Wang Yu’s transformation quickly stabilized. He continued absorbing the Cold Pool’s abundant energy while observing the changes in the Snowjade Fox.
The benefits it gained were no less than his own.
Since the Cold Pool could enhance aptitude, for spirit beasts it could purify bloodline and elevate potential. The two were connected. All the more so since the Snowjade Fox itself was an ice-attribute beast.
With attribute resonance, and having been long fed with supreme-grade pills, its foundation was outstanding, though it had grown quite spoiled.
“Yoo—”
He did not know how much time had passed when suddenly, under his watchful care, the little fox tilted its head back and howled. Its body rapidly grew larger before his eyes.
In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a handsome giant fox, resembling a massive wolf. Its body length exceeded two meters, its shoulder height over one meter.
Most striking of all was the swaying fluffy tails behind it. With the advance of its bloodline, two new snowy tails had sprouted.
“A three-tailed Snow Fox.”
Wang Yu was pleasantly surprised. Advancement by tails was the most powerful bloodline of the fox clan, said to descend from the legendary true spirit, the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox.
Its ice attribute mutation was not worth mentioning compared to that.
With nine-tailed bloodline, the Snowjade Fox had a clear evolutionary path like a guiding light. With the right treasures, it might even find a chance for further evolution.
“I did not expect your ancestry to be so extraordinary. This really benefits me. That rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator who caught you truly did not recognize your worth.”
Wang Yu smiled broadly, forgetting completely that when he kept the Snowjade Fox instead of selling it for spirit stones, it was merely because he fancied its ice attribute and adorable appearance.
Calculating with his fingers, he realized nearly half a month had passed since he entered the Cold Pool.
Subconsciously, he glanced toward a spot outside the pool.
Elder Flying Snow still stood there, stiff and lifeless. Nearby stood a man and woman dressed in plum-patterned robes with crossed collars, heads wrapped in carefree scarves, seemingly Daoist partners.
Seeing Wang Yu awaken, the two opened their mouths.
“Fellow Daoist, during these days of your cultivation, Daoist Flying Snow passed away standing. Did you notice anything unusual during the process?”
Wang Yu paused slightly, appearing thoughtful, then shook his head.
“There is nothing unusual, but this elder...”
The old woman sighed and said.
“By reason, Fellow Daoist Flying Snow still had three to five years of life, yet he died so suddenly. It must have been the eruption of hidden injuries accumulated in his body. This is not uncommon.”
“Yes, I saw no pain upon his face.”
The old man agreed, then spoke to Wang Yu.
“Little friend, once you are finished with the Cold Pool, you may descend the mountain. The descendants of Fellow Daoist Flying Snow are already on their way. Before they arrive, no one is permitted to touch the items on his body.”
“This junior will take his leave.”
Whether these two had already looted the corpse or were only pretending, it was none of his concern. In his heart, he was still marveling at the power of death qi, which was truly terrifying.
Wang Yu placed the Snowjade Fox back into the spirit beast pouch. Its cultivation, aided by bloodline evolution, had directly advanced to the peak of first-rank, and it could soon attempt a breakthrough to second-rank.
This was no small benefit.
After dressing properly, he quickly descended the mountain without the slightest delay.
On the road, he encountered a weeping youth with delicate features resembling a girl. Most likely, he was the direct descendant of Flying Snow True Personage. His cultivation was only at the late stage of Qi Refining, and his age was not great.
They only exchanged a distant glance before passing by each other.
……
……
By mid of the second month of Wang Yu’s service as a Deacon, one month had passed since the Cold Pool baptism. After the baptism, not only had his ice attribute talent improved dramatically.
During half a month of seated cultivation, his realm also advanced significantly, and he condensed ten drops of ice attribute True Essence. This was a pleasant surprise.
His cultivation stabilized at 23.5 drops, already exceeding one-fifth of Foundation Establishment stage one. This speed was far beyond what he had achieved during Qi Refining.
One drop of True Essence was equivalent to a thousand streams of spiritual power, equal to the cultivation of a Qi Refining great perfection cultivator. Entering the Cold Pool once was akin to gaining the power of ten great perfection cultivators of Qi Refining.
How could this not be a cause for joy.
The Snowjade Fox also obtained immense benefits. After its bloodline evolution, not only did its cultivation increase, but its body strength, bloodline arts, and secret techniques also multiplied greatly.
It now possessed new abilities: Ice Wind Technique, Extreme Cold Illusion, Ice Fox Claw, Snow-Stepping Traceless, Spirit Fox Protection, Three-Tail Secret Art, and more.
A complete transformation, with strength soaring.
Now it was no longer merely a battle support. Once it broke through to second-rank, it could serve as a main combat force.
Moreover, with spirit beasts, aside from their basic abilities, bloodline arts always had advanced versions that would naturally awaken upon breakthrough.
Wang Yu only needed to consider how best to nurture the Snowjade.
This was the convenience of a superior-bloodline spirit beast. No wonder beast-taming cultivators possessed formidable battle power while consuming fewer resources compared to other cultivation paths.
If one captured several spirit beasts with potential like the Snowjade, then in battle at the same realm, they could outnumber the opponent. How could beast tamers not be powerful.
After playing with it for a while, Wang Yu began to consider the fox’s advancement. Before leaving the sect and establishing his own abode, having such a trusted helper would be invaluable.
A superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill could also be effective on spirit beasts. Wang Yu still had over one hundred thousand spirit stones, enough to purchase one.
He decided to ask Tantai Chan. More than ten years ago, when Su Qingshan targeted him, it was because of the high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill refined by this woman. With his relationship through Sister Tang, buying a pill should not be difficult.
In the two months since his return, he had not yet visited the Tantai Herb Garden.
“It is good to ask. The sooner the breakthrough, the sooner the benefit.”
Just as he was about to leave, a transmission jade talisman flew from afar. It was a message from Gu Zhengshun, asking to meet at the usual place.
Without hesitation, Wang Yu immediately postponed the matter of the little fox.
Third-rank Corpse Arm, here I come.
Before long.
At Eight Treasure Pavilion.
Gu Zhengshun, whom he had not seen for some time, had also advanced smoothly to Qi Refining ninth layer and had progressed far in this stage, not far from perfection.
His appearance was the same as before, gentle and obedient, but the gloom hidden in his eyes showed that his recent days had not been good.
Upon seeing Wang Yu, Gu Zhengshun’s expression became more complicated.
“When you asked me about purchasing a third-rank Corpse Arm, I guessed you had advanced to Foundation Establishment. Now that I see it with my own eyes, it is still hard to believe.”
Wang Yu laughed lightly.
“Merely luck. Without the Foundation Seizing Method, I would be nothing.”
Gu Zhengshun tilted his head with disbelief.
“Brother Wang, such words may fool others, but Gu cannot believe them. With your ability, how could you be willing to use the Foundation Seizing Method to establish your foundation.”
Wang Yu nodded and said.
“Since there is a Foundation Seizing Method, why could there not also be a Core Formation Transforming Method. Brother Gu, you must broaden your thinking. There are countless demonic secret arts. Even with shortcuts, there are still paths to ascend to the heavens.”
“Perhaps.”
These words were pure nonsense. Wang Yu’s ability to speak offhand had reached perfection. He picked up a chopstick of spirit bamboo shoots.
“Tell me, how has the matter progressed. Have you found a seller.”