Earth Grade: Frostsnow Essence

Earth Grade: Frostsnow Essence

"So it isn't that the ancient cultivators were different from us, but that the Essences of Heaven and Earth are hard to find. Nowadays, almost everyone cultivates with Mortal-grade Essence. Some haven't even found that, forced to nourish their wheels with mere Qi, resulting in a bottom-tier Spirit Wheel."

Shangguan Yuzhou frowned deeply as he listened, seemingly worried about his own future essence.

Huangfu Wuqin's bright eyes darted about. Seeing that neither of them spoke and were listening intently, she became even more animated.

She stopped urging them to move on and continued with a serious expression, "A Wheel-Nourishing realm cultivator who does not use Essence to nurture their wheel cannot, strictly speaking, be considered a complete Wheel-Nourishing cultivator. That is why they struggle to defend themselves when facing those who have absorbed Essence."

"A cultivator who nourishes their wheel with Essence can defeat enemies a minor realm above them; it is not difficult."

"Of course, the quality of the Essence cultivated also relates to their strength."

"Heaven-grade can slay Earth-grade, Earth-grade can kill Mortal-grade, and Mortal-grade kills the bottom-tier."

Hearing this, Kong Jiao couldn't help but recall the way Han Dong had fought that day. He had felt at the time that this fierce man was no ordinary Wheel-Nourishing cultivator, and sure enough, he had absorbed the Essence of Heaven and Earth.

He subconsciously asked, "Then what is the quality of Han Dong's Human-Spirit Essence?"

Han Dong had gone to great lengths, surrounding the Frostmoon Altar and killing disciples from several sects.

Given that he had paid the price of offending so many sects to absorb that Human-Spirit Essence, it was easy to imagine that its quality was definitely not low.

That was why Kong Jiao was curious.

"Human-Spirit Essence is not listed in the Immortal Foundation. With the sudden changes in the world, the Essences of Heaven and Earth have become increasingly scarce, so it is merely a heterodox path found by later cultivators." Huangfu Wuqin sneered at the mention of Human-Spirit Essence, but had to admit, "However, after many years of verification, there are indeed countless precedents of cultivators who absorbed Human-Spirit Essence defeating those with Earth-grade Essence. It belongs in the Earth-grade category."

"But Human-Spirit Essence also has varying levels. Human-Spirit Essence condensed from the blood of mortals can only be considered Mortal-grade."

"Only the Human-Spirit Essence condensed from other cultivators can be mentioned in the same breath as Earth-grade Essence."

"Then Han Dong..." Kong Jiao hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously, "Has he already succeeded?"

"Yes!" Huangfu Wuqin nodded lightly and replied casually, "He was able to escape from my hands, so he must have succeeded."

As she spoke, Huangfu Wuqin looked at Kong Jiao and Shangguan Yuzhou with a warning in her eyes. "I am warning you both: do not harbor ideas about Human-Spirit Essence. To condense a portion of Human-Spirit Essence requires the spiritual essence of countless cultivators. The karmic debt of slaughter is too heavy. If you touch it, there is no turning back, and the Cangwu Sect will not be able to protect you."

"When that time comes, I will not be soft-hearted."

Kong Jiao smiled slightly. He now understood that he had already absorbed the Essence of Heaven and Earth in that trial space, though he did not know its quality.

But judging by the transformation of his spiritual power, it was definitely not Mortal-grade.

Therefore, he shouldn't need to worry about the Essence of Heaven and Earth, let alone touch Human-Spirit Essence.

The Moon Palace is wealthy and powerful; how could they possibly use Mortal-grade essence for their disciples? he thought to himself.

Shangguan Yuzhou waved his hand dismissively. "I have no interest in that stuff. If I am to cultivate, I will cultivate the Essence of the Sword Path. I am a person destined to become a Sword Immortal."

Hearing this, Huangfu Wuqin did not speak. She stared at Shangguan Yuzhou for a moment, light flickering in her calm eyes as if probing something.

