Chapter 836: The Seed Emperor and Qin Qin Holy Maiden

Ding Huan's spiritual sense immediately swept to the deepest part of the hall, then settled on a stone table.

The stone table was now empty; Ding Huan stepped right beside it.

At this point, he didn't even need the Great Universe Art to sense it—he knew this table had once held an Ice-element Dao principle.

Unfortunately, after arriving here, he began refining the Ice-element Law River, then sensed the opportunity for an Eighth-Transformation Saint.

After attaining the Eighth-Transformation Saint realm, the Ice-element Great Dao principle sank into the void and vanished.

Ding Huan felt little regret—it meant the Ice-element Great Dao principle had no affinity with him.

He could return to Tianxu Dao City; though he hadn't calculated the time, he could guess he'd been gone for at least several decades.

Turning back, Ding Huan's gaze fell on the two figures who had been standing in the hall all along—likely a man and a woman.

Tianhuan Women's Palace could not have men; if there were men, they'd be in the dungeon.

And this place was part of Tianhuan Women's Palace's dungeon, so a man appearing here was normal.

When Ding Huan's gaze landed on the woman's face, he felt a surge of astonishment.

The woman had her eyes tightly shut, her face utterly pale.

Her features were as if exquisitely carved, without a single flaw.

Ding Huan's spiritual sense settled on the woman—she still had life energy.

He shattered the ice door with Dahan Yi Dao, triggering the Ice-element Great Dao principle.

Fortunately, the time wasn't long—he attained Eighth-Transformation Saint, then swept away all Ice-element Law fragments here.

This woman had merely been bound here by Dao-line prohibition marks, not slain.

Had Ding Huan not triggered the Ice-element Great Dao principle, she would still be conscious now.

Ding Huan's gaze fell again on the man.

The man wore pale yellow starry-cultivator robes, with not a trace of Dao aura around him.

Ding Huan's spiritual sense settled on the man's purple mansion, and he likewise sensed life energy.

This man had not perished.

Not only had he not perished, Ding Huan could roughly guess who this man was.

This guy was definitely the Seed Emperor.

When his spiritual sense landed on the man's purple mansion, Ding Huan faintly sensed the man's Great Dao aura.

It was the Mortal Dao.

Not quite the same as Guan Huan's or Bai Yue's Mortal Dao, but Bai Yue's Mortal Dao was closer to this man's.

Clearly, this guy was the Seed Emperor Bai Yue had mentioned.

Said to have been rescued by Qin Qin Holy Maiden, but he hadn't been rescued—he was still trapped in this dungeon.

Ding Huan's gaze returned to the exquisitely beautiful woman—was this Qin Qin Holy Maiden?

If this Holy Maiden had schemed against the Seed Emperor, why was she still trapped here?

Ding Huan pulled out two Life Dao Pills and directly placed them into the mouths of the two.

These two were merely bound by Great Dao-line prohibitions and couldn't move.

Due to the effect of the Great Dao-line prohibitions, their cultivation had weakened.

Later, when he triggered the Ice-element Great Dao principle, he nearly killed them.

So they looked like they were about to perish, but Ding Huan understood—they'd recover quickly once awake, if the Dao-lines were removed.

Saving them required no Universe Essence.

Indeed, after only one incense stick's time, the woman opened her eyes first; seeing Ding Huan, her eyes filled with shock:

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

Ding Huan said coolly, "Who are you? Why are you on my territory?"

Ding Huan's words left the woman utterly baffled; after a long moment, she asked confusedly, "This is Tianhuan Women's Palace's Ice Prison—how is it your territory?"

Ding Huan chuckled, "Tianhuan Women's Palace was destroyed over two thousand years ago—this place has been ownerless since."

"Tianhuan Women's Palace was destroyed?" the woman murmured, stunned.

At that moment, the man opened his eyes; seeing Ding Huan, he said nothing, instead cultivating his Great Dao to restore his strength.

Ding Huan's Spiritual Vein had not yet been retracted, so the man sensed the heavenly qi here suddenly grow thick.

Ding Huan realized this guy was already a Ninth-Transformation Saint—his cultivation was slightly higher than his own.

Didn't Bai Yue say the Seed Emperor was stuck at Eighth-Transformation Saint and couldn't advance?

The woman finally came to her senses, her voice trembling: "Brother, is Tianhuan Women's Palace truly gone? Who destroyed it?"

Ding Huan spoke plainly: "I don't know who destroyed it—I only know Tianhuan Women's Palace was wiped out by Poison Dao."

Outside Tianhuan Women's Palace, the entire perimeter is still wrapped in Poison Dao principles…"

In Ding Huan's eyes, these were merely Poison Dao Law fragments.

To those who understood heavenly laws less than Ding Huan, this place was surrounded by Poison Dao principles.

"Then how did you get here?" the woman asked, skeptical.

"I've cultivated Poison Dao, so I'm not afraid," Ding Huan replied vaguely.

Hearing Ding Huan's words, the woman fell silent again.

Ding Huan turned to the Seed Emperor—the Seed Emperor was still frantically restoring his strength.

Ding Huan was speechless—didn't this guy know he was bound by Great Dao-line prohibition marks? Even if he fully restored his strength, he still couldn't move.

And he couldn't even fully restore it.

This reminded Ding Huan of when he was young and studying.

Those average students—neither outstanding nor failing.

Even though he knew he couldn't achieve a better score on the exam, he still crammed before it, flipping through his textbook to give himself psychological comfort.

