23: Chapter 23 Mystic Ice Soul Fruit

Indeed, if not for your secret technique, it is hard to say if we could have gotten the better of that Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile today.

Zhang Wen looked at Chen Nianchu, who was pale beside him, a lingering fear in his smile as he reached out to pat her shoulder.

If that beast's tail swipe had connected, we would likely be broken to pieces by now.

Chen Nianchu panted slightly, a thin layer of white frost forming on her fingertips, slowly circulating through her Meridians to repair the spiritual energy damaged during the fierce battle.

Don't be careless, she said, her voice still weak but carrying unquestionable vigilance.

Something that could make that Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile guard it so desperately is definitely no ordinary item.

I vaguely sensed an extremely cold aura hidden in the forest just now, faintly resonating with my Frost Blade Ice Heart...

She stopped abruptly, her eyes brightening: It's the Mysterious Ice Soul Fruit! It must be!

Zhang Wen was stunned, then revealed a look of pleasant surprise: The legendary treasure capable of tempering Ice-type talents?

No wonder that Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile guarded this place with its life—it was likely waiting to absorb it when the fruit matured to break through its Realm!

Exactly, Chen Nianchu placed her hand on her chest, feeling the agitation of the Frost Blade Ice Heart within her.

Ice-type talent is most compatible with the Mysterious Ice Soul Fruit; if I can obtain it, I might be able to break through my current bottleneck in one go.

She took a deep breath, a hint of color returning to her pale Face.

Let's rest for half an hour first; once we recover thirty percent of our Qi, we'll head over to avoid any accidents.

Zhang Wen nodded heavily, immediately sitting cross-legged to circulate his Qi.

The forest was left with only the sound of wind and rustling leaves, but both knew in their hearts that the final battle for the Mysterious Ice Soul Fruit had just begun.

Let's go, let's harvest that spiritual object quickly before complications arise.

Zhang Wen stood up with his sword, his gaze sweeping over the silent frozen earth.

The traces of the recent battle had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with the smell of blood.

Chen Nianchu nodded in response, her voice carrying a bit of the strength she had just recovered: Mm.

The frost Qi on her fingertips flowed faster involuntarily; the closer she got to the lair of the Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile, the more agitated her Frost Blade Ice Heart became, as if urging her toward something.

The two stepped into the depths of the lair one after the other.

On the ice platform in the center of the cave, a fruit the size of a fist was floating quietly—its skin as transparent as ice crystals, with what looked like a miniature ice moon hidden inside.

Wisps of cold air swirled around it, but without a shred of biting coldness; instead, it was pure enough to clear one's mind.

It really is the Mysterious Ice Soul Fruit! Chen Nianchu's eyes instantly burst with delighted light, her breathing even quickening a little.

She could clearly feel the cold air emitted by the fruit drilling into her limbs and bones along her Meridians, creating a strong resonance with her talent's Origin, as if it were naturally meant to belong to her.

Zhang Wen also let out a sigh of relief and smiled: It really is a good thing.

Come to think of it, we have to thank that Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile; although it was extremely troublesome, with it guarding this place, the surrounding trash Demonic Beasts were all cleared out, otherwise, we would have spent quite a bit of effort just cleaning up the periphery.

While speaking, Chen Nianchu had already carefully walked forward.

She took out a wooden box engraved with cold patterns from her Storage Pouch, condensed a thin thread of frost blade at her fingertips, and gently cut the ice root beneath the Mysterious Ice Soul Fruit.

The moment the fruit detached from the ice platform, the surrounding cold air suddenly intensified, but it was firmly locked by the patterns on the wooden box.

She gently placed the fruit into the box, and the moment she closed the lid, the surging Qi in her body strangely calmed down a bit.

All right, she said.

She put the wooden box into her pouch, but her gaze toward the cave entrance suddenly turned cold.

Those people outside are probably impatient to make a move.

The smile on Zhang Wen's Face also faded; he had long sensed the fluctuation of Qi near the cave entrance but had not pointed it out.

No rush, he said, looking at Chen Nianchu with a steady tone.

