Chapter 606: Heavenly Dao Oath
Cold Ice Cave.
The practice room was shrouded in darkness.
Shen Xuan stood amidst the obscurity, a faint cyan spiritual light flickering around his body.
With his eyes slightly closed and his mind concentrated, he operated his internal spiritual power according to the secret technique of the "Netherworld Demon Flower," condensing the dozens of drops of essence blood within him into a red spiritual flower.
The flower blossomed without leaves, dazzling and vivid.
It was just like the legendary appearance of the Netherworld Flower.
Using one’s own essence blood as a guide, and life force as fuel, it squeezed the potential of the flesh body, no wonder it would consume the lifespan of the cultivator.
As the spell was activated, Shen Xuan could clearly sense his abundant vitality being devoured by the Netherworld Demon Flower in his dantian like a flood gate opening.
The eerie red flower, receiving nourishment from the essence blood and spiritual power, continued to grow, quickly reaching a height of half an inch.
The flower divided into nine petals, with a vivid red color.
Dark purple Dao patterns on the petals trembled slightly like breaths, exuding a deathly aura that made one’s heart shiver.
Silently, Shen Xuan withdrew his powers.
At this moment, the "Netherworld Demon Flower" was still small.
He had been cultivating for an hour.
Nonetheless, his body felt a sense of exhaustion.
The Pill Essence Spiritual Power within him was nearly depleted.
"The cultivation of the ’Netherworld Demon Flower’ will continuously devour essence blood."
Shen Xuan thought to himself, with the "Ice Soul Rebirth" and "Self-Healing" skills, he could quickly restore his spiritual power and vitality.
But the consumption of the "Netherworld Demon Flower" exceeded his imagination.
"No rush, take it slow."
Shen Xuan thought for a moment and made a decision.
The "Netherworld Demon Flower" was just one of his many protective techniques.
He also had the "Profound Ice Treasure Talisman."
Inside him was a Nine-Colored Treasure Lotus, which could transform into the "Immortal Ice Lotus."
In addition to the recently learned "Ice Soul Rebirth."
In his storage pouch, over a thousand Ice Soul Spiritual Crystals were gathered.
Below the Nascent Soul stage, it was difficult to threaten his life.
"If it were other cultivators, having such power after thirty years of core formation, they would laugh themselves awake from a dream."
As long as he wasn’t at a life-and-death juncture, Shen Xuan wouldn’t use these bottom-drawer techniques.
Especially the "Netherworld Demon Flower," which he had nurtured with his own lifespan.
...
Flowers bloom and wilt.
In the blink of an eye, a year passed.
Shen Xuan had just finished refining a Demon Flood Dragon Demon Core.
On the Mysterious Jade Talisman.
[Lifespan: 192/1092]
[Dragon Blood Boiling Perfection (3200/3200)]
[Ice Soul Rebirth Mastery (128/400)]
[Dao Rhyme: 2261186]
[Netherworld Demon Flower: Proficient (2/200)]
In the dantian, the eerie Netherworld Flower stood about an inch tall, swaying with grace.
In a year, he had cultivated the "Netherworld Demon Flower" to a proficient stage.
Even with the "Ice Soul Rebirth" and "Self-Healing" skills, it still consumed three years of lifespan.
According to the Inheritance Jade Scroll, at this stage, the "Netherworld Demon Flower" could be used to diminish the opponent’s life force.
The effect was limited.
It’s estimated to be only a tenth of one’s own lifespan.
But during an attack, the opponent would inevitably be injured.
A Demon Sect secret technique that could ignore any defense and directly wound the flesh body.
Even the most powerful cultivators would feel apprehensive upon suddenly encountering it, not daring to press too hard.
This would buy Shen Xuan time to escape.
This day, Shen Xuan completed his daily cultivation.
Shangguan Wan’Er delivered a visiting card.
"So it’s them!"
Shen Xuan glanced at the signature.
Bishui Sect’s Golden Core True Master Tian Wenxi and True Pill True Master Chen Yufei.
Twenty years ago, Shen Xuan promised Tian Wenxi to fulfill a Heavenly Dao promise, to stand up for him, and to duel with Sect Leader Qingyu True Master of Bishui Sect.
"Fine. Let them in!"
Shen Xuan didn’t plan to evade.
In the living room.
Chen Yufei seemed a bit restless.
Tian Wenxi looked tense.
Nowadays, the name of True Master Profound Ice echoed through the five countries.
In the Cyan Cloud Sect, his status soared, ranking third in the sect.
His strength surpassed that of Tian Wenxi and his wife’s combined.
If Shen Xuan were to evade, Tian Wenxi wouldn’t dare to press.
