Chapter 207: Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
The dark and narrow passage was lined with uneven mountain walls adorned with icicles of varying lengths. A chilling air pervaded the space, slowing even the flow of spiritual energy within the body.
Yu Zhao moved forward cautiously, each step deliberate and careful. It had taken her some time to find this passage into the ice mountain through an inconspicuous crevice. The tunnel seemed naturally formed, with no signs of manual excavation. In several places, the path was so narrow that she had to forcibly break through to continue.
After walking for nearly half an hour, a faint glow appeared ahead. Yu Zhao’s expression tightened. She summoned the Fleeting Life Mirror and probed forward, discovering that the light marked the passage’s exit. However, the area beyond the exit seemed to be shielded by a peculiar barrier, preventing her from examining it with her Divine Sense.
After a moment of contemplation, Yu Zhao gripped the Heart-Protecting Mirror in one hand and the Fleeting Life Mirror in the other before leaping through the exit. Her vision blurred briefly, and she found herself in a vast cavern.
In the cavern lay a deep, bottomless pool. On the left side, the water was an intense red, resembling boiling lava, while the right side shimmered with an icy blue. Though the two sides were utterly incompatible, they strangely originated from the same source, mirroring the peculiar nature of the surrounding mountain.
Above the pool floated a unique flower. Its petals shared the same red-and-blue hues as the water below, creating a strikingly beautiful appearance. A faint floral fragrance wafted through the cave, and a single whiff left Yu Zhao feeling lightheaded and entranced. Her gaze towards the flower grew fervent.
Though she didn’t immediately recognize the flower, she instinctively knew that it would have extraordinary effects when paired with her Illusion Techniques. She was determined to claim it.
A surge of excitement rose in Yu Zhao’s heart, her expression betraying her restless eagerness. Just as she was about to act, she bit the tip of her tongue. The desire receded like a tide, and clarity returned to her eyes.
“What a potent hallucinogenic effect,” Yu Zhao muttered in shock.
If not for her unwavering willpower, she would have succumbed to the deadly allure hidden beneath the flower’s beauty. Stepping back cautiously, she scrutinized the cavern once more, unwilling to miss a single detail.
The cavern was barren apart from the peculiar flower and the pool. This implied that if any Demonic Beasts guarded the flower, they were most likely hidden within the pool—though whether in the red or blue half was unclear.
Yu Zhao cast another glance at the pool. Its waters were thick and opaque, offering no clues from above. Growing more cautious, she decided against acting rashly.
Meanwhile, outside the Water Mirror, Sect Master Ji Yuan’s expression was one of disappointment. “Years ago, I ventured into this very cavern. The flower was not yet mature then, so I left it alone.”
However, he kept one detail to himself. He had instructed the disciples of Tai Bai Academy to monitor the mountain where fire and ice converged, ensuring they could check the flower’s maturity whenever they encountered it. Yet, despite his precautions, Yu Zhao had managed to get ahead of them.
“Sect Master Ji Yuan, since you’ve seen the flower before, do you know its origins?” The inquiry came from Sect Master Ji Yuan, who wore a curious, earnest expression.
Ji Yuan was about to respond when he noticed a gleam of cunning flash in Sect Master Ji Yuan’s eyes, realizing the latter was trying to extract information for Yu Zhao. His mix of irritation and amusement was evident. “You certainly live up to your title as Sect Master,” Ji Yuan quipped.
Sect Master Ji Yuan responded unabashedly, “Naturally!”
He’s far better than some clueless individuals.
The head of the Inkheart Institute chuckled and shook his head, not one to hold grudges. He proceeded to share all the details he’d uncovered with Sect Master Ji Yuan.
“This flower is called the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid. It’s extremely toxic; even a single whiff can induce vivid hallucinations. The type of hallucination depends on the flower’s petal color. Red petals thrust one into an illusory hellscape, filled with torment, while blue petals create a blissful euphoria, banishing all worries.
Its growth conditions are incredibly stringent, and it only blooms once every few centuries. I scoured the entire library of Tai Bai Academy and found just a few sentences about it in an ancient text.”
Sect Master Ji Yuan absentmindedly stroked his chin. “This Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid sounds impressive, but its uses seem rather limited.”
Sect Master Wu Sang shook his head. “Not so. In our hands, it’s a potent elixir. However, in the hands of someone skilled in illusion techniques, it’s an entirely different matter.”
When Yu Zhao borrowed Green Wood Sect’s alchemy chamber to craft her life-bound artifact, Sect Master Wu Sang had spoken with her and knew her materials included a rare herb called Heavenly Fairy Herb.
Both the Heavenly Fairy Herb and the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid have hallucinogenic properties, though their effects vary drastically.
Yu Zhao could integrate the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid into her life-bound artifact, enhancing its capabilities. Alternatively, she could combine it with other materials to craft a specialized artifact for illusion techniques. The Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid complements her cultivation methods perfectly, almost as if it were placed in the cave solely for her.
Sect Master Ji Yuan burst into laughter. “It seems this Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid is destined for Yu Zhao.”
“Not necessarily,” scoffed Master Qing Yan. “Let’s see if she can handle the companion beast first.”
Sect Master Ji Yuan wanted to curse but suppressed the urge under the amused gazes of other sect masters. With a forced smile, he said, “I have faith in Yu Zhao.”
Master Qing Yan remained indifferent.
Sect Master Ji Yuan clenched his fists, silently cheering her on. “Yu Zhao, go! Show Master Qing Yan what you’re made of!”
Meanwhile, on Yu Zhao’s side, she seemed to sense Sect Master Ji Yuan’s encouragement and sprang into action.
She returned to the passage she had entered from, retracing her steps to widen the narrow sections further. She also set up several formations along the way. Half an hour later, she re-entered the stone cavern. Cautiously, she landed by the water pool and began placing array disks along its edge.
These disks were the spoils of her years of battles, including offensive, trapping, and other formations. Since she wasn’t certain of the strength of the beast beneath the pool, she chose to deploy everything at her disposal.
If her assumptions proved wrong and the beast was weak or non-existent, she could always retrieve the array disks.
After finishing her preparations, Yu Zhao felt something was still amiss. She pulled out a stack of talismans from her storage space and plastered them all over the cave, inside and out.
“Hmph, no wonder the Five Elements Dao Sect is revered among immortal sects. Even their disciples are so extravagantly equipped,” remarked Sect Leader Chong Yang, his tone dripping with envy.
Among the Seven Great Sects, the Heavenly Sword Sect was the poorest. Aside from their heritage, just the daily sword practice of their disciples consumed vast resources. Located in the Northern Region, where they endured the bitter cold, their access to secret realms and spiritual veins was also limited.
Sometimes, to keep the sect running, Sect Leader Chong Yang and his elders had to dig mines and seek donations. Seeing a junior disciple casually take out countless array disks and talismans, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness.