The Ancient Dragon's Gift, the Mystery of the Ice Plains, and a New Journey

Tang San awoke in a pool of warm light.

The first thing he saw was the ice plains white bear leader's great, furry face. It was carefully licking the back of his hand, its eyes full of concern. The other white bears sat in a circle around him, keeping silent watch. Golden sunlight streamed through cracks in the ice, weaving a dappled pattern of light and shadow across the snow.

"You're awake?" Lin Ye called. He was sitting on an ice-covered rock nearby, wiping frost from his lotus fire spear. "How do you feel?"

Tang San pushed himself up and found that his Soul Power had mostly recovered. The Chaos Azure Lotus revolved gently inside him, giving off a reassuring power. He looked at his palm. The Ice Plains Ancient Dragon's cold, majestic presence still lingered there, as if reminding him that the terrifying scene beneath the altar had been no illusion.

"Much better." Tang San stretched his limbs, and Blue Silver Grass danced merrily at his fingertips. "Did we... succeed?"

"More or less." Dai Mubai walked over and handed him a piece of roasted meat. It came from an ice plains snow deer the white bears had hunted, and the meat was tender. "The Nine-Headed Ice Serpent has been completely sealed, and those black-robed people have all been dealt with. But..." His tone shifted, and his expression grew grave. "There's something odd about the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon showing up."

"Why did it help us?" Xiao Wu sat in the snow with her arms around her knees, tilting her head in thought. "Wasn't the legendary Dragon of Creation supposed to be aloof?"

Oscar leafed through the Record of Continental Wonders, his brows tightly furrowed. "The book doesn't say the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon intervenes in worldly affairs. It only says it sleeps in the heart of the ice plains, maintaining the balance of energy in the Far North. Could its appearance have something to do with the Chaos Azure Lotus?"

Tang San fell silent for a moment and touched his chest. The Chaos Azure Lotus seed there was slightly warm, conveying an ancient, peaceful consciousness. He could sense that a subtle connection had formed between the seed and the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon, like a resonance spanning ten thousand years.

"Perhaps... it wasn't helping us, but protecting the balance of the ice plains," Tang San said slowly. "The Nine-Headed Ice Serpent's awakening upset that balance, and the Chaos Azure Lotus's power happened to make up for it. That's why it stepped in to reinforce the seal."

As he spoke, the ice plains white bear leader suddenly gave a low growl and pointed deeper into the ice valley with its paw. Everyone looked in that direction and saw a soft white light drift out of the entrance to the Forgotten Ice Cave. It slowly descended before Tang San and took the form of a crystal-clear dragon scale.

The scale was about the size of a palm and snow-white all over, with a faint blue light flowing across it. It radiated a pressure from the same source as the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon's, yet it was not cold. Instead, it carried a gentle, warming power.

"Is this... a scale from the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon?" Lin Ye stared at it in surprise. Golden Crow Fire danced in his palm, but he felt no resistance from the scale. "Is it giving you a gift?"

Tang San reached out and picked up the scale. It was cool to the touch, and a surge of pure energy instantly flowed into him, merging perfectly with the Chaos Azure Lotus's power. He could clearly feel that his understanding of ice-attribute Soul Power had risen by several levels. He could even faintly draw on the power of the surrounding ice and snow.

"This is no ordinary dragon scale." Tang San sensed the power it contained, and a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes. "This is a source scale of the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon. It contains its understanding of the laws of the ice plains. With it, we can not only travel unhindered through the Far North Ice Plains, but also sense any power that disrupts the balance."

"It seems it really does acknowledge you," Dai Mubai said with a smile. "With this scale, we'll have a huge advantage the next time we face an ice-attribute enemy."

Tang San put the scale into his storage pouch, but a trace of unease lingered in his heart. "The Ice Plains Ancient Dragon wouldn't have given us this gift for no reason. It must be warning us that the Nine-Headed Ice Serpent's threat hasn't been completely eliminated, or... that something even more dangerous has its eye on these ice plains."

"You mean those black-robed people?" Tai Long asked in a muffled voice. He had just finished gnawing on a snow deer leg, and grease still stained the corners of his mouth.

"More than that." Tang San shook his head. "The techniques used to make their formation and dark crystals were unusual, unlike those of any known faction on the continent. And they knew even more about the Forgotten Ice Cave than the Ice Soul Giant and the white bears. That suggests the organization behind them is likely connected to the ancient secrets of the Far North Ice Plains."

Lin Ye's Golden Crow Perception suddenly stirred. He looked toward the end of the ice plains, where the sky seemed darker than elsewhere. "I sense a familiar presence lingering at the edge of the ice plains. It's much like the dark power on those black-robed people, but fainter, as if it's... scouting."

"They haven't left!" A fierce glint flashed in Dai Mubai's eyes. "Should we go after them and take a look?"

Tang San considered it for a moment, then shook his head. "There's no need. They're only scouting for now. If we rush after them, we'll only beat the grass and startle the snake. Besides, our immediate priority is to return to Heaven Dou City and tell Sect Master Ning and the others what happened here, so the alliance can tighten its watch over the Far North Ice Plains."

He looked at the ice plains white bear leader, and Blue Silver Grass gently curled around its paw. "We have to leave. If you encounter the black-robed people again, or if anything unusual happens to the seal, use this to contact us."

With that, Tang San took a specially made signal flare from his storage pouch. He had made it from Gengxin City alloy and Blue Silver Grass fibers. Once infused with Soul Power, it would emit a seven-colored light that could pierce through ice and snow, allowing the alliance's scout Soul Masters to receive the signal from a hundred li away.

