Chapter 326

At the moment the "Netherworld Eye" opened, heaven and earth seemed to contain nothing but the pure essence of "death" and "termination."

The vertical pupil's phantom slowly turned, its cold, merciless gaze like tangible shackles, firmly locking onto Wang Ping and his three companions.

Wherever the gaze fell, space stagnated, light dimmed, and even the flow of time seemed to become slow and viscous.

A fear and despair born of life's instinct, like an icy poisonous snake, coiled around the heart, attempting to shatter fighting spirit and freeze the soul.

"Netherworld Gaze, All Things Return to Ruin!" Meng Ka's hoarse roar echoed as the enormous vertical pupil suddenly blazed bright!

No earth-shattering explosion, no dazzling energy torrent. Only a single beam of light, concentrated to the extreme, its hue deep and dark as the lowest layer of the Nine Netherworlds, shot soundlessly from the pupil's center, pointing straight at Wang Ping!

This beam was not thick, yet it seemed to swallow all surrounding light and vitality; along its path, it left a void-trajectory that lingered long, exuding an aura of absolute deathly stillness!

Wang Ping's hairs stood on end, alarm bells ringing madly in the depths of his soul! This strike absolutely exceeded the Nascent Soul realm, containing a trace of true "Divine Transformation" intent—it was annihilation on the level of law! Even his Chaos Domain, if faced head-on, would surely suffer more loss than gain!

At the moment of life and death, Wang Ping's mind became unprecedentedly clear. In the flash of lightning and flint, he decided on a response.

"Five Phases Revolve, Chaos as Shield!"

The Chaos Nascent Soul in his dantian danced its hands swiftly; five-colored radiance and chaotic gray light merged and spun at unprecedented speed, finally gathering before Wang Ping's chest, forming an ancient round shield with edges flowing in five colors and a core as deep as chaotic starry skies!

On the shield, Dao patterns arose naturally, as if containing the primordial barrier power from the moment heaven and earth were first opened.

At the same time, his chest's "Purple Thunder God-Protecting Command" suddenly burst forth with brilliant purple light, actively protecting its master, forming a purple halo that enveloped Wang Ping's soul, resisting the erosion of the death law contained in that gaze.

"Heaven-Overturning Seal, Guard the Four Directions!"

The mountain-sized Heaven-Overturning Seal came crashing down, not smashing the beam but heavily pressing down on the ground before Wang Ping; the seal's body burst forth with thick earth-yellow light intertwined with chaotic gray radiance, like an immortal divine mountain city wall, standing tall ahead.

All these defenses were completed in an instant.

"Sizzle——!"

The pitch-black beam soundlessly struck the descending light pillar of the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

No great roar, only a grating, corrosive sound. That mountain-thick earth-yellow light pillar, like boiling water poured on snow, rapidly melted and dimmed!

The Heaven-Overturning Seal's main body violently trembled, even fine black cracks appeared on its surface, its spiritual light rapidly waning, emitting a groan of being overburdened!

In merely a breath, the light pillar was pierced through; the black beam's residual force undiminished, it straightly struck the Chaos Five-Phase Shield!

"Hum!"

The Chaos Five-Phase Shield burst forth with blinding light; the five-colored radiance on its surface flowed madly, attempting to decompose and transform that death beam. The shield violently trembled, its central chaotic region boiling and rolling, forcibly grinding down and accommodating the invading death-law power.

But the black beam's power level was too high, and it was extraordinarily condensed; the shield's surface quickly dimmed, the five-colored flow nearly stagnating.

At the very moment the Chaos Five-Phase Shield was about to collapse, the black beam was finally weakened by over half, yet its core "Return to Ruin" law-force still pierced through, striking Wang Ping's chest-mounted Purple Thunder God-Protecting Command!

"Crack!"

A faint shattering sound rang out. The purple halo violently flickered; a clear crack appeared on the token's surface, its light rapidly dimming, the protective soul-power within nearly exhausted by this blow!

But it was precisely this life-saving treasure bestowed by his master that, at the most critical moment, blocked that deadly erosion of the death law for Wang Ping!

The residual impact sent Wang Ping flying backward dozens of zhang; his throat sweetened, he spat a mouthful of blood, his five viscera and six bowels felt displaced, his spiritual power surged tumultuously. But he ultimately endured it!

"What?!" Meng Ka's eye-sockets' soul-fire nearly bulged out, incredulous.

