He looked at Snow Empress: "Did you gain any insights from your battle just now?"
The Snow Empress pondered, " The True Solar Fire is extremely yang and rigid, and it is incompatible with my Ultimate Ice. However, yin and yang are mutually reinforcing despite their mutual restraint. If I can comprehend the profound mystery within, perhaps I can advance my path of ice to a higher level."
"Good."
Lin Hao nodded approvingly, then flipped his hand and took out the cyan bead. "This is for you."
Snow Empress took the bead, its smooth texture and rich life essence causing every pore on her body to open up.
"This is..."
"A portion of the Chaos Green Lotus's origin."
Lin Hao explained, "Your Ultimate Ice is dominated by annihilation, yet it also contains hidden Fortune. This Green Lotus origin contains endless vitality, which can help you balance the annihilation within the Dao of Ice, leading you through the cycle of life and death. Perhaps it can even allow you to take that step."
A flicker of excitement flashed in Snow Empress's icy blue eyes.
She had been stuck at her current level for quite some time, constantly searching for a breakthrough. This Green Lotus Origin was exactly what she needed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"No need for formalities, just refine it as soon as possible. This place is relatively safe; I will protect you."
The Snow Empress said no more, sat down cross-legged, placed the blue bead between her eyebrows, and began to refine it.
Lin Hao stood with his hands behind his back, looking towards the direction of the Azure Emperor Palace.
Inside the palace gates, faint sounds of fighting and exclamations could be heard, indicating that the prodigies were facing tests or competition in the side hall.
"That's human nature; people fight for what they see as profit."
He shook his head slightly, no longer paying attention.
Time passed.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Over the past three days, people have been emerging from the Azure Emperor Palace. Some are beaming with joy, clearly having made a great haul; others are dejected, some even injured; and still others never emerged, remaining inside forever.
The Snow Empress was still refining the essence of the Green Lotus.
She was enveloped in an icy blue light, within which a touch of cyan vitality flowed. The two forces of ice and life intertwined, creating a strange and wondrous sight.
On the left, snow and ice are flying everywhere; on the right, vegetation is growing.
The cycle of life and death is a mysterious and wondrous process of Fortune.
Lin Hao could sense that Snow Empress's aura was steadily improving, and she was only a hair's breadth away from breaking through.
On the morning of the fourth day.
"Boom--"
A powerful aura erupted from the Snow Empress's body, and icy blue divine light soared into the sky, condensing into a strange phenomenon of an ice crystal Green Lotus in the air.
The Green Lotus sways, scattering specks of ice crystals, each crystal containing both extreme cold and vibrant life.
The strange phenomenon lasted for ten breaths before slowly dissipating.
Snow Empress opened her eyes, and in the depths of her icy blue eyes, a fleeting image of a Green Lotus flashed by.
"A breakthrough?"
"Yes."
The Snow Empress rose and bowed deeply to Lin Hao: "Thank you for bestowing this treasure upon me, Your Majesty."
At this moment, her cultivation has progressed from the peak of the Four Extremes Secret Realm to the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm, and her foundation is extremely solid. A trace of vitality has been integrated into the Great Dao of Ice, and her future potential will reach even greater heights.
"Good."
Lin Hao nodded. "Now that we've broken through, it's time for us to leave."
"Leave? Your Majesty is not continuing the exploration of the Qing Emperor's Tomb?"
"The core area of Qing Emperor's Tomb has not yet been opened; we must wait for the right opportunity. Besides..."
Lin Hao gazed into the depths of the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land, a profound glint in his eyes. "The true opportunity lies not in the tomb."
Snow Empress seemed to understand, but didn't ask any further questions.
Just as the two were about to leave, a loud bang suddenly came from the direction of the Azure Emperor Palace.
"Boom--"
The entire palace trembled violently, and a beam of azure light shot up from the palace roof, piercing through the clouds and even dispersing the fog of the forbidden area outside.
Immediately afterwards, a vast imperial aura emanated from the depths of the palace, enveloping the entire small world.
" The Azure Emperor's legacy has manifested!"
Someone shouted, and everyone still in the Azure Emperor Palace rushed frantically towards the central platform.
