Longevity through Upgrading Buildings-Chapter 545 - 252: Ice Cultivator—Ji Yuan

He only knew that the Frost Serpent had dived down.

’I wonder if it can dive to the deepest part of this cold pool? What lies in the deepest part? Is it the source of that purple vertical eye?’

Ji Yuan couldn’t help but have these thoughts.

After about ten breaths, Ji Yuan suddenly noticed the Frost Serpent had stopped moving.

It seemed to be staying at some location.

What happened? Could it be that it encountered some danger?

Just as Ji Yuan started to have this thought, he sensed the aura of the Frost Serpent growing stronger; having been at the mid-stage second rank before entering the water, it now showed signs of advancing to the late-stage second rank.

Finally, it’s going to break through!

Initially somewhat worried, Ji Yuan now relaxed.

As long as there’s no problem, it’s fine.

As for the timing, when the Fire Pool was just transforming into the Cold Pool, Ji Yuan had already entered the water, delaying for about half an hour, so it was still early.

There’s plenty of time for the Frost Serpent to breakthrough.

So, the next step is to wait.

But even when waiting, Ji Yuan walked a distance from where he entered, only feeling at ease to sit down when the cold pool was out of sight.

He worried that the purple vertical eye might suddenly appear again, and pull him into the cold pool.

Then he began to experience the ice spiritual qi in his Dantian.

Even though it changed from water to ice, for Ji Yuan as the body’s owner, there’s little difference.

No matter the change, he was still the master of this body.

Just like now, his thoughts moved, a strand of spiritual qi emerged from his Dantian, forming a sharp ice saber in front of him.

If it was the previous water spiritual qi, it would now transform into a water saber, but now it was an ice saber... Normally, the ice saber is naturally harder than the water saber.

Striking someone with it, they would need to expend a bit more mana to defend.

And this is considered the most basic advantage of ice-type spiritual qi, the rest of the benefits naturally need Ji Yuan to slowly discover and experiment, but regardless, ice-type spiritual qi as a variant is definitely stronger than water-type spiritual qi.

’It’s just that the spirit root is still a water spirit root, not converted to an ice spirit root, I don’t know whether it’s a good or bad thing.’

Ji Yuan decided not to think about problems he couldn’t understand.

After waiting for about three hours, he suddenly sensed the aura of the Frost Serpent rapidly rising, and its cultivation level had changed from mid-stage second rank to late-stage second rank!

"Splash——"

The sound of the serpent emerging from the water came from inside the stone hall, Ji Yuan hesitated briefly despite already standing up, and chose not to venture into the stone hall, waiting in place for the Frost Serpent to approach.

Fortunately, after less than a breath’s wait, a large Jiao Dragon Head poked into the corridor.

Ji Yuan looked at the huge orange-yellow, copper bell-sized dragon eyes in front of him and couldn’t help but feel a bit delighted.

Its body size has grown quite a bit, seems like the days of riding a dragon in flight are getting closer!

Ji Yuan scanned with his divine sense, finding nothing unusual on the Frost Serpent besides the cold pool water dripping from its body, even the scales felt exceptionally cold.

Ji Yuan reached out to touch the dragon head of the Frost Serpent and soon sensed its thoughts.

...Now that I’m like this, can I beat that Big Toad?

Ji Yuan: "..."

’I raise you so big just for you to fight the Big Toad?’

Thinking about this, Ji Yuan truly felt like throwing it into the storm area to let it compete with that Thunderstorm Jiao Dragon.

Though not, the Thunderstorm Jiao Dragon is female and just laid eggs recently, which implies there’s likely another male Jiao Dragon in the storm area.

Maybe there’s a whole group of Jiao Dragons.

Harboring this thought, Ji Yuan patted the Frost Serpent and reorganized it into the Spirit Beast Bag.

No matter what, releasing it amidst this Ice and Fire Pool is definitely not suitable, it could be hard to explain if encountered by the Ice and Fire Elder.

Then Ji Yuan entered the stone hall, looking at the water stains on the shore, after using several techniques, the ground became clean.

Ensuring there was nothing left unnoticed, he cast a last glance at the cold pool before turning and leaving.

Arrival was slow, but the departure was swift.

Even without using magic, Ji Yuan took only about the time of one incense stick to come out from underground.

Upon exiting from the mountain-side cave, the sky was already streaked with fish-belly white.

Yet the sky remained adorned with countless glistening stars, Ji Yuan gazed upwards glancing at the stars seemingly hung on the celestial curtain, turning his gaze to the faint brightness on the horizon.

For a moment, he felt as if this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

After all, that instance in the cold pool nearly cost him his life.

But thinking it over, regardless of caution, such things can’t be avoided... Those of the Li Family who came to the cold pool faced no issues, yet why did trouble arise only for him?

Only time and fate can tell.

Ji Yuan stood contemplating for a while, until his mindset shifted, then he looked down at the imperial palace preparing to descend the mountain.

But at this moment... the imperial palace was completely dark, not even a single lantern was lit.

’I remember while staying here the past couple days, it was always resplendent, even at night it was bright as noon, but now... it’s probably because of one reason.’

The fire-type Ice and Fire Elder, namely the Emperor, has "gone offline."

The ice-type Ice and Fire Elder has "come online."

...This could be troublesome.

Just as Ji Yuan was considering whether to wait until daylight to descend the mountain, when out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed a silhouette standing up in front of the cliff wall beside him.

"Ah——"

Ji Yuan was startled.

Because he had been out here for quite a while, yet he hadn’t realized someone was sitting there!

The only person who could sit there without being noticed was the late-stage Golden Core Ice and Fire Elder.

Yet he had reverted again to his previous appearance, wearing gray cloth clothes with a slightly hunched frame, but despite this, he still raised his head and looked at Ji Yuan.

"Did you fall into the cold pool?"

"...No."

Ji Yuan shook his head, speaking as he blinked his eyes.

So, the purple vertical eye on his brow also blinked along.