Chapter 587: Chapter 587

In the Ice Stream Valley, Zhouyang stared at the two alien races, whose forms had been revealed by his fireball, and his brows furrowed immediately.

Those two aliens looked no different from humans but were much taller than ordinary humans.

Zhouyang stood at six feet tall, already considered quite tall among humans, but these two Bingyi People exceeded seven feet, with one even reaching eight feet!

Furthermore, these two Bingyi People had white hair and eyebrows, blue eyes, sharp noses, and long, slender ears, clearly marking them as a different species from humans.

Of course, these weren’t the main concerns. The main concern was the aura emanating from these two Bingyi People, which had also reached Tier Five, with the eight-foot-tall one even reaching Tier Five Middle Grade.

However, what caught Zhouyang’s attention the most were the staffs held by these two Bingyi People.

They were two magic staffs refined from Thousand-Year Profound Jade, with each staff’s top embedded with a white crystal core about the size of an egg.

Zhouyang, if he wasn’t mistaken, those two Bingyi People had remained invisible and unnoticed by Xu Zhengyang and himself due to these magic staffs.

Key was, Zhouyang found the white crystal cores embedded at the staff tops very familiar because he also had such a white crystal core, which he had obtained by killing a creature called "Ice Demon" from the Kunxu Realm.

The "Ice Demon" had left a deep impression on him with its powerful invisibility in icy environments, and he had thought that was a racial talent unique to them, unattainable by outsiders. He never expected to see today that these two Bingyi People had found a way to refine invisibility spiritual artifacts using the Ice Demon crystal cores, which greatly intrigued him.

Therefore, he did not immediately resort to violence once the two Bingyi People revealed themselves. Instead, he coldly commanded, "Hand over the technique for using Ice Demon crystal cores for invisibility, and Zhou will overlook the fact that you were spying just now!"

Xu Zhengyang, on the side, heard this and slightly moved his lips, hesitating to speak.

He hadn’t yet finished harvesting the Crystal Ice Orchid and was really unwilling for Zhouyang to stir up trouble, even though he knew that the two Bingyi People lurking in the shadows surely harbored no good intentions.

But since Zhouyang had already spoken and made a decision, he didn’t want to undermine Zhouyang’s authority. Otherwise, if Zhouyang stormed off in anger, he would surely be unable to take the Crystal Ice Orchid under the eyes of the two Bingyi People.

However, upon hearing Zhouyang’s words, the two Bingyi People were both shocked and enraged.

The Bingyi Person, whose cultivation was only Tier Five Lower Grade, couldn’t restrain his anger and shouted, "Are all human cultivators as arrogant as you? This is the Endless Snowfield, the territory of our Bingyi People. We’ve been lenient in not holding you accountable for trespassing, yet you still want the technique to refine our tribe’s sacred artifacts. Don’t you think you’re going too far?"

This Bingyi Person’s human language was poorly spoken, arguably the worst Zhouyang had ever heard, yet he understood the meaning.

Upon hearing this, he coldly laughed, saying, "Who says the Endless Snowfield is your Bingyi People’s territory? Has the Snowfield Demon Race acknowledged it? Have we humans acknowledged it?"

After speaking, his gaze turned icy, and he said coldly, "Lurking and spying in the dark is a grave offense. The fact that Zhou did not immediately act is already giving you face, so don’t be ungrateful and force Zhou to resort to violence!"

The Bingyi Person who had spoken shivered upon hearing his murderous words and dared not retort back.

They had secretly observed Zhouyang’s might while invisible and had seen him severely injure even the Frost Wolf King and the Wolf Queen, forcing them to abandon their lairs and flee into the depths of the ice caves. Not to mention these two, whose strength wasn’t even comparable to the Frost Wolf King.

Fortunately, at this moment, the higher-cultivated and older Bingyi Person finally spoke.

"Your Excellency is indeed powerful, even the Frost Wolf King is no match. But this is ultimately the Endless Snowfield, and we two are Scepter Priests of the Holy Face Tribe. If you dare to kill us here, I assure you, you won’t leave the snowfield alive. Do you believe me?"

Instantly, the younger Bingyi Person, as if injected with a stimulant, excitedly shouted, "That’s right! We are the Scepter Priests of the Holy Face Tribe. If you dare kill us, the High Priest will personally take action to slay you to avenge us!"

The High Priests of the Bingyi Tribes were generally Tier Five existences, but in some major tribes, the High Priests were Tier Six powerhouses.

