Deep within the Cold Pool, the icy surface lay still, cold mist swirling above. A month had passed in the blink of an eye. The water still glowed with its faint blue hue, and the freezing air pervaded the atmosphere, isolating the area from the rest of the world as if time had stopped. Suddenly, ripples spread across the surface of the cold water.
A figure slowly emerged from the frigid water, the surrounding cold seemingly drawn into his body, absorbed completely. His aura blended perfectly with the environment, as though all the chill in the Cold Pool was under his command.
Wang Quan opened his eyes, the cold no longer affecting him in the slightest. He stood quietly in the water, feeling the powerful spiritual energy flowing through him, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"A month of training in the Cold Pool was not in vain."
He slowly walked out of the water, droplets sliding off his body, yet his clothes remained untouched by the biting cold, as if he had fully mastered the icy power of the Cold Pool. During his month-long cultivation, Wang Quan not only solidified his mastery of the Water Element technique from the Five Elements Art, but he had also refined the pool's chill into part of his Ice Element technique, fully integrating the power of ice into his spiritual energy system.
"Water, fire, and wood—I've now mastered three of the five elements."
In the extreme environment of the Cold Pool, Wang Quan's cultivation had progressed rapidly, with the speed of his energy circulation improving greatly. His spiritual energy was no longer limited to a single element; the forces of water and fire alternated while the wood energy nurtured them, forming a complete Five Elements cycle. The opposing forces of fire and ice coexisted harmoniously within him, solidifying the profound balance of their interaction.
At this moment, Wang Quan had reached the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage. He could clearly feel that his spiritual energy had nearly doubled in capacity. Now, even if he faced his former adversary, Huang Hu, he would no longer fear him and could even defeat him easily.
Suppressing his aura, Wang Quan headed to the entrance of the Cold Pool where a gatekeeper was stationed. The guard was an ordinary outer disciple, responsible for tracking the comings and goings of those sent to the Cold Pool for punishment. When Wang Quan appeared, the gatekeeper glanced up at him and opened the record book.
"Wang Quan, your punishment is over. Report to the Hall of Enforcement to complete your registration," the gatekeeper said indifferently, clearly unconcerned about the disciples in the Cold Pool.
"Thank you, senior brother," Wang Quan nodded slightly, maintaining his calm. He knew that the sect's lax attitude during this time had actually given him ample opportunity to focus on cultivating. Now that he had emerged from the Cold Pool with newfound power, he understood that the path ahead required even greater caution.
Leaving the Cold Pool behind, Wang Quan slowly made his way down the familiar mountain path, heading toward his straw hut. Along the way, his mind was full of thoughts. Although he had been isolated for a month, he was well aware that the power struggles among the outer disciples had never ceased—especially those who had once followed him, who might have already encountered trouble.
When Wang Quan returned to the outer sect, his suspicions were confirmed. He overheard disciples' discussions, their conversations filled with rumors and news.
"Have you heard? Li Cang broke through during his sect mission and has now reached the ninth level of Qi Refining!"
"Yeah, and Li Daoguang's been flaunting it. Wang Quan is finished this time."
"It's a shame. Wang Quan's been stuck in the Cold Pool for punishment all this time. By the time he returns, Li Cang will probably come back to settle the score."
Hearing this, Wang Quan's gaze turned cold as he quickly pieced things together. Li Cang, the inner sect disciple who had been away on a mission, had already been a powerful figure. Now, having broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining, he had become an unstoppable force in the eyes of the outer disciples.
Because of this, those outer disciples who had once pledged their loyalty to Wang Quan had clearly begun to shift their allegiance back to Li Daoguang, out of fear of Li Cang's impending return.
"A crumbling tree topples, and the monkeys scatter…" Wang Quan sighed softly. He realized that Li Cang's breakthrough had made him a prime target. The disciples who had once depended on him were now scrambling to align themselves with Li Daoguang, fearing that they too would be punished when Li Cang returned.
As Wang Quan approached his straw hut, he noticed several of his former followers standing under Li Daoguang's command. Their faces showed traces of reluctance and fear. When they saw Wang Quan, their expressions turned complicated.
"Senior Brother Wang…" one of the disciples said softly before quickly lowering his head, too ashamed to meet his eyes.
Wang Quan gave them a brief, indifferent glance, his heart unaffected. After a month in the Cold Pool, he had gained clarity about many things. The betrayal of these disciples didn't surprise him—in a world where strength ruled, siding with the strongest was a basic survival strategy.
"You've made your choice. I won't hold it against you," Wang Quan said calmly.
His words made the disciples pause, a flicker of guilt surfacing in their hearts. While they lacked the strength to stand up to Wang Quan, his composure and understanding left them feeling ashamed.
Without paying further attention to them, Wang Quan quickly returned to his hut, sitting cross-legged to begin contemplating his next steps.
"Li Cang is now at the ninth level of Qi Refining, far stronger than me. I must be prepared for what's to come," Wang Quan thought.
He knew that Li Cang's return signaled the arrival of a true crisis. Despite his significant growth in the Cold Pool, the gap between himself and a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator like Li Cang was still considerable. He needed to seize the time he had left to further increase his strength, ensuring that he could stand his ground in the upcoming confrontation.
"The Five Elements Art has allowed me to accumulate strength over time. Now, I must fully focus on breaking through before Li Cang returns!"
Determination gleamed in Wang Quan's eyes. The Cold Pool had shown him the true potential of the Five Elements Art, and he believed that as long as he continued to improve, there was a chance he could face Li Cang head-on in the future.