Hao was in trouble again, though this time, it was entirely self-inflicted. He had flown alone to the Comet Source.
According to intelligence from the Sanjing Sea Star System, Ling Ziyang had stolen a spaceship and returned to this location—the very base of the Minge Assassination Corps.
Yang Hao had traveled all this way simply to demand an explanation from Ling Ziyang. Although it was common for the “Thousand-Faced魅,” the Elder Council’s special envoy, to betray others, Ling Ziyang was carrying Yang Hao’s own child, making Yang Hao reluctant to depart for Earth just yet.
The Comet Source is a unique landform, often harboring massive energy. Occasionally, it erupts, launching interstellar heavy rocks at tremendous speeds.
These ejected rocks become comets across various star systems. Simply put, the Comet Source is both a gathering and launching point for comets, much like an active volcano, unstable and brimming with volatile energy.
Every space officer knows that the primary condition for stationing troops is to avoid the Comet Source. It’s not just about avoiding setting up bases there—being struck by even a single comet’s core could destroy several warships.
Only a monstrous organization like the Minge Assassination Corps would dare to settle in such a perilous place.
As soon as Yang Hao set foot on the Comet Source, he shivered from the cold. Few realize that the blazing comets soaring across the sky are actually launched from an extremely frigid origin. The area was bitterly cold, likely around minus one hundred degrees Celsius.
Even with a gravitational shield, Yang Hao couldn’t resist the freezing temperatures. He swallowed several pills and circulated his inner energy throughout his body to restore his normal condition.
“Have those Minge people gone mad? How can they possibly live in such cold?” Yang Hao muttered. “Could it be they all practice frost swords and need to be kept in a freezer to train?”
“Pretty much.” Hun Yuanzi rarely agreed with him. “Take a look at their camp.”
Yang Hao flew to the Comet Source undetected—not because the Minge had poor defenses, but because this place was simply inaccessible to ordinary people. Within a hundred light-years, there wasn’t even a single planet to offer cover, so any approaching spacecraft would be spotted by the Minge. Not to mention the numerous hidden sentries the Minge had placed—any intruder landing on the Comet Source would find it impossible to take even a single step forward.
But Yang Hao had flown in on his sword, making it impossible for anyone to detect him. With his current strength, if he were to become an assassin, he would be far superior to any ordinary Minge swordsman.
Following Hun Yuanzi’s words, Yang Hao peeked at the Minge Assassination Corps’ camp. On the dark blue, iron-like terrain, over a hundred black tents were set up. These tents were specially made from biological materials that not only resisted the extreme cold but also blocked much of the cosmic radiation.
However, Hun Yuanzi wanted Yang Hao to notice more than just that. Above each tent, visible to the naked eye, were swirling cyan clouds of cold mist. These were not natural emissions from the Comet Source—they were clearly released by cultivators.
“These are the Qing Ming Qi—authentic Qing Ming Qi!” Hun Yuanzi exclaimed with pleasant surprise. “No wonder these assassins chose to live in such extreme cold—it seems they’re all cultivating the Qing Ming Qi.”
“What is Qing Ming Qi?”
“It’s another cultivation method,” Hun Yuanzi explained. “Among the Qi-consuming sects of cultivation, there is one that specifically cultivates Qing Ming Qi. This Qi originates from icy coldness and is the most potent source of freezing power. No wonder these assassins can silently kill their targets—it’s because this Qi allows them to remain completely calm and silent, enabling them to strike suddenly and kill their opponents without warning.”
Yang Hao nodded, understanding that each cultivation sect had its unique techniques. The Minge Assassination Corps had been trained under one of the Elders, further proving that the Elders were indeed true cultivators.
“But… this sounds familiar. Isn’t there a primary pill with the same name?”
“Exactly, my smart apprentice. Your luck is truly amazing,” Hun Yuanzi said, even more excited than Yang Hao. “Your next stage, the Kong Ming Realm, requires the Qing Ming Cold Ice Heaven Fire Pill. The first requirement for this pill is a large quantity of highly cultivated Qing Ming Qi souls.”
Yang Hao now understood Hun Yuanzi’s meaning. He had heard of the Qing Ming Cold Ice Heaven Fire Pill before. Back then, Hun Yuanzi had been more than satisfied with Yang Hao breaking through the Yuan Ying Realm and had almost given up hope for the Kong Ming Realm, because successfully forging this pill was extremely difficult.
