Chapter 53

Zhu Ganglie used his merit points to exchange for three drops of Pure Yang Thunder Water, three drops of Primordial Heavy Water, and three drops of Formless True Water from his sect.

The Pure Yang Thunder Water is refined from the lightning of heaven and earth, being extremely yang and hard. The Formless True Water, on the other hand, is refined from the collective will of all beings, formless and intangible, exuding a mysterious aura.

The Primordial Heavy Water is extremely heavy, with one drop weighing as much as ten thousand catties. When it falls from the sky, it can pierce through a mountain, and can easily penetrate even the most refined steel.

These true waters are extremely precious, with one drop costing one merit point, causing Zhu Ganglie to feel a great deal of pain. He had only ten merit points, and now only one remained.

However, exchanging for these three types of true water was worth it. Otherwise, it might take him several hundred years to find just one type, and it would also delay his cultivation.

Originally, Zhu Ganglie only intended to use the Ice Soul and Profound Yin True Water to cultivate the Supreme Cold Qi of the Heavenly River to a minor success, then focus on cultivating his Dao.

Now that he had condensed all his manifest realm's magical power, it was time to consider how to achieve the possession realm, as only at this realm could he increase his lifespan.

With these true waters, he could advance this spell to a certain level, without having to spend time and effort cultivating other protective spells.

He then manifested the Ice Cloud, which had its own name: the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud.

As soon as it appeared, it resembled a palm-sized white leaf, with a faint glow and emitting a misty aura.

After the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud appeared, Zhu Ganglie took out a small jade bottle containing the three drops of Primordial Heavy Water, each drop weighing as much as ten thousand catties, extremely precious.

If not for cultivating the Supreme Cold Qi of the Heavenly River, he could have refined them into magical weapons or even condensed them into his magical power to enhance the power of the Ice Soul.

However, using them this way would be too wasteful, as the value of one drop of Primordial Heavy Water was incomparable to ordinary things. The Primordial Heavy Water in the sect was collected by the elders and could not be used recklessly.

He circulated his magical power, and the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud gently swayed, absorbing the three drops of Primordial Heavy Water, forming a Heaven-Earth-Man trinity array, merging with the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud to form a large array with multiple layers of restrictions.

Zhu Ganglie slowly refined it with his magical power. As the refinement progressed, the weight of the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud continuously increased, making Zhu Ganglie feel as if the ice cloud on his head had turned into three massive mountains.

Half a month later, the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud had completely refined the three drops of Primordial Heavy Water, greatly increasing its power. With a light command from Zhu Ganglie, the fragrant cloud expanded to an acre in size and drifted toward the distant mountains.

With a loud boom, the entire mountain was split in half, and the rocks instantly turned into ice blocks, piling up.

After testing the power of the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud, Zhu Ganglie did not rest. He took out the Formless True Water and continued to cultivate.

The Formless True Water could refine the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud to a state between form and formlessness, making it invisible. Combined with the Primordial Heavy Water, it could make the ice cloud as light as a feather and as heavy as a mountain.

After refining the Formless True Water into the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud, Zhu Ganglie began to refine the Pure Yang Thunder Water. With this water, the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud would no longer be in the category of extreme yin and cold, but would become balanced and flexible.

This characteristic would also be beneficial for refining the Ice Soul Divine Thunder, as thunder techniques belong to the category of extreme yang and hardness.

While Zhu Ganglie was fully cultivating the Supreme Cold Qi of the Heavenly River, Ximen Jianbei also began to冲击金丹 (冲击金丹 means "to冲击" (impact) "金丹" (golden core), but in this context, it means "to attempt to form the golden core").

Once he reached the golden core realm, he could become a true disciple and truly obtain all the immortality techniques.

Six months later, Zhu Ganglie completed the cultivation of the Supreme Cold Qi of the Heavenly River, with the four true waters fully integrated.

The Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud on his head would sometimes transform into a palm-sized white leaf, and at other times into a surging river, changing unpredictably but without any sense of abruptness.

After fully cultivating this spell, Zhu Ganglie took a deep breath and pointed at the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud floating above his head, which transformed into a white Daoist robe and draped over his body.

The Daoist robe had a flowing river, gently circling, and countless snowflakes floating, appearing and disappearing, exquisitely beautiful.

With this Daoist robe, Zhu Ganglie was equivalent to having a spell always active on his body. If anyone tried to harm him, the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud would immediately counterattack.

Wearing the Daoist robe, Zhu Ganglie stood up and walked out of his closed retreat cave. Calculating the time, it would be another month before his senior brother Ximen Jianbei attempted to form the golden core. He would just be out of retreat to protect him, to prevent any external demons from taking advantage.

