Han Li breathed and promptly asked, “Five different flames of extreme cold? That is a rather demanding requirement. It is possible only something that your sect can achieve as no other sects would be able to gather so many cultivators that use glacial flames. Nevertheless, this method should only be effective towards ice-attributed cultivators, is that right?”
Master Arctic Dragon tensed his brow and replied, “Yes, this method is only usable for cultivators with ice-attributed cultivation techniques. Three of the other four cultivators have ice-attributed cultivation techniques as well. Only you and one other have come across an glacial flame unintentionally.”
A cold light glinted in Han Li’s eyes, “In that case, how do you plan on compensating me? Although I don’t know how I am involved in this process, I am sure it consumes a great deal of vitality on my part, not to mention any potential risks that are involved.”
Arctic Dragon appeared delighted by Han Li’s words, “I am happy you are such a straightforward person! If you have any conditions, please state them. On my name s.h.i.+, I am willing to fulfill what I can so long as you a.s.sist us!”
Han Li smiled at his straightforward words.
“Fellow Daoist s.h.i.+, I’ll be blunt. I’ll need a detailed explanation of this method to provoke a breakthrough. If the danger is within acceptable ranges, I am willing to help. But if the danger is too great, I won’t accept no matter how great your price. Of course, I’ll be taking the secret technique as a reward as well.”
Arctic Dragon confidently said, “It is no problem! I guarantee that this method poses no danger to you or any of the others that are helping me. Of course, a bit of damage to your vitality is unavoidable.”
“That will be no problem. Furthermore, you should know my reason for coming here. I require a few Profound Ice Flowers to refine medicine. Although I’ve already asked Fairy Bai for a.s.sistance, I would feel more at ease if you also agreed to help.”
With the same smile on his face, Arctic Dragon answered, “Hehe, that is only a trivial matter. I will immediately dispatch the full force of the palace. They’ll find the flowers as soon as possible.”
“Additionally, I’d like the technique to refine ice flames that you spoke of. I’d like to use it to increase the strength of my Purple Apex Flames.”
“That’s fine!”
“As for my last condition, I am interested in looking in your sect’s records storage. I heard your palace was a sect that has existed since antiquity.”
“That... will be fine. Go ahead!” After some brief hesitation, Arctic Dragon eventually nodded.
With a satisfied smile, Han Li said, “Fellow Daoist s.h.i.+ is quite straightforward. I’ll do my best when the time comes.”
“Haha, Fellow Daoist Han, please wait here for a moment. I will give you a copy of the ice flame refinement technique!” Arctic Dragon slapped his storage pouch to summon a white jade slip and began to record the technique in it.
Han Li silently waited with a happy expression.
A short moment, the Arctic Dragon was done and he handed over an additional jade slip and pendant towards Han Li.
Han Li reached out for them and summoned the three items into his hand.
Arctic Dragon looked at Han Li and sternly said, “The other jade slip contains the method I researched to breakthrough cultivation realms, but remember that this is only to be used for late-Nascent Soul cultivator. As for the jade pendant, it is used to enter our Hidden Scripture Pavilion, but there is something I must make clear first. Although it holds countless records, many of them have particular restrictions placed on them, preventing them from being duplicated. You will have to commit them to memory. Furthermore, I’m only giving you access for ten days. I will take back the pendant when the time comes. Do you have any objections?”
Han Li paused in surprise and looked at the jade pendant in his hand. A wry smile appeared on his mouth.
“Only ten days? Since I’ve already taken these items, I suppose I can’t give them back to you. Had I known this would happen, I would’ve made myself more clear.”
“What is done is done! Fellow Daoist doesn’t want to bite off more than he can chew.” Arctic Dragon beamed at Han Li with a cunning expression.
With a chuckle, Han Li stood up and said, “Now that I’ve taken these things, how can I go back on the deal? I’ll be going to take a look at your Hidden Scripture Pavilion. If there is any news of the Profound Ice Flower, you can find me there!”
Arctic Dragon stood up as well, “I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t see you off. I’ll have to gather the others immediately. If you have no pressing business, you may stay at the palace for a while longer. If you require anything for your cultivation, please refer to my Junior Martial Sister Bai. I will order her to accept your requests to the best of her ability.”
