Chapter 618: Senior Sister

Crisp footsteps echoed through the narrow passageway. With a cultivator's control, such distinct sounds should not have existed. The visitor's cultivation was far beyond what Luo Chen's spirit consciousness could detect, which made the deliberate nature of the sound all the more apparent. It was not a careless mistake but a deliberate gesture of courtesy and respect, a way to inform him that she had arrived.

Luo Chen opened his eyes and slipped the jade thumb ring onto his left thumb. He then waited quietly for the visitor to appear.

Before long, a graceful figure emerged before him. Although he had seen her more than ten times over the past three years, each encounter still filled him with silent awe. He could not help but marvel that such beauty existed in the world. She seemed like the cold spirit of ice, a presence to be admired from afar and never taken lightly.

Yet the faint smile on her lips softened that cold perfection. It carried a gentle warmth, like that of a spring sprite dancing through the snow, drawing others close before they even realized it. The contrast between cold detachment and quiet tenderness created an allure that was difficult to resist.

However, her solid cultivation poured cold water over his thoughts. The oppressive might of a late-stage Adept pressed against him like an icy wave, quelling any stray thoughts that dared to arise.

Luo Chen clasped his fists and said, "Greeting, Fairy Ice Torrent!"

"There is no need for such formality," Ice Torrent replied with a gentle smile. "You've long been an elder of my Ice Fortress. Like Ruthless and Light Frost, you may simply call me Senior Sister."

Lit up by her smile, even the frigid Ice Prison seemed to warm by a few degrees.

"I..." Luo Chen hesitated briefly, unsure how to respond. The intent behind her words was unmistakable. Referring to him as an "Ice Fortress elder," omitting the word "guest," was a clear gesture of inclusion. Asking him to address her as Senior Sister, crossing boundaries of cultivation and seniority, drew them even closer. If he accepted that address, his bond with the Ice Fortress would become far deeper, nearly equivalent to being born of their lineage. Was that really wise?

But under her calm and gentle gaze, Luo Chen's brief hesitation faded away. He bowed slightly and said, "Senior Sister Ice Torrent."

"Good. Very good," she replied with a smile that grew even more radiant.

She studied him carefully, her gaze lingering for a moment on his gray hair. After a while, she nodded slowly.

She said, "Not bad. It seems you gained greatly this time."

Luo Chen gave a bitter smile and said, "The gains were great, but the losses were great as well."

During that battle, the Blazing Fire Miasma he had cultivated for years had been destroyed. The Lightning Immortal Pearl, a weapon powerful enough to threaten Adepts, had been used up. On top of that, he had lost a full hundred years of lifespan. The first two things were bearable, but the latter was the greatest loss he had ever suffered since embarking on the path of cultivation.

In return, he had gained revenge, a measure of renown, the Withering-Flourishing Fire, and the inheritance of a mid-stage Adept. Yet the first two were intangible; the fire had only just been refined, and its uses were still unknown; as for the inheritance, he still hadn't gotten to it yet, and he could not make immediate use of it.

However, Ice Torrent said softly, "What you lost were external things. You have shattered your Heart Devil and fulfilled your desire for vengeance. With your heart now free of obsession, your thoughts flow unimpeded. Before reaching the Golden Core Realm, you will face no further obstacles in your state of mind. The path toward the Golden Core has opened to you."

Luo Chen tilted his head in surprise.

Thoughts flowing unimpeded? That's a thing?

Indeed, when he reflected on the mental obstacles she mentioned, a faint sense of realization stirred within him, though it remained elusive.

Ice Torrent noticed his confusion and spoke in a gentle voice. "When I treated your injuries earlier, I examined your aptitude."

"It's poor, isn't it?" Luo Chen asked without thinking.

However, Ice Torrent immediately shook her head. "Not at all. In fact, it's very good."

Luo Chen was startled, and he asked instinctively, "Does it have to do with the Five Elements Divine Sect's claim that five-element spirit roots also count as a form of genius?"

