Wen Leyang was both anxious and furious. An idea flashed through his mind and he scolded himself loudly, “Silly me!” He turned around and ran back to comb through the living dead’s corpses.
If the living dead entered the cave to retrieve the heavenly water spirit, they would naturally carry along a container capable of holding the precious water on their bodies. He was engrossed in saving Cone Nail’s life earlier that when he saw that the Poison of Water killed the living dead, he only felt delighted. It never crossed his mind that they could already be carrying along the heavenly water spirit.
Somewhere on one of the living dead’s bodies was a golden box. A drop of heavenly water spirit was contained in the box. He took out the box and fed the drop of water to Cone Nail… Wen Leyang’s imagination was similar. The only difference between his current imagination and his earlier imagination was that the table that was displaying the golden box turned into the living dead.
It was unknown how long had passed. The sound of a raging hiss echoed through the ore cave. Under the heavy compression pressure of the Poison of Water, Wen Leyang had exhausted his laborious efforts to search through every single corpse of the living dead. However, he did not manage to discover anything. Let alone the golden box, there was not even a golden tooth.
Except for the person who dug the ore cave, there was not a single person in between the heaven or earth who knew what the heavenly water spirit was. Even the evil deity Xiang Liu who originated from the primitive ages did not know as well. Everyone had their hearts set on the same thing. There was some golden box with a drop of water…
The living dead also just dashed to the edge of the ore cave earlier, they were just the same as Wen Leyang. They stretched out their hands to catch the water and splashed their faces and bodies with water…
Wen Leyang ran back towards the edge of the ore cave again. He stared in bewilderment as the heavenly water spirit slowly condensed then gently dropped down and transformed into the surging and turbulence torrent. He suddenly gave out a raging cry from his chest! Cone Nail was on the verge of death, the heavenly water spirit was close within his reach, yet there was no way he could bring along the precious water capable of saving her life. Wen Leyang felt so oppressed he wished that he could exert all the strength of his body to kick and crush that ice stalactite!
Wen Leyang’s eyes were bloodshot. He shot the ice stalactite with a gaze that was even more furious than when he was glaring at Tian Yin recently. Nevertheless, he was still an honest and virtuous person, unlike his Grand Master Chang Li who acted recklessly. After all, all the descendant of the Yan and Huang emperors loved the Yangtze river. He was not willing to destroy the source of the river that nurtured the spiritual water of Huaxia no matter how furious he was.
Just as he was squalling continuously out of exceeding helplessness and oppression, a drop of heavenly water spirit flowed along the ice stalactite with ease and grace. Just as it was stagnating on the tip of the broken chunk, it slowly rolled around in a ghastly manner before it finally trembled and dropped down. Wen Leyang suddenly quieted down. His bloodshot eyes glared around. He raised his head absent-mindedly as he looked towards the stalactite’s tip that was only a few meters away from the top of his head. He squalled as he turned around and ran once again…
At this moment, Wen Leyang suddenly understood his African brother. When one’s emotion reached its ultimate point, the use of any language became pale and weak. Only the hoarse squall from exhaustion could soothe the oppressed chest ever so slightly.
One after another living dead’s corpse were being dragged by Wen Leyang to the edge of the ore cave until they formed a pile of corpses that was neither high or low. Wen Leyang raised his head again and looked up to the ice stalactite that was hanging a few meters away. He finally exhaled a breath. His body went limp and at the sound of a thud, he fell to the ground.
After exerting his strength to run for a few rounds, under the surging of the tremendous force, he could obviously felt fine fissures appearing on his limbs and bones. Even the coldness of the Poison of Life and Death could not suppress the agonizing pain. The sensation was akin to the agony that he felt just after digging through the Mount Emei’s mountainside. However, this was even stronger and even more vigorous, so strong that he almost thought that he would faint on a few occasions and considered everything solved!
Wen Leyang panted heavily, he was feeling quite fortunate in his heart as cold air in the land of the utmost water element could at least help him to retain a sober and calm mind. As long as his spiritual intelligence still existed, he could continue to work or should he say continue to crawl… after he crawled up onto the corpse pile, the ice stalactite was still hanging inversely in silence. Its tip was well within Wen Leyang’s grasp. Wen Leyang inhaled a few deep breaths and stretched out his hand slowly. Grasping onto the ice stalactite’s tip abruptly, he clenched his teeth and widened his eyes so much that his eyes almost popped out of the sockets. He roared loudly in rage! At the sound of a ‘pop’, the ice stalactite’s tip was broken off by him into an ice chunk the size of a thumb!
