Chapter 22: Mysterious Ice Technique

A good book…

With long hair draped over her shoulders, her fair face cool and distant, it was Yan Bingxuan. She was carrying a school bag and holding a book. As she walked in, she ran into Chen Mobai, tilting her head slightly, seemingly surprised.

"I forgot my textbook, so I came here to borrow one."

For some reason, under the gaze of her clear, spring-like eyes, Chen Mobai felt a little guilty and spoke first.

Yan Bingxuan looked at the Five Elements Cultivation book he held, her clear pupils narrowing slightly in confusion. Hadn't this foundational cultivation method already been taught completely in the first year of high school?

However, Yan Bingxuan had no intention of inquiring about Chen Mobai's actions. She lifted her fair, rounded chin, nodding gently in response, then stepped past him and walked up to the female teacher managing the book loans and returns.

"Returning a book."

As soon as she finished speaking those two words, Chen Mobai turned his head just in time to see the book she was returning: *The Glacial Frost Technique*! It was the cultivation method Old Man Ding had mentioned, capable of transforming a spiritual root into an ice spiritual root.

"Finally decided to return it, huh? You've had this book for almost a year, haven't you?" The female teacher with round-rimmed glasses seemed to know Yan Bingxuan. After taking the Glacial Frost Technique, she said jokingly, and the latter rarely showed a hint of a smile, like a spring breeze and rain, which greatly impressed Chen Mobai, who had only seen the beautiful Yan with a cold expression for the past year.

"I heard you dropped out. Have you made up your mind?" As she processed the return, the teacher asked casually, which stirred something in Chen Mobai. He vaguely felt he knew the real reason Yan Bingxuan was dropping out.

"Yes!" Yan Bingxuan merely answered with a single word, but that resolute conviction was like a winter plum blossoming through frost—dazzling and exceptionally beautiful. For the first time, Chen Mobai felt the true charm of his classmate. It wasn't the cool, aloof demeanor of a snow lotus blooming on a mountaintop, nor her stunningly beautiful appearance and tall figure unusual for a high school student, but rather this unwavering conviction in her own grand path. This steadfastness—once a decision was made, she would give her all and move forward without hesitation!

No wonder she could be a top student and reach the seventh layer of Qi Condensation at eighteen. With such an unyielding spirit, even if her spiritual root aptitude was poor, even if she didn't get into university and was sent to participate in the pioneering wars, she would surely succeed in the end, wouldn't she?!

As Chen Mobai was thinking this, the teacher had already completed the return procedure for *The Glacial Frost Technique* and handed Yan Bingxuan her student ID.

"I won't need it." But she merely gazed at it wistfully for a moment, then shook her head and turned to leave.

Yan Bingxuan walked to the doorway and saw Chen Mobai standing there. Their eyes met. She hesitated, then nodded, a gesture of farewell for their brief half-year as classmates. They hadn't been in the same class during their first and second years of high school; they were only grouped together when classes were reorganized in their third year. It was a minor, yet significant, twist of fate.

"Once you reach the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, you can stop cultivating the Five Elements Cultivation and switch to other methods suitable for your spiritual root attribute. What did you choose?" Chen Mobai suddenly asked.

After learning about the spiritual root enhancement method from Old Man Ding, he had specifically searched online for knowledge on the subject. He knew that while the spiritual root enhancement method was indeed a technique, it leaned more towards being a spell. Cultivators needed to practice diligently and persistently for long periods; sometimes, even after a month, they might not see any improvement in their spiritual root attribute points. Many pioneers advised cultivators to find a cultivation method that matched their spiritual root. This way, they could prevent their cultivation level from falling too far behind while also mutually enhancing their spiritual root enhancement technique, achieving the best of both worlds.

"The Profound Ice Manual." Yan Bingxuan answered subconsciously, only then realizing why she had answered.

