Chapter 328

Wang Ping adjusted his breath on the shattered floating stones at the edge of the Forbidden Abyss Ruins for a full seven days.

Under the dual effect of the top-grade Nourishing Soul Pill and the Five Elements Divine Light technique, his damaged soul finally stabilized; though not fully healed, the tearing pain had transformed into a dull ache that did not hinder basic movement or spellcasting.

However, the "Seal" character glyph, having been overused, had dimmed and required prolonged nourishment to regain its former power.

The last trace of stubborn resentment on the Key of Destruction was also gradually dissolved by the Chaotic Nascent Soul through painstaking effort; now the key lay quietly in the Qiankun One Qi Pouch, resonating with the Vitality and Earth Keys, faintly spiritual.

He rose and gazed upon this endless darkness and ruin. The Star-Guiding Disk suffered severe interference within the Abyss Ruins, its needle spinning wildly, unable to indicate direction.

Yet Wang Ping could faintly sense that to the north lay a summons differing in nature from the Xuanming Key in his hand yet belonging to the same "Yin Cold" category—likely the direction of the Northern Ice Wasteland, and possibly where Youying might be headed.

Without hesitation, he chose north, contracting the Chaotic Domain close to his body solely for defense and concealment, while activating the Great Yin Stillness Arctic Tide technique to simulate a breath resembling this place's destructive cold, reducing environmental conflict.

His form became an inconspicuous gray-blue escape light, carefully threading through layered spatial rifts and destructive tides, arduously advancing toward the sensed direction.

Half a month later, the surroundings began to show clear changes. The viscous darkness and destructive aura were gradually replaced by a purer, vaster "cold."

Not the Yin Cold of the Abyss Ruins carrying decay and finality, but a clear, ethereal chill seemingly able to freeze time and soul.

Beneath his feet began to appear solid ice—initially scattered fragments, then gradually connecting into a vast, mirror-smooth ice plain stretching without end.

The sky was no longer eternal darkness or chaotic flowing light, but a deep, faintly luminous cyan-blue; at its zenith, thin, gauze-like streams of seven-colored auroras flowed.

Northern Ice Wasteland, arrived.

The cold here exceeded Wang Ping's expectations. Even though he cultivated the Great Yin Stillness Arctic Tide and possessed a Chaotic Nascent Soul harmonizing yin and yang, upon first stepping onto the ice plain he felt waves of cold piercing his protective spiritual light, attempting to freeze his blood and spiritual power.

His exhaled breath instantly turned into ice crystal powder; the black ice beneath his feet was harder than iron, and his spiritual sense, when extended, felt as if frozen and sluggish.

Here there was almost no spiritual energy, only intensely concentrated "Xuanming Cold." This cold is a blessed land for cultivators of yin arts, but for ordinary living beings, it is an absolute death zone.

Wang Ping had no choice but to increase his spiritual power circulation while attempting to draw a trace of the weak life force emitted by the Jianmu Seed, forming an internal cycle to resist the external cold.

He took out the small piece of "Shadow Jade" left by Youying at their parting; this jade can sense each other's direction within a certain distance.

After inputting spiritual power, the Shadow Jade warmed slightly, pointing toward a certain direction deep in the ice plain, but the sensation was extremely weak, indicating the distance was still great—or perhaps interfered with by this place's special environment.

"Youying must also be searching for the Xuanming Key somewhere in the ice plain. Let's rendezvous in the direction of the sensation." Wang Ping made up his mind and advanced toward the direction indicated by the Shadow Jade.

The ice plain was not lifeless. Occasionally one could see towering ice mountains like blue crystal, within which were frozen the remains of strange, long-extinct ancient creatures.

There were skeletal remains of ice chilongs hundreds of zhang tall with six wings; ice corpses of black tortoises the size of small hills with ferocious shells; even half a ship embedded in the ice layer, only part of its hull visible, as if carved from ten-thousand-year-old black ice, exuding an ancient, weathered aura.

