Chapter 378: Chapter 376: Profound Celestial Ice Coffin
Starlight stretched across the sky.
Specks of starlight sprinkled down, converging into a vast river.
It connected heaven and earth!
When this river of starlight descended, even a domineering and powerful expert like Xiang Tianwen felt his pupils shrink slightly, and he withdrew his Bronze Battle Halberd.
His sword-like brows furrowed, revealing a hint of apprehension.
Atop the river of starlight, a Cyan Ox approached, treading upon the light. Its entire body glowed with a cyan radiance, two crescent-moon-shaped horns adorned its head, and golden patterns traced across its form. On the Cyan Ox’s back sat a child who looked like a porcelain doll, dressed in a fiery-red bodice, with two pigtails tied on its head and a long flute in its hand.
The Cyan Ox ambled forward slowly.
It seemed docile and ordinary, like a common water buffalo from a farm.
But the moment it appeared, the nine mighty Black Dragons actually recoiled, their bodies tensing up, not daring to move an inch.
"The Cyan Ox Child?"
Xiang Tianwen spoke the child’s identity.
The porcelain doll atop the Cyan Ox smiled faintly, grinning at Xiang Tianwen. Its clear, cold voice was like the music of the heavens, exceptionally pleasant to the ear. "Xiang Tianwen, by coming here from Zhongzhou, you have already broken the rules set by my master."
"Hmph, I am not the only one to have crossed between two continents," Xiang Tianwen snorted coldly.
Although he said this, a trace of fear still flickered in his eyes when he heard the Cyan Ox Child mention its "master."
The Cyan Ox Child smiled slightly and said, "My master has instructed that your arrival in the Eastern Continent this time has extenuating circumstances, so you will not be punished. However, you must return to Zhongzhou immediately and proceed to the Holy Realm. The master has business with you!"
"The Holy Realm?"
Xiang Tianwen was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Cyan Ox Child, wait a moment. After I slay this ant who dares to defy me, I will proceed to the Holy Realm to see the Saint Master!"
As he spoke, Xiang Tianwen prepared to strike.
The Child’s gaze was indifferent.
The Cyan Ox beneath it looked at Xiang Tianwen with its two bronze-bell-like eyes, which glowed with a verdant light, and let out a deep, low roar. "MOOO."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
At the Cyan Ox’s single roar, the nine Black Dragons were so frightened that their bodies trembled, crushing several mountain peaks beneath them.
The Black Dragons had looks of terror on their faces as they stared sheepishly at the Cyan Ox, feigning innocence.
Xiang Tianwen’s face darkened as he stared at the Cyan Ox Child. "Cyan Ox Child, what is the meaning of this?"
"My master has decreed that from now on, you are forbidden from setting foot in the Eastern Continent for three years. If you disobey, I will use the Holy Order my master entrusted to me to sanction you!" the Cyan Ox Child said coolly.
Xiang Tianwen’s face alternated between pale and livid.
A deep-seated fear flashed through his eyes. The two words "Holy Order" were like a towering mountain, crushing him until he could barely breathe. But how could he be willing to leave in such disgrace and let Jiang Chen go?
He glanced down at the bloody hole in his palm.
Xiang Tianwen said in a low voice, "Cyan Ox Child, I want to know why the Saint Master would issue such an order. Forbidding me from entering the Eastern Continent for three years—isn’t that just protecting this ant?"
Xiang Tianwen’s emotions were in turmoil, difficult to calm.
’In his eyes, Jiang Chen is just an ant. How could he possibly receive the protection of that terrifying Saint Master from the Holy Realm?’
The Cyan Ox Child said indifferently, "Are my master’s thoughts something you can fathom? I’ll give you three breaths’ time. If you don’t leave, I will have no choice but to use the Holy Order!"
"You..."
Xiang Tianwen’s expression shifted repeatedly, finally settling into one of intense unwillingness. He snorted coldly and said, "Fine, I will leave!"
He turned to Jiang Chen, his gaze icy, and said arrogantly, "Brat, although I don’t know why the Saint Master is protecting an ant like you, luck always runs out. The Saint Master protects you this time, so I can’t do anything to you. But if you dare to step out of the Eastern Continent, I will definitely take your worthless life. Even if you cower in the Eastern Continent, once the three years are up, I will descend personally and slaughter your entire clan!"
A frigid killing intent swept out like a storm.
Jiang Chen stared back at Xiang Tianwen with a cold gaze, his back straight as a peerless Divine Sword, forging ahead without fear. "Xiang Tianwen, there’s no need for you to act. In three years, I will come for you at the Zhongzhou Demon God Palace. When that time comes, I, Jiang Chen, will use the sword in my hand to take your head and offer it in tribute to my master’s spirit in heaven!"
Xiang Tianwen was stunned. His gaze suddenly sharpened, and a grim killing intent flashed in his eyes. "A mere ant dares to challenge me? Fine, I’ll give you three years. In three years, at the Demon God Palace, I, Xiang Tianwen, will crush every bone in your body, inch by inch, in front of the entire world, and show you just how vast the gap between us truly is!"
With that said, the ancient Bronze Battle Halberd in Xiang Tianwen’s hand transformed back into a Bronze War Chariot. Pulled by the nine Black Dragons, it traversed space and left the Eastern Continent.
Watching the space gradually calm, Jiang Chen clenched his fists, his gaze as cold as a blade. ’Xiang Tianwen, if I don’t kill you, I, Jiang Chen, swear I am not human!’
...
"So, you’re Jiang Chen?"
A crisp, lively voice sounded by his ear.