The heavenly water spirit was of a pure element and disposition. It would immediately erupt into layers of mighty waves no matter which surface it came in contact and transforming into normal water, which was futile at saving Cone Nail’s life. It was as if there was nothing else under the heaven that was capable of containing it for it to retain its true form. However, the heavenly water spirit flowed down along the ice stalactite in a winding manner.
The disciples of Wen Bucao had been associating with poisonous vermin ever since they were young. They understood the same principle. All the living creatures under the heaven inter-promoted and inter-restricted one another. Any vermin with incisive and strong poison would certainly have some detoxifying antidote within seven steps from its lair.
The heavenly water spirit before Wen Leyang’s eyes was the same. If there was an item capable of containing its true form in between the heaven and the earth, it would only be this ice stalactite. Wen Leyang was not the first person, who discovered the heavenly water spirit. The ice stalactite’s tip was initially chipped off, which was supposedly caused by that ‘old fellow’ who dug out the ore cave and left behind the prohibition spells in the beginning. He had the exact same thinking as Wen Leyang, which was to use the ice stalactite to bear the true form of heavenly water.
Wen Leyang broke a tiny chunk of ice stalactite then he cautiously formed a depression mark into it. His expression was anxious as he raised the ice high up and connected it under the ice stalactite. After a long while, one more drop of heavenly water spirit finally dragged along its crystal clear mark and gently dropped down.
In that flash, Wen Leyang’s heart almost jumped out of his throat. He felt as if he was not catching a drop of water but Sister Lin Daiyu whose body was covered in precious pieces of jewelry…
The loud howling of the heavenly water covered the entire place, yet it could not conceal the crisp sound of that gentle drop.
A drop of heavenly water spirit enshrouded with the essence of the sun and moon rolled faintly into the small indented bowl made from the ice stalactite. It rippled mischievously for a moment then became quiet.
Wen Leyang’s cheer that was so joyous and gratifying echoed in between the thundering sounds of water…
Wen Leyang almost stopped with each step he took. He dragged the heavy firecracker’s Poison of Water and returned with the small bowl of ice stalactite. Guo Huan suddenly gave out a series of laughter. ‘You’ve Got Me’ realized that its master finally returned, it jumped up from the jade knife in a crooked manner and hastily ran and dodged the Poison of Water. It turned around its head strenuously and ululated in cheers towards Wen Leyang.
On the other hand, Cone Nail was lying sideways on the crystal unmoved. The fair skin on her arms and cheeks had unknowingly darkened. Wen Leyang anxiously used his unoccupied hand to help her up and helped her to lean her head on his chest.
Cone Nail. Her body was soft yet icy cold. From the moment Wen Leyang appeared until she was supported by him, she did show any responses. Only a glimmer radiated from the seams of her eyes that were almost closing. She was utterly not looking at the precious in Wen Leyang’s other hand but she was only staring at his eyes. Her gaze that could be extinguished at any moment appeared earnest and joyous.
When Wen Leyang realized that she was still alive, he felt relieved in his heart, yet he hesitated when he raised the ‘wine cup’ again. He looked towards the jade knife slightly undecided and asked strenuously, “So I am just supposed to pour… pour it down?”
“Pour!” Guo Hand’s answer sounded sonorous and forceful, “Pour…pour I guess?”
That drop of heavenly water spirit glided soundlessly from the ice stalactite cup into Cone Nail’s mouth. Cone Nail’s body trembled slightly. Her cinnabar red-colored lips parted gently. Her breath smelled like the orchid as she gave out an extremely gentle moan. Wen Leyang gazed at her in anxiety. A moment later, a smile that was as beautiful and bright as the glowing full moon bloomed all of a sudden!
Just as mentioned by Cone Nail in the past, the heavenly water produced an immediate result. After she swallowed the precious of the water element, Cone Nail’s expression and the color of her skin became flushed and smooth immediately. Cone Nail’s laughter sounded unsurpassable but her voice sounded a little fatigue, “I am fine, but…I would like to sleep for a while.” As she was saying that, she did not acknowledge Wen Leyang’s response. Her body was akin to a kitten as she curled with great efforts and squeezed into Wen Leyang’s cradle joyously. She closed her eyes and within a few seconds, her uniformed breathing could be heard. She had truly fallen asleep.