He had used his essence-blood to activate this forbidden technique, which contained a trace of the "Netherworld Eye" projection's power, enough to heavily injure or even slay an ordinary Nascent Soul Perfection cultivator, yet it was actually withstood head-on by a Nascent Soul early-stage Spiritual Realm brat, using layer upon layer of defensive means!

Although that brat also suffered considerable injury, his treasure damaged, this result completely exceeded his expectations!

"Captain, be careful!" The cloaked cultivator's cry came.

As it turned out, just as Meng Ka fully activated the Netherworld Eye to attack Wang Ping, his own aura slightly waned and his mind focused on controlling the forbidden technique, the ever-lurking Nether Shadow, like a poisonous snake waiting for opportunity, finally moved!

His figure seemed to have completely merged into the shadows of the "Netherworld Ghost Domain," not a trace of aura leaking out, even avoiding part of Meng Ka's perception.

At the instant Wang Ping was blown away and Meng Ka's mind shaken, Nether Shadow flashed from the shadow three steps behind Meng Ka, like a ghost!

No dazzling radiance, no icy killing intent, only a pitch-black short sword, as dark as ink and seeming to absorb all light, shot forth at beyond-thought speed, silently stabbing toward Meng Ka's rear heart!

There, precisely at the extremely fine, nearly imperceptible energy-flow seam where the ferocious bone armor joined, Nether Shadow's assassination technique had already reached perfection—timing, angle, concealment, none less than peak!

Meng Ka, after all, was a veteran Netherworld clan hunting squad captain; the life-or-death crisis sense made his hairs stand on end instantly, unable to turn back, he could only roar angrily, fully activating the bone armor on his back!

"Netherworld Bone Armor, Unite!"

The bone armor there suddenly burst forth with dark-green light; layers of bone instantly thickened and closed, attempting to block this strike!

"Sizzle——!"

The short sword pierced the bone armor, emitting a harsh friction sound. At the sword's tip, a force of extreme armor-piercing, spirit-annihilating, life-extinguishing power exploded! This was Nether Shadow's long-prepared killing blow, its power far exceeding ordinary!

"Crack!"

The bone armor was pierced by a small hole! The short sword stabbed half an inch into Meng Ka's rear heart! A thread of purple-black blood spurted out!

"Ugh-ah!" Meng Ka let out a pain-filled roar, his entire body's Netherworld deathly energy wildly surged backward, shaking Nether Shadow and the short sword away. Nether Shadow struck and immediately retreated, not lingering, his form once again merging into the shadows.

Although this sword failed to inflict a mortal wound, it interrupted Meng Ka's secret technique's maintenance, and he also suffered considerable injury, his aura instantly dropping a notch; that "Netherworld Eye" phantom also trembled once, becoming considerably blurred.

"Captain!" The demonic female cultivator, seeing this, screamed, repelled the glazed-liuli, her hand's black crystal dagger flew free, turning into a dark-green flowing light, shooting straight at the just-revealed Nether Shadow's back; simultaneously she formed seals with her hands, spitting out a stream of pink miasma, carrying strong aphrodisiac and hallucinogenic effects, enveloping toward the glazed-liuli.

The glazed-liuli coldly snorted; her immortal music suddenly shifted to a solemn, icy killing intent, like golden spears and iron horses, shaking apart most of that pink miasma; at the same time, the seven-colored halo on her gauze robe condensed into a light shield, blocking the flying dagger.

On the other side, Cang Xuan took advantage of the cloaked cultivator's distraction due to Meng Ka's injury, his eyes' starlight blazing forth, he violently hurled the star-guiding disk in his hand!

"Heavenly Stars Array, Lock!"

The star-guiding disk instantly enlarged in midair, transforming into a brilliant star-map several zhang in diameter, like a heavenly net and earthly trap, descending to cover the cloaked cultivator's head!

Within the star-map, countless star-shadows flickered, emitting powerful sealing and refining power; wherever it passed, even the Netherworld deathly energy was temporarily cleared away.

The cloaked cultivator startled, hastily waving his bone staff, summoning layer upon layer of gray-white vengeful spirit walls to block, while his body violently retreated.

But Cang Xuan had planned this long ago; how could he let him escape easily? He bit his tongue-tip, spitting a mouthful of essence-blood onto the ancient star-symbol talisman appearing in his palm!

"Northern Dipper Slay Evil, Break!"

Seven strands of condensed, substance-like, ladle-shaped brilliant starlight burst from the talisman, arriving first despite being cast later, instantly piercing through the vengeful spirit wall, heavily slamming onto the cloaked cultivator's protective black mist!

