"Frozen Seal Art." Watching the cold aura emanating from Yun Tianhe, Daniel Davis nodded thoughtfully. He couldn't help but acknowledge Xuanxiao's extraordinary talent; in nearly 19 years of being sealed, Xuanxiao had managed to create such a powerful cold-element technique.
However, Xuanxiao was clearly overestimating himself. Even though the Frozen Seal Art was indeed formidable, it still paled in comparison to the intense yang energy of the Yihe Sword. More importantly, Xuanxiao seemed to have overlooked the most critical issue—his inner turmoil. Being forcibly sealed for so long, Xuanxiao's heart was likely brimming with pent-up anger.
Years of accumulated rage couldn't possibly be suppressed, not by the Frozen Seal Art and not even with the Three Cold Artifacts.
"As for the Three Cold Artifacts, we've only heard rumors. The Light Chronicle Cold Diagram was said to have appeared at the seaside near Ji Mo several centuries ago. As for the Kun Scales, they are believed to come from the scales of a giant fish that once swam near Chao Lake a few years back, though its current whereabouts are unknown. The third artifact, we have no specific details about. It's only known to be hidden within the mythical Flame Emperor Shennong Cave," Qingyang explained after observing the effects of Yun Tianhe's Frozen Seal Art.
"These locations are worth investigating," Qingyang continued, sharing a glance with Chongguang before speaking again.
"We can, but I promised my big brother to help him," Yun Tianhe suddenly interjected after Qingyang finished speaking.
"Please forgive him, elders. Tianhe meant no disrespect," Murong Ziying quickly explained, concerned Yun Tianhe's bluntness might offend the elders.
"No harm done. Tianhe is a good child, and young people benefit from more experience. Since that's the case, I'll leave the task of finding the Three Cold Artifacts to you all. If you encounter any difficulties, come find us at Qingfeng Stream," Chongguang said with a smile, nodding kindly at Yun Tianhe.
"Thank you, elders." Murong Ziying bowed to the two elders, and the group left Qingfeng Stream.
"To think it's already been 19 years. If Xuanxiao truly manages to break free from the ice, we can finally let go of our guilt and leave this world in peace," Qingyang sighed softly as the group departed.
"Let's hope so," Chongguang replied, though his expression was tinged with doubt as he watched the group walk away—more specifically, as he observed Han Lingsha's retreating figure.
"What's on your mind?" Qingyang asked, puzzled by his companion's reaction.
"The Demon Realm is approaching, and at this critical time, Tianqing's child appears. If that weren't enough, there's also that purple-clad young lady. And now, Xuanxiao seeks to break free... Ai." Chongguang trailed off, shaking his head.
"Are you suggesting Xuanxiao intends to continue what he started years ago?" Qingyang asked in shock.
"It's hard to say," Chongguang replied, shaking his head again.
"At this point, what can we do?" Qingyang murmured. The two elders sighed simultaneously before transforming into streaks of sword light and vanishing.
"Hey, Ziying, that Chongguang Elder—has he achieved immortality? His hair and eyebrows are white, but his face looks so young!" Han Lingsha asked excitedly as the group crossed a wooden bridge leaving Qingfeng Stream.
To her, Chongguang Elder seemed like the most "immortal-like" person she'd encountered in the Qionghua Sect.
"That's merely the result of a unique cultivation technique. The two elders, while their lifespans far exceed ordinary humans by several decades, are not immortal," Murong Ziying explained.
Different cultivation techniques could yield varying effects. This was true not only in this world of cultivation but even in martial arts. For instance, certain techniques, like the Sacred Heart Art, could preserve one's youthful appearance.
"I see... That's strange. I've searched through every book and record in the Qionghua Sect's library and haven't found anyone achieving immortality," Han Lingsha muttered dejectedly, her excitement waning.
"Books, records..." Though Han Lingsha spoke softly, Murong Ziying, being so close, caught her words.
"Nothing! I didn't say anything! Anyway, which of the Three Cold Artifacts should we look for first?" Han Lingsha quickly changed the subject.
"Since they're all difficult to locate, we might as well start with the Light Chronicle Cold Diagram," Murong Ziying suggested, his thoughts turning to Xuanxiao's freedom.
