Nine Astra Skies
chapter-152

Chapter 152: Frost Gem

“Brother Ye Chen, do I stand a chance at beating that mean lady the next time we see her?” Little Wingsy’s tiny voice came from Ye Chen’s clothes.

Ye Chen knew he was referring to Tantai Ling. He nodded. “Absolutely!”

“Okay, I believe you,” Little Wingsy responded.

“Little Wingsy, what are those rocks in the pool?” Ye Chen asked. Those rocks at the bottom of the pool looked extraordinary.

“Squeak, squeak,” Little Tanuki said a few words.

“Miss Tanuki said these are Frost Gems and they’re some sort of treasure.” Little Wingsy flew out Ye Chen’s clothes and transformed into a child again.

“Frost Gems? Can we fish them out of the water then?” Ye Chen asked. Those stones seemed to contain large traces of cold energy which could be of use when he cultivated Ice elemental Celestial Chi. It might even come in handy for something else at some point.

“These rocks have been here since the day I was born. Grandpa says that my parents probably left them here. They’re cold. One time, I placed my hand into the waters and my hand immediately froze and I couldn’t take it out.” Little Wingsy squatted by the banks of the pool and looked at the bottom of the lake.

Ye Chen was surprised to hear that. Was the water that cold?

Ye Chen placed his hand on the surface of the water. A cold stream of energy was emitted from the center. Most beings would have been frozen upon contact with the frost. Ye Chen decided to channel Ice Mystic Discourse to test the coldness.

Such a stream of cold energy was extremely handy to Ye Chen’s Ice Mystic Discourse. As he placed his right arm into the water, the cold made Ye Chen shiver violently. Before his right arm froze completely, he cast Ice Mystic Discourse on his right hand. Only then did the frost melt away.

Ye Chen felt the Ice Mystic Discourse in him grow stronger. He was overjoyed to find that his entire arm did not freeze when he placed it into the cold pool. Next, he thought he should descend into the water. He placed his legs into the waters first, then his body and eventually, he was fully submerged in the water.

Little Tanuki did not have the same guts and so, she stood by the side of the pool and watched Ye Chen intently.

Little Wingsy stared at Ye Chen with the brightest, starriest eyes ever. He never had the guts to descend into the pond but Ye Chen was completely unaffected as he completely immersed himself in the icy pool. Little Wingsy was super blown away. He would not stop praising Ye Chen. “It was not surprising that Miss Tanuki says you’re all that!”

Little Tanuki’s tail wagged as she watched Ye Chen. Descending into an icy pool carried certain risks and if not careful enough, they might turn into a frozen sculpture!

Ye Chen proceeded to the bottom. For a moment, he hesitated to touch the Frost Gems as he could feel icicles forming at the tip of his hair.

Ye Chen assumed a meditative posture at the bottom of the pool and cultivated at his Ice Mystic Discourse, braving the cold surrounding him.

As Ice Mystic Discourse channeled, the cold energy in Ye Chen’s body began to swirl and spun, becoming stronger and grittier.

While Ye Chen tempered with the Ice elemental Celestial Chi in his body, the Skyfire Armguard on Ye Chen’s left arm started to dim a little in the glow. The Spirit Artifact in the armguard was fighting against the sheer cold from its surroundings. With every passing minute, the fire elemental Spirit Artifact’s energy depleted further, weakening it.

Noticing the changes in the armguard, Ye Chen grew worried. If the Spirit Artifact burned out, did that mean that it would die too?

Ye Chen quickly turned some of his Fire elemental Celestial Chi and injected it into the armguard. The Spirit Artifact felt rejuvenated once more and burned brightly again.

As Ye Chen did that, he momentarily experienced a clash in elements. He felt disorientated on the inside. One moment he was frigid cold and the next, he was burning hot. It was like a dance of ice and fire.

Ice and Fire-type Chi Circles were considered the strongest of the seven elemental Celestial Chi. The beads produced by the core of the circle were swirling in tandem with one another, like a pair of stars orbiting around the center, increasing in speed with each turn.

