13 Night 23 Day 24

He spoke a few matters over with Linlin that she paid attention as best she could. Considering Liang Yu was not taking advantage of her, it earned him a little more respect in her eyes. The distraction helped with the pain.

She understood nothing good could come from sharing what he was telling her. Good way to die faster and not have any benefits. Letting her in on some small plans was the best he could do at the time. She did not stay alive long enough for him to figure out if the lighting affected her differently than Liang Jian.

Checking his status he confirmed one thing already. The Connection went up due to Linlin using his flame to cultivate. Liang Yu made sure to alert her to go to the bathroom the moment she could. Wouldn't be good for her to be late considering all that she wore really. Well, lack of clothing that is.

'Connection went up but nothing else. Only thing left to do is speed up what's in the Flame Vortex right now. I can feel my dantian ready for a breakthrough but it still hurts a little from that blasted star energy previously. The 4th Heavenly Layer is just around the corner.'

As he broke down some more of the Cold Stone, he could feel the metal seed taking in bits of the minerals. Nowhere near enough to help it advance further. But it did help with the temperature a bit.

Liang Yu looked into the cave. Considering how he made a hole in there it made sense it would become cold faster. Once the next watch group came up, things had to change. Linlin had gotten rid of all the toxins she had. She was currently taking care of her Cultivation at 4th Heavenly Layer.

As advised, she would keep it secret from others. If found out the plan was to say she received some favors from Liang Yu as he believed she would make a great follower. Which was true in a sense.

Ye Xinghe found the issue first in the cave. A lot of the students were shivering uncontrollably. A small investigation leads them to the hole Liang Yu made previously. He only covered his tracks a little.

Xia Yuning felt agitated that something inside was making her feel so cold. She recklessly charged at the boulder channeling her qi. Liang Yu had just enough time to step in front of most of the students and erect a barrier of flames.

'Dragon Aura's Fist!' Xia Yuning hit dead center destroying the boulder almost completely. Small bits of debris heading around the cave. She gave a small irritated look at Liang Yu. A smug smile on her face. 'Spent all night talking with that girl, here I thought he would come to find me to talk over the next course of action! Humph!'

"A little warning next time would be nice." An Xueyun said. A few of the others just had awkward looks on their faces. The rush did wake a few of them up more. "A hidden tunnel, I wonder whats inside?"

"Something good or something bad." Liang Yu said stepping forward. He looked around the opening a bit. Ye Xinghe was observing parts of the entrance. His hands running along certain parts. "Maybe a small seal perhaps. Or people afraid of something. I am sure nothing you cannot handle dragon princess."

"Humph! Of course not!" Xia Yuning stepped into the opening. "I say we check it out."

"Yuning, it could be dangerous." An Xueyun said quickly.

"It is worth the look." Liang Yu said following her. "If there is trouble, we can just leave right?"

"Relax, I am a 5th Realm Dragon Martial Artist, so I should be fine." Xia Yuning continued to walk. Her hands folded behind her as if she was taking a stroll. "No risk, no reward."

"Hmm, we will wait out here." Linlin said. "In case of trouble comes we send someone to alert of danger." A few of the students nodded quickly agreeing to that. Not wanting to head inside since that is where the biggest chill was coming from. "Don't worry about us."

"I am coming to." Ye Xinghe followed along.

"Right, me to." An Xueyun tailing behind after thinking it over. 'If even 3rd Rank Martial Artist are just heading in, how can I a 4th Rank Martial Artist be so timid!' Psyching herself up, she was determined to prove herself more.

.

Deep in the cave-

.

As they moved in, Liang Yu instructed Xia Yuning to circulate her qi to keep warm. With a lot of the stone gone it was not that bad but still enough to cause an issue. Moving one's qi before the cold sunk in did help.

Liang Yu was supringsly fine. The cold actually just moving towards the center of his chest under the flow of his qi. His cultivation did not improve but it did not hurt him at all to be under the effects. As long as he circulates some qi that is.