Jiang Chen was taken aback to find the Cyan Ox Child, still riding the old Cyan Ox, tilting its head and looking at him with a curious expression.
It looked just like a curious child!
’It’s hard to believe that such an adorable, porcelain doll-like little fellow is a being capable of forcing Xiang Tianwen to retreat.’
No matter what, the child had helped him. A smile appeared on Jiang Chen’s face as he cupped his fists toward the Cyan Ox Child and said, "Thank you for your assistance, Child!"
"Eh, don’t worry about it. I was just following my master’s orders!"
The Cyan Ox Child waved its hand with a smile and said, "This is something my master asked me to give you!"
"Hm?"
Jiang Chen froze.
He looked at the Cyan Ox Child’s small, chubby hand, which held a brocade box. The box was sealed, making it impossible to see what was inside.
Jiang Chen took the brocade box and looked at the Cyan Ox Child in confusion, asking, "If I may ask, Child, who exactly is your master? I don’t recall having any dealings with any major figures from Zhongzhou..."
"My master said that once you open this brocade box, you will naturally understand everything!"
The Cyan Ox Child said with a grin, "Oh, right, I should remind you, that Xiang Tianwen is no simple character. He is a dragon among men, praised even by my master, a being who can enter the Holy Realm in the future. Making an enemy of him is not a very wise choice!"
Jiang Chen made a noncommittal sound, then said, "Thank you for the reminder, Child, but the feud between Xiang Tianwen and me is to the death!"
"..."
The Cyan Ox Child blinked but didn’t say anything more.
Just then...
The Black Emperor and Little White flew over. Little White was carrying Xiao Qingyi, and the Black Emperor’s expression was grim.
Jiang Chen’s heart skipped a beat. He frowned and asked, "Little Black, how is Qingyi?"
"The situation is not optimistic."
The Black Emperor said, "Her cultivation is lower than yours, but to help you, she forced herself to use her Martial Soul Talent, Eternal Guard, and transferred ninety-nine percent of her Martial Soul’s power to you. This placed a tremendous burden on her soul. Now, only a sliver of her stubborn will is keeping her conscious. If she doesn’t receive treatment and that wisp of consciousness gives out, her soul will dissipate completely."
"Qingyi..."
Jiang Chen’s expression changed. He held the young woman tightly in his arms, his heart filled with pain and self-reproach.
The Black Emperor gave a bitter smile and said, "Jiang Chen, the most urgent task is to find a way to save her!"
"You have a way?"
Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up.
It was like a drowning man clutching at a straw.
The Black Emperor nodded, then shook his head and said with a bitter smile, "There is a Seventh Grade Divine Pill, the ’Great Chaos Spirit Birth Pill,’ that can repair her soul and reawaken her. The problem is, the materials to refine the Great Chaos Spirit Birth Pill are incredibly rare, and the refining process is extremely difficult. It’s impossible unless a Pill Emperor takes action. What’s more, Qingyi’s will can probably only hold on for another three months. In three months, forget about refining the Great Chaos Spirit Birth Pill, it’s impossible to even find a single one of its main ingredients!"
The sliver of hope that had just ignited in Jiang Chen’s heart was extinguished.
’Even if I could find all the ingredients, so what?’
’A Pill Emperor!’
’It’s not even known if there is a Pill Emperor on the entire Qiankun Continent. Even if there is, they would be a supreme existence, someone I couldn’t even get a chance to meet.’
’As for myself, even though I have the Pill Emperor memories of the Celestial Demon Emperor Venerable, my current strength is completely insufficient to refine a Seventh Grade Divine Pill.’
’If I wait until I become a Seventh-Grade Divine Thought Master...’
’...Qingyi would have probably gone through several cycles of Reincarnation by then.’
"Actually... you could try to forge a Profound Celestial Ice Coffin for her. With the protection of a Profound Celestial Ice Coffin, she should be able to hold on for another three to five years!" the Cyan Ox Child, who had been standing to the side, suddenly spoke up.
The Black Emperor and Jiang Chen were stunned and looked at the Cyan Ox Child in unison. "A Profound Celestial Ice Coffin?"
The Cyan Ox Child nodded. "To the north of the Eastern Continent, there is a place called the Profound Celestial Ice Field. A substance called Profound Celestial Ice Marrow can be found there. If you use it to forge a Profound Celestial Ice Coffin, a body placed inside won’t decay for a million years. In your friend’s condition, if she were placed inside a Profound Celestial Ice Coffin, she should be able to last for three to five years!"
"Child, is what you’re saying true?"
Jiang Chen asked, his gaze burning with intensity.
The Cyan Ox Child nodded in confirmation. "Of course, it’s true. However, only the indigenous Icefield Race of the Profound Celestial Ice Field knows where the Profound Celestial Ice Marrow is. And the Icefield Race has always been xenophobic, so it will probably be very difficult for you to find the Profound Celestial Ice Marrow!"
Jiang Chen shook his head. "No matter how difficult it is, I must find the Profound Celestial Ice Marrow. Child, I, Jiang Chen, will remember this kindness and will definitely repay it one day!"
"You’re too kind!"
The Cyan Ox Child waved its hand. "Now that the matter here is resolved, I should be returning to the Holy Realm. We will meet again if fate allows!"
"Farewell!"
Jiang Chen and the others watched as the Cyan Ox Child mounted the Cyan Ox and rode away on the starlight.
He looked down at Xiao Qingyi in his arms and tightened his fists. ’Qingyi, don’t worry, I will definitely cure you! Once you’re healed, we’ll get married. I’ll make you the most beautiful and happiest bride in the world!’
