Chapter 251: Demon Emperor

Lu Xingzhou already knew from his previous exploration of secret realms with Dugu Qingli that the little white-haired one was highly experienced in exploring secret realms and ancient tombs. Cultivation in the Frozen Moon Cold River wasn't about playing wilderness survival; it was an excellent trial ground because countless historical artifacts from different eras were buried deep within the millennia-old glaciers. One could say there were innumerable opportunities, provided one could endure solitude and had a certain amount of serendipity.

In the world of cultivation, effort and reward were not always proportional. "Talent" and "resources" were two major hurdles, while intangible factors like "opportunity" and "luck" could sometimes determine even more. The Frozen Moon Cold River was vast, with a radius spanning over a thousand miles, making its area larger than many countries. Many from the Heavenly Frost Kingdom, also venturing in the outer regions of the Frozen Moon Cold River, might waste ten years and find nothing. Yet, Dugu Qingli, at her young age, had already excavated countless tombs there.

With her icy constitution, the little white-haired one didn't fear the cold like others; spending a night outdoors was effortless for her. The fact that she built a shelter clearly indicated she had discovered something nearby that required long-term exploration. Lu Xingzhou's judgment was correct.

That night, the master and disciple huddled, arms wrapped around themselves, squatting at the corner of the hut for half the night. By the time a faint light appeared the next morning, Ah Nuo had woken up, still with a snot bubble, while Lu Xingzhou had already been outside, circling the mountain and pondering for a long time. Seeing Ah Nuo emerge, rubbing her sleepy eyes, Lu Xingzhou kicked at an ice shard by the mountain. "Did you notice? The ice here is thinner and more brittle. It must have been excavated and then refrozen."

Ah Nuo walked over, cupping her hands, and peered in. "But Master… even if there was a secret realm or ancient tomb here, Sister Qingli would have already excavated it. What value could be left? And a place Sister Qingli could explore back then would at most be at a fourth or fifth-grade level, which isn't enough to meet the Old Woman's requirements…"

"I don't understand the Frozen Moon Cold River, but I understand the little white-haired one," Lu Xingzhou said. "Given her discerning eye for medicinal herbs, I'd bet she left good things behind like a sieve." He raised his fist and smashed fiercely down onto the ice layer.

Sure enough, with a crisp crack, a dark, gaping hole appeared below. They both plunged down. At least there was no biting cold wind now; it was inexplicably much warmer.

Fortunately, it wasn't a tomb but a small secret realm. Secret realms could form for many reasons, some natural, some man-made. More often, they were created when a certain treasure was lost in a location, and its radiating energy isolated the surrounding earth, forming a small space that then evolved into a unique region due to its own characteristics. Once the treasure was removed, the secret realm itself would lose its special qualities. This current one resembled a mere hollow left after a treasure had been taken, essentially serving no further purpose. However, due to the treasure's past presence, it might have caused some special crops to grow within, which those who didn't recognize their value might not have cleared away, allowing later comers to pick up neglected items.

Ah Nuo hurried to a corner, digging half a foot with grunts and gasps, unearthing a root-like object resembling a sweet potato. "Master, this is useful, but it's only fourth-grade level."

"This fringe, shallow secret realm wouldn't be very powerful to begin with… Fourth-grade is enough. Hmm, this is a good detoxifying item, at least useful as an auxiliary ingredient," Lu Xingzhou said, putting it away and stroking his chin as he surveyed the surroundings. Ah Nuo looked at him expectantly. "What are you thinking, Master?"

"The little white-haired one once took a treasure from here. Judging by the associated crops, it might have been a purifying magical artifact. The question is, why would a standalone magical artifact drop here?"

Ah Nuo replied, "Perhaps there was a battle in the skies nearby, and a magical artifact was shot down. Then its original owner died, and no one retrieved the dropped artifact."

"In that case, there should be bones buried under the ice not far from here, remnants of the past. I wonder if the little white-haired one scavenged the corpse… Given her experience, she probably did."

"So, Master, are you undergoing trials or just following Sister Qingli's old footsteps?"

"Is there a difference? By following in the little white-haired one's footsteps, we can easily pick up neglected treasures."

"Master, that's cheating."

"Otherwise? The little white-haired one is a born glacier traveler; we're not. In this desolate place where everything looks identical, what are we supposed to find?"

"But Master, is this what the Old Woman wants us to train for?"

"When did you become so honest?… But you're right," Lu Xingzhou mused. "We're both at the fourth-grade level now. We can only refine pills up to the third-grade, so we aren't true third-grade alchemists. Mr. Ye's intention is for us to find the threshold for third-grade, and the most typical distinction there is the activation of soul-level cultivation. Therefore, she probably wants us to train our divine sense and intuition to solve problems, rather than relying on tricks."

"But we haven't activated soul cultivation, so how can we train our divine sense?"

"Not having activated soul cultivation doesn't mean we lack soul power; we just don't know how to use it. In fact, we use it every day – for example, your talent for communicating with plants, or our control when refining pills, are actually performed through divine thoughts. We just don't understand the specific operating principles. It's like how you naturally digest food, but you don't know how it's digested or if you can actively make it stop or accelerate digestion…"

Hearing about food, Ah Nuo immediately understood. "Is the Frozen Moon Cold River beneficial for this?"