Lin Hao glanced at it and shook his head, saying, "Insatiable greed."
Before the words were even finished, another unexpected event occurred.
"Buzz--"
The void trembled, and from the depths of the Azure Emperor Palace, a dazzling azure light flew out, transforming into a jade scroll in the air. As the scroll unfolded, countless golden characters appeared, each radiating the power of the Great Dao.
"It's the ' Azure Emperor Scripture '!"
"My God, the complete Imperial Scripture!"
"Rob it!"
Everyone went crazy. Even the previously calm geniuses were now blinded by rage and used all their abilities to rush towards the jade book.
But the jade book possessed a spirit, and it flew through the air, evading capture by the crowd.
In the chaos, someone unleashed a deadly attack, accidentally injuring a bystander and triggering a chain reaction.
" Yaoguang Holy Land, how dare you ambush my Ji Family?!"
" The Jiang Family is courting death!"
" Solar Divine Dynasty, give me back my junior brother's life!"
The already fragile balance was shattered, and the various forces instantly clashed in a chaotic battle.
Supernatural powers clashed, magical artifacts flew, and blood splattered.
People kept falling, their bodies plummeting from the sky.
The Yaochi Holy Maiden tried to dissuade them, but how could those blinded by bloodlust listen? She could only protect the Yaochi disciples and retreat to avoid being drawn in.
The Ji Family Divine Body, the Great Xia Prince, the Yaoguang Holy Son, and other top geniuses were also engaged in a chaotic battle. Their goal was the " Azure Emperor Scripture," and they attacked each other mercilessly.
"People die for wealth, birds die for food."
Lin Hao gave a curt comment and turned to leave.
But then, another unexpected event occurred.
"Buzz--"
The jade scroll suddenly changed direction, transforming into a streak of azure light and heading straight for Lin Hao.
No, to be precise, they came straight for Snow Empress.
The jade scroll circled above the Snow Empress's head once, then slowly descended, hovering in front of her, emitting a soft blue light, as if waiting for her to take it.
The entire room fell silent instantly.
Everyone in the melee stopped fighting, their eyes fixed on the Snow Empress and the jade book in front of her.
"The Azure Emperor Scripture... chosen her?"
"Why should I?!"
Who is she? Why would Di Jing choose a master on his own initiative?
A mixture of resentment, jealousy, and doubt lingered in their eyes.
Snow Empress was also stunned and looked at Lin Hao.
Lin Hao looked thoughtfully into the depths of the Azure Emperor Palace, as if he had understood something.
" The Azure Emperor's true form is the Chaos Green Lotus. You refined a portion of the Green Lotus's essence, and your body became imbued with his aura. The Imperial Scripture mistakenly believes you to be a descendant or successor of the Azure Emperor, and thus chooses a master for you."
He explained, "Take it; this is your destiny."
Upon hearing this, Snow Empress no longer hesitated and reached out to grab the jade book.
The jade scroll entered her hand, transforming into a stream of light that entered her brow. The next moment, the complete " Azure Emperor Scripture " unfolded in her sea of consciousness.
"It really is the Imperial Scripture!"
"Stop her!"
Hand over the Imperial Scripture, and I'll spare your life!
After a brief silence, an even more frenzied killing intent arose.
Everyone's eyes turned red with envy. The Emperor's Scripture! That was an unparalleled ancient scripture created by the Great Emperor, enough to make a power prosper for ten thousand years. Who wouldn't want it?
In an instant, dozens of figures rushed towards the Snow Empress, unleashing a barrage of supernatural powers and magical treasures.
Snow Empress's eyes turned cold, and she was about to make a move when Lin Hao moved first.
"Noisy."
He uttered two words calmly and with a flick of his sleeve.
There was no earth-shattering power, no dazzling divine light, just a simple wave of the sleeve.
But the dozens of people who rushed forward seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall, flying back at an even faster speed, spitting blood in mid-air, their bones broken and tendons snapped.
"Bang bang bang--"
A series of muffled thuds followed, and dozens of people crashed to the ground, seriously injured and unable to get up.
The entire hall fell silent once more.
This time, there was utter silence.
Everyone stared at Lin Hao in horror, as if he were a demon god.