The warning within Chang'an was like a tiny thorn lodged in Su Yan's heart. The Compass's sudden, faint tremor toward the familiar general store had not lasted long, but it was enough to put him on guard. The End Times Cult's reach might extend farther than he had imagined; it might even have already infiltrated this seemingly safe imperial capital.
He told Mo Hen and Bai Zhi about it. After a moment of silence, Mo Hen said he would use his intelligence network to secretly investigate the general store and its surroundings. Bai Zhi looked worried and reminded them all to be more cautious when moving about the city in the future.
However, the mission to Ice Abyss Valley in the Northern Continent of Jizhou was imminent, so Mo Hen could only keep an eye on the hidden danger for now. After making some preparations, the three set out once more, heading straight for that freezing land where even souls could be frozen solid.
The farther north they traveled, the colder the weather became. The biting wind carried ice crystals that sliced at exposed skin like countless tiny blades. Ordinary winter clothing was no longer enough to withstand it, forcing Su Yan to continuously circulate the Star Refining Body Art and use the faint heat generated by the Power of Stars to resist the cold. Little Big Dipper seemed well adapted to the freezing weather. The star-like markings on its shell gleamed under the snow's reflection, and it was even more lively than before. Bai Zhi raised a small spiritual barrier that radiated warmth, enveloping the three of them. Mo Hen remained silent, but he was clearly more vigilant in his movements. Even his Mechanical Beast was greatly affected as it moved through the snow.
Following the mission dossier's directions, they arrived at the entrance to Ice Abyss Valley. It was an enormous bottomless rift, its sides covered in ten-thousand-year mystic ice, like a savage scar carved across the earth. Before they could even approach, an extreme chill far greater than anything outside rushed toward them, as though it could freeze their blood and thoughts. Mixed within it was a familiar, heart-palpitating corrosive sensation—similar to the Aura of Guixu at Falling Star Lake, yet carrying the unique deathly stillness and purity of the ice plains.
"There's something strange about this cold. It isn't just low temperature—it feels more like... a living, devouring energy." Bai Zhi's expression was grave. The Willow Branch in her hand trembled slightly, having sensed the malice within the environment ahead.
Su Yan unfolded the Compass. Its silver glow was especially striking at the dim entrance to the ice abyss. On the Star Map, the area representing Ice Abyss Valley was covered by a thick, constantly churning deep blue, threaded with ominous streaks of black and dark red. Several markers with intense energy readings were scattered deep within the valley.
"The source of the abnormal cold qi mentioned in the mission is probably not limited to one place. Everyone, be careful. The danger here may not come only from the environment and monsters." Su Yan spoke in a low voice.
The three cautiously entered Ice Abyss Valley. The light within was exceptionally dim, illuminated only by the faint phosphorescence emitted by the ice walls and occasional slivers of daylight filtering down from above. Beneath their feet was smooth, hard ice, and every step demanded extreme caution. The surroundings were terrifyingly silent; even the sound of the wind seemed frozen here.
They had advanced only a few hundred meters when the attack came without warning. The ice walls on both sides suddenly exploded, and several Ice Abyss Soul Devouring Beasts (Level 28), their bodies formed entirely of dark-blue solid ice and pale flames dancing in their eyes, lunged at them! They made no tangible roar, but their attacks struck directly at the soul. As their icy claws swung, they sent out streams of cold that could freeze Spiritual Power!
"Watch out for mental attacks!" Su Yan shouted. The glow of Starlight Bodyguard instantly covered his body as he fired an Immobilization Talisman at the Soul Devouring Beast charging at the front.
Little Big Dipper roared and fearlessly charged forward. Its physical attacks were less effective against these elemental creatures, but its Star Fire skill was remarkably effective. Silver-white Iceflame scorched the Soul Devouring Beasts' dark-blue bodies with sharp sizzling sounds, effectively dispersing part of their cold currents and Soul Corrosion effects!
