Chaotic World Book
Chapter 215 - 210 Ice Profound Sea Mud

Chapter 215: Chapter 210 Ice Profound Sea Mud

Zhao Changhe felt that this guy was just going with the flow and picking up some good karma for nothing...

Cui Yuanyang was persuaded not to fight and wasn’t forced to fulfill the reward promise because Wang Zhaoqing had said, "We will discuss the item later." That meant it was no longer being offered as a reward but would be handled through negotiation with the Cui Family. If they were to act as if nothing had happened afterward, even rabbits would bite when cornered.

Xia Chichi also understood this, so she didn’t insist on continuing, otherwise, since she wasn’t injured at all, it would have been too easy for her to keep winning.

Regardless of whether it was calculated by the promised wins or the pressure from the Cui Family, this item should naturally have been brought out.

Of course, if the Wang Family decided to go back on their word, no one could do anything about it, and it wasn’t guaranteed to be obtained. Wang Zhaoqing’s willingness to offer it directly could truly be considered generous, and calling it good karma wouldn’t be wrong.

Even informing him that he would soon be an enemy was a piece of good karma that fell into his lap.

Zhao Changhe had made it clear he did not support the Wang Family’s actions, and he even refused to show up for the martial arts competition, preferring to be supported by others instead. With his sensitive identity, he was basically viewed as one who "should be eliminated if not serving our cause." It would be inappropriate for him to die openly at the hands of the Wang Family, but if he were to be assassinated out of the blue later, anyone could guess it was the Wang Family’s doing without him needing to say it...

This was also the reason Wang Zhaoqing had spoken directly because speaking or not speaking made no difference. But the fact that he was willing to say so was indeed good karma, at least reminding him to be more careful on the road.

One could say this was a display of emotional intelligence... Clearly stating that they would become enemies, yet not making himself disliked, he even made it feel like he’d made a friend.

If every member of the Wang Family were like this, they would seem much more troublesome than the Maitreya Sect... Compared to them, the Maitreya Sect seemed far too low...

Regardless, with the treasure that could expand his meridians ahead of him, Zhao Changhe naturally wouldn’t play the courteous guest. This item was extremely important to him. Xia Chichi and Cui Yuanyang both weren’t supposed to take part in the competition—it was purely for this item that they had all stepped up, was he to let their efforts be in vain when the Wang Family finally decided to give it up?

Wang Zhaoqing said that the item wasn’t an Elixir, but a place, and that was no deception. The place was within the Wang Family’s secret grounds, stored in an ice cave even in the hot summer.

Upon entering the ice cave, he saw a large lump of ice-blue clay about a yard in diameter. It appeared somewhat like ice but not ice, like snow but not snow, and wasn’t chillingly cold but rather felt slightly moist.

Zhao Changhe felt it was like a combination of modeling clay and ice cream... but the faint mystical feeling emanating from it reminded him that this was indeed no ice cream, but a treasure.

It was also the most fantastical and least martial-arts-world-esque thing he had seen in this world besides the Heavenly Book.

"What is this treasure called?"

Wang Zhaoqing said, "It has no name. The Ancient records did not mention it either; my ancestors casually named it Sea Mud of Ice and Mystique. It must be preserved in an ice cave, otherwise, its energy will gradually dissipate."

"...Why does it sound like you have quite a lot of it?"

"Not really... It’s deeply hidden in the most inaccessible depths of the ocean and is extremely hard to find. My family has been guarding the East Sea for centuries and has only found about a dozen lumps. It’s a bit like... an entire mountain of such material exploded and scattered across the seas during the collapse of the Ancient Era, buried in lumps under the sea bed. But the ocean is vast, so even if a mountain had dispersed, it’s no different from trying to fish out a needle..."

Zhao Changhe nodded, looking at it with great curiosity.

A mountain of ice cream, huh... How did it form?

Wang Zhaoqing continued, "I won’t hide it from you, Brother Zhao, although this item is precious, it’s kind of a white elephant for us."

Zhao Changhe asked curiously, "How so? Even if its effects are minor, isn’t it better to have it than not? From what I know, every family has some people with innate deficiencies who need to improve their roots; it always comes in handy, right?"

Wang Zhaoqing sighed, "Because once it’s used, its effects are absorbed and gone. It’s not some divine item; the effects are minor, so it would only be valuable in large quantities, allowing a group of people to benefit and improve. What’s the use of finding one lump every ten years? To make one worthless person slightly less worthless? The Wang Family isn’t at the stage where we need a life-saving straw yet."

That was indeed true... For the Wang Family, it really was rather insignificant, but for those in need, it was like rain after a long drought.

Wang Zhaoqing added, "Why do people strive to climb higher? Why isn’t being an emperor in Langya enough for us, why do we desire to extend our influence over the Four Seas? No matter how vast our power stretches across states and counties, it cannot compare to the wealth of the Four Seas. Your father... Oh, you don’t recognize him, never mind, my point is, if he wanted to find such a treasure to transform meridians, it would be very easy for him. If it’s not in your storeroom now, it’s only because he didn’t bother to find it for you. Otherwise, at his command, wouldn’t my Wang Family have to present it too?"

Zhao Changhe said, "That’s true. But why are you telling me this?"

