My Arts Evolve When Perfected

In the blink of an eye, the night was enveloped in white light. A fluorescent blue aura poured down from the dome above, and the entire coniferous forest melted into the distorted space.

Jiang Qiu blinked. A frigid aura crept in from all sides, slithering up his spine. "Why is it so cold?"

The North Snow Ridge had been replaced by a vast, cavernous hall of ice. Looking up, a crystalline ice dome dozens of meters high emitted wisps of cold air, and the four walls, carved with intricate patterns, framed the entire world.

The only things left were a sheer abyss nearby and a rail-less ice path suspended in the air.

[Status: Ice Soul Poison]

[Description: While within the Ancient Snow Wolf Emperor’s Ice Palace, the consumption rate of any Spirit Charm other than the Soul Ice Spirit Charm is doubled, and resistance to ice is drastically reduced. This can only be negated by fusing with North Snow Wolf blood.]

Jiang Qiu’s brow furrowed. The Fiery Flame Spirit Charm in his eyes flickered, and the Dragon Egg within his pupils looked as if it were covered in frost, wreathed in steam.

He clenched his fists.

’This is bad, this situation...’

"I... I can help you absorb the Ice Soul Poison."

Suddenly, the Ice Lotus in his arms gently struggled free and landed on the ground. Her small, cold hand grabbed Jiang Qiu’s right index finger, and she carefully bit down.

"???"

Jiang Qiu’s finger twitched as a warm, moist sensation enveloped the tip.

NIP!

Ice Lotus’s canine teeth grazed his finger, breaking the thin layer of skin. A wondrous, fiery sensation flowed in from the tiny wound, like a vast, scorching river.

[Status: Ice and Snow Contract]

[Description: Using Ice Lotus’s Essence Blood as a medium to absorb the Soul Ice Spirit Charm contained within the Ancient Snow Wolf Emperor’s Ice Palace. You will ignore the negative effects of Ice Soul Poison and it will help you raise your Cultivation Realm.]

From that moment on, the five-colored Spirit Charm mist within the Ice Palace began to slowly flow into Jiang Qiu’s body, warming and filling his limbs and bones.

The vast amount of Fiery Flame Spirit Charm in the Dragon Egg also began to convert more quickly, replenishing what had been consumed.

[A wisp of Soul Ice Spirit Charm has been refined.]

[First Realm of the Bright Soul]

[101/10,000]

"I... I was born with half North Snow Wolf blood. Please don’t despise me."

Ice Lotus slowly released Jiang Qiu’s index finger. She lowered her head, a look of profound humility in her eyes.

’Since the day I was born, no one has ever cared about me. Even though I’m considered half a Transformed Demon Clan member, I have no combat ability.’

’My inherited bloodline Talent, the [Ice and Snow Contract], is useless and pathetic to most people in the Northern Wilderness.’

’What’s more, I’m just a half-breed mongrel. All I can do is lead people around like a dog, begging for a chance to get proof of residence in North Border City...’

"Thank you."

Jiang Qiu took a deep breath and casually ruffled Ice Lotus’s hair, his gaze intense.

’I only saved her on a whim, hoping she could lead me to North Border City.’

’I never thought she’d become the key to recovering my Spirit Charm in this Secret Realm...’

Ice Lotus’s two wolf ears twitched. With a little thump, she threw her arms around Jiang Qiu’s warm waist, cool tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping from her chin. "Daddy."

"!!!"

Jiang Qiu froze. He sighed internally and gently patted her back. "My name is Jiang Qiu. You don’t have to call me Daddy."

"S-Sorry. After my father died, no one has been this nice to me for a long time."

Ice Lotus rubbed her eyes with both hands, her nose twitching as she sniffled.

HUM...

Suddenly, a ripple of condensed Soul Ice Spirit Charm emanated from the depths of the Ice Palace. The figure of the Three Race Elders appeared out of thin air, arms outstretched.

SWISH SWISH SWISH—

One after another, members of the North Snow Wolf Clan followed them into the Secret Realm. At the same time, Lin Wei, Xia Qing, Niu Yao, and the others all appeared behind Jiang Qiu.

"How did we suddenly enter a Secret Realm?"

"Holy shit, Jiang Divine, you’re here too!"

"Damn it, are those guys from the Demon Race?"

