Morning mist shrouded Tianyuan Sect's mountain gate. Ning Xiaochuan stood on the bluestone steps, gazing at the rolling mountain ranges in the distance. Three months had passed, and time had erased the traces of the battle at Frozen Abyss, yet those memories still often replayed in his dreams.
"What are you staring blankly at?" Su Linger's voice came from behind him, accompanied by light footsteps. She had changed into a pale blue fitted outfit today, her long hair tied high with a silver ribbon, making her look especially sharp and capable.
Ning Xiaochuan turned around, the corners of his lips rising unconsciously. "I was thinking about when we first met. You were just as elusive back then."
Su Linger gave a soft snort, though her eyes held a smile. "The Teleportation Array is ready. Master Xuanyu and Senior Brother Lei are waiting for us."
The two walked side by side toward the plaza before the mountain gate. After the battle at Frozen Abyss, Ning Xiaochuan's Sacred Spirit Dragon Source Soul had evolved into its mature stage. It could freely alter its size and was currently shrunk to the size of a palm, dozing on his shoulder. Su Linger's Mysterious Ice Phoenix, meanwhile, had gained several golden markings among its feathers after being nourished by Sacred Source Power.
At the center of the plaza, a complex Teleportation Array glimmered faintly. True Man Xuanyu stood beside it, with Lei Lie, Mu Qing, and a group of Tianyuan Sect disciples behind him.
"You're here?" True Man Xuanyu smiled at the pair. "Cross-continent teleportation is no ordinary matter. There are several things I must make clear."
Lei Lie strode forward and heavily patted Ning Xiaochuan on the shoulder. "Kid, when you get to the Northern Territory snowfields, remember to bring me a jug of Ice Soul Burn! I hear the liquor there can freeze your tongue off!"
Mu Qing handed Su Linger a silk pouch. "Inside are communication talismans I improved. As long as we're on the same continent, you'll be able to contact us."
Only after everyone had finished their farewells did True Man Xuanyu turn serious. "The Northern Territory snowfields differ from Open Source Continent. The source qi there leans toward cold attributes, and their cultivation system is distinct as well. Besides investigating the remnants of Dark Source Soul Hall, you must also watch for clues concerning the Sacred Origin Tribe."
Ning Xiaochuan nodded solemnly. "This disciple understands."
"And one more thing." True Man Xuanyu lowered his voice. "Han Li truly fled north. He is ruthless and vicious. You must be careful."
Su Linger tightened her grip on her sword hilt. "I was hoping to settle accounts with him."
The Teleportation Array began to hum as its formation patterns lit up one by one. Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger stepped into the center of the formation and bid everyone one last farewell.
"Remember, the Teleportation Array will open again on the full moon night three months from now," True Man Xuanyu reminded them. "If you have not returned by then, you will have to wait for the next opportunity six months later."
A blinding white light flashed. Ning Xiaochuan felt as though his body were being torn apart, then his vision went black. When his sight returned, the scene around him had completely changed—
A biting cold wind rushed at them. Before them stretched a vast white snowfield, with towering ice mountains faintly visible in the distance. They stood on a Stone Platform surrounded by several crude stone houses, but not a single person was in sight.
"So this is the teleportation point of the Northern Territory snowfields?" The white vapor Ning Xiaochuan exhaled instantly froze into ice crystals. "Why is no one here to receive us?"
Su Linger vigilantly scanned the surroundings. "Something's wrong... There should be guardians around the Teleportation Array."
The Sacred Spirit Dragon suddenly raised its head and gave a warning cry. Almost at the same time, three ice arrows shot through the air, aimed directly at the pair's vital points!
"Watch out!" Ning Xiaochuan instantly summoned the Ice Crystal Dragon Armor. The ice arrows struck the armor and shattered into powder. Su Linger flashed aside, her sword precisely knocking down another arrow.
"Who's there?" Ning Xiaochuan shouted toward the direction from which the arrows had come.
Three white-clad figures slowly rose from the snow, their bodies blending into the snowy landscape so perfectly that it was no wonder they had been difficult to spot. Their leader was a stern-faced young man holding an Ice Crystal Longbow, with a blue marking between his brows.
"Those who trespass into Ice Soul Sect's forbidden grounds shall die," the young man said coldly, drawing his bow to full tension once more.
Ning Xiaochuan hurriedly explained, "We are disciples of Tianyuan Sect. We came through an official Teleportation Array..."
