“My disciple’s cultivation is still shallow. As his master, it is only natural that I take extra care of him. Although this White Rhinoceros Pendant is quite precious, it will be of little use to me when I traverse the Profound Crystal Path. However, I recall that Brother Man also possesses a Frost Pearl. Why not lend it to my disciple as well? I trust you wouldn’t want any mishaps to befall him before we even enter the inner palace, Fellow Daoist?” Patriarch Ji Yin showed no anger. Instead, his eyes glinted as he spoke with a smile.
“Hmph! I won’t let him die so easily before we retrieve the Void Heaven Cauldron. This Frost Pearl was obtained by slaying a Frost Carp in my early years. Consider yourself lucky, kid.” With these words, Man Beard retrieved a milky-white, smooth orb about the size of a thumb from his person and tossed it to Han Li.
Han Li’s heart swelled with joy as he caught it and expressed his gratitude. Though he knew these two had given him such treasures solely because of the Bloodjade Spider, he was more than happy to have something that would ensure his safety while traversing the Molten Rock Path.
Although both the Frost Pearl and Man Beard’s White Rhinoceros Pendant emitted a white glow, the moment Han Li held the pearl, an intense, bone-chilling cold seeped into his skin, causing him to shiver involuntarily. He hastily stored it in his storage pouch. This sensation was entirely different from the gentle coolness of the pendant—clearly, the pearl was superior.
The scholarly-robed elder chuckled at the scene, then flashed into the Profound Crystal Path. The other cultivators, seeing this, also entered the canyon through their chosen paths.
In mere moments, more than half of the cultivators before the pathways had vanished.
“Han Li, you may enter the valley first. We will meet at the teleportation formation at the canyon’s end in a few days,” Patriarch Ji Yin said to Han Li with a kind expression.
Han Li had no objections. After acknowledging the instruction, he made his way toward the path marked by the “Molten Rock Path” stone stele. However, before stepping inside, he calmly scanned his surroundings, feeling a twinge of unease.
The old demon Xuan Gu still hadn’t shown himself. Had he changed his mind and slipped away alone? Han Li couldn’t help but entertain such worrisome thoughts.
After all, human nature was unpredictable. It was entirely possible that Xuan Gu, upon seeing Ji Yin’s formidable presence, had reconsidered. But if that were truly the case, Han Li wouldn’t hesitate to use the old demon’s secrets as a bargaining chip to save his own life when the time came. A fierce glint flashed in Han Li’s eyes.
Perhaps this very thought stirred someone. Just as Han Li was simmering with resentment, Xuan Gu’s composed voice suddenly echoed in his ear.
“Stop looking around. I am concealed nearby but have not revealed myself. Take care of yourself. Once we pass the Icefire Path, I will contact you.” With these words, Xuan Gu’s voice vanished again.
Relieved and inwardly delighted, Han Li strode confidently into the pathway.
Blasts of scorching wind blew toward him from within the passage, instantly making Han Li feel as if he were standing beside a blazing furnace. Frowning, he focused his gaze ahead.
The pathway was only about two zhang high, not particularly spacious, but the glaring red light faintly seeping from ahead was unsettling.
Han Li licked his slightly parched lips, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he stepped forward. With each step, the temperature around him seemed to rise. After twenty or thirty steps, he could go no farther. The intense heat, coupled with occasional gusts of scorching wind, made the skin on his face ache faintly.
After a moment’s hesitation, Han Li first enveloped himself in a water-attribute protective barrier. A shimmering blue light encased him, immediately reducing the blistering heat.
Then, he slapped his storage pouch, and a blue streak flew out, landing in his hand—it was the Fire Repelling Treasure Robe.
Without a second thought, Han Li donned it beneath his outer robe. A cooling sensation immediately spread from the robe, invigorating him. He continued forward.
After a dozen more steps, a bright red light barrier suddenly blocked his path.
After only a brief glance at the barrier, Han Li plunged straight through. He had heard footsteps behind him, indicating other cultivators were entering. He had no interest in encountering them.
As he passed through the dazzling red light, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and the vanished heat surged back like a vengeful beast. The water-attribute barrier flickered blue several times, teetering on the brink of collapse.
Startled and still disoriented, Han Li frantically channeled his spiritual power, stabilizing the barrier. He then steadied himself and surveyed his surroundings.