Each primary pill of the Dan Ding Sect had its own challenges. For example, the Yuan Ying Realm’s greatest challenge was finding the right cauldron for the pill—namely, the Chi Nu Cauldron. Once that was obtained, the pill could be successfully made.
As for the Qing Ming Cold Ice Heaven Fire Pill, the required energy and tools were not the main issues. With Yang Hao’s current strength, he had more than enough power to refine the pill, and the tool was even simpler—Yang Hao could use his own body as the cauldron to refine the pill internally.
The real challenge lay in the ingredients. This time, the materials weren’t ordinary medicinal herbs but three distinctly different substances.
The prerequisite for refining the pill was an extremely cold, icy environment—not just regular freezing cold, but a desolate, killing chill, a place where “not a bird flies over the mountains, and no footprints mark the paths”—a place utterly uninhabitable by ordinary people.
Yet, within this desolate cold, heavenly fire must also be kindled. This sounded utterly contradictory—an icy, lifeless place, yet somehow capable of producing fire. And not just any fire—true heavenly fire, like the flames that appear when a divine dragon manifests.
Just these two conditions alone would be enough to make any cultivator give up. Even in Hun Yuanzi’s time, for those who had broken through the Yuan Ying Realm, finding a place that met both conditions was extremely difficult.
Not to mention the third condition: the pill required the souls of many people cultivating Qing Ming Qi as its core ingredient.
“The Qing Ming Cold Ice Heaven Fire Pill is the first major pill within the Dan Ding Sect that uses other people’s souls as its primary ingredient. It’s extremely cruel—you must kill numerous powerful experts to refine it,” said Hun Yuanzi softly. “This pill is also exceedingly domineering—not only does it enhance one’s abilities, bringing one closer to the path of immortality, but it can even alter one’s personality. The accumulation of countless Qing Ming Qi souls will leave an indelible mark upon your spirit.”
“What kind of person will I become?” Yang Hao asked, somewhat worried.
“In the process of cultivation, only by reaching the Kong Ming state can one truly communicate with the spirits of heaven and earth.”
Yang Hao now understood—this was the essence of the Kong Ming Realm. Previously, Hun Yuanzi had told him that every cultivator should establish a connection with the universe, where every mountain and river, every star and constellation, could resonate within one’s body. The Kong Ming Realm was the state that allowed one to achieve such a spiritual connection.
“So you’re saying that if I kill these Minge members, I can refine the Qing Ming Cold Ice Heaven Fire Pill?” Yang Hao began to plot.
“Not just any of them,” Hun Yuanzi shook his head. “Not all cultivators of Qing Ming Qi can be used—otherwise, it would be too easy. You need ten experts with combat power exceeding level twenty to barely make it work.”
“Ten level-twenty experts?” Yang Hao frowned. Even a grand swordsman who had broken through level fifty could barely challenge three level-twenty experts at once. Killing ten level-twenty experts was practically impossible.
“Don’t even think about it. Even if you could handle level twenty experts, you’d be walking into your death with the current group,” Hun Yuanzi chuckled, having already figured out Yang Hao’s intentions. “You didn’t come all this way just to find that girl, did you?”
Yang Hao didn’t deny it. He raised an eyebrow, a slight smile on his face. “Of course, I need to find Ling Ziyang. But also, I heard that the Minge Assassination Corps possesses a ‘Sword of Judgment’—something I’ve had my eyes on for a long time.”
“One of the Ten Divine Weapons,” Hun Yuanzi immediately understood. In the Celestial Realm, the gods had long declared that collecting all ten swords would offer a chance to uncover the power left behind by the Creator. As a hidden member of the Ten Sword Sect, the Minge Assassination Corps was guarding the famous “Sword of Judgment.”
“But how exactly do you plan to break in alone?” Hun Yuanzi’s concern wasn’t unfounded. The camp was filled with over a hundred assassins with combat power above level ten. As the saying goes, one cannot fight against many. Even with Yang Hao’s extraordinary strength, it would be nearly impossible to eliminate so many enemies.
“I’m obviously going in… secretly,” Yang Hao grinned slyly. “Let them taste the wonderful pills of the Dan Ding Sect.”
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