Eternal Life: Hundredfold Rewards-Chapter 66 - 65: You Drive Tigers to Devour Wolves, I Watch the Tigers from the Mountain!
A while later, ninety miles north of the Wind Moon Sect, at the Profound Ice River.
This area is a forest covered in white snow and frost. Thick layers of snow weighed heavily on the tall trees, with glistening icicles forming on each branch stretching outward. As the wind blew by, the branches swayed and the ice crystals clashed, creating a continuous cracking sound.
Rustling.
Qi Chuan, dressed in the Wind Moon Sect’s Inner Sect Disciple attire, walked through the snow in the forest. Before long, his view suddenly opened up to a vast white ice lake.
No, this wasn’t an ice lake, but an ice river, with water flowing beneath the profound ice. The river was so wide that it appeared like a lake.
"Is this the Profound Ice River?"
Looking at the scene in front of him, a trace of amazement flickered in Qi Chuan’s expression. This place wasn’t originally a world of ice and snow, but due to the Profound Ice Spirit Vein beneath the river, a regional world of ice and snow had appeared in an otherwise not-so-cold environment.
"Indeed, beneath this ice, there are demon beasts with cold attributes!" Qi Chuan lowered his head, his gaze penetrating the ice, seemingly seeing the chilling river water below and the shadows of beasts leisurely swimming through.
Occasionally, the sound of fierce battles among demon beasts could be heard, transmitted through the river and the profound ice. Then, beneath the ice, in the river, a blood mist would explode, and the victorious beast, with bloodshot eyes, devoured the remnants of the loser in madness.
"However, the spiritual energy concentration in this section of the river is only at a Tier One Lower Grade level, whereas the Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp is a Tier One Middle Grade cold attribute demon beast, which only resides in the deeper parts of the Profound Ice River where there are Tier One Middle Grade Profound Ice Spirit Veins."
Qi Chuan reached out to grab something, seeing a faint trace of spiritual qi appear in the void, carrying a hint of profound chill.
The spiritual qi was too faint; it couldn’t be from a river section possessing Tier One Middle Grade Profound Ice Spirit Veins.
"I need to go deeper; the location of the Tier One Middle Grade Profound Ice Spirit Vein should be at the deepest part of the Profound Ice River."
With these thoughts, Qi Chuan moved swiftly, his feet shimmering with a crystalline light, gliding over the ice towards the depths of the Profound Ice River.
Soon, Qi Chuan arrived at the very depths of the Profound Ice River. Here, looking around, he could no longer see the snowy forest outlines on the river’s banks, only the vast, white surface of the Profound Ice River remained.
"This should be the location of the Tier One Middle Grade Profound Ice Spirit Vein."
Qi Chuan stepped on the solid ice, reaching out to grab a strand of spiritual qi, which was noticeably much denser than what he had captured earlier.
However, in the entire Profound Ice River, such an area of dense spiritual qi is only about three hundred feet wide and a thousand feet long, so it’s not very large.
"Hmm? Ahead, there seem to be traces of ice being broken?"
Qi Chuan’s eyes narrowed suddenly, looking toward tens of feet away where the ice appeared unusual, as if someone had broken through and the river water had refrozen.
"Someone’s been here?"
Seeing this, Qi Chuan frowned slightly. However, since he could accept the task of hunting the Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp, other Inner Sect Disciples could also accept it.
It’s uncertain if this person is still beneath the Profound Ice River.
But whether or not they are, Qi Chuan was unafraid because Inner Sect Disciples at the Qi Refining Late Stage usually don’t bother with the Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp, preferring tasks with higher rewards for hunting Tier One Upper Grade demon beasts. Therefore, people coming here were likely merely Peak of Qi Refining Sixth Layer Inner Sect Disciples.
"Besides, since I’m here, I can’t just leave empty-handed. Let’s hunt down an Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp quickly, complete the task, and leave, regardless of everything else."
While thinking this, Qi Chuan casually summoned a small fireball, throwing it at the ice beneath his feet. The flames spread, and the scorching heat silently melted the profound ice, creating a deep hole that extended downward until it touched the chilling river water, forming a straight path through.
Then, Qi Chuan’s body gently descended into the ice cave. Soon, he submerged himself in the icy river water, already enhanced with the Water Avoidance and Invisibility techniques within an instant.
It’s worth mentioning that Qi Chuan’s Invisibility Technique had reached Minor Success level unbeknownst to him.
Qi Chuan had developed a habit of frequently using the Invisibility Technique during even safe tasks. With the Golden Finger’s boost, it had unknowingly reached Minor Success.
However, the Water Avoidance Technique was used far less frequently and hadn’t reached Minor Success yet.