"Pfft!"

The cloaked cultivator let out a muffled groan; his black mist violently churned, his body staggered backward, his hood shaken loose at one corner, revealing a pale, gaunt face covered in strange tattoos, a thread of purple-black blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The skull bone staff in his hand also let out a wail; the skull atop the staff appeared with several cracks.

Seizing his illness, take his life! Wang Ping suppressed his injury, cold light flashing in his eyes. He saw this as the perfect moment to break the stalemate, inflict heavy damage, or even annihilate an enemy!

And the target was precisely this injured cultivator in a cloak, temporarily restrained by Cangxuan!

"Now!"

Wang Ping's chaotic Nascent Infant raged within his body, ignoring his wounds, mobilizing all remaining spiritual power and the thread of pure vitality transmitted from the Yin-Yang Dual Keys at his chest.

He did not choose to consume the immense Five Elements Divine Light, but instead displayed another divine ability equally potent in restraining the netherworld death qi.

His right palm faced heaven, fingers loosely clasped, as if grasping an ancient, supremely yang and rigid force from the azure heavens above— a force that exterminates demons and eradicates evil.

"Majestic heavenly might, draw forth the thunder! Yin Wood Divine Thunder, purify all evil!"

Boom—

Not originating from Wang Ping himself, but drawing upon the heavenly thunder punishment from the void! Only seen: the originally gloomy sky, shrouded by the netherworld ghost domain at the edge of Creation Spirit Mountain, was suddenly torn apart by a surge of vibrant green thunderbolt brimming with vitality!

Countless slender blue electric serpents wandered and converged within the clouds, a vast, majestic, world-cleansing thunderous will descending!

Yin Wood Divine Thunder, governing vitality, yet also governing punishment! Its nature is supremely yang and righteous, specifically subduing all yin evil, filth, and lifeless things! Against netherworld death qi, vengeful spirits, and curses, it possesses near-nemesis-like restraint!

"Fall!"

Wang Ping pointed with his joined fingers like a sword, toward the injured, violently retreating cloaked cultivator, tapping into the void!

Crack—!!!

A thunderbolt pillar as thick as a water bucket, dazzling and blinding, its entire body a jade-like blue-green, yet internally containing violent destructive vitality, like a heavenly punishment sword, tore through the netherworld ghost domain with unstoppable force, precisely striking the cloaked cultivator!

"No!! Netherworld Body Protection! Ten Thousand Souls——" The cloaked cultivator's departing soul screamed in terror, frantically waving his bone staff, gathering all remaining vengeful spirit power into a thick gray-white shield before his head, while black light erupted from his cloak, forming layer upon layer of twisting protective barriers.

Yet, facing the Yin Wood Divine Thunder imbued with heavenly punishment will, supremely yang and rigid, these yin evil defenses were like paper paste!

The thunderbolt pillar descended, first contacting that gray-white vengeful spirit shield.

Hiss— Boom!

The shield could not even endure a single breath, melting like ice and snow in the blue-green thunder light; within it, countless vengeful spirits had no time to utter a lament before being purified and liberated by the yang thunder force, turning into wisps of blue smoke.

The thunderbolt pillar struck the cloaked cultivator's black light barrier without obstruction.

Hiss—!

The black light barrier violently flickered, then instantly shattered like torn cloth, layer by layer! The tattoos on the cloaked cultivator's body flared wildly, attempting resistance, but under the violent purifying force of the Yin Wood Divine Thunder, they dimmed and collapsed one by one!

Ah——!!!

A wail so shrill it seemed inhuman echoed through heaven and earth! The cloaked cultivator was completely submerged in the blue-green thunder light!

He resembled a burning blue torch, frantically twisting and struggling in midair. Within the thunder light, his flesh carbonized and disintegrated at visible speed, the extremely concentrated netherworld death qi and vengeful spirit power forcibly expelled and purified.

His Nascent Infant, terrified beyond measure, tried to escape the body, but the moment it emerged, it was entangled and wrapped by omnipresent Yin Wood Thunder power, emitting a "hiss—" sound, like snow under a blazing sun rapidly melting!

Only three breaths!

When the thunder light faded, only a pinch of scorched black ash remained on the spot, along with that bone staff, fully cracked and completely dimmed. Soul scattered, spirit annihilated! Not even a chance for reincarnation and rebirth!

A late-stage Nascent Infant netherworld clan powerhouse, under Wang Ping's long-prepared Yin Wood Divine Thunder, was actually blasted to slag!

The entire field fell into deathly silence!

