I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 649 - 486: A Bountiful Harvest (Part 2)

Without a break, the team pressed onward to the remaining chambers.

When the third room's entrance swung open, a sharper wave of coldness assaulted them.

At the room's core, numerous waist-level ice-encased pedestals lined up, each displaying frozen plants or fruits—some with leaves resembling ice crystals that sparkled in an enigmatic blue luster; others fully crimson fruits sheathed in frost but pulsing with life; still more boasting sturdy roots cloaked in a subtle spiritual energy haze.

Evidently, these were Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, safeguarded by the Ice God Race's unique ice-sealing methods, staying pristine and undamaged across thousands of years without rot or decline.

"This is Ice Flame Grass! A legendary treasure capable of refining fire attribute spiritual energy!" Huo Yuansheng pointed excitedly at the small red grass locked in ice, eyes gleaming with joy, "And that one is Cold Marrow Flower, which can purify internal impurities, elevate spiritual energy purity; it’s long extinct outside!"

Zhuge Yu advanced, scrutinizing the ice-seal markings intently, and praised, "The Ice God Race’s ice-sealing technique truly is wondrous, locking away the vitality of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to ward off decay for millennia. If these were removed, each would fetch a massive sum at auction."

Having meticulously inspected every piece, they advanced to the following chamber.

The fourth room revealed itself as a compact library, shelves stretching to the ceiling and brimming with tomes.

Snatching up a volume casually, they discovered its script warped and strange, matching neither the Empire’s standard language nor any recognized race’s tongue—totally unreadable.

"These books likely record the Ice God Race’s history, cultivation techniques, or other knowledge." Zhuge Yu ran his fingers over the pages, "Though we can’t understand them, they can be brought to the Empire’s academy for experts to decipher, a major contribution for us too."

After a swift glance around, they proceeded to the next chamber.

A soft azure radiance bathed the entire space, with shelves and floors stacked high with energy crystals.

These crystals shone pure ice-blue, utterly flawless and impurity-free. Qin Tian grasped one, sensing the refined energy inside, and nodded contentedly.

Delving through chamber after chamber, the group's grins widened; their excursion to the Ice God Treasure Vault had already surpassed all anticipations.

Shortly thereafter, the four regrouped at the hall's heart, surrounding the Spirit Pool.

Qin Tian eyed the misty vortex in the pool and stated, "We’ve checked all the rooms. The ores, weapons, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures inside, we can distribute them slowly later, what do you think?"

"No problem!" The three nodded eagerly in unison.

To them, the treasures held immense value, yet boosting their personal power remained paramount; the mightier they grew, the bolder they could act amid this treacherous relic, grasping even greater chances.

"I’ll first examine the pool’s situation." Qin Tian offered proactively, facing no dissent from the others.

Stepping into the pool, chilling water soaked his trousers immediately, as pristine, potent spiritual energy infiltrated his skin into his body, eliciting shivers mingled with profound comfort.

He pressed deeper to the pool's center, water climbing steadily past waist and chest to shoulders, the refined spirit liquid eagerly pouring through his pores into him.

"Ah..." Qin Tian let slip a eased sigh, warmth enveloping him entirely, spiritual energy thundering along his meridians at several times its normal speed.

In that instant, the hall's central Ice Crystal Divine Statue abruptly glowed.

From the statue’s palm, a mild ice-blue ray projected forth, accurately shrouding Qin Tian—the glow gentle and non-dazzling, persisting without fade.

"Qin Tian!" Zhuge Yu and the other three tensed sharply, lunging ahead on instinct yet repelled by the beam's unseen shield.

They observed Qin Tian with bated breath, dreading harm from the unexpected radiance.

But their concerns were clearly unfounded.

As the blue light descended upon him, Qin Tian sensed merely a refreshing, soft force arriving—free of malice, instead fueling a torrent that hastened his spirit liquid uptake dramatically.