"Because opening the Three Great Secret Treasures isn’t the end of the cultivation path. To glimpse the higher powers of the Ancient Era, neither information nor resources from a single region would suffice. Take this Sea Mud, for instance. What if it’s not only scattered in the sea but also on land? What if the core of it is actually on land? If we wish to trace its source, wouldn’t we be dreaming! The Emperor is the same, do you think he wanted to unite the world for what reason?"

Zhao Changhe could only think of the blind man’s words: Xia Longyuan sought something beyond the mundane rivers and mountains.

In his campaign to unify the world, he had already become the preeminent power, and uniting the Six Harmonies would only be for concentrating resources rather than for being a benevolent and sage ruler.

Zhao Changhe sighed, "He didn’t make much progress after becoming Emperor and instead hit a snag; why are you following in his footsteps?"

Wang Zhaoqing said, "Just because he failed doesn’t mean others will; why not give others a chance?"

Zhao Changhe shook his head, "Everyone has their own aspirations; there’s not much to say. How about we talk about the treasure: ’How do you use this?’"

"It envelops the whole person, and it’s breathable."

"..."

Wang Zhaoqing found his expression a bit amusing, "If Cui Yuanyang stands guard beside you, you should feel at ease, right?"

"... Do I have to take off my clothes?"

"No need," Wang Zhaoqing paused, then suddenly said, "Zhao brother, your understanding and insight into martial arts are second to none. After trying this item, I hope you will share any new realizations you might have. Maybe these perspectives can offer us angles we’ve never considered before."

Zhao Changhe nodded, "Alright."

It was a very strange experience, laughing and chatting with someone who was destined to be an enemy, using his treasure, and agreeing to exchange insights. Even stranger was that despite his long-cherished dream being right in front of him, Zhao Changhe felt no urgency or eagerness to try it, not even the impulse to touch it.

Was it because his mind was calm, or because he knew the effects were mediocre, hence the low expectations?

...

Cui Yuanyang squatted in front of the sea mud, blinking as he looked at Zhao Changhe wrapped in the mud.

Zhao Changhe’s face was still exposed, chatting with Cui Yuanyang with his face sticking out, which greatly amused the young rabbit, "Brother Zhao, you look so cute."

Zhao Changhe was speechless, "Is that word really appropriate for me?"

Cui Yuanyang extended his finger and poked Zhao Changhe’s face twice, laughing heartily, "Is there any more of this mud? I want to wrap myself in it too."

"Do you really think this is just mud? Where would we get so much from?" Wang Zhaoqing replied with a bit of annoyance, "Alright, alright, you two play on your own, I’m leaving."

Cui Yuanyang waved him off, "Take care, Wang brother, and remember to close the door."

Wang Zhaoqing left, shaking his head with a mixture of laughter and tears.

As soon as the door closed, darkness enveloped the ice cave. Cui Yuanyang seemed a bit cold as he wrapped his arms and squatted beside, his gaze flickering while looking at Zhao Changhe’s face, "How come you seem to get along quite well with him, and you trust him so much? Wrapped in this origin-unknown mud in a dark room, aren’t you afraid of any mishaps?"

Zhao Changhe clicked his tongue, "One moment you’re acting cute... and now when I look at you, you’re just filled with darkness."

"Hmph," Cui Yuanyang poked his face again, "I don’t believe you’re without any plans. Go on, tell me."

"I really don’t have any particular plans. Communicating with an intelligent person usually results in more understanding. It would actually be unsafe if he were a fool," Zhao Changhe smiled, "You being here is like a talisman for me. I feel as safe as if I were at Taishan."

Cui Yuanyang continued to poke, "So, it’s me protecting you right now, right?"

"Right."

Cui Yuanyang was pleased, "Is there anything else you need Yangyang to do?"

"The best help you could provide is to not poke me anymore...," Zhao Changhe’s voice began to tremble, "This thing... is starting to take effect. Be my protector, I need to introspect and enter meditation."

After Wang Zhaoqing left the ice cave and walked past a long corridor, he slowly came to a stop, stood quietly for a moment, then suddenly said, "Miss Xia, your lover is safe. There’s no need to hide and observe. You might as well show yourself."

A white figure flashed by, and Xia Chichi appeared before him, somewhat surprised, "You truly make us see you in a new light."

"Us? Is the Vermilion Bird Venerable also here?" Wang Zhaoqing smiled, "It’s actually quite easy to guess. Given the current situation, my Wang family and your sect indeed have potential for cooperation. Miss, you’ve been watching the whole process. I don’t believe that you haven’t considered the possibility of probing for an alliance."

Xia Chichi smiled, "So, organizing this martial competition is not just for testing and displaying our strength but also a move to win over Zhao Changhe... And discussing matters with my Four Symbols Sect is also one of the objectives?"

"That’s correct. We act boldly and openly weigh our options. Others focus only on such actions, while the fact that we’ve invited the Demon Sect seems like a small matter, as if it’s only natural..." Wang Zhaoqing sighed, "When you make a big move, it always has to carry greater value."

Xia Chichi thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Actually... just celebrating a birthday can be quite nice too..."

Wang Zhaoqing remained silent.

"As long as the item you gave to Changhe is truly useful, we’ll form the alliance."