The massive stone door of the Cold Ice Cave slowly slid open, and Ji Changkong emerged. After three months of secluded cultivation, his eyes were bright, a smile of untamed freedom playing on his lips as he walked out of the entrance with unhurried grace.
For these three months in the Cold Ice Cave, his Primordial Energy had permeated every marrow in his bones. Aided by the cave's intense cold and the searing heat of the Fire Dragon Brew, Ji Changkong felt an almost miraculous sense of rebirth.
With a single sweep of his gaze, he could discern the minute patterns on the fallen leaves outside the cave. In that moment, the entire world seemed vivid and layered with complexity.
He took a deep breath of the fresh air outside, experiencing a strange illusion of merging with heaven and earth, as if a mere thought could lift him away on the wind.
“Good boy! Excellent! Truly excellent!” Han Hai called out, seated on a stone bench by the entrance, holding a jade-green teapot.
Ji Changkong broke into a relaxed smile, bowed deeply, and said, “Thank you, Uncle Han.”
During the last month and a half, seeing Ji Changkong cultivate in the Cold Ice Cave to the point of forgetting to eat or sleep, Han Hai had often worried he would starve and would proactively toss food supplies near the cave entrance. It was precisely because of Han Hai’s meticulous care regarding his sustenance that he could focus entirely on his training within the cave, not having left its threshold for the entire final month!
“You possess great perseverance and great wisdom, young man. Perhaps the Ji family can truly rise because of you,” Han Hai said, gazing deeply at him before falling silent for a moment.
“I accept your kind words, Uncle Han. If I ever achieve anything notable someday, I will certainly remember your labors over this past month,” Ji Changkong replied sincerely.
“Enough of that sweet talk,” Han Hai chuckled, waving him off. “Go on. Given the depth of your Primordial Energy now, you are ready to select a foundational Heavenly Scholar secret technique to cultivate.”
“Mhm, I was planning on heading to the Scripture Pavilion anyway,” Ji Changkong replied with a smile. After exchanging a few more casual words with Han Hai, he set off toward the Scripture Pavilion.
...
The Scripture Pavilion was located in the most secluded corner of the Ji family compound.
Except once every three years when the Ji sons, after undergoing their cultivation assessment, were permitted entry to select a Heavenly Scholar secret technique or manual, the Pavilion was guarded solely by Mo Yunyi.
It was still daylight. Upon arrival, Ji Changkong first observed his surroundings cautiously. After ensuring no one was near the Scripture Pavilion, he crept stealthily toward the entrance, lightly knocking and whispering, “Granny Mo, it’s me.”
Creeak!
The tightly shut door of the Scripture Pavilion cracked open just enough for Ji Changkong to slip inside instantly. After Mo Yunyi secured the door, Ji Changkong respectfully bowed to her. Seeing her nod, he smiled and said, “Granny Mo, I now have Primordial Energy circulating.”
“I knew that already,” Mo Yunyi replied with a gentle, warm smile. “You worked so diligently; it would truly be heaven’s blindness if you couldn't gather your Yuan Power. Hm, I can see your cultivation speed was incredibly fast, and your body is much sturdier than before. You’ve come to the Scripture Pavilion today to look for a secret technique, haven't you?”
“Yes. Although I have Primordial Energy in my body, without knowing how to use it, I can’t maximize my strength,” Ji Changkong admitted frankly, smiling.
“Don't rush. This is the time to build your foundation. I don't advise you to immediately start practicing a Heavenly Scholar secret technique. Only when you reach the Two Extremes Heaven realm can you effectively release your Primordial Energy through your body, and only then can you truly unleash the power of a secret technique!”
Mo Yunyi paused, then added softly, “If you trust this old woman, don't be in a hurry to choose a secret technique for now. Wait until your Primordial Energy can cycle into your mind, illuminating your heart and strengthening your spirit, allowing you to break through to the Two Extremes Heaven realm. Then, I will personally select a technique for you!”
