Cross-Sea Squall

The morning mist shrouded the mountain gate of the Tianyuan Sect. Ning Xiaochuan stood on the bluestone steps, gazing at the rolling mountains in the distance. Three months had passed since the battle at the Frozen Abyss. The traces of the conflict had been smoothed over by time, but the memories still resurfaced frequently in his dreams.

"What are you spacing out about?" Su Linger's voice came from behind, accompanied by the sound of light footsteps. She was wearing a light green fitted outfit today, her long hair tied up high with a silver ribbon, making her look exceptionally neat.

Ning Xiaochuan turned, a smile unconsciously rising to his lips. "I was thinking about the first time we met. You were just as elusive then."

Su Linger let out a soft hum, but her eyes held a smile. "The teleportation array is ready. Master Xuanyu and Senior Brother Lei are waiting."

The two walked side by side towards the mountain gate plaza. After the battle at the Frozen Abyss, Ning Xiaochuan's Sacred Spirit Dragon Source Soul had evolved to its mature stage, its size freely changeable. It was currently shrunk to palm-sized, dozing on his shoulder. Su Linger's Mysterious Ice Phoenix, nourished by Sacred Source Power, now had several golden patterns on its feathers.

In the center of the plaza, a complex teleportation array was emitting a faint glow. True Man Xuanyu stood beside the array, with Lei Lie, Mu Qing, and a group of Tianyuan Sect disciples behind him.

"You're here?" True Man Xuanyu smiled at the two. "Cross-continental teleportation is no ordinary matter. There are a few things I must make clear."

Lei Lie strode forward and clapped Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder forcefully. "Kid, when you get to the Northern Snow Plains, remember to bring me a flask of 'Ice Soul Brew'! I heard the liquor there can freeze your tongue off!"

Mu Qing handed Su Linger a brocade pouch. "Inside are my improved communication talismans. As long as you're on the same continent, you can contact us."

After True Man Xuanyu saw everyone bid farewell, he said with a serious expression, "The Northern Snow Plains are different from the Open Source Continent. The Source Qi there is predominantly cold-attribute, and their cultivation system is unique. Besides investigating the remnants of the Dark Source Soul Hall, you must also look for clues about the Sacred Origin Tribe."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded solemnly. "This disciple understands."

"Also," True Man Xuanyu lowered his voice, "Han Li did indeed flee north. This man is ruthless, so be extremely careful."

Su Linger gripped her sword hilt. "I was just looking for him to settle the score."

The teleportation array began to hum, its patterns lighting up one by one. Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger stepped into the center of the array, bidding their final farewells to the crowd.

"Remember, on the night of the full moon three months from now, the teleportation array will open again. If you are not back by then, you will have to wait for the next opportunity six months later," True Man Xuanyu instructed.

A blinding white light flashed. Ning Xiaochuan felt a tearing pain throughout his body, and then his vision went black. When his sight returned, the surroundings had completely changed—

A biting cold wind hit him. Before his eyes was a vast expanse of snow, with towering ice mountains faintly visible in the distance. They were standing on a stone platform, surrounded by a few simple stone houses, but there was no one around.

"Is this the teleportation point in the Northern Snow Plains?" Ning Xiaochuan's exhaled breath instantly condensed into ice crystals. "Why is there no one to meet us?"

Su Linger cautiously scanned their surroundings. "Something's not right... There should be guardians around the teleportation array."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon suddenly perked up its head and let out a warning "gugu" sound. Almost simultaneously, three ice arrows pierced the air, heading straight for their vital points!

"Careful!" Ning Xiaochuan instantly activated the Ice Crystal Dragon Armor. The ice arrows shattered into powder upon impact. Su Linger flickered and precisely deflected another arrow with her sword.

"Who's there?" Ning Xiaochuan shouted in the direction the arrows came from.

Three figures in white slowly stood up from the snow, their bodies blending perfectly with the snowy landscape, making them hard to spot. The one in front was a stern-faced young man, holding a crystal ice bow, with a blue pattern on his forehead.

"Those who trespass into the forbidden grounds of the Ice Soul Sect shall die," the young man said coldly, drawing his bowstring again.

Ning Xiaochuan quickly explained, "We are disciples of the Tianyuan Sect, we came through the regular teleportation array..."