Before coming, Tian Wenxi had already prepared a set of arguments.
Nothing more than the Heavenly Dao oath being inviolable, damaging the Dao heart, hindering future breakthroughs.
He was personally willing to pay a certain price, begging Shen Xuan to fulfill his promise.
However, Shen Xuan’s reaction was beyond his expectations.
After hearing his intention, he did not hesitate.
"Daoist Tian, no need to say more. Having accepted this agreement, I will fulfill it. You two rest at the Immortal City Inn for a while, and after I make some preparations, a month later, we will set off together."
Tian Wenxi hurriedly bowed in gratitude, exceedingly thankful.
Shen Xuan had not yet set out.
The news of Cyan Cloud Sect’s True Master Profound Ice and Bishui Sect’s True Master Qingyu soon battling over the East Sea spread rapidly throughout the cultivation realm of Song Country, attracting the attention of various forces.
Actually, this news was intentionally released by Shen Xuan himself.
He let Tian Wenxi and his wife stay in Starlight Immortal City for a month, just waiting for this news to ferment.
...
Bishui Sect’s mountain gate.
Recently, this place had become lively.
Many cultivators from afar were settling nearby, just to witness the duel between True Master Profound Ice and True Master Qingyu.
Bishui Sect arranged many disciples to entertain these visiting cultivators.
Fake Pill True Master Ruan Siting, along with several sect stewards, was registering the visiting True Masters.
He warmly entertained them as if they were old friends known for many years.
Yet, in his heart, he was bewildered.
What was going on?
An old acquaintance, Shen Xuan, came to challenge Sect Leader Qingyu True Master?
Unlike others, he knew a bit of the inside story.
In those years, he and Shen Xuan were close friends, appreciating each other.
Shen Xuan had asked him about Tian Wenxi’s matter.
Ruan Siting could basically guess the inside story.
If he guessed right.
Shen Xuan encountered Tian Wenxi, was appreciated by him, and was taught the Bishui Sect’s ultimate skill, the "Immortal-Slaying Water Technique Qi."
Once Shen Xuan mastered it, he was to stand up for Tian Wenxi to challenge Sect Leader Qingyu True Master.
This kind of thing had happened several times before.
However, those were all loose cultivators, and they were mercilessly slain by Qingyu True Master.
Over these years, under the title of Profound Ice, Shen Xuan’s fame spread far and wide.
He had once defeated True Master Wisdom Blade of the Yan Country’s True Intent Sect.
At that time, True Master Wisdom Blade had not yet recovered from serious injuries.
Being a Golden Cultivator, he chose the East Sea as the site for magical combat.
Everyone knew that Shen Xuan defeated True Master Wisdom Blade by exploiting the situation.
His core formation time, all things considered, was only thirty years.
Even if his talent was extraordinary and his cultivation technique was profound,
how could he possibly be a match for the late-stage Golden Core True Master Qingyu?
True Master Qingyu was no ordinary Golden Core.
He was the Sect Master of the Bishui Sect.
Ruan Siting was somewhat puzzled.
Why would someone as wise as Shen Xuan do something so foolish?
"At least there’s no threat to life. In consideration of the Cyan Cloud Sect, the Sect Leader will show mercy."
Ruan Siting thought to himself.
Just then, someone exclaimed, "Here they come!"
A person rode a Silver-Horned Celestial Horse, with extraordinary momentum, speeding like the wind.
Behind him, there was a Flying Ship, where two True Masters stood, none other than the couple Tian Wenxi and Chen Yufei.
Ruan Siting quickly went up to greet them.
"Brother Tian, Sister Chen, Ruan Siting greets you both."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Tian Wenxi asked irritably, "Where is Xu Qingyu? Why didn’t he come?"
"Even if he looks down on me, how could he also look down on True Master Profound Ice of the Cyan Cloud Sect?"
Ruan Siting smiled bitterly.
What a thankless task this was.
Right from the start, Tian Wenxi put the blame on him.
"Fellow Daoist Tian, please be patient."
On the side, Shen Xuan said softly.
Then, he smiled at Ruan Siting: "Fellow Daoist Ruan, long time no see, how have you been?"
Everyone present was taken aback.
They all turned their eyes to Ruan Siting.
"I’ve been well. Brother Shen, why didn’t you inform us of your arrival beforehand?"
Under the gaze of everyone, Ruan Siting forced himself to remain calm and cupped his hands in salute.
"Hehe. I had some small matters to attend to. Once this is over, I’ll treat Fellow Daoist Ruan to a good drink."
Shen Xuan glanced at the main peak of the Bishui Sect.