These beings silently spoke of how this ice plain, perhaps, was not so desolate in ages past.

On the third day of travel, Wang Ping encountered the first wave of attacks in a continuous ice mountain canyon.

The attackers were not cultivators, but unique lifeforms bred by the ice plain—the Xuanbing Evil Spirits.

Their forms were indeterminate, seeming human or beast; their bodies composed of semi-transparent Xuanbing, eyes flickering with ice-blue flame; they moved soundlessly and could instantaneously phase through ice layers.

Numbering nearly a hundred, individual strength ranged from Golden Core to early Nascent Soul, but in this environment their power was greatly enhanced, and physical attacks had little effect on them.

Wang Ping did not wish to entangle himself; he directly unleashed the Chaotic Domain, grayish mist swirling and enveloping the approaching Xuanbing Evil Spirits.

The Chaotic Power's restraint over these elemental lifeforms was quite evident; the evil spirits were eroded by the domain's force, their forms rapidly becoming indistinct.

The ice-blue flames dimmed and finally collapsed into the purest Xuanbing cold, which Wang Ping carefully guided using the Water-Element Divine Light—part dissipated, part attempted to be refined and absorbed to replenish his consumption.

Having easily dealt with these evil spirits, Wang Ping continued forward. But his vigilance increased further, for if the lifeforms bred here were already so troublesome, the guardians of the Xuanming Key must be even more terrifying.

After advancing several more days, the Shadow Jade's sensation gradually became clearer. Finally, at the yin-face ice cave entrance of a towering ice mountain, Wang Ping saw that familiar figure nearly merged with shadow and ice wall.

Youying.

He (She) remained enveloped in a large black robe, aura more drifting and colder than before, as if truly become a part of this Northern Ice Wasteland's shadow.

Upon seeing Wang Ping, Youying slightly raised his head; two points of light beneath the hood flickered once.

"You have come." Youying's mental fluctuation arrived, still short and direct: "Faster than I expected, but your condition seems poor."

"I gained something in the Forbidden Abyss Ruins, but also suffered losses." Wang Ping spoke frankly, approaching the ice cave entrance, from which emanated a purer, denser Xuanming Cold than outside, even faintly bearing law fluctuations: "Any leads on the Xuanming Key?"

Youying nodded, pointing toward the ice cave's depths: "The sensation is inside. But inside……something guards it. Very strong; I probed once and dared not go deeper."

"What is it?"

"Like a flood dragon yet not, like a dragon yet not. Its body is Xuanming ice jade bone, capable of enduring extreme cold, breath forming ice slaughter—suspected to be a remnant species of ancient flood dragon, strength……approaching Nascent Soul perfection, and here, nearly invincible on home ground." Youying's thought carried a rare hint of gravity.

A glint of sharp light flashed in Wang Ping's eyes. A ferocious beast approaching Nascent Soul perfection with terrain advantage was indeed troublesome. But the Xuanming Key must be obtained.

"Any plan?"

Youying fell silent for a moment, then said: "This beast's spiritual intelligence seems not low, and it has territorial awareness. The ice cave's interior is complex, with many branching paths; at the center lies a vast ice dome, where the key's sensation resides. Perhaps……we could try feint east, strike west—one draws it away, the other sneaks in to take the key."

Wang Ping pondered. This method was feasible, but the risk was enormous. That flood dragon's strength here was supreme; the one drawing it away, if slightly careless, faced mortal danger. He looked at Youying: "I will draw it away. I have more defensive means, and I possess evasion techniques to maneuver. You excel at concealment and stealth, your speed is also great—you are better suited to sneak in and take the key."

Youying did not immediately answer, but asked: "How are your injuries?"

"No problem, does not affect escape." Wang Ping's tone was affirmative.

