Chapter 28: Embracing Ice Technique

The Ning Clan Head smiled wryly, "State your terms."

With each condition Ning Xiaohui uttered, his face darkened.

After the fifth term, the Clan Head couldn't bear it any longer, raising his hand to stop her, "Hold on, just hold on a moment."

Ning Grandma, being of senior status, said unhappily, "Hold on for what? My granddaughter is putting her life on the line this time!"

The Elder of the Talisman Hall also chimed in, "Clan Head, do you know? The City Lord's Mansion has already taken action, deploying multiple squads of city guards to patrol Fire Persimmon Immortal City, rigorously investigating cultivators who have practiced the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art."

"Once Xiaohui participates in this competition, it's not just the dangers within the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

Ning Grandma snorted coldly, "We are all of the main lineage, all our own people, not outsiders of the branch family. What are you being so stingy about, Clan Head?"

Ning Zhuo woke up, and it was already noon the next day.

He felt much better.

"Looks like I need some elixirs that nourish and restore the soul."

Although Ning Zhuo usually had a large stock of elixirs, he didn't have many that pertained to the soul.

Based on his first exploration of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace, he would definitely need more of these elixirs in the future.

"It's not just the giant tree in Room Two that can weaken the soul."

"When the soul is extracted and lodged in the mechanical puppet, it is also slowly depleting soul power."

"Therefore, the stronger the foundation of the soul, the more advantageous it is for exploring the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

Ning Zhuo acted on his thoughts.

He decided to purchase soul-nourishing elixirs from several Alchemy Pavilions and Apothecaries in the city, and each time he would buy other elixirs as cover.

As a result, on his way, he heard people complaining about city guards arresting people everywhere.

At the same time, he saw many notices posted on the walls - the City Lord's Mansion was expediting the inspection of the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, fearing it was a demonic technique disguised as a Daoist one, and ordered cultivators in the city to temporarily cease practicing this technique for fear of unforeseen consequences.

Ning Zhuo immediately changed his plans, daring not to go to the Alchemy Pavilions and Apothecaries to buy medicine.

On his way back, he heard some rumors that made his heart clench.

"Meng Chong, Zheng Jian, and Zhou Zhu have all been attacked and assassinated?"

"Too terrifying."

"Even these geniuses, under the heavy protection of their families, are encountering these things."

"If ordinary people like me are exposed, it will definitely be worse than them!"

"Mother was right, I should hide myself well."

Ning Zhuo returned home.

He needed to stock up on more soul-nourishing elixirs, but the situation was too tense, so he decided to hold off for the time being.

Ning Zhuo considered the black market.

But since he blew up the Immortal Palace, his Azure Steel Heavy Armor had suffered a lot of damage. The exterior of the armor, especially the back, was too noticeably damaged.

Most importantly, the Foundation Establishment Pill, one of the core components, was only 10% remaining.

This was Ning Zhuo's trump card, and he couldn't overuse it.

"I should first master the spell rewarded by the Immortal Palace."

The spell Ning Zhuo received was called the Ice Embrace Art. When activated, it could freeze the object in his embrace into ice.

Ning Zhuo studied it and felt that this spell was a bit weak.

He had previously majored in the Snow Domain Talisman Scripture, possessed frost-type mana, and mastered several spells.

For example, Ice Lance Art, Frost Flower Art, Snowball Art, etc.

"The biggest drawback of the Ice Embrace Art is that it only takes effect in close combat."

"But common spells like Ice Lance Art and Snowball Art can basically attack from a distance."

In actual combat, this flaw was significant.

This made Ning Zhuo want to use the Ice Lance Art.

In fact, he wanted to use it when he was in the Molten Rock Immortal Palace.

The problem was, he couldn't!

This was where the difference and connection between cultivation methods and spells came into play.

Cultivation methods such as the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art and the Snow Domain Talisman Scripture were mainly used to refine mana.

Spells like Ice Lance Art, Frost Flower Art, and Ice Embrace Art were methods and techniques for using mana.

Spells were based on the foundation of cultivation methods.

A cultivator's mana could be of various types, and ice-attribute mana could not be used to cast Fire Dragon Art, at most Ice Dragon Art, Snow Whale Art, and so on.

After Ning Zhuo obtained the Five Elements Mana, he had also tried to use spells like Ice Lance Art, but he couldn't activate them at all.

Because his mana contained all five elements, if he wanted to use a single-element spell, he had to first extract the corresponding mana.

The Ice Lance Art he mastered was not compatible with the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

He needed to improve the spell.

This situation was very common in the world of cultivation.

If Ning Zhuo switched to another ice-attribute cultivation method, he would likely be able to use the previous Ice Lance Art directly. However, the original spell and the existing mana would not be completely suitable, and there would be a lot of losses, so it would still need to be modified to perfectly match.

The Ice Embrace Art was something Ning Zhuo could use directly.

Because it was inherently a cultivation method that was completely compatible with the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art.

After Ning Zhuo practiced a few times, the water element part of the Five Elements Mana was extracted separately, and he unleashed the Ice Embrace Art.

The wooden stool in Ning Zhuo's arms was instantly covered in frost. The frost spread rapidly, growing thicker and thicker, and after a few breaths, it froze into a block of ice.

Ning Zhuo couldn't hide his surprise, "The power of this Ice Embrace Art is so powerful?"

Compared to common spells like Ice Lance Art, Snowball Art, and Frost Flower Art, the power of the Ice Embrace Art was obviously more than one level higher.

Next, Ning Zhuo focused on practicing this spell in the underground workshop.

Stools, chairs, mirrors, bricks, and so on were all frozen into blocks of ice by him.

He practiced with great enthusiasm.

The ground and corners of the walls were covered with ice lumps of all sizes, freezing various objects. The entire underground workshop was filled with cold air, practically becoming an underground ice cellar.

"The three options I encountered in front of the first door were spirit stones, a hanging ring, and a gust of air."

"Looking back, these three options should all be helpful for me to pass the trials."

"Spirit stones go without saying. The hanging ring is probably similar to the Expanding and Contracting Rope I made, and the gust of air spell should allow the mechanical puppet to change direction in the air, or even float and fly for a short time."

"Following this line of thinking, the reward options in front of the second door are also helpful for me to pass the trials."

"Spirit stones are unnecessary. I didn't see clearly what the mechanical parts were. But judging from the Ice Embrace Art, Room Three probably requires me to fight."

Ning Zhuo analyzed the situation with clear logic. He also had evidence - the Ice Embrace Art was a typical offensive spell.

"Room One requires cultivators to assemble mechanical puppets, Room Two tests the puppet's ability to jump, run, and dodge, and Room Three may be a battle."

"Looking at it this way, the trials of the Molten Rock Immortal Palace are also a series of teachings. It seems that the Immortals of the Three Sects are not only selecting outstanding individuals, but also training the art of puppetry."

"Alas, my soul is almost fully nourished. I just don't know when I will be able to enter the Immortal Palace again."

That night, a weary Ning Zhuo fell into a deep sleep.

He felt something was wrong, wanting to open his eyes, but found it was still pitch black.

After a few seconds of bewilderment, he sensed his surroundings and instantly became excited.

"My soul has been extracted again and has entered the Molten Rock Immortal Palace!"