Chapter 5, Shedding the Extravagance

This is the foundation upon which the Toad Dragon Technique is to be performed, and it is also the standard for passing the trial

but he is well aware of how dangerous that seemingly peaceful small icefield near the glacier, which is home to numerous elk, cold fish, and flying geese, truly is

Unless he possesses magical abilities, has a refined demeanor, and can single-handedly defeat formidable beings such as the Death Crocodile, Blood Slaughtering Ice Leopard, and Carnivorous Blood Worms

He left this place without looking back, afraid to see the appearance of that frail girl

Chu Youcai took the golden hairpin and walked a considerable distance before turning back, only to see Wen Ruoxu's body still standing straight by the side of the boat, the whole person seemingly having become a sharp sword

He cannot risk his own life

At this moment, Chu Youcai's gaze was as dark as ink, his demeanor as hard as a blade, resembling a sharp warrior, his entire being exuding the bloody scent of countless killings.

Easily evading those who were tracking him, he found himself unwittingly approaching the vicinity of the casino.

His thoughts were instantly collected

The Toad Dragon Mountain River Pearl uses his one year of life as a tribute, not to create an illusion, but to transport him to a real glacial world; if he dies, he will truly be dead

Having just emerged from the Death Glacier and having experienced countless slaughters, Chu Youcai's demeanor has transformed into a sharp edge, and wherever his gaze falls, it instills a sense of fear and trepidation in Wen Ruo, rendering her unable to meet his eyes

This is precisely the reason why no mortal has ever been able to pass the trial of the Jin Zhen-level cursed treasure.

He sustained over one hundred serious injuries on this glacier in a single year! Each serious injury brought him to the brink of death

The middle-aged woman looked up and saw Chu Youcai, revealing a look of astonishment: "Who are you?"

Then he heard a low sobbing sound coming from the room, a sound filled with sorrow and despair

Could it be that these three young masters possess celestial treasures, capable of containing Mount Sumeru within a mustard seed

After surveying the room, Chu Youcai discovered that there was nothing unusual about the cabin. The broken Toad Dragon Armor he had shattered had somehow vanished, likely absorbed by the inner world of the Toad Dragon Mountain River Pearl

However, Chu Youcai possesses a profound understanding of medicinal properties. On the glacier's snow line, there are many deadly poisonous herbs, but there are also numerous miraculous medicines that can save lives. The prescription that Chu Youcai discovered in his previous life at medical school, which can treat critically ill patients, happens to be found on the glacier.

Chu Youcai was taken aback and could not help but turn around to ask the two old men, "Does Wang Hai live nearby?"

Chu Youcai called out a few times, "Is anyone there?" but no one came to open the door. He gently pushed the door open and then saw in the dimly lit room a mother weeping, beside her on the bed lay a pale-faced girl who was nearly unconscious

At this moment, Wen Ruo Xu suddenly understood his intentions, took out the golden hairpin from his bosom, and said: "The gift from the Third Young Master, I, Ruo Xu, feel unworthy to accept. The Third Young Master has a heart as vast as the heavens and the earth, while I am but a fraction of that. The Third Young Master's teachings and example, I shall surely repay in the future." At this moment, the setting sun cast its light upon his face, revealing a unique golden glow.

At this moment, Wen Ruo Xu's heart was in turmoil

The Toad Dragon Mountain River Pearl is placed into the jade pendant on the chest, wrapped up, and kept close to the heart. This is a jade pendant made from celestial silkworm silk, which is extremely tough and impervious to knives and swords.

From a distance, I heard the mother softly say: "Li'er, you must learn to be strong. Your father will not be coming back, but we have each other, and we will surely get through this together"

One feels utterly dejected after experiencing a few failures, yet these three young masters, even in such dire circumstances, remain completely unafraid. Their resolve is as strong as iron, capable of turning the tide at will, disregarding the laughter and scorn of others as they walk proudly on their own path. In comparison, how shameful and insignificant do I feel!

What a sin...

A pungent smell of decay filled the air; upon smelling it, he immediately recognized it as an extremely cheap herb.

However, Li Er seemed to hear nothing and see nothing, even as her mother's voice gradually became frantic and torn apart

"Li Er! Li Er!" the middle-aged mother called out anxiously

He suddenly remembered his arrival. He had always been clever and resourceful, able to do things as soon as he attempted them, and to learn as soon as he practiced. He was proficient in all arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dance, yet he was overly proud of his talents and did not seek to engage in productive endeavors. He squandered his resources, and even in the matter of selling fans, he had not thought it through properly, neglecting even the most basic precautions against moisture, which ultimately led to his downfall

Suddenly, the sharp killing intent emanating from him transformed into a gentle drizzle. His thoughts raced—his current plan was to quickly enhance his own abilities and slay demons to extend his lifespan. Although Wang Hai was despicable, he was not entirely in control of his actions and had not committed any grave evil. If his sister were present, she would likely plead with him to spare Wang Hai's life

Indeed, it is said that his daughter has been seriously ill for several days, yet Wang Hai has not returned even once

At this moment, sensing the changes within his body, Chu Youcai's gaze revealed a murderous intent as red as blood

***

Thus, Chu Youcai has been lingering on the brink of death, yet he has resolutely persevered and has even made himself stronger

And during this year of battles where life and death were indistinguishable, he became a cold-blooded killer, capable of piercing through even the slightest flaw of his opponent. However, the loneliness of being isolated in the world nearly drove him mad. If it were not for the intense obsession to protect Yun Cui Xian in his heart, he would have likely perished long ago

