As they ventured deeper into the passage, the smooth outer layer of the ice walls on either side gradually disappeared, revealing the dark gray rock walls beneath.
The rock face was covered with fine engravings. At first, Feng Xiaotian thought they were just natural stone patterns, but the deeper he went, the more neat and orderly the engravings became—they were not formed naturally, but were carved on by someone stroke by stroke.
Feng Xiaotian stopped and examined a carving mark closely, his fingertip gently tracing the groove.
The moment it was touched, a very faint blue light suddenly appeared on the surface of the engraving, as if it had been awakened after a long slumber.
"It looks like some kind of script is engraved on it," Shui Bing'er said, leaning closer and frowning slightly. "But I can't recognize it."
"I don't recognize it either." Feng Xiaotian withdrew his hand and glanced down at his fingertips.
The azure light shone the moment he touched the words, and slowly dimmed as he released them. "However, my Martial Soul, through these words, has been guiding me deeper inside. I feel like I've reached the end, and something awaits me there."
So the two continued on. The passage varied in width; in some places, they could walk side by side, while in others they had to squeeze sideways. Feng Xiaotian noticed a strange phenomenon—
Whenever the passage narrows, the carvings on the rock walls on both sides become denser, as if someone is deliberately compressing information into the most conspicuous position, afraid that visitors will miss it.
He suddenly had a feeling: this passage didn't seem to be naturally formed, but rather it seemed to have been specially opened up by some force.
After walking for almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the passage suddenly came to an end.
Suddenly, everything became clear. I took a couple of bites.
A massive underground ice cave appeared before the two, its dome so high that the top was almost invisible, with countless ice cones hanging down from above, refracting varying shades of blue light under a soft light source.
In the center of the ice cave was a wide open space, the ground so flat it didn't seem naturally formed, with several huge ice stones scattered around the edges.
Feng Xiaotian stood at the entrance of the ice cave, the burning sensation in his chest reaching its peak. The Gale Twin-Headed Wolf roared inside him, almost out of control, trying to break free.
"It's here," Feng Xiaotian said. "That power is right here."
Shui Bing'er did not respond. She stood two steps behind him, her gaze fixed on an ice wall deep within the ice cave.
That ice wall was different from the others; its surface was as smooth as a mirror, and it shimmered with a faint bluish glow, as if it were slowly flowing like a living thing.
Feng Xiaotian followed her gaze and involuntarily stepped towards the ice wall.
He approached and raised his hand to touch the ice—it felt warm.
The next second, a vast amount of information flooded into his mind. It was not sound, not words, but a pure transmission of thought, directly pouring into the depths of his consciousness.
Feng Xiaotian froze on the spot, his pupils suddenly contracting.
That thought contained a voice—old, gentle, and carrying the composure that comes with the passage of time.
"Child, don't panic, I mean no harm."
"I am the Wind God."
"This is the place where my friend, the Ice God, fell. She died young, and her legacy has been lost to anyone. As her friend, I want to help her—"
So I hid my legacy nearby, thinking that if any descendants could find this place, they might be able to find the successor of the Ice God for me."
"Child, since you are of the Wind Attribute and have come this far, it means we are destined to meet. Would you be willing to inherit my mantle and help me with this favor?"
His thoughts paused there, as if waiting for his answer.
Feng Xiaotian didn't respond immediately. He asked in his mind, "What are the conditions for the successor of the Ice God?"
His mind paused for a moment, as if examining the thoughts behind his question.
" The Ultimate Ice. Or Martial Soul with an extremely high affinity for ice." The Wind God's voice carried a hint of gentle patience. "My friend's requirements for the successor aren't harsh, but they must be a genius with ice attributes."
Feng Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat. He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Then... this girl next to me, she's the Ultimate Ice, does that fit?"
After a moment of silence, Feng Xiaotian felt an invisible force sweep over him, extending outwards and reaching towards Shui Bing'er's location—the force was very light, like a feather gently brushing past.
A few breaths later, the Wind God's voice rang out again, this time with genuine laughter:
" Ultimate Ice, extremely pure, with exceptional talent. She is indeed very suitable."
Feng Xiaotian was certain in his heart.
"I agree," he responded in his mind. "I accept your legacy. The legacy of the Ice God... I will take her with me."
The Wind God's voice rang out again, this time with a more serious tone:
"Okay, but let me be upfront about this first - the First Trial is relatively easy because I have my own reasons for it."
I hope to find the successor of the Ice God as soon as possible, so I lowered the threshold for the First Trial.
But starting from the Second Trial, the assessment will truly test your abilities, mentality, and willpower; it won't be this easy anymore.
You need to be mentally prepared.
Feng Xiaotian without hesitation, "Understood."
The next moment, the cyan halo on the surface of the ice wall suddenly lit up, and a beam of cyan light shot out from it, entering Feng Xiaotian's brow.
A blue rune mark slowly appeared on his forehead, shaped like a swirling gust of Gale, and slightly warm.
At the same time, a piece of information surfaced directly in the depths of his mind—
The First Trial of the Wind God Nine Trials: Find the inheritor of the Ice God and bring them to the place where the Ice God fell to begin the Ice God's legacy.
Time limit: No limit.
Reward: Wind God Affinity increased by 5%, qualification for the Second Trial unlocked.
Feng Xiaotian paused for a moment, then a slight smile appeared on his lips. He had already completed half of the First Trial —the person had been found, and Shui Bing'er was right beside him. The remaining half was to take her to the Heart of the Glacier and activate the Ice God's inheritance.
His will completely dissipated. Feng Xiaotian's hand slid off the ice wall, and he seemed to emerge from deep water, taking a deep breath.
"Are you alright?" Shui Bing'er's voice came from behind.
Feng Xiaotian turned around, looked at her, and a slight smile appeared on his lips, "It's alright. Not only is it alright, it's actually a good thing."
He took a few breaths and then told her everything that had just happened.
The Wind God's identity, his request, the Ice God's fall, the truth of the legacy slumbering deep within this glacier, and... the Wind God himself confirmed that she was "the right one."
Shui Bing'er listened quietly without speaking immediately. She stood in front of the now calm ice wall, looking down at her palms.
An ice crystal, shaped like a flower, had somehow formed in her palm. It slowly rotated, emanating an aura completely identical to her own Ultimate Ice.
Her heartbeat became unusually clear at that moment.
The "call" that had been vaguely sensed since I set foot in the Far North finally took shape at this moment.
It wasn't an illusion, nor a fantasy; it was the Ice God's dormant divinity that had been releasing faint signals over the long years, waiting for her to receive them.
Seeing her expression, Feng Xiaotian didn't press further. He simply pointed to the naturally formed crack in the eastern rock face. " The Wind God said, head east."
Shui Bing'er raised her head, followed his gaze to the crack, and then nodded.
She walked towards the crevice, with Feng Xiaotian following behind her. Shui Bing'er paused before slipping into the crevice and glanced back at him.
Feng Xiaotian asked, "What's wrong?"
Shui Bing'er paused for a moment, then said, "... Thank you."
Feng Xiaotian paused for a moment, then waved his hand. "Why should we care about such things between us?"
Shui Bing'er didn't say anything more and slipped into the crevice.
Feng Xiaotian followed behind and heard a distant, eerie aura emanating from the depths of the crack, as if someone who had been sleeping for ten thousand years deep within the ice had finally heard the footsteps of someone approaching.
He quickened his pace and caught up.