Even Guo Huan could not help but lower its voice, “Her primordial spirit is almost completely scattered. She will need to sleep for a while before she can properly induce the divine power of the utmost precious of water element. It is best that you do not move so she can sleep properly…do not move…do not…oh no!”
On the outside of the body, the shimmering silver-colored cold Poison of Water continued to surge majestically as before. It wrapped Wen Leyang in layers. The Poison of Life and Death in his body continuously circulated and absorbed the Poison of Water into his body to assimilate but Wen Leyang was already unaware of these matters. He could not hear what Guo Huan was saying. After his body was completely relaxed, the muscles, bones, blood and flesh of his entire body felt sore and fatigue as if all his bodily parts were continuously peeling away and fusing together. His body felt limp as he fell to the ground. He was knocked into deep unconsciousness.
During that period, Guo Huan spoke in its rigid voice occasionally. ‘You’ve Got Me’ ululated loudly from afar. Occasionally, Cone Nail who was lying on his body trembled strongly… he could not tell if everything that was taking place was a reality or a dream, he did not know how long had past when his entire body rippled with a gush of joyous agility. Wen Leyang suddenly opened his eyes. He realized that ‘You’ve Got Me’ was behaving like a small train that drove past his face in a rumble. The bug was turning in circles.
Wen Leyang stretched out his hand and grabbed onto ‘You’ve Got Me’. ‘You’ve Got Me’ stretched itself strenuously in his palm as if it was trying to glue every inch of its body onto his skin. The ululation sound from its mouth sounded so friendly it was out of the world for Wen Leyang.
Not a drop of the Poison of Water waves that had gathered around him before he was knocked unconscious was left. It had vanished completely.
Another two more cheers were heard. The first cheer sounded agile and pleasant, akin to a bird that was chirping gently in the distant hills, while the other cheer sounded dry and rigid, akin to a blind bear that was chewing on dried branches before his eyes… Cone Nail and Guo Huan laughed simultaneously and asked, “Are you awake?”
Similar to every time after he was done absorbing strong poison, Wen Leyang felt that his entire body was comfortable, just like he had just taken a cold shower in the hot summer. His body felt cool yet his muscles and bones felt warm. There was an unspeakable energy in him, there was an unspeakable easiness in him.
Cone Nail and Guo Huan spoke simultaneously again, they asked in unison, “How do you feel?”
Wen Leyang did not care about himself. He stuffed ‘You’ve Got Me’ into his chest pocket. His hand picked up the jade knife while his other hand pulled Cone Nail, “Are all of you alright?”
Guo Huan burst out laughing, “What else can happen to the old father?”
Cone Nail also laughed simultaneously, “As good as before! I can fight with Chang Li again!”
Wen Leyang was startled. After he was certain that Cone Nail was only joking, he sniggered. Yet, there was a slight unwillingness in his laugh, “Only as good as before? I thought you said that you would achieve vast improvement in your cultivation power? Do you want me to get you more of the heavenly water spirit?” As he was saying that he was touching and feeling the ground, “Where is that small bowl of ours?”
“There is no need for you to do so, that drop that you gave me had yet to be fully digested, any more would be a waste.” Cone Nail shook her head, “The heavenly water spirit’s power of utmost water element is vast and boundless. It is originated from the same source as my embodiment of heavenly water, even a drop is enough to allow me to make a vast improvement in my cultivation power, however…” As she was saying that, her expression turned peculiar.
Cone Nail was halfway through her speech when she suddenly diverted the topic conversation out of nowhere, “There are procedures and sequences for the process of deriving power from the five elements. One must first restore one’s health then establish a firm foundation of primordial spirit, and finally strengthen the body. In simpler words, the first step is to heal the injuries, the second step is to refine the spirit and the third step is to cultivate the body.”
Wen Leyang nodded absent-mindedly, he did not understand what Cone Nail was trying to tell him.
