Elder Flying Snow showed signs of never waking up again.
By the Cold Pool's edge, feeling the biting cold wind howling around him, even Wang Yu's robust physique sensed a sliver of chill, proving this place's extraordinariness. Sensing the increasingly faint breathing behind him, Wang Yu suddenly turned his head, a sense of disbelief rising in his heart.
"Did he... just pass away sitting there?"
*Just a wisp of death energy.* This thing was indeed a killer weapon against old men on their last legs, though the activation condition was slightly苛刻 (harsh/stringent), requiring physical contact. Other than that, it was quite manageable.
As for the assets Elder Flying Snow carried on his person, Wang Yu absolutely could not touch them. Core Formation Elders had Soul Lamps in the Ancestral Hall of Cold Blood Peak. When a person died, the lamp would extinguish. At such a short distance, someone would definitely come immediately. He'd better just enter the Cold Pool.
Shaking his head, he summoned the Snow Jade Fox, which had been sleeping soundly in the spirit beast pouch. This Cold Pool was not only his opportunity but also the little fox's. Its aptitude was originally mid-to-upper tier; it should be able to use the Cold Pool's baptism to completely advance to an upper-grade bloodline.
For demonic beast bloodlines, the third grade was a watershed.
* Lower-grade bloodlines corresponded to first-grade demonic beasts.
* Mid-grade bloodlines corresponded to second-grade demonic beasts.
* Upper-grade bloodlines corresponded to third-grade demonic beasts.
Only upon reaching the third grade would a demonic beast possess intelligence equivalent to an adult human, and their combat power would also increase significantly. The second grade was like a seven or eight-year-old child, while at the first grade, they were no different from wild beasts.
The above was under normal circumstances. If one was a born variant with a dense bloodline, possessing a grade above upper-grade, then it would be similar to Yu Tangtang's situation—born with the灵性 (língxìng - spirituality, sentience) of a young child, growing with age, naturally enlightened.
Once the Snow Jade Fox completed its bloodline advancement, as long as it was properly nurtured, it could smoothly advance to the third grade, enough to accompany Wang Yu for several hundred years. Its potential was quite strong.
Taking off half his clothes, baring his upper body, Wang Yu held the little fox and slowly immersed himself in the Cold Pool.
*"Sss—"*
Extreme cold invaded his body from his limbs and bones. He instinctively operated his perfected cultivation technique. The mysterious blue light that had remained in his blood after breaking through to Foundation Establishment was activated as if by reflex. It was precisely the effect of the technique enhancing his aptitude taking effect.
The special power continuously pouring into his body from the Cold Pool was also baptizing everything about him from the outside in.
Deep within his body, in the place of return and storage.
Several months had passed since he successfully cultivated the Profound Origin Demonic Womb. The dual spiritual root seal that belonged to Wang Wu, and the incomplete Yin and Ice seals he had condensed early on had all disappeared. They represented the origin of the spiritual roots and had been completely digested by the Profound Origin Demonic Womb.
His own five spiritual roots were rooted within the Demonic Womb's body, less than the length of a fingernail. But as the external spiritual root origins were digested, the Water, Wood, and Fire spiritual roots had grown tremendously, clearly fully assimilated for his own use.
And at this moment, with the effects of the technique and the Cold Pool fully activated, the Water spiritual root within the Profound Origin Demonic Womb began to grow wildly, actually reaching parity with the upper-grade aptitude Wood and Fire spiritual roots.
This change gave Wang Yu a faint premonition in his heart. If one day he could elevate all five spiritual roots to a level comparable to Heaven Spiritual Roots, his physique might undergo some special transformation. This kind of intuition was mysterious and profound, yet it was something cultivators trusted the most. It was like a prophecy and revelation of the future, guiding cultivators toward the most correct path.
With his aptitude enhanced, Wang Yu's affinity for the Water, Ice, and Yin spiritual energies increased exponentially. Although his cultivation speed didn't increase, the power of the ice-attribute spells he released would definitely be elevated to a new level, including gaining more insight when learning spells of matching attributes.
