Just as the great battle outside the Minor Cold Palace erupted, within the chaotic stone piles of the Profound Jade Cave, inside a raging whirlwind, Han Li sat within a half-zhang-wide purple lotus, his hands forming seals as a wisp of exceptionally slender purple flame spewed from his mouth and poured into a massive glowing sphere not far ahead.
Apart from Han Li’s Purple Apex Flame, four other streams of cold flames—black, white, yellow, and green—were also striking the sphere, emanating from the elderly woman and others seated within their respective lotuses. However, all five individuals, including Han Li, appeared visibly drained, their faces slightly pale.
On the surface of the glowing sphere at the center of the formation, multicolored flames swirled unpredictably, faintly revealing the silhouette of a seated figure. This figure stood over a zhang tall, towering in stature, and seemed unlike Frost Li the Transcendent. Upon closer inspection, it was a burly cultivator resembling a man in his thirties, yet his facial features bore a striking resemblance to Frost Li, as if the latter had suddenly regressed decades to his prime.
It was an eerie sight.
The burly man was bare-chested, his muscular torso exposed, with gleaming silver daggers embedded deep into vital points—his shoulders, chest, nape, and abdomen—yet not a single drop of blood flowed from the wounds. Even more striking were his slightly closed eyes, through which several multicolored light-worms, each several inches long, burrowed in and out of his skin as if his body were their nest.
Each time a worm burrowed in, the man shuddered, his face contorting in agony, as if enduring unbearable torment. Upon closer inspection, one would realize these “worms” were actually condensed manifestations of various extreme cold flames. With each entry and exit, the worms shrank slightly, and when they diminished to a certain size, they would burst with a soft “pop,” dispersing into nothingness. Immediately, a wisp of flame of the same color would fly from the outer sphere, coalescing into a new worm nearby before burrowing back into the man’s body.
This cycle repeated endlessly.
Had any cultivator peered inside the man’s body, they would have been shocked to find a three-inch-tall Spirit Infant at his dantian, its hands forming seals, enveloped in layers of blue icy flames. Yet the invading worms ignored the flames, parting them effortlessly to enter through the infant’s slightly parted nostrils, only to exit its mouth moments later before leaving the man’s body entirely.
The infant’s expression remained blank, but the blue flames around it flickered erratically, exuding an air of profound mystery.
After an indeterminate period, the burly man trembled violently and suddenly opened his eyes.
Han Li and the others, who had been channeling their cold flames, seemed to receive a signal. Almost simultaneously, they altered their hand seals, retracting their respective flames from the sphere as the lotuses beneath them dissipated into nothingness.
They then consumed elixirs or retrieved Spirit Stones, closing their eyes to meditate. This routine had repeated over a dozen times in recent days, each session depleting most of their spiritual power. Fortunately, all were wealthy individuals, and with the aid of various elixirs and Spirit Stones, they could fully recover within half a day.
Seeing the flames withdrawn, the burly man within the sphere closed his eyes again, seemingly entering deep meditation.
Time passed slowly until the elderly woman suddenly opened her eyes, studying the man in the sphere before sighing deeply.
“I truly admire Frost Li Daoist’s endurance, bearing the agony of the Five Flames Marrow Cleansing. Though the flames’ potency was deliberately restrained, the torment is akin to a living hell. It seems Brother Frost Li must have cultivated some unique body-tempering technique. Otherwise, his body would have long collapsed—this isn’t something mere willpower can withstand!”
“Dragon Consort’s insight is as sharp as ever! Senior Brother Frost Li did indeed practice a secret body-tempering art in his youth, granting him resilience far surpassing ordinary cultivators,” the blue-robed middle-aged man remarked with a faint smile.
“No wonder! Still, after multiple rounds of marrow cleansing, we’ve fully unlocked his latent potential. Whether in body or Spirit Infant, Daoist Frost Li has likely reached his limits. Now, only the final breakthrough remains. Success or failure hinges on the next two days!” the gray-robed monk added solemnly.
“However, the Profound Jade Cold Qi in the formation seems insufficient. We may need to pause and replenish it from outside,” Han Li interjected calmly.
