Chapter 381 Subduing Elder Yu Shu of the Ice Flame Butterfly
This old man, though a hermit cultivator from Taihu Lake, was engaged in nothing but diverting trouble eastward.
According to him...
He discovered the nest of Ice Flame Butterflies in an ice crevice and harbored evil intentions. He used a special secret method to lure these strange insects to attack cultivators practicing on the ice plains.
The targets are mostly lone individuals. Some succeed, some fail. If they realize that things are not going well, they take out the Ice Phoenix Inheritance Token to lull the opponent into a false sense of security and take the opportunity to escape.
After the old man finished explaining everything...
Then he saw Wang Yu's pitying gaze, and his heart skipped a beat, but then he heard him say something.
"I thought Taihu Lake was a blessed land for cultivators, but now it seems that even with your cultivation level, you need to do such high-risk things?"
It's not that he looks down on those who rise to power through robbery.
That's how this line of work is—high risk, high reward. Once you succeed, you can get all of the other person's wealth. He's done it quite a few times. The problem is that the old man is already at the Nascent Soul stage, yet he's still willing to take the risk.
There is no other way but to become addicted.
Forced by circumstances!
The higher one's cultivation level, the more one cherishes life, and the will to bravely venture into secret realms, challenge monsters, and fight across borders in youth will become increasingly weak.
It's not that their desire for the Dao has diminished, but rather that they prefer to use conservative methods to acquire cultivation resources and are less likely to put themselves in dangerous situations.
The old man was, after all, a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Regardless of whether Chi Yuan goes to the Five Demonic Sects or merchant organizations like Jinmanlou or Tianbaoge, he's guaranteed a high position. While he can't guarantee extraordinary opportunities or miraculous medicines, his basic cultivation needs will still be met.
The longer they stayed, the more it proved their loyalty.
There is also the opportunity to advance further. This is the conservative development path that high-level cultivators generally choose. They have a long lifespan and don't care about gains or losses in the short term.
The old man's answer also proved this point.
He smiled wryly.
"There are too many cultivators in Taihu Lake, and top-grade spirit stones are a controlled resource that cultivators are not allowed to trade privately. Those fourth-order spirit veins are occupied by families everywhere."
"They are in cahoots and extremely xenophobic. Some families even have detailed regulations on the amount of time their members should spend cultivating in the spiritual veins each day."
Taihu Lake, a sacred place, is said to have a population of over 10 billion.
The sheer number of cultivators that could be produced from such a large pool is enough to make one's scalp crawl. In contrast, the Crimson Kite Demon Realm is overflowing with low- and mid-level resources.
So, does that mean he should thank the people who kidnapped him to Chiyuan?
My mind raced.
Considering that even Nascent Soul cultivators possess teleportation techniques, he didn't want to resort to violence unless he was absolutely certain of defeating his opponent. It would be best to resolve the matter through dialogue.
He was genuinely curious about the situation of the high-level cultivators in Taihu Lake: "So you killed people and stole resources right here on this icy plain?"
"They forced us to do it."
The old man's emotions fluctuated greatly when this was mentioned.
"There is no space for independent cultivators to survive in Taihu Lake. I once obtained an opportunity in the Qilin Secret Realm, which recorded a hidden paradise."
"When I finally found it, it had already been occupied by the Blazing Sun Sect. Even though I used my Blessed Land Owner's Token to drive them away, it was only a temporary relief..."
Needless to say, the outcome was that they were forcefully suppressed by the Lieyang Sect, even driven away, and their master token was taken away.
You can find hidden paradises and grottoes.
From this perspective, Taihu has already reached the limit of its own territory development. If it does not expand its territory, then the only option left is internal war, which will consume the excessively large number of cultivators.
Especially with the Void Heaven Sword Sect pressing down on them from above.
The maintenance of order relies on absolute violence, but cultivators are a group of beings who have transcended the mortal world and consider themselves extraordinary.
Not satisfied? Then let's fight!
From this perspective...
The war between Taihu and Chiyuan was perhaps not caused by a few divisive schemes, but rather by Taihu reaching its limit in terms of carrying capacity.
We have already entered a stage where we have no choice but to fight.
This was bound to happen, and from the old man's words, Wang Yu gained a deeper understanding of Taihu Lake.
From a broader perspective...
I have a feeling that the Taihu cultivation world is stronger than the Chiyuan cultivation world, with about ten times more people. Given this absolute numerical disparity, how would the war turn out?
But this is also a celebration for demonic cultivators.
Various blood sacrifices and soul sacrifices will not stop, and magical treasures such as the Myriad Soul Banner will become more prevalent, giving rise to many powerful figures in the demonic path.
We'll see what they're made of this time.
Understand the situation of Taihu Lake clearly.
Wang Yu had no intention of fighting the old man, and instead made a request that the old man could accept.
"Compensate me with 50 top-grade spirit stones, and this matter will be settled."
As for the Ice Phoenix Inheritance Token, it was likely the old man's second trap, so Wang Yu didn't ask any questions and only asked for top-grade spirit stones.
"Fifty pieces? That's enough to buy a top-grade Nascent Soul magic weapon. Fellow Daoist, you're being far too greedy."