“What’s happening to Brother Ye Chen?” Little Wingsy looked to the bottom of the water anxiously. Flashes of flame appeared at the bottom from time to time.

Little Tanuki shook her head. She could not explain the phenomena that was happening.

At that moment, the two felt the surrounding icy energy gathering around the pool.

Ye Chen’s body was like a whirlpool. Drawing all the icy Celestial Chi to him, he descended into his dantian. Ye Chen realized the pattern of the Nine Astra in him had changed. Fire and ice were swirling together but the rest were scattered like stars surrounding the moon. Ye Chen could not tell if it was a good or bad change.

Ye Chen opened his eyes. The icy energy in the pond had been fully absorbed by him, except the Frost Gems were emitting icy energy. Ye Chen could not tell what exactly the Frost Gems were and how they were capable of releasing icy energy but he no longer feared the cold. He picked up the stones with his right hand and stored them away in his Heaven-Earth pouch.

Placing the Frost Gems into the armguard was not a good idea, given it would clash with the Spirit Artifact, so placing it in the pouch was a better alternative.

Many Frost Gems were lying at the bottom, about twenty to thirty of them. Thinking that he would never return here ever again, he took all of them. He did not want such rarity to fall into the hands of others.

After picking all the Frost Gems up, Ye Chen jetted through the water and emerged from the icy pool.

“Brother Ye Chen, did you get all the Frost Gems?” Little Wingsy asked excitedly. He could sense the change in Ye Chen’s energy. There was a rather enlightened vibe to Ye Chen and it seemed like his Celestial Chi had increased in level too though he remained a mid-Tenth Level. Ye Chen’s Celestial Chi was, however, different from the common crowd or he would never be able to enter in and out of the pool as he pleased.

Ye Chen’s cultivation was weaker than Little Wingsy’s but the little boy thought Ye Chen was a powerful figure. He could not help but admire Ye Chen greatly.

“I took all of it. Little Wingsy, these Frost Gems are treasures. Your parents must’ve left it for you. If you ever want some, tell me, I’ll give it to you.” Ye Chen never wanted all the stones to himself, even more so now that Little Wingsy had chosen to tag along with them.

“Okay, Brother Ye Chen. Thank you.” Little Wingsy thanked him. He felt the kindness that Ye Chen and Little Tanuki showered him.

Ye Chen safely tucked his pouch away. He looked at the Icy Cave. It was a very large space.

“We’re going to leave now. Is there anything else that you need?” Ye Chen asked.

“Uh huh. Brother Ye Chen, Miss Tanuki, you wait here. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” Little Wingsy transformed into his original form and slithered deep into the cave.

Ye Chen could feel Little Wingsy slithering into the deepest part of the cave to retrieve something.

Ten minutes later, Little Wingsy returned and transformed into his child form. His milky hand was holding onto a decorated golden silk bag that had the picture of a Winged Serpent stitched on it. He passed it to Ye Chen. “Please keep the bag for me, Brother Ye Chen.”

“What’s this?” Ye Chen asked curiously.

“Grandpa said mom and dad left it for me. He’d told me to open it when I’m an adult.” Little Wingsy was willing to wait till then, wholeheartedly giving his full trust to Ye Chen and Little Tanuki.

Ye Chen wondered who exactly Little Wingsy’s grandfather was. Perhaps he was an invincible figure, which would explain his knowledge about many things. Alas, he was already gone.

“Okay.” Ye Chen nodded, knowing he could not open the bag anyway. He tried to put the bag into the armguard but it would not go in. It would appear that the bag contains a space as well. Ye Chen wondered what Little Wingsy’s parents left him. He stuffed the bag into his clothes and hid it well, and asked, “Shall we?”

“Brother Ye Chen, Miss Tanuki, let’s go,” Little Wingsy spoke with enthusiasm as he looked at the surroundings. He did not have many attachments to the place. In fact, he could not wait to see what the outside world held. At long last, he did not have to remain hidden away at the icy cave anymore. Little Wingsy was hopeful about the outside world as he marched on with equal hope and curiosity.

Together, the trio embarked out of the icy cave. The moment they were out, they were greeted by the sun rising in the horizon, shining brightly.