Cold Pool Test Blade

The next morning, just as the sky was barely light, Chen Yuan was already prepared.

He didn't bring much—just an ordinary pack as cover, containing rope, a special heat-insulated oilcloth wrap, a few strips of dried meat, and some water.

Any pills he might need, along with the snake gall medicinal wine that could temporarily ward off the cold, were stored in the Scarab Fish Secret Pouch against his body. With the Cold Ripple Blade in hand, he could travel light.

Leaving Lin Hai County through the north gate, he headed straight north at a brisk pace.

A hundred li—for someone at Skin Grinding Realm - Minor Accomplishment—was no more than an hour's journey.

The closer he got to Black Wind Valley, where Cold Dragon Pond lay, the more the temperature in the air dropped, as if stepping abruptly from early spring into deep autumn.

When he reached the valley mouth, he saw a secluded, deep valley surrounded on three sides by mountains, with a pool of dark green water lying quietly within.

The pond was vast, its water so dark the bottom was invisible. Wisps of white cold air, visible to the naked eye, drifted across the surface.

No vegetation grew in the rock crevices around it; a thin layer of frost covered everything. The silence was eerie—not a single bird, beast, or insect sound—only the moan of wind through the valley mouth.

"Such heavy cold air—truly lives up to its reputation," Chen Yuan thought with a shiver.

Even before entering the water, the biting chill seeped into his body, forcing him to circulate his Qi and Blood immediately to resist.

He didn't plunge in recklessly. Instead, he carefully scouted the shoreline, searching for the best entry point and any potential dangers.

Finally, he chose a spot facing the sun where a gentle slope extended underwater.

First, he took out the snake gall medicinal wine from his secret pouch and carefully sipped a small amount.

A spicy, burning medicinal force instantly spread through his abdomen, flowing to his limbs and bones, as if lighting a small furnace inside him, driving away much of the external cold.

Plop!

Once ready, he slipped silently into the pond.

Freezing cold! Bone-piercing cold instantly enveloped his entire body, like countless ice needles stabbing into every pore.

Even with the medicinal wine and his Qi and Blood protecting him, he couldn't help but shiver. The cold of this pond water far exceeded his expectations.

He didn't dare slack off. Immediately, he activated the Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method, letting a trace of Spiral Force seep through his skin membrane, forming a fine layer of resistance on his body's surface to further block the cold while increasing his agility in the water.

Adjusting his breathing, he dove deeper.

Visibility underwater was very low, the light dim, barely allowing him to see a few feet ahead.

The pond water was abnormally cold. The deeper he went, the heavier the chill and the greater the water pressure.

An ordinary martial artist at the Qi and Blood Realm would likely freeze stiff after a short time here.

Chen Yuan held his breath, sharpening his spiritual perception to the utmost, resisting the cold while searching for his target.

The pond bottom was rugged with jagged rocks, dotted with some dull, ordinary water plants.

After diving about four or five zhang deep, he finally spotted several clumps of unusual algae in the crevices of a shaded rock slope.

These algae had thick, narrow leaves of a deep ink-green color, with faint silvery-white patterns along the edges, emitting a weak cold aura. They were exactly what the mission required—Cold Pond Waterweed aged over ten years.

Joy surged in his heart, and he was about to move forward to collect them when suddenly, a warning flashed in his mind.

From his side and rear, a blurry black shadow shot toward him like an underwater arrow, silent and terrifyingly fast!

It was a water snake about five feet long, gray-black with mottled patterns—the Cold Water Viper his Senior Disciple Brother had mentioned. Its mouth gaped open, revealing Poison Fang, aiming straight for Chen Yuan's calf.

If this had been the old Chen Yuan, caught off guard in this cold, dim water, he might have suffered. But now, with his sharpened spiritual perception and his prior caution, he was ready.

Just as the Cold Water Viper was about to strike, Chen Yuan twisted his waist sharply, executing an agile turn in the water to dodge the fatal blow.

The viper brushed past him, leaving a trail of fine bubbles.

Chen Yuan's eyes turned cold. As he evaded, he formed his right hand into a blade, channeling the icy force he had initially refined through the Cold River Spirit Blade into his fingertips. Aiming precisely at the snake's vital spot—seven inches from its head—he stabbed out like lightning.

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Where his fingers passed, the icy force split the lake water and struck the target with precision.

