Chapter 406

These ice blocks are formed from the ten-thousand-year cold breath exhaled by the ten-thousand-year ice silkworms, and they are not easy to melt!

At this moment, Zijing Zhenjun looked at the many ice blocks before him and felt a headache coming on.

"Leave this to me!"

Zhang Jian smiled and spoke.

He is in command of several special flames, as well as heavenly divine fire and heavenly realm pure fire.

The heavenly pure fire possesses immense power.

When this mature divine flame erupts at full force, its power even surpasses that of his Golden Crow True Fire.

Of course, this does not mean the Golden Crow True Fire is extremely weak in power, but rather that the true fire controlled by each strong cultivator is closely related to their own cultivation level.

For those high-ranking immortals, even a wisp of ordinary flame can easily burn through the starry sky.

Zhang Jian stepped forward, and with a raise of his hand, a wisp of fierce red light leapt out.

Under his urging, the heavenly pure fire transformed into a massive Vermilion Fire Bird that enveloped the ice palace above and below.

Rolling waves of intense heat surged forward, and the several Primordial Spirit True Persons instantly changed color.

Beneath this fire wave, they felt their primordial spirit magic power begin to collapse, carrying a trace of fire poison that scorched through their five viscera and six bowels.

Under the divine power of this terrifying flame, the ice palace before them accelerated its dissolution.

Hundreds of zhang of ice crystals melted at high speed.

In an instant, it advanced by tens of kilometers.

Shortly after, a dense demonic aura flowed out from within, condensing into countless ice spikes and cold air that shot toward everyone.

"It has appeared!"

Seeing this, Zhang Jian gazed ahead, and an invisible force burst forth from his entire body.

This was the secret method of controlling time from the Nine Revolutions Ruyi Time Wheel Sutra.

As this secret method unfolded, countless ice spikes before them froze in midair.

Then came the Taiyin Refining Form Divine Light and the Golden Crow Splitting Transformation Divine Light, intertwining to generate yin and yang two qi, which in an instant dispelled the ice spikes.

With a raise of his hand, Zhang Jian sent forth vast streams of invisible yin and yang two qi from his palm, flowing into the surrounding ice palace. Yet as he watched, block after block of solid ice dissolved within the yin and yang two qi, and several plump spirit worms covered in cold aura appeared before everyone's eyes.

These were ice silkworms, their bodies like jade, except for tiny cicada wings on their backs, and deep within their brows lay unique starlight spots.

They looked endearing and were still struggling.

"Seven-Star Ice Silkworms!"

Gazing at these ice silkworm spirit worms, no more than five or six chi in length, Siming Zhenren merely glanced at them and instantly his face lit up with joy.

Seeing the crowd's gaze turn toward him, Siming Zhenren quickly said.

"Two martial uncles, Junior Brother Zhang, the Seven-Star Ice Silkworm is a rare variant among ice silkworms, named for the seven stars deep in its brow; among ice silkworms, it is also an extremely rare variant!

The Seven-Star Ice Silkworm silk they spit out, among ice-attribute spiritual materials, is of high rank and quite famous!"

Everyone glanced ahead and saw indeed there were more than ten Seven-Star Ice Silkworms before them.

Then Zhuxing Zhenjun said: "Junior Martial Sister, you are skilled in beast control, so you shall take charge of collecting them, and we shall divide them equally!"

Seeing this, everyone had no objections.

Siming Zhenren stepped forward, and the cyan-gold ceramic jar on her head opened once again, and in an instant a stream of cyan-gold light sprayed out, completely swallowing more than ten ice silkworms inside.

Seeing this, Siming Zhenren's expression also showed a hint of joy.

This cyan-gold ceramic jar on her head is indeed a rare treasure, known as the Myriad Spirits Vessel, an ancient spiritual treasure capable of swallowing all things to transform them into myriad spirit essences, but also able to store living beings.

Shortly after, she casually wiped her hand, and more than ten crystal-clear, translucent jade boxes appeared in her hands, which she distributed to the other five people, each receiving at least three or four shares.

