Chapter 53 : A Frozen Fortune in the Spirit Pool

As she spoke, she channeled her mana to refine the spiritual liquid within the Spirit Pool [a natural pool brimming with concentrated spiritual energy]. A series of splashing sounds echoed through the cavern.

The entire pool of spiritual liquid was condensed by her into countless Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], which cascaded into her storage ring. Astonishingly, they numbered a full forty thousand Spirit Stone.

Lyra Jiang had drawn away ninety percent of the spiritual liquid from the Spirit Pool. The remaining liquid was now considerably diluted, but as long as it was not completely drained, the pool would slowly recover over time.

Lyra Jiang ceased her work, unwilling to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. Glancing at the bottom of the Spirit Pool, she let out a soft exclamation of surprise and retrieved an ice-cold pearl shimmering with frigid energy.

"To think this treasure was nurtured here. It seems fortune smiles upon you."

With a faint smile, she handed the icy pearl to Elara Lin.

Taking the pearl, Elara Lin could not suppress a radiant smile. "With this, my hope of breaking through to the Purple Mansion, Mid Stage [the fourth major stage of cultivation, representing the solidified spiritual abode] has been rekindled."

This treasure was a Frost Spirit Pearl [a rare pearl born from subterranean icy springs, containing pure frost-attribute spiritual energy], a precious artifact typically only formed within deep, frigent underground springs. For cultivators with an Ice Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the ice element], it was an invaluable treasure.

Because cultivation resources for those with an Ice Spiritual Root were relatively scarce in the Eastern Wastelands [a vast, untamed frontier region east of the human kingdoms], Elara Lin's cultivation had been stalled at the Purple Mansion Third Layer for over twenty years. In theory, she would have needed to temper her mana for another two decades to attempt a breakthrough to the Purple Mansion, Mid Stage.

But now, with this Frost Spirit Pearl in hand, it would likely not be long before she could shatter the bottleneck restraining her at the Purple Mansion, Mid Stage. Experience the full epic at @udio-novel.com.

After securing the treasures, the two of them thoroughly searched the spiritual mountain once more, finding seven or eight Third Rank Spirit Medicine before finally returning to the foot of the mountain, their hearts content.

By this time, the others below had already finished cleaning up the battlefield. However, as they were deep within the demonic tribe's territory, this was not the moment to divide the spoils.

Without lingering at Demon Wolf Mountain, Lyra Jiang led the group back along their original path. The journey consumed over three months before they finally returned to Celestial Ruins Mountain.

Upon returning to Celestial Ruins Mountain, Elara Lin immediately summoned all the Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"During our assault on Demon Wolf Mountain, we fell into an ambush laid by the demonic tribe. We are certain that someone must have leaked our plans to the demonic cultivators."

"To root out any potential traitor in our midst, I require your cooperation in undergoing a trial upon the Heart-Inquiry Platform [a mystical platform that compels truth and reveals falsehoods]."

Upon hearing this, everyone present could not help but show a flicker of unease on their faces.

The Heart-Inquiry Platform [a mystical platform that compels truth and reveals falsehoods] could distinguish truth from falsehood. While it wouldn't directly pry into one's innermost thoughts, once one stepped upon that platform, any lie spoken would be instantly detected.

Every cultivator present harbored some small, personal secret. If Elara Lin were to use this method to probe their hidden truths, wouldn't those secrets be easily laid bare?

Seeing the apprehension on their faces, Elara Lin raised a hand to signal for calm, then spoke with a reassuring smile.

"Rest assured, our primary objective is to identify the traitor hidden within Celestial Ruins Mountain."

"Upon the Heart-Inquiry Platform this time, we will ask only questions pertaining to the assault on the demonic beasts. All other matters will be disregarded."

Hearing this, the crowd finally set their minds at ease and followed Elara Lin onto the Heart-Inquiry Platform.

The Heart-Inquiry Platform was built against the mountainside, spanning a full hundred Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] and covered in profound formation patterns.

It was said that a Heart-Inquiry Platform of the fifth rank or higher could even freely manipulate a cultivator's spirit and soul, compelling them to uncontrollably divulge the secrets hidden in their hearts.

The Heart-Inquiry Platform at Celestial Ruins Mountain was merely of Third Rank High Grade, its power far inferior to a fifth-rank platform. Yet, for discerning the truth in the words of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, it remained effortlessly effective.

Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch were positioned near the front, and their turn came swiftly.