Before he could finish, a second rain of arrows arrived! This time, every arrow carried bone-piercing cold. Wherever they passed, trails of ice crystals formed in the air.
A cold glint flashed through Su Linger's eyes. "If words won't work, we fight!" The Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul spread its wings with a long cry, sending dozens of ice spikes hurtling toward the arrows.
The two icy forces collided in midair and unexpectedly canceled each other out. Surprise appeared on the white-clad young man's face. "Profound Ice Power? Which branch are you disciples from?"
Just as Ning Xiaochuan was about to answer, the ground suddenly shook violently! A thunderous roar came from the distant ice mountains, and a blue pillar of light shot into the sky, followed by a deafening explosion!
"Oh no! That's the direction of the forbidden grounds!" The white-clad young man's expression changed drastically. Disregarding Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger, he turned and ran toward the pillar of light.
Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger exchanged a look, then followed without a word. The Sacred Spirit Dragon flew from Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder and circled overhead to scout.
"There's a smell of blood." Su Linger suddenly stopped and pointed at a mound of snow.
Ning Xiaochuan brushed aside the snow, revealing two corpses beneath it. They wore clothing similar to that of the white-clad young man, and each had a horrifying black hole in the chest, as if something had corroded them.
"Soul Devouring Source Qi..." Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth. "The people of Dark Source Soul Hall really are active here!"
Another explosion rang out, closer than before. The three reached the entrance of a valley, where the sight before them stunned them—
At the center of the valley stood an ice crystal palace, now blasted open by a massive hole. Dozens of white-clad cultivators were fighting a group of Black Robes, while the most eye-catching sight was a blue orb floating above the palace, as though something were sealed within it.
"The Ice Soul Sect's supreme treasure!" the white-clad young man cried. "They're trying to steal the Primal Ice Core!"
Ning Xiaochuan's gaze sharpened as he spotted a familiar figure among the Black Robes—Han Li! He was directing his subordinates to attack the formation protecting the orb, and every swing of his black sword brought forth a cloud of corrosive Black Qi.
"Han Li!" Su Linger shouted furiously, her sword pointing straight at her enemy.
Han Li turned around. He was briefly stunned, then grinned viciously. "What a small world! Perfect—I'll use your Source Souls as sacrifices!"
He swung his sword fiercely, and a wave of Black Qi surged toward them. Ning Xiaochuan shoved the white-clad young man aside and unleashed Sacred Source Power at full force. Golden light collided with the Black Qi, producing a sizzling sound of corrosion.
"You know this man?" the white-clad young man asked, still shaken.
"A remnant of Dark Source Soul Hall," Ning Xiaochuan answered curtly. "This isn't the time to explain. Stop them first!"
The three joined the battle. Ning Xiaochuan went straight for Han Li, while the Sacred Spirit Dragon spat purifying Dragon Breath from the air. Su Linger and the white-clad young man worked together to block the other Black Robes.
"Kid, the Sacred Origin Tribe ruins helped you last time. Let's see who can save you this time!" Han Li's black sword struck like a venomous snake, every move lethal.
Ning Xiaochuan did not answer, focusing completely on defending himself. He noticed that Han Li was stronger than before. The corrosive energy on his black sword could melt even the ice crystal ground.
"What, scared stiff?" Han Li laughed madly as he intensified his assault. "Though the Dark Hall Master is temporarily sealed, the power he left us is enough to rule this continent!"
Ning Xiaochuan suddenly changed tactics. The Sacred Spirit Dragon swooped down, its claws aimed directly at Han Li's face. Han Li hastily dodged, exposing an opening, and Ning Xiaochuan drove a fist into his abdomen, Sacred Source Power penetrating his body!
"Ah!" Han Li screamed as his black sword flew from his hand. But he quickly steadied himself and formed seals with both hands. "Did you think I would come without preparation? Soul Devouring Grand Formation, rise!"
Complex black formation patterns suddenly emerged from the ground. Black Qi began to rise from the corpses of every fallen cultivator, gathering toward Han Li!
"He's absorbing the dead men's source qi!" the white-clad young man cried out.
Han Li's body began to swell and distort. Black Crystals surfaced across his skin, and his aura climbed higher and higher. "Feel the true power of darkness!"
Ning Xiaochuan's expression grew grave. This was clearly a weakened version of the Dark Hall Master's form! He looked at Su Linger. "Source Soul fusion!"
The two released their Source Souls at the same time. The Sacred Spirit Dragon and Mysterious Ice Phoenix intertwined in the sky. But this time, Han Li had prepared in advance—a barrier of Black Qi cut off the path between the two Source Souls!
