After their match, neither man lingered. They turned and walked back toward the others.
Yun Lie was at Xu Ziqing’s side in an instant. Taking his wrist, he sent a stream of true essence into him.
The powerful energy swept through Xu Ziqing’s limbs and meridians before returning to his dantian. In just one complete circulation, it had healed the internal injuries he had sustained moments earlier.
That was possible because they were dual-cultivation partners. Their true essence did not reject each other, allowing it to work so effectively.
Meanwhile, Yuezheng Hezhi stood before Zhuang Wei. Rather than transferring true essence to him, he put a small bottle in his hand and said, “Your qi is weak and your constitution frail. Stay farther away next time!”
Zhuang Wei uncorked the bottle and swallowed the pill inside. Color immediately returned to his deathly pale face, and he gave a guileless smile. “Hezhi, thank you. I understand.”
Yuezheng Hezhi gave a little snort and said nothing more.
After this battle, Yuezheng Hezhi’s attitude toward Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie had improved considerably. He had not exactly treated them poorly before, but now there was a distinct measure of respect in his manner. With Yun Lie especially, he seemed to feel the appreciation of one worthy opponent for another.
Xu Ziqing was delighted to see it. He knew his senior brother well enough to tell that Yun Lie also held Yuezheng Hezhi in considerable esteem.
Perhaps he truly regarded the two as friends now, for Yuezheng Hezhi took them straight to his own cultivation chamber. It was an ice room situated where several first-grade spiritual veins converged. The spiritual energy was so dense it was almost milky white, thick enough to seem tangible.
The place where the veins converged was known as a spiritual eye.
In the past, Yuezheng Hezhi had allowed only Zhuang Wei to cultivate there with him. Now Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie joined them.
In a very short time, Xu Ziqing felt his cultivation advance considerably. His foundation became steadier and his reserves more substantial. To make room for still more true essence, he endured the pain of having his senior brother use a torrent of true essence to widen his meridians, then immediately repaired them with wood qi. Repeating this process brought extraordinary progress.
Yun Lie, too, swallowed spiritual energy like a whale taking in water, steadily increasing his reserves.
Every several hours, Yuezheng Hezhi would invite Yun Lie to another match. This time, however, Xu Ziqing and Zhuang Wei knew what to expect. Before watching, they always used magical treasures to shield themselves.
Several comfortable days passed in this fashion.
Then the head of the Feng family came to pay his respects.
Ever since his first exchange with Yun Lie, Yuezheng Hezhi had taken a greater interest in their request. He had sent orders to the Feng family early on. Once the messengers returned and reported everything, the family head grew uneasy. He questioned them repeatedly, considered a great many ways of handling the matter, and finally hurried over with the family’s treasured rare beast, several promising younger members, and the brothers Feng Qi and Feng Jun.
The entire party was now waiting outside the ice palace to be summoned.
Yuezheng Hezhi had just finished sparring with Yun Lie, and both men’s auras were still somewhat unsettled.
Both grew fiercer the longer they fought. Yun Lie in particular gained tremendous insight each time he crossed swords with a Soul Transformation expert, making remarkable progress after every match.
Later, Yuezheng Hezhi had to use an additional level of his cultivation realm to fight Yun Lie to a draw. Yet he, too, could discover unconventional approaches through the sword cultivator’s methods, and he thoroughly enjoyed the fights. He was quite willing to have more of them.
For the moment, he merely regulated his breathing for a short while before ordering with characteristic arrogance, “Have them wait in the side hall. I shall see them shortly.”
The messenger hurried away. Only then did Yuezheng Hezhi turn to the other three. “Since it concerns that matter, come with me.”
Xu Ziqing glanced at his senior brother, then thanked their host on both their behalf. “Then we thank you, Palace Master Yuezheng.”
Yuezheng Hezhi said nothing further. He strode forward, his purple robe billowing.
Zhuang Wei followed close behind. Xu Ziqing took his senior brother’s hand and hurried after them.
Inside the side hall.