“I certainly trust you, Granny Mo.” Ji Changkong hesitated for a moment, then smiled, losing his hesitation. “Since you say so, I will return another day. Hehe, I apologize for troubling you today.”
“Good! As long as you don’t seek success too hastily, even without that Xuanyuan bloodline, your future achievements will surely surpass your father’s!” Reaching this point, Mo Yunyi let out a soft sigh. “Your father was simply too competitive and too impatient. If he had listened to me back then and solidly built his foundation, instead of rushing to leave the Ji family, perhaps there would have been hope for him to truly bring glory to our house.”
“Granny Mo, can you tell me about my father?” Upon hearing Mo Yunyi mention Ji Haotian, Ji Changkong’s expression shifted slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally asked.
“Your father’s innate talent was exceptional. Among the second generation of the Ji family, his strength far surpassed Ji Haoguang and Ji Haohong. Back when the Ji family contended with the Yinshan Jiou family, your father single-handedly swept clean all the Heavenly Scholars of the Jiou family’s second generation. Among the young generation of Qingyan City, no one was a match for your father!”
Mo Yunyi pondered before continuing, “However, your father was too arrogant, and his temperament was too quick. He made many enemies even within Qingyan City. He left the Ji family to wander long ago. As for what happened after that, Granny Mo doesn't know much... but given your father’s nature... alas...”
As Mo Yunyi reached the end of her story, she seemed reluctant to say more, as if the subsequent events involving Ji Haotian were a great taboo.
Ji Changkong listened quietly. After a while, he said softly, “Granny Mo, I will go back now.”
“Yes. Remember to temper your body thoroughly while you are in the One Extremity Heaven realm. Your three months of cultivation in the Cold Ice Cave were excellent! As long as you persevere and solidify your foundation, your future achievements will certainly not be less than your father’s!” Mo Yunyi cautioned him again before he departed.
...
Qingyan City, at Luo Tian’s row of three tile-roofed houses.
“Old Luo, that Fire Dragon Brew really hits hard! Do you have any more?” Ji Changkong boomed as soon as he entered.
“I do, follow me.” Luo Tian, who had been staring blankly by the door, immediately stood up upon seeing Ji Changkong. He stared intently at Ji Changkong for a moment, then quickly moved toward the back.
As Luo Tian turned away, his eyes were filled with surprise and relief, his mood seemingly excellent.
“Thirty jars of Fire Dragon Brew! Take as much as you can carry!” Luo Tian said to Ji Changkong in the back room, gesturing toward the neatly stacked jars of wine.
“Huh? Where’s the old Ku Du?” Ji Changkong asked in surprise. He could no longer see any sign of Ku Du in the room.
The last time he visited, Ku Du occupied the majority of the space, with Fire Dragon Brew relegated to a corner. Today, not a single jar of Ku Du remained; the most prevalent wine was now Fire Dragon Brew.
“From now on, I won't be brewing Ku Du anymore,” Luo Tian said with a slight pull of his lips.
“That’s fine too. I found Ku Du a bit dull to drink; strong liquor is much more satisfying!” Ji Changkong laughed loudly, cheerfully urging Luo Tian, “Come on, Old Luo, lend a hand! I’ll take five jars today.”
“Five jars? How is that enough? Ten jars!” Luo Tian’s tone allowed no refusal, as if the wine he painstakingly brewed had no cost. He grabbed several jars and walked toward the outside.
“Uh... you really don't care about it at all.” Ji Changkong looked stunned, then shook his head with a wry smile, thinking Luo Tian was truly an eccentric; he never actively tried to sell the wine he worked so hard to brew, as if it were set aside only for him.
A moment later, the large horse Ji Changkong rode had ten jars of Fire Dragon Brew securely tied to it with hemp rope by Luo Tian.
After carefully checking to ensure the ten jars wouldn't fall off due to the horse’s jolting, he narrowed his eyes and said calmly, “Changkong, you always asked if there was anything to remove the scars on your face. I didn't know before, but I went out recently and heard about something that can erase any scar.”