Top-grade spirit stones are rarely traded.
Generally, about ten stones are enough to form a cycle. As long as you are backed by a fourth-order spiritual vein, you can bury the depleted top-grade spiritual stones into the spiritual vein.
In ten years, it will be filled with its essence and spirit again.
therefore.
Theoretically, all it takes to satisfy the daily cultivation needs of a Nascent Soul cultivator in the early stages is ten top-grade spirit stones and a fourth-order spirit vein. Seeing the other party's intense reaction...
Wang Yu remained silent.
"Why don't you try to negotiate a lower price?"
Seeing that the old man had succeeded several times, he figured he might have a lot of top-grade spirit stones, so he wanted to ask for a huge sum of money and take a big bite out of him.
Upon hearing this, the old man was extremely embarrassed.
He didn't want to fight Wang Yu. After offending him, he felt it was only right to pay the price. After thinking for a moment, he decided to back down.
"Ten, I can only give you ten..."
Before he could finish speaking...
Then he saw that Wang Yu, who had been so easy to talk to just moments before, was now enveloped in a blood mist, and the blood-red light emanating from his eyes swept across his face.
It made him feel as if he were in a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, filling him with fear and trepidation.
"How many?"
"Twelve! I also have three top-grade spirit stones that I've drained; I'll give them to you as well, fellow Daoist. Is that alright?"
Thus, the strange phenomenon vanished instantly.
As if nothing had happened, Wang Yu also reached out to ask for it. If he had the means to block teleportation, he wouldn't be so easy to talk to.
The top-grade spirit stone is shaped like a rhombus-shaped starry sky stone.
It is dazzling and extraordinary.
The pure spiritual energy contained within it is so potent that just one whiff of it can stir up his magical power.
"—Goodbye!"
Heartbroken, the old man paid the compensation and left the summit of Silverfrost Mountain without looking back. Wang Yu watched silently, feeling regretful, but knowing it was not the time to cause any further trouble.
Next.
Wang Yu took out ten pairs of Ice Flame Butterflies from the Human Seed Bag. Both the Five Poisons Scripture and the Gu-Drug Transformation Technique contain methods of enslavement.
There are countless secret techniques for cultivation.
I didn't need it before, but I only tried it briefly. Now that I have obtained the Ice Flame Butterflies, I can train a batch of them to serve as a symbolic means of representing the Ice Demon Child's identity.
Distinguish it from the original entity.
As for whether or not to use the Immaculate Jade Toad on the Ice Flame Butterfly, it needs to be carefully considered. In addition to being immune to all poisons, the Jade Toad can also enhance the bloodline of the strange insect.
Among the creations of Gu insects, they belong to the top tier.
This may also be the reason why the Jade Toad has not laid eggs yet. In addition, it consumes little energy and can survive by being fed some poison on a daily basis.
Therefore, they did not refine it hastily.
The Ice Flame Butterfly is an ancient and wondrous insect that ranks even higher than the Immaculate Jade Toad. Whether it will be effective remains to be seen!
Simply imprint the mark of divine consciousness.
He then used the Spirit Control Seal technique to leave seeds, which was considered a preliminary subjugation. However, this only prevented them from attacking Wang Yu. To truly tame and control them, he had to start from their egg form.
I selected several ice-attribute treasures from the Sea Heart Ring.
Put them all into the human race bag and have Xueyu look after them inside. If possible, it would be best to use fox clan seduction techniques to make the Ice Flame Butterflies go into heat.
Of course, that's one way of saying it.
Whether Xueyu can do it or not is another matter.
More than half a month later, Wang Yu, who had been unexpectedly delayed by this matter for some time, was quite satisfied with the effect of the fox clan's seductive arts. After the paired Ice Flame Butterflies laid their eggs, they all died.
On average, each insect lays one hundred eggs.
Ten pairs yield more than a thousand insects, and breeding them a few more times will be enough. However, raising these little insects also requires resources, so it's best to raise them slowly.
Feed the un-cocooned insects with ice cubes.
They seem easy to care for, but what they actually feed on is the cold air. The Endless Ice Plains are mostly made of ancient permafrost, and if you extract a little bit of that to feed them, they will survive very well.
No wonder you can find the almost extinct Ice Flame Butterfly here.
They're not as easy to raise as they are here outside.
Next.
Leaving Silverfrost Mountain, Wang Yu headed towards the Frozen Demon Seal according to the route map, thinking it would be a solo journey of transformation.
Then I ran into an acquaintance again.
This familiar person was none other than Elder Yushu.
This route is a safe one inherited from Coldblood Peak. It rarely encounters disasters such as ice storms or ice beasts, so it is relatively safe.
He was both surprised and surprised to meet Elder Yushu.
The person who prompted him to come to the icy plains was none other than Wang Yu himself!
Song Yun had a 90% chance of dying in the chaos of the Blood Demon Sea for the Blood Infant Fruit, and this... was actually for Elder Yu Shu.
When an egg hits a rock, the outcome can only be described as disastrous.
After bleeding from the abyss.
Wang Yu informed Yu Shu of the information, and then disappeared without further news.