“Oh? I hadn’t expected Daoist Han to grasp the intricacies of this technique so thoroughly! Indeed, before the final push, we must gather more Profound Jade Cold Qi from the surroundings,” came Frost Li’s robust voice from within the sphere, now brimming with vitality.
Han Li’s heart skipped a beat as he turned to look.
Frost Li had risen to his feet, his figure emerging slowly from the milky-white cold light. The five daggers embedded in his body had vanished without a trace, leaving no wounds behind. Paired with his youthful face and faint smile, the sight was unnervingly surreal.
“Nothing profound—just a passing thought,” Han Li deflected with a chuckle.
“Then, having observed thus far, does Brother Han believe this old man has a chance at breaking through this bottleneck? How does it compare to your expectations?” Frost Li donned a blue robe retrieved from his storage pouch, his tone laced with intrigue.
“You jest, Daoist Frost Li. This technique is your creation—how could my predictions surpass yours?” Han Li replied evenly, his expression unreadable.
Frost Li laughed heartily and dropped the subject. Floating mid-air, his fingers flickered as he sent several spell seals into the surrounding light barrier, vanishing without a trace.
The formation emitted an odd hum before halting abruptly. The five light pillars disappeared instantly, and Han Li and the others gently descended from the void.
With the barrier and whirlwind gone, the milky-white cold light surged toward them once more, but the group, prepared, summoned their cold flames to shield themselves.
“For the next day, I shall modify the formation slightly and gather additional cold Qi. Fellow Daoists, take this time to rest. Tomorrow, I shall rely on your aid once more for the final breakthrough. Should we succeed, I shall honor every promise made!” Frost Li stretched his towering frame and clasped his hands in gratitude, sincerity etched across his brow.
“Rest assured, Daoist Frost Li. Having committed to this, we shall see it through. Moreover, if this technique proves effective for transcending to Deity Transformation, we may yet employ it ourselves someday,” the elderly woman cackled.
“Should this humble monk ever reach late-Nascent Soul stage, this method may well be our shared opportunity,” the gray-robed monk added placidly.
Han Li merely nodded in silence.
Frost Li, seemingly satisfied, expressed his thanks before beginning adjustments to the formation.
Han Li and the others retreated to the sunstone hut to rest. Though their spiritual power had recovered, days of channeling extreme cold flames had left their divine sense weary, necessitating proper recuperation.
A day passed swiftly.
When Han Li and the others emerged, Frost Li was already seated in meditation within the formation’s cold Qi mass, now several times larger than the previous day—a testament to his diligence.
The blue-robed middle-aged man and Bai Mengxin had returned to the hut shortly after the others. Only Frost Li had remained outside throughout the day and night.
As Han Li scrutinized the formation’s alterations, the monk suddenly let out a startled exclamation, his face twisting in surprise and confusion.
Han Li turned to see the monk staring skyward, his expression peculiar. Following his gaze, Han Li’s own face stiffened.
The once-faintly visible entrance had vanished without a trace, and the massive cauldron used to open the passage was nowhere to be seen.
“Daoist Frost Li, what is the meaning of this?” the elderly woman demanded, her voice tinged with unease.
“Fear not, fellow Daoists. To prevent disruptions during the breakthrough, I temporarily sealed the entrance. Moreover, I may require the power of this ‘Qianlan Cauldron’ for the final push,” Frost Li replied calmly from within the cold mass.
“I see…” The monk and the elderly woman exchanged hesitant glances, while Han Li narrowed his eyes, silently studying the sky.
Tension thickened the cavern’s air.
“Ah, my oversight has unsettled you. Very well, I shall forgo the cauldron. Though the entrance must remain sealed, I shall place the Qianlan Cauldron near it. Does this satisfy you?” Frost Li offered amiably.
With a flick of his sleeve, a blue flame enveloped the small cauldron, sending it soaring hundreds of zhang upward to hover beneath the sealed entrance.
Though not entirely at ease, the trio felt somewhat reassured with the cauldron now far from Frost Li’s reach.
After a moment’s thought, the elderly woman forced a dry chuckle. “Daoist Frost Li overestimates our wariness! We merely found it odd. Let us focus on aiding your breakthrough!” Without waiting for a response, she darted into the formation.
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