Upon a single glance, Chu Youcai noticed that the young girl appeared pale and emaciated, clearly suffering from malnutrition and even exhaustion. The room was nearly devoid of any possessions, and even the layer of cotton on the bed was tattered and in disrepair

Certainly, the polar bears in the northern abyss on the glacier are far more powerful than ordinary humans. With the mortal body of Chu Youcai, even utilizing traps and poisonous herbs, it is not guaranteed that he can successfully kill and escape unscathed every time

The distant casino is adorned with lights, creating an indescribable clamor

The cruelty of that glacial world in my memory is unbearable to recall

In the course of half a day, he had someone inquire about the Third Young Master and learned that the Third Young Master had been despised by the wife of the county prince, leading him to establish his own household. At the same time, he had incurred a debt of one thousand taels of silver, nearly reaching the point of selling his wife. However, seeing is believing; this Third Young Master possesses the art of divination, as well as supernatural abilities or treasures that can contain the universe within a mustard seed. Given his current sharp gaze, even if he were to be foolish, he would surely deduce that Chu Youcai must be enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens, a hidden dragon in the depths.

The Third Young Master claims to be intelligent and perceptive, yet he is merely elevating himself too highly

Yes, it seems that my body has floated out, and I feel as if I can see this brother...

Although a year has passed in the trials of cultivation, he has only spent a little over an hour on the ship

During a year of cultivation in the Toad Dragon Mountain River Pearl, he consumed the precious North Abyss Extreme Bear, whose blood and flesh were rich in spiritual energy, greatly refining his body. By the end of the year, this was equivalent to an ordinary person's cultivation over five to six years on the Loulan Continent

The young girl heard the sound of the door and weakly said: "Mother, has Father returned?"

Two elderly men pointed to a low wall on a nearby alley, waved their hands, sighed, and walked away

Suddenly, he heard someone talking not far behind him: "That Wang Hai is truly committing sins, abandoning his own wife without a care, indulging in a life of debauchery every day"

Drink

He is a very handsome brother, a good person who has brought us hope. In the future, Li'er, will you repay this brother well...

He followed the streets and alleys and entered the low wall

The young girl softly said, "Was that an older brother just now? Mother, can you tell me what he looked like? When I grow up, I will definitely repay him well" Her voice grew quieter and quieter

He has reached the limits of his exhaustion

He opened the door, only to see Wen Ruoxu standing on the deck not far away. Upon seeing Chu Youcai come out, Wen Ruoxu finally let out a slight sigh of relief and stepped forward, saying: "Third Young Master." Noticing that Chu Youcai's hands were empty, he cast a glance around the room and discovered that there was not a trace of that tortoise shell in sight, which left him momentarily stunned.

This is feather dragon wood, which is extremely hard. A regular person would experience swelling in their hand from striking it with force, let alone breaking it.

Now, he has finally survived the trials and within a year has cultivated the "Toad Dragon Palm" to the point of lethal intent

He was about to say something, but when he looked up, he saw the expression in Chu Youcai's eyes at that moment

Then, Chu Youcai's single palm struck a wooden plank in the cabin that was one inch thick, and the plank was immediately split into two pieces

When Chu Youcai emerged from the brutal and bloody trial, returning from the world of Toad Dragon Mountain and the Pearl River to the cabin, the sky was already approaching dusk

He reached into his bosom, took out the gold hairpin carved with a dragon and phoenix, handed it to the middle-aged woman, and said in a lowered voice: "Please ask the doctor to prescribe some medicine."

Such a Wang Hai, such a Wang Hai... Although it is said that those who are detestable must have their pitiable aspects, yet Wang Hai, dressed in splendid robes and wearing python-patterned shoes, has abandoned his wife and daughter to this extent. Such a person is no longer worthy of being called a human, right!" A strong sense of anger surged within Chu Youcai.

Those who dare to lay hands on their own wives, like Wang Hai, and the arrogant thugs from the casino who bully the weak, it is time to send you to hell

This Wang Hai lives so close to the casino, yet for so many days he has neglected even his seriously ill daughter? A faint aura of anger flickered across Chu Youcai's face

He does not wish to leave the glacier, which is filled with polar bears from the Northern Abyss.

Chu Youcai suddenly felt a surge of emotions; he regarded Wen Ruo Xu merely as an ordinary merchant, treating him with various means. However, the other party did not take offense; instead, he was able to awaken from it. This clearly shows that anyone who can cleanse the superficialities will surely find boundless opportunities.

During that bloody trial for a year, he consumed only the blood and meat of live bears from the glacier. The Arctic bear of the North Abyss is the king of the glacier, yet it is the only creature that is free of poison. Its meat has a strong and gamey odor, and Chu Youcai could only manage to swallow it after rinsing it dozens of times and drying it for a whole day.

Until the very end, a desperate and piercing sound emerged from the most inconspicuous corner. Yet, no matter how loud that piercing sound was, it did not disturb the bustling gambling house. In the distance, the lively crowd continued to come and go within the casino, engrossed in the seductive grasp of money and sin, finding endless pleasure in it.

Chu Youcai held his breath, turned his fists towards his abdomen, then pivoted on his toes, swinging one palm. The force of his palm was like a knife, the energy flowed with the palm's movement, and his body moved like a dragon, causing the air to tremble momentarily