Ice Torrent gave him a look of surprise. "I did not expect you to know of such secrets. Yes, it is indeed related to that."

Luo Chen frowned slightly. "The five-element spirit root cultivates ridiculously slowly, not just three or five times slower than other roots, but ten or even twenty times slower. How could that possibly be called genius aptitude?"

In truth, this was also something that left many rogue cultivators in the immortal world perplexed. Even the Five Elements Divine Sect, which had long circulated this claim, had never produced any truly powerful five-spirit-root prodigies. The rumor only said that their founding ancestor had possessed five spirit roots and had created secret methods capable of developing such potential.

As Luo Chen struggled to understand, Ice Torrent shook her head with a smile. "In truth, sometimes slowness can be a blessing."

She noticed that the doubt in his eyes had not faded. After thinking for a moment, she said softly, "Let me give you an analogy."

"I will listen carefully," Luo Chen replied with a respectful bow. He steadied his thoughts, determined not to overlook a single detail in her words.

For many years, Luo Chen had cultivated entirely on his own. Wang Yuan was both mentor and friend, yet his advice had been limited to the path of Physique Refinement. When it came to the cultivation of qi, Luo Chen had to rely solely on his own exploration and whatever insights he could get his hands on. Such was the plight of a rogue cultivator without the backing of a sect or family. Without the direction of experienced and far-sighted seniors, every step forward was a matter of trial and error.

Under Luo Chen's attentive gaze, the tall and graceful Adept Ice Torrent began to speak, her voice calm and steady. "Spirit roots are what separate cultivators from mortals. Only with spirit roots can one embark on the path of cultivation. Those blessed with a single spiritual root, also known as the heavenly spirit roots, are like solitary peaks piercing the clouds, touching the heavens themselves.[1] They are favored by heaven itself, so their cultivation naturally proceeds without a hitch. Until they reach the Divine Transformation Realm their path is smooth and unimpeded."

Luo Chen nodded slightly. The description aligned perfectly with his own impression of cultivators who possessed heavenly spirit roots. In principle, it only took them ten years to reach Foundation Establishment, a hundred to form the Golden Core, two hundred to condense the Nascent Soul, and five hundred to ascend to Divine Transformation.

It was fast. Terrifyingly so. Considering that such cultivators required no pills or external aids throughout the process, their speed was nothing short of fearsome. Truly, they were the favored children of the heavens and truly blessed by destiny.

"Beyond the heavenly spirit root," Ice Torrent continued, "the most common are those with dual or triple spirit roots. These people may be like fine trees nourished by rain and dew, blazing flames that burn fiercely, or vast rivers and lakes surging endlessly forward. In any case, their cultivation speed is steady and not slow.

"Yet precisely because these roots are so common, they draw little attention. Their growth and progress are largely similar to one another. It is like... If you see a mountain soaring into the clouds, you would stop to admire it. But if there is merely a fine tree growing well before you, would you linger for long?"

Luo Chen shook his head. The instinct to look toward the grand and lofty was part of human nature. Ordinary trees and flowers rarely drew notice. Perhaps that was proof of the favoritism of the Heavenly Dao. Of course, if those ordinary plants were to evolve into rare and wondrous spirit herbs, they too could capture the world's attention. But whether on the smaller or greater scale, the Heavenly Dao always sought balance; thus, such "ordinary" things abounded.

Ice Torrent smiled faintly and continued, "Beyond the five common elemental roots, there are those born with special affinities. For example, Ruthless, Light Frost, Icesoul, and I all share a natural attunement to ice and snow. Such constitutions are known as variant spirit roots. Those born with such affinities find their cultivation progress remarkable under the right conditions and suitable techniques."

Luo Chen pondered for a moment before voicing his thoughts. "It sounds like your boat has a very specific type of sail. Normally it doesn't do you any good, but as long as you can find the specific favorable wind, you can overtake boats that normally go faster."

"Exactly. With favorable winds, we can move much faster than others. Moreover, those with variant spirit roots not only progress quickly in cultivation but also tend to have good combat ability."