Mo Hen's Mechanical Beast had trouble moving across the slick ice, but he himself moved like a phantom. With a short blade in each hand, he darted unpredictably and targeted the relatively fragile ice crystals at the Soul Devouring Beasts' joints. Bai Zhi, meanwhile, focused all her strength on maintaining the Heart Calming Incantation field, resisting the pervasive soul-freezing effect while remaining ready to heal at any moment.
The battle was more difficult than expected. These Ice Abyss Soul Devouring Beasts not only attacked strangely, but were also exceptionally skilled at using the environment. At times, they merged into the ice walls for surprise attacks; at others, they detonated ice spikes on the ground. The team of three and one pet gradually found their rhythm. Su Yan controlled and unleashed bursts of power, Mo Hen maneuvered and broke weak points, Bai Zhi supported and defended, while Little Big Dipper restrained the enemy head-on with elemental advantage. Though there were occasional close calls, they finally stabilized their footing.
After clearing out the Soul Devouring Beasts, everyone was slightly out of breath. Su Yan noticed that instead of leaving behind normal materials, the monsters turned into wisps of pure Soul Devouring Cold Qi containing icy cold and deathly stillness. The Compass automatically absorbed some of it, and its repair progress actually increased by an almost imperceptible 0.1%!
The abnormal energy here can repair the Compass too? Su Yan's heart stirred. That was an unexpected discovery.
They continued deeper, following the Compass's guidance toward the marker with the strongest energy reading. Along the way, they encountered several more groups of Soul Devouring Beasts, as well as Ice Abyss Frost Condensers (Level 29) capable of spraying Sluggish Ice Breath. The battles grew increasingly intense, but the team's coordination became ever more polished. Their experience and the Compass's repair progress rose slowly but steadily.
At last, they reached the marked location—a massive ice cave in the sidewall of Ice Abyss Valley. The cold qi within was even stronger. At its center was a constantly rotating vortex composed of deep-blue ice crystals and black energy. It was one of the sources of the abnormal cold qi! Several cultivators' corpses lay scattered around the vortex, completely frozen with terrified expressions still on their faces. They were clearly explorers who had perished here not long ago.
"It's an Ice Devouring Vortex formed by the fusion of Guixu and extreme cold power." Bai Zhi recognized the nature of the energy, her voice trembling slightly. "It's constantly drawing upon the Earth Vein's cold qi and the soul power of living beings to strengthen itself!"
Just as they were observing it, the Ice Devouring Vortex seemed to sense the presence of living people, and its rotation abruptly accelerated! Several streams of deep-blue cold qi mixed with black radiance shot out like tentacles. At the same time, a massive Lord of Ice Devouring (Level 30, Elite Boss), condensed from ice and dark energy, slowly rose from the center of the vortex. Its hollow eye sockets locked onto them!
"Prepare for battle!" Su Yan barked, knowing the true test had arrived.
The Lord of Ice Devouring's attacks were savage and strange. Not only could it manipulate ice for wide-area attacks, it could also release the Nirvana Cold Domain, which directly froze spiritual power, and the Soul Devouring Whisper, which eroded the mind. The entire ice cave instantly became a deadly wasteland!
Su Yan pushed Starlight Bodyguard to its limit and used Wood Escape repeatedly in the confined space, dodging deadly impacts from ice spikes. Soul Chasing Talisman: Corrosion was used in actual combat for the first time. The purple lightning and black-patterned talisman struck the Lord of Ice Devouring and, sure enough, inflicted considerable additional damage. Threads of black qi clung to it like a bone-attached sore, constantly corroding its energy body and drawing a silent roar from it.
Mo Hen recalled his Mechanical Beast and focused all his efforts on his movement technique and short blades. Like a precise surgeon, he attacked the nodes where the Lord of Ice Devouring's energy circulated. Though the risk was immense, he successfully interrupted several of its powerful skill castings. Bai Zhi's Heart Calming Incantation barely paused. The aura of Universal Salvation struggled to preserve a small patch of life within the Nirvana Cold Domain. Her face grew paler and paler as her spiritual power drained rapidly.