"Yes… On several occasions, the little white-haired one gave me the impression that she could already use soul power to a limited extent even before reaching third-grade, which must be an effect of this place. 'A heart as clear as ice, reflected in the cold river moon.'" Lu Xingzhou continued, "In fact, when I said I'd search for the bones, it also requires this method. Otherwise, if you say 'search for bones around here,' in what direction? How would you find them?"

Ah Nuo watched, bewildered, as Lu Xingzhou closed his eyes.

In truth, her master was truly a genius, provided he wasn't trying to be lazy or take shortcuts. When the soul couldn't be concretely used, what was called relying on one's "spirit" was actually just cultivating a form of intuition. This intuition was used in many everyday situations; for instance, when danger approached, powerful cultivators would experience a "premonition," a tingling sensation on their scalp, which was a direct manifestation. It was difficult for people to actively find and use it, but the Frozen Moon Cold River facilitated this. The extremely cold climate made one's heart incredibly cold and still, as if even thoughts were solidifying.

Lu Xingzhou closed his eyes, vaguely seeming to perceive his soul sea, tranquil and boundless. He wanted to use it, but it was like an empty fantasy, beyond his grasp. A faint stirring began in his heart; he felt that what he was looking for was in a certain direction, and following it would surely lead to something good. So, he closed his eyes, picked up Ah Nuo, and flew out of the hole, soaring directly towards the location in his mind.

Before long, Ah Nuo began to struggle. "Do you see any traces of pits from excavated bones?" Lu Xingzhou asked.

"No, but I see someone…"

"Were the bones just left on the ice surface?"

"I mean a living person!" Ah Nuo struggled. "If you go any further, you'll crash into her!"

Lu Xingzhou abruptly stopped and opened his eyes.

Ahead, a woman stood silently with her hands behind her back, watching his performance-art-like antics with a strange expression — three more steps and he would have collided with her. Lu Xingzhou stepped back half a pace and scrutinized the woman curiously. She, too, was quite a sight. She wore a dazzling golden robe, more resplendent than Gu Zhanting's imperial dragon robe, as many parts of it were genuinely made of gold. Her phoenix crown was piled high with jewels and ornaments, looking incredibly gaudy at first glance. Her eyeliner was drawn with gold powder, and there was a golden pattern on each side of her face, making her look like she'd escaped from a mental asylum. Yet, combined with her exquisite beauty, it all transformed into art. Her sword-like brows reached her temples, and her eyes were like cold stars. Just her gaze could instill a terrifying sense of oppression, an invisible pressure that almost made Lu Xingzhou's knees buckle, yet he stood his ground firmly. Thus, the gaudy diadem became an emperor's crown, and the peculiar facial patterns transformed into blood-tempered blades. As the saying goes, if someone is beautiful, they look good even in a sack, let alone in gold…

But Lu Xingzhou was in no mood to admire beauty; only one thought flashed through his mind: the Demon Empress! Shen Tang was said to possess an imperial aura, but even when she was at her least romantically-inclined and most commanding as sect leader, she lacked the sheer majesty and oppressive power of this woman; she was still too young. Mr. Ye was described as aloof and arrogant, yet she was more like a snow lotus—clear, noble, and peaceful; one felt no pressure or death from her. Yuan Muyu, with her bloody hands and tangible killing intent in her eyes, never exuded this kind of awe-inspiring aura that made everyone want to prostrate themselves, as if a mere glance from her would compel one to kneel. Putting everything else aside, this aura alone was enough for Lu Xingzhou to immediately compare her to Mr. Ye and Yuan Muyu. If this wasn't the Demon Empress, Lu Xingzhou would chop off his own head.

Damn it, following intuition? My intuition was supposed to find something "beneficial for alchemy"... Oh, right, Mr. Ye said the Demon Empress was a female dragon... A dragon! You tell me if that's suitable for alchemy! Lu Xingzhou almost burst into tears.

Ah Nuo timidly tugged at Lu Xingzhou's sleeve, hiding behind him. It was the first time she had ever felt afraid of a person. The woman's gaze also fell upon Ah Nuo, and she subtly frowned, her majestic eyes showing a hint of confusion.

"Human," the woman finally spoke. "How did you walk straight toward me with your eyes closed?"

"Um…" Lu Xingzhou said awkwardly. "I was using the Frozen Moon Cold River to refine my spiritual perception… This was probably… an intuition that there was an unparalleled beauty here?"

Ah Nuo's eyes widened in horror. *Are you trying to get yourself killed?!* Lu Xingzhou was in a bind and couldn't speak of his distress. He certainly couldn't say his intuition told him there were alchemy materials here; it went without saying which answer would be more fatal.

The woman, however, seemed to read his thoughts, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Perhaps your intuition sensed opportunities here… A pity, but to make use of opportunities, one must first be alive."

Lu Xingzhou actually found it strange too. Such intuition should inherently guide one toward benefit and away from harm. How could he have walked toward a supreme danger with his eyes closed? He should have run as far as possible in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the Demon Empress actually seemed interested in speaking, rather than simply swatting these two ants dead… Did this mean she wasn't dangerous? Was she injured? Was she putting on an act? But who would dare to be so reckless as to test her?