There was only white as far as the eye could see. In a hidden crevice, a fox devil poked her pair of white ears out. Only after looking around cautiously did she dart away.
The closer she got, the more intense the scent of immortal cultivation became. She swallowed back her saliva and turned to see that, as expected, an arctic wolf was near the practitioner’s quarters.
“Hmph, he can’t even give me a heads up when he leaves, some friend he is.” muttered the fox devil quietly. She found a secluded place above the cave and began to meditate.
As more time passed by, more and more devils came here. In the last century, they gradually came to understand Jiang Yinghe’s temperament and learned that he did not mind them borrowing the spiritual energy he radiated to cultivate. The only time he chased two little devils away was when their incorporeal forms entangled to fight for a spot that was closer to him.
And in these one hundred years, many devils who obtained a human form thanks to the cultivator left their most prized trinkets in front of the cave out of gratitude before setting off. That person never made a move to retrieve any of it, so a small mountain of treasure had formed.
There was a ripple of energy through the air. A butterfly made of ice flew next to the fox devil and spoke in a familiar voice.
“You’ve siphoned energy for several decades already, Xue Qianqian, so why are your ears still out?”
Xue Qianqian rolled her eyes, “I’m dumb and not smart like you, happy?”
The ice butterfly laughed and looked in the direction of the cave before turning back to Xue Qianqian. “I’ve heard an interesting rumour, little fox, are you interested?”
Xue Qianqian knew that she was the type of person that couldn’t go to sleep at night without gossiping a bit first, so of course she said, “Just tell me or go, you’re delaying my cultivation.”
The butterfly got closer to her ear and whispered consiparatively, “I heard my clan elders say that an archdevil will reawaken here soon.”
“An archdevil?” Xue Qianqian jeered, “That’s the same load of crap I hear every year. Is it so easy to revive them? Right now the devil race is weak, we only have the Devil Barons Jiuying and Hundun to hold down the fort. An archdevil is an existence above even them that only appears once every few thousand years. Stop daydreaming already.”
Offended by her skepticism, the butterfly pulled at her sleeve and hissed, “I’m being serious right now!”
Xue Qianqian shook off her hand and adjusted her posture, “Are you living in the past? Ever since the Devil God and Devil King Tianhou fell one after the other……”
Before she finished talking, the normally calm waves of energy emanating from the cave stopped. Dark clouds began to gather above the alcove, with purple lighting brewing inside. A terrifying pressure descended from above.
Just as the assembled little devils began to panic, a warm gust of wind cascaded out of the cave and blew everyone several kilometers away.
Xue Qianqian and the ice butterfly tumbled several times before coming to a stop. Before they had even regained their bearings, an earth-shattering lightning bolt struck the cave. Bits of debris flew through the air accompanied by a blinding flash of light.
If it wasn’t for the cultivator’s burst of energy just now, all of the devils present would have been vaporized.
Xue Qianqian felt the blood drain from her face, she held her thumping chest. The butterfly beside her stammered several times before getting out, “So this…this purple lightning means…there’s a Xianjun at the Hollowed Cave stage inside!”
Hollowed Cave stage, huh…… Xue Qianqian swallowed with some difficulty, “Xian, Xianjun? Is it his first or second tribulation?”
Those at the Hollowed Cave stage need to endure three lightning tribulations and five tests of their dedication to the Dao before they could be referred to as a half-step from a bonafide Golden Immortal. In the entire cultivation world, there were only two Xianjuns at present. One was Xuan Wei Xianjun Jiang Yinghe from Peng Lai sect and the other was Hun Yuan Xianjun Tong Guiyu from He Huan sect.
Only someone who was ice and snow incarnate like Jiang Yinghe would choose to receive their tribulation in a place like this.
Not just these two, all the devils of the Frozen Plains were reflecting on this near brush with death. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the ongoing tribulation. This was a rare chance to improve their cultivation drastically!
“It is said that Jiang Xianjun has a cool temperament, but I think that’s just a front to hide his warm nature. Where else would you find someone that would remember the likes of us at a time like this?” The butterfly sighed, “Why don’t you try to ask him to take you as a disciple? Then you would be set for life.”
Xue Qianqian huffed, “Are you trying to get me killed?”
Their banter slowly died down. The rolling clouds occasionally revealed the purple sky above. The sheer quantity of charge that was present was deeply disorienting. Yet no one was able to look away.
The sounds of the lightning tribulation lasted about half a day and left the devils with a migraine. When they were almost at their limit, the layers of clouds began to drift away. The scent of spiritual energy in the air became richer until it made some of them dizzy with desire.
Just as the devils nearby were about to faint, a man’s cold and distant voice could be heard from within.
“Do not approach.”
Just three words from Xuan Wei Xianjun stopped the more courageous devils in their tracks. They all kneeled and paid their respects as if to a teacher in the direction of the ice-encrusted cave.
“Those who have not been taught by me need not kneel this way.” Jiang Yinghe said lightly, “Leave this place.”
The voice was clear and melodious. Xue Qianqian felt her body move away despite her wanting to stay just a while longer.
All the devils soon scattered.
