Top-tier Unruly Master-Chapter 1701 - 1738: Shan Shan

Leng Jian heard the voice of his master transmitted through Divine Sense, and he calmed down a bit, choosing not to say more.

Tian Zhen, having seen that scene with Ding Fan, couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Naturally, he didn’t believe that Ding Fan could cure the Lake Master’s girlfriend’s illness. It was known that over the years, he had secretly gathered much information about the Lake Master’s efforts to cure her. The Lake Master had sought numerous famous doctors, including some Grade Nine Alchemists, but none had any solution for her condition.

Tian Zhen understood that a Grade Nine Alchemist wasn’t easy to find or persuade, and it was evident that the Lake Master Long Ren had spent a lot of resources to find such alchemists over the years. Yet, even they had no way to cure the girlfriend’s illness. How could a mere Ding Fan succeed where they had failed?

Tian Zhen knew that Ding Fan was also a Grade Nine Alchemist, but this didn’t mean he could heal the Lake Master’s girlfriend. Her illness had been deemed incurable by most treatments in the Cultivation World, and only the Fluent Grass could somewhat alleviate the illness. Aside from this, there were practically no other methods to even ease her condition.

Tian Zhen acknowledged Ding Fan’s prowess in Pill Refinement, but this didn’t translate to extraordinary skill in healing. After all, Ding Fan was merely in his early twenties, and in terms of experience, it’s unknown how much he lagged behind those aged and seasoned alchemists.

Therefore, Tian Zhen believed that his Sect still held hope. Once Ding Fan proved to have no solution, the Lake Master would still need to trade the Spirit Vein for his Liuli Grass. For the sake of that Spirit Vein, what was the harm in waiting a little longer?

At this moment, Long Ren addressed Tian Zhen and Leng Jian:

"As for the matter of the Fluent Grass and the Spirit Vein, we shall discuss it later. But you must take good care of the Liuli Grass. If anything goes wrong, don’t blame me for being unkind!"

"Rest assured, Lake Master. As long as we live, the Liuli Grass will remain safe."

Tian Zhen replied earnestly, feeling somewhat smug as he heard these words. From the Lake Master’s tone, it was clear that even he didn’t have much hope in Ding Fan. The Lake Master hadn’t abandoned the idea of the Liuli Grass, so how could Tian Zhen not feel pleased?

Long Ren then turned to the crowd and said:

"Everyone may retire for now. If anything happens, I will inform you all. Great Elder, please come with us."

With that, Long Ren swiftly led Ding Fan and the Great Elder out of the assembly hall. Long Ren had waited almost a decade to save Shan Shan, and now he couldn’t wait any longer. Since his older brother said there was a way to cure Shan Shan’s ailment, Long Ren naturally brought him to Shan Shan at the first opportunity.

After Long Ren and the two others left quickly, the various Sect Leaders and Elders in the hall were left worrying and discussing:

"Can the Lake Master’s older brother really find a solution? The Lake Master’s girlfriend’s illness isn’t something an ordinary cultivator can handle."

"I think his older brother won’t have any way either. After all, the Lake Master has previously looked for many Grade Nine Alchemists, all to no avail. It’s basically a death sentence."

"Does that mean the Lake Master will still have to trade the Southern Ridge Spirit Vein for the Liuli Grass?"

"That would be the greatest loss for our Thirty-Six Caves..."

"Sigh... It really is tough for the Lake Master; he’s exerted so much effort for his girlfriend’s illness..."

...

"The blame can only fall on that Tian Zhen from Qinghe Sect! Sigh! Where are Tian Zhen and his disciples?"

Suddenly, one of the Sect Leaders noticed that Tian Zhen and his disciples had already left the hall long ago, feeling a bit surprised and rather upset. Clearly, they hadn’t expected them to slip away so quickly...

At that moment, many Sect Leaders and Elders held a grudge against Tian Zhen and his disciples, while also worrying for the Lake Master. They knew how much the Lake Master had indeed sacrificed for his girlfriend, not just time but also a significant amount of resources.

After all, inviting a Grade Nine Alchemist requires significant payment, considering there are only a few Grade Nine Alchemists in the Cultivation World. However, the Lake Master had already invited several Grade Nine Alchemists. People were not only moved by the Lake Master’s genuine affection for his girlfriend but also impressed by the Lake Master’s methods. It’s important to note that it’s hard enough to invite so many Grade Nine Alchemists, and most cultivators don’t even know so many exist.

This shows the incredible capability of the Lake Master. Although the Great Elder helped Long Ren considerably in this matter, those Grade Nine Alchemists still went on behalf of Long Ren, and yet none of them could do anything about the Lake Master’s girlfriend’s illness.

