The alchemist's opening move: I'll paint a pie in the sky for Qin Shi Huang.

As for the function of cultivation points?

Zou Yun's gaze returned to the section on supernatural abilities. With a thought, he clicked the plus sign after performing the Lesser Ice Condensation Technique.

The text on the panel blurred and rippled like water for a moment, then solidified into a completely new description.

【Ice Condensation Spell: Condenses moisture from the air; its shape and size can be freely controlled! (+)】

(Note: The larger the ice cube and the more complex the pattern, the more time it will take!)

500 cultivation points were deducted, and the size limit was removed, but the plus sign is still there!

"Based on this description, it means that given enough time, theoretically..."

An almost absurd yet exhilarating thought exploded in Zou Yun's mind like a thunderclap.

"I could even force the world back into the Ice Age?!"

With just 500 points, Zou Yun obtained a world-destroying divine power!

Despite numerous limitations, and even though Zou Yun may spend his entire life trying, he may never achieve that effect.

But forget all that, just tell me whether he could theoretically destroy the world!

This delighted Zou Yun, and without hesitation, he clicked the plus sign again.

1000 cultivation points have been deducted, and the Ice Condensation Technique has been upgraded once again!

[Minor Ice Control Technique: Freeze water into ice and control it freely!]

The description is concise, yet it is full of boundless imagination.

Zou Yun subconsciously held his breath, slowly opened his palm, and a thought flashed through his mind.

"laugh--"

The next second, the air above his palm seemed to freeze slightly.

A cone-shaped ice crystal appeared out of thin air and hovered steadily in the palm of the hand, emitting a chilling aura.

The midday sun pierced through the pure ice, instantly refracting thousands of rainbow halos.

The halo was dazzling and dreamlike.

As it swayed, its reflection shone in Zou Yun's ever-widening pupils, a beauty that was intoxicating.

At this moment, Zou Yun appeared dazed.

The word "extraordinary" is no longer a vague and unreal human fantasy. Rather, it is so real and so concrete, hovering between his fingers.

So, it's within easy reach!

A moment later, as he suddenly came to his senses, an indescribable urge to destroy arose within him.

Zou Yun's mind raced, and his gaze locked onto the hard stone wall a few steps away.

"Whoosh—!"

A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out.

The suspended ice cone shot out like an arrow released from a bow, transforming into a streak of cold light.

"Snapped!"

After a crisp, short cracking sound, the ice spike left a clearly visible shallow pit in the thick stone wall.

The tiny ice shards scattered upon impact and then melted rapidly.

In the end, it turned into only a few inconspicuous drops of water, which lingered briefly on the bluish-gray stone surface before disappearing completely without a trace.

"Pfft..."

In the silent room, a suppressed chuckle suddenly broke out.

Zou Yun stared intently at the small mark on the stone wall, a mark he had made himself. His lips first curled slightly, then pulled upwards uncontrollably.

"Ha...hahahaha!!"

The laughter was like a flood bursting its banks, and could no longer be contained.

They wandered freely in this empty Taoist temple, their voices lingering for a long time!

-----------------

Outside the courtyard, withered leaves swirled and drifted down to Feng Zhixue's side.

Hearing the suppressed, manic laughter coming from outside the wall, he instinctively shrank back.

"This... how many times has this happened?"

"I don't know." The Taoist priest in charge of delivering the food had a solemn expression and spoke in a very low voice, "but this time the illness has obviously lasted longer and made the most noise."

"Great Master...this...this is real...?!"

Feng Zhixue's Adam's apple bobbed, but he ultimately didn't utter the word "hysteria." He simply raised a finger and pointed to his own head at the food-delivering sorcerer.

"Who knows?" The food delivery Taoist shook his head and quickly stuffed the food box into Feng Zhixue's arms.

"Perhaps... this is the price to pay for using the secret technique of disintegration that defies fate."

"I advise you, if you have connections, to be transferred away from here as soon as possible."

He guessed vaguely, and seeing Feng Zhixue take the food box, he immediately took a step back, "This meal... I'll have to trouble you, Brother Feng. I'll take my leave now!"

Before the words were even finished, the person had already turned around, their steps hurried. It was as if they were afraid that if they stayed even a second longer, they would get something dirty on them.

"Hey...you..."

Watching his colleague disappear in a flash, Feng Zhixue, holding the food box, let out a long sigh.

Actually, he was not among the first to serve Zou Yun.

Initially, any job that could get close to this newly promoted Grand Master was a highly sought-after opportunity, and it was impossible for someone as marginalized as him to get it.

However, everything changed after Master Zou began to laugh strangely without warning.

One group of lesser-known practitioners after another were scared away, and gradually no one was willing to come here voluntarily, which is why minor figures like Feng Zhixue ended up here.

Even so, he spent a considerable amount of money to exchange it with someone else.

Do you want to be transferred now? Not only that?

This means that all previous investments will be lost, and a considerable sum of money will have to be spent to bribe the manager.

The thought of this made Feng Zhixue's heart ache.

"A rare commodity is worth hoarding... a rare commodity is worth hoarding..." he muttered bitterly, recalling the reason he had come here on his own initiative.

Then, he couldn't help but steal another glance in the direction from which the laughter came. "But nobody told me that this rare item... damn, the risk is so great."

"Forget it, let that idiot Zheng Ze deliver it."

That's right, Zou Yun did gain power.

So the question is, what is the cost?

Although Zou Yun didn't go out often during these past few weeks, the entire Immortal Temple was shrouded in his shadow.

Some have seen him laughing wildly at the air, as if he were insane; others have heard him muttering to himself in a quiet room, as if he were talking to something invisible.

Some people felt a chill run down their spines when their penetrating gaze swept over them, as if Zou Yun was seeing something inexplicable through them.

In short, his strange behavior had long made all the sorcerers in the academy avoid him like the plague.

Um...except for Zheng Ze.

This guy showed no fear whatsoever; instead, he tried every means to get close to Zou Yun's room.

Even the meals he's provided these past few days have been delivered to Zou Yun's doorstep on his own initiative.

And after these past few days of persistent close observation, that guy became even more convinced that Zou Yun was an immortal.

Or rather, in his mind, immortals should behave strangely and act differently.

If they were all like ordinary people, what kind of immortals would they be?

Wouldn't all that cultivation for immortality have been for nothing?

Although his theory of "celestial behavior" may sound somewhat distorted at first glance.

However, in the eyes of Feng Zhixue and most other practitioners of the Daoist arts, Master Zou was almost certainly suffering from a sudden bout of hysteria. Or perhaps his method of self-destruction had significant side effects or flaws.

The other senior monks in the temple were also deeply worried.

They worried that if Zou Yun, in his mad state, were suddenly summoned by the king one day, what would happen?

So they all offered advice to Master Shi, willing to help him solve his problems!

In short, the implication was that they had to find a way to cure Zou Yun and couldn't let him continue his erratic behavior.

His Majesty hasn't summoned him yet, but he will definitely summon Zou Yun later.

When that happens, if this guy goes crazy and exposes his true colors, we'll have to jump back into the trap of the sorcerer's pleasure.

What a waste of time!