novelbin Chapter 298 - 180: Are You Waiting Here to Die? (Part 2)
Chapter 298 - 180: Are You Waiting Here to Die? (Part 2)
Thus, he stepped outside, taking a step forward.
Wisps of frost qi spread from his body, an invisible gang wind swept out, forming an arc.
The season was inherently cold and freezing, but as Chu Qing circulated his inner breath, this icy chill became more oppressive.
Beitang Zun’s pupils suddenly contracted, realizing that although he was defeated by Chu Qing’s palm strike in front of Yin Yang Forest, the man never actually exerted his full strength.
Otherwise, he would likely not even have had the chance to strike!
How old is he, to possess such formidable and fearsome martial arts?
In their youth, even the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns were probably no more than this?
Chu Qing is now referred to as the ’number one young martial artist of the South Ridge’, precisely because he has not yet clashed with the disciples of the current Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns.
But if they were to meet, who knows what the outcome would be?
Just thinking of this, he saw that from Chu Qing’s feet, a layer of frost suddenly spread in all directions.
Avoiding the positions where they stood, wherever it passed, the grass turned to ice and trees froze solid!
The indistinct mushroom people in the woods, unable to act in time, were covered by this frost, each becoming like an ice sculpture, trapped in place.
In just a moment, without moving his body or swaying his shadow, Chu Qing transformed the surrounding woods into an icy world!
Gentle, Tie Chuming, Cao Qiupu, Lady Ling Fei, Cheng Tieshan, and Beitang Zun... though not covered by this frost, felt the chill in the air.
As if suddenly plunged into an icy hell, with each breath seeming to freeze the lungs.
"This..."
Cheng Tieshan’s eyelids twitched:
"What martial arts is this?"
"Just a small trick."
Chu Qing slowly drew his saber:
"I call it ’Ten Thousand Miles of Ice Field’!"
This technique of Ten Thousand Miles of Ice Field was actually derived from Heaven and Earth Lose Color.
Chu Qing was never someone who adhered strictly to tradition; whenever he acquired martial arts, he wanted to innovate through understanding, and if innovation wasn’t possible, he wanted fusion.
Discarding the dross, merging the essence.
Thus, when he obtained the exotic study of ’Heaven and Earth Lose Color’, he considered how to fuse this martial art.
But after a long time of contemplating, he found it extremely difficult to fuse this martial art.
It was essentially just a technique...
The essence lay in the method of ’inner and outer release’.
However, this method was extraordinarily subtle, using ’Heaven and Earth Lose Color’ to perform it could slow down surroundings, freeze enemy thoughts, and make time nearly stop.
This was supreme martial arts that manipulated reality through inner strength.
Chu Qing wanted to combine this martial art but had no suitable method.
So he thought, if he could move the concept of ’inner and outer release’ elsewhere, then what?
Afterwards, he took the frost qi of Celestial Frost Fist, the cold aura of Mingyu Scripture, merged the two, and through the method of inner and outer release, displayed it.
Thus came the technique of ’Ten Thousand Miles of Ice Field’!
However, the advantages and disadvantages of this martial art were as evident as that of Heaven and Earth Lose Color; the higher the opponent’s martial arts, the greater their resistance.
Especially against Blazing Hall’s ’Nine Fiery Burn Divine Skill’, which counters it, freezing it is extremely difficult.
But today, deceitful poison planted so many ’mushroom people’ here; although their bodies were covered in poison, making people dare not touch them easily... but as for skills, they were not worth mentioning.
This technique of ’Ten Thousand Miles of Ice Field’ was perfect for dealing with them.
However, this was not the end; with a single saber in hand, Chu Qing moved like smoke, and shadows divided, saber intent splintered, where he passed, figures were sliced apart.
Some were not frozen solid, and when cut open, ink-green foul liquid would gush out from inside.
Cao Qiupu awakened as if from a dream, helping Chu Qing deal with these mushroom people.
Others intended to act but were stopped by Chu Qing.
These mushroom people were still covered with poison, temporarily sealed by ice, but any mistake, and danger remained.
