Chapter 169: Hu Guanyu

"I don't know," Hu Guanyu replied, "but I'll keep trying every possible method I can think of."

At that moment, Liao Pantou in Lin Xiao's soul pendant transmitted a message to him, "I've now pinpointed the exact location of my soul fragment. For now, let's focus on finding a way out."

Lin Xiao smiled and asked Hu Guanyu, "It's already been two days. Haven't you exhausted all the ideas you've thought of?"

Hu Guanyu paused, a hint of embarrassment and irritation flashing across his face as he asked, "What do you mean by that, young brother?"

Seeing that Hu Guanyu was a bit displeased, Lin Xiao quickly explained, "How about we work together? With more people, we might come up with more ideas, right?"

Realizing that Lin Xiao simply wanted to team up, Hu Guanyu's expression softened. He nodded and said, "You're young, and although you're hiding it, I can tell your cultivation isn't high. Stay close behind me, and if you have any ideas, feel free to share them. I'll see if they're feasible."

Lin Xiao, completely unbothered by being underestimated, nodded enthusiastically. "Alright!"

Seeing their conversation, Jiang Cheng, who had been listening, quickly chimed in, "Can I join you guys too?"

Since Jiang Cheng didn't seem to pose any problems, Hu Guanyu nodded indifferently. "Sure, we'll form a three-person team. Since you've decided to follow me, I'll be the team leader. I assume neither of you objects?"

Lin Xiao quickly nodded, "No problem!"

Jiang Cheng hesitated briefly but eventually nodded in agreement as well.

With their agreement, Hu Guanyu continued, "From now on, you'll both follow my lead. Don't worry, as the leader, I won't ask you to take unnecessary risks."

He then thought back to how his senior brother led their team in the Heavenly Profound Sect, mimicking his posture by folding his hands behind his back as he instructed, "Let's move out."

Just as they were about to leave, Lin Xiao spoke up, "Team leader, I haven't finished digging yet."

Hu Guanyu frowned slightly, trying to recall what should be done in such a situation. After a moment, he said, "The team can't be delayed because of one person. Digging here won't lead to an exit, as that senior's final letter mentioned. But if you really feel the need to confirm it yourself, I won't stop you."

He pulled out a small white paper crane from his robes and handed it to Lin Xiao. "After you finish digging, use this to find me."

Lin Xiao accepted the crane and thanked him. Hu Guanyu and Jiang Cheng then left.

There were other Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been attracted by the earlier noise, but after realizing that these were merely low-level youngsters, they didn't bother revealing themselves. Upon hearing Hu Guanyu's explanation about the final letter, they grew even more disinterested and hurried off in different directions to find an exit.

Soon enough, Lin Xiao was alone again. He put the paper crane into his storage and resumed his task of excavating the building.

After a while, the small 50-square-meter house was finally detached from the ground. After double-checking that no one was around, Lin Xiao used his spiritual energy to envelop the entire structure and, with a blink, stored it in his personal storage.

Yes, in order to store such a large object, he had to envelop it completely with his spiritual energy before it could be absorbed into his storage.

Initially, when Lin Xiao learned about this requirement for storing large items, he had complained a bit about the inconvenience.

The system, however, responded that this was simply the rule of the personal storage space, and it couldn't do anything about it.

Now, seeing the complete house made of high-grade Cold Congealing Jade safely stored inside, Lin Xiao felt very satisfied.

Liao Pantou, who had been quietly observing from the Soul Nurturing Pendant, saw that Lin Xiao had indeed managed to store the house.

At that moment, Lin Xiao transmitted a message to him, "Senior, although it's true that large objects like these houses can't be stored without sufficient space, couldn't someone just dismantle them into smaller pieces? But I noticed these buildings are all intact, without any signs of damage."

In response, Liao Pantou explained, "That's because it's Cold Congealing Jade. Most cultivators below the Golden Core stage have little knowledge of it. Even those who've heard of it may not recognize it in its true form. And as you've heard, few are unlucky enough to enter this ice cavern each year."

"Is Cold Congealing Jade really that rare in the cultivation world?" Lin Xiao asked, surprised.

"It's not exactly unknown, but it's rare below the Golden Core stage. Most Nascent Soul cultivators and above are familiar with it. If you manage to leave here safely, that house made of high-grade Cold Congealing Jade will be an incredible find."

Hearing this, Lin Xiao's gaze shifted to the nearby buildings made from what Liao Pantou referred to as 'ordinary-grade' Cold Congealing Jade. With a determined look, he raised his spirit pickaxe and eagerly approached them.

—

Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of the vast ice cavern, Yuan Zhiyun had been exploring for two days before finding this hidden area. She cautiously made her way inside.

Yesterday, she had encountered a Qi Refining cultivator who revealed the truth about this ice cavern. Learning that they might freeze to death here if they couldn't find a way out before the secret realm closed had shocked her deeply.

After all, this wasn't her first time entering the Icefield Secret Realm. She never imagined there were such hidden dangers within it.

At first, she was skeptical, but the Qi Refining cultivator had shown her the final letter from her uncle, who had mysteriously disappeared three years ago after entering the secret realm.

Upon verifying the handwriting and the bloodstains on the letter, Yuan Zhiyun was certain that the writer was indeed her uncle.

With this confirmation, she believed the cultivator's words.

She had wanted the cultivator to take her to her uncle's remains so she could give him a proper burial. However, the cultivator explained that he had already collected the remains and, due to his connection to her uncle, felt obligated to personally deliver them to her uncle's son.

Though reluctant, Yuan Zhiyun couldn't refute him. He didn't seem like a malicious person, and as a Qi Refining cultivator, he wasn't likely to do anything harmful with her uncle's remains. So, she could only remind him to take good care of them.