Zhouyang didn’t know whether the Holy Face Tribe was a major or minor tribe, but judging by the appearance of these two Bingyi People, it seemed the likelihood of being a major tribe was greater.

If a Bingyi Person with power equivalent to a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator personally pursued him, Zhouyang’s chances of escaping within the Endless Snowfield would indeed be very slim.

Of course, he wasn’t easily frightened and wouldn’t let them go just because of such words.

"Heh, do you think Zhou is easily scared? After killing you, Zhou will leave immediately. Even if your High Priest comes personally, is there no place for Zhou to hide in this vast snowfield?"

His face showed a cold smile, and with a firm attitude, he sternly shouted, "Enough talk! Either do what Zhou said and hand over the technique for using the Ice Demon crystal cores for invisibility, or try your life and see if your High Priest can avenge you!"

The young Bingyi Priest looked furious and wanted to say something, but was soon held back by the older Bingyi Priest.

The older Bingyi Priest, after holding his companion back, slightly bowed his head towards Zhouyang and performed a salute, then said softly, "It was indeed our fault for spying on you, and I hereby apologize and offer some compensation. However, the technique to refine our tribe’s sacred artifacts, even if you kill us both, we wouldn’t dare to impart it!"

"Then what if Zhou insists on the technique?"

Zhouyang’s eyes narrowed, a murderous intent stirring within him.

The elder Bingyi man noticed this, his eyelid twitching, hastily moved his lips to send a secret message, "I know the whereabouts of the Ice Tear Flower. If you are willing to let us go, I am willing to information as a form of apology!"

"You are indeed clever. If you had mentioned this earlier, Zhou would have had to kill you!"

Zhouyang cast a deep look at this Bingyi man, sending a message back with a meaningful tone.

The Ice Tear Flower is an extremely rare and valuable Tier Six Spiritual Object, capable of helping cultivators defend against the Heart Demon Tribulation. No Golden Core Stage cultivator aspiring to refine pills and form infants would remain unmoved upon hearing of such a spiritual object.

If this Bingyi man had prematurely revealed his knowledge of the Ice Tear Flower, Zhouyang would have certainly killed him.

Because if Xu Zhengyang heard him, he would undoubtedly compete with Zhouyang for the item. Even if Xu Zhengyang couldn’t outcompete Zhouyang, Zhouyang couldn’t ensure that Xu Zhengyang wouldn’t inform the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect and request their help in acquiring the Ice Tear Flower.

An item that aids Golden Core Stage cultivators in refining pills and forming infants is entirely worth a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator’s intervention.

"So, you agree?" The rıghtful source is novel⸺fire.net

The elder Bingyi man’s face lit up with joy as he gazed intently at Zhouyang.

"Here’s the deal, you tell Zhou the information about the Ice Tear Flower, and then help Zhou refine an Ice Demon Crystal Core into a treasure like your magic staff. Zhou will let you go and, as a reward, will even gift you a Tier Four Ice Demon Crystal Core!"

Zhouyang nodded slightly, conveying his conditions through a secret message.

Hearing this, the elder Bingyi man hesitated and did not immediately reply, indicating the method of utilizing the Ice Demon Crystal Core was indeed very important to the Bingyi people.

Zhouyang did not press further, merely watching coldly, applying pressure with his gaze.

After a full quarter of an hour of confrontation, the elder Bingyi man sighed softly, "Alright, as you say it. I just hope that you will keep your promise and let us go afterward!"

Upon hearing these words, Zhouyang’s face briefly showed a gleam of joy, promptly assuring the other, "Rest assured, as long as you don’t play any tricks, Zhou swears by his Dao Heart not to betray his promise!"

The elder Bingyi man apparently knew the binding power of a cultivator’s Dao Heart oath, as relaxation finally appeared on his face upon hearing this. Immediately, without needing Zhouyang to urge further, he conveyed the information about the Ice Tear Flower through a secret message.

According to him, if Zhouyang and his party went twenty-seven thousand li further north from their current location, they would see an ice peak over three thousand zhang high, on which the Ice Tear Flower grows.

However, besides the Ice Tear Flower, a powerful demon beast of a different species called the Three-headed Ice Vulture also resides on that ice peak.

Although the Three-headed Ice Vulture is not a Tier Six Demon Beast, it ranks among the top tier of Tier Five Demon Beasts, far more powerful than the Frost Wolf King.

Zhouyang is confident in defeating the Frost Wolf King alone, but if it were the Three-headed Ice Vulture, his current cultivation level would make it difficult even to escape with his life.