The white bear leader took the flare and carefully tucked it into a hole in the ice. It gave Tang San a few low growls, as if promising to protect the ice plains.

After bidding farewell to the white bears and the Ice Soul Giant, the group set out for Heaven Dou City. Protected by the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon's scale, they were no longer troubled by the cold along the way. Working together, the Blue Silver Grass and Golden Crow Fire could even open a warm passage through the snow, allowing them to travel several times faster than they had on their way there.

Along the way, they met several scouting squads sent by the alliance. Concerned for their safety, Ning Fengzhi had dispatched Soul Masters to meet them along the route. Tang San gave them a brief account of the situation on the ice plains and told them to send word back to Heaven Dou City at once. He also instructed them to keep a close watch on the edge of the ice plains. If they spotted any black-robed people, they were not to act rashly, but merely follow them and report back.

"The alliance is getting more and more efficient," Oscar remarked, watching the scouting squads depart. "In the past, I doubt anyone would have cared about a remote place like the Far North Ice Plains."

"It's all thanks to Tang San," Xiao Wu said with a smile. "If he hadn't insisted on establishing a new order of balance, the alliance would probably still be arguing over how to divide Spirit Hall's territory."

Tang San smiled sheepishly. "It was the result of everyone's efforts. By the way, Lin Ye, have you noticed any changes since your Golden Crow Fire merged with the Azure Lotus's power?"

A cluster of golden flames sprang to life at Lin Ye's fingertips, speckled with tiny points of seven-colored light. "A great many. Not only has its purifying ability grown stronger, but I can also sense a trace of 'vitality' in the flames. They're no longer purely a destructive power like before. It's like... a campfire in winter. It can keep you warm without burning everything down."

"That's the true essence of the Chaos Azure Lotus." Tang San nodded. "Power itself is neither good nor evil. What matters is how it's used. Like the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon's power: it can freeze all things, but it can also protect the balance."

They chatted along the way, all in high spirits. The crisis in the Far North Ice Plains had been resolved for the time being, their companions were all safe and sound, and even the wind and snow in the air seemed to carry a cheerful air.

Half a month later, they finally returned to Heaven Dou City.

Heaven Dou City had long since regained its former prosperity and was even livelier than before the war. Soul Masters from all over could be seen everywhere in the streets. Some had joined the alliance, some had come to study, and many merchants had seized the opportunity to start businesses catering to Soul Masters. The entire city brimmed with vitality.

Ning Fengzhi and Yu Luomian came to the city gates to welcome them in person. Both elders breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Tang San and the others return safely.

"At last, you're back," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile. "Word has already come from the Star Luo Empire. Prince Dai Weisi is willing to send the imperial Soul Master corps to help us monitor the border of the Far North Ice Plains."

"We've already uncovered some preliminary leads on the black-robed people," Yu Luomian said, his expression somewhat grave. "According to reports from our informants embedded among Spirit Hall's remnants, these people belong to a mysterious organization called the Shadow Pavilion. It was supposedly founded a thousand years ago and has remained hidden in the continent's shadows ever since, specializing in the study of forbidden soul arts and ancient secrets."

"The Shadow Pavilion?" Tang San frowned slightly. "What do they want?"

"We don't know yet." Ning Fengzhi sighed. "But one thing is certain: their ambitions are vast, and they go far beyond simply releasing the Nine-Headed Ice Serpent. We've found traces of them in both the Sunset Forest and Gengxin City. They seem to be looking for something."

Tang San's heart stirred. "What are they looking for?"

"We don't know." Yu Luomian shook his head. "But the clues suggest that whatever it is may be connected to the Chaos Azure Lotus and the Angel God's inheritance."

The news instantly cast a weight over everyone's hearts. The Shadow Pavilion's secrecy and ambition made it more daunting than Spirit Hall.

Back at Meng Zhi's residence, Tang San told everyone about the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon's scale and the new changes in the Chaos Azure Lotus. Ning Fengzhi and Yu Luomian both looked stunned when they heard about the ancient dragon's gift.

"A source scale of the Ice Plains Ancient Dragon... that's a legendary treasure," Ning Fengzhi exclaimed. "With it, we can keep a closer watch on the Shadow Pavilion."

"That's not all." Tang San took out the scale and infused it with a trace of Soul Power. It immediately bloomed with a soft light, projecting a simple map into the air. On it, the Far North Ice Plains, Sunset Forest, Gengxin City, and Spirit Hall's holy land all glimmered with faint red light. "This scale can sense the Shadow Pavilion's dark energy. These places are very likely their strongholds."

Everyone gathered around to look at the map, their expressions growing increasingly grave. The Shadow Pavilion's influence stretched far beyond what they had imagined.

"It looks like our next task is to root out these strongholds one by one and find out what they're really after." Dai Mubai clenched his fists, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

Tang San nodded. "But we can't rush. The Shadow Pavilion is more cunning than Spirit Hall. We need a meticulous plan." He looked at the others, determination shining in his eyes. "The Far North Ice Plains were only the beginning. The real battle starts now."

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating their faces. Though the road ahead was still filled with unknowns and dangers, there was not a trace of fear in anyone's eyes, only the resolve and courage to fight side by side.

The Shadow Pavilion's shadow loomed over the continent, and a new journey had begun. Tang San knew that no matter how many hardships and perils lay ahead, as long as his companions remained by his side and the Chaos Azure Lotus's light never went out, they would surely be able to protect this hard-won peace and drive away the darkness completely.

In a corner of Heaven Dou City, a person in black robes watched Tang San and the others enter the residence. A strange smile curled at the corner of their mouth, and they turned, melting into the shadows and vanishing from sight. An even fiercer contest was quietly unfolding.