Chapter 112: Ji Moran -What the Heart Wants

Han Yunfei and Ling Meixue of the Celestial Shadow Church stood in a chamber of frozen soil, its beauty both serene and haunting. The ground was carpeted with frozen leaves, their edges sharp as blades, and scattered with icy grass roots and stones that glittered like diamonds under the faint, ethereal light.

The air was thick with icy spiritual energy, a biting cold that seeped into their bodies, numbing their skin and slowing their breaths. Not far from them lay the shattered remains of four massive wolf-like ice sculptures, their jagged fragments scattered across the ground like the remnants of a frozen battlefield.

Behind the broken sculptures rested a jade slip, its surface dull and unassuming. Han Yunfei walked over and picked it up, his movements deliberate and unhurried. Ling Meixue followed, her sharp eyes scanning the jade slip before she spoke, her voice as cold as the chamber around them. "This is the second one we've gotten. The first was after dealing with those weak fools from those unassuming cities. Should we see what's on it now, or wait a little longer?"

Han Yunfei, a man of few words, simply nodded. "We should take a look." He sat down on the frozen ground, the cold biting into his skin as he held the jade slip against his forehead. The slip was a muted gray, its surface cracked and worn, but its contents were anything but ordinary. Ling Meixue sat nearby, pulling out the white jade slip they had acquired earlier and placing it against her own forehead.

For five hours, the two sat in silence, their minds immersed in the knowledge contained within the jade slips. When they finally opened their eyes, Han Yunfei's lips curled into a rare, cold smile. Ling Meixue mirrored his expression, her sharp features softening slightly as she stored the slip away.

"Got anything good?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

"Stone Mountain Body Art," Han Yunfei replied, his tone as steady as ever. "A grade three technique. You?"

"Nine Cloud Steps," Ling Meixue said, a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. "A movement technique, also grade three."

In the world of cultivation, techniques and methods were categorized into grades, with grade three techniques being the domain of Golden Core Realm experts. Even some Nascent Soul practitioners relied on grade three techniques, as grade four techniques were rare and often guarded like priceless treasures. For Han Yunfei and Ling Meixue, these jade slips were a significant boon, their contents a step closer to the power they sought.

"Do you want to attempt to break through to Golden Core here?" Han Yunfei asked, his voice low but firm.

Ling Meixue nodded. "Yes, this is a safe place. Let's not waste the opportunity."

The two sat back down, their breaths steady as they focused on their cultivation. The icy spiritual energy around them swirled, drawn into their bodies as they prepared to push their limits once more.

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the battleground, Jiang Feng sat cross-legged in a chamber that was a paradox of heat and cold. The sir shimmered with intricate patterns of ice and flame, their lines intertwining like the threads of a cosmic tapestry. The air around him was a chaotic dance of opposing forces—blistering heat from his Skyforge Flame and biting cold from the Lunara Glacies' influence. His body was the battlefield, his meridians the front lines, as he sought to harmonize the two extremes.

Jiang Feng inhaled deeply, drawing in the cold spiritual energy that surrounded him. It was a sharp, almost painful sensation, like swallowing shards of ice. But as the energy entered his body, his infernal breathing technique activated, transforming the cold into a blazing heat that surged through his meridians. The process was grueling, each breath a struggle, but Jiang Feng was relentless in his efforts. He could feel the balance shifting, the cold and heat complementing each other in a way he had never imagined.

"Though I can't fully investigate the concept of Deepfrost or manipulate ice spiritual energy like Ji Moran, the essence here is still flame—just in the form of ice," Jiang Feng thought, his mind racing. "The moon flame is, at its core, still a flame. It should complement my Skyforge Flame, just as the two flames complement each other."

As he continued to cycle the energy, something extraordinary happened. The cold spiritual energy began to sink into his body, not as an invader but as a partner. It flowed into his essence lake, fueling the growth of his Skyforge Flame. The infernal flame within him roared to life, its intensity growing as it absorbed the icy energy.

His meridians expanded, their walls growing stronger and more resilient, while his essence lake swelled from 9,600 meters to a staggering 12,000 meters. The breakthrough was sudden and profound, firmly placing him in the fourth level of the Essence Condensation stage.

"Amazing!" Jiang Feng shouted inwardly

The Skyforge Flame, now larger and more potent than ever, burned with a fierce brilliance. Jiang Feng could feel its power coursing through him, a testament to his and its growth. The infernal breathing technique had evolved, its fiery essence now intertwined with the cold, creating a harmony of opposites that defied the natural order.

In the other section of the chamber, Ji Moran sat in a world of ice, her body surrounded by a serene, almost otherworldly aura. The air around her was still, the cold so intense that it seemed to freeze time itself. Above her head floated a magnificent ice tree, its branches delicate and intricate, each leaf a masterpiece of frozen artistry. The tree was her spirit projection, a manifestation of her profound talent for ice cultivation.