Crimson rocks, reddish-yellow earth, vegetation glowing with red light, and a deep red, hazy sky—everything was bathed in fiery hues.
Even within his protective barrier and wearing the Fire Repelling Treasure Robe, Han Li could still keenly sense the scorching air, as if it were on the verge of combustion.
Taking a deep breath, Han Li’s expression darkened. If he only had to endure this heat for three to five hours, passing through would be effortless even without any treasures. However, according to Fairy Zi Ling, all cultivators on the Icefire Path, the second trial, were unable to fly and could only proceed slowly on foot.
Thus, those teleported farther away would have to walk day and night without rest for several days to reach the canyon’s end. This wasn’t a matter of cultivation alone; it also depended on the effectiveness of their cold and fire resistance treasures.
Moreover, the harsh environment wasn’t the only challenge. The innate ice and fire attribute spirits gathered within the canyon were the greatest obstacle to a safe passage. Each time, a significant number of cultivators died at the hands of these spirits.
Additionally, ambushes and treachery from those with ill intentions, seeking to steal treasures, were a recurring theme on the Icefire Path. After all, the closer one got to the teleportation formation at the canyon’s end, the more likely they were to encounter other cultivators. Stealing others’ cold and fire resistance treasures could significantly increase one’s chances of survival. Undoubtedly, those on the verge of succumbing would not hesitate to strike.
Han Li stood still, not immediately moving. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, surveying his surroundings while analyzing the information he had, deep in thought.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Han Li’s expression shifted. He retrieved the White Rhinoceros Pendant from his robe and hung it at his waist, then dismissed the blue protective barrier. The pendant’s white light replaced the blue glow, enveloping him.
He couldn’t afford to waste any spiritual power. Meditating to rest here would be pure suicide.
Tilting his head to look at the sky, he barely made out the blurred red sun and confirmed his direction before setting off without hesitation.
Ahead, aside from scattered piles of rocks and strange, waist-high trees, there was no discernible path. He could only trudge forward slowly.
After walking a short distance in the blistering air, Han Li found his way blocked by wild grass glowing with an eerie red light. Frowning at these bizarre plants, he hesitated.
Suddenly, a blue water sphere shot from his hand, striking the grass. Upon contact, the blue light sizzled and vanished into white vapor.
Han Li’s expression shifted slightly. He glanced to either side of the grass, but as far as he could see, there was nothing but this strange vegetation—no alternative route.
After a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth and tentatively stepped onto the grass, taking a few steps.
The moment his feet touched the grass, Han Li truly understood the terror of the Molten Rock Path. This was no ordinary grass—each blade was like a scorching red sword, incredibly sharp, and the fiery energy attached to it caused him considerable pain.
Although the White Rhinoceros Pendant and Fire Repelling Treasure Robe protected him from serious harm, the stinging pain from his thighs down made every step agonizing.
After advancing only a few zhang, Han Li had no choice but to reactivate the water-attribute protective barrier, shielding his entire body. Though this rapidly drained his spiritual power, it allowed him to sprint through the grass like the wind.
He reluctantly activated the Misty Steps technique. A blue, ghostly figure flickered east and west within the blinding red light before gradually receding into the distance as a small black dot.
…
Bu Xu was a cultivator with earth and fire spiritual roots. Having achieved his current level of cultivation in less than three hundred years, he had gained immense fame and was revered across several sea regions. Many even considered him one of the most promising candidates in the Chaotic Star Sea to reach the Nascent Soul stage in the past century.
Bu Xu greatly enjoyed the awe, envy, and lavish praise he received.
However, he was well aware of his own circumstances.
If he hadn’t, during a journey in his youth, stumbled upon an ancient “Split Origin Pill” inside a grade-four demon beast, saving him over a century of arduous cultivation, he would likely still be languishing at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Yet, it was this very elixir that gave him a taste of the benefits of ancient medicines. Thus, he had long set his sights on the current Void Heaven Palace expedition and had discreetly acquired a Fire Dragon Insect at a high price when others weren’t paying attention.
He intended to risk venturing into the inner palace, using this insect to retrieve the legendary top-tier treasure, the Void Heaven Cauldron. With the numerous treasures inside the cauldron and the fabled Heaven Mending Pill, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage would be virtually assured.
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