“What is it?” Ji Changkong’s face instantly tensed, and the hand holding the horse reins suddenly loosened as he asked urgently.
Over the years, Ji Changkong had sought ways to remove the four terrible scars on his Aunt Ji Wanyun’s face, but being young and powerless, he had found no means. In his frequent talks with Luo Tian, he had asked more than once if Luo Tian knew a way to remove scars, and each time Luo Tian would only fall silent, indicating he didn't know either.
Yet now, Luo Tian had brought up the topic himself, completely capturing Ji Changkong’s attention. He knew Luo Tian never joked; if he said there was a way, there must be a way!
“The saliva of the Thousand-Year Amethyst Toad can eliminate all scars!” Luo Tian stated definitively.
“Where can I find the Thousand-Year Amethyst Toad?” Ji Changkong urgently inquired.
“The Yunmeng Great Marsh,” Luo Tian replied.
“Which part of the Yunmeng Great Marsh?” Ji Changkong pressed.
“Poison Dragon Pool,” Luo Tian answered.
At these words, Ji Changkong’s face drastically changed. He gasped, exclaiming, “Poison Dragon Pool?”
“Indeed, the Poison Dragon Pool!” Luo Tian nodded. After a pause, he eyed Ji Changkong strangely and asked, “What? Are you afraid?”
“It’s not fear, but I feel that with my current strength, entering the Poison Dragon Pool would be certain death,” Ji Changkong replied with a bitter smile.
The Yunmeng Great Marsh was perpetually shrouded in multicolored miasma, much of which was highly toxic and mobile. If an ordinary person entered, just one breath of the miasma would be fatal, and even some skilled Heavenly Scholars could not escape unscathed.
Besides the poisonous mists, the Yunmeng Great Marsh was home to all sorts of ferocious exotic beasts, some whose power rivaled that of an average Heavenly Scholar. Because the marsh contained many spiritual herbs and rare Yuan Stones, many cultivators ventured in over the years, but even more died there.
Within the Yunmeng Great Marsh, the Poison Dragon Pool was notorious for its malevolence. Legend held that the most savage and venomous beasts haunted the vicinity of the pool, and the toxic miasma there was the thickest. Even powerful Heavenly Scholars adventuring in the Great Marsh would give the Poison Dragon Pool a wide berth, not daring to approach within a single step.
The Thousand-Year Amethyst Toad resided in the most sinister location within that incredibly dangerous place. Ji Changkong truly didn't know what to do. To him, entering the Poison Dragon Pool now felt like a ninety-percent chance of death; surviving, let alone collecting saliva from the Toad, seemed nearly impossible.
“Other cultivators at the One Extremity Heaven realm would certainly die going there! But if you go, it’s not necessarily certain death...” Luo Tian narrowed his eyes, stating calmly.
“How did you draw that conclusion?” Ji Changkong asked, torn between laughter and tears.
Luo Tian remained silent, implying he didn't wish to answer.
“Damn it, I’ll trust you this once! So what if it’s the Poison Dragon Pool? I’ll brave it!” For some unknown reason, hearing Luo Tian say he wouldn't die convinced Ji Changkong. The thought of Ji Wanyun’s hideous scars made his heart ache, and he steeled his resolve.
“When you go to the Poison Dragon Pool, remember to bring Fire Dragon Brew too,” Luo Tian said, his lips twitching slightly as he saw Ji Changkong seemingly set on his decision after being persuaded. “Drink plenty of wine; it builds courage!”
“If I come back alive this time, I’m dragging all your Fire Dragon Brew away!” Ji Changkong laughed loudly, sharply spurring his horse as he headed toward Azure Rock Mountain.
“As long as you go, with that fellow there, who could possibly kill you... He has been waiting for you there all along...” Luo Tian murmured to himself in a low voice after Ji Changkong disappeared from sight.