At this point, no one believed the Lake Master’s elder brother would cure the Lake Master’s girlfriend, even though everyone knew the elder brother, Ding Fan, was also a Grade Nine Alchemist. But the feeling was that Ding Fan was still too young, even though he was indeed talented in Pill Refinement and superior to ordinary Grade Nine Alchemists. Curing illnesses, however, was a different matter...

Therefore, most of the sect leaders or elders of the Thirty-Six Caves did not believe Ding Fan could cure the Lake Master’s girlfriend. They knew in the end, the Lake Master would have to seek out Tian Zhen and his disciples for Liuli Grass, resulting in the loss of one Spirit Vein from the Thirty-Six Caves. Certainly, this was not what everyone wished to see, but there was no other solution.

...

At this moment, Ding Fan was brought by Long Ren to a small peak. Generally, the top of Giant Peak was already considered a peak, and its horizontal area wasn’t very large, so it shouldn’t have another peak. Yet, to Ding Fan’s surprise, under Long Ren’s guidance, the three of them indeed arrived at the foot of a small peak.

Ding Fan felt a bit surprised, not expecting another peak within the mountain. He realized that the Giant Peak of the Thirty-Six Caves was not an ordinary place, otherwise, the Thirty-Six Caves wouldn’t choose it as their gathering spot.

When Ding Fan, guided by Long Ren, reached the base of the small peak, he looked up and could no longer see the top which was surrounded by layers of dense white mist. Although the wind at the summit was strong, the mist moved slowly, floating and swirling, continually enveloping the peak top.

Ding Fan felt a profound awe at the natural scenery of the small peak, a pure reverence for nature. He sensed that the summit must be exceedingly high, so much so that even when extending his Divine Sense, he couldn’t fully observe the peak.

Ding Fan knew the small peak wasn’t simple; there must be a Formation present, and he understood it wasn’t an ordinary one, as he couldn’t decipher it at the moment. Nevertheless, Ding Fan wasn’t worried. Being led by Long Ren, he just felt curious.

Once Ding Fan reached the bottom of the small peak with Long Ren, Long Ren seemed to recite some spell in front of a protruding massif, and a cave more than two meters high appeared. Witnessing this, Ding Fan couldn’t help but silently praise.

The foundation of the Thirty-Six Caves indeed was remarkable; initially, Ding Fan hadn’t noticed there would be a cave here suddenly appearing. It was extraordinary, and he understood that the Formation was accountable for this phenomenon, albeit a Formation which at present was beyond his comprehension.

Ding Fan naturally didn’t inquire further, aware that Long Ren was anxious to treat his girlfriend, so he followed Long Ren and the Great Elder directly into the cave. Upon entering, Ding Fan unexpectedly discovered that the tunnel was constructed upwards.

As the trio delved deeper, the temperature dropped continuously. Before long, Ding Fan noticed the tunnel walls had condensed into thick ice layers. The temperature had fallen drastically, at least minus forty degrees. Wearing only light clothing, Ding Fan had to summon his Divine Vigor to resist the chill.

With Long Ren leading the way, before long, the temperature where Ding Fan and his companions were reached below minus fifty degrees. Fortunately, Ding Fan, protected by his Divine Vigor, remained unharmed, with Long Ren activating his True Qi, and the Great Elder doing the same.

Considering Ding Fan had the lowest cultivation among the three, they all endured the cold. After a while, Ding Fan could no longer ascertain how high they were on the small peak, until they soon arrived in a spacious chamber.

The room was very spacious, with thick ice everywhere. In the center stood an Ice Coffin, entirely made out of ice, transparent, with a woman’s visage clearly visible inside. Ding Fan marveled at the coffin’s material.

Ding Fan determined the coffin was crafted from Thousand-Year Profound Ice, a rare substance he had only heard of before. Looking at the woman inside, her complexion remained perfectly preserved, her skin appearing delicate enough to burst with a touch.

The woman within the coffin was very beautiful, dressed elegantly, seemingly like an ordinary sleeping person. Her chest rising and falling with breath was observable, a testament that the coffin not only maintained her but also allowed breathing.

Ding Fan understood the woman was not dead, only unconscious—uncertain for how long.

Long Ren sat upon the glacial steps, gazing at the woman in the coffin, gently caressing it, tears shimmering in his eyes. Each visit here brought him tears; he longed for her revival, though she had lain here for nearly ten years.

Ding Fan unintentionally noticed that neatly arranged female clothing filled the room, with various sizes, including those appearing as little girl’s clothing, yet all meticulously placed there.

Additionally, there were various small items around, like numerous gifts...