bookbashuk Chapter 138 Ice Crystal Python
Chapter 138 Ice Crystal Python
The cracks on the Qingfeng sword were like scars, etched into Zhou Ning's heart.
This sword has been with him for many years, from the Foundation Establishment stage to the Nascent Soul stage. It has slain countless demons and evil spirits, saved his life, and saved the lives of countless people.
Now that the sword is cracked and its spirit is damaged, he must repair it as soon as possible.
Of the three materials needed to repair the flying sword, the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron comes from the extremely cold lands of the North.
It was a desolate wasteland that was frozen year-round and rarely visited by humans, with temperatures so low that even cultivators could hardly bear it.
When Zhou Ning left Lanruo Temple, it was not yet fully light.
The morning mist permeated the mountains, shrouding the pine forests and temples in a hazy veil.
He walked down the mountain path, his steps light and firm.
His mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation level made him as fast as the wind, with the trees on both sides rushing past and the mountain wind whistling in his ears.
The sky over the North remained overcast.
The further north you go, the lower the temperature gets, and a bone-chilling cold permeates the air.
The roadside grass and trees had long since turned yellow, and glistening frost clung to the branches.
Zhou Ning circulated his true essence throughout his body, forming a layer of golden protective qi that insulated him from the harsh cold outside.
After walking for three days, he arrived at a small town called "Frost Town".
This is a town at the northernmost tip of the Northland; further north lies an endless expanse of ice.
The town is small, with only a few dozen households. The houses are low and the roofs are covered with thick snow.
There were few pedestrians on the street, with only a few occasionally hurrying by, wrapped in thick fur coats.
Zhou Ning found an inn to stay in, planning to buy some warm clothes and equipment before continuing his journey north.
The innkeeper was an elderly man in his fifties, surnamed Sun, with a kind face and speaking slowly and deliberately.
He poured Zhou Ning a cup of hot tea and brought over a plate of snacks.
"Sir, are you heading to the ice field?" Shopkeeper Sun asked curiously, looking at the thick fur coats and felt blankets he had bought.
Zhou Ning nodded and said, "Go find something."
Manager Sun shook his head and sighed:
"That place is dangerous. It's frozen year-round, with biting winds, and even wild animals can't survive there. A few years ago, several cultivators went in to search for treasure, but none of them came out. Sir, it's too dangerous for you to go alone."
Zhou Ning said, "Thank you for the reminder, shopkeeper. I know what I'm doing."
He stayed at the inn for one night and left Frost Town the next morning, setting foot on the ice plains.
The ice field was a vast expanse of white, stretching as far as the eye could see.
The snow was knee-deep, and every step required a great deal of effort.
The cold wind howled, whipping up snowflakes that stung my face like knives.
Zhou Ning circulated his true essence throughout his body, forming a layer of golden protective energy to insulate against the cold.
He wrapped his thick fur coat tightly around himself, put on a felt hat and gloves, and began his arduous journey northward.
The map provided by Yan Chixia marked the origin of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.
Inside an iceberg deep within the ice field.
The iceberg soared into the clouds, its body crystal clear. It is said that there is a huge ice cave inside the mountain, where the millennia-old cold iron was produced.
Zhou Ning consulted the map and headed north.
His divine sense had already spread out, covering an area of tens of thousands of feet, carefully searching for traces of the iceberg.
A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator possesses incredibly powerful divine sense, capable of sensing the underground conditions even through thick layers of ice.
After walking for a whole day, a huge iceberg appeared ahead.
The icebergs soar into the clouds, their crystal-clear surfaces reflecting a dazzling light under the sun.
At the foot of the mountain, there is a dark cave entrance from which white, cold air rises.
Around the cave entrance, some black ore fragments were scattered, standing out conspicuously against the snow.
"Fragments of ten-thousand-year-old cold iron."
Zhou Ning picked up a fragment and examined it carefully.
The fragments felt cool and heavy to the touch, with fine lines on the surface and a faint glow.
