Heart of Ice Seal

The dawn in the Sacred Source Land arrived later than usual. Ning Xiaochuan stood on the hastily constructed city walls, gazing at the hairline crack in the northern sky. Three days had passed, and the crack hadn't widened, nor had it disappeared, like an ugly scar on the firmament.

"Your Highness." Star Radiance's voice came from behind him. "Miss Su is back."

Ning Xiaochuan turned and saw Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon approaching from the direction of the teleportation array. She had changed into a plain white combat suit, her silver hair tied up high, making her look capable and heroic. The Sacred Spirit Dragon had shrunk its size and was perched on her shoulder. Upon seeing Ning Xiaochuan, it immediately chirped and flew over.

"How are Senior Brother Lei and Senior Sister Mu?" Ning Xiaochuan caught the little creature and gently stroked its scales.

"They are out of danger." Su Linger walked to his side, also looking at the crack. "The Tianyuan Sect is rebuilding, and Master Xuanyu has dispatched elite disciples to monitor every move of Qingyun City."

She paused. "The Three Moons Shining Together phenomenon is becoming more apparent, and the people of the Open Source Continent are starting to panic."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded and briefly told her the legend of the Primal Dragon that Star Radiance had recounted. After listening, Su Linger's brows furrowed. "So we need to find five Inverse Scales and five Primal Fragments?"

"Yes, but we only know the whereabouts of two of them." Ning Xiaochuan took out the Dragon Soul Jade. "One has already been merged, and the other..."

"Is at the Ice Soul Sect," Su Linger said suddenly. "There are related records in the inherited memories of the Mysterious Ice Phoenix's Source Soul—in the extreme northern frozen lands, dragon scales slumber beneath ten thousand feet of ice."

Ning Xiaochuan's eyes lit up. "The Ice Soul Sect's Primal Ice Core! That crystal might be the container for the Inverse Scales!"

The Sacred Spirit Dragon also chirped excitedly, its little claws pointing north.

"There's no time to delay, let's set off immediately," Ning Xiaochuan decided. "Star Radiance will continue to monitor the crack and the rebuilding of the Sacred Source Tower."

Su Linger, however, stopped him. "Wait, your injuries..."

Ning Xiaochuan finally noticed the worry in her eyes. Ever since returning from the Well of Origin, he had been busy with various matters, hardly getting any proper rest. Although Sacred Source Power was immense, recovery after excessive consumption required time.

"I'm fine," he reassured her softly. "Time waits for no one."

Su Linger shook her head stubbornly. "At least wait until tomorrow. Yun Yi found some clues in the ancient texts about how to safely retrieve the Inverse Scales."

Ning Xiaochuan knew he couldn't persuade her and had to agree. The two of them and the dragon went to the makeshift library—a circular tent filled with ancient books salvaged from the ruins.

Yun Yi was organizing an ancient scroll when she saw them enter and immediately bowed. "Your Highness, Miss Su. I've found records concerning the Inverse Scales."

She pointed to an illustration on the scroll: five uniquely shaped scales surrounding a crown, each emitting a different colored light.

"According to the description, each Inverse Scale has a unique attribute," Yun Yi explained. "The first one, the 'Scale of Life,' you already obtained at the Well of Origin. The second, the 'Heart of Ice Seal,' should be the one at the Ice Soul Sect."

She turned to the next page, which depicted a container resembling an ice crystal coffin. "To retrieve the Inverse Scales, pure Profound Ice Power and Sacred Source Bloodline must be applied simultaneously."

Su Linger mused, "So I need to go?"

"Precisely." Yun Yi nodded. "And..." She hesitated. "The process might be very dangerous. The ancient texts mention, 'Only with a pure heart can one achieve the end.'"

Ning Xiaochuan's heart tightened. "What does that mean?"

"When retrieving the Inverse Scales, the holder must maintain an absolutely pure mental state," Yun Yi pointed to the small print at the bottom of the scroll. "Any negative emotions could cause the Inverse Scales to go berserk!"

Su Linger, however, smiled. "That won't be a problem. The Ice Heart Art I cultivate is all about pursuing a clear state of mind."

Ning Xiaochuan was still worried. "I'll go with you."

"Of course," Su Linger naturally took his hand. "We are together."

This simple gesture warmed Ning Xiaochuan's heart. Since their reunion in the Sacred Source Land, the tacit understanding and closeness between them had grown daily, but neither had broken through that unspoken barrier.

Yun Yi tactfully excused herself, leaving the two to continue studying the scroll. The Sacred Spirit Dragon, uninterested in ancient texts, flew to a nearby shelf to nap.

"Look here," Su Linger suddenly pointed to a blurred passage. "'An Inverse Scale recognizes its master only after passing a trial.'"