An Xueyun received help from Ye Xinghe to make it through. Thanks to him channeling the Power of The Stars she was more than comfortable enough to continue.

'I'm shivering, my qi will run out if I do not get a handle of the situation.' Turning back, she noticed An Xueyun was just fine. Holding hands with Ye Xinghe. Looking to Liang Yu who was just fine as he moved she felt some type of way. "How are you ok in this cold?"

"Hm, Flame Martial Artist." Liang Yu said simply. He blinked at her a bit then looked around. "Are you controlling your qi properly?"

"Yes!" Xia Yuning fumed a little. "An Xueyun is a Flame Cultivator to! She is having trouble as well!"

"Maybe because you are females this is happening," Liang smirked. It was the right thing to tick Xia Yuning off. Her anger spiked a little more as some more of her qi came out. "I am kidding.. partially. Take this as time to temper yourself. You lack control. Like a lot. All that teenage angst and those daddy issues.."

*Fwip!* Xia Yuning took a swing at Liang Yu that was dodged. As he stepped to the left, he maneuvered towards the pool of water.

"Really, a 5th Realm incapable of hitting a 3rd Realm, how unsightly." Liang Yu was about a foot away from the water now. The halberd to his left side. He looked at then to Xia Yuning. She was following his eyes towards the weapon. "I bet even with that you couldn't land a hit."

"Grrrr!" Xia Yuning was beyond insulted. She grabbed the halberd "I will show you!" The moment she grabbed it, ice started to travel up her arm. In seconds it moved up to her shoulder. "Ahhh!" Her scream was pretty sharp. "Help!"

"Oh geez, calm down." Liang Yu grabbed her other arm and channeled his qi into her. His left hand placed over her frozen one. "This is a chance that you shouldn't pass up." He channeled the Flame Vortex Core qi to help next.

The Cold qi created from the halberd was eaten up. All of it heading to the Flame Vortex for later. Xia Yuning fought back against the cold in her body. Her eyes never leaving Liang Yu.

'He is so calm, did he goad me on purpose?' Feeling a little foolish she made a note to deal with him later. 'If we are partners, he should confide in me more. Unless...' She looked a little over her shoulder at An Xuning and Ye Xinghe who stood there. 'Is it because they were here?'

"Xinghe.. see f you can help maybe." An Xueyun said. Noticing he didn't move she nudged him. "EH!?" Ye Xinghe's eyes were glowing with qi as he looked at the Halberd. Slowly he moves forward as if possessed. "Xinghe..."

"I almost have it!" Xia Yuning said. She could feel a presence that caused her dragon qi to change. It became more robust from the frost but purer from the Flame Vortex qi. 'Such an intense feeling!'

'Such a good offering of qi.' Liang Yu thought to himself. He was not worried about the technique inside the halberd. The frost qi inside was more of a prize. As well as the information on how Dargon Martial Artist cultivate just a bit. 'The more she circulates her qi, the more I am understanding.'

Before Liang Yu could learn something fundamental, Ye Xinghe grabbed hold of the halberd. His star energy injected into Xia Yuning caused a conflict.

"What the hell brat!?" Liang Yu removed his qi and stepped back. "Are you nuts!?"

"Uggh!" Xia Yuning groaned as the chill overtook her without the Flame Vortex qi present. 'The warmth is gone but the star energy is healing my wounds from the frost damage.'

'I can't do anything right now. I feel so useless.' An Xueyun thought ton herself. She caught that Liang Yu looked a little tired then he fell into the water. "Liang Yu!" Xia Yuning and Ye Xinghe were to occupied to do anything.

An Xueyun made it to the water but stop from the cold fog that hit her. She fretted a little but nothing she could really do. She could wait to see what happens. Her fists balled tight as she was basically just a spectator at what was currently going on.

Liang Yu allowed himself to fall into the pool. Since he was not interested in the halberd and already received a benefit from the frost qi inside, it was better to let them deal with. Circulating his Flame Vortex qi a little he headed down to get the Cold Snow Essence.

The more he travelled the more the water was actually put into his Internal Space. The water was rich in qi and tasted delicious. Very cold but nothing he could do about that really. Besides heat it up of course.

