Chapter 164: Chapter 163: 2 Advanced Su Fragrances
After his one meeting with Grandmaster Zhu Weyi, Jiang Qiu didn’t see him again for over half a month. However, the vast resources he had promised were delivered to Jiang Qiu’s Cultivation Chamber, batch after batch.
Although the process for his appointment to the Committee was not yet complete, Jiang Qiu had already been gifted a villa in North Border City. He left the Xia Country Hotel and began his Cultivation there instead.
Ice Lotus was also brought over.
Over the past half a month, Jiang Qiu had relied on Ice Lotus’s [Ice and Snow Contract] to absorb a massive amount of resources rich in Soul Ice Spirit Charm. He also consumed various Treasures of Heaven and Earth, such as the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Marrow.
[Absorbed a Treasure of Heaven and Earth]
[Absorbed a Treasure of Heaven and Earth]
[Absorbed a Treasure of Heaven and Earth]
[...]
Under Zhu Weiyi’s orders, most of the top-tier resources confiscated from the Belli Family were sent to Jiang Qiu’s villa. Even the top-tier resources that had long been stockpiled in the Xia Country Management District finally left the core warehouse.
Furthermore, Advanced Su Fragrances refined from the Essence Blood and physical materials of the Ice Armor Bear King and the One-eyed Snow Owl King were also produced with the utmost speed, all of them sent to Jiang Qiu.
Among them, the Advanced Su Fragrance [Snow Eye Origin] was refined using the One-eyed Snow Owl King’s single eye as the main ingredient. It was said that with proper absorption, one might awaken the creature’s unique Bloodline Talent. However, Jiang Qiu possessed the [Dragon Eye], which suppressed this Bloodline Talent and prevented it from awakening.
But Jiang Qiu’s Dharma Aspect improved rapidly, soon growing by thirty zhang.
Then there was the Advanced Su Fragrance [Ice Armor Heart], refined with the Ice Armor Bear King’s heart as the main ingredient. It too failed to awaken the creature’s Bloodline Talent; all the resulting Spirit Charm was channeled into his Dharma Aspect and Dragon Spirit.
Over this past half-month, Jiang Qiu’s Dharma Aspect and Dragon Spirit had grown in sync, becoming larger and larger until they were on the verge of reaching one hundred zhang.
Of course, absorbing ordinary resources could not achieve such results. Even with an incredibly abundant supply, arduous Cultivation would still be necessary. But Jiang Qiu could absorb pure Spirit Charm and Fiery Flame Spirit Charm without any hindrance, yielding outstanding effects.
As for the various resources rich in Soul Ice Spirit Charm, including the rare Soul Ice Fragrances and the two Advanced Su Fragrances, he relied on Ice Lotus to convert them...
SPLASH...
A small, fair hand scooped a ladle of hot water from the large bathtub. A delicate, pale wrist turned slowly, and the stream of water fell like a small waterfall onto Jiang Qiu’s shoulder as he leaned against the edge, splashing brilliantly.
Ice Lotus’s small face was flushed red from the steam. Her large, limpid eyes would occasionally slide down from Jiang Qiu’s chin, landing on his gently rising and falling chest muscles, before darting back up to glance at his closed eyes.
SPLASH...
Another ladleful of hot water. Her gaze followed his abs down, dipping below the surface. Through the murky water, she caught a hazy glimpse of the shorts wavering with the warm currents. She sighed inwardly, pressing her lips together.
’Ever since the Blizzard half a month ago, North Border City has experienced so much in a single day. The city, which had been on the brink of disaster, still stands tall under Jiang Qiu’s protection.’
’The Belli Family, which had dominated the city for years, was driven out overnight. A new order is being established, and the refugees who had been stranded outside are pouring into the city, replacing the many civilians who died in the chaos.’
’On the streets, you can see many people entering North Border City for the first time. They are dressed in shabby, even filthy, clothes, their bodies shivering and their faces red from the cold. Yet their smiles are full of warmth and hope for this new life.’