His conscience was clear, so he had nothing to fear. He strode directly onto the Heart-Inquiry Platform.

Watching him ascend the platform, Elara Lin allowed a faint smile to touch her lips. The great victory in the assault on Demon Wolf Mountain could be attributed, in no small part, to Eldrin Chen's intervention, which had helped her break the deadlock.

Elara Lin offered a gentle smile, her tone warm and reassuring. "Do not be afraid. I will ask, and you shall answer. That is all."

As her words fell, she activated the Heart-Inquiry Platform [a magical platform formation designed to detect falsehoods and probe the heart's intent] formation. Brilliant arrays of formation runes filled the void, shimmering with the wondrous function of monitoring the sincerity of one's heart.

"Did you ever disclose the news of Celestial Ruins Mountain's assault on Demon Wolf Mountain to the demonic tribes?"

"I did not."

"Have you sent any messages to anyone outside of Celestial Ruins Mountain?"

"I have not."

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For every question she asked, Eldrin Chen answered without the slightest hesitation.

After Elara Lin finished her series of inquiries and saw no anomalies from the Heart-Inquiry Platform, she nodded with a faint smile.

"You may withdraw for now."

With merely a few dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation] to question, the process was not slow. In just over One Shichen, more than half had been screened without revealing anything amiss.

Finally, as the last few individuals were being examined, a change occurred.

A Rogue Cultivator named Marcus Yang walked in, his face pale. He stumbled and faltered through Elara Lin's questions, and an anomaly was finally detected.

Seeing the Heart-Inquiry Platform react, Elara Lin immediately summoned her Weak Water Long Silk [a long, flowing silk ribbon imbued with the properties of weak water, used for binding and restraint] and restrained him on the spot.

Marcus Yang's face contorted with fear, and he began pleading for mercy on the spot: "Spare me! I've been wronged! This truly has nothing to do with me!"

"Your heart harbors a ghost," Elara Lin stated coldly. "Whether you are wronged or not, we shall see under the Soul-Seizing Talisman [a powerful talisman capable of extracting and reading memories from a target's soul]."

Upon hearing this, the gazes of the onlookers filled with pity.

The Soul-Seizing Talisman was a Third Rank High Grade Talisman [a paper or jade slip inscribed with magical seals and characters to channel specific powers], each one typically valued at over ten thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

This talisman possessed formidable power. Even a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has established their Purple Mansion, the third major stage of cultivation] struck by it would have their soul searched, their memories within the sea of consciousness completely extracted by the Talisman.

However, searching through soul memories often inflicted significant damage. Typically, after such an ordeal, a cultivator's spiritual sense would be severely impaired, requiring decades of dedicated effort to recover.

Without much delay, Elara Lin requested a Soul-Seizing Talisman from Jiang the Ancient Ancestor. She used it on the cultivator, imprinting his memories onto the Talisman, and finally uncovered the reason for his evasive answers.

It turned out that Marcus Yang had been stuck at the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage for many years, unable to advance a single step. Tempted by a Demonic Cultivator, he had secretly switched to practicing a Demonic Path Cultivation Art and had quietly become a Demonic Cultivator himself.

Because he had switched paths midway, he used his pure cultivation mana to suppress the demonic path's malignant Qi [the corrupting energy associated with demonic arts], managing to deceive everyone's eyes.

His guilty conscience made his answers evasive. After Elara Lin pressed him with a few more questions, the Heart-Inquiry Platform [a magical platform that reveals the truth in one's heart] detected his anomaly.

In truth, this man was not the actual mole who had leaked information to the demonic tribe this time. Yet, he was caught by sheer coincidence, suffering terribly bad luck, utterly ruined by the real traitor's actions.

Towards Demonic Cultivator, Celestial Ruins Mountain showed no mercy. Elara Lin personally executed Marcus Yang, then continued the investigation.

However, after she tested every single Foundation Establishment Cultivator, she still failed to identify the mole who had informed the demonic cultivators.

"He's not among them," Elara Lin frowned, a trace of anxiety coloring her expression. "Must we investigate the Qi Refinement Cultivators as well?"

The Celestial Ruins Mountain housed over ten thousand Qi Refinement Cultivators; it was simply impossible for her to check them all.

At that very moment, a streak of sword light soared through the sky and landed before the assembly. Eldrin Chen looked up to see Lyra Jiang standing there, serene and still. This chapter is provided by audi novel.com. Support the original.