In just a few moments, the students were clamoring, drawing their weapons as various kinds of Spirit Charm began to brew. On the other side, most of the North Snow Wolf members were dumbfounded. "What the hell, is this the kind of force you bring to steal Ice Crystal Fruit?!"

The human and demon factions instantly fell into a standoff, killing intent surging between them. Jiang Qiu let out a sigh of relief.

’In terms of numbers alone, we have a hundred or two more people. And in terms of combat power, the top prodigies of the three great academies are here.’

’But I don’t know what’s special about this Secret Realm. We could suffer a huge loss...’

"Three Race Elders, this situation doesn’t seem right," a burly North Snow Wolf said, stunned. "That kid doesn’t seem to be from North Border City, and the people behind him are all young prodigies!"

"I don’t care where they’re from! They dared to trespass on our North Snow Ridge, so no one is escaping the Ice Palace today!"

The Three Race Elders’ claws clenched around the Soul Ice mist. They gritted their teeth and glared, the wrinkles on their face pulled taut. "And those bastards, get in here too!"

BOOM—

Suddenly, another Secret Realm fluctuation pulsed from the depths of the Ice Palace. Fifteen burly figures stumbled out of the void and into the Secret Realm. Five or six of them tripped and fell with a loud clatter. The leader, Iron Power, saw the Three Race Elders and his face went pale. "You actually went to all this trouble to open a Secret Realm just to catch people?!"

"B-Boss, over there."

One of his mercenaries stammered. Iron Power frowned and looked over, then gasped and took two steps back. "Why are there so many people?!"

To their left, several hundred people were staring at them with furrowed brows—over a hundred prodigies at the Bright Soul Realm and eight hundred formidable cultivators at the Spirit Body Realm.

With a force like this, no one would doubt it if you told them it was a night raid on North Snow Ridge!

And the most eye-catching of all, Jiang Qiu, stood right at the front. The killing intent in his eyes was as sharp as an Ice Cone. "Today, you will die here."

With a swish, a spear tip pointed right at him. His heart felt as if it had been pierced by Thunder. He screamed in terror, "Let’s talk this out! We can talk this out! I’ll give you all the Ice Crystal Fruit! I’ll give you the [Coordinate Disc] too!"

As he spoke, he ripped the Storage Necklace off with his left hand and tossed it over. It flew through the air and landed in Jiang Qiu’s left palm.

The students’ surprised gazes focused on Jiang Qiu. Niu Yao’s tone was bewildered. "What’s going on here?"

From their attire, it was clear that Iron Power and his men were a mercenary team from North Border City. They were known for being cunning and greedy, and most importantly, quite strong.

’But he’s voluntarily handing over the Ice Crystal Fruit?’

"Bastard! How dare you hand over the Ice Crystal Fruit in front of us?!"

"Kill all dozen of them!"

The North Snow Wolf Clan erupted. Their faces contorted into wolfish visages, their eyes gleaming with savage light. At a meaningful look from the Three Race Elders, a portion of the clan members charged forward to kill.

THUMP THUMP THUMP!

Iron Power immediately grabbed his greatsword and sprinted toward the rail-less ice path at the other end of the Ice Palace, his gums bleeding and his eyes wild. "It won’t be that easy to kill me!"

There was a rumor that the North Snow Wolf Clan originated from the Ancient Snow Wolf Ice Palace within this Secret Realm. To enter this place was to enter a trial.

As long as one braved the trial, they could leave the Secret Realm alive!

AWOO—

Amidst a few wolf howls, a heart-wrenching scream erupted: "Boss!"

The fourteen mercenary brothers he had abandoned were hunted down and killed in an instant. He burned the foundation of his Jade Sinews and shot off like a blur, leaving them in the dust on the wide, rail-less ice path!

Abysses flanked both sides. At the far end of his vision was a Frozen Gate, slightly ajar. That was the only way out!

’All I have to do is leap onto the large, suspended circular platform in the middle, then jump to the rail-less ice path on the other side. Then I can run to the gate and slip through the crack...’

THUD!

The moment he leaped, a humming Dragon’s Roar chased after him from behind, a searing Flame warming his back.

In the instant he twisted his head mid-air, a Conical Arrow wreathed by a Flaming Cyan Dragon pierced through the center of his forehead.

THWACK—