*This is aptitude! This... is talent!*
Comfortable.
Due to possessing the Profound Origin Demonic Womb, Wang Yu's changes soon stopped. While absorbing the abundant power within the Cold Pool, he observed the changes in the Snow Jade Fox.
The benefits it received were no less than Wang Yu's. Since the Cold Pool could enhance aptitude, for spirit beasts, it could purify their bloodline and elevate their potential! The two were interconnected, not to mention the Snow Jade Fox was inherently an ice-attribute spirit beast. With attribute compatibility, and frequently being fed to the brim with top-grade pills by Wang Yu, its physical foundation was excellent, its tastes even becoming picky.
*"Yoo—"*
After an unknown period, under Wang Yu's watchful care, the little fox suddenly raised its head and howled, its size visibly increasing. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a handsome large fox, its silhouette resembling a giant wolf, its body length exceeding two meters, its shoulder height also over a meter. The most eye-catching were the fluffy giant tails dancing behind it. While its bloodline advanced, it had grown two new snow-white fox tails.
"Three-Tailed Snow Fox!"
Wang Yu was slightly pleasantly surprised. Advancing based on tail count was the most powerful bloodline among the fox clan, said to originate from the legendary True Spirit—**[Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox]**! The ice-attribute mutation was insignificant in comparison.
Having the Nine-Tails bloodline meant the little fox, Snow Jade, had a beacon-like evolution path. With the right treasures, it might not be impossible for it to have another opportunity for evolution.
"I never expected your ancestry to be so extraordinary. It's my gain. That rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator who caught you really didn't know what he had." Wang Yu smiled warmly, completely forgetting that the reason he kept the Snow Jade Fox instead of selling it for spirit stones back then was because he fancied its ice attribute and its cute, beautiful appearance.
Making a quick calculation, nearly half a month had passed since he entered the Cold Pool.
Wang Yu instinctively looked towards a spot outside the Cold Pool. Elder Flying Snow was still standing there, already stiff. There were two others, a man and a woman, dressed in jackets with plum blossom patterned sleeves, heads wrapped in carefree scarves, seemingly a cultivation couple.
Seeing Wang Yu awake, the two spoke proactively. "Young friend, during your cultivation these past days, Fellow Daoist Flying Snow passed away while standing. Did you sense anything amiss during that time?"
Wang Yu paused slightly, adopting a thoughtful expression, then soon shook his head. "There was no abnormality whatsoever. However, this Elder..."
The old woman sighed and said, "Logically, Fellow Daoist Flying Snow should have had three to five years left. Who would have thought he'd die so suddenly? It must be the eruption of accumulated internal injuries over the years. Actually, it's quite normal."
"Yes, looking at his face, there's no sign of pain," the old man附和 (fùhé - echoed), then said to Wang Yu, "Young friend, you may descend the mountain once you've finished with the Cold Pool. Fellow Daoist Flying Snow's descendants are rushing here. Before they arrive, no one is allowed to touch the items on his person."
"This junior will take his leave immediately."
Whether these two were pretending or had already searched the body was none of his concern. He was just still marveling at the terrifying power of the death energy.
Wang Yu stored the Snow Jade Fox back into the spirit beast pouch. Thanks to its bloodline evolution, its cultivation had directly risen to the peak of the first grade. He could consider its breakthrough to the second grade. This counted as an additional benefit.
After dressing properly, he swiftly descended the mountain without the slightest delay.
On the way, he encountered a man with feminine features, crying and sobbing, likely a direct descendant of that Flying Snow True Person. His cultivation was only at the late Qi Refining stage, and he wasn't very old. The two glanced at each other from a distance and then passed by.