’Many people had long hoped that Xia Country would take over the administration of North Border City. After all, everyone had heard so many stories from the south, of a nation that sounded like a dream.’
’For the survivors, this disaster was, in a way, a blessing...’
’And the man taking a medicinal bath in front of me, this "big brother," is North Border City’s great hero. He’s about to be given a Committee Level title, enabling him to directly command most of the Martial Arts Teams stationed in the city. He’s a genuine big shot.’
’Perhaps it was a blessing accumulated over three lifetimes that allowed me to be by the side of someone like him, helping him absorb various Su Fragrances rich in Soul Ice Spirit Charm during his medicinal baths.’
’Although I’m just converting the Spirit Charm and effects within the Su Fragrance according to the [Ice and Snow Contract], as the intermediary, I’ve also benefited greatly. Every time Jiang Qiu takes a medicinal bath, my heart pounds like a frightened deer.’
’Over this past half a month, I’ve broken through to the Spirit Communication Realm and seem to have awakened two major Bloodline Talents—one related to my eyes, the other to my heart.’
’My mastery of Soul Ice Spirit Charm has reached a whole new level.’
’And all these changes originated from Jiang Qiu.’
Countless thoughts flowed through Ice Lotus’s mind. Her left hand, submerged in the water, held Jiang Qiu’s as she slowly converted the essence of the Su Fragrance in the medicinal bath, while her right hand ladled hot water over him.
’When Jiang Qiu first asked me to help with his medicinal baths, I was both flattered and overwhelmed, my imagination even running wild with other possibilities. But unfortunately, Jiang Qiu wears shorts in the bath.’
’At first, there was no water-ladling service. The truth is, aside from holding Jiang Qiu’s hand to convert the Su Fragrance’s essence, I didn’t dare to do—couldn’t do—anything else. I could only stare blankly, my heart growing too hot and bothered from the steam. Later, I requested a ladle to distract myself.’
’In reality, it hasn’t distracted me much. Every time I enter the bathroom with Jiang Qiu, just watching him get undressed leaves my eyes with nowhere else to look.’
SPLASH...
Another ladleful of hot water poured down. Ice Lotus took a shallow breath and asked softly, "Is the Great Secret Realm opening tomorrow?"
"Mhm, it opens tomorrow."
Jiang Qiu replied casually.
"Is the Great Secret Realm dangerous?"
Ice Lotus pressed her pink lips together and casually scooped another ladleful of hot water.
Before coming to North Border City, she had rarely even heard the words "Great Secret Realm." The most dangerous place she had ever been was the North Snow Wolf Emperor Secret Realm, a Medium-sized Secret Realm.
She had only heard that Jiang Qiu would be going to the Great Secret Realm with a genius from Xia Country’s Jiangnan named Tang Guang. Using the phone Jiang Qiu had given her, she learned how to search online and found out more.
There were fewer than ten Great Secret Realms in the world, and the appearance of each one had brought great disaster. The first Great Secret Realm was the Kunlun Secret Realm, which had forced Xia Country’s Northwest Province onto the defensive.
Great Secret Realms were almost a symbol of some kind of legacy. Research indicated that they might contain complete Cultivation Systems, or even the ruins of civilizations.
Places like these could almost be called the strongholds of the Demon Race, but in reality, the demons only gathered in the areas affected by the Great Secret Realms and rarely explored deep inside.
And restrictive secret realms like the Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm were even rarer. A secret realm with Realm limitations and even Talent requirements would inevitably contain relatively complete ruins, where many mechanisms and Ancient Inscriptions could still be activated.
In other words, the place Jiang Qiu was going was full of too many unknowns. Moreover, the ten humans or demons entering were the most talented individuals in the world at the Dharma Realm, making it extremely dangerous...
Jiang Qiu didn’t answer Ice Lotus’s question directly, just smiled faintly. "I haven’t even been there yet. How would I know if it’s dangerous?"
Hearing her stifled, nasal hum of a response, he leaned his head back and opened his eyes. His gaze fell upon Ice Lotus’s brimming eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly. "Is the water too hot? The steam’s already making your eyes water."