Therefore, even after learning of the Ice Tear Flower, Zhouyang had no immediate plans.

To defeat such a top-tier Tier Five Demon Beast as the Three-headed Ice Vulture, he would have to advance to the late stage of the Golden Core and cultivate the Azure Dragon Body Refining Technique to the fourth layer, or master other attacking divine techniques.

That would take at least one or two hundred years.

Thus, after grasping this information and the rough route from the elder Bingyi man, he temporarily put the matter aside, instead taking out the white crystal core obtained from the Fifth Tier Ice Demon he killed during the Holy Infant Valley trial, handing it to the elder Bingyi man for refining into an invisibility spiritual artifact.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhengyang, although very curious about the content of Zhouyang’s conversation with the elder Bingyi man, wisely did not inquire into the matter.

He simply resumed picking the Crystal Ice Orchid after seeing their agreement.

After five days had passed, the elder Bingyi man used his people’s methods to refine the Ice Demon Crystal Core, then took out a piece of Thousand-Year Profound Jade from his storage spiritual artifact, melting and refining it into a short rod about a foot long, finally placing the treated Ice Demon Crystal Core on the rod’s tip, completing the refining of this magical artifact.

The artifact thus refined, unlike their scepter, aside from the Ice Demon invisibility divine technique, had no other uses, serving only a snowfield invisibility function.

But for Zhouyang, the invisibility function was sufficient.

Indeed, if he were to keep these two Bingyi men around long-term to refine artifacts for him, he would be more apprehensive.

Who knows whether these two Bingyi men would notify someone to rescue them or whether their absence from the tribe would attract the attention of the high priest mentioned? Even if no one came, Zhouyang did not trust the two Bingyi men, worrying they might communicate through other means.

So once the artifact refining succeeded, having tested it with no apparent issues, he honored his promise, released the two Bingyi men, then swiftly departed from the Ice Stream Canyon with Xu Zhengyang, who had already harvested the Crystal Ice Orchid, returning by the same route to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

"High Priest, you truly are wise. If not for using the name of the Holy Face Tribe to intimidate that human cultivator, we would likely have perished at that person’s hands. Without us to stand guard, the Jade Bone Tribe would soon be swallowed up by other tribes!"

In the Ice Stream Canyon, after ensuring that Zhouyang and Xu Zhengyang had departed, the young Bingyi man suddenly sat heavily on the ground, expressing his admiration to the elder Bingyi man with a respectful voice.

Listening to his words, it turns out they were not priests of the Holy Face Tribe at all, but rather priests of another small tribe, the Jade Bone Tribe, and that elderly Bingyi person was the High Priest of the tribe, the strongest existence in the Jade Bone Tribe.

"Aguda, your performance this time has truly disappointed me. You are the most outstanding genius in our Jade Bone Tribe in three thousand years, the next High Priest of our Jade Bone Tribe, the hope for our tribe to regain its former glory!"

"Your life is so important, how can you be reckless and impulsive? How have I taught you in the past? When facing a powerhouse capable of killing you, you must learn to fear and endure. Only by surviving in the hands of the enemy do you have hope of taking revenge in the future!"

"If it weren’t for that human cultivator having concerns, and me offering the information about the ’Ice Tear Flower’ which is of great use to them, because of your impulsiveness, both of us might have died here!"

The elderly Bingyi person did not seem pleased by the young Bingyi man’s praise, instead, he frowned sternly and reprimanded the young Bingyi person, teaching him the way of survival.

The young Bingyi person was dissatisfied with the scolding, but did not dare to retort, only lowered his head, keeping silent.

"Discontented? If you are discontented, then tell me, what was the real purpose of me telling that human cultivator about the ’Ice Tear Flower’?"

The elderly Bingyi person raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the young Bingyi person with a look of examination.

"Is the High Priest’s intention to use the power of the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’ to kill that human cultivator? Killing with the help of demons?"

The young Bingyi person’s eyes lit up, he raised his head with admiration to look at the elderly Bingyi person, his face full of joy.

"Of course, it’s not that simple! With the intelligence of that human cultivator, he certainly knows the power of the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’, how could he approach Ice Vulture Peak without certainty."

"But he definitely doesn’t know that the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’, although powerful, is not the main reason it occupies Ice Vulture Peak. The real reason is that the biological mother of the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’ is the Tier Six Demon King ’Cold Vulture Demon King’."

"If he goes to deal with the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’ when his strength is not great, there is still a chance to escape with his life. But if he waits until he has the strength to slay the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’ and then goes to deal with it, slaying it, then he would truly be doomed!"