What made this even more remarkable was that Ji Moran had formed her spirit projection before reaching the Golden Core Realm—a feat that was almost unheard of. It was a testament to her innate talent and the depth of her comprehension. At the top of the tree, a large phoenix rested, its icy feathers shimmering with a faint, ethereal light. The phoenix was soundly asleep, its presence a symbol of Ji Moran's potential and the power she had yet to fully unlock.

Ji Moran's cultivation had reached the late ninth level of the Essence Condensation stage, just one step away from the Golden Core Realm. Her progress was nothing short of astonishing, and her spirit projection was a clear sign that she was destined for greatness.

Back in his chamber, Jiang Feng exhaled slowly, a plume of steam escaping his lips. The cold and heat within him had reached a perfect balance, each force enhancing the other. His Skyforge Flame burned brighter than ever, its infernal energy now tempered by the icy essence of the moon flame. The walls of his chamber seemed to respond to his presence, their patterns glowing with a newfound intensity.

Jiang Feng stood, his body radiating a quiet power. The challenges of the battleground had pushed him to his limits, but they had also revealed his potential. He was no longer just a warrior blacksmith; he was a force of nature, a cultivator who defied the heavens and embraced the chaos of the elements.

As he prepared to face the next challenge, a faint smile played on his lips. The path ahead was uncertain, but Jiang Feng was ready. The flames of his destiny burned brighter than ever, and he would not stop until he reached the pinnacle of power.

As Jiang Feng and Ji Moran opened their eyes, the chamber seemed to hold its breath. The air, once thick with icy spiritual energy, grew still and silent. Then, from above, a fruit descended, its presence commanding the room. It was a crystalline leaf, its surface etched with intricate veins that pulsed faintly with a cold, ethereal light. Ice encased the fruit like a protective shell, shimmering with a brilliance that seemed almost otherworldly. The moment the fruit appeared, it began to absorb the remaining cold spiritual energy in the chamber, leaving the space devoid of its once-overwhelming chill.

Jiang Feng leapt gracefully, his hand closing around the fruit as it floated within reach. He landed lightly, his movements fluid as he held the fruit up for a closer look. It was translucent, its interior swirling with icy spiritual energy that danced like a miniature blizzard trapped within glass. The sight was mesmerizing, a testament to the power contained within.

"Here," Jiang Feng said, turning to Ji Moran and extending the fruit toward her. "This is yours. Don't use it now, though. It could be your key to the Golden Core Realm, but you've just broken through to the late Essence Condensation stage. Forcing another breakthrough too soon might harm your foundation."

Ji Moran's eyes widened slightly, her lips parting in surprise. She hesitated, her gaze flickering between the fruit and Jiang Feng. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with doubt. "I wouldn't have made it this far without your help. Breaking through to the ninth stage is more than enough for me. You should have this fruit."

Jiang Feng shook his head, his expression firm but kind. "This fruit is pure icy spiritual energy. It's perfect for you, but it's not compatible with my cultivation. You need this more than I do. The stronger you get, the better our chances of survival. Take it. You can attempt your breakthrough when the time is right."

He stepped closer, gently taking her hand and placing the fruit in her palm. His touch was warm, a stark contrast to the icy chill of the fruit. Ji Moran looked down at it, her fingers curling around its crystalline surface. She felt the weight of his trust, his belief in her, and it stirred something deep inside her heart yet again.

"Thank you," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked up at him, her lips curving into a sweet, genuine smile. The warmth in her eyes was unmistakable, and for a moment, Jiang Feng froze, caught off guard by the sincerity of her expression.

Ji Moran noticed his reaction and couldn't help but laugh softly. "Silly," she teased, her smile widening. "You can kill without batting an eye, but you freeze up so easily over a simple smile."

Cough Cough!!

Jiang Feng cleared his throat awkwardly, his cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of color. "It's the cold essence in the air," he muttered, his tone defensive but playful. "That's what caused it. Sorry about that."

Ji Moran raised an eyebrow, her smile turning mischievous. "Oh, really? The cold essence? Funny, considering the fruit absorbed all of it." She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "But sure, let's go with that."

Jiang Feng scratched the back of his neck, his usual composure slipping for just a moment. "Let's just focus on the next challenge," he said, steering the conversation back to safer ground before he embarrassed himself.

Ji Moran chuckled softly but didn't press further. Instead, she stored the fruit safely away, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. As she did, a glowing door materialized in front of them, its light casting long shadows across the chamber. Without hesitation, Ji Moran reached out and took Jiang Feng's hand, her grip firm and reassuring.

"Ready?" she asked, glancing at him with a smile.

Jiang Feng nodded, his expression returning to its usual calm static determination. "Always."

Together, they stepped through the door, leaving the icy chamber behind and venturing into the unknown. The challenges ahead were daunting, but with each other's support, they felt ready to face whatever came next.