Winekeeper Gourd

Kong Jiao entered seclusion, preparing to break through to the fourth stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm.

Even Shangguan Yuzhou, who usually loved roaming the outer sect and stirring up trouble, had unusually settled down.

He entered seclusion with Kong Jiao in the underground cave dwelling, attempting to break through to the fifth stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm.

Cultivation knew no passage of time.

To the disciples of the Cangwu Sect, two months were merely a brief sixty sunrises and sunsets.

The only change was that those sword cultivator disciples whom Shangguan Yuzhou had irritated no longer had to fly into a rage.

They finally enjoyed a relatively peaceful stretch of time.

The spirit farmers, however, were rather helpless about Kong Jiao's seclusion.

Pest infestations arose in the fields every day, but fortunately, they were nowhere near as severe as Marrow-Eating Huang. The spirit farmers could barely handle them.

For problems they truly could not deal with, they called upon other disciples who had cultivated the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture.

It did give those disciples some tangible benefits.

Time rushed by.

Exactly two months had passed since the two had entered seclusion.

Boom! The underground cave dwelling sealed by the Scarlet Radiance Formation burst open.

Kong Jiao's tall, slender figure sauntered out of the cave dwelling. He looked around at the snow-clad mountains and plains beyond the cave, as well as the biting cold wind gusting past.

Kong Jiao's gaze was slightly dazed.

"It's already winter."

This was Kong Jiao's first time remaining in seclusion for so long.

Feeling the cold pressing in from all directions, Kong Jiao narrowed his eyes in enjoyment and took several deep breaths of icy air, letting that chill swirl through his lungs.

Because he cultivated the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture, he did not particularly resist the cold.

After standing there with his eyes closed for quite some time, Kong Jiao glanced back at the cave dwelling and activated the Scarlet Radiance Formation again.

Shangguan Yuzhou was still cultivating inside. He could not let anyone disturb him.

In truth, Kong Jiao had successfully broken through to the fourth stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm a month and a half ago.

He had spent the remaining time consolidating his cultivation.

Over the past month and a half, he had made some further progress atop the fourth stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm.

The reason he had not left seclusion was partly to protect Shangguan Yuzhou's path.

That kid had quite a few enemies. Kong Jiao feared someone might come knocking while he was in seclusion and disrupt his breakthrough.

Yet after two months, Shangguan Yuzhou still had not broken through.

Kong Jiao had no choice but to leave seclusion, because only one day remained before their departure for Frostmoon Altar.

"Pray for your own luck." Leaving those words behind, Kong Jiao vanished from the entrance of the cave dwelling.

Having broken through to the fourth stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm, Kong Jiao's speed had also increased. His figure flashed over the snow-covered road, leaving behind only faint footprints.

He was not headed for Lingyu Pavilion, but the Artifact Refining Pavilion.

Frostmoon Altar was hardly a safe place. In past years, there had been bloody clashes between Cangwu Sect disciples and disciples from other sects.

Though deaths were rare, Kong Jiao did not dare lower his guard.

Even though he had broken through to the fourth stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm, completely leaving behind the lowest tier and entering the middle stages of the realm—

It was still not enough.

He needed to choose a magical artifact from the Artifact Refining Pavilion, just in case.

An hour later, Kong Jiao emerged from the Artifact Refining Pavilion with a satisfied smile on his face.

At his waist now hung a gourd patterned in interwoven black and white.

The gourd was only half a palm in size. Tied at his waist with a red cord, it was inconspicuous. At a glance, it looked less like a magical artifact and more like an ornament.

"Fifty Spirit Crystals for a magical artifact. Its use may be singular, but it suits me well enough."

Kong Jiao looked down at the gourd he had just bought and chuckled.

This gourd was called the Winekeeper Gourd. It possessed no offensive power; its sole function was to hold wine.

Though it was only half a palm in size, even two vats of water could not fill it.

Kong Jiao's cultivation arts relied far too heavily on water.

The difference between having water and lacking it was as vast as heaven and earth.

During his battle with Jiang Kui, if it had not happened to rain that night, he would never have had a chance to defeat him.

This Winekeeper Gourd happened to make up for Kong Jiao's weakness.

Patting the gourd at his waist, Kong Jiao delayed no longer. He circulated his spiritual power and shot straight toward Lingyu Pavilion.

Tomorrow was the day they would depart for Frostmoon Altar.

Many disciples who had accepted the commission to gather Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi had already begun gathering here early today.

They stood in small clusters outside Lingyu Pavilion.

Standing at the front of the group was Sun Feiluan, the warmhearted senior sister who had registered Kong Jiao two months ago.

With a longbow on his back and a palm-sized, jet-black gourd at his waist, Kong Jiao arrived through the snow.

He casually swept his gaze over the outer sect disciples clustered outside Lingyu Pavilion, only then realizing that he was the last to arrive.

Sun Feiluan smiled at the late-arriving Kong Jiao and teased, "Junior Brother Kong, I thought you weren't coming."

"I just left seclusion and kept Senior Sister Sun waiting." Kong Jiao halted and hurriedly replied with an apologetic smile, "The moment I got out, I rushed over as fast as I could."

"It's nothing. We aren't leaving until tomorrow; today is just a roll call." Sun Feiluan waved her hand.

She then checked the names recorded in the booklet in her hand against each disciple assembled before her. Once she confirmed that all were present, she nodded.

"The numbers are correct. There are twelve people in total. We depart promptly at dawn tomorrow."

"For this Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi gathering, Junior Brother Zheng Gang will be leading the team. You have gone to Frostmoon Altar for five consecutive years already, so you are well acquainted with the route and have ample experience."

"Yes!" Zheng Gang appeared rather taciturn. When Sun Feiluan called his name, he merely answered with a single word.

Kong Jiao gave him a few more appraising looks. The man seemed fairly old, and his cultivation was at the sixth stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm.

Even within the Cangwu Sect, he counted as a minor expert of the second tier.

This was merely a simple gathering mission, and Zheng Gang would have no trouble leading the group.

"Alright, I won't disturb you any longer. Make your own arrangements for the rest." Sun Feiluan retreated into Lingyu Pavilion.

After Sun Feiluan left, the twelve disciples who had accepted the sect's commission did not disperse immediately.

Instead, they turned their attention toward one another and began seeking companions for this journey.

After all, each of the twelve had their own assigned quota, and they would eventually have to split up.

That was the only way to gather herbs more efficiently.

Finding powerful teammates would not only provide an extra measure of safety, but also enable them to collect more Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi.

Exceeding the quota issued by the sect came with additional rewards.

Kong Jiao remained unmoved by the sight, watching coldly from the sidelines.

He had never forgotten his true purpose for this trip: to seek an opportunity, not some damned Moonfrost Ice Lingzhi.

Being alone would make his movements more convenient.

"Time to go," Kong Jiao muttered as he turned around.

Yet he had not realized that a pair of bright, large eyes had fixed upon him from the moment he entered Lingyu Pavilion.

Just as Kong Jiao was about to turn and leave,

A petite young girl suddenly stepped out from the back of the group and grabbed Kong Jiao, who was about to depart.

"Senior Brother Kong, you're here too!" Zhou Tingyu wore a sly smile as she stared straight at Kong Jiao.