It now seems they came directly to the Endless Ice Plains.
--burn one's boats!
Elder Yu Shu wanted to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, and freezing demonic energy was an indispensable part of that. Meeting him here on the same path could only mean that he was unlucky.
We set off so many years ago, but we still haven't reached our destination.
I'm afraid I'll encounter a lot of things on the way.
While pondering, Wang Yu slowly approached and greeted them in advance.
"Fellow Daoist, where are you headed?"
At this time, the wind and snow were very strong, and the world was filled with howling cold winds. The visibility was really low, so the clear sound that suddenly rang out was really ear-catching.
Elder Yu Shu turned his head and saw a boy in flowing robes.
I almost thought it was a hallucination.
He rubbed his eyes and then gave an awkward laugh.
"My name is Yu Shu. May I ask how you should address me?"
When you're out in the world, your identity is something you give yourself; it's not about age, but about your cultivation.
At first glance, he looks like a five-year-old child.
However, if someone can move freely in this snowstorm containing extremely cold and strange power, their cultivation level is no lower than his, and their attitude when greeting others is much more casual than at home.
His purpose in this trip is to break through his current realm; he has no intention of causing trouble.
Coincidentally, Wang Yu thought the same thing.
He even hoped that Elder Yushu would successfully break through to the next realm, so that he could have another natural ally on Cold Blood Peak, since he still had extra Nascent Soul Pills.
Giving it away for free is impossible, and if it were a transaction, the other party wouldn't be able to offer anything that would tempt him.
Moreover, the other party has been stuck in this realm for decades and lacks a breakthrough spiritual item. It's impossible for him to have one just because his grandson died. Therefore, he most likely wants to break through directly.
Failure would inevitably result in death; there was no other outcome.
Song Yun's death helped him strengthen his resolve to follow the Dao.
As for Wang Yu's approach at this time, it was mainly to inquire about the recent changes in the Endless Ice Plains. The other party had arrived decades earlier than him, but their progress was so slow, there must be a reason.
The old man and the young man looked at each other, and Wang Yu was the first to smile.
Outsiders call me the Ice Demon, and you may also call me that, fellow Daoist.
Upon hearing this...
Yu Shu nodded slowly.
"Fellow Daoist Ice Demon, you must also be a cultivator of the Ice Dao, and often active in this icy plain?"
Wang Yu had no hostility towards Yu Shu, but that didn't mean Yu Shu wasn't wary of him, so he went straight to the point.
"There's no need to test me anymore; I am not a creature of the Ice Clan."
"Fellow Daoist Yu Shu, judging from your direction, are you heading towards the ancient demon's seal? Have you encountered any trouble along the way? The Ice Clan?"
Wang Yu observed the changes in Elder Yu Shu's facial expressions.
He posed three questions in a row.
And sure enough, we did run into trouble.
Elder Yu Shu's expression changed repeatedly. He hadn't expected that this suddenly appearing ice demon knew so many secrets. He had never heard of any outstanding ice-path juniors rising up in Chi Yuan.
Is that some old monster? A virgin... I've never seen one like that before.
I searched my mind thoroughly but still couldn't recall anything.
He then answered with an embarrassed smile.
"It seems you guessed it, fellow Daoist. In that case, I shouldn't hide it from you."
Yu Shu pointed into the darkness ahead and said.
"There is a sleeping behemoth there, its entire body like ice crystals, resembling both an elephant and a tiger. It should be an ice race creature, and its strength is extremely powerful."
"The place where it lies asleep is blocking the passage, and I have been repeatedly blocked by it. I am trying to find a way to get around it."
As for why it doesn't fly.
Just look at those thick black clouds in the sky, and you'll know that the blizzards that blow year-round become more and more terrifying the higher you go; even some Nascent Soul cultivators can't withstand that extreme cold.
This is even with the fact that they have cultivated ice-based techniques and possess strong resistance.
As for burrowing underground.
The frozen tundra will teach you a lesson. Not only is it incredibly hard, but the extreme cold hidden within it can also freeze cultivators into ice pops.
That's why the Endless Ice Plains is a dangerous place that even Nascent Soul cultivators cannot cross; it is restricted in almost every way.
Yu Shu's ideas were simple and unpretentious.
We can simply bypass this obstacle. Judging from the time he left the sect, he should not yet know about the recent changes or the news that war is about to begin.
Only then did they slowly take a detour.
But this one obstacle is not something that can be delayed for decades.
Wang Yu immediately frowned and asked.
"Fellow Daoist, have you encountered similar obstacles on your previous journey?"
"There are some, but none of them are serious. Spending a little more time is much better than risking our lives to cross the river."
The logic is sound, but it's clearly not right.
It seems like I've been set up by someone.
Could the Nine Evils Sword Lord have guessed that he was about to form a Nascent Soul? Impossible! His cultivation level has always been revealed to be at the late stage of Core Formation, around the seventh level.
That truly reflects his level of attainment.
He's just made some pretty quick progress lately; it's impossible to predict.
"So...the Ice Clan?"
Second update complete.
I updated 8,000 words today, but I still don't feel well. I should be almost better by tomorrow, and I'll update another 12,000 words tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