Ning Xiaochuan leaned closer to examine it, his nose almost brushing her hair. A faint, delicate fragrance wafted over, distracting him for a moment.

"What trial?" He forced himself to focus.

"It's unclear," Su Linger shook her head. "But it's definitely not simple. Last time at the Well of Origin, you heard the voice of the Primal Dragon, didn't you?"

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "It gave me guidance."

"This time, we might have to face it together," Su Linger's voice was soft yet firm. "Whatever the trial, we'll face it together."

Her profile looked exceptionally beautiful in the lamplight. Ning Xiaochuan was momentarily mesmerized. Su Linger noticed his gaze, the tips of her ears turning slightly red, but she didn't look away.

"Ling'er..." Ning Xiaochuan gathered his courage, wanting to say something.

Just then, the Sacred Spirit Dragon suddenly chirped awake, its scales bristling as it looked outside the tent. Almost simultaneously, an alarm sounded!

"Enemy attack! The northern crack has widened!"

Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger rushed out of the tent. Indeed, the crack in the northern sky had expanded to the thickness of a finger, and more Black Mist was seeping out, forming an ominous cloud.

"The World Devourers are probing," Star Radiance hurried over. "The guards are holding them off for now, but..."

"We need to speed up our progress," Ning Xiaochuan said gravely. "We'll depart for the Ice Soul Sect first thing tomorrow morning."

That night, the Sacred Source Land heightened its defenses. After Ning Xiaochuan inspected all the sentry posts, he returned to his tent and found Su Linger waiting for him.

"Can't sleep?" She handed him a cup of hot tea.

Ning Xiaochuan took it, his fingertips brushing hers unintentionally, causing both to tremble slightly. "Yes, I'm worried about the situation in the north."

Su Linger sat down beside him. "Star Radiance said the crack is temporarily contained."

"Temporarily," Ning Xiaochuan sighed. "Every time we repel the World Devourers, they become stronger. I'm worried..."

"Worried about what?"

"Worried that we ultimately won't be able to stop the Void Master," Ning Xiaochuan rarely showed such vulnerability. "Even if we gather all five Inverse Scales, the price of reforging the Primal Crown..."

Su Linger suddenly reached out and pressed her hand against his lips. "Don't say another word."

Her palm was icy cold yet soft. Ning Xiaochuan could smell a faint herbal fragrance – a concoction she used to soak her hands after years of sword practice.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" Su Linger withdrew her hand, nostalgia in her eyes. "You couldn't even awaken your Source Soul, yet you dared to stand in front of me and confront Han Li."

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "You were as cold as ice back then, looking at me like I was trash."

"That's because you were too weak," Su Linger also smiled, her silver-gray eyes like melted ice and snow under the lamplight. "But now..."

She didn't finish, but Ning Xiaochuan understood her meaning. The silence between them was no longer awkward but filled with a tacit understanding.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon woke up at some point, watching the two curiously and letting out soft "gugu" sounds, as if urging them on.

Ning Xiaochuan took a deep breath and suddenly clasped Su Linger's hand. "When all this is over..."

"Hm?"

"I want to take you to see where I grew up," Ning Xiaochuan said softly. "Not the Ning family in Qingyun City, but that Green Pine Forest outside the city. In spring, it's full of wildflowers, incredibly beautiful."

A flicker of surprise flashed in Su Linger's eyes, then dimmed. "That's assuming we survive until then."

"We will," Ning Xiaochuan squeezed her hand. "I promise."

Su Linger suddenly leaned in and gently kissed his cheek. "Remember your promise."

With that, she stood up and left, her silver hair drawing a graceful arc as she turned. Ning Xiaochuan stood frozen, his fingers unconsciously touching the spot where she had kissed him, as if her warmth still lingered there.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon tilted its head, looking at him with amusement in its eyes.

"What are you looking at?" Ning Xiaochuan lightly flicked the little guy's dragon horn, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

At dawn the next day, the three were ready. Yun Yi had prepared the fastest Cloud Wing Beasts and ample supplies for them.

"It takes two days to get to the Ice Soul Sect from here," she said, pointing at the map. "We have outposts along the way where you can rest and resupply."

Star Radiance handed Ning Xiaochuan a crystal. "This is a communication stone. Contact us immediately if you encounter danger."

After bidding farewell to everyone, the three took to the sky on the Cloud Wing Beasts. The Sacred Spirit Dragon had resumed its combat form, its west wing spread wide, leading the way.

Flying was tedious, especially when crossing the desert region north of the Sacred Source Land. The sun beat down relentlessly, heat waves distorting their vision. At noon, they stopped for a short rest at an oasis outpost.

"From here north, the temperature will drop drastically," the outpost supervisor warned. "A severe ice storm has already formed around the Ice Soul Sect, supposedly to protect the Primal Ice Core."

