Chapter 149: Chapter 148: Eve of the Blizzard
After checking into the Xia Country Hotel in North Border City, the students from Northwest Martial University quickly learned the specific rules of the Newcomer Competition. They tidied themselves up, rested for a day, and then began accepting competition missions, leaving North Border City to train in the various territories of the Demon Race.
Thanks to Jiang Qiu fighting in his stead, Wu Shan received the gladiator arena’s reward—a special Su Fragrance that could treat curses.
He found Jiang Qiu to thank him for saving his life. He marveled that he was still alive and was stunned by Jiang Qiu’s current achievements. He had much to say as they parted, but he swallowed his words. With a hearty laugh, he clapped Jiang Qiu on the shoulder and departed alone.
The next day, Jiang Qiu also received the rubbing of the Forbidden Secret Technique Grandmaster Zhu had mentioned, [Flaming Illusion], along with ten portions of Flame Spirit Melting Fragrance. He then began to hone his various Spear Skills.
The newly arrived Ice Lotus, having donned a bright red padded coat, always stood guard where Jiang Qiu trained.
She sat on a bench, swinging her short legs. Her hands gripped the edge of the seat as her large, sparkling eyes followed Jiang Qiu’s flashing figure. The grayish-white wolf ears on her head twitched slightly, and the wolf tail behind her swayed back and forth like an oar.
This was a special Cultivation Chamber unique to the Xia Country Management District. Strange patterns were inscribed on the floor and walls, containing a unique power that absorbed the Flame emanating from Jiang Qiu while simultaneously warding off the bitter cold from outside.
SWISH—
Suddenly, a crimson line of fire flashed before Ice Lotus’s eyes. In the distance, a training pile exploded, bursting into a scorching lotus of flame.
She closed her eyes to shield them from the crimson light. The heatwave swept back the short hair on her cheeks, casting an orange glow upon her skin.
"Hoo~"
Jiang Qiu’s right hand closed on empty air. His eyes were fixed on his Chuyuan spear, hovering in the distance, as the corners of his mouth lifted into a slight smile. "With ten portions of Flame Spirit Melting Fragrance, I’ve completed the Weapon Skill Fusion for[Rainbow Spear Piercing the Sun]."
[Flaming Azure Dragon Dharma Aspect]
[Dao Intent: 2/100]
His Dao Intent had also increased by one point, bringing him one step closer to a great transformation.
’Now that [Dragon Shadow Flash Stab], [Furious Dragon Ascending to Heaven], and [Rainbow Spear Piercing the Sun] have all undergone Weapon Skill Fusion, the gap between me and Tang Guang should have narrowed a bit,’ he thought. ’But the most important thing is still to learn [Flaming Illusion].’
As this thought crossed his mind, Jiang Qiu casually recalled his Chuyuan spear and took out the rubbing stored in his Storage Ring with his left hand.
[Flaming Illusion] required the learner to possess exceptionally high-level Body Technique abilities, as well as extremely fine control over their Fiery Flame Spirit Charm.
Mastering the first stage allowed one to make others mistake a flame-forged illusion for their real body.
Mastering the second stage was enough to allow the flame illusion to condense and attack in coordination.
The third stage allowed one to condense multiple flame illusions, the number depending on one’s individual strength.
The effects of this Forbidden Secret Technique were naturally formidable, but its drawback was also obvious: it was especially draining on one’s Spirit Charm.
After just four or five attempts, Jiang Qiu had already consumed more than half of his stored Fiery Flame Spirit Charm, and even his Dragon Spirit, which had expanded its own reserves, was panting for breath.
[Flaming Illusion (Learning in Progress)]
[5/1000]
"I need to replenish my Spirit Charm."
He sighed softly and pulled the damaged Storage Necklace from his pocket. Turning his gaze to Ice Lotus, who was watching him with her lips pressed together, he asked, "Can you absorb the Soul Ice Spirit Charm contained in the Ice Crystal Fruits and transfer it to me?"
All one hundred and twenty-one Ice Crystal Fruits that Iron Power and the others had stolen from North Snow Ridge were inside this Storage Necklace, perfect for replenishing his Spirit Charm.
’But I can’t absorb them directly,’ he thought. ’I need an external object or someone else’s help. After all, the Spirit Charms don’t share the same attribute... ’
"Okay!"
