Punishment at the Cold Pool

Wang Quan stood outside the Hall of Enforcement, feeling the cold wind brush against his face. Although his heart was calm, he could still sense the curious and sympathetic gazes of the passing disciples. For outer sect disciples, punishment from the Hall of Enforcement was never something to be taken lightly.

Due to his recent altercation with Li Daoguang, Wang Quan had been summoned to the Hall of Enforcement to face punishment. Although he skillfully navigated the interrogation and managed to deflect most of the accusations, he couldn't entirely escape the consequences.

"Wang Quan, according to the sect's rules, private duels typically warrant harsh penalties. However, since this is your first offense, we will forgo further punishment. You are to go to the Cold Pool and undergo a month of reflection and cultivation there as your disciplinary measure," the enforcer announced coldly.

Wang Quan nodded in acceptance, not overly concerned by this outcome. While the Cold Pool was notorious for its severity, Wang Quan had already formulated a plan. The sect rarely paid much attention to the smaller conflicts among outer disciples, and this punishment could provide him with a valuable opportunity to focus on his cultivation and temporarily escape external troubles.

The Cold Pool was located in a secret mountain region within Yunxiao Sect. It was a place feared by outer disciples. The area surrounding the pool was covered in snow year-round, with freezing temperatures. The water of the pool itself was icy and penetrative, and any disciple who entered it for cultivation would have to endure the bone-chilling cold. For most Qi Refining cultivators, the cold was akin to torture, and those with insufficient spiritual energy to resist it often suffered frostbite, with their cultivation potentially damaged as a result.

Legend had it that the Cold Pool was established by Yunxiao Sect's founding patriarch as a training ground to temper disciples. At the bottom of the pool, there was said to be a spiritual vein of ice energy, which made the cold of the pool especially intense. Over time, the Cold Pool became the designated site for punishing outer sect disciples.

Every outer disciple who had been sentenced to the Cold Pool returned with a deep sense of dread. The extreme cold wasn't just a physical ordeal; it drained their spiritual energy, making cultivation extremely difficult.

"One month in the Cold Pool..." Wang Quan glanced at the disciplinary order handed to him by the enforcer but felt little fear. In fact, he had an inkling that this punishment might actually become a new opportunity for him.

"The Water Element technique of the Five Elements Art is closely tied to the essence of ice," Wang Quan thought. As a practitioner of the Five Elements Art, the harsh environment of the Cold Pool, which was considered torment for others, might prove to be an ideal training ground for him.

The next morning, Wang Quan set off for the Cold Pool. The winding mountain path led him deeper into the secluded wilderness, and as he walked, the temperature gradually dropped. The air grew thick with cold mist, and the vegetation became sparse. The few trees that remained were bare, their branches coated in a thin layer of frost.

When Wang Quan arrived at the Cold Pool, the sight before him was breathtaking.

The pool lay still in the center of a deep mountain valley, surrounded by cliffs draped in frost. The cold mist rose from the surface of the pool, giving it the appearance of a natural ice chamber. The water glimmered with a faint blue light, and beneath its surface, an ice layer seemed to be in constant motion. The frigid wind howled, carrying an icy chill that seemed to drain the warmth from Wang Quan's body instantly.

Standing at the edge of the pool, Wang Quan's expression grew serious. Despite having prepared himself mentally, the overwhelming cold that enveloped the area was still a shock to his senses. Even a Qi Refining cultivator would find it challenging to endure such extreme cold without sufficient spiritual energy to protect themselves.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Quan quickly circulated his spiritual energy, covering his body with a thin layer of Fire Element energy to temporarily shield himself from the biting cold.

"As expected, maintaining spiritual energy here is a heavy drain," Wang Quan mused. He could feel his energy rapidly depleting, but instead of panicking, he remained calm. While the cold air was relentless, he soon realized that this was precisely the ideal environment for cultivating the Water Element technique of the Five Elements Art.

The Water Element technique emphasized fluidity and adaptability, and its variant, the Ice Element, represented the extreme manifestation of cold energy. The essence of ice was the condensation of extreme cold, much like the energy radiating from the Cold Pool.

"If I can harness the ice energy from the Cold Pool to cultivate the Ice Element technique, this punishment might turn into an opportunity."

With that thought, Wang Quan wasted no time. He removed his outer robe, dispelled the protective Fire Element shield, and left only a minimal barrier to guard against the cold. Slowly, he stepped into the water of the Cold Pool. Immediately, the freezing water seeped into his bones, as if countless needles were pricking his skin.

The cold of the Cold Pool was far more unbearable than he had anticipated. Wang Quan's face turned slightly pale, but he didn't retreat. Instead, he took a deep breath and sat cross-legged in the water, beginning to circulate the Five Elements Art.

"Transform Water into Ice; extreme cold gives rise to change."

As he recited the incantations, the frigid energy of the Cold Pool was gradually absorbed by Wang Quan, merging with his spiritual energy. The cold air resonated with his internal energy, and the aura of the Water Element technique slowly transformed into that of the Ice Element.

An intense cold flowed through his body as his spiritual energy became purer and more concentrated. His meridians, though initially pained by the cold, began to adapt to the icy environment. He could even feel the Ice Element energy circulating within him.

"As I thought, this Cold Pool is the perfect place to cultivate the Ice Element technique!"

Wang Quan felt a surge of joy. Despite the intense pain from the cold, his Five Elements Art was steadily progressing in this extreme environment.

The freezing air of the Cold Pool became a catalyst for Wang Quan's cultivation.