Shi Lang dove deep inside the pond, he had to swim quickly because the cold was freezing him, not only his blood cirction was slowing down, but even his consciousness was slowing down. The effect of the chilling water was somewhat simr to the me wind in the Volcano Garden.


    He figured out one thing, these trials were designed to test the mettle of the body and soul in various ways. While the mes agitated his soul, the cold was slowing it down.


    He had to circte his spiritual energy at a quicker pace to make sure that his body handles the stress from the cold. His body had been purified to the limit and the frost was corroding it. Thinking about it, Shi Lang stopped circting his spiritual cultivation sutra, but focused on the me maniption technique.


    The me seed spun quickly and the heat from it began to move through his body. The chill reduced and Shi Lang continued to moved in deeper. He saw a few creatures inside the pond thanks to his sensory ability. The scale of these creatures was massive, but nothing he hasn''t seen before.


    The thing that confused him was the fact that none of these creatures were attacking him. Shi Lang thought that probably they have been tamed by the people of the secret realm.


    ...


    Hou Bing looked at the pond and said, "Hmm, if used wisely, this pond can be extremely beneficial for people."


    Elder Marina knew that this bird wasn''t simple and nodded, she said, "This pond is very deep, and the people are not allowed to approach it. However, if we take the water from it and use it for cultivational baths, there is a chance to gain icy bones."


    Hou Bing nodded at this. She said, "I wonder if he would be able to achieve them too."


    Elder Marina shook her head and replied, "The people with affinity to fire cannot withstand the chill. The cultivator who came here in the past, he used his knowledge of pills to pass these tests. Master Barre told us that he created pill recipes that countered the burn and the chill to get through the test."


    Hou Bing replied, "That man must have been a good alchemist, but Shi Lang is not an alchemist primarily."


    She did notckebacks and what she said was not wrong either. Elder Marina knew that Shi Lang was not an alchemist because he thought like a warrior, facing everything head on. She said, "But senior, none of the fire attributed cultivators have managed to gain anything from this pond, why do you think Shi Lang would?"


    Hou Bing turned her tiny head to gaze at Elder Marina and said, "The people bath in these waters outside, but he is going in the depth. What do you think happens when such a pressure befalls anyone?"


    Elder Marina was stunned, she opened her eyes wide and said, "Senior, if the pressure is not released that the person can die."


    Hou Bing shook her head and said, "You, youngsters all fret too much. Look inside, and see for yourself. He is not someone who would give up so easily."


    Elder Marina finally realized that something was up. She turned her head to peek beyond the water, and was dazed.


    ...


    Shi Lang was diving deeper with every moment, he was using his pores to breath, the technique that he learned as a Terran. His body was heating up gradually with the maniption of the me seed. While diving down, Shi Lang was dwelling on the topic of heat and purification.


    His bones were the facing most of the chill, because they were buried under flesh and muscle, the cold was trapped inside them.


    Shi Lang had to channel the heat from the mes in his bones. If his bones got too hot, then he would have to stop. This process of cooling and heating became a cycle and Shi Lang continued to dive deeper increasing the pressure on his body.


    He knew that the cold and heat were changing his bones. It was akin to a metal being heated and then beaten by the forger. The water around him waspressing his body. His physique was reaching a level where the shura body looked like a paltry trick. His weight increased and he sunk faster.


    After one hour hended on the surface, surrounded by utter darkness. However, looking around he located a shining blue light. It became clear that this blue light was the object he needed to collect. Shi Lang moved over but the water seemed denser than regr. It urred to him that it was probably because of the water pressure being too high.


    This was not ordinary water, but spirit water. It''s density varied from normal water, and that was why it effected him so much. However, what Shi Lang did not understand was where did this cold originate from. If the source was located in the depths of the pond then this ce should have been terribly cold and not some ce where his marginal me seed could sustain.


    However, he did not have the time to pay attention to all this and moved, closer to the blue light. After a few moments, he stood next to the blue pearl and gasped mentally. The pearl seemed to repel all sort of chill and spiritual energy around it.


    There was a vacuum around the pearl. He frowned and crouched down next to thing mumbling, "What are you?"


    He pursed his lips and then reached out to pick it up. Shi Lang was careful, he pulled back all the spiritual energy from his hand, and as soon as the pearl came in connection with his hand Shi Lang was washed over by a vacuum.


    He opened his eyes wide and exerted the outmost strength to shoot up and reach the surface. Shi Lang had no pressure around him, it could make his body shrink and implode by its own pressure. The return to the surface was simply effortless.


    The cold water and every property it had was nullified by this pearl.


    ...


    Elder Marina took a step back and Shi Lang popped out of the pond. She said, "You can drop the pearl back in the pond now."


    Shi Lang did not have the time to say anything and simply let go of the pearl. He plopped back in the pond and caught his breath while swimming his way back to the shore.


    He ran his hand through his hair as he asked, "Can someone tell me, what just happened?"


    Elder Marina replied, "You have passed the test. You can rest now, and it the morning, you will have to face the sword master."


    Shi Lang asked, "Why am I being tested in the way of sword? What does that have to do with the herbs?"


    A calm voice sounded behind him, "Young Master Shi, the sword can defend and it can y. Simrly, the herbs that can give life can also take it."


    Shi Lang nodded, and said, "Elder Barre, you wish to test my mentality?"


    Barre nodded and then after a small talk, he vanished. Shi Lang sat down on the ground and Hou Bing said, "Look inside yourself."


    The Terran raised his brow and asked, "Why do you say?"


    Hou Bing asked, "Don''t you feel anything different?"


    Shi Lang thought and said, "Now that you say it. Lemme check."


    He crossed his legs and assumed the lotus position as he channeled his consciousness to look inside him. His brows furrowed as he inspected his body. The me seed was slightly bigger, his spiritual energy was flowing smoother and it was akin to a golden blood that moved through his meridians.


    Hou Bing asked, "Checked your bones?"


    Shi Lang diverted his attention to the bones and after a second he yelled, "What the heck is this?"


    Hou Bing chuckled and asked, "What? Scared of the ss bones?"


    Shi Lang''s bones looked as if they were made of ss. Brittle and delicate. Of course he was scared. Hou Bing said, "Sense them carefully, do not be childish."


    Shi Lang took a deep breath and calmed his mind one more time. He sensed his bones and said, "They seem cold."


    Hou Bing nodded and replied, "They are called the legendary Ice ss Bones. They are the strongest bones that exist under the heavens. Also, they are very suitable for engraving the Dao Laws."


    Shi Lang asked, "But, how did I even get them? While diving, I knew something was changing but I thought it was my body that was going through the baptism of the spirit pond."


    Hou Bing shook her tiny head and replied, "Not everything is as simple as you imagine it to be, and not everything is overly difficult either. This is a blessing from the nature, and you should enjoy it. Other than the people who are born with the physique of Jade Bones and Ice muscles, these properties do not appear so often.


    Your bones are a mix between ice and jade, so they are called Ice ss bones. They will eliminate all the me toxin that you will produce when making pills. Your strength must have increased too."


    Shi Lang clenched his fist and nodded slowly. He said, "I will know that in the morning, for now, let me rest."