Indeed, as they continued northward, the chill in the air grew heavier. Frost formed on the Cloud Wing Beasts' feathers, and their exhaled breaths instantly condensed into ice crystals. Ning Xiaochuan had to activate the Sacred Source Shield to ward off the cold, while Su Linger was in her element; her Profound Ice Power became even more active in the frigid environment.

"Look over there!" the Sacred Spirit Dragon suddenly cried out in warning.

On the distant horizon, a blue and white storm wall stood between heaven and earth, with lightning-like auroras surging within it. Even from this distance, they could feel the terrifying energy contained within.

"The Ice Soul Sect's defensive formation," Su Linger identified. "It's at full power."

Ning Xiaochuan activated his Sacred Source Vision and found a faint safe passage within the storm. "We'll go in through there."

As they approached the storm wall, the temperature had dropped to a point where it could instantly freeze ordinary people's blood. The Cloud Wing Beasts couldn't endure it, so Ning Xiaochuan had them return to the outpost. The three continued on foot, the Sacred Spirit Dragon shrinking in size and burrowing into Ning Xiaochuan's clothes for warmth.

"Follow me," Su Linger walked ahead, her Profound Ice Power acting as a guide. "The cold here follows a pattern; it's safest to follow the airflow."

The passage was winding and treacherous, with high-speed rotating ice blades storming around them. A moment's carelessness would result in being sliced into pieces. Two hours later, they finally passed through the storm wall, and the sight before them was breathtaking—

A city constructed entirely of ice crystals stood in the eye of the storm, serene and beautiful. In the center of the city was a pyramid-shaped main hall, with the Primal Ice Core suspended at its apex, emitting a soft blue light.

"Ice Soul Sect..." Ning Xiaochuan's exhaled breath instantly turned into ice particles. "It's even more magnificent than I imagined."

Su Linger, however, frowned. "Something's wrong. It's too quiet."

Indeed, not a single person could be seen in the entire city, as if it had been abandoned. Thick snow covered the streets, with no footprints.

"Be careful," Ning Xiaochuan became alert. "There might be an ambush."

The three cautiously moved towards the main hall. As they got closer, the Dragon Soul Jade within Ning Xiaochuan's body began to heat up, resonating with the Primal Ice Core.

The main hall's entrance was wide open, dark inside like the maw of a giant beast. Ning Xiaochuan condensed Sacred Source light in his palm, illuminating the path ahead. The hall was empty, with only the ice core suspended above the central altar emitting a faint glow.

"Welcome, Son of Sacred Source," a hoarse voice suddenly echoed.

The Grand Elder of the Ice Soul Sect emerged from the shadows, with silver hair and a white beard, holding an ice crystal staff. But unlike their last meeting, he looked much more haggard, his eyes bloodshot.

"Grand Elder," Ning Xiaochuan bowed. "Forgive our intrusion. We are here for the Primal Ice Core."

"I know," the Grand Elder gave a wry smile. "The prophecy has come true, hasn't it?"

He pointed at the ice core. "Three days ago, it suddenly became unstable, and the cold it emitted forced us to evacuate. Only I remained to guard it."

Su Linger stepped forward. "We need to retrieve the Inverse Scales within it to fight the Void Master."

"Inverse Scales?" the Grand Elder blinked in surprise, then realization dawned. "So that's it... I always thought it was just an ordinary Primal Fragment."

He led the three to the altar. "Take it, if you can. I've tried various methods these past few days, but I couldn't get close to it."

Indeed, the ice core was surrounded by an extremely cold domain that even an ice-element expert like the Grand Elder couldn't breach.

"Let me try," Su Linger extended her hand, Profound Ice Power flowing.

As her fingers neared the edge of the domain, the ice core suddenly flashed, and the domain rippled slightly but did not yield.

"We need Sacred Source Bloodline," Ning Xiaochuan also extended his hand, touching the domain together with Su Linger.

The domain parted like flowing water, allowing the two to pass. The Sacred Spirit Dragon wanted to follow but was blocked by an invisible barrier, letting out an anxious "chirp."

"Wait for us outside," Ning Xiaochuan said to soothe it.

He and Su Linger walked up to the ice core. Up close, the crystal was even more beautiful than he remembered, its interior seeming to hold a starry sky, with countless points of light slowly rotating.

"Touch it at the same time," Ning Xiaochuan whispered. "I'll guide the Sacred Source Power, and you handle the Profound Ice Power."

Both placed their hands on the ice core simultaneously. In an instant, an extreme cold energy surged into their bodies along their arms! Ning Xiaochuan felt his blood about to freeze, but he gritted his teeth and persevered. The ice core began to vibrate violently, and the ice crystals on its surface peeled off layer by layer, revealing the core—

A rhombus-shaped blue scale, crystal clear, emitting a dreamlike radiance.