No wonder he cultivates the Mortal Dao—this mortal mindset has long been carved into his bones.

Or perhaps he knows that even if he doesn't restore his cultivation, he cannot escape anyway.

Ding Huan is waiting for Zhong Di.

He didn't care how the woman was faring.

Since he had encountered Zhong Di, he might as well take him away.

This guy is Bai Yue's senior brother and Guan Huan's sworn brother—he can't be left here to die.

"My name is Qin Qin," the woman said, snapping out of her silence.

Ding Huan wasn't surprised—he had already guessed this woman was Qin Qin, the Holy Maiden.

Now that Qin Qin has named herself, Ding Huan said outright: "I heard you teamed up with Jiang Yiyu to deceive Zhong Di—you pretended to teleport him away, but in truth, you never sent Zhong Di away."

So it makes sense that Zhong Di is here—but why are you here too?"

Zhong Di, who was struggling to restore his strength, opened his eyes again in shock upon hearing Ding Huan's words:

"Brother Daoist, do you know me?"

Ding Huan smiled:

"I don't know you, but I know Bai Yue and Guan Huan—they're both my friends. Seeing you, I guessed you were Zhong Di, and I've been waiting here for you."

"How are Brother Guan and Senior Bai?" Zhong Di asked eagerly upon hearing news of Guan Huan and Bai Yue.

Ding Huan laughed heartily: "Both are doing fine. Not long ago, I and Brother Guan even wiped out the Qu Sect."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Di fell silent.

He knew Guan Huan's strength—he had not yet attained the Dao of Creation.

This cultivator before him didn't even seem to have reached the Eternal Life Realm.

If this cultivator, alongside Guan Huan, could destroy the Qu Sect, that would be ridiculous.

So Ding Huan's words must be false.

Zhong Di did not ask about Guan Huan, but instead said: "May I ask your name, Brother Daoist?"

"I'm Ding Huan. I'm preparing to leave here—I'll take you with me."

Seeing Ding Huan approach, Zhong Di quickly waved his hand: "Brother Ding, I'm bound by the Dao Threads of the Great Dao—I cannot leave at all."

It was perfectly normal that a cultivator of Ding Huan's level couldn't perceive the Dao Threads on his body.

After all, these are Dao Threads laid by an Eternal Life Realm expert.

How could Ding Huan, who hasn't even entered the Eternal Life Realm, perceive Dao Threads laid by an Eternal Life Realm expert?

The Holy Maiden Qin Qin spoke: "Brother Ding, may I ask how you knew I conspired with Jiang Yiyu to deceive Brother Zhong?"

Ding Huan pulled out an image crystal ball and activated it: "This crystal ball."

The crystal ball activated, showing Zhong Di, witnessed by Qin Qin, using a Break-Position Talisman to vanish into the void.

Zhong Di sighed, saying nothing.

That was indeed what he had done.

The image crystal ball was real.

But the Break-Position Talisman was fake.

Qin Qin also sighed: "After I learned Brother Zhong was imprisoned in the Heavenly Huan Female Palace's dungeon, I begged the palace mistress to release him..."

"Wait..."

Ding Huan stopped Qin Qin: "You said you begged the palace mistress to release Brother Zhong? Not that Jiang Yiyu begged you?"

Qin Qin froze, then a cold sneer curled her lips: "It's because of Jiang Yiyu that I was imprisoned in the dungeon.

If Jiang Yiyu wanted to release Brother Zhong, would she need to beg? She's the palace mistress's illegitimate daughter—her status in the Heavenly Huan Female Palace far exceeds mine, the Holy Maiden.

But the Heavenly Huan Female Palace forbids any woman from having ties with men—even the palace mistress.

So few people in the palace know Jiang Yiyu's true identity.

I found out because my master told me. After telling me this, my master vanished on an outing and never returned.

Brother Zhong once saved me—I begged the palace mistress to release him, and she immediately rebuked me.

If not for several elders pleading on my behalf, I would have been severely punished.

Helpless, I brought one Chaos Spirit Vein, ten top-grade Spirit Veins, and a Seven-Leaf Reincarnation Herb to beg Jiang Yiyu for help.

Jiang Yiyu finally agreed, but told me I couldn't let him leave the sect—I could only use the Break-Position Talisman to send him away.

Luckily, I had one Break-Position Talisman. When I was about to give it to Brother Zhong, Jiang Yiyu stepped between us.

She casually took the Break-Position Talisman from me, then handed it to Brother Zhong.

As soon as Brother Zhong activated the talisman, I knew something was wrong—the Break-Position Talisman had been switched by Jiang Yiyu, and Brother Zhong was sent here.

Because I released a prisoner, I too was imprisoned in this ice dungeon. Jiang Yiyu earned great merit—I suspect she'll soon replace me as Holy Maiden..."

Because I secretly released a prisoner, I was likewise imprisoned in this ice prison. Jiang Yiyu has rendered great merit, so I expect she'll soon replace me as the Holy Maiden..."

Ding Huan thought to himself—Jiang Yiyu is truly a treacherous bitch. She took Qin Qin's things, and now she's taking Bai Yue's too.

After taking things from both sides, she locked them up even deeper.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Huan Female Palace was later destroyed—if not, Zhong Di and Qin Qin's fates might have been far worse than mere imprisonment.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Maiden Palace was wiped out shortly after; otherwise, the fate of Emperor Zhong and Qinqin would likely have been far worse than mere imprisonment.