There was a sense of uncertainty in Cone Nail’s expression, “But this time, after the heavenly water spirit helped me to recuperate my injuries, the remaining energy surged into my primordial soul entirely. Not that my primordial spirit became bigger and stronger but there was another gush of energy that was entangling and colliding with the heavenly water spirit…”
The more she explained to Wen Leyang the more he was confused. Guo Huan could not help but interrupt from the side. If it was looking for a new job, the most suitable position for it would be to become an emcee, “There is an incisive seal in her primordial spirit. The power of heavenly water spirit is currently gathered around the seal. The power of water element that is attempting to refine her primordial soul must first surge past the seal!”
There was another gush of energy in her primordial spirit. Not even Cone Nail was aware of that in the past. It was only after the power of heavenly water spirit entered her body and after she was done recuperating her injuries and was in the process of refining her soul, she noticed its existence indistinctively.
As she had suddenly recalled the remnant memories of Geladaindong Peak, the bugs and the heavenly water spirit, she discovered that perhaps someone had sealed away her memories. After experiencing the peculiar operation mode of the ‘power of heavenly water’, she had deduced that it was the case after the discussion with Guo Huan. One was a demon-suppressing heaven’s cone nail with a belly full of schemes, while the other was a great demon immortal with extensive knowledge. If this was the results based on the two persons’ deduction, it would not be too different from the truth.
Wen Leyang let out a ‘heh’. His tone of speaking was filled with his feeling of injustice for Cone Nail, “The person who condensed the heaven’s cone nail, did he really tamper with your primordial spirit and sealed your memories?”
Cone Nail nodded with an indifferent expression.
Wen Leyang started searching for the small bowl again. Cone Nail shook her head and gave a forced laugh, “The heavenly water spirit’s power of water element is resisting the seal in my primordial spirit. It will take a long period of time and laborious efforts as it is akin to dripping water that wears through a stone. It is useless even if you can conjure a deluge. Moreover, my primordial spirit cannot contain so much power of true water, even if I were to absorb any more of the heavenly water spirit now, I will need to wait until this drop of spiritual power is exhausted before I can discuss any further. If the seal is not broken, my primordial spirit will be broken by it first.”
When Cone Nail was talking about this, she suddenly reacted to the situation. Her tone was slightly ghastly, “The heavenly water spirit… are there many of them in there?” Even her eyes were sparkling as she was speaking.
Wen Leyang smiled as he nodded. He explained about the sequence of events that took place after he passed through the prohibition spells. As he was not a good speaker, the exceedingly complex procedure was described by him in a dull manner. Yet, Cone Nail laughed.
She laughed for a while before she used her previous piteous expression to wash away her emotions. Cone Nail’s tone was filled with pleading that made Wen Leyang terrified in the past, yet it made him at a loss of whether to be annoyed or amused right now, “By the time this drop of heavenly water spirit is used up, please help me to fill up with a new drop.”
As she was saying that, Cone Nail procured the ice stalactite small bowl the size of a thumb and waved about. When she was first awakened and Wen Leyang was still unconscious, she stored up this small bowl cautiously, “If you can promise me that, I will run if I ever see Chang Li in the future! I will never seek revenge on her and I will not fight her …”
Even Cone Nail was unconvinced by her own words. She frowned as she pondered laboriously for a moment, then her huge eyes suddenly brightened. She smiled as she pulled Wen Leyang, “Why don’t we profess each other as relatives? In the future, if I were to meet your Grand Master Chang Li, since we are a family, naturally I will not fight her!”
Guo Huan burst out laughing. It spoke in an all-rounded manner, “Just marry him, just marry him! Then you will naturally be a family with him.”
Wen Leyang was startled, yet Cone Nail laughed aloud as she shook her head, “I will not marry him. He is a good man but he is not good enough for me to marry him…or else, why don’t I just call myself Wen Cone Nail hereafter?”
She was halfway through her speech when Cone Nail suddenly shook her head ferociously, “I cannot become relatives with you otherwise I will become Chang Li’s disciple and disciple’s disciples. I will never enjoy even if I become all-invincible in this world. Rather than becoming your relative, I might as well become Tuo Xie’s relative!”