Little Big Dipper was the absolute main force of damage. Relying on its natural resistance to icy cold and Star Fire's purifying properties, it clung tightly to the Lord of Ice Devouring. Empowered by the Armor Shattering Talisman, its claws and fangs continuously carved deep wounds into its opponent's body. It even tried injecting Star Fire into the wounds torn open by Soul Chasing Talisman: Corrosion, triggering small-scale energy explosions!
The battle was incomparably brutal. Everyone gave it their all, consuming medicinal pills like candy. Su Yan faced danger several times and escaped only through Wood Escape and Mo Hen's timely assistance. Bai Zhi overexerted herself so severely that a thread of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
Just as the Lord of Ice Devouring's health was about to bottom out and it launched one last frenzied counterattack, causing the entire ice cave to begin collapsing, Su Yan suddenly had an inspiration and activated the Compass's Star Track Deduction once more!
His Spiritual Power burned fiercely as countless fragments of the future flashed by. He saw a fleeting energy passage node in the Lord of Ice Devouring's core, connected to the Earth Vein!
"Attack three inches below the left side of its chest—the point where the ice crystals and black qi intertwine!" Su Yan shouted hoarsely.
Hearing that, Mo Hen did not hesitate. His body surged forward like an afterimage, and his twin blades pierced that node with incomparable precision, carrying shrill tearing sounds through the air! Little Big Dipper's Star Fire and Su Yan's final Soul Chasing Talisman: Corrosion arrived at the same time!
Boom—!!!
The core node was destroyed. The Lord of Ice Devouring released a final unwilling wail as its massive body exploded into countless ice crystals and dense Ice Devouring Origin. The Ice Devouring Vortex gradually calmed and dissipated as well.
[System: Successfully destroyed the 'Ice Devouring Vortex' and killed the 'Lord of Ice Devouring'! Obtained a large amount of experience!] [System: Congratulations, you have reached Level 25!] [System: Your summoned beast 'Little Big Dipper' has reached Level 25!] [System: The Damaged Compass absorbed a large amount of Ice Devouring Origin. Repair progress increased to 53%!]
Pillars of leveling light flashed one after another, and the surging sense of power dispelled some of their exhaustion. The ice cave was a complete mess, but the crisis had finally been resolved.
Bai Zhi weakly sank to the ground and immediately began to Meditate and Regulate Breath. Mo Hen leaned against the ice wall, wiping his short blades, his breathing slightly unsteady. Little Big Dipper excitedly circled Su Yan. Though injured, it was still full of energy.
Su Yan looked at the Compass in his hand, its repair progress raised once again, then at the several wisps of pure Ice Devouring Origin on the ground. Just as he was about to relax, his expression suddenly changed!
At the moment the Ice Devouring Vortex dissipated and the energy field temporarily returned to calm, the Compass issued another warning! This time, however, it was not directed at this place. Instead, an even vaguer yet far grander image forcibly surged into his mind through the power of Star Track Deduction—
It was a boundless wasteland burning with dark-red flames, with a black sun hanging in the sky. At the center of the land, an enormous altar built from bones and despair was slowly rising. Upon it stood a blurry figure emanating an aura that made the entire starry sky tremble, slowly opening abyss-like eyes... Beneath the altar, he saw countless familiar, twisted mud cocoons, as well as... Earth Vein Erosion Cores flowing with foul blood and spreading across the land like veins!
The final image was of a gigantic claw descending from the heavens, burning with Fire of the End as it savagely reached toward a faintly glowing World Bubble that he knew all too well—the very world he lived in!
The vision came to an abrupt end.
Su Yan suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. His face instantly turned as white as paper, and his body swayed as if he might collapse. This forcibly received "omen" had far exceeded his Mental Load!
"Brother Su!"
"What happened?"
Mo Hen and Bai Zhi noticed something was wrong and hurried forward to support him.
Su Yan gasped violently, his eyes filled with unprecedented horror. He grabbed Mo Hen's arm, his voice hoarse and urgent:
"Their goal... isn't mere corruption... It's sacrifice! They want to sacrifice all living beings and the Earth Vein of this world to summon some... indescribable existence! There isn't... much time left!"
The cold wind of Ice Abyss Valley blew over the three of them, bringing bone-deep chill and an overwhelming terror that the end of the world was near.
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