From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 88 Difficult Preparations and Many Troubles

The moment I regained consciousness, I felt a sharp headache, as if someone had struck my head with a giant hammer. I struggled to open my eyes; everything was blurry, and my ears were ringing. I tried to move a finger, but found my whole body weak, as if it had fallen apart.

"I... am I still alive?" I murmured to myself, my voice hoarse like a broken bellows.

I vaguely remember being swept into a massive vortex of energy, almost torn to pieces. It was that mysterious power that saved me, that power from the depths of my soul… What exactly was it? And who was that ethereal voice? “You will know… the time has come…” These words kept echoing in my mind, yet they could never answer my questions.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay focused. I couldn't waste any more time; the fusion of the magical artifacts was urgent, and I had to find the right materials as soon as possible.

I struggled to sit up, a wave of dizziness washing over me, and I had to grab onto a nearby rock for support. My body was still weak, and every movement felt like being pricked with needles. But I had no time to rest; I had to get moving as quickly as possible.

I staggered to my feet and looked around. It seemed to be a cave, dark and damp inside, with a faint musty smell in the air. I held onto the rock wall and walked step by step toward the cave entrance.

As soon as I stepped out of the cave, I heard a murmur.

"Look, it's her! It's Xiao Yao who got caught in the energy vortex!"

"I heard she almost died, what a jinx!"

"I wonder what kind of evil magic she used to survive. She might bring bad luck to our Weapon Refining Valley!"

I recognized the speaker as Leng Shuang and her henchmen, who were standing not far away, pointing and whispering at me. Leng Shuang's eyes were filled with malice, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips.

I knew it must be Leng Shuang spreading rumors. She's always seen me as a thorn in her side and couldn't wait for me to disappear. I ignored them and walked straight ahead.

"Xiao Yao! You stop right there!" Leng Shuang called out to me. "Do you think you can still be as arrogant as before? You almost died! You're a jinx! You don't deserve to stay in the Weapon Refining Valley!"

I stopped and gave her a cold look. "Leng Shuang, you'd better watch your mouth. I don't need you to judge who I am."

"Hmph! All you're good for is empty talk! Just you wait and see, I'll make sure you get kicked out of the Refining Valley!" Leng Shuang glared at me fiercely, then turned and left.

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress my anger. I knew that the most important thing now was not to argue with Leng Shuang, but to find the materials I needed as soon as possible.

I arrived at the Treasure Pavilion, found Pavilion Master Lu, and explained my purpose. Pavilion Master Lu's expression flickered, as if he was hesitating about something.

He spoke slowly, "Xiao Yao, your fusion this time... is very risky... and the materials required are extremely precious... I..."

My heart sank, and an ominous premonition arose within me. "Sect Master Lu, please speak frankly."

Before Pavilion Master Lu could speak, a deep voice came from behind: "Three days. Mysterious Ice Crystal Marrow."

Master Yan appeared behind me without my noticing. His expression was solemn, and his eyes were piercing.

Three days. Mystic Ice Crystal Marrow.

Master Yan's words struck me like a thunderbolt. Xuanbing Crystal Marrow—that's a legendary, extremely cold substance; you couldn't find it even in three years, let alone three! A wave of despair washed over me. Was all my effort going to be in vain?

"Master Yan, this...this is too difficult!" I pleaded. "There's no way we can find the Profound Ice Crystal Marrow in three days!"

Master Yan's gaze remained firm. "Without the Mysterious Ice Crystal Marrow, the fusion cannot proceed. This is the bottom line." With that, he turned and left, leaving me alone to face this enormous problem.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Complaining and despair were useless; I had to act quickly. I turned to Pavilion Master Lu, a glimmer of hope in my eyes, "Pavilion Master Lu, you are so knowledgeable, do you know where I can find Xuanbing Crystal Marrow?"

Pavilion Master Lu stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. “Mysterious Ice Crystal Marrow is indeed rare, but I have heard some rumors…” He paused, his eyes flashing, “It is said that Mysterious Ice Crystal Marrow may exist deep in the Ice Abyss of the far north.”

The far north! That's one of the most dangerous places in the cultivation world, covered in ice and snow year-round, with an extremely harsh climate, and countless powerful demonic beasts roaming there. Asking me to find the Profound Ice Crystal Marrow there within three days is nothing short of a pipe dream!

A surge of anger rose within me. Pavilion Master Lu was clearly just giving me the runaround! He knew perfectly well that I couldn't possibly complete this task within three days, yet he deliberately gave me hope, only to watch me fail! What was his purpose?

I suppressed my anger and said as calmly as possible, "Thank you for informing me, Pavilion Master Lu. I will do my best to try."

