“It’s quite simple. Aside from the cold air in the Profound Jade Cave, there are a few things to be mindful of. For instance, these ten-thousand-year Profound Jades may seem easy to extract, but in reality, each one was fused with the entire vein by ancient cultivators using an unknown grand divine ability. Over countless years of refinement by the cave’s cold energy, they’ve become utterly seamless. Even the sharpest treasures can’t pry them loose. Otherwise, with so many Profound Jades here, why would our palace leave them unused? If we could extract them all and forge them into treasures, our strength could rival the Taiyi Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect overnight.” The middle-aged man in blue robes sighed with regret.
“These Profound Jades can’t be extracted?” The old woman frowned, skepticism evident in her tone.
“If Madam Long has doubts, feel free to test it yourself. You’ll see that Junior Brother Ouyang speaks the truth,” Frost Li the Transcendent added with a smile.
“Oh? Is it truly so miraculous? This old woman would indeed like to try!” The silver-haired crone trembled slightly as she raised her cane, pointing at a bean-sized Profound Jade atop a pile of rubble.
A streak of yellow light shot from the cane’s tip, striking the jade with a dull thud. The jade flickered briefly but remained unscathed.
The old woman’s expression darkened, a trace of ferocity flashing across her face. With a flick of her sleeve, an ancient-looking green hammer appeared in her hand. She swung it lightly before hurling it forward, transforming it into a bolt of green lightning.
A deafening explosion erupted as the lightning struck the jade. The jade flickered once before crumbling into a cloud of white powder, scattering in the wind.
The old woman stared in stunned silence.
“Don’t be surprised, Fellow Daoist Long. No matter how powerful the treasure, these Profound Jades will only shatter—never be extracted whole,” Frost Li chuckled.
The old woman’s face soured, but she remained silent.
The gray-robed monk suddenly spoke up, “Fellow Daoist Frost Li, if that’s the case, your palace’s stock of Profound Jades must be limited. Yet you were so generous earlier—this puzzles me.”
“Haha, Master Moju overestimates us. Though we can’t extract large quantities, we do have methods to retrieve small amounts. Junior Sister Bai, show them,” Frost Li replied with a laugh, turning to Bai Mengxin.
The white-robed woman nodded faintly, retrieving a small white vial from her storage pouch. Under the group’s watchful eyes, she approached the rubble, uncorked the vial, and with a flick of white light, forced a drop of pitch-black liquid onto another Profound Jade.
Han Li, who had been calm until now, stiffened imperceptibly at the sight of the droplet, though his expression quickly returned to normal. Fortunately, no one noticed his momentary shock.
The droplet vanished into the jade like a clod dissolving in the sea. The jade instantly dulled, coated in a gray haze, before detaching from the rock with a crisp snap. Bai Mengxin caught it effortlessly.
The old woman and the monk gasped in surprise, while Han Li’s eyes flickered with astonishment.
Frost Li grinned and explained, “Our founding ancestor left behind a treasure that gathers earthly yin energy, condensing a drop of yin water every decade. This water can dissolve stone and metal, and is the only way to safely extract the cave’s Profound Jades. Thus, we open the cave only once a millennium, retrieving but a handful each time.”
“I see,” the monk murmured in understanding.
The old woman glanced at the countless Profound Jades littering the cave, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes.
Han Li, however, was inwardly unsettled by the sight of the black droplet.
“Let’s discuss the rest in the Sun Essence Chamber,” Frost Li said, striding toward the crimson stone hut.
The others followed without objection.
Up close, the hut appeared semi-transparent, pulsing with a fiery glow as if built from blazing spirit stones.
“Sun Essence Stone?” Han Li mused silently. The term reminded him of “Sun Essence Flame”—surely there was a connection. Though uncertain, this might be a lead to finding the flame. He resolved to probe the palace members for more information later.
Inside the hut, the space was barren, but the biting cold of the cave couldn’t penetrate its walls. Relieved, the group dispersed their protective flames and settled into meditation.
As Han Li sat, the monk glanced around and remarked, “I never imagined your palace possesses Sun Essence Stones—rarities on par with Profound Jades. Yet, as I understand, these stones form only in the depths of earthfire, tempered by the legendary Sun Essence Flame. How did you acquire so many?”
Frost Li chuckled dryly. “I’m surprised you know of them, Master. These were gathered by our ancestors—we merely inherit their spoils. Now, let me detail the cave’s other taboos before outlining the breakthrough process.” He deftly steered the conversation away.
The monk smiled and fell silent.
Han Li’s heart leapt at the mention of the flame, though he masked his excitement. He focused on Frost Li’s words, even as his mind raced.
Meanwhile, in a grand pavilion atop the palace, an elegant middle-aged woman in white robes sat across from Bai Yaoyi and the gray-haired elder. Both wore solemn expressions.
“So, Elder Frost Li truly activated a Void Spirit Hall and brought three outsiders inside?” the woman asked calmly, her voice husky yet magnetic.
“Yes, Palace Master. But he has prepared contingency measures,” Bai Yaoyi replied.
The elder snorted. “The same old measures—hiding our elite in the halls if the enemy overwhelms us. With one hall occupied, we can save a third fewer disciples if disaster strikes.”
The woman countered, “If Senior Brother Frost Li succeeds in reaching the Deity Transformation stage, even the fiercest beast tide won’t threaten us. Still, Elder Ye, proceed with his arrangements. I hear eighth-rank beasts are already hunting our scouts.”
“Indeed, shapeshifters are clearing our perimeter—their usual tactic. But one thing troubles me,” the elder said gravely.
“Speak freely,” the woman urged.
“Our spies suggest that besides the Ice Phoenix, the Ten-Thousand Demon Valley’s high command isn’t just mobilizing the Grayback Wolf. There are signs… the Carriage Demon might act too,” he ventured hesitantly.
“The Carriage Demon? Impossible!” The woman’s composure shattered.
“I doubted it too, but multiple reports hint at it,” the elder sighed.
Bai Yaoyi shook her head. “That ancient fiend reached Deity Transformation eons ago. Why strike now?”
“Perhaps it’s linked to the Kunlun Mountain incident—the rumored Demon Saint and the Celestial Consort?” the elder mused.
“Those are just rumors. I left early due to injuries and can’t verify them. But Fellow Daoist Han stayed till the end—he might know more,” Bai Yaoyi said.
“The man you invited?” the woman asked sharply.
“Yes,” Bai Yaoyi confirmed.
“Regardless, the beast tide won’t stop. The Carriage Demon won’t leave the valley—at most, he’ll send an avatar,” the woman declared, regaining her poise.
Relieved by her certainty, the others nodded. The secrets of Deity Transformation cultivators were beyond them.
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