The elderly Bingyi person said with a cold smile, his face full of harsh explanation.

The young Bingyi person, hearing these words, instantly stood up from the ground, and loudly said: "The High Priest is indeed the High Priest, I bet that damned human could never have imagined that the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’ is actually the offspring of a Tier Six Demon King, he’s dead for sure, he’s dead for sure!"

The elderly Bingyi person seeing this, immediately patted his shoulder and said: "Work hard in cultivation once we return to the tribe. With the cultivation speed of human cultivators, that human cultivator would need at least two or three hundred years to have the strength to threaten the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’. If you work hard, you might have cultivation akin to mine by then, and you might even get to personally watch him die!"

"Aguda understands, please rest assured High Priest, Aguda will definitely work hard in cultivation and revitalise the Jade Bone Tribe in the future, fulfilling the wishes of the past High Priests, bringing our Jade Bone Tribe back to the ranks of the major tribes!"

The young Bingyi person nodded heavily, responding loudly with determination to the elderly Bingyi person.

Already having left Ice Stream Canyon, Zhouyang was unaware of being set up by the two Bingyi people.

He was already very satisfied with the gains from this trip.

Although the substantial acquisition was only a Snow Concealment Spiritual Artifact and some ice attribute spiritual objects found near the Frost Wolf King’s lair, he learned of the rare spiritual object known as the ’Ice Tear Flower’.

In the Cultivation Realm, treasures that can aid in Nascent Soul Formation are extremely rare, almost impossible to buy with Spirit Stones, and are usually auctioned to sky-high prices.

Something like the ’Ice Tear Flower’, which can help overcome the ’Heart Demon Tribulation’, is even more rare and unseen for a millennium.

For any cultivator wanting to refine pill and form an infant, the ’Heart Demon Tribulation’ is undoubtedly their most uncertain obstacle, and this difficulty stumps seventy to eighty percent of cultivators.

The danger of this obstacle has caused countless brilliant and talented cultivators to fall at this hurdle, losing a thousand years of lifespan in a day.

In such circumstances, the ’Ice Tear Flower’, which can help overcome the ’Heart Demon Tribulation’, is more than just a spiritual object that assists in Nascent Soul Formation; it is a life-saving item that might crucially play a lifesaving role at the key moment.

Whether one could overcome the ’Heart Demon Tribulation’ and advance to Nascent Soul stage, extending life by three thousand years, or perish under the ’Heart Demon Tribulation’, a thousand years of lifespan turning to void instantly, it depends on whether one possesses this spiritual object.

Therefore, upon discovering information about the ’Ice Tear Flower’, Zhouyang decided that this information would not be told to anyone else.

This item is simply too precious, even Master Cyan Yang, Zhouyang wouldn’t dare guarantee that after telling the other party, the item would be left for his future use.

He and the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, no matter how close the relationship, ultimately he is an outsider, and not as valued as someone like Xu Zhengyang, a Golden Core Elder of the sect.

If there is even a one percent chance, Zhouyang is unwilling to take the gamble.

Anyway, such a spiritual object targeting the ’Heart Demon Tribulation’ of a cultivator, neither demon beasts nor Bingyi people would have much use for it. Zhouyang isn’t concerned about the ’Three-headed Ice Vulture’ consuming it after hundreds of years.

On the way back to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, there was a slight mishap.

While passing through a Tier Five Demon Beast’s territory, a demon beast out hunting happened to spot them, and the beast was cunning enough not to immediately drive them away, but instead sent signals to other Tier Five Demon Beasts around its territory, aiming to ambush them.

Fortunately, these demon beasts underestimated Zhouyang’s strength. After initiating the ambush, Zhouyang instantly severely injured one demon beast, breaking through the encirclement.

In the end, although the two were a bit embarrassed, they safely returned to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

After returning to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, Zhouyang naturally didn’t need to continue traveling with Xu Zhengyang to the Profound Sun Immortal Sect. He parted halfway and returned alone to Chongxuan Mountain.

In the more than a year since Zhouyang left, Chongxuan Mountain hadn’t changed much. Besides his Dao Companion Xiao Ying, even his registered disciples didn’t know that their master had ever left.

"Over four months ago, Xue Wei sent a letter through someone. Since you were not here, husband, I opened it first to take a look."

On Chongxuan Mountain, after Zhouyang returned and told his Dao Companion Xiao Ying about his experiences during this journey, he heard Xiao Ying mention news about the official disciple Lu Xuewei.

