Chapter 602: Chapter 384: Cold Pool

The Demon Suppression Bureau was one of the Court’s three bureaus, primarily tasked with resisting the Demon Dao. Xu Yang observed their board for a while before losing interest. Their listed tasks frequently required clashing with members of the Demon Dao, which completely contradicted his philosophy of keeping a low profile.

Next, a task guarding Spirit Medicine caught his attention. The credit reward was decent, and it required the Yunling Technique to be at the Entry Realm, which he met. Most importantly, this assignment was located within the Celestial Strategy Academy, meaning he wouldn’t have to leave the premises.

However, he quickly realized a flaw in that plan. After developing his Spirit Bone, the effects of his Yunling Technique had skyrocketed. Even though he was only at the Entry Realm, his influence on Spirit Medicine surpassed that of someone at the Perfection Realm. If he took this task, the existence of his Spirit Bone would soon be exposed.

"Garrison the Jade Cold Pool. Requires Cultivation at the Celestial Essence Second Layer or above, and a physique that has reached the Qi Blood Manifestation Realm."

Another experiential task drew Xu Yang’s eye. He read through it carefully and found it to be excellent. The Jade Cold Pool was a place of extreme cold. If an ordinary person came within a hundred meters, their blood would freeze solid. Only a Martial Artist whose Body Refining Cultivation had reached the Qi Blood Manifestation Realm could withstand such freezing temperatures. In fact, for a Body Refining Martial Artist, this was an exceptional environment that provided immense benefits. It could easily be considered a Cultivation Treasure Land.

Naturally, the Celestial Strategy Academy didn’t assign guards to the Jade Cold Pool just because it was a Cultivation Treasure Land for Body Refining Martial Artists. After all, Body Refining Martial Artists were rare, and those who had reached the Qi Blood Manifestation Realm were even rarer. The Academy wasn’t worried about people sneaking in to train. The real reason the Jade Cold Pool needed a garrison was its water. It was a crucial spirit water used by Weapon Forgers for quenching when crafting Spiritual Soldiers, making it highly valuable. Furthermore, the pool was home to an incredibly precious spirit fish known as the Profound Water Spirit Loach.

The garrisoning Martial Artist’s primary duty was to prevent anyone from stealing the water or catching the Profound Water Spirit Loach. The task’s reward was generous: twenty credits a month, plus the right to use the Jade Cold Pool’s environment for Body Refining. Best of all, it wasn’t far away—situated right at the rear of the Celestial Strategy Academy.

Though twenty credits a month was on the lower end compared to other tasks, its safety made up for it. He could keep a low profile for a while, and once he gathered enough points to study the Spiritual Essence Pill, his resources would become much more abundant. Xu Yang browsed a little longer, noting that the other tasks were all riskier and would eat into his cultivation time. He immediately decided to accept this garrison task.

"Read it carefully. This task requires a minimum commitment of three months before you can request to leave," the teacher in charge of task registration stated.

"I’ve read it clearly, sir," Xu Yang replied, cupping his hands.

The teacher quickly registered his Waist Token and handed him a task token along with a map. "You have one day to prepare. After that, you must arrive at the Jade Cold Pool. There’s no need to bring food. Just follow the map to get there."

After thanking the teacher, Xu Yang took the token and map back to his courtyard. He packed his clothes, gathered Elixirs and other cultivation supplies, and immediately set off for the Jade Cold Pool.

Since the Xiao family and their vassals still had members within the Celestial Strategy Academy, Huo Xiaochen quickly received the news of Xu Yang’s departure.

"What task did he take?" Huo Xiaochen asked curiously.

"He took the task to garrison the Jade Cold Pool. Should I have the family send someone to ensure he never returns?" Xiao Hui’s face was filled with murderous intent. Few factions in Yun Province could afford to provoke the Celestial Strategy Academy, but that was only on the surface. If someone was killed in the shadows and no traces were left behind, even the Celestial Strategy Academy would be helpless.

"Don’t act recklessly. Everyone knows we’re at odds. If he’s killed on his very first task, even a fool would know I was involved." Huo Xiaochen shook his head. "Besides, if he dies just like that, people will think I, Huo Xiaochen, only know how to play dirty tricks and rely on the Xiao family’s power for revenge. If I’m going to kill him, I’ll do it openly."

His primary motivation for wanting Xu Yang dead was to salvage his pride. Since his debut, the only time he had ever suffered a setback was at Xu Yang’s hands. When he killed Xu Yang, he needed everyone to know that Huo Xiaochen had done it fair and square to avenge his good friend Lin Jingyu, rather than letting people believe he was just a kept man who had to rely on the Xiao family for his vendettas.

If people started seeing him as a sinister character who only schemed in the shadows, his reputation would plummet even further. He couldn’t just focus on the present; he had to consider his future ascent to the Final Dragon Platform. Xu Yang was incapable of making any real waves, so there was no need to do anything detrimental to himself. Even if a hundred years passed, killing Xu Yang would still be as easy as flipping his hand.

"You are so commanding, Husband." Xiao Hui’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

This was exactly how a true genius should act—confident and composed. If he wanted to kill someone, he would do it openly and honestly, knowing that even if given time to grow, the opponent wouldn’t be able to turn the tides.

The Jade Cold Pool was located behind the Celestial Strategy Academy. This area was actually part of Jade Dragon Mountain, as was the land the Academy itself occupied. Legend had it that the Great Xia Dynasty initially established the Celestial Strategy Academy precisely to prevent the Exotic Beasts within Jade Dragon Mountain from harassing Yun Province.

He thought, "I’m afraid there are powerful Exotic Beasts deep within Jade Dragon Mountain that have existed since ancient times."

