Free Web NovelChapter 410: Chapter 397: Ice Purgatory
The woman said nothing, merely giving Shen Lang a cold glance.
Then, her hands suddenly spread wide, revealing a dazzling and stunning figure.
However, the stunning sight was fleeting, lasting only a fraction of a second. Immediately after, her body was encased in a layer of ice, transforming her into an exquisitely beautiful ice sculpture.
Covered head to toe in crystal-like ice, she took on a hazy, dreamlike quality, like viewing flowers through mist, compelling even Shen Lang to take a second look.
Before Shen Lang could speak, an overwhelming chill instantly emanated from the woman.
With a series of cracking sounds, the entire hot spring was frozen solid!
Shen Lang’s body was instantly trapped in the hot spring!
The chill on the spring’s surface immediately began to snake up his body. Wherever it passed, a thick layer of ice formed!
Not only that, but countless ice spikes suddenly erupted from the frozen surface of the spring, growing larger as if fed by the wind.
Then, as if they had eyes of their own, they all lunged ferociously toward Shen Lang!
The massive ice spikes glowed with a sinister, cold light. While not exceptionally fast, their momentum was astonishing.
If an ordinary person were to be pierced, their body would undoubtedly be riddled with bloody holes!
And that wasn’t all!
At the feet of the woman encased in crystal-like ice, an Ice Dragon was slowly taking shape. It lifted her higher and higher, a terrifying aura emanating from it that was suffocating to behold!
’A cultivation of at least the Spirit Martial Realm Seventh Heaven!’
’She’s not one of the so-called top ten disciples of the Profound Dao Sect. This woman isn’t from the Sect.’
The thought flashed through Shen Lang’s mind, and he immediately slammed his palm down on the ice in front of him.
BOOM!
Amidst the tremendous noise, the ice covering the hot spring shattered. Shen Lang’s figure spun as he shot into the sky, ice shards flying everywhere, narrowly avoiding the attack of the thousands of ice spikes.
He then performed a graceful backflip in mid-air, coming to a stop as he floated silently in the sky.
Behind him, a pair of ink-black wings twitched slightly, adding a sinister air to the small valley.
"The willow of Jiangnan, its tender green has yet to cast a shade. One pities its small leaves and branches when picking it. The oriole struggles to land upon its fragile form. It’s best left to mature until late spring."
Shen Lang left these words behind. With a slight movement of the Ghost King’s Wings on his back, his figure vanished into the distance.
The woman in the water, who originally had an icy gaze devoid of any emotion, her expression changed upon hearing Shen Lang’s words, revealing an irrepressible, seething rage!
The poem was full of provocative meaning, and its message was simple and clear: ’You’re still too young and tender. This young master isn’t interested in you, nor did I intend to spy on you. I’ll leave you for now; we’ll see after you’ve grown up!’
BOOM!
She struck out with her palm to the right. A massive boulder over ten feet tall by the edge of the hot spring was instantly pulverized by the powerful Qi, the force of the blow astonishing.
’Since when did this generation of Profound Dao Sect disciples have such a powerful figure? To think he could escape my Ice Purgatory?’
’I’m afraid this person will become a formidable opponent for me in the Imperial Capital’s grand competition.’
The woman walked slowly out of the hot spring. With a turn of her body, she was already draped in a robe.
She shot an icy glare in the direction Shen Lang had flown, and a pair of butterfly-like wings appeared on her back. In an instant, she sped off in another direction.
...
Meanwhile, it wasn’t long before Shen Lang returned to the summit of Songdu Peak.
"Junior Brother Shen Lang is back!"
As soon as Shen Lang landed, the crowd of diligently cultivating disciples let out a cheer, every one of them staring at him with burning eyes.
Their gazes were like lovers looking at their other half, or like wolves that had been starving for seven days spotting a plump sheep.
Even someone as resolute as Shen Lang found the countless intense gazes hard to withstand.
"Don’t look at me! If you should be cultivating, then cultivate. Get back to what you were doing!"
With that, he casually plopped down onto a chair by the entrance.
Songdu Peak had been overflowing with people lately.
People from all the other peaks had swarmed over.
Some came bearing gifts, hoping to befriend Shen Lang.
Some desperately tried to curry favor with Wang Dashu first.
Others, having seen Shen Lang teach and impart his knowledge, shamelessly stayed to study and cultivate alongside everyone else.
The last group was, by far, the most numerous.
The Sect Leader had strictly forbidden any word of Shen Lang’s teachings from spreading. He had also officially confiscated two things: the technique Shen Lang used to help Martial Artists open their Mystic Gates by striking their acupoints, and the Spell for controlling one’s power to stand on water.
Shen Lang had brought out these two things casually, but in the eyes of Su Wenxuan and the other Profound Dao Sect Elders, they were an unexpected and enormous fortune!
As things stood, not even Spirit Copper Level sects like the Imperial Dragon Sect possessed such things.
Any other Sect that obtained these two things would likely undergo an earth-shattering transformation!
Opening a Martial Artist’s Mystic Gate, then using one’s own Spiritual Power to help them overcome all obstacles and advance their Cultivation.
A method that required no Spirit Stones, no Elixir Pills, and no Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, yet could raise the Cultivation of a Qi Martial Realm Martial Artist in a short time—it left the Sect Leader and the group of Elders overjoyed! fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
In the end, this technique quickly became a unique Secret Technique exclusive to the Profound Dao Sect.
