This was a grand hall as exquisite as an ice sculpture.
Both the surrounding walls, the floor, and the ceiling were all crystalline, translucent ice. The hall was empty, containing nothing at all. Only in the very center was there a well, about one meter across, filled with Tai Yin Spiritual Qi. Floating above the well's mouth was an ice crystal the size of a fist.
This well was the root of the entire cave dwelling, also known as the Cave Dwelling's Eye.
What that fist-sized ice crystal was, Gu Qingfeng could not tell, but he was certain it was not a Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal.
This ice crystal floated slightly, flickering in and out of existence, sometimes blurry, sometimes distorted, as if it were currently condensing and evolving.
Gu Qingfeng walked over slowly. Just as he was about to reach out and take the ice crystal, it suddenly trembled violently, as if about to explode. He quickly withdrew his hand.
He released his divine sense, cautiously probing it. This thing was indeed in the process of condensing something. It was very unstable now; the slightest touch might cause it to shatter.
Hmm?
While probing, Gu Qingfeng's brow suddenly raised, because he discovered there seemed to be something inside the Cave Dwelling's Eye.
The moment he probed, the ice crystal trembled violently again. Gu Qingfeng immediately retracted his divine sense. He didn't know what exactly was inside the Cave Dwelling's Eye, but it seemed related to this ice crystal?
Unclear.
He simply stood there, waiting, observing.
Outside the grand hall.
Da Qian, Zi Yun, and the others—over a hundred people—were still standing there dumbfounded, staring at the more than a hundred fragments of Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal scattered on the ground, as if unable to believe their eyes.
Indeed.
When Gu Qingfeng had demanded the Blue Nurturing Frost granules from them, they thought he was going to rob them. They never imagined that after seizing them, he would then throw out over a hundred fragments of Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal, which were far more valuable than those granules.
"What are you all standing around for?"
Monk Bu’er, munching on something delicious, looked at the crowd and said, "Brother Gu is a principled man. He took some of your granules and gave each of you a fragment in return. That's him giving you face. Don't be ungrateful. Hurry up and leave."
Not far away, Wei Qing stood there. Others might not understand why Gu Qingfeng, who possessed so many Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal fragments, would still demand granules from these people. But he knew the reason. Although these granules were merely Blue Nurturing Frost granules, they contained a certain mechanism mystery, and these mysteries were precisely the secret keys to opening the white stone gate's mechanism.
These granules were of little value in the hands of these people, but in Gu Qingfeng's hands, their value was immense. Taking the granules and then giving these people some fragments clearly showed he was a man of principle.
Enmity was enmity.
Grudge was grudge.
Since I took something from you, I won't take it for nothing. I'll repay you tenfold.
Of course, this was merely principle, or more precisely, a clear distinction between kindness and enmity.
I take your things, I repay you tenfold.
But that's all.
It didn't mean he was kind-hearted, nor did it mean he wouldn't kill you. The meaning of his earlier words was crystal clear: take the things and get lost. If you don't leave, stay and wait for death.
The over hundred people inside picked up the Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal fragments from the ground. They glanced at Qin Wanli kneeling on the floor, then at Mu Yulong slumped against the wall in the corner. Who dared to stay? They hurriedly left.
Just as the crowd was dispersing, a group of eight or nine people walked in.
At their head was a handsome man holding a cyan jade fan, followed by four elders and four middle-aged men. These people gave off a very sinister feeling.
It was none other than Murong Fei and his group.
"What happened here?"
Murong Fei inquired, but no one responded. Then, as if he had discovered something, he let out a soft exclamation of surprise. In a flash, he passed through the white stone gate and stepped into this ice-sculpture-like grand hall. Seeing Gu Qingfeng, he was first startled. When he saw the evolving ice crystal floating inside the Cave Dwelling's Eye, his eyes instantly gleamed with a brilliant light.
Outside the grand hall, nearly all of the over hundred people had left. True Being Zi Yun looked at Qin Wanli. Though still alive, he was merely breathing. All his meridians were severed, his dantian had collapsed, his foundation was destroyed, and his cultivation had completely dissipated. He was practically crippled.
