Within the Cultivation World, there existed the five great elemental spirits: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, governed by the principles of generation and overcoming.

Among these, the Water and Fire elemental spirits were the most volatile and unstable, most prone to mutation.

Water spiritual energy, upon condensation, transformed into Ice spiritual energy. Fire spiritual energy, when rising, mutated into Wind spiritual energy. Furthermore, the violent collision between Water and Fire spiritual energies frequently synthesized a new element: Thunder spiritual energy.

Thus, in the Cultivation World, besides the five fundamental elements, there were the three minor, wondrous elements: Ice, Wind, and Thunder. Because the three minor elements derived from the mutation of the unstable Water and Fire elements, they too possessed inherent instability. Among them, Thunder spiritual energy was the most ferocious, possessing the greatest destructive power.

In the cultivation sphere of the East Sea, centered primarily on the Five Elements Yuan Qi, opportunities to encounter the three minor elements were rare.

Within the sixth central passage of this treasure vault, the Ice Grotto, the concentration of Ice spiritual energy was so high that the group of treasure-seeking cultivators who rushed in could scarcely imagine or believe it.

"The Ice spiritual energy here is too severe! Even Golden Core cultivators couldn't last half an hour relying solely on their protective shields."

"Quick! Everyone, test your Fire-attribute magical artifacts to resist the biting cold!"

"We’re doomed! Even top-tier Fire-attribute artifacts can’t hold out for long; the chilling aura will still penetrate. We might only last a few more hours!"

"We need Fire-attribute Nascent Soul artifacts to completely repel the invasion of this frigid aura!"

Immediately, many treasure-seeking cultivators discovered their Fire-attribute artifacts were proving ineffective and cried out in pain. Without Fire-attribute Nascent Soul artifacts, they fundamentally could not remain in the Ice Grotto for long.

The vast majority of the cultivators present were mid-to-late stage Golden Core practitioners. Those who had survived this long possessed one or two Nascent Soul artifacts. Even the Wang uncle and nephew duo possessed several Nascent Soul artifacts.

However, the issue was that their artifacts were not necessarily all Fire-attribute Nascent Soul artifacts. Artifacts without the Fire attribute were nearly useless against the harsh, severe cold within this grotto. Pursuing the great cultivator Cao deep into the Ice Grotto, aiming to seize the three Nascent Soul Pills in the Cao family’s possession, was simply impossible.

Seeing many cultivators struggling at the entrance to the Ice Grotto, Cultivator Pang sneered, flipped his hand, and produced a seven-inch talisman, ancient in appearance, manifesting a small-scale Divine Ability of the Fire attribute. With a surge of magical power, a torrent of blazing incantations erupted from the talisman, forming a dome of flame that enveloped and protected him.

"Fellow Daoists, Cultivator Cao the Heretic has vanished, but the residual aura clearly indicates he fled deep into the Ice Grotto passage. I shall take the lead; all you fellow Daoists should prepare yourselves and proceed slowly."

Following this declaration, Cultivator Pang ignored the others and swiftly sped towards the depths of the Ice Grotto.

Talismans of the tenth rank and above are known as Small Divine Ability Talismans; they are typically possessed only by Nascent Soul cultivators, possessing immense power, comparable to a minor Divine Ability artifact. They possess a significant advantage: the talisman consumes only the vast spiritual energy contained within itself, requiring no expenditure of the cultivator's personal mana. Therefore, a Golden Core cultivator, or even a Foundation Establishment cultivator, could use such a Small Divine Ability Talisman directly without incurring any additional cost.

Of course, their drawback is equally apparent: they are single-use consumables. A defensive Small Divine Ability Talisman typically lasts for one day under "normal conditions." Under "abnormal conditions," such as being subjected to fierce external attacks, the duration of the protective talisman would be drastically shortened. Offensive talismans could only be used once.

While talismans hold great power, once used, they cannot be employed again. The Small Divine Ability Talisman and the Small Divine Ability Artifact each have merits and flaws, making direct comparison difficult. For a Golden Core cultivator, the Small Divine Ability Talisman clearly offers greater utility than a Small Divine Ability Artifact. However, for a Nascent Soul cultivator, the Small Divine Ability Artifact is definitively more useful than the Talisman.

This Small Divine Ability-level Flame Bell Shield increased Cultivator Pang's defensive power tenfold. Within a single day, Cultivator Pang's defense grew so powerful that it was comparable to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Even if the other dozen or so Golden Core cultivators combined their efforts using ordinary Nascent Soul artifacts, they would likely struggle to breach his defense. As for the Ice spiritual energy within the grotto, it was mere child's play, posing no threat to Cultivator Pang. Naturally, Cultivator Pang currently boasted only overwhelmingly strong defense; his offensive capabilities might not be equally high.

Seeing Cultivator Pang deploy a Fire-attribute Small Divine Ability Talisman to chase Cao alone, the other treasure-seeking cultivators were furious and choked with resentment.

"Damn it! The value of one Small Divine Ability Talisman is nearly equivalent to a Small Divine Ability Artifact! At the Ancient Ship Stronghold, one could trade it for countless spiritual elixirs. That Pang fellow actually brought himself to use one—it's the height of extravagant waste!"

"Hmph, Pang entered the Fire Chamber; he should possess three Small Divine Ability Talismans. This is merely one of them, so he has the capital to indulge in such luxury. Besides, what is one talisman compared to Nascent Soul Pills? Without the ability to form a Nascent Soul, even his Small Divine Ability Talismans are useless."

"He's so lucky! Why didn't I secure the Great Token for the Fire Chamber earlier?" Many treasure-seeking cultivators cursed their fate in anger.