"Useless!" Han Li laughed wildly. "Within the range of the Soul Devouring Grand Formation, all Source Souls will be suppressed!"
Sure enough, Ning Xiaochuan felt the source qi within him turning sluggish, and the Sacred Spirit Dragon seemed weak and dispirited. Han Li seized the chance and struck with his palm, Black Qi swallowing Ning Xiaochuan like a tide!
"Ning Xiaochuan!" Su Linger tried to rush over to save him, but the other Black Robes held her back.
Within the Black Qi, Ning Xiaochuan felt intense pain throughout his body, as though countless ants were gnawing at his skin. At the critical moment, a cool sensation suddenly came from his chest—it was the Dragon Soul Jade!
The jade pendant flew out on its own, releasing a gentle milky-white glow that created a small patch of purity within the Black Qi. Even more astonishingly, the protected blue orb in the distance—the Primal Ice Core—seemed to sense something and suddenly began to shake violently!
"What?" Han Li turned back in shock.
The Primal Ice Core erupted with dazzling blue light. A torrent of icy blue energy surged toward Ning Xiaochuan and resonated with the Sacred Source Power within him!
"So that's it... The Primal Ice Core is also a treasure left behind by the Sacred Origin Tribe!" Ning Xiaochuan suddenly understood and guided the energy into his body without hesitation.
The icy blue Sacred Source Power merged with his original golden energy, forming a blue-and-gold suit of light armor over his body. The moment Han Li's Black Qi touched it, it dissolved like snow beneath the blazing sun!
"Impossible!" Han Li retreated in horror. "How can you wield two kinds of primal source power?"
Ning Xiaochuan did not answer. He felt unprecedented power filling his body. The Sacred Spirit Dragon was nourished as well, its body rapidly expanding as ice crystal patterns appeared on its scales.
"It's over, Han Li." Ning Xiaochuan took one step and instantly appeared before him, driving a blue-and-gold fist heavily into his chest!
"No—!" Han Li's scream abruptly stopped. His body cracked apart like shattered porcelain, Black Crystals falling away piece by piece until he finally turned into a pool of black water.
Seeing their leader slain, the remaining Black Robes fled in all directions. Su Linger and the white-clad young man were about to pursue them, but Ning Xiaochuan suddenly dropped to his knees, the blue-and-gold light armor instantly fading away.
"Ning Xiaochuan!" Su Linger hurriedly supported him. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine... I just used up too much..." Ning Xiaochuan smiled weakly. Wielding two kinds of primal source power at once had placed too great a burden on his body. His meridians now felt as though they were on fire.
The white-clad young man stepped forward, his attitude completely changed. "Thank you both for your aid. I am Lan Feng, a disciple of Ice Soul Sect. May I ask who you are?"
Su Linger briefly introduced them, while still vigilantly observing the surroundings. The Ice Soul Sect cultivators were cleaning up the battlefield, but there was no longer any hostility in their gazes.
A white-haired elder approached, his aura as deep as the sea. He was clearly a high-ranking member of Ice Soul Sect. "This old man is the Third Elder of Ice Soul Sect. You two possess Sacred Source Power and helped our sect preserve its supreme treasure. It truly is fate."
He looked at Ning Xiaochuan. "The Primal Ice Core is an artifact left behind by the ancient Sacred Origin Tribe. No one has been able to stir its power for a thousand years. Since it resonated with you today, young hero, it seems destiny has decreed it."
Ning Xiaochuan barely managed to stand. "Elder, you flatter me. We came here precisely to investigate clues related to the Sacred Origin Tribe."
The Third Elder stroked his beard and smiled. "In that case, why not return to the sect with this old man for a discussion? Ice Soul Sect does indeed possess some records concerning the Sacred Origin Tribe."
Ning Xiaochuan looked at Su Linger, and she gave a slight nod. The Sacred Spirit Dragon also flew back to its master's shoulder and affectionately rubbed against his cheek.
"Then we will trouble you," Ning Xiaochuan said with cupped hands.
The Third Elder turned to lead the way, with Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger following behind him. Before leaving, Ning Xiaochuan looked back at the place where Han Li had turned into black water, his brows slightly furrowed. Things seemed to have been resolved too easily. With Han Li's cunning nature, could he really have been eliminated so simply?
In the distance, a drop of unpurified black water quietly seeped beneath the ice layer and vanished...
Before you continue