***
Mid-second month of Wang Yu's career as a steward. A month had passed since the Cold Pool baptism. After the baptism, not only did his ice-attribute talent skyrocket, but during the half-month of seated cultivation, his cultivation realm also greatly benefited, unexpectedly condensing 10 drops of ice-attribute true essence. This was a pleasant surprise.
His cultivation steadily increased to 23.5 drops, already more than one-fifth of the way through the first layer of Foundation Establishment. This cultivation speed was much faster than during his Qi Refining days. One drop of true essence was equivalent to a thousand strands of spiritual power, equal to a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator. Entering the Cold Pool was roughly equivalent to cultivating the spiritual power of ten Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivators. How could that not be delightful!
The Snow Jade Fox also received tremendous benefits. After its bloodline evolution, not only did its cultivation increase, but its physical strength, number of bloodline spells, and secret arts also greatly increased. It gained new abilities like: Ice Wind Art, Extreme Cold Illusion Art, Ice Fox Claw, Treading Snow Without a Trace, Spirit Fox Protection, Three-Tails Secret Art... and so on. It was a complete upgrade, with a significant boost in strength.
Now it wasn't just a combat auxiliary; once it broke through to the second grade, it could already be used as a main combatant. Moreover, for the spirit beast's bloodline inheritance, besides some basic abilities, these bloodline spells had advanced versions that would naturally awaken upon its breakthrough. Wang Yu only needed to consider how to nurture Snow Jade.
This was the convenience of an upper-grade bloodline spirit beast. No wonder beast taming path cultivators had formidable combat power; their resource consumption was relatively lower compared to practitioners of other paths. If one captured several spirit beasts with potential like Snow Jade, fighting with numbers in a battle against a peer, how could a beast tamer not be powerful?!
After playing with it for a while, Wang Yu needed to consider Snow Jade's advancement issue. Having such a trustworthy helper before leaving the sect to establish his manor was of extraordinary significance. A high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill could also take effect on spirit beasts. Wang Yu still had over a hundred thousand spirit stones on hand, enough to buy one.
He decided to go ask Tantai Chan. Over a decade ago, when he was targeted by Su Qingshan, it was because of the high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills refined by this woman. Given his relationship with Sister Tang, he could probably buy one without much issue. Having been back for over two months, he hadn't visited the Tantai Herb Garden yet.
"Might as well go ask. The sooner it breaks through, the sooner it can be useful."
Just as he was about to leave, an illusory jade talisman flew from afar. It was a message from Gu Zhengshun, asking him to meet at the usual place to talk.
Without hesitation, Wang Yu decisively postponed the matter of the little fox.
*Third-grade corpse arm—I'm coming!*
***
Soon, at the Eight Treasures Restaurant.
Gu Zhengshun, whom he hadn't seen for some time, had also smoothly advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refining and had progressed a long way in this stage, not far from the peak. His appearance was the same as before, with a docile and well-behaved demeanor. However, the gloom hidden in his eyes precisely proved that he hadn't been doing well lately.
Seeing Wang Yu, Gu Zhengshun's expression grew even more complex. "When you asked me about buying a third-grade corpse arm, I guessed you had advanced to Foundation Establishment. But seeing it with my own eyes, I still find it hard to believe."
Wang Yu chuckled. "Just luck. Without the Foundation Seizing Art, I, Wang, would be nothing."
Gu Zhengshun looked up, his expression disbelieving. "Brother Wang, save that talk for deceiving others. Gu doesn't believe it. With your capabilities, would you willingly use the Foundation Seizing Art to establish your foundation?"
Wang Yu nodded and said, "Since there's a Foundation Seizing Art, why can't there be a Golden Core Transformation Art? Junior Brother Gu should broaden his thinking. The demonic path has countless secret arts. Even taking shortcuts, there are paths to the heavens."
"Perhaps." *This is pure nonsense.* Wang Yu's skill at talking nonsense had reached perfection. He picked up a piece of spirit bamboo shoot with his chopsticks. "Tell me about it. How did things go? Are there any sellers?"
(End of Chapter)