Seeking Profound Ice in the Extreme North Ice Plains, Tempering the True Soul Through the Ice Soul Restriction

After leaving Lingyun Pavilion, the cyan glow of the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant gradually dimmed, replaced by a sharp pale-blue halo—the trail of the sixth Martial Dao Seal, the "Profound Ice Seal," pointed deep into the Extreme North Ice Plains, toward the "Icebound Sacred Hall." Legend had it that this was where the ancient Martial Immortal "Profound Ice" had passed away. The Profound Ice Martial Immortal had comprehended the Dao through Extreme Cold Power, capable of turning his flesh into an ice soul and merging his soul into the cold abyss. In the end, he condensed all his lifetime insights into the martial path into the Profound Ice Seal, hiding it atop the "Ice Soul Platform" at the heart of the sacred hall. The Extreme North Ice Plains were shrouded year-round in bone-deep cold hundreds of feet below zero. The ground was covered in eternal ice several zhang thick, while the Ice Fiend Qi drifting through the air could freeze a cultivator's spiritual energy and qi and blood. Even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators did not dare venture too deeply within.

When the Qi and Blood Ship landed at the edge of the ice plains, a biting gale instantly swept over them. Lin Xiaohu instinctively wrapped his clothes tighter, yet still felt the cold seep into his body through every pore. Even the Soul Suppressing Power he had just condensed became sluggish. "This place is way too cold! My qi and blood are about to freeze solid!"

Chen Fan circulated Five Vein Power. Pale-blue Sea Vein Power intertwined with the newly fused gravity origin, forming a "Nourishing Barrier" around him that shut out the bitter cold. "The Profound Ice Martial Immortal entered the Dao through extreme cold. The Profound Ice Seal must be connected to the Extreme Cold Origin of these ice plains. If we want to obtain the seal, we must not only withstand the cold, but also learn to accept it—merge the Ice Fiend Qi into ourselves and temper our ice souls with our Martial Dao True Souls. Only then can we pass the trial of the Icebound Sacred Hall."

Holding the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant, Su Muxue watched as its pale-blue radiance resonated with the extreme cold aura of the ice plains. A path leading toward the Icebound Sacred Hall faintly emerged within its light. "According to the pendant's sensing, the Icebound Sacred Hall lies in Cold Abyss Valley at the heart of the ice plains. But at the valley entrance is an 'Ice Soul Restriction.' Unlike the gravity and Flame Restrictions we encountered before, it does not attack the body. It targets only a cultivator's soul and qi and blood, and it can only be broken with an 'Ice Soul True Soul.' And..." She raised her gaze toward the depths of the ice plains, a trace of gravity flashing through her eyes. "I can sense abnormal extreme cold fluctuations around Cold Abyss Valley, as though something is deliberately controlling the Ice Fiend Qi—most likely Ice Spirit Puppets forged by the Will of the Heavenly Dao to stop us."

Just as Su Muxue had said, when the group followed the jade pendant's guidance fifty li into the ice plains, the ice ahead suddenly began to tremble violently. Countless pale-blue figures burst from beneath the ice. Formed from pure Ice Fiend Qi, they were wreathed in cold capable of freezing souls, ice blades gripped in their hands. They were precisely the Ice Spirit Puppets controlled by the Will of the Heavenly Dao. The leading puppet was enormous, its icy body covered in ancient runes. The extreme cold fluctuations it radiated had actually reached the Void Refinement Realm. It had clearly been forged from Extreme Cold Origin and the remnant soul of a Void Refinement Realm cultivator.

"Destroy... the Profound Ice Seal... Do not... approach..." The Ice Spirit Puppet leader's voice was crisp like colliding blocks of ice, yet filled with utterly emotionless killing intent. With a wave of its hand, countless ice blades shot toward the group. The Ice Fiend Qi upon the blades condensed into frost in midair, and even space rippled as though it were freezing over.