—-
Jiang Yinghe was clothed in light green with bamboo leaves woven on his coat. His foundation was still unstable after his recent tribulation, but he was in no rush to repair it. Instead, he lifted his head to look deeper into the cave at the youth encased in ice.
A hundred years ago, he stumbled upon this frozen shell while looking for a place to invoke his tribulation. By analyzing the words carved nearby, Jiang Yinghe concluded that this was the one of the residences of a fallen ancient archdevil.
Yet there was no trace of devilish aura on the structure. The body within was well-preserved, as if it was intended to be eaten later or kept as a ‘pet’ by the owner who for whatever reason did not return.
There were many ways for devils to quickly raise their cultivation levels. Only those who choose to borrow the methods of humans got stronger at a more gradual pace.
Jiang Yinghe stood up and approached the sculpture. He glanced over the youth’s face.
His hair was dark and his skin was fair. Faintly red lips highlighted his exquisite appearance. If it wasn’t for the shape of his Adam’s apple, he could almost be mistaken for a girl. It’s just that the left side of his face was horrifically disfigured, as if a devil had gnawed on it.
The contrast was devastatingly cruel to behold.
When Jiang Yinghe’s hand touched the ice, it shattered and the body within fell into his embrace.
It was too cold.
Due to the nature of his cultivation, his body temperature was already cooler than most. But the youth he was holding was like a block of ice.
A block of ice that could move. Like he was waking up from a deep sleep, the youth hugged his neck and whispered pitifully, “Cold……”
Even his voice was shivering.
Jiang Yinghe took out a black coat from his personal dimension and draped it over the other’s shoulders. He then lifted the youth into his arms. While the boy warmed up, a notification suddenly appeared from the system that had been silent for a century.
[Target located! Assessment result is: A stunning masterpiece.]
Jiang Yinghe paused. He felt like a compulsion to collect them all had been satisfied for some strange reason. The road to immortality was ever changing, so maybe it was easier to raise three outstanding disciples after all?
He reached out a hand to examine the other’s meridians. He had nothing left to say after finding the shattered fragments of frozen spiritual veins. Just as he was questioning his life, the youth in his arms raised his head to reveal a half beautiful face.
Eyes as clear as water looked up, accompanied by a voice weak from disuse.
“Please help me……I’m, I’m so cold……”
Jiang Yinghe felt like he had been hit. An uncontrollable current of paternal love welled up from his heart. Although he was only in his twenties when he left Earth, he had been alive for almost twelve hundred years in total. He sent spiritual energy into the youth’s body, bypassing the frozen veins to his forehead, where he created a silvery seal of protection.
He rested his chin on the top of the youth’s head, saying in a soft tone, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”
The boy covered by a black cloak tightened his hold on Jiang Yinghe and breathed in deeply.
The slightly cold air filled with spiritual energy rushed into his lungs and broke past the fog of his recently revived mind.
—-
The child in the cave was called Chang Ye.
Jiang Yinghe did not head back immediately to Peng Lai using his light form. After he took Chang Ye away from the Frozen Plains, the duo spent several months walking to the sect.
Chang Ye was a lively child, but he knew when to be obedient. His only fault was his clinginess. According to him, he was sold to slavers after getting lost from his refugee family. Then a devil captured him and imprisoned him in the Frozen Plains.
He said that he owes Jiang Yinghe one life debt for saving him and another for becoming his teacher.
The candlelight wavered.
Jiang Yinghe was sitting cross legged on the cushion polishing Wangchen. The snow white sword pendant swung under his ministrations.
The door sounded, and Chang Ye who was wearing dark green brought over a small plate of sweets.
Jiang Yinghe looked up to carefully examine Chang Ye, ignoring the sweets. He said, “You were walking faster and your demeanour is troubled. What is on your mind?”
Chang Ye did not think that he would notice. He raised his head in panic and said in a slightly awkward way, “……Shizun. I, am I really ugly?”
Jiang Yinghe was stunned.
“I just bumped into a young lady. She said that…that my face was like a jigsaw puzzle. She told me to leave before her eyes were stained by the sight of me.”
Chang Ye’s voice became more and more quiet. He carefully wiped his tears.
“Shizun, I know that cultivators should learn to look…look at what is within. But I……”
His hand was held by another.
Jiang Yinghe’s fingers were slender and soft, with the sheen of frost. Yet the spot where they touched Chang Ye’s palm radiated warmth.
“The ugliness of her heart is the only thing that will stain others.” Jiang Yinghe looked at him, “Promise Shizun you will remain pure. Chang Ye should forever be a kind and agreeable person.”
Chang Ye paused. He swallowed, then dove into Jiang Yinghe’s embrace.
It was quite a while before Jiang Yinghe heard the other say quietly.
“I will be the best person in Shizun’s heart.”
Author’s Corner
Jiang Yinghe: Add a spoonful of kind teachings, a spoonful of good nature, then add a bucket of respect for the teacher and the Dao…
Devil Race: For some reason we’re kinda scared too QAQ
Well Chang Ye seems like a cute little bun. I wonder how long that’ll last.