Over the next two days, I searched almost the entire Refining Valley, inquiring about the whereabouts of the Profound Ice Crystal Marrow, but the news I received was disappointing. Some said that the Profound Ice Crystal Marrow was just a legend and did not exist at all; some said that even if it existed, it had already been claimed by powerful cultivators; and some even advised me to give up and not waste my energy.

There has been no news from Pavilion Master Lu either. Every time I go to him, he makes excuses, saying he is looking for information or that he needs time to contact friends. In short, he refuses to give me a clear answer.

I finally understand that Pavilion Master Lu never intended to help me! His promise to help me find materials was just a ploy to keep me in check so I could continue crafting magical artifacts for him. He exploited my trust, using me as free labor!

My heart was filled with anger and helplessness, but I didn't give up. I knew I couldn't rely on anyone but myself!

I returned to my weapon-forging room and closed the door tightly. I took out all the materials and studied them carefully, trying to find other alternatives. Time ticked by, and my hope gradually faded.

Just when I was about to despair, I suddenly remembered someone—Old Monster Mo. He was an evil weapon refiner, acting mysteriously, but possessing a wealth of knowledge and resources. Perhaps he knew the whereabouts of the Profound Ice Crystal Marrow.

I knew that negotiating with a tiger for its skin was extremely dangerous, but in order to complete the fusion of the magical artifacts, I had no choice but to take the risk. I found Old Monster Mo's residence, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door…

"Come in." A sinister voice came from inside the house.

I pushed open the door and saw Old Monster Mo sitting in a black chair, holding an unknown material in his hand, examining it carefully. He looked up at me with cold eyes, a strange smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "Xiao Yao, you actually came to see me? What a rare guest."

Mo Laoguai's gaze made me very uncomfortable; it was like a venomous snake, cold and sticky. I tried to remain calm and said bluntly, "Mo Laoguai, I need your help."

He put down the materials in his hand and let out a soft chuckle, a chuckle that sounded chilling. "Oh? Fairy Xiao Yao actually needs my help? That's like the sun rising in the west. Tell me, what kind of help do you need?"

“I need Xuanbing Crystal Marrow.” I looked him straight in the eye without flinching.

"Mystic Ice Crystal Marrow?" he repeated, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "What do you need that for?"

Instead of answering his question, I asked him in return, "Do you know where I can find it?"

Old Mo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked me up and down, his gaze making me feel like a commodity being sold. "I know, but why do you think I'd tell you?"

I took a deep breath and placed one of the defensive magic treasures I had crafted on the table. "This is the Heart-Protecting Mirror I crafted; it can withstand a full-force attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator. Consider it the condition for the exchange."

Old Monster Mo picked up the Heart-Protecting Mirror and examined it carefully, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes. "Not bad, this thing does have some value. However, to think that you can exchange a mere Heart-Protecting Mirror for the information on the Mystic Ice Crystal Marrow is a bit too naive, isn't it?"

I gritted my teeth and took out several bottles of precious pills. "These pills can improve cultivation and consolidate your realm, so they should be of some use to you as well."

Old Monster Mo nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, seeing how sincere you are, I'll tell you. Perhaps what you're looking for can be found in the ice caves of the Far North Ice Abyss."

The Arctic Abyss! It's the Arctic Abyss again! It seems Pavilion Master Lu wasn't lying to me; he simply deliberately concealed the dangers, hoping to discourage me. And I, foolishly, believed him, wasting precious time. A surge of anger rose within me, but I quickly suppressed it. Now is not the time to assign blame; the most urgent task is to obtain the Profound Ice Crystal Marrow as soon as possible.

I thanked Old Monster Mo and turned to leave his residence. As I passed the plaza of the Refining Valley, I saw Leng Shuang arguing with several disciples, surrounded by onlookers, including Madam Qin. Although Madam Qin witnessed the conflict in the valley, she did not intervene, but stood quietly to the side, her eyes deep and lost in thought. I understood that the Refining Valley was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface; undercurrents were surging, and dangers lurked everywhere. I must survive in this complex environment to achieve my goals.

I rushed to the far north ice abyss without stopping. Just as Pavilion Master Lu had said, the climate here was extremely harsh, with biting winds and endless snow. After overcoming countless hardships, I finally found the ice cave that Old Monster Mo had mentioned. However, when I approached the ice cave, I discovered that Old Monster Mo had already set up numerous restrictions on it!

Old Monster Mo actually tricked me! He had no good intentions at all! He deliberately led me here to make me scout the way for him! My heart was filled with anger and resentment, but I did not back down. I had already come this far; I couldn't give up easily! I took a deep breath and began trying to break the restrictions. These restrictions were extremely complex, and I expended a great deal of spiritual energy to barely break a portion of them. In the process, I suffered many injuries, with multiple wounds from the power of the restrictions, my clothes stained with blood.