Ice Lotus’s large eyes sparkled. She hopped down from the bench and scurried over.
’Just being able to stay in this warm Cultivation Chamber is the greatest fortune of my life,’ she thought. ’With no real skills to speak of, I couldn’t find a suitable job in North Border City.’
’Only by Jiang Qiu’s side can I have some value and repay his kindness for bringing me to live in North Border City.’
PATTER PATTER...
One after another, translucent blue fruits popped out from the faint glow of the Storage Necklace, falling into the pouch Ice Lotus made with the front of her clothes.
Her heart pounded and her cheeks flushed red. With her right hand, she picked up an Ice Crystal Fruit, rumored to be able to significantly raise one’s Realm.
"Ah..."
She opened her small mouth, revealing delicate canine teeth, and took a bite. A surging wave of Soul Ice Spirit Charm flowed out from the Ice Crystal Fruit’s juice, sliding through her mouth and into her small body.
[Ice and Snow Contract]
[Description: Using Ice Lotus’s Essence Blood as a medium to absorb the Soul Ice Spirit Charm contained within the Ice Crystal Fruit, this ignores the repulsion between Spirit Charm attributes. While helping you restore your reserves of pure Spirit Charm, it can also help you raise your Cultivation Realm.]
After finishing one Ice Crystal Fruit, Ice Lotus tentatively reached out and took Jiang Qiu’s large hand. Warmth passed into her, while a cool Spirit Charm flowed out.
[Absorbed Pure Spirit Charm x1]
[Absorbed Pure Spirit Charm x1]
[...]
Jiang Qiu’s internal Dragon Spirit twitched its nostrils. Following the scent, it slithered down his arm toward Ice Lotus’s small hand, licked its lips, and began to greedily gulp down the bluish, pure Spirit Charm.
The outline of its body was becoming more and more defined. Its scales, Dragon Horns, whiskers, and claws looked increasingly real, as if it were truly a young dragon rather than an invisible Dragon Spirit.
"Thank you."
His Spirit Charm now abundant again, Jiang Qiu ruffled Ice Lotus’s hair and then resumed practicing [Flaming Illusion].
[Flaming Illusion practice x1]
[Flaming Illusion practice x1]
[...]
Ice Lotus returned to the bench, hugging the small pile of remaining Ice Crystal Fruits. Her gaze was fixed intently on Jiang Qiu’s flashing figure, the starlight reflected in her eyes a brilliant crimson.
’The [Ice and Snow Contract] is a bloodline inheritance I was born with,’ she thought. ’It can only be bound to one person in a lifetime.’
’According to the descriptions in my bloodline, the [Ice and Snow Contract] is supposed to be an oath a member of the North Snow Wolf Clan swears to the Wolf Emperor, symbolizing absolute fealty and unwavering loyalty. In return, one receives the protection of the clan and the Emperor.’
’But I haven’t lived among the North Snow Wolf Clan since I was born. My impure bloodline forced me to wander through various small settlements of the Human Race, suffering endless humiliation and discrimination.’
’Fortunately, the [Ice and Snow Contract] has finally earned me the protection I need to live in peace.’
「Seven days passed in a flash.」
After the incident at the North Border City gladiator arena, the entire Northern Wilderness was in an uproar. In the taverns lining the streets and alleys, burly Martial Artists gathered to talk.
Wu Shan sat alone in a corner of a large North Border City tavern. His single right eye stared at the white foam in his beer mug, while a faint light trickled from the pitch-black slit of his left eye.
Ignoring the subtle glances from the other Martial Artists in the tavern, he drank his beer alone. He clicked his tongue, his mouth set in a grim line. ’The curse can’t be broken...’
’The reward promised by the arena can’t cure the curse completely. The remnant soul of the Great Demon, trapped in my left eye by a Forbidden Secret Technique, will eventually corrode my own soul.’
’It’s fine as long as I don’t use my Spirit Charm, but the moment I do, the situation worsens. In the half-year from the college entrance exams until the battle here in North Border City, the restraint on my left eye has weakened too much...’
SCRAPE.
Suddenly, the sound of a chair being pulled out snapped Wu Shan from his thoughts. He lifted his head slightly. Across the small table, a figure in a black cloak was staring at him, their green pupils like eerie lamps hanging in the night.
’The Demon Qi is so thick,’ he thought. ’This person isn’t a Martial Artist...’