Before he could finish, the second wave of arrows arrived! This time, each arrow carried a bone-chilling cold, leaving trails of condensed ice crystals in the air wherever they passed.

A cold glint flashed in Su Linger's eyes. "If talking doesn't work, we fight!" Her Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul spread its wings and let out a long cry, sending dozens of ice cones towards the arrows.

The two icy forces collided in mid-air, canceling each other out. The young man in white looked surprised. "Mysterious Ice Power? Which branch are you disciples of?"

As Ning Xiaochuan was about to answer, the ground suddenly trembled violently! A thunderous roar came from the distant ice mountains, followed by a pillar of blue light shooting into the sky, and then a deafening explosion!

"Not good! It's from the forbidden area!" The young man in white's face changed drastically. Forgetting Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger, he turned and sprinted towards the pillar of light.

Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger exchanged a look and tacitly followed. The Sacred Spirit Dragon flew from Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, circling in the air to scout.

"There's a smell of blood," Su Linger suddenly stopped, pointing to a snowdrift.

Ning Xiaochuan pushed aside the accumulated snow. Beneath it lay two corpses, wearing clothes similar to the young man in white. Their chests had gaping, shocking holes, as if corroded by something.

"Soul Devouring Source Qi..." Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth. "The people from the Dark Source Soul Hall are indeed active here!"

Another explosion sounded, this time closer. The three of them reached the entrance of a valley, and the scene before them was shocking—

In the center of the valley was a crystal ice palace, now with a large hole blown open. Dozens of white-robed cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle with a group of black-robed figures. Most eye-catching was a blue sphere of light suspended above the palace, seemingly sealing something within.

"The Ice Soul Sect's treasure!" the young man in white exclaimed. "They're trying to steal the Primal Ice Core!"

Ning Xiaochuan's gaze sharpened. Among the black-robed figures, he spotted a familiar silhouette—Han Li! He was directing his subordinates to attack the formation guarding the sphere of light. Every swing of his black sword brought forth a cloud of corrosive black mist.

"Han Li!" Su Linger roared, her sword pointing directly at her enemy.

Han Li turned, his expression shifting from surprise to a sinister grin. "What a coincidence! I'll use your Source Souls for the sacrifice!"

He suddenly swung his sword, and a black energy surged towards them like a tidal wave. Ning Xiaochuan pushed the young man in white aside and unleashed his Sacred Source Power to its fullest. Golden light clashed with the black energy, emitting a "hissing" corrosive sound.

"You know this person?" the young man in white asked, still shaken.

"Remnant of the Dark Source Soul Hall," Ning Xiaochuan replied briefly. "Now is not the time to explain, we must stop them first!"

The three joined the fray. Ning Xiaochuan directly confronted Han Li, while the Sacred Spirit Dragon spewed purifying dragon breath from the air. Su Linger, working with the young man in white, intercepted the other black-robed figures.

"Kid, last time the Sacred Origin Tribe ruins helped you. Who can save you this time!" Han Li's black sword struck like a venomous snake, each move deadly.

Ning Xiaochuan didn't reply, focusing entirely on the fight. He noticed that Han Li's strength had increased since their last encounter. The corrosive energy from his black sword could even melt the crystal ice ground.

"What, scared stiff?" Han Li's attack intensified with a wild laugh. "The Hall Master is temporarily sealed, but the power he left us is enough to rule this continent!"

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly changed tactics. The Sacred Spirit Dragon swooped down, its claws aiming straight for Han Li's face. Han Li hastily dodged, revealing an opening. Ning Xiaochuan punched him in the abdomen, Sacred Source Power surging into his body!

"Ah!" Han Li screamed, his black sword flying from his grasp. But he quickly regained his composure and formed hand seals. "Did you think I'd come unprepared? Soul Devouring Array, activate!"

Complex black array patterns suddenly appeared on the ground. The corpses of all the fallen cultivators began to emit black mist, converging towards Han Li!

"He's absorbing the Source Qi of the dead!" the young man in white exclaimed.

Han Li's body began to swell and distort, black crystals appearing on his skin as his aura surged. "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!"

They both unleashed their Source Souls simultaneously. The Sacred Spirit Dragon and the Mysterious Ice Phoenix intertwined in the air. But this time, Han Li was prepared. A barrier of dark energy blocked the fusion path of the two Source Souls!