"Heart of Ice Seal..." Ning Xiaochuan murmured.

Just as he was about to retrieve the Inverse Scales, the entire hall suddenly shook violently! The ice core erupted with a blinding blue light, engulfing them both!

When the light faded, Ning Xiaochuan found himself standing on an ice plain, surrounded by endless white. Su Linger was nowhere to be seen, only the howling cold wind cutting like knives.

"Ling'er!" he shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the wind and snow.

A blurry figure appeared in the distance, slowly approaching. When Ning Xiaochuan saw who it was, he was struck as if by lightning—

It was Su Linger, but not entirely. Her silver hair was like frost, her eyes had turned completely ice blue, and a suffocating cold emanated from her body.

"Who are you?" Ning Xiaochuan asked warily.

"I am her, and yet not her," Ice Ling'er's voice was like the howling wind. "This is the Inverse Scales' trial—facing the deepest fears within one's heart."

She waved her hand, and countless ice sculptures suddenly rose from the ice plain, each one a person Ning Xiaochuan was familiar with: Ning Zhantian, Ning Yuan, Lei Lie, Mu Qing, Star Radiance... they were forever frozen in expressions of agony.

"You fear losing them," Ice Ling'er said coldly. "Especially... her."

The last ice sculpture rose—it was the normal Su Linger, smiling, but ice was already spreading from her feet upwards.

"Stop!" Ning Xiaochuan roared, Sacred Source Power erupting, shattering the ice sculpture.

But the fragments quickly reformed, and the freezing accelerated.

"Anger will only hasten the end," Ice Ling'er approached, her chill almost freezing Ning Xiaochuan's breath. "Accept reality, you can't save anyone."

Ning Xiaochuan forced himself to calm down. This was a trial; there had to be a way to break it. He remembered Yun Yi's warning—"Only with a clear mind can one reach the end."

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, no longer looking at the terrifying ice sculptures. The Sacred Source Power flowed peacefully within him, no longer resisting the cold but merging with it.

"I do fear loss," he said calmly. "But precisely because I cherish them, I understand the meaning of protection even more."

Ice Ling'er's steps halted.

"Fear will not make me retreat; instead, it makes me more resolute," Ning Xiaochuan opened his eyes, meeting her ice-blue gaze. "This is the true meaning of Sacred Source Power—born from a heart of protection."

The ice plain began to collapse, and the ice sculptures melted one by one. Ice Ling'er's figure also blurred, transforming back into the normal Su Linger.

"Ning Xiaochuan?" she asked, looking around in confusion. "Where is this?"

"An illusion created by the Inverse Scales," Ning Xiaochuan took her hand. "We passed the trial."

The Heart of Ice Seal floated before them, no longer resisting. Ning Xiaochuan carefully took it down, and the scale automatically flew towards the Dragon Soul Jade, fitting perfectly into an empty slot.

The two energies merged, and new patterns appeared on the jade's surface—a snowflake-like design.

"We did it," Su Linger breathed a sigh of relief.

The illusion completely dissipated, and the two returned to the main hall. The Sacred Spirit Dragon immediately flew over, circling them anxiously. The Great Elder looked at the ice core in shock—it was still intact, but the Inverse Scales at its core had vanished.

"Incredible..." the old man murmured. "A thousand years of guardianship, resolved today."

Just as Ning Xiaochuan was about to explain, he felt the Dragon Soul Jade vibrate violently! The energy of the two Inverse Scales fused within the jade, projecting a blurry map—showing the location of the third Inverse Scales!

"Molten Mountain Range..." he recognized the terrain. "Deep within the Fire Tribe's territory!"

Su Linger also saw it. "The next destination is set."

The Great Elder, having heard of the Void Master's threat, immediately pledged the Ice Soul Sect's full support. He personally escorted the three to the edge of the storm wall and assigned two disciples familiar with the terrain to accompany them.

"May the cold ice bless you," the old man bid them farewell solemnly.

The three embarked on their journey once more. This time, their target was the Molten Mountain Range—the heartland of the Fire Tribe and one of the most dangerous places on the Open Source Continent.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon seemed excited about the upcoming adventure, flying back and forth between the two constantly. Su Linger watched the little creature's lively movements, a smile unconsciously forming on her lips.

"What are you smiling about?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

"Remembering how you couldn't even control it back then," Su Linger said with tenderness in her eyes. "Now you're inseparable."

Ning Xiaochuan smiled too. "Who would have thought back then that we'd come this far."

He naturally took Su Linger's hand, their fingers interlacing. The Dragon Soul Jade on his chest warmed slightly, as if rejoicing in their warmth.