"Oh, what does the letter say?"

He asked with a slight curiosity.

"In the letter, Xue Wei said she has broken through to the fifth layer of the Purple Mansion, and she has now traveled to the territory of the Six Paths Alliance. She said she plans to hone herself in the Endless Snowfield for some years and search for the second part of the ’Ice Soul Scripture.’ According to her, she has already some leads."

"Also, she mentioned meeting a very compatible female loose cultivator at the Purple Mansion Stage along the way, and they have become golden orchid sisters. She said that once she returns from the Endless Snowfield, she will bring that sworn sister to Chongxuan Mountain to meet us."

Xiao Ying smiled faintly and relayed the contents of Lu Xuewei’s letter.

Zhouyang, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but laugh: "It’s quite intriguing that with her personality, she could form a relationship like golden orchid sisters with someone. It’s both a wondrous and good thing. When the time comes, we should indeed thank her sworn sister."

Stubborn, aloof, solitary—these were Zhouyang’s assessments of this disciple’s character. Such a person might become a powerful cultivator but was destined to have few friends.

In fact, even as her master, he could hardly bear this disciple’s temperament.

Even gentle and kind Xiao Ying found her current situation troubling, not knowing how to change her.

So they were both pleased to hear that Lu Xuewei had formed a golden orchid relationship.

"Let’s not talk about her anymore. Let’s talk about Ye Yunshan, that child. She really has natural talent in spirit plant techniques, even as a Tier Two Top Grade Spirit Plant Cultivator. She has already cultivated a mutated spirit elixir, though luck played a part, her talent in this area is evident."

"So I want to ask you for a favor, to make her my direct disciple and bestow on her a Foundation Establishment Pill to assist her in achieving Foundation Establishment."

Xiao Ying shook her head, refraining from mentioning Lu Xuewei further, and suddenly turned the conversation to her intention to take a disciple.

She had set her sights on Ye Yunshan, one of Zhouyang’s registered disciples, intending to make her a direct disciple.

A direct disciple isn’t the same as a registered disciple. Once accepted, a direct disciple requires full responsibility and is considered a successor.

Even Lu Xuewei, though an official disciple enjoying the treatment of a direct disciple, isn’t actually Zhouyang’s direct disciple. To be precise, she is only a direct disciple in inheriting his Talisman Making Art.

In fact, the ’Qianyang Immortal Scripture’ which he cultivates, apart from himself, is hard to pass on to another cultivator with the ’Qianyang Treasure Body’ as a direct disciple.

Thus, Zhouyang was taken aback upon hearing Xiao Ying’s decision and earnestly looked at his Dao Companion and asked: "Direct disciples are no small matter, Ying’Er. Are you really sure? That Ye Yunshan’s Spirit Root talent is only average; even with your support, successful Core Formation is not very likely in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ying rolled her eyes at him and said: "Golden Core is not so easily achieved. Even those with Top-grade Spirit Root talent find it extremely challenging to reach Golden Core. Even top-tier major sects like the Profound Sun Immortal Sect can’t ensure that every direct disciple achieves Core Formation, let alone our smaller sects?"

Then she looked at him earnestly and said: "I’ve decided. As long as she can cultivate to the Purple Mansion Stage under my guidance, she’s qualified. I very much like her personality and find her very congenial."

"Alright, since you like her, then take her as your disciple."

Zhouyang nodded with a wry smile, choosing not to oppose.

Then, recalling something, he suddenly broke into a grin and said: "It’s this girl’s lucky day to have caught your eye, and her husband will likely also find success in the future!"

Xiao Ying is a Tier Four high-grade alchemist and will become a Tier Five Alchemist in the future. Being her disciple guarantees no shortage of Spirit Elixirs.

Moreover, she is generous with her people; even ordinary Zhou Clan members, or registered disciples on the mountain often receive Spirit Pill rewards, let alone her direct disciples.

Upon hearing Zhouyang, Xiao Ying thought he was worried about nepotism and quickly said: "Rest assured, husband, I do have principles and will not favor them excessively."

"Yes, I trust that, but I think raising our own daughter yields more. So, let’s try a little harder and have a daughter soon!"

After saying this, Zhouyang burst into laughter, lifted his blushing Dao Companion, and carried her into the bedroom.

Soon, the soft voice of a beauty could be heard from within the bedroom.

ps: This book has finally reached two million words! I’m going to celebrate today, decided to order a thirty-dollar takeout for lunch to reward myself!