This Mysterious Ice Soul Fruit is most compatible with you, so you should take this opportunity to absorb it now.

If your strength increases by a point, dealing with those people later will be that much more secure.

Chen Nianchu pondered for a moment and agreed.

She found a sheltered ice wall to sit down, placed the wooden box on her knees, and gently stroked the patterns on the box surface: Half an hour is enough.

She looked up at Zhang Wen, cold light flickering in her eyes: When I come out, if they don't say anything, fine; if they really dare to come and snatch it, I will definitely make them pay.

Chen Nianchu said fiercely (｀Д´).

Zhang Wen looked at the lightning patterns gradually dissipating from his palm, the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably, his fingertips still tingling from the explosion of lightning.

Just now, to deal with the Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile, he had almost instinctively unleashed the Thunder Net Locking Truth—the second form of the Rushing Thunder Delusion Breaking Fist was still in the exploration stage, but unexpectedly, in that moment of life and death, it had condensed into an impenetrable Lightning Radiance cage.

The lavender electric net crackled, shattering the ice crystals on the fangs of the Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile, pinning that mountain-like body to the frozen earth.

This Thunder Net Locking Truth technique is simply a heaven-sent surprise.

He raised an eyebrow at the dissipating lightning, twirling his fingertips in front of his nose.

To be so cooperative on the first practical use, it seems this Genius's Comprehension Ability is truly beyond reproach.

As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of soreness suddenly struck his wrist; the surging Qi in his Meridians from forcibly channeling the Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder had not yet fully subsided.

He looked at the ice marks spreading beside the carcass of the Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile, the pressure from that moment still lingering in his heart—he had thought that relying on the SSS-grade Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder to challenge the Forming Realm across ranks would be easy, but the wind blades brought about by the crocodile's tail-swipe nearly tore through his protective lightning layer.

Tsk, there are really quite a few pits on this path of cultivation.

He squeezed his sore thumb web, the pride fading a bit.

The density of the Forming Realm's Qi is much more solid than expected.

Zhang Wen! Look at this! A crisp female voice with a cheerful lilt cut through the air.

Chen Nianchu jumped to his side with her sword; the ice crystals condensed on the blade fell like snowflakes as she moved, refracting fine light in the sun.

As she raised her hand, a wisp of cold air more solid than before lingered at her fingertips, and even the loose hair at her temples was coated with a thin layer of frost, but her eyes were shockingly bright.

I just broke through to the Early Bloom Mid-stage, and that 'Frost Blade Ice Heart' Sword Qi just now is thirty percent more solid than before!

She swung her sword, and a half-foot-long ice prism appeared out of thin air at her fingertips, only to be crushed by her with a smile.

Zhang Wen glanced at her cold-radiating blade and deliberately dragged out his tone: Mm, it’s a bit of an improvement over last time, worth a round of applause.

He reached out and clapped twice symbolically: But compared to someone's Realm, it's still half a beat slower.

Pfft! Chen Nianchu tapped his arm lightly with her scabbard.

The ice patterns on the scabbard touched the lingering lightning patterns on his sleeve, making a faint crisp sound.

If I hadn't used my secret technique to finish it off, what use would your Thunder Net have been in controlling it?

Zhang Wen rubbed the spot where he was tapped, looking at the cold air flowing on her sword, his tongue pushing against his cheek, but he refused to admit defeat verbally.

Fine, I'll count it as a half-assist.

But next time you encounter a guy of this level, remember to hide behind me—no matter how powerful an A-grade talent is, it ultimately has to rely on the SSS-grade Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder as a fallback, understand?

Chen Nianchu was amused by him, raised her hand and pressed the scabbard onto his shoulder, the cold air seeping through the fabric, making Zhang Wen shrink his neck.

On the distant frozen earth, the corpse of the Frozen Tundra Giant Crocodile was gradually being covered by newly formed ice layers, and the two young figures were amidst the interweaving of lightning and frost.

One was raising his chin and bantering, the other was pursing her lips with a smile in her eyes; the tension of the life-and-death battle just now had long been quietly melted by the warmth of this bickering.