The Cold Water Viper stiffened violently, its body thrashing as if trying to flee, but a sharp, freezing force had already penetrated its body, slowing and numbing its movements.

Chen Yuan seized the moment, grabbing it firmly by its vital spot. With a subtle burst of inner force, he killed it outright and casually stowed it in his secret pouch.

Having quickly dealt with this minor nuisance, Chen Yuan didn't delay. He immediately swam to the clumps of algae and carefully pried them up by the roots with his dagger, ensuring the roots and leaves remained intact.

He found four clumps that met the age requirement, swiftly wrapping them in the special oilcloth he'd brought to prevent the cold aura from dissipating.

Mission complete, he surfaced immediately.

With a splash, Chen Yuan broke through the water and leaped back onto the shore. Icy droplets rolled off his body, turning into wisps of white steam upon contact with the air.

He quickly dried himself, changed into dry clothes, and took another small sip of the medicinal wine to ward off the cold, finally letting out a long breath.

He felt that his Qi and Blood, stimulated by the extreme cold of the pond, had become even more lively and condensed.

"This cold pond is indeed an excellent place to temper one's Qi and Blood and reflexes," he mused.

He thought he might return another day, but he would need to prepare thoroughly.

Without lingering too long, Chen Yuan packed up and immediately set off on his return journey.

That afternoon, Chen Yuan returned to Lin Hai County and went straight to the Hundred Herbs Hall in the west of the city.

An old pharmacist wearing a monocle received him, skillfully inspecting the four clumps of Cold Pond Waterweed Chen Yuan had brought.

When he saw the distinct silver edges, the dense cold aura, and the perfectly preserved roots and leaves, his gaunt face showed surprise and satisfaction.

"Tsk tsk, not bad. Full years, excellent appearance, abundant spiritual energy, and well handled. Young man, you've got skill. Didn't the 'cold nails' of Cold Dragon Pond give you trouble?" The old pharmacist adjusted his glasses and asked curiously.

"I ran into one. Managed to kill it," Chen Yuan said modestly, taking out the Cold Water Viper's corpse.

"From Blackwater Martial Arts School—no wonder you're impressive!" The old pharmacist praised.

"I'll take these four clumps of waterweed. By the rules, that's forty merit points... or, young man, do you need some pills suitable for warming blood and nourishing qi in the Skin Grinding Realm?"

"I can authorize exchanging them for equivalent 'Warm Blood Pills'—more practical than just merit points. This Cold Water Viper can be traded in too."

Chen Yuan's mind stirred. Merit points were fine, but directly obtaining urgently needed, targeted pills was more fitting. Warm Blood Pills were perfect for expelling any lingering cold and consolidating the effects of this body tempering.

"Then I'll trouble you, sir. Please exchange them for 'Warm Blood Pills,'" Chen Yuan decided.

Warm Blood Pills weren't cheap on the market, worth far more than forty merit points. The old pharmacist clearly knew how to do business and wanted to build a connection with a potential client who could gather high-quality herbs.

"Straightforward!" The old pharmacist smiled and quickly fetched two celadon medicine bottles.

"These are top-grade Warm Blood Pills—mild and long-lasting in effect. If you get more good herbs in the future, or want to take on herb-gathering tasks, feel free to come to Hundred Herbs Hall. We can negotiate the price."

"Certainly. Thank you, sir." Chen Yuan accepted the pills, cupped his fists, and took his leave.

He was quite satisfied. This mission had not only tested his skills, verified his underwater combat ability, and yielded good returns, but also established a solid initial relationship with a local power like Hundred Herbs Hall.

Back at Listening Tide Courtyard in the martial arts school, Chen Yuan first took a Warm Blood Pill, feeling a warm current spread through him, dispelling the last traces of lingering cold in his body.

Then he continued the night's practice of the Mysterious Vortex Skin Grinding Method.

The pill's power and his cultivation complemented each other. He could clearly sense his blood and qi becoming more condensed, steadily advancing toward the depths of Skin Grinding Realm - Minor Accomplishment.

Realm: Skin Grinding Realm - Minor Accomplishment (36/100)

Feeling the tangible growth of power within him, Chen Yuan's gaze was calm and resolute.

The Cold Pond Algae Harvest was just a first attempt. This path of honing himself through missions and acquiring resources was now open. Next time, he might challenge a higher-difficulty task.

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