After a short while, she withdrew her gaze. Surprisingly, she did not refute Shangguan Yuzhou's wild words on the spot, but said earnestly, "Your talent for the sword path is indeed not bad. At the fifth stage of Wheel-Nourishing, you have already merged the Eight-Foot Sword Scripture and the Drifting Rain Sword Art, and realized your own unique Sword Qi. If you continue to grow this way, using Sword Qi supplemented by other metallic Essences to nourish your Spirit Wheel, your future achievements will certainly not be low."

"Junior Sister Huangfu has a good eye!" Hearing a compliment from Huangfu Wuqin, Shangguan Yuzhou's face beamed with joy.

That was Huangfu Wuqin; being complimented by her was something one could brag about for ten years.

However, after mentioning that, Huangfu Wuqin looked at Kong Jiao. Golden light flickered in her lively, beautiful eyes, vanishing in a flash.

In that instant, Kong Jiao felt a chill run through his body. He had the illusion that his cultivation level had no secrets before Huangfu Wuqin and had been completely laid bare.

This woman is incredibly overbearing. Kong Jiao was secretly shocked and subconsciously took a step back.

By now, Huangfu Wuqin had withdrawn the secret technique she used to probe Kong Jiao. Seeming to have discerned something, her expression became meaningful.

She laughed with a melodious voice, "You are a fellow with good fortune; you have actually already incorporated the Essence of Heaven and Earth into your body."

"What! Junior Brother Kong, you hid such a big thing from me? My heart aches!" Shangguan Yuzhou feigned heartbreak and wailed, then asked excitedly, "What grade is it? Earth-grade or Mortal-grade? What is it called?"

He didn't ask about Heaven-grade, as even Shangguan Yuzhou knew that asking about such things was unrealistic.

Since he had been found out, Kong Jiao stopped pretending. In any case, the Essence of Heaven and Earth had already been absorbed; even if they killed him, they couldn't extract it.

He spread his hands and replied to Shangguan Yuzhou, "I don't know!"

He wasn't lying; he truly didn't know. Yi-Twelve seemed unwilling to discuss the topic of the Essence of Heaven and Earth, and he hadn't dared to ask further.

Now, he didn't even know the name of the Essence of Heaven and Earth he had absorbed.

Huangfu Wuqin, however, touched her delicate chin with her small hand and pondered for a long time, seemingly searching her mind for an existence that matched the Essence of Heaven and Earth within Kong Jiao.

After a long while, she replied, "The aura is as cold as a glacier, the spiritual energy is the color of white frost, and the chill is piercing. It fits the records in the Immortal Foundation regarding the Frostsnow Essence perfectly."

As she spoke, Huangfu Wuqin looked into Kong Jiao's eyes and asked with certainty, "Did you absorb the essence at the Frostmoon Altar?"

The fact that he had absorbed the Essence of Heaven and Earth could not be hidden. If Huangfu Wuqin could see through his condition at a glance, the sect elders would likely be unable to miss it either.

Therefore, Kong Jiao nodded straightforwardly. "Yes!"

"No wonder!" Huangfu Wuqin wore an "as I expected" expression. She pointed at the Frostmoon Altar below with a look of deep reflection and said:

"Your sect leader long suspected that the Frostmoon Altar was not a simple place. The extreme cold here is something even spiritual power cannot fully resist, which is exactly like the effects of the Frostsnow Essence recorded in the Immortal Foundation."

"It is just that many people searched here repeatedly to no avail, so the matter was dropped."

"I did not expect you to be the one to reap the benefits."

"What is the Frostsnow Essence! What is its quality!" Shangguan Yuzhou helped Kong Jiao ask the question he most wanted to know.

At this moment, Kong Jiao also pricked up his ears, wanting to hear more of Huangfu Wuqin's assessment of the Essence of Heaven and Earth he had absorbed.

"Frostsnow Essence, also known as Snow-Soul Essence, is born in the depths of glaciers that have remained frozen since time immemorial. It is the ultimate evolution of frost and snow power."

"Cultivators who incorporate Frostsnow Essence possess spiritual power as white as frost, imbued with extreme cold properties, which yields miraculous results when practicing ice-type Daoist arts."