Whether it was the demonic female cultivator entangled with Yuliuli, or Mengka, who had just suppressed his injury and burned with rage, or Cangxuan, Yuliuli, and Youying— all were stunned by this sudden, near-overwhelming slaughter!

Netherworld clan cultivators, especially skilled in death qi, curses, and soul-spirit attacks, are feared in the Spirit Realm; in same-rank battles, they often hold overwhelming advantage.

Yet their greatest weakness lies in fearing supremely yang and rigid forces imbued with heavenly righteousness, such as heavenly thunder and true fire.

And Wang Ping's Yin Wood Divine Thunder is precisely one of the highest grades among them, containing immense vitality and exhibiting particularly significant restraint against death qi! Furthermore, the cloaked cultivator had first been injured by Cangxuan, his mind unsettled, and Wang Ping seized the opportunity to strike with full force— hence this astonishing result.

"Old ghost!!" The demonic female cultivator let out a sharp, piercing scream, her eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

Their three-person team had cooperated for years, hunting countless Spirit Realm cultivators, never imagining someone would fall here, let alone in such a horrific manner!

Mengka's eyes nearly burst from their sockets, the soul fire in his eye sockets jumping wildly, almost about to spit fire!

The deceased cloaked cultivator was an important member of his team, and moreover, his clan cousin!

At this moment, anger, shock, and even a barely perceptible fear filled his heart.

This Spirit Realm youth, not only possessing endless defensive methods, but his attack divine abilities also restrained them so effectively! That blue-green divine thunder made even him feel a pang of palpitation!

"You dare…… kill my Netherworld Clan Bone-Eroding Sect person! I will extract your soul and refine your spirit, tormenting you for eternity!"

Mengka roared, appearing like a madman, but his breath had declined due to the backlash of his secret technique and that sword from Youying; at this moment, he actually dared not easily launch such terrifying attacks as before.

Wang Ping slowly wiped the blood trace from the corner of his mouth, his eyes icy cold like ten-thousand-year-old black ice. He consumed a top-grade Return to Origin Immortal Pill; the medicinal power dissolved, rapidly restoring his spiritual power and injuries.

The Purple Thunder God-Subjugating Order at his chest had dimmed and lost its light, temporarily useless. The Heaven-Turning Seal was damaged, its spirituality greatly reduced.

He himself had also suffered considerable internal injury. Yet at this moment, his aura was like a rainbow, his killing intent icy and sharp.

"He who kills, shall himself be killed. You seek to seize my treasures and take my life— then you should have the resolve to suffer retaliation!"

Wang Ping's voice was calm, yet carried undeniable dignity. He took a step forward, the chaotic domain around his body expanding again, though its range was not as before, but more condensed.

At his chest, the phantom of the Yin-Yang Dual Keys faintly glowed, resonating with the Building Wood Seed within his dantian, emitting an intention of endless life yet steady and substantial, subtly connecting with the earth beneath his feet and the lingering spirit mountain aura around him, continuously drawing in faint spiritual energy to repair himself.

"Sun True Fire, burn!"

Wang Ping waved his left hand, vast red-gold flames rose again, dispersing the surrounding dense netherworld death qi, illuminating the doubtful faces of Mengka and the demonic female cultivator.

"Five Elements Circulate, Chaos Reigns Supreme!"

He loosely grasped with his right hand, grayish chaotic air flowed in his palm; though not as condensed and vast as the previous Five Elements Divine Light, it still emitted an "inclusive purification" aura that netherworld clan cultivators instinctively despise and fear.

"Captain…… we……" The demonic female cultivator's eyes filled with even greater fear, a thought of retreat arising. Though the opposing four, although Wang Ping was not lightly injured, Cangxuan and Yuliuli were still in decent condition, Youying appeared and disappeared mysteriously, and moreover, there was Wang Ping capable of unleashing terrifying divine thunder that restrains death gods!

And our side had lost one member, the captain was injured, and her poison techniques and charm arts seemed ineffective against these few.

Mengka stared fixedly at Wang Ping, his chest rising and falling violently. He knew today's affair could not succeed. Continuing to fight, even if he could die trying to take one or two opponents, he himself would likely struggle to escape heavy injury or even downfall.

This is the Azure Nether Heavenly Domain, peril everywhere; once heavily injured, the consequences are unimaginable.

"Spirit Realm brat…… I remember you!" Mengka squeezed these words from between his teeth, voice full of bone-deep hatred, "Report your name! I am Mengka of the 'Soul-Shattering Blood Scythe,' Seventh Hunting Squad of the Bone-Eroding Sect, and I will have no rest until you die!"

