Qian Renxue (17)

The group moved forward again, and the atmosphere grew even heavier. Tang San quietly released his Blue Silver Domain, communicating with the surrounding plants to gather subtler information. What worried him was not only the interference hidden in the dark, but even more, the exposure of Xiao Wu's identity. The closer they drew to the core area, the higher the chance of encountering Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts—or even stronger beings. Though Xiao Wu's aura had been concealed, it was not foolproof.

At the same time, far away, ten thousand li off, in the Land of the Far North.

The cold wind cut like knives, whipping up ice crystals that filled the sky. As far as the eye could see, there was only vast, snowy white. Ghost Leopard Douluo lay concealed behind an ice ridge, his spirit power drawn inward, almost blending completely with the surrounding environment. The three Spirit Hall elite Soul Saints he led were scattered at more distant observation points.

They had already been lying in wait here for seven days. According to previous intelligence, the abnormal energy eruptions in the Permafrost Core Area produced intermittent fluctuations roughly once every ten days.

"Elder, there's movement." His subordinate's lowered voice came through the soul communication device, carrying a shock he could barely suppress.

Ghost Leopard Douluo focused and looked over. Far in the distance, in the Permafrost Core regarded as a forbidden zone for life, the originally calm ice field suddenly bulged upward. It was not an avalanche, but as if the earth's crust itself were moving. A massive ice-crystal structure, flickering with deep-blue luster, broke through ten-thousand-year-old solid ice and slowly rose. A bone-chilling cold and pressure so vast it made the soul tremble spread outward. Even from dozens of li away, Ghost Leopard Douluo felt his blood flow