"Good." Youying said no more: "I have lain hidden here for many days and discovered that this flood dragon leaves the ice dome's core approximately every six hours, heading deep into a side cavern, seemingly to draw some kind of extreme cold earth vein energy it needs; the duration is about the time to burn an incense stick. This may be our opportunity."

"Six hours……enough for us to prepare." Wang Ping nodded: "First recover our condition, adjust to optimal. When the flood dragon next leaves, we act."

The two found a concealed ice fissure near the ice cave entrance, set up a simple concealment formation, and each adjusted their breath. Wang Ping seized the time to further stabilize his soul while contemplating this place's Xuanming Cold, attempting to combine the Great Yin Stillness Arctic Tide with this local cold—perhaps to enhance power and better adapt to the environment.

Six hours later.

Wang Ping and Youying exchanged a glance, no words needed, and moved simultaneously.

Wang Ping restrained his breath and silently proceeded toward the side cavern direction indicated by Youying. Meanwhile, Youying, like a true shadow, clung to the ice wall, soundlessly slipping into the main ice cave passage and advancing deeper.

Upon reaching the depths of the side cavern, Wang Ping indeed sensed a stream of extremely pure, nearly liquefied Xuanming earth vein energy gushing from an ice fissure. He concealed himself nearby, silently waiting.

After approximately half an hour, a vast, icy and ferocious aura rapidly approached from the direction of the main ice cave!

The ground ice layers trembled slightly. Behold—a tens-of-zhang-long figure, appearing as if carved from the finest Xuanming ice jade, undulated forward. It bore a single horn on its head, four claws along its body, covered in layer upon layer of Xuanming ice scales, its eyes two clusters of leaping deep-blue ice flames—exactly that flood dragon!

The flood dragon did not notice the deliberately concealed Wang Ping, swimming straight to the ice fissure and inhaling with open mouth; the rich Xuanming earth vein energy surged in like a long whale drinking water, and the luster of its Xuanming ice surface seemed to grow slightly more lustrous.

Now! Wang Ping's eyes flashed with sharp light; he no longer concealed himself, his form suddenly bursting from hiding, while simultaneously forming hand seals!

"Golden Yang Burns Heaven!"

Not attacking the flood dragon, but hurling a piece of true solar fire violently at the ice wall not far from the flood dragon's side! Ultimate yang fire colliding with extreme cold Xuanming ice!

"Boom! Hiss—!!"

The violent explosion and the piercing sound of ice and fire melting instantly shattered the silence of the cave! Scorching air waves and shattered ice crystals scattered everywhere!

"Roar——!!!"

The ice flood dragon was thoroughly enraged by this sudden attack and the pure yang aura! It violently turned its head, its deep blue icy eyes locking firmly onto Wang Ping, and spat out a stream of icy blue breath from its mouth—wherever it passed, the air condensed, and space itself seemed to freeze!

Before the breath even arrived, the soul-freezing chill had already descended!

Wang Ping had long been prepared; his figure flickered, turning into a stream of light as the Star Ignition Radiance activated—he instantly shifted sideways by dozens of li, narrowly dodging the breath.

The breath struck the rear ice wall, instantly freezing a large area into a crystal-clear ice zone.

Seizing the opportunity, Wang Ping activated his Sword Nurturing Technique and the White Tiger Slaying God Sword Gang—a golden-white sword light flashed past.

The ice flood dragon was beheaded!

The wind of the Northern Ice Plains had blown for who knows how many ages, still as sharp as a blade, sweeping up countless ice crystals that refracted faint seven-colored auroras beneath the azure sky.

Inside the ice cave on the leeward side of the iceberg, time seemed frozen by the chill—only two faint yet tenacious breaths lingered, rising and falling gently, condensing.

Wang Ping and You Ying sat there for half a month.

Wang Ping bore new and old wounds intertwined—the hidden pain of soul damage suffered in the Forbidden Abyss Ruins, the icy erosion and external injuries left from the battle on the Northern Ice Plains, and the backlash from forcibly activating the Fusang Tree Seed—all kinds of wounds wove together.