Then, Qi Chuan started to wander silently underwater, searching for the silhouette of the Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp.
After some time, the Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp was indeed found, but along with it came another silhouette.
"Is it him?"
Looking at the scene not far away, Qi Chuan was full of surprise.
Not far away, a young figure, enhanced by the Water Avoidance Technique, was battling a ferocious Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp several meters long, its entire body appearing as if condensed from ice crystals. Magic ripples spread out, and under the cold river waters, waves surged and expanded.
And that young figure, none other than Ye Liang, a prodigy of the Ye Family who had joined the Inner Sect of the Wind Moon Sect at the same time as Qi Chuan. Previously, he had sent a paper crane letter inviting Qi Chuan to attend his birthday feast, which Qi Chuan politely declined.
"Unexpectedly, not only did the one who broke the ice earlier not leave, he’s someone I’ve met before, and the mana fluctuations from Ye Liang... did he advance to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer?" Looking at the distant battle between Ye Liang and the Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp, Qi Chuan murmured to himself, quite surprised.
However, in this way, Qi Chuan felt even less need to reveal himself, choosing instead to watch from the sidelines. With the Minor Success level of Invisibility Technique, Ye Liang wouldn’t easily discover his presence.
After Ye Liang deals with the Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp and leaves, Qi Chuan could reappear to seek out another carp. After all, there wouldn’t just be one here; it’s better to avoid unnecessary trouble and not snatch someone else’s prey.
"Hmm? Something’s wrong!"
At this moment, Qi Chuan’s eyes tightened, noticing two dark shadows faintly appearing in the black river water behind Ye Liang.
"This is... two more Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carps appeared, and the direction they’re heading in... they’re targeting Ye Liang? Ye Liang seems a bit unlucky..."
Seeing this, Qi Chuan couldn’t help but shake his head slightly, not knowing how Ye Liang would deal with it.
But given the Ye Family’s vast enterprise and the presence of three Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators within the clan, the family was known as the top cultivation clan under the Wind Moon Sect. As the sole Inner Sect candidate from the Ye Family, possessing an Upper Third Grade Spirit Root and exceptional talent, Ye Liang likely had many methods and should be able to cope.
At this moment, not far away, Ye Liang was battling an Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carp, his mood not tense, because this carp’s power was roughly equivalent to a typical Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator. He dealt with it relatively easily, and it wouldn’t be long before he could slay it.
However, in the next moment, upon sensing two more Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carps appearing behind him, his expression changed drastically: "Why are there two more? This is bad!"
With his strength, he might have a chance fighting one more through all-out effort, but facing three meant the best strategy was to take flight.
Of course, that’s generally the case, but now, he felt the situation was slightly different...
At this moment, Ye Liang’s gaze swept across a certain point in the deep river to his left that seemed empty, his eyes subtly narrowing, and a glimmer crossed his pupils. A gentle smile surfaced at the corners of his lips.
"There should be someone hiding there, right? Just recently arrived... given the current situation... how about using the strategy of driving the tiger to swallow the wolf?"
He had cultivated a type of Eye Technique before, which allowed him to sense a subtle anomaly in that area of the river, although the other’s concealment methods weren’t weak. Thus, he could only perceive someone there without knowing their identity or cultivation level.
Yet, this didn’t affect his strategy of driving the tiger to swallow the wolf.
Immediately, a shadow crossed Ye Liang’s eyes, and he moved swiftly, secretly directing the Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carps towards where the person was hiding.
"He noticed me? That shouldn’t be, unless he’s cultivated an Eye Technique?"
Seeing Ye Liang directing the three Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carps towards his location, Qi Chuan’s heart was full of surprise. Though the Minor Success level of Invisibility Technique was not invincible, being discovered by Ye Liang at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer was acceptable. However, the latter might not know it’s him, possibly only sensing there’s someone there.
"This person’s thoughts aren’t quite straight..."
"But, wanting to force me to reveal myself? That’s not so easy! I’ll just hide here, while you have your fierce struggle against the three Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carps!"
Glancing at the approaching Ye Liang and the three Ice Glaze Dragon Scale Carps, Qi Chuan coldly sneered, then subtly moved his lips, gestured with a single hand, and catalyzed the mana within his Dantian.
Boom!
In the next moment, around Qi Chuan, a light of earthy yellow flashed, and then a massive hollow circular earth sphere instantly appeared, like a giant round castle, enveloping a vast water area.
This surpassed the typical Great Success level, gradually nearing the Perfection level of the Earth Wall Technique, its defense power astounding and considered unbreakable. Even a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator would measure their mana against it before attempting to crack it.
With one Earth Wall Technique, all magic becomes ineffective.