But in the end, I successfully entered the ice cave. Deep within, a bone-chilling cold emanated from within. I endured the discomfort and searched everywhere for traces of the Mystic Ice Crystal Marrow. Persistence paid off; I finally discovered a small piece of crystal emitting a ghostly blue light within a huge block of ice.

It's Xuanbing Crystal Marrow!

Overjoyed, I quickly retrieved it. However, as I examined the piece of Xuanbing Crystal Marrow closely, my heart sank. It was far too small, only the size of a fingernail, utterly insufficient to meet Master Yan's requirements…

I gripped the small piece of Xuanbing Crystal Marrow tightly in my hand, when a cold voice suddenly rang in my ears: "It seems you've found it."

I whirled around and saw that Old Monster Mo had appeared behind me at some point, a sinister smile on his face. "I knew you'd come here."

A chill ran from my feet to the top of my head. I endured the excruciating pain, stored the Xuanbing Crystal Marrow in my storage bag, and said coldly, "Old Monster Mo, how dare you lie to me!"

"Liar?" Old Monster Mo laughed loudly as if he had heard a funny joke. "I didn't lie to you. I just didn't tell you the whole truth. There is indeed Xuanbing Crystal Marrow in the Far North Ice Abyss, but obtaining it is not an easy task."

He approached me step by step, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Hand over the Xuanbing Crystal Marrow, and I might consider sparing your life."

"Dream on!" I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stand up. Although I was exhausted and seriously injured, I would never give in to him!

I quickly retrieved a flying sword from my storage bag and pointed it directly at Old Monster Mo. "If you want the Mystic Ice Crystal Marrow, let's see if you have the ability!"

Old Monster Mo sneered and unleashed his own magic weapon, and a fierce battle was about to break out. I knew I was no match for Old Monster Mo in my current state, but I had no other choice but to fight to the death.

I poured all the remaining spiritual energy in my body into the flying sword, which emitted a dazzling light and carried a sharp sword aura as it stabbed towards Old Monster Mo. Old Monster Mo was not to be outdone, wielding his magical weapon and clashing with my flying sword.

boom!

With a deafening crash, I was thrown back by the powerful impact, crashing heavily to the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood. Old Monster Mo, though also somewhat shaken, was clearly in much better shape than me. He walked towards me step by step, his eyes filled with mockery and sarcasm.

"You think you can fight me?"

I struggled to my feet, but found myself too weak to fight any longer. Was I to give up like this? No, I refused! I hadn't completed the task Master Yan had given me; I hadn't become a Celestial Venerable!

I gritted my teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, and took out a pill from my storage bag. This was my last hope—a forbidden medicine that could temporarily boost my cultivation. I knew that taking this pill would cause immense damage to my body, but I couldn't care less now.

Without hesitation, I swallowed the pill, and a powerful force instantly surged through my body. I felt my injuries rapidly healing, and my spiritual energy continuously increasing.

“You…” Old Monster Mo seemed to notice my change, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

I slowly stood up, my aura suddenly intensifying. I stared coldly at Old Monster Mo, my eyes filled with determination. "Old Monster Mo, today it's either you or me!"

I summoned my flying sword once more. This time, the light emanating from it was even more dazzling, and the sword energy even sharper. I concentrated all my power into this single strike, launching a final attack on Old Monster Mo.

Just as my flying sword was about to strike Old Monster Mo, I felt a powerful force envelop me, and my body flew up uncontrollably before crashing heavily to the ground.

Everything went black before my eyes, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I found myself in an unfamiliar room. The room was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance, and I felt that my injuries had healed considerably.

I struggled to sit up, looked around, and found the room empty. My mind was filled with questions: Who saved me? Where was Old Monster Mo?

I got out of bed, walked to the door, and gently pushed it open. Outside was a small courtyard, filled with all sorts of exotic flowers and plants, the air fresh and pleasant.

I was about to walk out of the yard when I suddenly heard a familiar voice: "You're awake."

When I turned around, I saw Madam Qin standing behind me, holding a bowl of medicine in her hands.

“Madam Qin…” I was somewhat surprised, I didn’t expect that the person who saved me was her.

Madam Qin handed me the medicine and said calmly, "Drink the medicine."

I took the bowl of medicine and drank it all in one gulp.

"Thank you for saving me."

Madam Qin didn't speak, she just looked at me quietly.

"Where is Old Monster Mo?" I asked.

“He has already left,” Madam Qin replied.

"He left?" I asked, puzzled. "Why did he leave?"

Madam Qin did not answer my question, but said, "You should rest well, we can talk about other things later."

After saying that, she turned and left the courtyard.

I watched Madam Qin's retreating figure, my mind filled with questions. Why did Madam Qin save me? What was her purpose?

I looked down at the empty bowl in my hand, a feeling of unease welling up inside me. I placed the empty bowl on the table, went back to my room, and took out the small piece of Xuanbing Crystal from my storage bag.

Even if it's just this little bit, I'll still give it a try...