The frost dispersing in the air became increasingly palpable. Someone couldn't help but shiver, only feeling better after activating a spiritual light shield.
Seeing this, Liu Jinxian frowned deeply. The blood-red mosquito beast Wang Yu had seen before emerged from her shoulder, immediately releasing a mist that enveloped her. She stepped onto the staircase and swiftly ascended!
As the others followed, Wang Yu intentionally fell to the very back.
He cultivated the "Coldblooded Art" and had undergone the physical transformation of the "Corpse Demon Secret Art," specializing in Yin-cold attributes. His adaptability to cold was extremely high.
He could walk freely without using spiritual power for protection, even feeling his internal spiritual power becoming more active. However, as they climbed higher, he felt the temperature plummet sharply. Intuitively, it seemed as if a crescent moon was rising above the palace.
Scattered Lunar Essence transformed into frost, freezing the earth.
Even he was severely affected, let alone the others. Liu Jinxian also noticed this situation. Turning back and seeing everyone shivering uncontrollably, she said,
"Those who cannot endure need not force themselves to climb to the main hall. The side halls and annexes surrounding us also contain remnant treasures. You may go and retrieve them.
"Remember one thing: upon return, I will inspect your storage pouches. Copy all cultivation methods and secret arts once. Hand over half of all found treasures and magical instruments.
"Violators—will be executed!"
These terms caused Su Qingshan and the others' expressions to change, becoming heavy and difficult to maintain. The Gu Poison Peak disciples, however, acted as if they had received a tremendous boon, expressing heartfelt gratitude.
"Thank you for your reward, Senior Sister Liu!"
Their obedience was remarkably high. Wang Yu narrowed his eyes, suspecting these people might be controlled or manipulated by gu insects. Otherwise, this level of compliance was just too subservient.
The two exchanged a distant glance. Liu Jinxian specifically instructed,
"You are no exception."
Wang Yu's ascending steps abruptly halted. He was currently at the one-third mark of the staircase. That Liu woman was already past the halfway point. From here, he could vaguely make out the name of the main hall.
—[Condensing Moon Palace]!
This attitude left Wang Yu dissatisfied, but he couldn't quite figure out her intentions. Speaking of which, what about Gu Zhengshun? If he knew about the underground passages beneath Profound Bone Mountain early on, why hadn't he been seen?
......
......
At the base of the third Profound Bone Mountain, where the [Earth Yin Corpse Puppet Formation] should have been protecting the area, a large gap had opened. Si Tu Hong, leading ten late-stage Qi Refining subordinates, slipped inside.
They saw Gu Zhengshun standing before a large fissure in the ground, about a *zhang* wide. The fissure emitted an幽绿 (eerie green) glow, with endless cold currents and dense Corpse Qi wafting out.
Many Armored Corpses stood around, stretching their necks and inhaling vigorously. The light yellow, mountain-ridge-like bronze armor attached to their bodies was deepening in color—a sign of Bronze Armored Corpses breaking through to the late first-grade stage.
Looking at Gu Zhengshun again, his aura was slightly unstable, but he had already broken through the mid-to-late stage bottleneck, reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining!
Si Tu Hong stepped forward a few paces and congratulated him:
"Congratulations, Junior Brother Gu, on successfully breaking through to the late Qi Refining stage. It seems the Profound Essence Flowers were quite effective."
Gu Zhengshun nodded.
"The effect is indeed good. It's just that this item is difficult to preserve for long. Even using pill-sealing methods, it can only maintain freshness for three years. Otherwise, this place wouldn't be available for you and me."
Mentioning this, Si Tu Hong's expression turned serious:
"Liu Jinxian is the daughter of the Green Snake True Person. The resources she can mobilize far exceed what our status allows. Before coming to Profound Bone Mountain this time, she arranged for a Foundation Establishment cultivator named Liu to apply to the sect for a long-term guard duty assignment here.
