Chapter 14: Ruthless Acts, No Regrets in Death
"It's impossible, you're actually... a cultivator!"
The old man's eyes widened with disbelief, reluctance, and shock, then he collapsed on the ground, without finding peace in death.
As he died, his body underwent a sudden transformation. His once dark hair turned pale and dull, his skin became more wrinkled, and his body appeared to have withered as if it had been exposed to the wind and sun for years in an instant.
Seeing this, Zhang Kai remained silent.
Indeed, this man was nothing compared to his own martial prowess. He couldn't even withstand one-fifth of Zhang Kai's strength. How could he dare to claim his strength was formidable? Arrogance and self-conceit.
However, this man was also quite mysterious. He had been chained to his pipa bone, yet he possessed such incredible strength. Furthermore, he had lived for over a hundred years and remained vigorous. What was the underlying principle?
After some thought, Zhang Kai took out his phone, and surprisingly, he had one bar of signal. He quickly opened Baidu and searched for a video about a large flashlight. He snatched the flashlight from a presenter and began exploring the cave.
Under the strong light, the interior of the cave became clear. The iron chain extended deep into the cave.
Zhang Kai walked while observing, and before long, he found a cavern-like space deep within the cave, which seemed to have been artificially excavated. Moreover, he felt an intense coldness that penetrated his skin and bone.
Zhang Kai could endure cold temperatures quite well; even in the winter, he could go shirtless without a problem. However, this chilling sensation was something he couldn't withstand. It chilled him to the bone, and he shivered involuntarily.
"What kind of place is this? Why is it so cold?" Zhang Kai wondered as he looked around. Soon, he spotted a small pool of water.
This pool was peculiar; it was only about two meters in diameter, and wisps of mist floated above it. The water was black, and the iron chain that bound the figure extended down into the pool.
Zhang Kai reached out to touch the iron chain, but he recoiled immediately as an intense chill shot through his fingers. It felt as if he had been electrocuted, and his fingers went numb.
This pool was truly mysterious and incredibly cold. Could it be that the man had used this pool to freeze himself, thus extending his lifespan?
Looking around, Zhang Kai made another discovery. There was a makeshift bed, some books, and various odds and ends. He picked up one of the books and skimmed through it, and his eyes widened in shock.
These were secrets related to cultivation, specifically the complete inheritance of the Maoshan School. The book contained various talismanic drawings, methods for cultivating and refining one's qi, and even techniques for manipulating corpses.
Could it be that the man who died earlier was once the head of the White Cloud Monastery?
Zhang Kai speculated, but since the man had already passed away, there was no way to confirm it.
Continuing his search, Zhang Kai found a notebook-like object. It contained information about the man's background and some experimental data, with the experiments conducted on the pool within the cave. Some of the content confirmed Zhang Kai's suspicions.
The man who had been chained up was none other than the first-generation master of the White Cloud Monastery, who had originally practiced the Maoshan School's teachings. His ancestors had upheld the school's rules for generations, protecting their village. However, as spiritual energy diminished and cultivation became increasingly difficult, he had left his hometown in search of opportunities.
And it seemed he had found them. This mountain's icy pool was a unique natural formation that had formed over countless years due to changes in the earth's energy. If spiritual energy were still present, this place would be brimming with it, making it an excellent cultivation site. Unfortunately, with the decline of spiritual energy, the quality had decreased.
Despite this, the man stayed and secretly studied the pool. Eventually, he discovered a method to extend his lifespan: using the iron chain to connect his body to the pool's cold energy. Although this would transform him into something other than a pure human and cause him to lose his cultivation, it greatly delayed his aging. What would normally result in death within a hundred years might now extend to two or three hundred.
However, this method had its drawbacks. He couldn't leave the pool; if he did, he would die. Additionally, he needed fresh meat to nourish his vitality and counteract the cold energy. This was why he had experimented with various grotesque practices, such as consuming the blood of children and other horrifying rituals.
Comparing this information, Zhang Kai finally understood the purpose of the child the man had brought. It was for blood consumption, a bloodthirsty practice.
He had not killed the wrong person; he had spared many innocent lives from a gruesome fate. Although he was still disturbed by the experience, he felt a sense of relief that he had done the right thing.
After burying the remains in a depression outside the valley and concealing the bloodstains, Zhang Kai returned to the cave to investigate the icy pool.
This place piqued his interest because his inability to withstand the cold was a weakness he needed to address. If he could use this pool to temper his body and build resistance, he would be immune to extreme cold, which could prove invaluable in the future.
He didn't recklessly plunge in. Instead, he sat down beside the pool, circulated his inner energy, and allowed the cold energy to infiltrate his body.
The chilling sensation spread throughout his body, heightening his concentration. As his inner energy circulated, Zhang Kai began to sense something remarkable.
It seemed that this cold energy could also refine his inner energy!