Cone Nail finally nodded. She was rather satisfied with her arrangement. Wen Leyang was at a loss whether to laugh or to cry but he was feeling delightful in his heart. There was no one on the Black and White Island capable of launching the magic incantation spell. The only conflict that existed between Wen Bucao’s lineage and Cone Nail suddenly vanished into nothingness. Grand Master Chang Li acted recklessly and crushed the heaven’s cone nail, yet she also managed to draw out Cone Nail’s remnant memories miraculously. In the eyes of Cone Nail, Chang Li’s action had actually helped her.
The enmity vanished like ash and smoke. After the snow peak was engaged in a series of dangerous events, Cone Nail and Wen Leyang stuck together in life or death during the journey. Perhaps it was not considered soul-stirring but to the both of them, whether it was the current moment or when they recalled about this event in the future, this would be a great and beyond joyous event! The distance between the both of them also vanished with the wind. This form of relationship was perhaps unrelated to the love between a man and a woman but it was a wonderful time knitted with the life and death situation!
Wen Leyang was filled with joy as he watched Cone Nail. Cone Nail was filled with joy as she watched Wen Leyang.
However, in between Wen Leyang and Cone Nail, there was still a knot that could not be loosened no matter how. It was Leyang Shoujin. The moment he thought of the Leyang family’s lineage, Wen Leyang’s face turned dull.
Cone Nail seemed to understand what he was thinking. A sense of dimness penetrated from her smile. She spoke gently, “About this matter, we will discuss further after we settle Xiang Liu!” Following that, she fisted her hands and arched her back, she exhaled a breath strenuously as if this helplessness that was already beyond salvageable could be blown away. She laughed happily once again.
Wen Leyang also did not speak again. He hung the jade knife back onto his neck and asked in hesitation, “Within Cone Nail’s primordial spirit, the power of heavenly water spirit is charging at the seal, will that make her…” As he was saying that, Wen Leyang pointed to his head, his understanding of the primordial spirit was that it was a brain cell, an enormous brain cell.
Guo Huan was stunned for a moment before it understood Wen Leyang’s question, “So you are afraid that she might turn crazy? That is utterly two different matters. The power of utmost precious that is entangling with the seal and the seal itself are two gushes of powers that are unrelated to Cone Nail. Cone Nail’s movements and routines and the launching of her supernatural power will not be affected. We can only see if the seal is tougher in the end or the utmost precious is more incisive…”
Wen Leyang finally felt relieved. Judging by Guo Huan and Cone Nail’s statement, sooner or later that seal would be broken and in the final analysis, there would come a day when the seal’s power was exhausted. After all, the heavenly spirit was still condensing underneath the ice stalactite drop by drop continuously and they also had the small bowl.
As Cone Nail declared herself as the relative of Chang Li’s husband, she was pleased with herself for a moment. Then she returned to Wen Leyang’s side, pestered and urged him continuously, “Show us quick. Since you have already absorbed so much Poison of Water, you must have some new abilities now.”
Wen Leyang stretched out his hand and gestured for a few times. He laughed in embarrassment, “I do not feel anything different, maybe my power is slightly stronger than before, my bones and muscles are slightly tougher, my telegnosis ability is clearer and spreads further.”
On the other hand, Cone Nail frowned in puzzlement. She stretched out her hands and gestured in exaggeration, “So much Poison of Water is absorbed by you but you…do not feel anything special?”
Wen Leyang smiled arrogantly, he could not conceal the mannerism of a small man intoxicated by success of his, “Currently…I think that I am not any less stronger than the giant pangolin!”
Cone Nail was not courteous at all. She directly exercised her position as Tuo Xie’s elder sister as she scolded, “What a good-for-nothing young lad! Such vast and thick Poison of Water, even Tian Yin could not endure that. Yet, after you had completely absorbed it, you are only of an equal match to Po Tu?”
Wen Leyang was stunned. He knew very well in his heart how strong his power was. It was true that his power was vastly enhanced but he was absolutely not as powerful until he could evenly rival the top master cultivators such as Cone Nail and Chang Li.
The ‘Grand Master Cone Nail’ pondered for a moment before speaking to Wen Leyang, “Explain your cultivation method in detail to me!”
Wen Leyang nodded. He immediately explained, “The Poison of Life and Death can assimilate the strong poison of five elements. Every time it assimilates an element, it will be added with a new element of attribution…” From the moment his meridians and muscles were shattered in the beginning until he cultivated into the domineering cultivation method of his ancestor Wen Lazi, a few years had already passed. He absorbed the strong poison on multiple occasions, so he had figured out some form of pattern.