"I requested Mother Peach Blossom to temporarily block it. With luck, we might last through this five-year rotation, but you and I still need to hurry."
Hearing this, Gu Zhengshun looked at Si Tu Hong's peerlessly handsome face with some surprise. He was the disciple of Earth Yinzi, relying on ancestral favors and connections to be accepted into this lineage.
Si Tu Hong was the Peach Blossom Ghost Mother's adopted son, but in reality, it was due to his face—he was a first-class handsome man. It was said he expended energy in her bed every night.
Otherwise, with the Peach Blossom Ghost Mother's resources, someone with a high-grade spiritual root (Dual Spiritual Root) wouldn't only be at the seventh level of Qi Refining. To put it bluntly, he was more like a highly positioned male concubine.
Therefore, the two had secretly contacted each other before coming to Profound Bone Mountain. After a pause, Gu Zhengshun added:
"That Wang Yu possesses extremely strong combat power, comparable to an inner sect eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator. After receiving the second-grade Strength Corpse arm I provided, his strength has likely reached the peak Qi Refining level.
"Unless Liu Jinxian uses her trump cards, it would be difficult for her to contend with him."
"Oh—
"Is this person truly that formidable?"
"Certainly."
Gu Zhengshun let out a long sigh. "Before coming to Profound Bone Mountain, I had some friction with him. I barely managed to secure cooperation by luring him with benefits. Waiting for him and Liu Jinxian to weaken each other before we two compete for the underground palace treasures is the best strategy."
Si Tu Hong nodded, smiling:
"Liu Jinxian probably thinks she went the wrong way, believing the underground palace ruins are under the Endless Ice Plains. In reality, the primordial magnetic forces here are chaotic, directions are hard to determine, and coupled with the temperature changes, she's sure to be convinced.
"We only need to sit back and wait for the fighting to start, then we can execute the plan of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. But... will Wang Yu really make a move?"
"He will." Gu Zhengshun pulled a secret letter from his sleeve and handed it to Si Tu Hong. "Besides Wang Yu, there are also Su Qingshan and the other disciples not from the Gu Poison Peak. They will definitely act."
After reading the letter, Si Tu Hong's gaze lingered on the signature.
"—Zhao Shang!
"Interesting. What a clever move to use another to kill. A trusted subordinate under True Disciple Su... tsk tsk."
Meanwhile.
On the ascending staircase leading to the [Condensing Moon Palace], the Gu Poison Peak disciples left the steps in groups of two or three.
It could be observed that once they gave up on advancing, the temperature stopped decreasing, maintaining a constant low level. Each one activated spiritual light shields or used magical instruments to resist the cold as they headed towards the side halls on either side.
Wang Yu glanced at Su Qingshan, provocatively crooking his finger, then also sped off towards one side.
From the bottom of his heart, he preferred to explore the main hall. But Liu Jinxian was intent on exploitation, and Gu Zhengshun and Si Tu Hong were nowhere to be seen. If he wanted to resist, the timing wasn't right.
Therefore, eliminating the hostile Su Qingshan first was the best strategy. It could also help clarify the murky and complex situation further.
Faced with Wang Yu's provocation, Su Qingshan looked at the three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators he had befriended during this period and said in a low voice,
"Liu Jinxian is too powerful; we can't contend with her. Why not kill Wang Yu first, split the Profound Essence Flowers he possesses, and then search for opportunities in the side halls? What do you think?"
The three also pondered for a moment before one said, "Agreed. Let strength decide. Whoever kills Wang Yu gets fifty percent of his flowers. How about that?"
This proposal suited Su Qingshan perfectly. With benefits at stake, they would become more fierce and decisive.
"Then let's do as Brother Li suggests. Let's go, follow him."
The four acted simultaneously, tailing Wang Yu from a distance. He, of course, noticed.
Since the underground palace was the ruins of an ancient sect, he was keen on finding structures like a Scripture Depository to see if any ancient pill formulas or inheritances remained.
**(End of Chapter)**