Return of the Celestial King

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Beneath the Springhead

Everyone looked astonished at Qin Tuo’s words.

Only then did they realize that the Taiyin Body, while harmful, also came with such a tremendous opportunity!

But Daoist Chongxu wasn’t concerned about that. His only worry was for his daughter’s safety.

"Mr. Qin, even so... if Xiaoyuan has another attack, what am I supposed to do?"

As a father, everyone could see how distraught he was.

Qin Tuo thought for a moment, then suddenly said:

"How about this, Daoist Chongxu? If you’re that worried, you could send Xiaoyuan to a warmer place to recuperate for a while, away from the temple."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Chongxu’s eyes lit up, and he said with deep gratitude:

"Thank you, Mr. Qin. If Xiaoyuan recovers in the future, I will be sure to bring her to thank you in person."

Qin Tuo laughed heartily and waved his hand dismissively.

"Daoist Chongxu, there’s no need for that. We’re all friends of Mr. Ouyang. I just came because I was invited. It was nothing."

Ouyang Tianqi, standing nearby, nodded and looked at Qin Tuo with gratitude in his eyes.

The crisis subsided for the moment, and a sense of calm returned to the temple.

Suddenly, Qin Tuo couldn’t help but ask:

"Daoist Chongxu, I was wondering, where is that famous Ice Spring of yours located?"

Daoist Chongxu was a little surprised, wondering why Qin Tuo had suddenly brought this up.

Still, he answered truthfully:

"Mr. Qin, the Ice Spring is just behind the temple."

Qin Tuo nodded and said with a smile:

"Daoist Master, I’d like to go to the back courtyard and see the Ice Spring. Would that be possible?"

In truth, Qin Tuo had felt a rich concentration of Spiritual Qi ever since he first stepped into the temple.

He suspected it had something to do with the Ice Spring behind the temple.

That was why he now wanted to go investigate it for himself.

However, as soon as he said this, both Daoist Chongxu and Daoist Chi Xu looked troubled and were momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing their expressions, Qin Tuo quickly asked:

"Daoist Chongxu, is there a problem?"

This time it was Daoist Chi Xu, standing to the side, who spoke up respectfully:

"Mr. Qin, the thing is, the Ice Spring in the back courtyard was designated as a forbidden area by the founder of our Taixu Temple. No outsiders are allowed to set foot there. In fact, the very reason Taixu Temple was built here is because of that spring!"

Both Daoists looked completely resigned. Although they didn’t know the reasons behind it, the ancestral rules were clear, and as disciples, they dared not disobey them.

Qin Tuo nodded, showing that he understood.

’Well, if they won’t let me in, then so be it!’

"Very well, Daoist Master. In that case, please forgive my presumption."

Qin Tuo said with a wry smile.

But at that moment, after some hesitation, Daoist Chongxu seemed to make a major decision.

"Mr. Qin, since you’re so keen to see it, I will make a one-time exception and allow you to go take a look at the Ice Spring!"

Hearing this, Daoist Chi Xu looked utterly shocked.

Qin Tuo was also rather surprised; he hadn’t expected Daoist Chongxu to actually be willing to break ancestral tradition for him.

Daoist Chongxu smiled and explained:

"Mr. Qin, you are a great benefactor to Taixu Temple. You not only helped save my daughter, Xiaoyuan, but also dealt with that traitor for us. Such a great kindness is more than enough for me to make an exception just this once!"

Qin Tuo nodded and smiled, satisfied.

"In that case, that’s wonderful!"

However, when he saw the others preparing to accompany Qin Tuo to the back courtyard, Daoist Chongxu frowned.

"However, Mr. Qin, we can only permit you to go alone. The others absolutely cannot come along."

Everyone was disappointed, but they understood. After all, it was a matter of ancestral tradition.

Qin Tuo happily nodded in agreement, then followed Daoist Chongxu toward the back.

As soon as they arrived, he saw a spring below a distant peak, emitting a chilling, bone-white mist.

The temperature near the spring was so low that even with his Spiritual Qi protecting him, Qin Tuo couldn’t help but shiver several times.

Finally, Qin Tuo laid his eyes on the mysterious Ice Spring.

As they approached, Daoist Chongxu began to explain the spring’s history.

"It’s like this, Mr. Qin. The founder of our Taixu Temple was wandering the lands when he stumbled upon this Ice Spring on this very mountain. He was awestruck, and from then on, he protected it with great care..."

Qin Tuo nodded, listening intently.

As he stood before the Ice Spring, he felt a powerful surge of Spiritual Qi erupt from it.

And from the source of the spring came a bone-chilling cold!

Qin Tuo couldn’t stop the goosebumps that erupted all over his skin.

He was now certain of it—there was something unusual beneath this Ice Spring!

With this thought, Qin Tuo immediately crouched down and reached out to touch the water.

Daoist Chongxu jumped in fright and quickly stopped him, his face pale with horror.

"Mr. Qin, you mustn’t! The water from the source is not to be touched under any circumstances! An ordinary person would die instantly. Even for someone like you, the consequences would be severe!"

Qin Tuo’s face filled with surprise as he asked doubtfully:

"Oh? In that case, Daoist Master, how do you draw water for the temple?"

Only then did Daoist Chongxu take a dark-gold Water Scoop from the nearby wall.

Holding the scoop, he smiled and explained:

"It’s like this. This Water Scoop was passed down from our founder, specifically for ladling the Ice Spring Water. Nothing else can be used to hold it."

Only then did Qin Tuo understand how they managed it.

Looking closer, he saw that the Water Scoop was indeed forged from some special material. ’The founder of Taixu Temple must have been a Cultivator, too,’ he thought.

Then, Qin Tuo took the Water Scoop and gently ladled up a small amount of the Water of the Ice Spring.

The water was brimming with Spiritual Qi, and it also contained traces of a unique Spirit Medicine.

Startled, Qin Tuo brought it closer and sniffed it carefully.

He was utterly shaken by the scent!

This Spirit Medicine was none other than the Ice Soul Snow Lotus Flower he had been searching for all this time.

Qin Tuo couldn’t help but wonder, ’Could it be that the Ice Soul Snow Lotus Flower grows at the bottom of this Ice Spring?’

At this thought, he couldn’t help but ask.

"Daoist Master, what kind of rare treasure is at the bottom of this Ice Spring?"

Daoist Chongxu, not having expected such a question, simply shook his head in confusion.

"I’m afraid I don’t know, Mr. Qin. The founder left no records regarding that."

Only then did Qin Tuo realize that Daoist Chongxu was also completely unaware of this secret.