Every element of the utmost poison of five elements would add a little attribution to Wen Leyang’s Poison of Life and Death. While the poison power in his body was vastly enhanced, the Poison of Life and Death would rise to a certain level before he could achieve the breakthrough to a new level.
Wen Leyang was afraid that Cone Nail could not understand his explanation, he concluded, “Let me just put it this way, the poison of five elements is just the Poison of Life and Death’s meals and nourishment. After the Poison of Life and Death is fully fed, only then it will allow me to thoroughly remold myself, turn my human body into a saint. The poison that truly allows me to ‘upgrade’ myself is not the utmost poison of five elements but the Poison of Life and Death!”
In the Red Leaves Forest, the Poison of Life and Death remolded Wen Leyang’s poisonous meridians. It did not refine his soul but directly caused the body to complete the process of a cultivator’s so-called foundation establishment and marrow washing. Wen Leyang’s actual power had already exceeded an ordinary level cultivator’s power.
When he absorbed the Poison of Earth in the Miao stockade village and dug through the mountain on Mount Emei, the Poison of Earth completely combined with the Poison of Life and Death. The Poison of Life and Death also turned from stagnant into a poison tide that flowed with his intent. From then on, his cultivation power was vastly enhanced. He had already possessed the power to fight against the first-rate master cultivators of the Five Blessings like the enlightened person Qing Niao.
Following that he refined the two bronze ants Mo Ya’s strong poison of metal element in the Gold-Consuming Lair. Then, he was countercharged by the drought spirits that was summoned by Hanba the drought deity in the City God Temple of Shanghai, such that his poison power of metal element was increased by many folds. However, whether it was the Poison of Earth or the Poison of Metal, it made Wen Leyang’s actual power grew but never to the degree of being thoroughly remolded.
It was only when he arrived in the Painting Town of Shanghai, the power of Yin and Yang fused with the Poison of Life and Death and the strong poison prohibition spells that were bred on the Nine Peaks Mountain for two thousand years. The Poison of Life and Death grew and flourished and it used the strong poison to remold Wen Leyang’s body, such that he was strong enough to rival with the demon monk Bu Le from the Great Mercy Temple that had cultivated for almost two thousand years.
This time after he had absorbed the Poison of Water, it was true that his cultivation power was vastly enhanced. Wen Leyang could feel that he should be able to race against the giant pangolin Po Tu. However, even though his power and body became stronger, it was unlike the transformation of an ordinary person to a not-bad cultivator’s actual power but more like the leap of a cultivator’s actual power to a thousand-year-old demon’s level.
The old demon rabbit Bu Le’s cultivation base was albeit weaker than Po Tu, strictly speaking, the two demons were still of the same grade. They were both of the same fine standards of sixty to eighty marks but the demon rabbit scored sixty-one, while the pangolin scored over seventy marks… the two persons were still a full grade away from the excellent level of eighty to one hundred marks.
This form of distance was perhaps differed by the score of one but the difference was like the distance between the heaven and the earth. Even if the old demon rabbit were to risk its life, he could surely fight against Po Tu for at least half a day. However, even if Po Tu were to sacrificed its body full of scales, in the eyes of the good hands like Chang Li and Cone Nail who were stronger than it by a level, it was nothing but a dung beetle and could be crushed to death at the raise of their hands.
Cone Nail listened patiently until Wen Leyang was done speaking. She muttered to herself for a moment before she shifted her gaze to the jade knife hanging on his neck, “What does Guo Huan think about this?”
Guo Huan let out a ‘heh’. It spoke in a resolute and decisive manner, “This is related to the corpse! The Poison of Life and Death, the Poison of Life and Death. The power that is gathered from the five elements is all the Poison of Life that is assimilated by the poison power within his body. Even if it were to expand any bigger, the power that is displayed is still limited. However, after it had fused with the Poison of Death, it was capable of thoroughly remolding his body! When he first condensed and refined his poisonous meridians, he had Yin Chi’s Poison of Corpse. Afterwards, when he remolded his body, he had the ghost energy of the countless soldiers of the nether lands!”
The jade knife Guo Huan’s statement enlightened Wen Leyang suddenly.