Everyone heeded his advice and stayed put, watching Chu Qing and Cao Qiupu with sword qi soaring and saber light intersecting.
After some efforts, the two returned to the others.
Chu Qing collected his saber, standing and slowly exhaled:
"How exactly were these damn things made?"
Cao Qiupu said softly:
"I just checked carefully; from the clothing of these mushroom people, they were ordinary commoners.
"The large mushroom on their heads penetrates the skull, but its roots are more complex than they appear... they travel from the head down the neck and into the organs.
"It supposedly extracts nutrients from within the organs to sustain the large mushroom overhead."
Chu Qing listened with a grimace, feeling these things were more sinister than any evil martial arts.
"But they’re just mushrooms after all..."
Tie Chuming mumbled softly:
"Even if they grow on people and control their bodies, surely it couldn’t be like this?"
She was inarticulate, wanting to say that even if plants occupied human bodies, they shouldn’t attack other things in such a manner.
Chu Qing understood her meaning, shook his head:
"These aren’t normal mushrooms, and also, flora can possess aggression.
"Some sinister flowers can devour living creatures passing by.
"They’re just rooted in the ground, unable to move.
"These mushrooms might have been cultivated repeatedly, rooting in the human organs, obeying commands to attack targets using the body, this possibility exists..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Gentle.
Seeing Gentle nodding, he said:
"Everyone can proceed or wait here briefly, I have some matters, I’ll be back soon."
After saying this, he grabbed Gentle, his figure flashed, venturing into the woods.
They exchanged glances, Tie Chuming was a bit reluctant to stay here.
Surrounded by corpses with heads sprouting large mushrooms, it was eerie.
But Cao Qiupu felt it wise to stay.
The person behind the scenes hadn’t appeared yet, proceeding rashly might lead to unknown situations... staying put would adapt to the situation.
Finally, Tie Chuming’s opinion was overruled, and everyone agreed to wait here.
Cheng Tieshan, though poisoned, aside from the initial mushroom growth all over, seemed unchanged otherwise.
Presumably, the antitoxic pill taken earlier was effective.
The effect was internal, not external, so those mushrooms couldn’t root internally.
Meanwhile, Chu Qing and Gentle had already ventured deep into the woods.
Gentle raised her head, sniffed, and pointed a direction to Chu Qing:
"Over there."
Chu Qing nodded, but his steps paused.
Gentle was perplexed for a moment, then heard faint music coming from afar.
The two exchanged looks, Chu Qing murmured:
"Follow me closely, stay at my side."
The music seemed inviting, the other side evidently fearless.
Gentle nodded, trailing Chu Qing.
The two followed the music, soon emerging from the forest, looking ahead where the scene opened up.
The sky was high and the clouds stretched thin, revealing a corner of a vast canyon.
Below their feet was a jutting half cliff.
There sat a person.
Clad in gray robes, back facing Chu Qing, long hair draped down, and an ancient zither rested on his crossed legs.
His ten fingers lightly caressed the strings, the music sometimes like mercury flowing, sometimes like falling raindrops, in low tones like gentle streams, high tones akin to a phoenix dancing in the sky.
The appearance of Chu Qing and Gentle brought slight ripples to his music.
His fingers held the strings, sighing softly:
"Searching for a kindred spirit in the mountains and waters, but I wonder, would the third young master be willing to be this prince’s confidant?"
The person turned back, his features indistinct.
He wore a mask with one word on it — "Tomb"!
Prince Mu!
Chu Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly:
"Prince Mu?
"Are you... waiting to die here?"
...
...
ps: Last night, I had a fever reaching 38.6 degrees, took medication, and broke the fever at midnight. But today during the day, the fever returned... though not as high, peaking at 38.3 degrees, yes... still holding on strong.
The trouble is, it’s not just me, my son and my wife are also sick.
Despite a high fever of thirty-eight degrees, my wife has to take our child for intravenous therapy.
If it weren’t for recently taking leave, I’d have asked for it already...
It’s maddening! Every part of my body aches, sometimes my head, then my back, then my legs, and occasionally it twinges unexpectedly. It’s driving me crazy.