Wang Ping coldly replied: "Qingyun Prefecture, Ninth Dao Academy, Wang Ping. I await you at any time."

"Good! Wang Ping! My Netherworld Clan Bone-Eroding Sect will surely kill you!" Mengka shouted fiercely, then suddenly stomped his foot, the dark red giant scythe in his hand fiercely chopping toward the ground, cleaving a huge spatial rift, "We're leaving!"

Black mist surged and rolled, sweeping up that strange female cultivator; the two did not look back as they rushed into the spatial rift and vanished. The rift quickly sealed, leaving only the pervasive, gradually dissipating netherworld death qi where they had stood, as well as the scorched ash and broken bone staff left by the robed cultivator—proof of the heart-stopping battle just fought.

Only after the two netherworld beings had completely vanished did Wang Ping's tightly wound nerves relax slightly; he could not help but cough up another mouthful of congealed blood, his face paling a few degrees. The three of Cangxuan quickly gathered around him.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Ping, how are your injuries?" Cangxuan asked with concern, while warily scanning the surroundings. The earlier battle had caused quite a commotion; it was hard to guarantee no other lurkers would be drawn.

"It's nothing, just some internal injuries; a few days of recuperation will do." Wang Ping waved his hand, took out some healing pills and swallowed them. He glanced at the damaged Overturning Seal and the dimmed Purple Firmament Divine Protection Token, a faint ache in his heart—these were life-saving items bestowed by his master.

"That fellow Daoist's Wood Thunderbolt is truly domineering! Actually able to kill a netherworld cultivator of the same rank in a single strike!" Yuliuli's beautiful eyes shone with alternating brilliance; she gained a completely new understanding of Wang Ping's strength. Though Yuying said nothing, her gaze toward Wang Ping also grew several degrees more solemn and approving.

"Just luck, really. If not for Fellow Daoist Cangxuan first wounding its mind and spirit, and Fellow Daoist Yuying restraining Mengka, I would have struggled to succeed." Wang Ping did not claim credit, "This place is not suitable for lingering; we should leave quickly."

The four swiftly cleaned the battlefield, gathering up the bone staff and other items left by the robed cultivator (perhaps some have research value), then without hesitation sped off in another direction away from the Creation Spirit Mountain and Immortal Fall Battlefield.

Not long after they departed, several strands of divine sense of varying strength silently swept over this area, sensing the lingering violent energy fluctuations, netherworld death qi, and that trace of heart-pounding Wood Thunderbolt punishment aura; each fell silent for a moment, then quietly withdrew.

Wang Ping's feat of fighting three alone, hard-resisting the netherworld clan captain's forbidden technique, and killing one in counterattack, obviously achieved a powerful deterrent effect. In this Qingming Heavenly Domain, strength is the best passport and protective charm.

After putting several thousand li between themselves and the battlefield, the four stopped in a relatively secluded ravine, set up concealment formations, and began to rest and recuperate.

Wang Ping entered seclusion for three days, relying on pills and the powerful recuperative ability of his Chaos Nascent Infant, stabilizing his internal injuries and restoring his spiritual power to about seventy or eighty percent. Only the repair of the Overturning Seal and Purple Firmament Divine Protection Token would not be accomplished in a day; it requires gradual nurturing and refinement later.

After emerging from seclusion, the four gathered together.

"Now we have obtained three of the five keys: the Balance Key, the Vitality Key, and the Earth Key." Cangxuan spread out a map, his fingertip pointing at the two remaining marks, "Only the Geng Metal Key and the Xuanming Key remain. According to my multiple verifications and sensations, these two keys are likely not in the same place, and are quite far apart."

He pointed to a region on the western side of the map marked with countless sharp symbols and surging killing qi: "The Western Extreme Geng Metal Killing Ground, filled with the purest and most violent Geng Metal qi and innate killing qi, is an excellent place for body tempering and cultivating metal-type divine abilities, and also an extremely dangerous place; the Geng Metal Key may very well be nurtured within."

Next, he pointed to the extreme northern direction on the map, a region covered in deep-blue ice and snow symbols: "The Northern Ming Ice Plains, an extreme cold forbidden land; legend says it was formed from the leakage of the primordial source of the ancient Xuanming True Water, freezing all things, deathly silent and boundless; the Xuanming Key should be here."

"These two places have completely different environments and are far apart. If we act together, searching them one by one, it would take too long and we might easily miss opportunities." Cangxuan looked at Wang Ping and the other three, "I suggest we split up."

