"Boom!" Snow Empress felt a powerful force rushing towards her, and involuntarily took three steps back, her blood surging. Qingyunzi seized the opportunity to exert his strength, his longsword carrying spiritual energy, and stabbed towards the back of the Ice Flame Beast. The sword energy pierced through the Ice Flame Beast's scales, leaving a shallow wound.
"Ah!" The Ice Flame Beast roared, a fierce glint in its eyes. It turned around and unleashed a massive burst of ice and fire energy at Qingyunzi. The energy, carrying immense power, hurtled towards Qingyunzi. Qingyunzi tried to dodge the energy, but it was too fast, and he was still struck. His body flew backward involuntarily, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and his aura weakened considerably.
" Qingyunzi!" Snow Empress exclaimed in alarm. Her body surged with purple light, unleashing the full power of the Emperor Bell as she blasted towards the Ice Flame Beast. "Senior, please show mercy!"
Seeing the Snow Empress's anxious expression, the Ice Flame Beast's eyes flashed with emotion. It could sense the bond between the Snow Empress and Qingyunzi, and it could also sense that they genuinely wanted to protect all living beings. It slowly withdrew its power and said, "You are both quite remarkable. At such a young age, you possess such strength, and you trust and support each other. It seems that you truly have the ability to protect the fragments and the ability to fight against those evil forces."
With that, the Ice Flame Beast turned and walked into the ice mountain, gesturing for Snow Empress and Qingyunzi to follow. Snow Empress quickly ran to Qingyunzi's side, helped Qingyunzi up, and asked with concern, "Senior Brother Qingyunzi, how are you? Are you alright?"
Qingyunzi shook his head, a smile appearing on his face, "I'm fine, just a minor injury. I'll be alright after a rest. Great, we can finally get the fragment."
Supporting each other, the two followed the Ice Flame Beast into the ice mountain. Inside, the ice mountain was warm as spring, a stark contrast to the icy wilderness outside. In the center of the ice mountain was a huge ice platform, upon which floated a purple fragment—another piece of the Emperor Bell.
Snow Empress reached out and picked up the fragment of the Emperor Bell. The fragment was warm to the touch and resonated strongly with the Emperor Bell in her dantian. Snow Empress placed the fragment into her dantian, where it merged with the Emperor Bell. Instantly, a purer Ziwei Power surged from the Emperor Bell, nourishing her and Qingyunzi's bodies. Qingyunzi's wounds healed rapidly, and his aura gradually returned.
At the same time, the power of the Emperor Bell increased to ninety percent. The cracks on the bell body had basically disappeared, leaving only an almost invisible mark. The purple light became increasingly intense, and the imperial might was awe-inspiring, as if it could intimidate the heavens and earth at any moment. Snow Empress's cultivation also successfully broke through to the Dragon Transformation Fourth Transformation, and Qingyunzi's cultivation also greatly improved, reaching the Third Transformation of Dragon Transformation.
The Ice Flame Beast watched this scene with approval in its eyes. "Excellent! The Emperor Bell has finally recovered ninety percent of its power. With this Emperor Bell, you will have even greater confidence in fighting against the Underworld."
The Snow Empress bowed to the Ice Flame Beast: "Thank you for your mercy, Senior, and thank you for entrusting us with the fragment. Rest assured, Senior, we will protect the fragment, repair the Emperor Bell, thwart the Underworld's conspiracy, and safeguard all living beings under Heaven."
The Ice Flame Beast waved its hand and said, "No need to thank me. I have guarded the fragment for thousands of years, waiting for someone who can protect all living beings. Now, I have finally found that person. Rest assured, if you encounter any danger in the future, just call my name, and I will come to your aid immediately."
"Thank you, senior!" Snow Empress and Qingyunzi bowed to the Ice Flame Beast once again.
Kunlun Secret Realm: Tracing the Emperor Bell
Having bid farewell to the Ice Flame Beast, Snow Empress and Qingyunzi turned and walked towards the edge of the ice mountain. The two were now completely different people from before they entered the ice mountain— Snow Empress was surrounded by an increasingly intense Purple Dragon Transformation Fourth Transformation Ziwei Emperor Qi, her fourth-stage Dragon Transformation cultivation firmly established, the Emperor Bell slowly circulating in her dantian, each pulse radiating an aura of dominance over heaven and earth; Qingyunzi, though still somewhat weak, had a steady breath, and the power brought by his Third Transformation of Dragon Transformation cultivation gave him a more resolute look. Supporting each other, their steps were light yet vigilant, for deep within the Kunlun Secret Realm, besides the ice mountain guarded by the Ice Flame Beast, there were bound to be other unknown dangers hidden.
Stepping out of the icy mountain, the outside world of ice and snow once again came into view, the biting cold hitting them, yet it could no longer shake the two of them in the slightest. The Snow Empress activated her Ziwei Power, forming a faint purple barrier around her, keeping the cold at bay and protecting Qingyunzi beside her. "Senior brother, your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Let's find a safe place to rest before continuing our exploration of the secret realm to see if there are any other traces of the Emperor Bell fragments," the Snow Empress said softly, her voice full of concern. After their battle with the Ice Flame Beast, the tacit understanding between them had deepened, and their camaraderie forged in the face of danger had become even stronger.
Qingyunzi nodded, glancing gratefully at Snow Empress: "Thank you for your concern, Holy Maiden. I do need to rest and recuperate to solidify my newly broken-through cultivation. Moreover, the Kunlun Secret Realm is vast and boundless; if we proceed rashly, we risk falling into danger. It would be better to find a secluded place first, where we can rest and also deduce the approximate location of the fragments." With that, he took out a cyan jade slip from his storage bag. The jade slip was engraved with complex runes; it was the " Tracking Jade Slip " used by the Kunlun Sect to deduce the location of treasures. Previously, because the aura of the Ice Flame Beast was too powerful, the jade slip could not be used properly. Now, far from the ice mountain, the jade slip can finally be put to use.
The two walked slowly along the icy plain, their eyes warily scanning their surroundings. Apart from the thick snow and scattered icicles, there was no sign of life on the plain; the only sounds were their footsteps and the soft rustling of falling snowflakes. Occasionally, a gust of cold wind would howl, whipping up swirls of snow that would crackle against the purple light barrier, but causing no real damage. After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they came to a recessed ice cave ahead. The entrance was completely hidden by a thick layer of ice, almost invisible without careful observation. There was no sign of danger around the cave; it seemed like an ideal place to rest.
"This will do." The Snow Empress stopped and carefully surveyed the area around the ice cave. After confirming there were no restrictions or traps, she spoke to Qingyunzi. With a wave of her hand, a wisp of purple light from the Emperor Bell flew out, instantly shattering the ice layer at the entrance of the ice cave and revealing an opening just wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Inside the opening, it wasn't as dark and cold as she had imagined. Instead, a faint warmth emanated from it, presumably due to geothermal activity deep within the ice cave, creating a relatively warm space.
The two entered the ice cave. Snow Empress casually set up a simple barrier to seal the entrance, which would both insulate against the outside cold and serve as a warning if an enemy approached. The interior of the ice cave was more spacious than expected, with a smooth floor and walls covered with a thin layer of ice crystals that reflected a faint light, making the entire cave appear crystal clear. At the very back, there was a huge ice stone, as smooth and warm as jade, radiating a gentle warmth, perfect for meditation.