If something like this were taught carelessly and obtained by someone who had infiltrated the Profound Dao Sect with ill intent, Sect Leader Su Wenxuan and the others wouldn’t even have time to cry.
Shen Lang’s technique of whipping someone to open their Mystic Gate was one thing.
With his bizarre speed and methods, it was impossible for anyone to memorize his movements under those conditions.
However, the Mantra he had taught to Xia Xiaoting and the others had already spread.
By the time Su Wenxuan found out, at least forty people had already learned this Spell.
For this reason, the Sect Leader raised a great fuss, ordering the Thunder Guards to investigate each and every one of them.
First, the technique for opening the Mystic Gate was placed under strict control. Any disciple who wanted it done had to pay a large amount of Contribution Points, and it could only be performed by a designated high-ranking member of the Profound Dao Sect.
Second, everyone who had already learned the Spell for controlling power was made to swear a Heart Demon Blood Oath, vowing never to pass it on to outsiders.
Furthermore, several Elders personally placed a Restriction in their minds. If anyone tried to extract their memories, the Restriction would immediately activate and erase that particular Spell.
Now, learning this Spell was exactly like exchanging for a Cultivation Technique in the Library Pavilion.
Moreover, the Spell was placed on one of the higher levels, making it extremely difficult for an ordinary person to obtain it without trying to get it from Shen Lang himself.
If they hadn’t taken these actions, it might have been fine. But doing so caused a huge sensation throughout the entire Profound Dao Sect.
Everyone now knew that Shen Lang could help people break through their bottlenecks and advance their Cultivation with a single whipping session!
Within just a few short days, people from every peak madly flocked to Songdu Peak.
Yan Qi, Tian Hao, and the others guarded the path, charging an entrance fee and embarking on a prosperous road to riches.
Who would have known that Fang Hongfeng, under Shen Lang’s direction, would come to supervise the two of them and take away the majority of their earnings? This enraged Tian Hao so much he coughed up blood, adding injury to injury.
Shen Lang watched the crowd of people cultivating diligently, feeling quite emotional.
He didn’t have any grand plan in guiding their Cultivation. He simply wanted to help the Profound Dao Sect, to make the people of this Sect stronger before the Blood Ancestor Tomb emerged and the chaotic era began.
The emergence of the Blood Ancestor Tomb was less than nine years away.
Before it appeared, wars would surely erupt frequently, leaving devastation in their wake.
Whether as individuals or as a Sect, they had to become stronger to face the coming chaotic times.
Whether it was because of the relationship between the War Emperor and the founder of the Profound Dao Sect, or because of the Elemental Power Fragments, Shen Lang hoped to feel a sense of belonging in the Profound Dao Sect and grow stronger alongside its people.
Shen Lang had told Shark’s Kiss and Shangguan Feiyue that he didn’t want to get involved in the matter of the Blood Ancestor Tomb.
But in reality, he knew clearly that there was no way for him to escape this vortex.
Fate was a mysterious and profound thing.
Whether or not Shen Lang was the Emperor Star, there were many things he could no longer avoid.
On one hand, Li Su’s clansmen were likely all inside the Blood Ancestor Tomb, and he had promised Li Su that he would help the Celestial Crocodile Race if he had the chance.
On the other hand, Alice, as the key to the Blood Ancestor Tomb, had become entangled with him. He couldn’t just stand by and watch her be manipulated by fate, only to have her soul scatter in the Blood Ancestor Tomb.
Even after fusing with everything from the War Emperor, Shen Lang still felt like he was just a minor character.
This wasn’t because he disagreed with the War Emperor’s grand wish to protect the Human Realm, but because he clearly understood what he could and could not do.
The War Emperor could think and act that way because he had already reached that level and possessed a Cultivation that could shake the heavens and the earth.
But the current Shen Lang might not even be capable of protecting the people around him.
The various things happening to those close to him made him feel insecure.
Hong Yu’s Cultivation had greatly improved, and she even had a replica of a Celestial Artifact like the Feather Flower Purple Copper Mirror, yet she still encountered a crisis like the one with Shui Tianji.
No one could predict what kind of dangers these people would face once the chaotic era arrived.
’Less than nine years... for me, that should be enough, right?’
Whenever he hesitated, a surge of battle intent would quickly rise in his heart.
A battle intent to shatter the Azure Vault and face anything!
"What’s wrong? Lost in thought again?" Nalan Ziyun’s voice sounded from beside him.
Shen Lang turned his head and saw Nalan Ziyun looking at him with a gentle smile.
Nalan Ziyun had become much gentler lately, so gentle that it felt unreal, making Shen Lang constantly suspect that she had suffered from Possession.
Of course, Shen Lang didn’t dare say such a thing out loud; he could only mutter it to himself.
Nalan Ziyun held a small bamboo basket, which was filled with some glistening, bright red fruits.
"Open your mouth." Nalan Ziyun sat down beside him, picking up a fruit with her delicate hand.
Shen Lang opened his mouth and leaned his head forward slightly. He didn’t expect that Nalan Ziyun’s hand, holding the fruit, was also moving forward. All of a sudden, he had even taken her fingertips into his mouth.
Both of them froze, then, as if struck by lightning, they both shuddered and hastily pulled back.
Nearby, Shu Lan, who had just turned her head, happened to see this scene. Her eyes lowered, and her lips parted slightly before she turned her head back.
