Jian Wu's steps slowed as something pale caught her eye.
Near the edge of the frozen ground, nestled between thin layers of frost and crystalized soil, bloomed a flower of pure white. Its petals were translucent, like glass carved from snow, and faint cold mist drifted gently around it.
Her eyes widened. Brother Mike, she said softly, drawn forward almost unconsciously. Look at this… what is it? She reached out.
Don't touch it! Mike's voice cut through the stillness like a blade.
Jian Wu froze mid-step. Her fingers stopped less than a breath away from the petals. Startled, she pulled her hand back and turned toward him.
Why? she asked, confusion clear in her eyes. What's wrong with it?
Mike was already beside her. His expression was serious sharper than before.
That's a Snow Glass Lily, he said. I read about it before coming here. A lot of books says This flower looks gentle, but it's extremely dangerous. If an unprotected cultivator touches it, the cold poison enters instantly. It freezes the meridians first, then the heart. Most don't even realize what happened before it's too late.
She glanced back at the flower, now seeing it with caution rather than wonder.
But, Mike continued, his tone easing slightly, if you protect yourself with sufficient energy, if your circulation is stable then the flower won't harm you. It's selective. Like this place.
Jian Wu nodded slowly, committing the warning to memory.
Mike scanned the surroundings once more, then pointed toward a flatter area near the inner edge of the basin, where the ground was layered with pale frost and thin streams of cold spiritual energy flowed naturally.
Sit there, he said. Cultivate for a while.
She followed his gaze. Should I refine my flame now?
No. Mike shook his head. Not yet. Heal your old injuries first. Let your body settle into this place.
As he spoke, a faint blue glow spread across his body his flame flowing outward, forming a thin protective layer that shimmered like ocean light beneath ice.
I'll check the lake, he added.
Before Jian Wu could respond, Mike stepped forward and entered the lake
The water was somewhere crystallized and somewhere. Beneath the surface, layers of pale blue light shifted slowly, like frozen currents suspended in time.
The moment his body submerged, an overwhelming cold rushed in.
Even with his flame guarding him, the chill pierced deep, clawing at flesh and bone. It wasn't ordinary cold, it was refined, ancient, lethal. Without protection, even a Dou Ba cultivator would freeze in moments.
Mike clenched his jaw and descended deeper. The pressure increased. The cold intensified. His flame pulsed steadily, resisting the encroaching frost as he scanned the depths with sharp focus. No movement. No hidden beast. No lurking presence. Only silence and cold.
After a thorough sweep, Mike turned and rose back toward the surface. When he emerged, thin vapor rolled off his body as the cold met the warmer air.
He exhaled slowly. This place… he thought, is perfect. Perfect for ice and water cultivation. Perfect for tempering will and endurance. Perfect and merciless.
Mike stepped back onto the frozen ground and glanced toward Jian Wu, who was already seated, eyes closed, spiritual energy gathering naturally around her.
Then, Jian Wu opens her eyes and stood up slowly and asked, Brother Mike… is everything all right inside the lake?
Mike nodded, a faint smile on his face. Yes. It's safe. And more importantly, it's extremely suitable for cultivating ice-type energy. For you, it will be far more efficient.
Jian Wu understood what he meant. Jian Dao had already confirmed it long ago, her power was dual-natured. One attribute was ordinary and commonly displayed, while the other, deeply hidden, was ice and water.
But first, refine your flame, Mike added calmly,
Okay, Jian Wu replied. She raised her hand, and a small yellow flame seed emerged from ring. Closing her eyes, she guided it into her consciousness, slowly infusing it into her body. Her hands formed some signs and spiritual energy from the surroundings began to surge toward her. Her expression tightened slightly as exhaustion crept in.
Mike inhaled deeply. She's doing well.
Then a thought crossed his mind. What if I add my flame seed to hers?
He shook his head lightly. Not yet. Let's observe the outcome first.
Mike sat down casually against an inclined stone, retrieved a book from his storage ring, and began flipping through its pages. The book recorded various flame evolutions and fusion paths. Page after page turned until his eyes stopped.
Here, Golden Dragon Flame. A high-level flame.
He continued reading.
Yellow Dragon Flame. Also high-level but inferior to the golden variant. So the golden dragon flame is the superior evolution, Mike murmured.
At that moment,
Ahhh! Jian Wu suddenly screamed.
Mike's expression changed instantly. The book slipped from his hands as he rushed toward her. What happened?! Mike shouted to her.
Blood spilled from Jian Wu's mouth.
Mike quickly checked her condition. Her meridians are stable… her life force is normal. Then why. His gaze sharpened. Repulsion? Is something rejecting the yellow flame?
Without hesitation, Mike sat cross-legged in front of her and sent his consciousness into hers. What greeted him was silence. Endless water stretched in all directions, like a void. Mike took a single step forward.
Boom.
A massive gate revealed itself in the center of the water, dividing the consciousness world into two domains.
One side was white, pure, righteous, tranquil. That was where Mike stood.
The other side was red, dark, foul, and oppressive. There was jian Wu lay. She was resting in a big place where blood-red flower was everywhere, her body surrounded by violent crimson energy.
Mike's heart sank. This… is Jian Wu's consciousness? He moved closer to the red domain.
The moment he crossed over, pressure slammed into him. An overwhelming, suffocating force crushed down upon his soul. A foul stench filled the air, and dark red energy surged violently. Mike turned and froze.
Before him stood a massive red dragon, its body drenched in blood, its aura vast beyond human comprehension. Though heavily injured, its presence alone felt ancient and terrifying.
A thunderous voice echoed. You lowly human… dare to peek into my territory?
Then, the dragon roared. Mike couldn't even stand. His consciousness shattered instantly.
Pff!
Mike was forced out violently, blood spraying from his mouth as he collapsed backward. What… was that thing? Mike questioned himself. His chest heaved. A dragon… inside her consciousness? And injured… .
His eyes narrowed. That flame wasn't being rejected by Jian Wu, it was being suppressed by that.
Without wasting time, Mike formed hand seals and struck Jian Wu's meridians with his first two fingers. He began forcefully extracting the yellow flame.
The pressure eased immediately. Jian Wu's breathing stabilized. Mike fully pulled the flame out.
Her eyes fluttered open. Brother Mike… did I refine it? she asked weakly.
Mike shook his head gently. No.
Jian Wu smiled faintly. It's fine. It always fails.
Don't worry, Mike said firmly. Now is the right time to cultivate in the lake.
But… without flame, how will I protect myself?
Mike replied calmly, Use your ice and water side.
Jian Wu nodded. Cold energy surged from her body, frost forming around her skin as her aura turned chillingly pure.
Mike stepped aside and says, Go.
She entered the lake. As Jian Wu submerged herself into the icy lake, Mike turned toward the Snow Glass Lily.
For now, he murmured, I'll collect these spiritual flowers.