"Is Sect Master Qingyu present?"
"Yes, he is."
"I won’t be going in. Fellow Daoist Ruan, please notify Sect Master Qingyu that True Master Profound Ice from the Cyan Cloud Sect has come to visit."
"Alright."
Ruan Siting said no more, nodded, and sent a Communication Talisman.
Soon after.
Several streaks of Escape Light came flying in.
As the Spiritual Light dissipated,
a middle-aged cultivator in a light blue Daoist robe came into view, with a broad forehead, a dignified face, and an extraordinary demeanor.
The aura he exuded was evidently at the late stage of the Golden Core.
He was indeed the current Sect Master of the Bishui Sect, True Master Qingyu.
Following him were several elders of the Bishui Sect, all of them True Pill Masters.
Their auras were considerably weaker compared to True Master Qingyu.
Shen Xuan stepped forward to greet first.
True Master Qingyu returned the salute.
After a few exchanges of pleasantries,
Shen Xuan directly stated his purpose.
"A hundred years ago, Profound Ice happened to meet Fellow Daoist Tian. Gracefully favored by him, I made a Heavenly Dao oath to impart the [Immortal-Slaying Water Technique Qi]."
"Now, Fellow Daoist Tian has come to request I fulfill the Heavenly Dao oath. Profound Ice had no choice but to come to seek guidance."
True Master Qingyu understood and nodded slightly.
"A guest from afar. Fellow Daoist Profound Ice, please choose the time and place."
The several elders behind True Master Qingyu all glared angrily at Tian Wenxi.
The [Immortal-Slaying Water Technique Qi] is the Sect’s Ultimate Skill of the Bishui Sect.
In the Bishui Sect, only the lineage of Sect Masters has the right to practice it.
Yet, Tian Wenxi has treated this ultimate skill like cheap cabbage, casually imparting it to a Qi Cultivation Loose Cultivator.
Over the past two hundred years, True Master Qingyu has slain several Core Formation True Masters practicing the [Immortal-Slaying Water Technique Qi].
But those were all rootless loose cultivators.
Someone like Shen Xuan, a Major Golden Core,
even with ten times the courage of True Master Qingyu, he wouldn’t dare kill him publicly.
The external flow of the [Immortal-Slaying Water Technique Qi] had become a settled fact.
Shen Xuan smiled slightly and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Qingyu, how about tomorrow at Chen hour, on the sea three hundred miles east of Yunyuan City?"
"Alright."
True Master Qingyu was momentarily stunned but then agreed readily.
As these words were spoken, there was a dead silence around.
Even Tian Wenxi couldn’t help but show a trace of fervor in his eyes.
This magical combat arrangement was made too casually.
So much so that no one believed it was decided this quickly.
"Then it’s settled. Fellow Daoist Qingyu, see you tomorrow."
Shen Xuan mounted the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse and flew towards Yunyuan Immortal City.
Tian Wenxi ignored the angry stares of the Bishui Sect elders and said in a deep voice to True Master Qingyu, "Junior Brother Qingyu, go back and prepare well. Don’t let the Bishui Sect’s millennia-old reputation be ruined in your hands."
True Master Qingyu did not respond to him.
Instead, he looked towards Chen Yufei.
"Junior Sister Chen, if you have time, come visit Siyu Pavilion."
"Siyu Pavilion?"
Chen Yufei softly murmured, her eyes lost in thoughts.
Quickly, she returned to her senses.
"Senior Brother Qingyu, take care."
Tian Wenxi angrily shouted, "Hey, Xu Qingyu, I’m talking to you!"
"You are not my senior brother. I’ve already expelled you from the Bishui Sect."
True Master Qingyu said coldly.
He no longer paid attention to Tian Wenxi, transforming into a streak of green light to fly back to the sect.
Tian Wenxi watched the direction where True Master Qingyu disappeared, his face showing a hint of a strange expression.
The cultivation of True Master Qingyu seemed to have improved a lot.
"True Master Profound Ice, do not disappoint me!"
Tian Wenxi thought to himself.
In the blink of an eye, seeing the looked-and-lost expression on Chen Yufei’s face, his anger surged.
"Stop looking! He’s already gone!"
"You mean nothing to him!"
Chen Yufei did not argue.
She transformed into a streak of yellow light, speeding off towards Yunyuan Immortal City.
Tian Wenxi stomped his foot and flew to catch up.
In front of the Bishui Sect’s mountain gate, the cultivators who were there to watch the excitement dispersed in a rush.
They hurried to the site of the magical combat, aiming for prime positions.
This great battle was destined to be recorded in the history of the Bishui Sect.