Thrilled, he noted this force not only accelerated spiritual energy absorption but refined his physique delicately, fortified his foundations, and even deepened the hues of select talents subtly.

His spiritual energy swelled noticeably, the Tier Six, Six Stars barrier hinting at breakthrough, while his bodily vigor rose firmly under the tandem infusion of spirit liquid and divine ray.

Qin Tian looked up, flashing an "OK" sign to the worried trio at the pool's edge, his face radiating carefree bliss.

Observing Qin Tian emerge unscathed and clearly reaping great rewards, the trio wasted no more time, plunging into the pool sequentially.

Chilling, pristine spirit liquid surged into their forms, swiftly banishing all weariness and revitalizing their minds.

Right upon immersion in the pool, the Ice Crystal Divine Statue flared once more, sending three azure ice beams toward Zhuge Yu, Taishi Feng, and Huo Yuansheng in turn, echoing the luminescence encasing Qin Tian.

Four figures rested motionless within the foggy pool, resembling jade carvings in meditation. The pure spirit liquid morphed into myriad strands, coursing through their meridians; wherever it flowed, it was like parched timber meeting spring rain, with each cell voraciously devouring this timeless boon.

Hovering over the pool, the glow cascading from the Ice Crystal Divine Statue stayed steady, soft like silken mist, tenderly wrapping around the quartet.

Through this sacred illumination's grace, the immense yet frosty power within the spirit liquid got subdued, refined, and seamlessly woven into their spiritual energy flow, forming foundational cultivation.

Their radiating auras climbed visibly and relentlessly, with luminous energies faintly circulating under their skin—clear signs of their cultivation swiftly solidifying and growing.

Though their uptake caused faint ripples across the pool’s spirit liquid, against the immense stockpile built over millennia, it amounted to merely a speck in the vast sea.

...

As Qin Tian and his companions immersed themselves in the blissful surge of advancing cultivation, with spiritual energy whirling ceaselessly nearby, the previously hushed ice-bound relic—invaded by five hundred elite Empire geniuses—erupted into turbulent waves.

Harsh cries from spiritual energy explosions, ferocious clash noises, and furious bellows from roused demons supplanted the prior peace, broken only by wailing icy gales.

One by one, dormant demons stirred, unveiling empty, profound gazes, and clashing savagely against the trespassers.

Ferocious combats could ignite in every nook of the relic without warning,

With the Ice Element at stake, these prodigies not only battled demons with unyielding fury but turned to brutal looting and raids on one another. Old enmities ballooned without limit, as numerous bitter foes viewed this relic as the ideal stage for vengeance.

In the midst of this turmoil, electrifying word raced through their ranks like blazing flames—the Ice God Treasure Vault.

Not solely Qin Tian seized this chance; numerous adept and fortunate elites uncovered the colossal hoard concealed in the relic’s heart via their unique paths.

Yet guarding the treasure vault’s entrance, demon hordes surged like ocean waves, serving as the deadliest barriers.

Few commanded the prowess, akin to Qin Tian’s, for evading head-on clashes via spatial might.

Gaining entry to the vault demanded aid from allies.

Craving the riches compelled these typically haughty, distant geniuses to shelve their animosities for the moment.

Connections formed between them, birthing short-lived pacts to pool their might, shatter the demon blockades, and storm the fabled vault as one.

Naturally, under the guise of unity lurked deeper distrust and plots.

Shaky coalitions frequently shattered right on the cusp of the real prize. To shrink the number of claimants or outright claim others’ Ice Element and spoils, betrayals and strife inside groups turned far more treacherous than demonic talons.

Swiftly, the whole relic plunged into utter mayhem.

Spiritualists clashed with demons, spiritualists with kin; over Ice Element, over treasure vault, even over ancient scores they warred.

Blood, ice, spiritual energy’s glows, and betrayal’s icy smirks wove together, crafting a savage, authentic portrait of secret realm endurance. All the while, Qin Tian and his trio’s tranquil nook remained the sole haven of peace in the raging tempest of madness.