In the ice cave, time seemed to lose its meaning. Xiao Qi slowly withdrew from his deep-level comprehension of the Cold Ice Dao Patterns. As his eyes opened and closed, divine light was restrained, no longer the sharpness and visions from before, only a deep-pool-like tranquility and depth. He didn't immediately rise but remained in his seated position, beginning to examine the gains from this meditation.
The greatest change didn't come from a surge in cultivation realm, but from an internal, foundational settlement and consolidation.
With a slight movement of his mind, within his dantian's qi sea, the liquid spiritual power that originally flowed like a rushing river now became as heavy and condensed as mercury! Every drop of spiritual power seemed to have been forged a thousand times, stripped of all impurity and restlessness, becoming incomparably pure and heavy. When spiritual power circulated, it was no longer surging and turbulent, but like the pulse of the earth, steady and powerful, carrying an indescribable solidity.
This was the result of extreme environment tempering.
Meditating here, he not only had to resist that omnipresent, soul-freezing extreme cold, but also maintain the subtle balance between the Southern Ming Li Fire origin within him and the external Cold Ice Dao rhyme. His body, his meridians, his spiritual power, were constantly in a high-pressure state, as if placed under an invisible forging hammer, repeatedly struck and tempered.
Especially when he channeled the ten-thousand-year Snow Lotus petals' pure vitality and cold energy to assist his comprehension, that power was like a catalyst, bringing this tempering effect to its peak. The Snow Lotus's power didn't directly improve cultivation, but like the finest adhesive and purifier, under the extreme pressure of intertwined ice and fire, helped him completely forge out the last bit of disharmony, the last bit of emptiness from his spiritual power, perfectly merging with his essence, qi, and spirit.
Now, the total amount of spiritual power in his dantian seemed not much different from before meditation, even shrinking slightly in volume due to extreme condensation. But its quality had undergone earth-shaking changes. If his previous spiritual power was like a rushing river, then his current spiritual power was like resin about to solidify into amber, only lacking that final push and a suitable opportunity fromcondensed into a Golden Core.
He tried to channel a thread of spiritual power to gather at his fingertip. Without casting any spell, just the natural gathering of spiritual power. He saw that the air around his fingertip slightly distorted, not from heat or cold, but because that spiritual power was too condensed, triggering subtle changes in the surrounding space. With another shift of thought, that condensed spiritual power could instantly become soft as silk, controllable at will, reaching the finest subtlety.
"Mastery of power has improved by at least thirty percent..." Xiao Qi had an epiphany. This improvement was far more precious than simply raising one or two minor realms. It meant that in future battles, he could exert stronger power with less consumption, casting spells and channeling sword intent would be more effortless. Especially when breaking through major realms, such a solid foundation would greatly increase the success rate and affect the Golden Core's quality.
He slowly stood up, his whole body's bones issuing a series of crisp yet low cracking sounds, like a sleeping giant dragon stretching its body. Some subtle hidden injuries from previously channeling Southern Ming Li Fire and days of rushing and fighting had all been healed under this tempering, his physical state reaching an unprecedented peak.
His gaze swept over those Cold Ice patterns still emitting ancient Dao rhyme around him, and Xiao Qi's heart was filled with gratitude. This frozen ancient city was to him no different from a silent yet great teacher. It hadn't taught specific techniques or moves, but with this eternal extreme cold and Dao patterns, had conducted a deepest-level baptism and foundation-laying for him.
"Brother Qi, you're awake!" Zhao Tiezhu, who had been guarding the ice cave entrance, heard the movement and hurried over with concern on his face. Though he couldn't understand the specific changes in Xiao Qi, he could feel that Xiao Qi's aura had become more settled and heavy, like an immovable mountain, making him subconsciously more reverent.
The rabbit spirit also hopped over, circling around Xiao Qi, its red eyes full of curiosity.
Xiao Qi smiled slightly and nodded: "Mm, not a small harvest. Sorry to make you wait."
"Not long at all!" Zhao Tiezhu scratched his head honestly, "It's good that Brother Qi's cultivation has greatly advanced! Should we leave this ghost place now? Though it's not cold anymore, it still feels eerie."
Xiao Qi looked around this frozen ancient ruin once more. He had initially comprehended the Cold Ice Dao patterns here; further deep comprehension would be difficult to achieve greater breakthroughs in a short time, and might instead, from being too greedy to chew properly, affect his own pure Dao heart. Moreover, as Zhao Tiezhu said, this wasn't a place to stay long—that ancient deathly stillness aura, if contaminated for too long, wasn't entirely beneficial for one's nature.
"It is time to leave." Xiao Qi nodded, "This Northern Plains trip, our goals have been exceeded. It's time to return to the Central Plains and make final preparations for Core Formation."
He took one last look at that stone pillar bearing the "solidification" and "protection" Dao patterns, deeply imprinting that comprehension in his heart. Then, turning, he led Zhao Tiezhu and the rabbit spirit along the path they came, walking toward the outside of the ancient city.
His footsteps on the ice surface were steady and determined. The spiritual power within him was like a dormant volcano, seemingly calm, yet containing explosive power. This Northern Plains journey, experiencing life-and-death battles, fateful trades, and ancient Dao comprehensions, though his cultivation hadn't immediately broken through to Golden Core, had completed a crucial settlement and accumulation.
The Foundation Establishment foundation had been polished by him to perfection, indestructible. Now he was like peerless refined iron from which all impurities had been removed, forged a thousand times, only awaiting the final fierce fire to transform into an invincible divine weapon.
Pushing open that heavy stone door, the familiar wind and snow from outside rushed in. Though still cold, far less than the deathly stillness and extreme cold inside the ancient city. Sunlight through thin cloud layers spilled onto the boundless ice plains, reflecting dazzling light.
Xiao Qi stood at the ancient city entrance, looking back at that deep darkness, as if bidding farewell to an ancient mentor. Then, he resolutely turned, facing south, his gaze piercing through wind and snow, landing on the distant Central Plains direction.
There, his sect was, his companions, and his path to a higher realm—the Golden Core Great Dao!
"Let's go."
The figures of the three (including the rabbit) merged once more into the vast ice plains, stepping onto the return journey. Only this time, their steps were steadier, their beliefs more firm, because what they carried was power that had settled to the extreme, about to burst forth magnificently.