"In ancient times, there were cultivators who pushed frost spiritual power to its absolute limit, capable of freezing a thousand miles solid."

Huangfu Wuqin listed the benefits of Frostsnow Essence one by one, finally concluding with a meaningful remark: "Therefore, Snow-Soul Essence is of the same grade as the Ancient One Heavy Water held by the Enforcement Hall; it must be Earth-grade."

"This guy is truly blessed with great fortune!"

Shangguan Yuzhou felt envious just hearing this; had his Dao heart not been firm and his focus set solely on the path of the sword, he might have been beating his chest in frustration.

However, he was also happy for Kong Jiao. He did not have many friends, and Kong Jiao was the only one he truly counted, while Zhou Tingyu could only be considered half a friend.

Otherwise, he would not have rushed over, sword in hand, the moment he left seclusion and heard that Kong Jiao was in danger.

"Junior Brother Kong, from now on, the two of us shall dominate the outer sect of the Cangwu Sect. We will be the Twin Heroes of the outer sect!"

Shangguan Yuzhou was in high spirits, acting as if he were the one who had absorbed the Frostsnow Essence.

Kong Jiao had long since grown accustomed to the occasional childish displays from Shangguan Yuzhou and did not point it out. Instead, he discussed it with great interest: "Twin Heroes of the outer sect sounds terrible. How about we call ourselves the Twin Talents of the outer sect instead!"

Huangfu Wuqin desperately wanted to turn around and leave, but out of consideration for Zhou Tingyu's request, she held back and immediately waved her hand to interrupt the conversation between the two youths, whose mental ages were clearly only eight.

"Frostsnow Essence is, after all, Earth-grade. It is best not to spread word of such an opportunity, lest it invite covetous eyes."

"Rest assured, I will report this matter truthfully to the Sect Master, and the sect will provide you with support."

Huangfu Wuqin spoke with sincerity.

Kong Jiao was a disciple of the Cangwu Sect, and having absorbed the Frostsnow Essence, his future was limitless.

The Cangwu Sect naturally provided special care for genius disciples.

"That would be excellent!" Kong Jiao breathed a sigh of relief.

Had Huangfu Wuqin not used her methods to pry into him, he would never have wanted to bring this up at all.

If Huangfu Wuqin was willing to keep it a secret, he certainly would not go around talking about it.

He understood the principle that the tree which stands above the forest is the first to be broken by the wind.

The sky grew dark.

With the arrival of Huangfu Wuqin and the retreat of Han Dong, the crisis at the Frostmoon Altar had come to an end.

The only regret was that they had been unable to capture this vicious man; there was no telling how many more people would fall into his hands in the future.

After all, he cultivated the Human-Spirit Essence, and once that path was chosen, there was no turning back.

However, this no longer had much to do with Kong Jiao. He felt that his own future path would likely have no further connection with Han Dong.

I cannot possibly be hunted by the same person twice! Kong Jiao thought to himself.

With the affairs at the Frostmoon Altar concluded, the three of them naturally had to return to the sect.

Led by Huangfu Wuqin, the three of them flew rapidly through the snow-filled sky, heading in the direction of the Cangwu Sect.

Given Huangfu Wuqin's cultivation, if she were to travel at full speed, it would be absolutely impossible for Kong Jiao and Shangguan Yuzhou to keep up.

Therefore, she was entirely looking after the two of them, intentionally slowing her pace.

Kong Jiao perceived this, and as he followed closely behind the young woman, his gaze drifted from time to time toward her back as she moved with bored indifference.

He thought to himself: She is worried about the safety of myself and Shangguan Yuzhou.

I wonder if it is because of Junior Sister Zhou, or if this is simply her nature.

After their brief time together, Kong Jiao had gained some understanding of Huangfu Wuqin's temperament.

The young woman was proud and particularly stubborn about certain inexplicable things, but her character was pure, even if she did have a tendency toward violence.

Thinking of this, Kong Jiao glanced at Shangguan Yuzhou, whose face still bore the unhealed bruises from the side.

It is fine; she only caused some superficial injuries and did not strike with lethal force. She still has a sense of proportion.