Had it not been for his profound foundation, plus the Chaos Nascent Soul and the marvel of the Five Elements Divine Light, he would have long collapsed.

Over the past half month, he had taken the last few top-grade healing pills, using chaotic power to slowly dissolve their medicinal potency, nourishing his soul and dispelling the stubborn Xuanming cold within his body, repairing damaged meridians and flesh.

The Fusang Tree Seed, cradled in his Nascent Soul, breathed faint vitality, aiding recovery—the jade-green luster on its surface seemed, due to this consumption and resonance with Wang Ping's will, to have condensed a bit more firmly.

You Ying's condition was equally grim. The soul impact and icy corrosion from the Aurora Phantom Realm, plus the internal injuries from forcibly resisting the Black Crystal Ice Flood Dragon's attack to seize the Xuanming Key, had driven his aura to rock bottom.

The figure beneath the black robe seemed even more faint, like a shadow about to dissipate at any moment. He too silently healed, relying on the special traits of his Netherworld Ghost-like cultivation method, drawing in thread after thread of yin-cold power from the ice plains' shadows, slowly restoring himself.

After half a month, the two opened their eyes almost simultaneously.

Though Wang Ping's eyes had not yet fully regained their former brilliance, the divine light within them was deeper and more restrained—having endured repeated life-and-death trials, his sharpness had slightly receded, and his Dao resonance grew even heavier.

The two faint lights beneath You Ying's hood also reignited—still icy cold, but now carrying a touch of depth from having weathered tribulations.

Without a word, the two rose. Wang Ping took out the Star Guidance Disk—though they had already left the Abyss Ruins, the ice plain environment still interfered with the disk; the needle trembled slightly, but the general direction could still be discerned.

At the same time, he sensed the Starfall Transmission Talisman in his bosom representing Cangxuan and Yuliuli—though the distance was too great to send messages, he could faintly feel that vitality still remained at the other end of the talisman, which eased his mind somewhat.

"There is still one year and three months until the three-year agreement." Wang Ping calculated the time, "We must hurry to the rendezvous point."

You Ying nodded, taking out the Xuanming Key. It was a dove-egg-sized crystal, entirely deep blue, within which ice crystal nebulae seemed to slowly rotate—cool to the touch, no longer harboring possession resentment, only pure Xuanming laws permeating.

Time flowed on—since Wang Ping and You Ying left the Northern Ice Ice Cave, nearly a year had passed.

During this year, the two did not rush their journey but instead found a relatively safe ice valley at the edge of the ice plains, set up a formation, and undertook long-term seclusion to heal and consolidate.

Wang Ping's soul injuries, under the continuous nourishment of soul-nourishing pills and the《Refining Spirit Decree》, finally healed—the "Zhen" divine character also regained its former luster, and even, due to the baptism of suppressing ancient resentments, appeared more solid and weighty.

His cultivation, advanced through repeated life-and-death trials and the Fusang Tree Seed's feedback, saw all kinds of Dao arts grow ever more refined—drawing ever closer to the mid-stage of the Point Spirit Realm, his Chaos Nascent Soul became more condensed, the Five Elements Divine Light operated ever more smoothly, and his understanding of the Chaos Dao deepened another layer.

You Ying's injuries also basically healed—his aura became more profound and unfathomable, as if his fusion with shadow had reached a new level.

The Xuanming Key had been preliminarily refined by him through a secret method; the Xuanming cold it emitted subtly harmonized with his cultivation method, making his concealment and assassination techniques gain several points of icy, deathly stillness power.

On this day, the two awoke almost simultaneously from meditation. The three-year agreement—time was drawing near.

"It's time to set out." Wang Ping rose, his gaze seeming to pierce through the thick ice wall, looking toward the distant rendezvous direction.

The Annihilation Key in his hand, together with the other two keys in his storage bag, faintly resonated. You Ying silently nodded, the Xuanming Key in his palm flashing a trace of deep blue luster.