"Xiaohu, use Soul Suppressing Power to protect everyone's souls and keep the Ice Fiend Qi from invading! Miss Su, use the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant to purify the twisted cold aura within the ice blades! Li Mo, lead the disciples in forming a 'Qi and Blood Formation' to withstand the puppets' assault!" Chen Fan issued orders swiftly as Five Vein Power surged around him. Earth Vein Power, yellow as soil, steadied his body; blue Sea Vein Power nourished his qi and blood; red Flame Power drove away the cold; pale-violet Soul Suppressing Power guarded his mind; and cyan gravity power increased the weight of his attacks. The five powers intertwined into a Five Vein Ice Soul Spear. A faint extreme cold aura curled around its tip—Ice Fiend Qi Chen Fan had deliberately incorporated.

Seeing this, the Ice Spirit Puppet leader slammed both arms against the ground. A colossal wall of ice rose from the earth, blocking the Five Vein Ice Soul Spear's attack. At the same time, it opened its mouth and spewed an Extreme Cold Breath. Pale-blue cold instantly engulfed the group, and freezing cracks began to spread across Lin Xiaohu's Soul Suppressing Barrier. "Brother Fan, this Ice Fiend Qi is too strong! I can't hold on much longer!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Chen Fan's eyes. He suddenly withdrew the Five Vein Ice Soul Spear and instead poured Five Vein Power into the ice beneath his feet. "The Profound Ice Martial Immortal once said, 'Extreme cold is not an enemy, but a mirror that tempers the soul.' Xiaohu, don't resist it head-on. Try using Soul Suppressing Power to guide the Ice Fiend Qi and make it a tool for tempering your soul!"

Though puzzled, Lin Xiaohu followed Chen Fan's guidance and shifted his Soul Suppressing Power from "defense" to "guidance." To everyone's surprise, guided by the Soul Suppressing Power, the Ice Fiend Qi truly stopped eroding his soul. Instead, it wrapped around it like warm water, making his Soul Suppressing Power increasingly condensed. Su Muxue and Li Mo followed suit, using the Ice Fiend Qi to temper themselves. Their formerly sluggish qi and blood and spiritual energy actually became purer amid the extreme cold.

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Fan condensed Five Vein Power into a spear again. This time, its tip contained not only Ice Fiend Qi, but also drew upon the Extreme Cold Origin beneath the ice. "Five Veins United—Ice Soul Thrust!" The spear shadow shot out like a meteor, instantly piercing through the ice wall and driving straight at the Ice Spirit Puppet leader's core. The puppet leader tried to evade, but Chen Fan locked down its body with gravity power. The spear tip pierced precisely into the core of its icy body, and pale-violet Soul Suppressing Power erupted, purifying the remnant soul and twisted cold aura within the puppet.

Crack! The Ice Spirit Puppet leader's icy body instantly collapsed into a sky full of ice shards. The remaining Ice Spirit Puppets, having lost their control, also dissipated into the air one after another. The cold of the Extreme North Ice Plains remained biting, but now the group could use the Ice Fiend Qi to temper themselves, and their pace forward became much faster.

After traveling for another half an hour, the group finally reached Cold Abyss Valley. At the valley entrance, a pale-blue curtain of light flickered, with countless illusory ice souls floating within it—the Ice Soul Restriction Su Muxue had mentioned. Unlike the previous restrictions, this curtain possessed no terrifying offensive power, yet it emanated an extreme cold aura that made their souls tremble. The instant they drew near, they felt as if their souls were about to freeze, and even the circulation of Five Vein Power became sluggish.

"The core of this Ice Soul Restriction is 'soul tempering,' not 'breaking defenses.'" Chen Fan reached out and touched the light curtain. Ice Fiend Qi flowed into his body through his fingertips, but rather than attacking his flesh, it went straight for the depths of his soul. "To break it, the soul must endure the tempering of ice souls and reach a state where 'the soul does not freeze and the spirit does not scatter.' Only then can one gain the Profound Ice Seal's recognition."