"May we meet again, if fate allows." After hearing her answer, Chen Mobai's intention of giving her the Black Water Cultivation Technique faded. Since she had made up her mind to follow this path, everything must naturally have been arranged. Even if she hadn't thought of everything, her parents surely would have prepared it. *The Profound Ice Manual* was clearly intended for an ice spiritual root; he had been presumptuous.

Watching Yan Bingxuan's retreating back, Chen Mobai turned back. "Can I borrow this book?"

The female teacher with round-rimmed glasses was about to put *The Glacial Frost Technique* back on the shelf when she heard Chen Mobai's voice. She hesitated, then pointed to the book in her hand: "This one?"

"Yes."

"This book is from Zone A. Students who wish to borrow it need a note of approval from their main subject teacher."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai nodded gently, recalling what Old Man Ding had said. Although there were quite a few spiritual root enhancement techniques, to prevent students with poor self-control from becoming too engrossed and wasting valuable time on foundational studies, they were generally only allowed to access this knowledge after entering university.

"I understand, thank you, teacher."

The female teacher with round-rimmed glasses had a good impression of the polite Chen Mobai. She thought he had a crush on Yan Bingxuan and wanted to find common ground, so to prevent Chen Mobai from wasting cultivation time, she intentionally offered a piece of advice. "Bingxuan's great-aunt is a perfected Foundation Establishment True Cultivator at the Academy of Nature. It's said she's about to attempt Core Formation. This is a life-or-death trial, so she plans to cultivate a successor before her Core Formation attempt. Bingxuan is one of the candidates; if she successfully masters the Glacial Frost Technique and condenses an ice spiritual root, then it's highly likely she will be the one."

After hearing the teacher's words, Chen Mobai was stunned for a moment, then understood that she had misunderstood. However, he knew her reminder was well-intentioned, advising him that he was still young and should prioritize cultivation. If he successfully formed his Foundation, he would have over a hundred years to slowly pursue other things. "A perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator... I doubt there's even one in the entire Danxia City."

Although the Immortal Sect has an orderly inheritance and is a cultivation civilization, it cannot avoid the agglomeration effect. Cultivators with the talent to advance further generally go to those major cave-heaven cities with high-grade spiritual veins. Although Danxia City has two major academies and an extremely rare fourth-tier fire vein, cultivators, except for those at the peak of Foundation Establishment, would not stay here for long periods. This was especially true for cultivators at perfected Foundation Establishment, who held hope of achieving Core Formation.

"Although our city doesn't have perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators, we have two Golden Core True Lords!" Hearing Chen Mobai's sigh, the teacher, a native of Danxia, couldn't help but say. That's right, among the Immortal Sect's seventy-two blessed lands, some don't even have a Golden Core True Lord presiding over them. But Danxia City has two: one is the Scarlet-Robed True Lord, who returned home in glory, presiding over one of the two major academies, and the other is the True Lord Shi Qing, who refines magic treasures using Danxia City's fire vein.

"If only I could listen to a Golden Core True Lord's sermon just once," she mused. "One listen, and perhaps I'd have the confidence to attempt Foundation Establishment." The teacher was also at the perfected ninth layer of Qi Condensation, but she had never dared to attempt Foundation Establishment. If a Golden Core True Lord told her she could succeed, perhaps she could use that encouragement to push through. But what was the status of a Golden Core True Lord? They were practically the heavens of Danxia City! Let alone her, a mere high school teacher, even students from the two major academies might not get a chance to meet them.

Just then, the class bell rang. Chen Mobai immediately excused himself and hurried back to the classroom with his Five Elements Cultivation book. He put on his wireless earphones and opened the Five Elements Cultivation lecture video he had downloaded offline the previous night. To avoid being seen by his deskmate, he also turned off the screen of his disconnected phone and hid it under his textbook. The slightly verbose words of True Lord Qingping sounded in his ears. Without looking, Chen Mobai swiped his finger precisely across the screen.

Fast forward!