The two no longer concealed themselves, transforming into two long rainbows as they left the ice valley, rushing toward the remembered initial teleportation point—the "Chenxing Plain," which they had agreed upon as their rendezvous site, a relatively stable expanse.

All the way silent, they raced at full speed. Months later, when the familiar gray-brown plain, covered with massive circular pits and meteor impact traces, appeared in their view, both felt a quiet ease in their hearts.

Yet, the plain was not empty.

Before they arrived, two figures had already reached it first—namely, Cangxuan and Yuliuli!

The two sides almost simultaneously noticed each other—momentarily, their qi interacted, alertness surged! Only after seeing each other's faces did the tense atmosphere suddenly dissolve, turning into surprise and emotion.

"Daoist Cangxuan! Fairy Yuliuli!" Wang Ping was the first to descend his escape light, a smile of long-separated reunion appearing on his face—though deep within that smile, there still lingered the calm of one who had weathered wind and frost.

"Daoist Wang Ping! Daoist You Ying!" Cangxuan and Yuliuli also stepped forward to meet them. Cangxuan's aura was now sharper and deeper, like a sheathed divine sword; Yuliuli remained as pure and lovely as ever, though a touch more resilience had appeared between her brows.

"It's been nearly three years since we parted—have you all been well?" Cangxuan's gaze swept over Wang Ping and You Ying, keenly sensing the changes in their auras, especially Wang Ping, who had actually broken through to mid-Nascent Soul—his heart could not help but secretly startled.

"Fortunate to survive, with slight progress." Wang Ping briefly replied, his gaze likewise lingering on Cangxuan, feeling the opponent's sword intent now more rounded yet dangerous, "Observing your bearing, your sword path must have advanced further."

Yuliuli looked at You Ying, gave a slight nod: "Daoist You Ying's aura has become even more profound."

You Ying merely gave a light nod in return.

The four gathered on a flat meteorite, each briefly recounting their experiences since parting. Cangxuan and Yuliuli, upon hearing that Wang Ping had encountered an ancient resentment possession in the Forbidden Abyss Ruins but survived safely thanks to a secret treasure in his sea of consciousness—and even obtained the Annihilation Key—both showed expressions of astonishment.

Meanwhile, Wang Ping and You Ying learned that Cangxuan had comprehended the Law Sword in the Sea of Laws, single-handedly fought the Four of the Love-Eliminating Palace, slain one, and obtained the Geng Metal Key—truly admirable.

"If so, among the five keys—Balance, Vitality, Earth, Annihilation, Geng Metal, Xuanming—have we already obtained all five?" Yuliuli organized.

"Wang Ping Daoist alone holds the Balance, Vitality, Earth, and Annihilation Keys; Cangxuan Daoist holds the Geng Metal Key; You Ying Daoist holds the Xuanming Key."

"Exactly." Wang Ping nodded, producing the four keys. Instantly, the gray Yin-Yang Key, the lustrous jade-green Vitality Key, the heavy and condensed Earth Key, and the dark black Annihilation Key hovered before him, each emitting distinct law fluctuations—yet subtly connected, like the Five Elements turning, or like primordial Chaos undivided.

Cangxuan and You Ying also each produced the Geng Metal Key and the Xuanming Key. The Geng Metal Key was sharp and piercing; the Xuanming Key, deep and icy cold.

The five keys gathered together, suspended in the air—their mutual resonance suddenly intensified a hundredfold! They began to slowly rotate on their own, following a mysterious trajectory, arranging into a miniature, ever-shifting three-dimensional formation diagram. At the center of the diagram, five-colored light (gray, green, yellow, dark red, gold, blue interwoven) flowed ceaselessly—a vast, ancient aura, as if originating from the very beginning of heaven and earth, gradually spread outward!