As he ventured deeper, he found that the Spiritual Qi grew increasingly abundant. In the hidden corners of such a place, no one knew what kind of world-shaking Exotic Beasts might be lurking. Executing the Wandering Dragon Void Step, Xu Yang sprinted rapidly through the mountains. Even though this was the rear of the Celestial Strategy Academy, no one could guarantee complete safety. It was best to reach the Jade Cold Pool as quickly as possible.

Soon, beneath the blazing midday sun, he spotted an area completely encased in ice. Amidst the lush green mountain forest, the snow-white frozen expanse stood out starkly. At its center, a pool of striking jade-green water caught the eye. The entire frozen territory radiated outward from this very spot. Just outside the icy zone sat a few scattered stone houses, forming a perimeter around the cold pool.

The moment Xu Yang approached, a sharp SWOOSH rang out through the air. A figure dropped in front of him, exuding the tyrannical aura of a Celestial Essence Second Layer Cultivation. The most conspicuous trait about this man was his heavily muscled physique. Even under a loose coat, his robust muscles bulged like rolling mountain ranges, radiating a heat as scorching as a furnace.

"Here to garrison the Jade Cold Pool?" the man asked first, noticing Xu Yang’s luggage.

"I am Xu Yang. I’ve accepted the task to garrison the Jade Cold Pool," Xu Yang replied, cupping his hands and passing his task token over.

"You’re the Xu Yang who beat Lin Jingyu to death?" The man had clearly heard his name. A flash of surprise crossed his face as he looked Xu Yang up and down curiously.

"That would be me. May I ask how I should address you, brother?" Xu Yang asked.

To be stationed at the Jade Cold Pool, this man’s Body Refining Cultivation had clearly reached the Qi Blood Manifestation Realm, meaning his strength was nothing to scoff at. However, that didn’t necessarily mean he had great talent. This man obviously wasn’t a student from their cohort. He had likely been at the Celestial Strategy Academy for at least five years, perhaps even over a decade. This meant he was at least in his thirties. To still be at the Celestial Essence Second Layer at that age indicated mediocre talent. Reaching the Qi Blood Manifestation Realm in Body Refining was likely the result of accumulating effort over time.

"My name is Zhuang Tao. Brother Xu, why did you run all the way out here?"

Why did he run all the way out here? Wasn’t it to garrison the Jade Cold Pool?

As Xu Yang puzzled over the phrasing, Zhuang Tao continued, "The token is fine. I’ll take you to see Luo Zhao, who oversees the Jade Cold Pool."

"Thank you, Brother Zhuang!" Xu Yang cupped his hands and took wide strides, following Zhuang Tao into the territory covered by thick ice crystals.

Instantly, a bone-deep chill bored straight into his body. The cold was incredibly peculiar. Even the power of the Dragon Symbols Heart Scripture could only partially isolate it; it couldn’t completely block the frost from invading his body. Soon, the chill seeped into his limbs, bones, and internal organs.

He thought, "No wonder the task requires a Body Refining Cultivation at the Qi Blood Manifestation Realm."

Gang Yuan couldn’t block this cold; one had to rely purely on their physical endurance. If someone with insufficient Body Refining Cultivation came here, they wouldn’t last a few days, let alone several months. The freezing air ceaselessly drilled into his body, and the closer they got to the center, the more terrifying the chill became. Eventually, Xu Yang realized that even his exhaled breath was instantly freezing into ice crystals. Fortunately, his physique was tyrannical. His body burned as fiercely as a furnace, rendering the cold completely harmless to him.

He noted inwardly, "It does indeed have some Body Refining effects." The cold was actually a strange form of energy that genuinely tempered the body upon entry.

"Brother Luo, we have a newcomer."

Zhuang Tao led Xu Yang further in until they reached the vicinity of the Jade Cold Pool. A man with shoulder-length hair sat cultivating on a large boulder. His frame was even more robust than Zhuang Tao’s, and his entire body radiated a soul-shaking oppressive aura.

Celestial Essence Third Layer!

As Zhuang Tao spoke, he stepped forward and handed over Xu Yang’s task token. The long-haired man opened his eyes from his meditation and offered a faint smile as he looked at Xu Yang. But the very next moment, his faint smile vanished completely. "Xu Yang?"

"Greetings, Brother Luo," Xu Yang said with cupped hands, his heart sinking involuntarily.

Luo Zhao had clearly been pleased to hear a newcomer had arrived, but upon seeing him, the smile vanished. It was obvious that Luo Zhao recognized him and didn’t like him.

"We aren’t close. Don’t call me Brother Luo. Just refer to me by my name."

Sure enough, Luo Zhao’s following words confirmed Xu Yang’s suspicions. It wasn’t just a matter of dislike; he practically despised him.

Luo Zhao continued expressionlessly, "I don’t care who you are. Now that you’re here, you will listen to me. If you can’t do that, don’t blame me for showing no mercy and throwing you out." Ignoring Xu Yang’s reaction, he turned to Zhuang Tao. "Take him away. Teach him the rules of this place and arrange his accommodations."

"Alright!" Zhuang Tao cupped his hands, turned, and strode away.

Given Luo Zhao’s attitude, Xu Yang couldn’t be bothered to put on any false pleasantries and simply followed Zhuang Tao out. He figured Luo Zhao probably had ties with one of his enemies, hence the blatant hostility. If the other party wasn’t even going to pretend, neither would he. Judging by Zhuang Tao’s earlier reaction to his name, Zhuang Tao likely knew the reason, but since they weren’t exactly friends, Xu Yang naturally couldn’t press him for answers.

"This room is where you’ll be staying from now on. Brother Xu, set your things down first, and then I’ll show you around," Zhuang Tao said.

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