"Junior Brother Zhang melted these ten-thousand-year profound ice and suppressed the cold aura of these ice silkworms, taking the largest share of four portions; this Taiyin Daoist contributed nothing, so taking only one share—how does that sound?"

Zhang Jian glanced at the four jade boxes before him, among which the most precious thousand-year ice silkworm was also contained in one of the jade boxes; he merely smiled faintly and waved his hand to put it away.

The Taiyin Immortal Maiden also glanced in surprise at the jade box before her, having not expected to receive a share herself.

She then also put away her own share.

The other four Primordial Spirit Great Cultivators each took three shares, and one after another stored away the ice silkworms.

The four of them were also extremely satisfied.

At this moment, however, Zhang Jian's voice suddenly came from ahead: "There are still a few big fellows ahead—leave them to me!"

"Huh?"

Several people's expressions shifted, and in an instant they saw the entire ice palace suddenly tremble, the earth shaking and mountains swaying, as within it a terrifying demonic aura, accompanied by an abnormal icy cold force, swept toward everyone.

The erupting vast demonic aura caused everyone's expressions to change.

Such terrifying demonic aura, they had never heard of before.

Yet they saw that around the ice palace, at some unknown moment, heaven and earth had suddenly overturned, countless seas of clouds arose, and boundless bitter cold currents, having just rushed forward to strike those before them, instantly turned into nothingness.

"Roar—roar!!"

From deep within the clouds ahead, it seemed a low, angry howl was transmitted—though this howl was more one of anger and reluctance.

"Spatial Immortal Arts!"

At this moment, the several Primordial Spirit Great Cultivators gazed upon the surrounding changes, their expressions shifting in color.

Spatial Immortal Arts were not unfamiliar to most of them; even someone like Zhuxing Zhenjun was among the best, himself skilled in various spatial rending techniques, even using spatial restrictions as a tactical means against opponents.

But like what was before them now—directly and silently transforming heaven and earth around them—such a method had never been heard of.

Had it not been for Zhang Jian actively manifesting the spatial omen, they would not have even noticed that the surrounding spatial laws had already been overwritten and replaced.

Yet shortly after, the countless cold airs dispersed, and in their place emerged more than ten massive Seven-Star Ice Silkworms floating in the mist.

These more than ten Seven-Star Ice Silkworms were clearly much larger than the previous ten or so, many reaching several zhang in length, their bodies pure white like jade, their entire forms covered in icy soul spiritual light.

Among them, four or five even had ice-crystal-like dragon scales growing all over their bodies, likely having lived for over ten thousand years.

Especially the leading Ice Silkworm King stood ten or more zhang tall, its body covered in thick dragon scales, with ice-crystal dragon horns even growing on its skull, its body exuding mighty demonic aura, and a vast, ocean-like demonic aura flowing around it.

It was now struggling with all its might, countless cold currents spilling out, attempting to freeze the cloud sea and break the surrounding spatial suppression, yet everything was in vain.

The colossal ice silkworm's body was constantly being shifted and confined by space, instantly becoming dazed and disoriented.

Seeing this scene, Zhenren Siming also had a shaken expression, finding it hard to believe her own eyes.

"This ice silkworm king's cultivation has actually reached such a state—it has grown dragon horns; who has ever heard of an ice silkworm transforming into a dragon?"

At this moment, her eyes shone with intense fervor.

The other Nascent Soul cultivators also showed changing expressions.

Zhenjun Zhuxing glanced at it, yet a hint of relief appeared in his eyes: "These ice silkworms probably don't understand any cultivation techniques; they only know how to inhale and exhale the spiritual essence of sun and moon, as well as the subterranean cold veins' energy, so they blindly chose the path of dragon transformation. If they had comprehended cultivation methods, that Seven-Star Ice Silkworm King should have already attained the Dao and become immortal!"

Upon hearing this, Zhenren Siming suddenly understood, and she said.

"What the martial uncle said is absolutely correct—ice silkworms are generally lazy in nature; they are timid and gentle, not aggressive, and prefer sleeping; even if they live long, most of their time is spent in slumber!"

