Li Shuang quietly explained the rules.
This ice lake was a trial point set up by the Langya Secret Realm.
Since it was a trial point, there were certain rules.
These eight guardian beasts each had different weaknesses. As long as one could exploit their weaknesses, they could gain entry.
If one merely wandered around and left, there wouldn't be much danger.
But who would be content with just a stroll?
Having gone through so much trouble to enter, one would naturally seek opportunities!
For example, Li Shuang was aiming for the lotus seeds.
However, to obtain the lotus seeds, one would inevitably touch the ice lotus, which would certainly trigger a pursuit by demonic beasts.
If one could escape the pursuit, they would naturally gain such a heaven-defying opportunity.
If they couldn't escape...
Then death would be real death.
Opportunities come with risks. How to weigh these two depends solely on individual choice.
This ice lotus was extremely cold and frozen. Apart from those with supreme ice spiritual roots like Li Shuang, even ice spiritual root cultivators with more ordinary aptitudes couldn't approach it.
Liu Juncheng's opportunity was not with this ice lotus.
"Second Senior Brother," Li Shuang whispered, "After entering the ice lake, chisel open the ice surface. There is a Spirit of Living Water beneath. This is an unparalleled treasure that can enhance spiritual root aptitude. This time, our goal is to obtain this Spirit of Living Water."
In the cultivation world, spiritual root aptitudes vary.
Even among single spiritual roots, the grades of spiritual roots differ.
Spiritual roots are usually divided into Mortal Grade, Profound Grade, and Supreme Grade. It is said that above Supreme Grade, there are even higher Sovereign Grade spiritual roots.
However, the existence of such spiritual roots was only sparsely recorded in ancient texts from a thousand years ago.
Li Shuang's ice spiritual root was a Supreme Grade spiritual root, which was why it caused such a stir when she joined the sect.
Liu Juncheng's water and wood spiritual roots were both low-grade Profound Grade spiritual roots. If his water spiritual root could be nourished by the Spirit of Living Water, it had the potential to be upgraded to high-grade Profound Grade.
Such treasures that directly affect spiritual roots are the rarest treasures in the cultivation world, and their value is immeasurable!
Even if Li Shuang now had the Heaven and Earth Furnace, she could directly exchange for such a treasure.
However.
When she tentatively proposed exchanging for the Spirit of Living Water, the price quoted by the Heaven and Earth Furnace was a whopping one hundred thousand!
Even if she were killed now, she couldn't conjure up one hundred thousand value points!
"Spirit of Living Water!" Liu Juncheng's heart trembled when he heard this.
If such a treasure were brought outside, even cultivators in the Spirit Refining and Tribulation Transcending stages would likely be moved by it.
Opportunities of this caliber were among the top-tier opportunities even within the Langya Secret Realm!
Li Shuang actually shared it with him just like that?
Liu Juncheng couldn't help but say, "Junior Sister! You could completely take this treasure out and sell it yourself. Even just selling the information would fetch a sky-high price!"
Li Shuang looked at Liu Juncheng: "But it's useful to you, Second Senior Brother, isn't it? And, you were the one who said not to be too polite."
Liu Juncheng was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Alright. I was being too superficial."
Li Shuang smiled and said, "Then let's prepare to enter."
"Wait." Liu Juncheng couldn't help but call out to her: "What about you, Junior Sister? What are you here for? It can't be that only I gain something and you don't."
He said directly, "That ice lotus should also be of great benefit to your ice spiritual root, right? How about this: you help me obtain the Spirit of Living Water, and I'll help you obtain the ice lotus?"
Li Shuang hesitated: "Second Senior Brother, I do want a lotus seed, but touching the ice lotus will definitely attract the pursuit of demonic beasts. Ten years ago, I escaped once, so I have some confidence. If Senior Brother forcibly helps, it might cause some interference instead. After we get the Spirit of Living Water, Second Senior Brother, you should leave first. After I escape, we'll meet near that giant rock."
Li Shuang said.
Liu Juncheng felt a bit awkward.
Was she that direct...
His help would only cause interference...
Liu Juncheng felt a little downhearted, but still said, "Don't worry, Junior Sister, I won't hold you back."
Li Shuang and Liu Juncheng had made their plans. Li Shuang took out a bottle of fine wine and handed it to Liu Juncheng, holding another bottle herself.
The two cautiously approached the demonic beast in the southeast.
The demonic beast had two huge horns on its head, seemingly a giant ox. Compared to an ox, its facial features included an excessively large nose. That huge nose constantly exhaled air, and from a distance, it almost covered its entire face.
It was originally sleeping with its eyes closed.
Li Shuang opened the cork, allowing the aroma of the wine to slowly spread.
At first.
The demonic beast merely twitched its nose slightly.
Li Shuang patiently continued to let the wine aroma diffuse.
The beast twitched its nose with increasing frequency.
Finally.
It suddenly opened its eyes, its body moved slightly, and its huge head instantly appeared before Li Shuang and Liu Juncheng.
The grotesque face suddenly appeared in front of them, startling Liu Juncheng, who instinctively tensed his back.
Li Shuang had experienced this once before, so she was very calm.
A gentle smile appeared on her lips: "Senior, I heard you like good wine, so I specially found a bottle. I wonder if you like it?"
Li Shuang offered the wine.
The demonic beast leaned over and sniffed vigorously, then showed a satisfied expression. It snatched the wine and poured it directly into its mouth.
After drinking the fine wine, it quickly showed an expression of enjoyment.
"Senior, I also have a bottle of good wine here," Liu Juncheng also offered a bottle of wine.
The ox-headed demon accepted all comers, and with a single gulp, it swallowed the entire bottle of wine.
It let out a burp, revealing an incredibly satisfied expression.
"Senior, we both love the scenery of this ice lake. I wonder if we can enter and explore for a bit?" Li Shuang seized the opportunity to ask.
Having drunk two bottles of wine, the ox-headed demon was clearly in a very good mood.
It shook its head and said, "You can go in. However, you'd better truly just be exploring. The things inside, especially the ice lotus in the center of the lake, you'd best not touch. Otherwise..."
It bared a few sharp teeth: "If you attract the attention of other demonic beasts, I won't be able to save you."
"Don't worry. We're really just looking around casually," Li Shuang said very sincerely.
The ox-headed demon glanced at her, then slowly closed its eyes, and its snoring instantly shook the heavens and earth as it fell back into slumber.
Li Shuang didn't hesitate, leading Liu Juncheng inside.
Only after entering the ice lake area did Li Shuang breathe a sigh of relief.
Good, good.
Her guess was correct; ten years had passed, and the memories of the demonic beasts in the secret realm had been reset.
Otherwise.
Ten years ago, she had taken a lotus seed under the siege of these demonic beasts. This time, the ox-headed demon definitely wouldn't have let her in again.
Li Shuang said, "Second Senior Brother, time is urgent. We need to quickly find the Spirit of Living Water. This ox-headed demonic beast didn't state a time limit, but based on my last experience, the maximum time is half an hour. If we haven't found it after half an hour, we'll have to retreat first. If we want to enter next time, we can't use the ox-headed demon's direction again. Each direction can only be entered once."
Liu Juncheng noted everything down.
Li Shuang sensed around, found the weakest ice layer, then skillfully took out two hammers.
She kept one for herself and gave the other to Liu Juncheng.
The two of them began to diligently hammer the ice surface.