Just as she was about to leave with Qin Wanli, a secret voice transmission reached her ear.
"True Being Zi Yun, are we just going to leave like this?"
The voice came from True Being Da Qian. Everyone else had left; only he remained. He had originally intended to leave as well, but when Murong Fei appeared, he hesitated.
True Being Zi Yun transmitted back secretly, "That Gu Qingfeng's strength is bizarre and overwhelmingly powerful. If we don't leave, are we to stay and wait for death?"
"That's not necessarily true."
True Being Da Qian stroked the beard on his chin, his turbid eyes gazing toward the inside of the stone gate as he transmitted his response. "This old man just used his divine sense to probe inside. There's something good in there. And now Murong Fei has also arrived...
We might not be a match for Gu Qingfeng, but Murong Fei and Wei Qing are also here."
"You mean...
to make a move and seize it?
Have you lost your mind?
Since Gu Qingfeng could reduce Wanli to this state with one move, the two of us are definitely no match for him."
"True Being Zi Yun, you misunderstand this old man's meaning..." True Being Da Qian pretended to be scared out of his wits, trembling as he shakily stood up, while secretly transmitting his reply. "This old man has no intention of making a move to seize anything. However...
we can watch and wait. As the saying goes, when two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured; when the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits. If this old man's guess is correct, Murong Fei will definitely join forces with Wei Qing to seize it later. At that time...
Hehe, we'll just wait here, then act according to circumstances. If there's danger, we leave. If they end up mutually wounded...
Wouldn't that be an opportunity for the two of us..."
"This..." True Being Zi Yun was terrified, not daring to entertain any further wild ideas. Looking at the Blue Nurturing Frost Crystal fragment in her hand, she hesitated. Seeing this, True Being Da Qian continued to persuade her...
In truth, True Being Da Qian's guess was not wrong. The moment Murong Fei stepped into this ice-sculpture grand hall, he immediately sent a secret transmission to Wei Qing. He didn't know how formidable Gu Qingfeng's strength was, so he was also somewhat apprehensive. If he could pull Wei Qing into an alliance, it would increase their chances of success. Unfortunately, the moment he spoke, Wei Qing refused.
"Why?"
He asked.
Wei Qing had not entered the ice-sculpture grand hall, remaining outside the entire time. He appeared very calm as he responded, "You should leave. You are no match for him."
"Damn it!"
Murong Fei stood at the entrance of the ice-sculpture grand hall, a cold smile playing on his lips as he stared at the evolving ice crystal inside the Cave Dwelling's Eye, then at the white-robed man's back. He transmitted, "You should know about my bloodline. I don't believe he can do anything to my bloodline. And I can also tell you, the people beside me share the same bloodline as I do."
"I know."
Wei Qing glanced at the sinister eight people beside Murong Fei and shook his head in response. "It's useless. If you make a move, you will undoubtedly die."
"Hmph!
Don't try to scare me!
If I would undoubtedly die if I made a move, then you wouldn't fare any better. You've always been a cautious person. If you knew you were no match, you would have left long ago and wouldn't be standing here. But you haven't."
Murong Fei laughed coldly. "Don't think I don't know what you're planning. I see you want to watch from the sidelines and reap the spoils!"
"Believe me, if I could leave, I wouldn't want to stay here for a single moment longer."
Wei Qing replied very calmly.
Just as he said, if it were possible, he didn't want to stay here for a single second. In fact, one could say that if he had known Gu Qingfeng was coming to this cave dwelling while outside, he would never have entered.
Yes.
He wouldn't have.
But he still came. Not because he wanted to seize anything, but because he had a reason he couldn't ignore.
If not for that, he wouldn't be standing here.
This feeling was not pleasant. Wei Qing didn't even know if he could leave here alive.
He didn't know, but he had to wait here.
"Murong Fei, out of respect for your father, I'll advise you one last time. Leave this place. Go as far away as possible. Do not, under any circumstances, make a move...
Do not...
Once you act, it will be too late..."
Four chapters updated...
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