Chapter 582

Chapter 582: Ice Tower

Ye Yun looked down and saw a groove in the crystal floor containing a red speck. He flicked his finger, releasing an energy wave that struck the crimson mark.

Crack!

The crystal floor suddenly flipped upright and slammed against distant boulders, revealing an archway. Ye Yun’s eyes brightened. Though no dangers had appeared earlier, this hidden mechanism hinted at treasures within.

"Exactly! My treasure lies inside!" Ancestor of the Sword Path shouted eagerly.

Without hesitation, Ye Yun entered to find a gleaming white tower stretching a hundred zhang upward, its peak vanishing into clouds. Darkness enveloped everything except the radiant nine-layered structure. Each layer emitted distinct energies.

The first layer’s massive door bore two characters: "Floating Tower." Though Buddhist stupas often bore this name, such towers commonly stored martial texts and secret techniques rather than religious artifacts.

Approaching the jade-like door, Ye Yun pushed it open. Piercing coldness invaded his bones, forcing a shiver. Had he not mastered Ice Spirit Qi, this chill might’ve frozen him solid – shocking for someone at Golden Core stage who rivaled Nascent Soul cultivators in strength.

After dispelling the cold, he shoved the door fully open. Bitter air rushed out, nearly repelling him. Inside, glittering ice crystals covered every surface. A half-height ice platform stood ahead, holding a transparent ice box containing a fire-red pill.

The box itself radiated potent Ice Spirit Qi and traces of Ice Element Law. Such a container could trigger wars among experts, yet here it merely safeguarded a pill.

Ye Yun took half an incense stick’s time to cross the short distance. Probing with mental intent revealed no restrictions. He lifted the box, enduring serpentine coldness that slithered up his arm. Having integrated Ice Spirit Qi into his Golden Core, he effortlessly converted the invading chill.

The fiery pill shimmered with flame-like patterns beneath its icy prison. Astonished, Ye Yun murmured, "Brother Jian, do you recognize this fire element spirit pill? Sealed in extreme cold – how contradictory."

“This pill looks familiar. Could it be the Vermilion Bird Spirit Pill?” the Ancestor of the Sword Path suddenly exclaimed, then immediately shook his head. “Impossible. If it were the Vermilion Bird Spirit Pill, how could a mere ice box seal it?”

Ye Yun frowned slightly. “What’s the Vermilion Bird Spirit Pill?”

The Ancestor of the Sword Path seemed to calm himself. “Do you know what the Vermilion Bird is? One of the four ancient divine beasts – Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. They rival immortal beings. The Vermilion Bird Spirit Pill forms every thousand years when the Vermilion Bird refines itself.”

“Wait!” Ye Yun interrupted. “Refines itself? What does that mean?”

Ye Yun couldn’t grasp the concept. Did the Vermilion Bird turn itself into a pill every millennium? Why would it dissolve its own body?

“My wording might be imprecise,” the Ancestor amended. “The Vermilion Bird controls heaven’s fiercest flames, surpassed only by the mythical Phoenix. Every thousand years, it sheds its feathers. Only through supreme flames can new feathers grow, elevating its cultivation. The shed feathers are then forged by fire into the Vermilion Bird Spirit Pill.”

“What does the pill do?” Ye Yun pressed.

“It contains the world’s most potent flames. A fire element cultivator who masters this could perfect their Fire Spirit Qi, becoming invincible,” the Ancestor explained.

Ye Yun’s eyes lit up. “Since I’ve cultivated Fire Spirit Qi, wouldn’t this pill boost my power?”

The Ancestor scoffed. “You’re far too weak. A true Vermilion Bird Spirit Pill’s flame would reduce you to ashes instantly. This isn’t the real thing – I merely got overexcited.”

Ye Yun chuckled, examining the ice box. As he moved to open it, the Ancestor shouted, “Wait! Though not the Spirit Pill, this contains fire energy. Opening it carelessly could injure you severely!”

Nodding, Ye Yun studied the fire-red pill inside. If even the Ancestor couldn’t identify it, when would he ever use it? He prepared to store it in his Thunder Sound Metamorphosis ring when words appeared on the half-height ice platform:

Vermilion Bird Egg awaits the destined.

“Vermilion Bird Egg?” Ye Yun stared dumbfounded. This pill was actually a divine beast’s egg?

“How’s this possible?” he whispered.

“Vermilion Bird Eggs don’t need flame protection – they’re inherently fragile,” the Ancestor laughed excitedly. “Divine beasts rarely reproduce. Each Vermilion Bird lives millennia – offspring are practically mythical!”

“Then how do you know this?” Ye Yun challenged.

“Don’t ask – that memory isn’t in this soul fragment. But hatching it requires lifetime devotion from a fire law expert, nurturing it with every flame imaginable.”

Ye Yun rolled his eyes. “Useless then. Might as well cook it.”

“You’d discard a divine beast?” the Ancestor cried. “Tamed, its flames could incinerate Nascent Soul cultivators!”

“Any faster methods?”

“Gather rare flames to create an incubation array. More flames mean faster hatching. Don’t worry – as a future divine beast, it can absorb infinite fire.”

A spark lit Ye Yun’s eyes. He smiled at the egg. “I’ll keep it for now.”

“Store it inside your body,” the Ancestor advised. “Nurture it with Fire Spirit Qi. Once hatched, it’ll share your lifeblood bond.”

Ye Yun opened the ice box. The glowing egg pulsed with heartbeat rhythms. “It’s already alive?”

“Remarkable! It’s absorbed substantial flame energy,” the Ancestor marveled.

Ye Yun swallowed the egg. It burned down his throat, settling near his alchemy pill. His Fire Spirit Qi surged to envelop it, becoming unresponsive.

“The Vermilion Bird commands all fire,” the Ancestor explained. “You can’t use Fire Spirit Qi anymore, but deeper understanding of fire laws will help gather nurturing flames.”

Ye Yun shrugged – he preferred his Lightning Technique and Ice Spirit Qi anyway. Surveying the empty first layer, he stored the ice platform emitting potent Ice Spirit Qi, rivaling Shu Anshi’s North Sea Xuan Ice refuge.

Finding a protruding wall section behind where the platform stood, he pressed it. An icy staircase descended, leading to the second layer.