"Then what about someone like me, who possesses all five elemental roots?"

Ice Torrent's expression grew slightly more solemn. "The five-element root, in our eyes, is like a piece of land."

"Land?" Luo Chen frowned in confusion. "What kind of land?"

"A land that can give rise to all things," she replied softly.

The answer left him momentarily stunned.

Ice Torrent continued, "It may sound exaggerated, but it is the truth. Everything in this world is composed of the five elements. And since that is the case, then a cultivator with five elemental roots is, in essence, one who can contain the essence of all creation."

Luo Chen tilted his head, clearly not convinced.

"In the beginning," she went on, "such land is barren and untilled. It's practically useless, unable to nurture growth and bear fruit. Yet if it is carefully cultivated and tended to, it can become fertile soil capable of sustaining life. With continued care, it can even grow vast enough to sustain nations."

Luo Chen fell into thought.

"If nurtured properly, this land will one day grow into a vast continent," Ice Torrent said gently. "Think about it, a foundation as broad and stable as a continent. Would that not be the mark of true genius?"

With that, Luo Chen truly began to take the discussion seriously.

A foundation as vast as a continent... Such depth and solidity could bear the weight of a full manifestation of nature. It could sustain thriving forests, blazing flames, roaring storms, and winding rivers. Even towering peaks could rise proudly upon it.

In a literal sense, the heavenly spirit root was heaven's gift, while the five-element root embodied the richness of earth . Within that balance, the five-element spirit root was no less extraordinary than the heavenly spirit root.

Luo Chen furrowed his brow slightly. "Senior Sister, then how should someone like me cultivate this potential? How can I shape it into the kind of foundation you described, like a land as vast as a continent?"

"Aren't you already doing quite well?" Ice Torrent replied with a faint smile, her face unhidden in praise.

Luo Chen was momentarily stunned, then lowered his gaze to his own body. Ice Torrent smiled faintly. "I have used my ice mana several times to suppress the backlash of the Withering-Flourishing Fire within you. I am well aware of your physical condition, perhaps even more so than you are.

"Your physique right now is as tough as that of a third-tier beast king. Your meridians stretch and branch like great rivers flowing through the land, and your acupoints glimmer like stars. The blood within you flows thick and radiant, like molten mercury. The four elemental spirit powers you cultivate are in balance; the wood element nourishes every part of your body. And your spine is like the spine of a lightning dragon.

"With such a foundation already taking shape, even if it has not yet reached the breadth of a continent, it already carries the force of a blazing inferno and the majesty of a divine tree reaching toward the heavens. In the future, no matter which element you choose to cultivate, your progress will appear slower than others, yet your foundation will always be far more solid. Within the same realm, your spirit power will surpass theirs several times over."

It was better to progress slowly if it meant a sturdier foundation. After hearing those words, a sense of clarity blossomed within Luo Chen's heart—he knew that he had been doing the right thing. He bowed deeply with sincere respect. "Senior Sister, thank you for your guidance!"

"There's no need for thanks. What I shared was merely common knowledge," Ice Torrent said with a soft laugh.

However, Luo Chen did not see it that way. "Senior Sister, what you call common knowledge has helped me understand my current state and cleared many doubts about my future. That, in itself, is no small enlightenment."

These words came from genuine gratitude. Her guidance had given him confidence, freeing him from the doubts he had once felt about his five-element roots. From this point on, whether in cultivation or combat, he would carry a steadier heart.

Ice Torrent accepted his gratitude with quiet grace and said, "I came today for two reasons. The first was to check on you. From the looks of it, you've completely refined the Withering-Flourishing Fire, your injuries have healed, and your cultivation has even advanced slightly. You're only a small step away from reaching the eighth stage of Foundation Establishment."

"It's all thanks to you and Adept Ruthless."

Ice Torrent chuckled softly. "Still so polite? The second reason is that in six months, our sect will be holding a Core Formation Ceremony. I wanted to ask if you'd like to attend."

