The icy-blue divine radiance completely faded, and the lakebed returned to darkness.
Xu Tianyao's body slowly descended onto the altar. The moment his feet touched the stone surface, Kong Deming came before him.
Several probing Soul Tools descended at once, examining his body and spiritual fluctuations from different directions.
"Tianyao, how do you feel?"
Kong Deming's voice was full of concern, and his gaze never left Xu Tianyao's body.
Xu Tianyao moved his arms. The Soul Power within him was circulating smoothly as well.
Nourished by the Eternal Tree, his Sea of Consciousness had not only suffered no damage but had become even more stable than before entering the ruins.
The Mountains Rivers Sun Moon Map floated quietly above his Sea of Consciousness, its ancient scroll already closed.
The Eternal Tree had taken root in the golden sea, its silver-green branches and leaves gently swaying with the fluctuations of spiritual power.
"Grandfather, I'm fine."
Xu Tianyao nodded to Kong Deming to indicate that he was unharmed, then turned his gaze toward Snow Maiden in the distance.
Snow Maiden had already descended from before the stone statue. The hexagonal snowflake rune was imprinted at the center of her forehead, its aura completely merging with that of the Heavenly Snow Woman Martial Soul.
The surrounding lakewater was affected by the rune, its temperature steadily dropping. Countless tiny ice crystals slowly revolved around Snow Maiden and did not disperse even without her actively channeling Soul Power.
Ice Empress emerged from Xu Tianyao's Sea of Consciousness and landed beside his shoulder.
She stared at the rune for a long while, her jade-green tail hook slowly rising.
"Snow Maiden, what did you obtain?"
Hearing her voice, Snow Maiden looked at Ice Empress. Xu Tianyao also noticed that something was off about her.
After entering that