A clean-shaven, fair-faced middle-aged man, eight chi tall, sat on a chair to the right. Several young men stood respectfully behind him.
These were the visitors from the Feng family. The middle-aged man was Feng Tai, its current head and a middle-stage Nascent Soul expert.
Although he looked perfectly composed, he was harboring a fair amount of regret.
Feng Qi had told him about the two benefactors who saved his life and helped him obtain the ten-thousand-year Snow-Silver Ginseng. Yet Feng Tai had assumed they were merely two junior Golden Core cultivators and paid them little attention. When he agreed to meet them, it was largely out of regard for the ginseng.
Who could have imagined that those same two people would establish a connection with the Second Young Palace Master, to whom the Feng family owed allegiance, and even persuade him to issue orders on their behalf?
He still did not know whether the relationship was merely a matter of appearances or one of genuine closeness. He would have to judge after meeting them.
While Feng Tai was still considering this, someone announced, “The Second Young Palace Master has arrived!”
He promptly collected his thoughts, rose, and turned toward the side entrance to bow in welcome.
Sure enough, an immense pressure swept in. The entire side hall grew even colder, as though everyone had been plunged into an ice cavern.
Feng Tai saw a richly dressed young man in purple appear, then take the seat of honor in the blink of an eye.
Several others entered with him. The one rumored to enjoy his particular favor stood respectfully at his side, while the other two young men sat in the first and second seats to his right.
Feng Tai knew at once that these were the two Golden Core cultivators Feng Qi had mentioned. But he had seen too much of the world to be easily fooled. One look was enough for him to discern their true cultivation levels.
The younger man in red was indeed a Golden Core cultivator, but he had already reached the peak of the late stage. One more step would allow him to form his Nascent Soul, and his aura was exceptionally clear and pure. The other, cold-faced man in white was certainly no Golden Core cultivator. He was plainly a Nascent Soul expert, and a sword cultivator at that, the strongest kind of fighter within the same realm. Both his killing aura and sword qi possessed a frightening sharpness. He had undoubtedly comprehended sword intent, and his accomplishments in the sword Dao must be extraordinary!
If Feng Tai had personally taken a look at these two back then, he would never have been so dismissive.
What was done was done, however. He could only suppress his regret and do his utmost to make amends.
Accustomed to standing above others, Yuezheng Hezhi never bothered to puzzle out the various thoughts of his subordinates. He merely gave Feng Tai a glance and said coldly, “My friends need to borrow your Wave-Reflecting Ox. Have you brought it?”
Feng Tai’s heart shook. They were already the Second Young Palace Master’s friends!
His regret deepened, and he became even more deferential. “Reporting to the Second Young Palace Master, this subordinate has brought the Wave-Reflecting Ox.”
He no longer dared show the slightest hesitation.
With a sweep of his spiritual sense, Yuezheng Hezhi saw the Feng party’s cultivation levels clearly. He knew that even if they all attacked together, they would be unable to harm Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing. He nodded. “Then accompany my friends at once. Do not delay them.”
Feng Tai repeatedly answered, “Yes.”
Yuezheng Hezhi then indicated Yun Lie and said, “I shall not accompany you this time. If the Feng family fails to treat you properly, I will punish them myself.”
Every member of the Feng family trembled.
Reading Yuezheng Hezhi’s expression, Zhuang Wei supplied the rest. “The Second Young Palace Master has also ordered that anyone who renders meritorious service on this trip will be rewarded.”
Only then did the Feng party finally relax.
Yuezheng Hezhi and Zhuang Wei already knew the divine water Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie sought was crucial to Xu Ziqing’s Nascent Soul breakthrough. As fellow cultivators, they saw no need to fuss over farewells. After giving the Feng family their instructions, the two returned to their own cultivation and left Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie to search for the treasure.
Xu Ziqing bade them farewell with a smile, then followed the Feng party out of the ice palace with his senior brother.
Once outside the territory of the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace, the Feng family seemed to relax a little.