Arriving at the Cold Ice Daoist Temple, Zhu Ganglie saw his senior brother reciting something in front of the Cold Ice Daoist Venerable. Not daring to disturb him, he waited until his senior brother finished reciting before stepping forward and saying, "Senior Brother, I have come out of retreat. I don't know how to protect against the external demons?"

"Junior Brother Zhu, it's good that you have come out of retreat. Forming the golden core is a matter of seizing the essence of heaven and earth, and there are three major calamities: heaven, earth, and man.

The heavenly calamity is the lightning calamity, with nine levels of lightning, enhancing the practitioner's pure yang energy.

The earthly calamity is the heart fire calamity, emerging from the practitioner's spirit, burning away impurities in the spirit to refine the golden core.

The human calamity is the external demon calamity, where celestial demons or others will come to obstruct, so we must protect Junior Brother Ximen to prevent him from being attacked by external demons and disrupting the transcendence."

Yinghuo explained these matters with impatience, making Zhu Ganglie understand that forming the golden core was fraught with calamities.

However, this was understandable, as forming the golden core could extend one's lifespan by eight hundred years, a feat that was not easily achieved.

"Junior Brother understands and will not be negligent in any way!"

Zhu Ganglie bowed, and in his heart, he also hoped to witness the formation of the golden core, which would be greatly beneficial for his future transcendence.

Seeing Zhu Ganglie's expression, Yinghuo smiled, "You don't need to worry too much. In the Divine Lightning Sect, such powerful external demons will be dealt with by the senior elders!

At that time, you should carefully observe, which will greatly benefit your cultivation! For now, stay at the Cold Ice Daoist Temple."

After saying this, Yinghuo no longer paid attention, focusing on his meditation and cultivation. Zhu Ganglie also sat in meditation, waiting for the heavenly calamity to descend upon Senior Brother Ximen Jianbei.

A month later, thick black clouds suddenly appeared in the sky above the Ice Soul Peak, and a terrifying aura pressed down.

"The time has come, Junior Brother Zhu, follow me out!"

Yinghuo shouted, his figure directly flying into the air, arriving at the Nine Cauldrons Grand Square. Zhu Ganglie saw Senior Brother Ximen Jianbei standing in the air, his sword case humming.

As the black clouds in the sky accumulated to a certain extent, a bolt of lightning shot out, striking Ximen Jianbei.

As the lightning struck, a circle of white light appeared around Ximen Jianbei, and Zhu Ganglie immediately recognized that Ximen Jianbei had cultivated the Demon-Repelling Divine Light Shield.

As the white shield enveloped him, the lightning in the sky became even more violent. However, having witnessed the Qinglong's transcendence, Zhu Ganglie was not greatly shocked by this lightning calamity.

With Ximen Jianbei's strength, he withstood the nine bolts of lightning, with the power of the lightning penetrating his spirit, enhancing its strength.

As the lightning calamity passed, Ximen Jianbei's expression suddenly became serious, and a flame appeared deep within his spirit, burning from the inside out.

This scene made Zhu Ganglie's expression tighten, as the power of the flame was terrifying, even more so than the lightning.

The power of the lightning could be resisted with one's own magical power, but the power of the flame could only be resisted with one's own will. A single mistake could lead to the destruction of both body and spirit, and all cultivation would be lost.

"Screech!"

At this moment, a gap suddenly tore open in the air, and countless illusory, transparent black shadows descended, trying to enter Ximen Jianbei's body.

Zhu Ganglie, who had cultivated eye recognition, could see that these illusory, transparent black shadows were surrounded by countless indistinct figures.

These black shadows, whether transparent or vaguely visible, were all fierce and monstrous.

"Junior Brother, these are extraterrestrial celestial demons. Follow me to slay them, and do not let them disturb Senior Brother Ximen, causing the heart fire to rise!"

Yinghuo's expression changed drastically, and a white flying knife appeared above his head, slicing through the air and killing countless black shadows.

Zhu Ganglie did not dare to be careless. His entire body's Daoist robe shimmered, and the Bèiyè Fragrant Cloud transformed into a massive river, crashing into the air. The Ice Soul Banner also unfurled, directly killing the countless black shadows.

As they fought, the flames around Ximen Jianbei burned even more fiercely, completely enveloping him. At this moment, Zhu Ganglie knew that Ximen Jianbei was at a critical juncture and could not afford any mistakes.

"Whoosh!"

As Zhu Ganglie thought, a massive suction force suddenly emerged from the Cold Ice Daoist Temple, instantly drawing in all the black shadows.