"A Core Formation Ceremony?" Luo Chen asked in surprise.

He had spent the past three years secluded within the Ice Prison; even his spirit consciousness was unable to extend beyond a hundred zhang. In such isolation, he knew little of what had transpired within the Ice Fortress.

"Whose ceremony is it?"

"It is for my martial niece, Icesoul. She achieved Perfected Mastery in the Foundation Establishment Realm over a decade ago and has been in seclusion ever since, striving to form a core. Fortunately, she succeeded and spent another decade consolidating her cultivation. The time for her emergence is near. As the Dao Scion of our sect, her success naturally calls for a grand celebration."

I see, so that's her...

Luo Chen thought. The name brought a flicker of memory to his eyes. Fairy Icesoul, the Dao Scion of the Ice Fortress's young generation—the one who had once surpassed Tantai Jin and claimed the title early on.

Now that she had formed her core, she would no longer be merely a prodigy. It was likely that she would soon take charge of the entire Ice Fortress. Such a status made her Core Formation Ceremony more than a simple celebration; it carried weight and meaning that extended to the sect itself and to the other powers of the Jade Cauldron Domain.

But thinking of his past ties with her, Luo Chen shook his head. "It's better if I don't attend."

Ice Torrent did not insist. Instead, she nodded approvingly. "You're right. Your deeds lately have drawn too much attention, and with the false rumors we've spread, it's best for the Fire Spirit Lord to remain a nice little ember for now."

As she spoke, her gaze swept across the surroundings. Pillars of crystal ice stood tall on all sides, forming what looked like a frozen cage

"This Ice Prison may be bitterly cold and possess only a second-tier spirit vein, but it's a fine place for cultivation. This solitude will serve you well to temper your unstable foundation."

Luo Chen nodded. "Yes, that is my thought as well."

His cultivation had simply been too fast! Twice, he had relied on the lesser third-tier spirit lands. The first time, within the Dao Scion Hall atop Qingyun Peak in Green Pill Valley, he had leapt directly from the fifth to the sixth stage of Foundation Establishment Realm. Later, while cultivating in Hao Ranzi's cave residence on Tianlan Peak, his progress had accelerated once again—what should have taken twenty or thirty years to complete had been accomplished in just over two. The pace was impressive, but the refinement of his foundation lacked depth.

"I'll be going now," Ice Torrent said. "If you need anything, send word outside. Someone will see to it immediately."

"Take care, Senior Sister," Luo Chen replied.

He accompanied her to the entrance of the Ice Prison, his expression carrying a faint touch of emotion.

Over the past three years, he had interacted with this woman a few times. She had repeatedly helped him suppress the backlash of the Withering-Flourishing Fire, and her remarkable medical arts had mended his injuries with precision and care. In recent months, she had even begun to share with him knowledge of immense value, imparting her insights freely and without reservation.

He knew well that her kindness stemmed from recognizing his alchemical talent and potential, yet her warm and steady demeanor still felt like a gentle spring breeze after long years of cold solitude. Compared to the other powerful figures he had encountered, such as Mi Shuhua and Fairy Ruthless, Ice Torrent's treatment of him was undeniably the most sincere and considerate.

That was why, though addressing her as "Senior Sister" had been difficult at first, it now came more naturally each time he spoke the words.

A faint smile touched his lips.

If only I had been born a woman

and practiced a water-element cultivation technique. I could have joined the Ice Fortress early on. With such a kind elder's guidance, perhaps avoided so many years of hardship and struggle.

After that fleeting thought, he turned and made his way back into the Ice Prison.

Of course, that sentiment was no more than idle reflection. Without those years of trials, he would never have forged the strength and attained the achievements he had. Without those things, Grand Elder Ice Torrent would never have looked upon him with such favor. Among the countless disciples of the Ice Fortress, how many could ever earn such favor from her?

1. 直插云霄，触及天幕(zhí chā yún xiāo, chù jí tiān mù) is a poetic expression used to describe something of immense height, power, or grandeur. ☜