This aura stirred subtle changes in the surrounding heaven and earth. Above the Chenxing Plain, the perennial gray mist began to slowly rotate, forming a small vortex. The ground trembled slightly—on the edges of those eternal circular pits, faint, rune-like streams of light flickered and vanished.

"The five keys are gathered—the Gate of Chaos shall open!" Cangxuan's eyes blazed with starlight, unable to conceal his excitement, "The entrance to the Immortal Palace is being drawn here!"

"But… it seems something is still missing?" Yuliuli keenly sensed the formation diagram formed by the five keys, "They resonate with each other, yet do not point to a clear 'Gate'—more like they are… summoning, or perhaps, verifying qualifications."

Wang Ping focused his senses—the phantom of the Yin-Yang Key at his chest, the Chaos Nascent Soul and Fusang Tree Seed within his dantian, all trembled faintly. He tried to inject a thread of chaotic spiritual power into the five-key formation diagram.

Om——!

The formation diagram blazed with light! The rotation speed of the five keys suddenly surged, the law power they emitted began to converge and fuse toward the center! No longer distinct, but gradually transforming into a grayish haze—like something that could contain all things and yet evolve all things, the color of Chaos!

Yet this Chaos light mass remained suspended in midair, not yet forming a gate.

"Qualifications… perhaps one must possess Chaos power, or be one who embodies all five elements, to truly activate it?" Cangxuan speculated, his gaze turning to Wang Ping—among the four present, only Wang Ping cultivated the Chaos Five Elements Path.

Wang Ping understood clearly in his heart. He no longer hesitated, stepped forward, and pressed his palms toward that mass of Chaos light, simultaneously operating the《Five Elements Divine Light》method to its utmost, pouring his pure chaotic spiritual power and his insights into the Five Elements, Yin-Yang, and life and death—without reservation—into it!

"With my chaos, I open this immortal gate!"

As he let out a low shout, the mass of chaotic light, as if infused with a soul, suddenly contracted inward and condensed! The light grew brighter and more solid, and finally transformed into a gate about three zhang high and one zhang wide, entirely composed of chaotic airflow—an ancient and simple door!

On the surface of the gate, countless fine runes containing the ultimate truths of the Dao flowed and flickered; within the gate lay a deep, endless chaotic void, as if leading to another universe, from which faintly emanated an indescribable grand rhythm and a surging Dao resonance.

The gate of the Chaos Immortal Palace is finally open!

However, at the very moment the gate stabilized and took form, an abrupt change occurred!

At the distant edge of the plain, several overwhelming auras erupted without warning, like beacon fires lit in the dead of night, bearing undisguised greed and killing intent, rushing straight toward the gate's location! Their speed far surpassed that of Nascent Soul cultivators!

"Hahaha! The Chaos Immortal Gate! Indeed, it is here!"

"With the five keys gathered, the merit of opening the gate rightfully belongs to us!"

"Junior cultivators of the Spirit Realm, leave behind the immortal keys and the gate, and you may leave with your whole corpses!"

The mad laughter and fierce shouts mingled, like rolling thunder approaching! There were five figures in total, dressed differently, with vastly different auras, yet without exception, all exuded the terrifying pressure of late Nascent Soul or even perfected cultivators!

Among them, a streak of bloody evasion light, with a violent and bloody aura, was precisely the Nascent Soul perfected Blood Slaughter cultivator whom Wang Ping had once encountered on the Immortal Fall battlefield!

The others included one with surging demonic aura, one with gloomy ghostly aura, and one entwined with demonic flames—clearly all veteran monsters or foreign powerhouses who had long lurked in the Qingming Heavenly Domain, drawn here by the news!

They had long lain in ambush outside the Chenxing Plain, either sensing the convergence of the five keys through special means, or had been secretly following Wang Ping and the others all along; now seeing the immortal gate open, they could no longer restrain themselves, all appearing at once, seeking to play the part of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!

"At last, they have come..."

Wang Ping coldly laughed.