Wang Ping pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Fellow Daoist Cangxuan speaks reasonably. The five keys must be gathered; splitting up increases efficiency. However, this place is full of dangers, and acting alone carries extreme risk."

Yuliuli softly said: "My Falling Immortal Clan is sensitive to vitality and plant life, but not adept at handling Geng Metal killing qi or Xuanming ice cold. The Northern Ming Ice Plains environment conflicts with my cultivation method; I wish to try going to the Western Extreme Geng Metal Killing Ground."

Yuying's spiritual fluctuation transmitted: "My cultivation method favors darkness, stealth and concealment; the extreme cold and deathly silence of the Northern Ming Ice Plains may perhaps be more conducive to my movement. I will go to the Northern Ming Ice Plains."

Cangxuan looked at Wang Ping: "Fellow Daoist Wang Ping, you bear the Chaos Five Elements, encompassing all things; for you, these two regions might perhaps both be adaptable. What do you think?"

Wang Ping pondered. He indeed bore the Five Elements; the metal element has the White Tiger Slaughter God Sword Gang, the water element has the Yin Extinction Abyssal Tide; theoretically, both could adapt. However, the Building Wood Seed belongs to wood, and might be suppressed in the Geng Metal Killing Ground; while the extreme cold of the Northern Ming Ice Plains might perhaps help him further condense his Yin power.

"I will go to the Northern Ming Ice Plains." Wang Ping finally decided. On one hand, he felt the Yin Extinction Abyssal Tide still had room for improvement, and the environment of the Northern Ming Ice Plains might bring an opportunity; on the other hand, Yuying going alone to the Northern Ming, though skilled in concealment, would have weaker direct combat ability if encountering strong enemies—his going as well would provide mutual support. As for the Geng Metal Killing Ground, Yuliuli, coming from the Falling Immortal Clan, has deep foundations and should have means of self-preservation.

Cangxuan nodded: "If so, then I will go with Fairy Yuliuli to the Western Extreme Geng Metal Killing Ground. I cultivate the Star Sword Dao, which also has some connection to Geng Metal. We four will split into two teams, each seeking the keys. Regardless of success or failure, three years from today, we will meet at the initial transmission point when we entered the Qingming Heavenly Domain, and then discuss opening the Chaos Immortal Palace. How about that?"

"Good." Wang Ping, Yuliuli, and Yuying all had no objections.

"This journey is perilous; you all must be careful." Cangxuan spoke solemnly, producing two pairs of small, starry jade-like talismans, handing one pair to Wang Ping and keeping one pair for himself, "These are the 'Starfall Transmission Talismans' specially made by my Star Palace; within a certain range they can transmit short messages; if encountering a life-or-death crisis, crush this talisman, and the other will sense it—though timely rescue may be difficult, at least the position will be known. The range is limited, but perhaps it can be used in the core area of the Qingming Heavenly Domain."

Wang Ping received the talismans; they felt cool to the touch, starlight contained within, and he thanked him before putting them away.

The four then exchanged some possibly useful pills and talismans, especially protective items for extreme environments.

At the moment of parting, Yuliuli gave Wang Ping a graceful salute: "Fellow Daoist Wang Ping, journey well. I look forward to our reunion in three years, to jointly open the Immortal Palace."

"Fairy, please also take care." Wang Ping returned the salute.

Cangxuan and Wang Ping exchanged a glance, both seeing determination and expectation in the other's eyes; no words needed, they clasped hands.

Yuying gave Wang Ping a slight nod, his form gradually fading, and he led the way, drifting northward.

Wang Ping delayed no longer, gave a final nod of farewell to Cangxuan and Yuliuli, his form turning into a streak of hazy gray escape light, closely following Yuying as he sped toward that distant, cold Northern Ming Ice Plains.

Cangxuan and Yuliuli watched the two depart, then also turned into streaks of starlight and seven-colored flowing light, speeding toward the western horizon.

The Qingming Heavenly Domain is vast and boundless, opportunity and danger coexisting. The four gathered because of the Immortal Keys, fought side by side, and now, to gather the Immortal Keys, they have set out separately. The road ahead is unfathomable; only with a steadfast Dao heart can one, amidst these ancient relics, seek that one thread of transcendence.

Wang Ping's figure gradually vanished into the biting northern wind; in his hand he already held three Immortal Keys, his dantian nurturing the Building Wood Seed, and his chest unextinguished with fighting spirit.