"Great! Ji Mo—I know where that is! I can lead the way. It's by the northeastern coast."
"So festive with all these lanterns! Looks like there's a celebration going on," Han Lingsha remarked as they approached Ji Mo.
The group of five quickly reached the seaside town of Ji Mo using sword flight. Traveling this way was incredibly fast—what would have taken six months on foot was covered in mere moments. The Qionghua Sect was situated far to the west in the Kunlun Mountains, while Ji Mo was on the distant eastern coast.
After landing outside the town, the group entered Ji Mo, which was festively adorned with colorful lanterns. Ji Mo was a small coastal town, lively but not overly bustling.
"Are there rice dumplings to eat during this festival?" Yun Tianhe asked eagerly.
"This isn't a rice dumpling festival," Han Lingsha explained with exasperation, clarifying that different festivals involved different foods.
"Then what are we eating for this one?" Yun Tianhe asked again.
"How would I know?" Han Lingsha replied, rolling her eyes. She had no idea what festival was being celebrated in Ji Mo and therefore didn't know what food was associated with it.
"Alright, enough fooling around. We're here to find the Light Chronicle Cold Diagram," Murong Ziying reminded them, cutting through their banter.
"Right, the Light Chronicle Cold Diagram! Hey, have you heard of it?" Yun Tianhe asked, stopping a passing young man.
"The Light Chronicle Cold Diagram? Never heard of it," the young man replied before hurrying off.
"That's strange. Isn't this a festival? Why is everyone in such a rush?" Han Lingsha wondered, looking at the hurried townsfolk with confusion.
Although the town was beautifully decorated, exuding a festive atmosphere, the residents' faces showed no signs of joy.
"Excuse me—"
"Don't bother me!" Before Murong Ziying could even finish speaking after stopping another young man, he was pushed aside as the man rushed off, just like the first.
"Ziying, why don't we find an inn to settle down first? We can investigate the Light Chronicle Cold Diagram after resting," Han Lingsha suggested.
"Alright," Murong Ziying agreed after a brief pause.
The group soon arrived at the town's only inn, where they rented five rooms. However, they all gathered in Murong Ziying's room to discuss their next steps.
"Since you insist, Ziying, you, Tianhe, and Mengli will form one group to investigate the town. I'll go with Daniel to explore elsewhere," Han Lingsha proposed.
From Murong Ziying's earlier interactions, Han Lingsha had realized he wasn't good at talking to people, likely due to his upbringing in the Qionghua Sect. Initially, she'd planned to have him stay at the inn while the rest of them searched for the Light Chronicle Cold Diagram. However, since he insisted on participating, she adjusted the groups accordingly.
This arrangement aimed to speed up their investigation. After all, Yun Tianhe and Murong Ziying weren't well-suited to gathering information. Liu Mengli was slightly better, but when it came to information gathering, Han Lingsha and Daniel were the most capable.
Ji Mo was a small town surrounded by several nearby villages. In this era, coastal areas weren't as developed and weren't particularly prosperous.
"The Light Chronicle Cold Diagram—it should be in the hands of a scholar who serves as a mountain deity," Daniel recalled. He vaguely remembered details about the search for the Three Cold Artifacts, particularly the Light Chronicle Cold Diagram and the artifact in Flame Emperor Shennong Cave. The latter involved two sisters whose pursuit of immortality ended in tragedy. However, his memory of the Kun Scales was hazier.
Daniel's recollection of the scholar was thanks to later events involving the Ghost Realm.
"The Fox Immortal Temple... Since it's a divine beast, even if it causes trouble, Murong Ziying will show leniency. If it were a demon, he'd probably strike it down immediately," Daniel mused.
Through his investigation, Daniel hadn't yet located the scholar mountain deity but had learned much about Ji Mo. The town was currently celebrating its annual Lantern Festival, yet most residents were grim-faced because the Fox Immortal was demanding offerings for its birthday.
For Ji Mo's residents, offering tributes to the Fox Immortal Temple was a long-standing tradition. However, this time, the offerings weren't routine—they were for the Fox Immortal's birthday. Daniel found this ridiculous. A divine beast, over a thousand years old, imitating human birthday celebrations?