Su Muxue gazed thoughtfully at the illusory ice souls in the light curtain. "The Profound Ice Martial Immortal merged his soul into the cold abyss, which means the Profound Ice Seal is closely tied to soul power. Perhaps one person's soul must completely merge with the Ice Soul Restriction, drawing upon the Extreme Cold Origin, before we can open the passage to the Icebound Sacred Hall."

"I'll do it!" Lin Xiaohu suddenly spoke. His Soul Suppressing Power had become increasingly refined after being tempered by the Ice Fiend Qi. "My Soul Suppressing Power is already connected to souls, and I'm the reincarnation of the ancient Soul Suppressing Martial Immortal. Maybe my soul can merge with the Ice Soul Restriction more easily."

Chen Fan looked into Lin Xiaohu's resolute eyes and did not refuse. He merely infused Five Vein Power into his body. "I'll use Five Vein Power to protect your body. If your soul can no longer endure it, contact me immediately with Soul Suppressing Power. I'll bring you out."

Lin Xiaohu nodded, took a deep breath, and released all his Soul Suppressing Power. His soul transformed into a pale-violet ball of light and slowly merged into the Ice Soul Restriction. The instant the light entered the curtain, countless illusory ice souls closed in around it, and extreme cold surged into his soul like a tide. Lin Xiaohu gritted his teeth and allowed the ice souls to temper his soul. His Soul Suppressing Power compressed and condensed continuously in the extreme cold, gradually resonating with the illusory ice souls. Half an hour later, his soul-light actually shone with a pale-blue ice soul radiance, perfectly merging with the restriction's aura.

"Now!" Lin Xiaohu's voice came from within the light curtain. He controlled his soul-light, drew upon the Extreme Cold Origin, and charged toward the core of the curtain. The pale-blue light curtain instantly flared, and the illusory ice souls transformed into a passage that drew the group inside.

Within the Icebound Sacred Hall, a pale-blue jade seal floated above the Ice Soul Platform at the center. Pure Extreme Cold Origin swirled around it. It was the Profound Ice Seal they had come seeking! Chen Fan stepped forward and grasped the Profound Ice Seal. A vast surge of Extreme Cold Power flooded into his body and completely fused with Five Vein Power. Like the finishing touch that brought a painting to life, the pale-blue Extreme Cold Origin made the previously scattered Five Vein Power more condensed, forming the mid-stage Heavenly Immortal combat strength of Six Veins United!

At that moment, the ice wall beside the Ice Soul Platform suddenly lit up, revealing an image of the Profound Ice Martial Immortal's remnant soul. "One who can temper ice souls with the soul and merge extreme cold with the martial path must be a rightful inheritor of the martial path. The Profound Ice Seal can not only strengthen your combat power, but also draw upon the 'Extreme Cold Node' among the world's Nine Great Origins. Remember: the key to Nine Seals United lies in 'Origin Resonance,' not 'the stacking of power.'"

After the remnant soul image dispersed, the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant in Su Muxue's hand suddenly lit up and resonated with the Profound Ice Seal. The location of the Extreme Cold Node appeared upon the pendant. "We found the Extreme Cold Node! Next, as long as we find the remaining three Martial Dao Seals, we can determine the locations of all the origin nodes!"

Chen Fan clenched the Profound Ice Seal, feeling Six Vein Power flow through his body, his eyes filled with resolve. The process of obtaining the Profound Ice Seal had made him understand even more clearly the unique meaning of every Martial Dao Seal—they were not merely symbols of power, but bridges that connected the world's origins and carried on the will of the martial path. Though he was still some distance from gathering all nine seals, every step forward brought him closer to his goal of "breaking the Spiritual Root Destiny."

The group left the Icebound Sacred Hall and headed toward the next ancient ruin. The winds of the Extreme North Ice Plains remained biting, but now they could move freely through the extreme cold. The Six Vein Power around Chen Fan was like a warm light, illuminating the road of "Martial Dao Against Heaven" and making them all believe even more firmly that one day, they would gather all nine Martial Dao Seals and, with the power of Martial Path Convergence, return freedom and vitality to the world.