Waves surged and churned endlessly. Frigid air radiated outward, condensing into a white mist that shrouded the area for hundreds of miles.
Hundreds of years ago, a chunk of mysterious ice drifted from an unknown place and came to rest against the east coast of the Central Continent. This block of ice was colossal, resembling a small island, and emanated a bone-chilling cold. A large number of wild Ice Path Gu Insects had gathered upon the ice, along with three or four types of cold-resistant shrubbery.
Once discovered, the mysterious ice immediately caused a sensation.
The Gu Masters living on the east coast all speculated about the origins of this block of ice.
Two main theories prevailed. The first theory proposed that since the ice drifted from further east, it likely originated from the icy currents of the Eastern Sea. This sea region maintained a frigid temperature all year round, with ice flows, like great python-dragons, winding along the seabed. Upon nearing the surface, they would immediately condense into massive blocks of ice.
The second theory claimed that it had fallen from White Heaven after a rift. Its volume must have been far greater initially, akin to a small continent. However, during the fall, friction generated heat, causing it to continuously melt. When it landed in the sea, its fiery heat was extinguished, ultimately forming this small icy islet. The edges of this block of ice were smooth, completely lacking sharp corners, as if melted by heat like wax. This was a strong piece of supporting evidence for this theory.
This block of ice rested against the sandy beach, unmoving.
At first, it attracted many mortal Gu Masters who came to scavenge. These Gu Masters, being the first to benefit, all made a fortune. The wild Gu and cold-resistant shrubs on the ice were all completely cleared out.
In the following years, many Gu Masters arrived at the ice, settled in, and stayed.
It turned out that although the icy islet was poor in resources, the thousand-year-old ice was difficult to melt, radiating cold air everywhere. It was itself an excellent place of cultivation for Ice Path Gu Masters.
The east coast of the Central Continent was warm for all four seasons, like spring and summer, making it hard for Ice Path Gu Masters to cultivate. Thus, this small icy islet attracted quite a number of Ice Path and Water Path Gu Masters.
Where there are people, there is the jianghu. As the numbers grew, the ice islet's space was limited, and more outsiders continued to arrive. To protect their own vested interests, the Gu Masters on the ice islet spontaneously formed an alliance. They sealed off the ice islet and no longer opened it to outsiders.
Thus, a moderate-sized power was formed.
After several centuries of development, this originally loose alliance of scattered cultivators gradually solidified. Thanks to a few generations of ambitious leaders who emerged, it formally established a sect. The sect gradually developed and grew, becoming a major power. For thousands of miles around, few forces could contend with it.
The name of this sect was the Flying Frost Pavilion, hinting at the historical origins of the drifting block of ice that was the foundation of the sect.
The second round of this Central Continent Gu Refining Convention was held at the Flying Frost Pavilion.
Fang Yuan arrived at the Flying Frost Pavilion with his token in hand.
The test for this round was to refine the Rank 2 Ghost Fire Gu. The rules had also changed. Unlike the first round, which was won by quantity, this time it was based on time.
Gu Masters were required to refine ten Ghost Fire Gu simultaneously. The shorter the time taken, the higher the score. A standard was listed: those who took half an incense stick of time or less would achieve first place. First come, first served. If someone achieved first place, anyone who did the same afterward could only be ranked second. If there were already two people, they could only be third. Once the top three were filled, everyone else missed the cut and received no reward.
This time, the reward for first place was five Rank 3 Ice Path Gu recipes. This held tremendous appeal for Refinement Path Gu Masters, Ice Path Gu Masters, or any faction.
When Fang Yuan entered the arena to refine the Gu, the first three places were all still vacant.
"The difficulty of the second round is much higher than the first. Refining ten Ghost Fire Gu one by one isn't difficult, and it's easy to take less than half an incense stick. But the difficulty lies in refining ten Ghost Fire Gu simultaneously. The Ghost Fire Gu belongs to the Fire Path and the Soul Path. Its refinement process is quite meticulous and complex, consuming a lot of mental energy. Prolonged refining can easily weaken the soul. This is one of the characteristics of refining Soul Path Gu Insects."
After a moment of thought, Fang Yuan decided to adopt a combined Soul Path and Fire Path refinement technique, burning souls to create false ghost fires, which were then used to refine the real Ghost Fire Gu.
The Flying Frost Pavilion was a proper righteous sect. Naturally, Fang Yuan had to prepare the souls himself. The Flying Frost Pavilion would not provide such Gu refinement materials.
"Evil demon!" An Han, standing outside the arena, snorted coldly upon seeing this method.
The master of the Flying Frost Pavilion, who was presiding over the stage, narrowed his eyes. He thought: 'The master of the Five Virtues Gate tried to recruit this man and was rejected. Now he dares to burn souls in broad daylight. This is clearly the act of a demon, using any means necessary to achieve his goals. Even if the Flying Frost Pavilion recruits him, it will probably be a huge headache. Let's forget it.'
Participating in the Gu Refining Convention, besides the ban on physical fighting and killing, it didn't matter whether a Gu Master was righteous or demonic. Demonic path Gu Masters were not prohibited or excluded from participating.
As long as Refinement Path methods were used for friendly exchange, it was allowed. It was precisely because of this open-mindedness that the Central Continent Gu Refining Convention had flourished.
Those unaware of the true circumstances all praised the broad-mindedness of the Ten Great Ancient Sects of the Central Continent. Only someone like Fang Yuan understood that it was related to the Invincible Legacy. The secret requirement of the Invincible Legacy needed as many Gu Masters as possible to participate.
But the righteous and demonic paths were ultimately different. Fang Yuan's use of souls to refine Gu violated the natural order of heaven. It was a cruel and evil method despised and rejected by the righteous path.
The observing Gu Masters were mostly righteous. Seeing a demon like Fang Yuan, they felt deep disgust and antipathy, secretly hoping that he would fail this time.
Perhaps their collective will was powerful. Their prayers seemed to work. At the critical moment, the soul fire in front of Fang Yuan suddenly burst out. The ten Ghost Fire Gu were almost taking shape, but one of them was reduced to ashes, falling from the flames as a pile of grey residue on the floor tiles.
Seeing this, the crowd's eyes lit up. A righteous Gu Master with a sharp tongue even shouted in praise. But promptly remembering Fang Yuan's Rank 5 cultivation, he shut his mouth, though his triumphant expression was impossible to hide.
A faint hint of joy also appeared on An Han's face.
Fang Yuan had brought him immense pressure. Judging by his earlier progress, he was already on the final steps to a successful refinement. Fang Yuan's refining speed was very fast, and the effect of burning the specters was extremely significant. If he could overcome these steps and succeed, his time would surely be less than half an incense stick. The first place title would be as good as in his pocket.