Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 84: Tracking

"As long as the spirit ice produced by the spirit ice mine is sold at a slightly lower price, these shops will likely be willing to buy it in large quantities."

This is the result of Tong Bingfeng's comprehensive summary of the information he gathered from this central trading point.

In fact, he had a nagging suspicion that the Chen family's expulsion of a large number of cultivators into the depths of the Ice Domain was not merely a punishment, but perhaps a deeper purpose to nourish the spiritual creatures of Ice Spirit Island.

Although the second-tier spirit island occupies the core area of ​​the ice domain and is backed by a second-tier spirit vein, it has abundant spiritual power and produces a wide variety of spiritual items in large quantities.

However, there are also a large number of cultivators who rely on the Spirit Island for survival, and they consume a considerable amount of spiritual resources every day. The Spirit Island alone cannot form a complete and effective cycle.

These spiritual creatures from the depths of the icy realm, though not of high grade, are still an effective source of replenishment. Moreover, for the Chen family, this is a typical painless development, requiring no additional cost.

"It's already past mid-afternoon, time is of the essence, we're unfamiliar with this place and there's no stable or safe place to stay, so the best course of action is to return to the Spirit Ice Mine as soon as possible."

With little time remaining, Tong Bingfeng decisively turned and left, transforming into a streak of light as he officially embarked on his return journey towards the location of the spirit ice mine.

"The fat sheep has left, the fat sheep has left."

The shopkeeper of the first shop at the central trading point appeared friendly on the surface, but he sent a message the moment Tong Bingfeng left.

Subsequently, three seemingly ordinary cultivators dressed in robes of various colors pursued the trail from different directions, each carrying a distinct aura of malevolence.

The shopkeepers of the other shops, though not involved, were used to this scene. This place was a lawless land, unbound by any rules; the winner takes all and the loser is condemned, and everything was based on strength.

Furthermore, according to the rules of the central trading point, any hunting must be carried out outside the ten-mile ice zone of the trading point, otherwise, they will be jointly expelled by all the cultivators of the trading point.

For a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, the ten-mile ice domain doesn't require much time, and it can be covered in an instant when traveling at high speed.

"I sense a faint presence behind me, but it's not a demonic beast. Could it be a rogue cultivator tracking me?"

Tong Bingfeng's large front teeth naturally possess a dual effect of sensing and locking onto ice-attribute spiritual power. Although he did not actively use them at this moment, his innate keen perception of different auras still steadily played its due role.

"This deep ice domain is indeed different from the Ice Spirit Island. Legally, it also belongs to the Chen family, and Foundation Establishment cultivators patrol it regularly, yet there is absolutely no law governing it."

"Just by scouting around the central trading point and buying a few spiritual items, you've attracted the attention of these guys. Today, I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget."

Tong Bingfeng secretly made up his mind, and at the same time, a sinister look appeared on his face. He never expected that these evil cultivators would be so audacious and greedy.

As for the impending battle, he felt no fear whatsoever, and a hint of joy was welling up inside him; he was indeed happy at the prospect of war.

"Fellow Daoists, you've tracked us from the central trading point, and there's no one within several miles. Why hide like this? Why not show yourselves?"

On a vast expanse of ice, Tong Bingfeng stood still, his loud voice resounding all around.

Unfortunately, this place was clearly not the hunting area the other party had envisioned, so the surroundings remained deserted, and not a single evil cultivator showed up.

"Since you fellow Daoists are unwilling to show yourselves, I will invite you out. You've only mastered some simple invisibility tricks, yet you dare to show off here. Azure Water Sword, go!"

Tong Bingfeng's contempt was crystal clear. He mobilized his magic power in his dantian, and the Azure Water Sword in his storage bag immediately transformed into a stream of light and fell onto an identical ice surface.

At the same time, both hands simultaneously unleashed a mid-grade first-tier ice needle talisman, and countless fine ice needles, as fine as cow hair, surrounded the other two ice surfaces.

"Bang"

Before the Azure Water Sword could even fall, a cultivator dressed in a blue robe appeared on the empty ice field, and a heavy mountain-splitting axe cleaved down on the Azure Water Sword.

The two first-tier mid-grade magic artifacts collided, producing a crisp metallic clang. Although the Azure Water Sword flew back, it did not cause any substantial harm to the treacherous cultivator hiding there. However, the goal of forcing him to reveal himself was successfully achieved.

"Jingle bells"

At the other two locations, the countless fine needles formed from the first-tier mid-grade ice needle talisman struck the two golden protective shields, but they also failed to achieve any effect, only forcing out the two burly, vicious cultivators.

"Earth Prison Talisman, Trapped"

The talisman used by the opponent was a high-quality defensive talisman that could easily withstand an attack from a mid-grade ice needle talisman.

However, this kind of talisman also has a fatal flaw: the cultivator who uses it for defense is only temporarily imprisoned, and needs a certain amount of time to break free.

Such a battle opportunity would naturally not be missed by a qualified cultivator. He immediately summoned two first-grade high-quality earth prison talismans and trapped the two evil cultivators inside with lightning speed.

"Control the water fork, command!"

Even if he were to fight three children, he might not be able to defeat them, since two fists can't beat four hands. But in this one-on-one battle, he showed no fear whatsoever.

As time passes, the frigid night above the icy region is about to arrive, so normal combat methods cannot be adopted; the battle must be ended as quickly as possible.

The Water Control Fork, a first-grade high-quality water-attribute magic weapon, was one of the few remaining spoils he had kept. He had already refined it long ago and regularly used the magic power in his dantian to nourish it. Now he could barely control it.

The only side effect of controlling and commanding magical artifacts in battle beyond one's level is the excessive consumption of mana in the dantian. However, at this moment, Tong Bingfeng could only choose the lesser of two evils and could not care about this slight side effect.

The water-controlling fork had just been unleashed, and like a gluttonous beast, it directly extracted two-thirds of the mana from the opponent's dantian, trembling as it transformed into a stream of light and rose into the sky. The opponent's first cultivator's mountain-splitting axe was already approaching.

"boom"

Although the water-controlling fork had not yet fully charged up, only the middle, longer fork tip collided with the powerful and heavy first-tier mid-grade magic weapon, the mountain-splitting axe.

This impact was completely different from the original Azure Water Sword. The Mountain-Splitting Axe was as if it had been hit hard, and its original unstoppable momentum was blocked. The main body was also as if it had been hit hard, and it did not even have a chance to return. It fell directly onto the ice field.

As Tong Bingfeng unleashed a surge of magical power, the mountain-splitting axe immediately became his first trophy in this battle.

"It's actually a high-grade first-tier magic weapon. This is tricky. Time to get out of here."

This extremely greedy and audacious evil cultivator actually turned tail and ran away.