Chapter 69: Ice Magic

Magical combat.

Chen Mobai pondered how to improve in this aspect. Talismans were out of the question for now, as the major academies and schools of the Immortal Sect would not spoil wealthy disciples; even if their use was permitted, there would surely be restrictions.

Therefore, the first priority was to cultivate some spells suitable for combat.

With this thought, he opened his personal panel.

* **Name:** Chen Mobai* **Age:** 18* **Cultivation Level:** Qi Condensation Stage, Seventh Layer* **Spiritual Roots:** Metal 23, Wood 27, Water 30, Fire 17, Earth 10* **Cultivation Method:** Five Elements Art* **Skills:** Movement Technique, Cleansing Spell, Spiritual Energy Shield, Qi Nourishing Art, Water Manipulation, Water Barrier

Among these, only "Spiritual Energy Shield," "Water Manipulation," and "Water Barrier" could be used for combat.

However, "Water Barrier" also required refining a spiritual water called "Blackwater." The refining method was recorded in Liu Lengpei's notes and involved "Water Manipulation," but Chen Mobai was troubled.

According to the Blackwater Art notes, refining Blackwater required finding spiritual springs long imbued with the spiritual energy of a water vein. Then, one had to extract its essence using Water Manipulation, followed by purification with spirit stones and six types of herbs from the Celestial River Realm. The fastest this process could be completed was a month.

Results for the college entrance examination would be available in about 20 days, and with the preparation work for group registration after the score lines were released, he estimated he would have exactly one month to prepare.

But even if Chen Mobai was incredibly lucky and succeeded in one refining attempt, he had no intention of wasting his precious month solely on refining Blackwater.

He needed to cultivate at least one powerful offensive spell. After all, his current spells—Spiritual Energy Shield and Water Barrier—were defensive, and Water Manipulation was more of an auxiliary spell.

Perhaps because the Immortal Sect had been at peace for too long, Chen Mobai had always felt there was no need to cultivate offensive spells.

Even if combat was necessary, talismans could substitute. Who would have thought that this year's entrance examination for the academies and schools would adopt such a simple and crude method as "magical combat"?

Now, circumstances forced Chen Mobai to cultivate an offensive spell.

He immediately opened the "Immortal Sect Spell Library" software, hoping to find an offensive spell that suited him, could be mastered quickly, possessed decent power, and ideally, could integrate with his existing skills to form a cohesive system.

However, as only a Qi Condensation cultivator, he lacked the authority to have the Immortal Sect Spell Library's elemental spirit AI make such precise judgments for him.

At this point, Chen Mobai began to regret not choosing to be an agent for the Immortal Sect Spell Library when he broke through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation.

But it was too late for regrets now. He could only check the auxiliary cultivation software.

He searched: "What are the most powerful spells a Five Elements Art cultivator can learn?"

A large number of results appeared, but most were Tier 2 or higher spells that he couldn't cultivate. Some Five Elements Art cultivators had also shared their spell systems built from Qi Condensation all the way to Foundation Establishment.

However, after reviewing them, Chen Mobai was greatly disappointed.

Most were not combat-oriented; many were for convenience in cultivation. Although a small number were combat spells, they couldn't be mastered within a mere month.

Furthermore, to form a comprehensive system with both offense and defense, he would need to cultivate at least two or more spells, making the time even more insufficient.

After searching online without success, Chen Mobai had no choice but to return to the Blackwater Art.

The spells recorded in this Qi Condensation cultivation method from the Celestial River Realm—from "Water Manipulation" to "Water Barrier," and then to "Ice Spell"—formed a perfectly progressive and complete system. Moreover, after the "Ice Spell," Liu Lengpei's notes also contained the "Ren Water Thunder Art."

However, Chen Mobai had no interest in the Water Thunder Art; he just hoped he could master the "Ice Spell" within a month.

According to Liu Lengpei's notes, casting the "Ice Spell" also required water, and its power would double if "Blackwater" was used.

"Blackwater again!"

Just thinking of those two words made Chen Mobai's teeth ache.

But then he quickly thought of a good solution: a way to get Blackwater without having to refine it himself.

When Chen Mobai had sold the Blackwater Art to Old Man He, he clearly remembered Qi Er saying that Old Man He cultivated this very method. Since he was already at the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation, he must have also mastered the Water Barrier.

Following this deduction, combined with the unique social environment of the Celestial River Realm, He Qun would certainly try every means to enhance his combat abilities. It was possible he already had refined Blackwater.

He decided to act on the thought immediately.

Chen Mobai immediately rushed from the Water Mansion to Nanxi Market, hoping to try his luck and see if he could buy some.

"You said you want to buy Blackwater?"

He Qun, who was tending his stall selling cultivation methods, was stunned by Chen Mobai's words. He then shook his head and refused.

"You guessed correctly," He Qun said. "I did refine a few bottles of Blackwater, but these are my most treasured possessions. I don't even have enough for myself, so how could I sell them to you?"

Chen Mobai shamelessly persisted, but Old Man He, annoyed by his persistence, directly quoted an exorbitant price of 20 spirit stones per bottle, which immediately deterred him.

"Kid, don't blame me for being heartless; it's just that refining Blackwater is too difficult."

"Gathering the six herbs for purification also requires hiring an alchemist. Old Man Liu's alchemy skills aren't great; he wastes three batches before succeeding once, and he still charges me one spirit stone for his service."

"All in all, the cost of one bottle of Blackwater is around five spirit stones. And as you know, the subsequent Ice Spell of the Blackwater Art doubles in power when Blackwater is used. I'm planning to hunt Frost Serpents in the Cloud Dream Marsh soon. Once I succeed, I basically won't fear anyone at the same cultivation level."

He Qun recognized Chen Mobai and knew he possessed many powerful talismans. Unwilling to completely sever ties, he offered an explanation after quoting the sky-high price.

Hearing this, Chen Mobai became even more dejected. If he hadn't sold the Ice Spell to Old Man He, the latter probably wouldn't have placed such importance on Blackwater.

One could only say that every cause has its effect, all predetermined by fate.

"Oh, can the Frost Serpents of Cloud Dream Marsh help in mastering the Ice Spell?"

Immediately, Chen Mobai noticed another piece of information in Old Man He's words and pressed for details.

"Indeed," He Qun confirmed. "The inner organs of a Frost Serpent naturally contain an essence of profound cold, and they possess the innate ability to shoot frozen water arrows. After a Blackwater Art cultivator consumes a few of them, they can generally comprehend Ice Breath and subsequently master the Ice Spell."

"Is this Cloud Dream Marsh dangerous?"

"It's both dangerous and not dangerous, depending on which area you go to and whether you're alone or in a group."

"Can it improve a cultivator's magical combat skills?" Chen Mobai asked the question he cared about most.

He had read the interview article about Lan Haitan, who had entered Kunpeng Academy after winning a magical combat competition, and knew that practical combat was the best way to hone one's skills. On the Terrestrial Star, there were no conditions for practical combat, but in the Celestial River Realm, they were everywhere. Now, knowing a quick way to master the Ice Spell, he felt as if heaven itself was helping him make up his mind.