“Thank you for your trouble Fellow Daoist!” Han Li briefly saluted before flying out in a bright azure streak.
When Arctic Dragon saw Han Li disappear, his smile gradually faded. Two of the crystalline pillars in the hall then flashed with light to reveal a man and a woman.
The man appeared to be in his forties. He had a common appearance and wore azure scholar robes. The woman was in her twenties, wearing white robes and displaying a beautiful face. She bore a strong resemblance to Bai Yaoyi but her face was extremely pale, to the point where it was almost translucent.
Wearing an ever tense expression, the middle-aged scholar frowned and said, “Senior Martial Brother, we haven’t tested the purple flames yet. Will there be any problems? What if they aren’t strong enough?”
Arctic Dragon let out a long sigh and he shook his head, “The purple flames appear somewhat impure, but they contain the Celestial Ice Flames. It shouldn’t be lacking in power, and we can’t afford to wait. If we don’t take the risk, I fear there won’t be another opportunity.”
With blatant worry, the scholar said, “Senior Martial Brother’s lifespan has already reached that point? To the best of my knowledge, Myriad Demon Valley has become restless once more. Many of our disciples have discovered traces of low-grade demons at North Night Island’s outskirts. Additionally, many disciples that have been recently returned or joined have had high-grade demons possessing them. As per your command, we’ve been secretly monitoring them in secret.”
With an unchanged expression, Arctic Dragon calmly said, “Let’s not alert them just yet. It has been nearly a thousand years since the demons last invaded. This is to be expected. What is there to fear?”
The middle-aged scholar hesitantly said, “But Senior Martial Brother wishes to make a breakthrough. Isn’t this taking too much of a risk? Wouldn’t it be better to do this after repelling the demons?”
Arctic Dragon twirled his beard and calmly said, “Repel them? How much time will that take? Each time Myriad Demon Valley took charge, they would surround us for a dozen years. I only have a spa.r.s.e few years of life remaining. Furthermore, Fellow Daoists Ma and Li are rus.h.i.+ng over, not to mention Fellow Daoist Han who is already here. When the time comes, do you believe they will sit still as demons attack us?”
The white-robed woman then broke her silence, “However, our Glacial Quintessence has already been seized by a traitor. Why can’t we make the matter public? Why must we provoke the attack from so many demons?”
Arctic Dragon sighed and turned his sights to the huge cauldron nearby that was lit with blue flames. “That’s a rather simple way of thinking. If we were to make this matter known, our prestige would plummet and harm our reputation as the greatest sect of the north. And why would the demons believe that we have no Glacial Quintessence? The announcement would only be in vain. You should understand that when the ten thousand year period is over, the Ice Jade Caves within Void Spirit Hall will open. If we are lucky, we should be able to gather some Glacial Quintessence. The outside only knows our sect to have a single bottle of it, but who could’ve known we’ve been using it to cultivate and maintain our three great ice flames throughout generations? It wouldn"t have been possible otherwise. Fortunately, we lost the bottle of Glacial Quintessence just before the Ice Jade Caves open, or else several generations of disciples would be unable to cultivate the three flames!”
When the scholar heard this, he could only wryly smile.
Then, Arctic Dragon changed the subject and said, “Your Black Ice Flames and Ice Phoenix Flames have become weaker. When we acquire more Glacial Quintessence, take a few drops to restore them to strength. They will increase my odds of breaking through.”
“Many thanks, Senior Martial Brother!” The middle-aged scholar happily shouted. Even a trace of happiness was betrayed by the white-robed woman’s icy exterior.
Glacial Quintessence was something of extreme importance.
“Junior Martial Sister Bai, return and ask Yaoyi about Fellow Daoist Han. This person was involved in the matters of Kunwu Hall ten years ago. Many great cultivators fell there, but he managed to make it out alive. He should be an individual of exceptional skill.”
“I understand. I will ask my younger sister of this matter.” The white-robed woman indifferently replied.
“Good. You may leave now.” Arctic Dragon nodded with satisfaction.
The two promptly took their leave and left in streaks of light.
Arctic Dragon remained in place and turned around towards the cauldron, muttering to himself.
Were there anyone remaining the hall, they would’ve clearly heard the words, “Heavenvoid Cauldron.”