He entered the cave and walked along the passageway.
The cave was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
Zhou Ning poured his true essence into the Qingfeng Sword, and the sword emitted a faint golden light, barely illuminating what lay ahead.
The passage was very narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time, and the walls were covered with a thick layer of ice, smooth as a mirror.
The ground was also icy, making it very slippery to walk on, so Zhou Ning had to slow down and be very careful.
The further you go in, the lower the temperature gets.
Even with protective qi, Zhou Ning could still feel the chill that penetrated to his very bones.
His breath condensed into white mist in the air, and his eyelashes were covered with frost.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
This is a huge ice cave with countless crystal-clear icicles hanging from the ceiling, like inverted swords.
Thick layers of ice covered the cave walls, reflecting a golden light and illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime.
In the center of the cave, there is a small pool of water. The water is crystal clear, yet it exudes a bone-chilling cold.
Beside the pool, there was a pile of black ore, which was the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.
Zhou Ning was overjoyed and quickly walked over.
Just as he reached out to pick up the ore, a white shadow suddenly darted out of the pool.
It was a giant ice crystal python, its body covered in transparent scales, and its eyes burning with an icy blue light.
It opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Zhou Ning.
Zhou Ning was prepared and dodged the snake's bite with a swift movement.
At the same time, he drew his Qingfeng sword and slashed it down on the snake's head.
"Ding!"
It was completely unharmed, as if a sword had struck an indestructible boulder.
This giant python's defenses are even stronger than those of the black-scaled lizard we encountered before.
Enraged, the giant python lashed out with its tail, sweeping towards Zhou Ning.
Its tail was as thick as a tree trunk, accompanied by a whistling sound in the wind.
Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to leap into the air and avoid the snake's tail.
Its tail swept against the cave wall, sending ice shards flying and shaking the entire ice cave.
Zhou Ning pulled out an "evil-repelling talisman" from his waist and threw it at the giant python.
"disease!"
The talisman transformed into a golden ray of light and struck the giant python's abdomen.
The giant python let out a scream as a charred wound appeared on its abdomen, from which wisps of white smoke rose.
It went even crazier, opening its mouth and spewing out a cloud of white, freezing air.
Wherever the freezing air passes, the air freezes into ice.
Zhou Ning quickly dodged, but the freezing air was too fast and still grazed his left arm.
My left arm was instantly frozen and lost all feeling.
Zhou Ning gritted his teeth and channeled his true energy into his left arm to dispel the chill.
At the same time, he concentrated all the power of his nascent soul into the tip of his sword and unleashed the "Demon Slayer Technique".
A dazzling golden light shone from the Qingfeng Sword.
The light grew stronger and brighter, like a small sun, illuminating the entire ice cave as if it were daytime.
"cut!"
A massive golden sword aura shot out from the tip of the sword, like a golden dragon, heading straight for the giant python's head.
The giant python seemed to sense the danger and tried to dodge, but the sword energy was too fast and it was too late.
"Pfft!"
The sword energy pierced through the giant python's head, and icy blue blood gushed out.
The giant python let out a desperate hiss, crashed to the ground, and remained motionless.
Zhou Ning, panting heavily, sheathed his sword.
He walked to the edge of the pool and picked up the ancient, cold iron ore pieces one by one, putting them into his bag.
The ore felt cold and heavy to the touch; there were more than a dozen pieces, enough to repair the Qingfeng Sword.
"The Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron is in my hands."
He turned and left the ice cave.
By the time we emerged from the iceberg, it was already dark.
Zhou Ning found a sheltered spot, lit a campfire, and warmed his frozen body.
He took out the ancient cold iron ore and examined it carefully.
The ore shimmered with a faint blue light in the firelight, emitting a subtle spiritual glow.
"Next up is the Earth Core Fire Copper."
He carefully stored the ore, closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, and waited for dawn.
The following morning, Zhou Ning left the Ice Plains and returned to Frost Town.