Sun Xing's immediate use of a Fire-attribute Small Divine Ability Talisman against Cultivator Pang caused him some surprise. His brow furrowed, his expression darkened considerably, and he pondered deeply, sensing the danger posed by Cultivator Pang. Sun Xing merely waved the Azure Silk Gauze Curtain in his hand, enveloping himself in a screen of misty azure light for protection.

The Azure Silk Gauze Curtain was a defensive Small Divine Ability Artifact, impervious to Water, Fire, Wind, or Thunder. Even without injecting any mana, the inherent capability of the Azure Silk Gauze Curtain offered a degree of defense. Although it lost its concealment effect when moving, a Small Divine Ability-level defensive artifact was more than sufficient to ward off the intrusion of the external Ice spiritual energy. His speed in following was undiminished.

This time, Sun Xing clearly had no interest in accompanying any other treasure-seeking cultivators. When seizing Nascent Soul Pills, the fewer people involved, the better. He wasn't foolish enough to help other cultivators enter the Ice Grotto depths to compete for the pills.

Huangfu Bing'er couldn't help but glance at Ye Tai, thinking to herself, Husband was right. These two indeed had a plan hatched early: forcing Cao to flee into the sixth passage of this treasure vault, then using this passage to exclude most of the other treasure-seeking cultivators so they could easily seize the Nascent Soul Pills. The calculation's effect was immediate.

"Pang and Sun have entered. Let's go!" Ye Qin looked toward the Ice Grotto with calm eyes, saying no more, and directly summoned his mid-grade Fire-attribute Nascent Soul Artifact, the 'Southern Bright Li Fire Sword.' This fire sword immediately spewed forth a massive amount of azure-blue Li Fire flames, forcing back the layers of chilling aura surrounding them.

Then, he strode resolutely toward the depths of the Ice Grotto. Huangfu Bing'er, protected by her equally fine Fire-attribute Nascent Soul Artifact, the Purple Bright Li Fire Sword, followed closely beside Ye Qin as they pursued. The two Fire-attribute Nascent Soul Artifacts were sufficient for the pair to operate within the Ice Grotto.

The remaining group of over a dozen treasure-seeking cultivators watched as Pang, Sun, and the Ye Qin couple—four in total—entered the deeper parts of the Ice Grotto. They exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.

Kong Shi pondered for a moment, then carefully retrieved a fiery feather from his storage ring. This feather, over a long and crimson red, surprisingly radiated a brilliant, multicolored flame, bathing the Ice Grotto passage in a shifting halo of light, resembling an immortal realm. This rather potent Fire spiritual energy immediately repelled the extreme frost within a one-zhang radius around Kong Shi.

This fire feather had not undergone refinement; it relied purely on its inherent Fire spiritual energy to push back the chilling aura.

"Peacock Flame Plume!?"

"That appears to be a tail feather from the ancient Yi lineage Flame Peacock; it should be a tier eleven or twelve raw material of the Fire attribute. The Fire spiritual energy is extraordinarily rich—perfect for refining a Fire-attribute Nascent Soul Artifact! This feather could easily be forged into a Peacock Flame Fan, a Small Divine Ability Artifact!"

"Brother Kong using this feather like this is such a waste; the fire spiritual energy inside will likely be completely depleted soon, turning it into scrap material worth nothing."

"For the sake of the Nascent Soul Pills, it's worth it. Brother Kong is truly blessed to obtain such a Fire-attribute raw material! We have nothing!" Many treasure-seeking cultivators murmured in astonishment and envy.

"Fellow Daoists, I shall take my leave now!"

Kong Shi's face, which had been stiff and pale from the cold, immediately softened and regained color. The cold within the Ice Grotto no longer felt oppressive. He chuckled, holding the Peacock Flame Feather, and soared toward the depths of the Ice Grotto passage.

The expressionless Cultivator Fan suddenly flashed his figure, darting into the sphere of fire spiritual energy within one zhang of Kong Shi. This was clearly an attempt to use the fire feather in Kong Shi's hand to evade the cold.

"Fellow Daoist Fan, what are you doing? Get away!" Kong Shi's face changed, and he shouted fiercely, preparing to turn hostile. He had no intention of letting someone else benefit from his Flame Plume for free.

"Go!" Cultivator Fan shouted coldly and sternly, reaching out and seizing Kong Shi's wrist with lightning speed. Whatever technique he employed, upon contact, Kong Shi seemed struck by lightning; his pupils dilated, and he was utterly unable to break free.

The two disappeared into the Ice Grotto passage in a few quick flashes. The other Golden Core cultivators were too slow to react and had no idea what transpired between Cultivator Fan and Kong Shi; Kong Shi had somehow dragged Cultivator Fan in with him.

"Fellow Daoists, only we are left. What shall we do now?"

"Why don't we join forces, bring out all our Fire-attribute artifacts, and charge in together!" The Golden Core cultivators who lacked Fire-attribute Nascent Soul Artifacts were extremely unwilling to let Sun Xing and the others divide the Nascent Soul Pills. They all brought out their numerous Fire-attribute artifacts and treasures, regardless of whether they were high or low grade, using them all to resist the Ice spiritual energy and forcibly push toward the depths of the Ice Grotto.

However, the Ice spiritual energy within this grotto was simply too intense. The deeper they went, the more unbearable the biting cold became. These lower-quality Fire-attribute artifacts began to shatter and break under the erosion of the Ice spiritual energy, losing their Fire spiritual essence. Layers of frost threatened to freeze them solid, turning them into ice sculptures.

This group of over ten treasure-seeking cultivators managed only a few hundred zhang into the passage before they could no longer withstand the extreme cold and were forced, one after another, to retreat back to the Treasure Vault Hall outside, waiting for Cultivator Pang, Sun Xing, and the others to emerge after dealing with Cao. (To be continued)