Feng Tai had noticed that Yun Lie disliked conversation. He had also learned from the Feng brothers that these two were Dao partners. He therefore did not dare look down on Xu Ziqing for being a Golden Core cultivator. Instead, he addressed him warmly. “Fellow Daoist Xu, if it suits you, why not release the Wave-Reflecting Ox here? It was born with an excellent nose and can detect water sources a thousand li away. The more spiritual energy the water contains, the more clearly it can smell it.”
Xu Ziqing understood why the family head had been cautious earlier and held no grudge over his dismissive attitude. He smiled gently. “My senior brother and I know little about such a marvelous creature. Please direct it as you see fit, Family Head Feng. We will simply follow.”
Feng Tai felt slightly reassured. He spread his palm and sent a beast-control token flying out.
The token glittered gold and was far superior to any Xu Ziqing had seen before. Presumably only an artifact of this grade could house such an unusual creature and let it rest undisturbed.
The token spun in midair. When its radiance faded, an enormous ox appeared on the ground, standing a full three zhang high. Its body was bluish brown, with a horn on its nose and seven long horns atop its head. It was a bizarre-looking creature, although its temperament seemed quite docile.
Feng Tai cast several hand seals. The Wave-Reflecting Ox lifted its head and gave a long “Moo!” Then it lay flat and drove the single horn on its nose into the icy plain.
Almost at once, an elusive sensation seemed to spread far into the distance from that spot. Evidently, this was its innate ability.
After roughly seven or eight minutes, the ox withdrew its horn, stamped all four hooves, and set off southwest, tossing its head and swishing its tail.
Feng Tai brightened. “Please follow me, fellow Daoists. The Wave-Reflecting Ox has already located an ice spring.”
Xu Ziqing was intrigued. This demonic beast truly had an extraordinary talent.
If he and his senior brother had possessed such a companion during their earlier search, they would never have wasted so much time.
The ox moved extremely quickly. Everyone kept pace using their own techniques, some riding magical treasures and others employing escape arts. None were slow.
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie traveled hand in hand, their toes never touching the ground, their figures light as the wind. The bearing of the two made Feng Tai even more cautious.
After a little over an hour, they reached the nearest ice spring.
There was a glacier here, with several snow-covered peaks stretching into the distance.
The Wave-Reflecting Ox headed straight for the mountainside, where an ice cave contained a pool of spring water.
The party quickly entered. The spring was no more than one zhang across, water bubbling up from its source. It was so cold that an ordinary mortal who fell in would die instantly.
Yet one glance was enough to disappoint everyone.
It was indeed an ice spring, and several ice-attribute spiritual herbs grew in its waters, but it was nowhere near cold enough to qualify as extreme cold, much less to produce divine water.
Seeing that the two showed no interest, Feng Tai ordered the spiritual herbs collected, then activated the Wave-Reflecting Ox again.
The beast was obedient and promptly resumed sniffing for water.
Over the next three days, the group visited dozens of ice springs. They gathered quite a few spiritual herbs and ores, but found no trace of the divine water.
Feng Tai grew anxious. If their search went on without results, would the Second Young Palace Master judge them incompetent?
Although Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie showed no displeasure, the other Feng family members began worrying too.
Only the Feng brothers were somewhat more at ease. Having spent time with these two, they knew they were not the sort to take their frustrations out on innocent people.
Still, repeated failure inevitably made everyone uneasy.
At last, toward evening on the third day, the Wave-Reflecting Ox suddenly became agitated and charged toward a mountain hollow.
Its reaction gave everyone fresh hope.
A flash of delight crossed Family Head Feng’s eyes. He called out at once, “Quickly, after it! This ox would never grow so frantic unless it had found an extraordinary treasure!”
Xu Ziqing’s heart stirred, and he looked around.
He had previously read a description of the place where the divine water might be found. Now he wanted to compare it with their surroundings.
Snowy peaks and ice-covered mountains enclosed the area, and between them, within the hollow, lay a forest blanketed in snow.
It actually looked remarkably similar to the place described in the information he had obtained.