"It's useless!" Han Li roared with laughter. "Within the range of the Soul Devouring Array, all Source Souls will be suppressed!"

As expected, Ning Xiaochuan felt his Source Qi circulation become sluggish, and the Sacred Spirit Dragon appeared listless. Han Li seized the opportunity, striking with a palm that engulfed him in a tide of dark energy!

"Ning Xiaochuan!" Su Linger tried to rush over to help, but she was entangled by other figures in black robes.

Within the dark energy, Ning Xiaochuan felt intense pain all over his body, as if countless ants were gnawing at his skin. In this critical moment, a wave of coolness suddenly emanated from his chest—it was the Dragon Soul Jade!

The jade pendant flew out on its own, emitting a soft, milky white light that created a small sanctuary within the dark energy. Even more miraculously, the protected blue sphere in the distance—the Primal Ice Core—seemed to sense something and began to vibrate violently!

"What?" Han Li turned back in shock.

The Primal Ice Core erupted with a blinding blue light, and an ice-blue energy surged towards Ning Xiaochuan like a torrent, resonating with the Sacred Source Power within him!

"So that's it... the Primal Ice Core is also a treasure left by the Sacred Origin Tribe!" Ning Xiaochuan suddenly understood and unhesitatingly guided the energy into his body.

The ice-blue Sacred Source Power mingled with the original golden energy, forming a layer of blue and gold dual-colored armor on his body. When Han Li's dark energy touched the armor, it instantly dissolved like snow under the scorching sun!

"Impossible!" Han Li retreated in terror. "How can you wield two Primal Energies?"

Ning Xiaochuan didn't answer. He felt an unprecedented power fill his body. The Sacred Spirit Dragon was also nourished, its size rapidly increasing, its scales now adorned with ice crystal patterns.

"It's over, Han Li." Ning Xiaochuan took a step forward, appearing instantly before Han Li, his blue and gold dual-colored fist slamming heavily into the latter's chest!

"No—!" Han Li's scream was cut short. His body cracked like shattered porcelain, black crystals flaking off piece by piece until he dissolved into a pool of black water.

Seeing their leader dead, the remaining figures in black robes fled in disarray. Su Linger and the young man in white were about to pursue when Ning Xiaochuan suddenly knelt to the ground, his blue and gold armor vanishing instantly.

"Ning Xiaochuan!" Su Linger rushed to support him. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing... just exhausted..." Ning Xiaochuan gave a weak smile. Wielding two Primal Energies simultaneously had placed too great a burden on his body; his meridians felt like they were burning.

The young man in white stepped forward, his attitude completely changed. "Thank you both for your assistance. I am Lan Feng, a disciple of the Ice Soul Sect. May I know your names?"

Su Linger introduced them briefly while cautiously observing their surroundings. The cultivators from the Ice Soul Sect were clearing the battlefield, but their eyes no longer held any hostility.

An old man with white hair approached, his aura as deep as the sea, clearly a high-ranking member of the Ice Soul Sect. "I am the Third Elder of the Ice Soul Sect. You two possess Sacred Source Power and have aided my sect in protecting a supreme treasure; it is truly fate."

He looked at Ning Xiaochuan. "The Primal Ice Core is an artifact left by the ancient Sacred Origin Tribe. For a thousand years, no one has been able to activate its power. That it resonated with you today must be destiny."

Ning Xiaochuan managed to stand up. "You are too kind, Elder. We are on a journey to investigate clues about the Sacred Origin Tribe."

The Third Elder stroked his beard and smiled. "If that is the case, why not return to our sect with me for a discussion? The Ice Soul Sect does indeed possess some ancient texts regarding the Sacred Origin Tribe."

Ning Xiaochuan looked at Su Linger, who nodded slightly. The Sacred Spirit Dragon also flew back to its master's shoulder, affectionately nuzzling his cheek.

"Then we shall trouble you," Ning Xiaochuan said, cupping his hands.

The Third Elder turned and led the way, with Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger following behind. Before leaving, Ning Xiaochuan glanced back at the spot where Han Li had turned into black water, a frown creasing his brow—things seemed to have been resolved too easily. Given Han Li's cunning, would he really be eliminated so simply?

In the distance, a drop of unpurified black water quietly seeped beneath the ice, disappearing without a trace