If the Fox Immortal truly protected Ji Mo, an extra offering wouldn't have been an issue. However, not only did the Fox Immortal fail to protect the residents, but it often caused disasters.
For instance, when the townsfolk prayed for calm seas, the Fox Immortal stirred up storms and waves. When they prayed for rain during droughts, the Fox Immortal extended the drought to three years. With its magical abilities, the townsfolk dared not resist.
In its early years, the Fox Immortal had been benevolent, occasionally aiding the residents with favorable weather. This goodwill had earned it a temple. But its behavior had changed dramatically over the past decade.
For the Fox Immortal, causing storms on the sea was a trivial feat with wind-based spells. However, for the fishermen who depended on the sea, these storms were life-threatening. The drought's consequences were even more devastating. The only reason Ji Mo hadn't completely fallen into ruin was thanks to the scholar mountain deity.
"The Light Chronicle Cold Diagram? Never heard of it."
The villagers outside Ji Mo were more approachable than the townsfolk. However, they all shook their heads when asked about the artifact. Daniel also learned why everyone was in such a hurry—they were rushing to deliver their offerings to the Fox Immortal Temple, fearful of incurring its wrath.
"Lotus Treasure! Has anyone seen my daughter, Lotus Treasure?" Just as Daniel was about to leave a village, he spotted a distressed young man in green clothes frantically searching for his daughter.
"Found him." In a small coastal village, a scholar was a rare sight, let alone one with a daughter. If Daniel hadn't been careful to avoid alarming anyone, directly asking for a scholar might have sped things up.
That "daughter" was actually the scholar's lover, who had accompanied him through six lifetimes.
"Sir, is it true that your daughter was taken by the Fox Immortal?" Daniel asked, stepping forward while the villagers looked on helplessly as the scholar prepared to rescue her alone.
"And who are you?" The scholar's eyes lit up when he saw Daniel—more precisely, when he noticed Daniel's Qionghua Sect robes. Ordinary people might not recognize them, but as a mountain deity, the scholar certainly did.
"I am a disciple of the Qionghua Sect. I came here seeking an artifact but learned of the Fox Immortal's atrocities. Rest assured, I will rescue your daughter," Daniel assured him.
"You're a disciple of the Qionghua Sect? My name is Xia Yuancheng. Thank you for your kindness. But the Fox Immortal is incredibly powerful—" Xia Yuancheng trailed off, clearly worried about the divine beast's strength.
"Don't worry, sir. I'm not alone in this," Daniel said, leading Xia Yuancheng to a secluded spot outside the village. There, he brought his hands together and waved his right hand upward, releasing a beam of sword light into the sky, which exploded in a radiant display.
This was the Qionghua Sect's signal to summon nearby disciples. For their first demon-slaying missions, new disciples were usually accompanied by elite disciples to minimize casualties and familiarize them with combat. Only elite disciples were permitted to act independently.
Of course, Daniel and his companions weren't elite disciples—they were unofficial, extraneous members of the sect and hadn't received such training.
"Did you find it?"
Seeing the sword light explode in the sky, Murong Ziying, Han Lingsha, and the others immediately noticed it. They quickly guessed that Daniel had found a lead on the Light Chronicle Cold Diagram and flew to his location.
"How outrageous! A divine beast, instead of protecting people, causes harm. Unforgivable!" Murong Ziying fumed after hearing Daniel's account.
"Daniel, you work fast. I'd just discovered the Fox Immortal was causing trouble. But I wonder, why did it kidnap your daughter?" Han Lingsha asked, curiously studying Xia Yuancheng.
"It's a long story. Right now, I only want to ensure Lotus Treasure's safety," Xia Yuancheng said with a deep sigh.
"Lingsha, let's focus on finding Mr. Xia's daughter first. We can ask questions later," Liu Mengli said, stopping Han Lingsha from probing further.
"Exactly. Where does the Fox Immortal reside? I'll teach it a lesson!" Yun Tianhe said, clenching his fists in anger.
"The Fox Immortal lives in Hidden Fragrance Mountain."
With Xia Yuancheng leading the way, the group soon arrived at Hidden Fragrance Mountain.
"That's Lotus Treasure's voice! Lotus Treasure, don't be afraid—I'm coming!" Xia Yuancheng shouted as he ran ahead anxiously.
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