Embrace Ice Technique

The Ning Family Patriarch gave a wry smile. "Tell me your conditions."

With each condition Ning Xiaohui stated, his expression grew a shade darker.

After she listed five, the Patriarch couldn't bear it any longer and raised a hand to stop her. "Stop, let's stop for a moment."

Grandma Ning, being very senior, said with displeasure, "Stop what? My granddaughter is risking her life this time."

The Talisman Hall Elder also chimed in, "Patriarch, do you know? The City Lord's Mansion has already taken action, arranging multiple teams of City Guard to constantly patrol Fire Persimmon Immortal City, strictly investigating cultivators who practice the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art."

"Once Xiaohui participates in this competition, the danger is absolutely not limited to the Magma Immortal Palace."

Grandma Ning snorted coldly. "We are all from the main branch, all our own people, not outsiders from a side branch. Patriarch, what are you being stingy about?"

Ning Zhuo woke up the next day around noon.

He felt much better.

It seems I need some pills to nourish and restore my soul.

Although Ning Zhuo usually stocked up on many pills, he didn't have many related to the soul.

Based on his experience from the first exploration of the Magma Immortal Palace, he would definitely need these kinds of pills in the future.

It's not just the giant tree in Room Two that can weaken the soul.

When the soul is extracted and resides in the mechanical puppet, it also slowly consumes soul power.

Therefore, the stronger the soul's foundation, the more advantageous it is for exploring the Magma Immortal Palace.

Ning Zhuo acted as soon as he thought of it.

He decided to purchase soul-nourishing pills from multiple Pill Pavilions and Medicine Shops in the city, buying other pills as a cover each time.

As a result, while he was halfway there, he heard people complaining that the City Guard was arresting people everywhere.

At the same time, he also saw many notices posted on the walls – the City Lord's Mansion was quickly testing the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, worried that it was a demonic cultivation method disguised as a Daoist one, and fearing the unexpected, ordered the cultivators in the city to temporarily stop practicing this technique.

Ning Zhuo immediately changed his plan and didn't dare to go to the Pill Pavilion or Medicine Shop to buy medicine.

As he hurried back, he heard some more rumors that made his heart clench.

Meng Chong, Zheng Jian, and Zhou Zhu were all attacked and harmed?

That's terrifying.

Even these geniuses, under the heavy protection of the family, encountered these things.

If an ordinary person like me were exposed, it would definitely be worse than them!

Mother was absolutely right, I should hide properly.

Ning Zhuo returned home.

He needed to stock up on more soul-nourishing pills, but the situation was too tense right now, so he decided to wait for a while.

Ning Zhuo considered the Black Market.

However, ever since the Immortal Palace was bombed, his Azure Iron Han Armor had suffered a lot of damage. The exterior of the armor, especially the back, was too obviously damaged.

Most importantly, one of the core components, the Foundation Establishment Pill, is down to only ten percent remaining.

This is Ning Zhuo's trump card and cannot be abused any further.

"Let's first practice the spell rewarded by that Immortal Palace."

The spell Ning Zhuo obtained is called Embrace Ice Technique. After activation, it can freeze objects held in one's embrace into ice.

Ning Zhuo studied it for a bit and his initial feeling was that this spell was a bit weak.

He had previously mainly cultivated the Snowy Region Talisman Compendium, possessing ice-attribute power and mastering several spells.

For example, Ice Spear Technique, Frost Flower Technique, Snowball Technique, and so on.

"The biggest drawback of Embrace Ice Technique is that it must be used in close combat to be effective."

"Whereas conventional spells like Ice Spear Technique and Snowball Technique can basically be used for long-range attacks."

In actual combat, this flaw is very significant.

This made Ning Zhuo even want to use Ice Spear Technique.

In fact, he had wanted to use it when he was in the Magma Immortal Palace.

The problem was, he couldn't use it!

This is where the difference and connection between cultivation methods and spells come into play.

Cultivation methods are like Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art and Snowy Region Talisman Compendium, mainly used to refine power.

Spells are like Ice Spear Technique, Frost Flower Technique, Embrace Ice Technique, which are certain methods and techniques for using power.

Spells are based on the foundation of cultivation methods.

A cultivator's power is categorized and varied. Ice-attribute power cannot be used to cast Fire Dragon Technique, at most it can be Ice Dragon Technique, Snow Whale Technique, and so on.

After Ning Zhuo gained Five Elements Power, he also tried using spells like Ice Spear Technique, but he couldn't activate them at all.

Because his power contains all five elements, to use a single-element spell, he must first extract the corresponding power.

The Ice Spear Technique he mastered and the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art are not compatible.

The spell needs to be improved.

This situation is very common in the cultivation world.

If Ning Zhuo were to switch to another ice-attribute cultivation method, there's a high probability he could directly use the previous Ice Spear Technique. However, the original spell and the current power are not perfectly suited, and there would be considerable loss, still requiring modification to achieve a perfect match.

Embrace Ice Technique is something Ning Zhuo can use directly.

Because it is a spell that is perfectly compatible with the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art itself.

After practicing a few times, the water element portion of Ning Zhuo's Five Elements Power was separately extracted, and he activated the Embrace Ice Technique.

The wooden stool in Ning Zhuo's embrace was instantly covered in frost. The frost spread rapidly, thickening as it went, and after a few breaths, it froze into a block of ice.

Ning Zhuo couldn't hide his surprise: "The power of this Embrace Ice Technique is actually this strong?"

Compared to conventional spells like Ice Spear Technique, Snowball Technique, and Frost Flower Technique, the power of Embrace Ice Technique is clearly more than just a notch stronger.

Next, Ning Zhuo focused on practicing this spell in his underground workshop.

Benches, chairs, mirrors, bricks, and other items were all frozen into ice blocks by him.

He became engrossed in his practice.

The ground and corners were covered in ice lumps of various sizes, freezing all sorts of things. The entire underground workshop was filled with cold air, practically turning into an underground ice cellar.

"The three options I encountered before the first door were Spirit Stones, a Hanging Ring, and A Breath of Qi."

"Thinking back carefully, these three options should all be helpful for me to pass the trial."

"Spirit Stones go without saying. The Hanging Ring is probably similar to the As-You-Wish Rope I made, and the A Breath of Qi spell should allow the mechanical puppet to change direction in the air, or even briefly float and fly."

"Following this line of thought, the reward options before the second door should also be helpful for me to pass the trial."

"Spirit Stones are obvious. I didn't see clearly what the Mechanical Components were. But judging from the Embrace Ice Technique spell, room three will likely require me to fight."

Ning Zhuo analyzed the situation with clear logic. There was also evidence – the Embrace Ice Technique is a typical offensive spell.

"Room one requires cultivators to assemble mechanical puppets, room two tests the puppet's ability to jump, run, and dodge, and room three might be combat."

"Looking at it this way, the trials of the Magma Immortal Palace are also lessons. It seems the Three Sects Forefathers are not just selecting outstanding individuals, but also have the intention of training in mechanical arts."

"Alas, my soul is almost healed. I just don't know when I can enter the Immortal Palace again."

That night, the exhausted Ning Zhuo fell into a deep sleep.

He felt something was wrong and wanted to open his eyes, but found it was still completely dark.

After a few seconds of surprise, he sensed his surroundings and instantly became excited.

"My soul has been drawn out again and entered the Magma Immortal Palace!"