'Jackpot baby!' Liang Yu snatched the glowing rocks and placed them awy. He kept 6 pieces to surface with, however. 'Just in case I need to make some bribes or something. Plus will let me test how trusty worthy they are.'

The second-biggest piece was sent towards Liang Jian to use. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth, he used it immediately to get started to push his cultivation. He had a surprise for his cousin once he got out.

Heading back up, Liang Yu was just in time as they finished fighting the spirit of the weapon.

Xia Yuning weapon, the Moon Wheel had changed slightly. Instead of looking mostly pink it was now a dark purple. A very odd-looking war glaive. Or half chakram. Liang Yu really didn't care what it was.

"Why does he have the halberd?" He asked them.

"While you were taking a dip in the water, we fought the spirit of the Frost Dragon Halberd." Xia Yuning said lowly. She was slightly conflicted about what to do. She surmised Liang Yu maneuvered the weapon into her hand since she was a Dragon Martial Artist but Ye Xinghe subdued it in the end. 'Can I really trust him though? The Dark Moon family has been making dangerous moves and he is a part of them. Despite what he says to the contrary.'

"Well I found something while down there, but since you think I was just playing around.." Liang Yu shrugged at her. Not caring for her attitude. "Guess I do not need to share."

"Humph!" Xia Yuning pouted looking away. "Not like it could be any good."

*Fwish!* Flame erupted around Liang Yu as he dried his clothes off. His control was good enough that he didn't burn anything.

"Sorry I couldn't jump in after you." Ye Xinghe said feeling a little bad. Big sis An mention you feel in but.."

"Think nothing of it." Lian Yu moved to the exit. "Better to check on the others anyway. We have been gone a while." As he moved out, Xia Yuning ran up behind him. Ye Xinghe and An Xueyun staying behind. "What is it?"

"Did you know that would happen?" She walked at even pace with him but kept her eyes forward. "You were to calm with what happened."

"I explored the cave before you all did." Liang Yu decided to answer in another way. "I knew the Halberd was boobytrapped but was sure we could handle it. Which we did mind you. Until some one butted in."

"You could have told me." Xia Yuning said in almost a whisper. "Could have trusted me a little more."

"Oh, considering you are still trying to trust me on other matters it made sense to not say anything right now." Liang Yu made no apologies for his actions. If he could he would have done only a few things differently. "If you want me to trust you more, then take the halberd from Ye Xinghe."

"No." Xia Yuning said adamantly. "He did take care of it in the end. Plus I received enough bonuses from it. I learned a new technique and my qi has improved." She did not mention it was his qi that did a part of the change. Which was something she wanted to ask about actually. "Liang Yu.. your fire was not originally blue."

"You are correct, something happened that almost claimed my life. That lead to the change." Liang Yu did not say more. He passed her a small piece of the Snow Essences. "Use this to help as you try to understand that technique you learn. I am going to cultivate."

Stepping in front she noticed the intense look in Liang Yu's eyes. The same as before when she met him at the trial. It made her heart skip a beat as well as made her qi circulate just a bit on its own.

"Fine.. be that way." Xia Yuning took it reluctantly. She wanted to talk more but she could tell he wasn't in the mood to talk. Watching him walk away she noticed he wobbled a bit. 'Great, I didn't even ask if you were ok.' Realizing Liang Yu did use a good bit of his qi to help her fight against the frost she realized her mistake. 'Both he and Ye Xinghe are so interesting that I having so much fun despite what is going on. Speaking of Ye Xinghe..'

Looking back down the cave tunnel, she hoped the two weren't doing anything they should be. An Xueyun was after all betrothed.

Ye Xinghe and An Xueyun were looking at the pool of water that was nearby. A good bit of it was gone. At least a foot decrease than before. Chalking it up to his Flame Martial Artist evaporating a good portion of it.

An Xueyuan was not fully convinced as she touched the water and felt an immediate chill. If not for Ye Xinghe's star energy she would have had a really bad time.