Chapter 118 - 60: Frost Heaven Mark

Chapter 118: Chapter 60: Frost Heaven Mark

Not to mention, the Four Bitter Nether Soul Soup also refined the Divine Soul and tempered one’s will.

This was why he’d never brewed the pot of Four Bitter Nether Soul Soup solely for Jiang Xuan.

At that moment, believing Jiang Xuan had drunk his fill and couldn’t possibly have any more, he prepared to put away the rest of the Four Bitter Nether Soul Soup and find a good buyer for it.

’These four bowls alone are worth eight or nine hundred Spirit Stones. Giving him so many resources while he’s still starting out... this connection should be firmly established by now...’

Having lived for several centuries, Yan Shouzhuo was as shrewd as they come and would subconsciously assess the value of others.

Right now, he felt his investment in Jiang Xuan was already sufficient.

However, as he was cleaning up, he kept something in reserve—the four bowls of soup he had just ladled out were poured into a separate White Jade Porcelain Bottle and secretly put away.

This was a portion he had intentionally set aside for Jiang Xuan, but there was a catch:

"Whether or not you get these resources will depend on how much you’ve comprehended when you awaken... Little fellow, don’t disappoint me."

Filled with curiosity and anticipation, Yan Shouzhuo finished packing up and began to leisurely wait for Jiang Xuan to awaken.

But after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he hadn’t seen Jiang Xuan open his eyes. Instead, a bone-chilling wind suddenly whipped up out of thin air in the otherwise pleasantly warm Valley of Summer.

This cold wind was naturally not enough to disturb the inherent ecosystem of the Valley of Summer, but the sudden chill still made both Yan Shouzhuo and Wu Shan freeze for a moment.

Neither of them understood who would dare release a Winter Solstice Valley Technique in the Valley of Summer, and direct it at them, no less.

After their moment of shock, the two simultaneously looked around, trying to find the caster. But after a full scan of the area, Wu Shan couldn’t see a single soul.

Scratching his head, Wu Shan turned to his master and began to speak in his simple, honest way, "Master, did you find..."

Before he could finish, Wu Shan’s voice came to an abrupt halt. He was astonished to see that his master—who was always calm and composed, his expression as placid as an ancient well, as if he’d witnessed all the world’s changes—was now staring fixedly in one direction, his face a mask of utter shock and his eyes wide open.

Following his gaze, Wu Shan saw that he was staring at the seated figure of Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan still hadn’t woken up, but a wisp of cold, white light was faintly glowing between his brows. Within that light, a blurry Talisman was slowly taking shape.

At the same time, a bone-chilling white mist began to spread unconsciously outward from Jiang Xuan’s body. Wherever it passed, the very air seemed to congeal.

"Huh?!" The sight filled Wu Shan’s eyes with astonishment. "Is... is Junior Brother Jiang Xuan doing this?"

Because of his simple Heart Nature and his limited knowledge of the Cultivation Techniques of other Dharma Veins, he hadn’t yet realized the full extent of the abnormality.

But Yan Shouzhuo was different. As someone far more experienced and knowledgeable, the moment he got a clear look at the Talisman, he couldn’t help but gasp as his pupils contracted sharply.

’That’s... the Frost Heaven Mark! Isn’t that the Talisman one can only form upon reaching Minor Success with the Frost Heaven Divine Sword?!’

"What is that thing doing between Jiang Xuan’s brows?!"

In truth, a single Frost Heaven Mark alone wasn’t enough to make Yan Shouzhuo lose his composure like this.

As a veteran who had lived for several centuries, he had seen countless prodigies in the Four Seasons Valley.

Never mind a Frost Heaven Mark from Minor Success; he had even witnessed the Heart of Frost Heaven from Great Success and the Frost Heaven Domain from the Perfection state of a Sixth Realm Grandmaster.

What truly shocked him was Jiang Xuan’s age and his efficiency with resources—to break through directly from the First Realm - Introduction of the Frost Heaven Divine Sword to the Third Realm: Mastery (Minor Success) with just four bowls of the soup... He had never seen such a thing, and had scarcely even heard of it happening.

’Such Talent, such Comprehension...’ Yan Shouzhuo clenched his fists, his Heart Spirit reeling for a long moment before a fitting comparison came to mind. ’Based on his Comprehension alone, Jiang Xuan is on par with a prodigy whose Spirit Root Grade has reached the Celestial Level!’

After the shock and awe faded, Yan Shouzhuo’s heart filled with irrepressible excitement and joy, as well as a faint trace of worry.

He was joyful that their Four Seasons Valley had managed to find such a hidden gem, accepting a disciple with such outstanding Comprehension and Talent.

He was excited that with such a prodigy—one he was on good terms with, no less—he might actually live to see the flaws in the Valley of Summer’s Cultivation Technique be perfected. When that happened, the Realm he had been stuck in for many years might even rise a level.

An increase in his Realm meant his lifespan would also be extended.

At the prospect of such a fortunate turn of events, he was naturally thrilled beyond measure.

As for his worry, it stemmed from the fact that Jiang Xuan’s Talent was simply too dazzling. ’A peerless prodigy like this... can our Four Seasons Valley truly keep him?’

He thought about how Comprehension Talent was more important than Spirit Root Talent, and how the role of Comprehension became more prominent at higher Realms. As this crossed his mind, the worry on Yan Shouzhuo’s face grew even deeper.

’No, even if he leaves in the future, I must secure this connection.’

Having made up his mind, Yan Shouzhuo immediately took the Four Bitter Nether Soul Soup from his Storage Pouch and placed all of it back on the table. Faced with a genius like Jiang Xuan, whose resource efficiency was astonishing and whose Comprehension was peerless, he no longer felt the slightest bit of stinginess. He wanted only to do everything in his power to befriend him.

...

Jiang Xuan was completely unaware of the turmoil outside. Even the various experiences from the Illusory Dream had now become blurry and indistinct, leaving behind only a faint impression.

After drinking the Four Bitter Nether Soul Soup, he had fallen asleep in a stupor and was now slowly awakening into a state of endless confusion.

"Ugh... what just happened..."

Clutching his throbbing forehead, Jiang Xuan gently shook his head, trying his best to recall what he had just experienced.