She had also noticed earlier that these ice silkworms seemed unaware of other techniques, only knowing how to inhale and exhale the ice soul elixir qi, controlling some innate elemental techniques of the ice silkworm clan; the entire clan appeared rather clumsy.

At this moment, everyone's expressions eased, but soon smiles could not be suppressed on their faces.

These dozen or so ice silkworms were clearly all over ten thousand years old, or close to it—each one could be said to be worth a fortune.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon the largest one, a towering ice silkworm king several zhang high; at this moment, this ice silkworm king was about to spit out its bitterly cultivated elemental dan in a desperate struggle, his expression calm, yet a hint of smile appeared in his eyes.

Indeed, a horse that does not eat night grass will not grow fat.

Once this ice silkworm king is recovered, a little cultivation will easily allow the Great Xia Dynasty to gain another national divine beast.

Zhang Jian did not give this ice silkworm king a chance to continue struggling or resisting; the River and Mountain Map suddenly tightened, and in an instant, the dozen or so ice silkworms transformed into a shifting sun-moon-star river, the clear and turbid of heaven and earth surging—a nine-colored Dao diagram.

Within the nine-colored Dao diagram, heaven and earth, sun and moon reversed; in a moment, this ice silkworm king was completely enveloped by starlight and sealed.

The Dao diagram instantly fell into Zhang Jian's palm.

Zhang Jian curled his finger and seized it—five ice silkworms bearing dragon scales on their backs, the Seven-Star Ice Silkworms, appeared in his palm.

These five ice silkworms had their primordial spirits suppressed by him using the Starlight Soul-Binding Technique.

Reduced in size to palm-sized, each one was plump and fleshy.

"Two martial uncles, martial sister, and the other ice silkworms—I have taken them; the remaining five ten-thousand-year-old ice silkworms, one each for you!"

Five beams of light fell into the hands of the other five, and Zhang Jian did not forget the Lady of Taiyin.

These dozen or so Seven-Star Ice Silkworms were subdued by him alone; others did not lift a hand—if he had kept them all, no one could complain.

But as the saying goes, whoever sees gets a share.

Moreover, we are fellow disciples; Zhang Jian was not stingy at the moment and gave each person a ten-thousand-year-old ice silkworm.

Seeing this, everyone exchanged glances, immediately nodded, and took the ice silkworms before them.

Zhenren Linghe then laughed: "Junior brother, this time we senior sisters have taken advantage of you!"

The other few Nascent Soul cultivators also slightly nodded, and everyone wore smiles.

This time, recovering these ten-thousand-year-old ice silkworms, Zhang Jian did not need anyone's help at all!

One person gaining one ten-thousand-year-old ice silkworm already made them very satisfied.

The Lady of Taiyin looked at the ice silkworm in her hand, immediately took out a spatial jade box from her sleeve, and stored the ice silkworm inside; her beautiful face also bore a smile.

The fact that these cultivators of the Tongshan Dao Lineage did not hoard everything for themselves also eased her mind.

Since these Nascent Soul cultivators did not take her share, she could appropriately reveal some secret realms—though she might not get the lion's share, at least she would not return empty-handed.

Zhang Jian then proposed.

"I just discovered that in this Xuanhan Earth Vein, there are also some ice-attribute spiritual herbs, spiritual medicines, and some spiritual ores—let everyone search around; there should still be gains!"

Everyone nodded.

Everyone then transformed into streams of light, flying toward the passages in all directions of the Ice Palace; Zhang Jian, relying on his authority over the earth, had already discovered the locations of many spiritual herbs and medicines.

Among them were not lacking ten-thousand-year-old rare treasures and precious medicines.

These ice-attribute spiritual herbs and medicines, when refined into spiritual pills, would greatly benefit the White Empress's cultivation.

However, the greatest gain of this journey was still these ice silkworms—the ice silkworm spiritual pills and ice soul divine pills are of immense value, whether for refining a second primordial spirit, assisting in alchemy, or nourishing spiritual veins—they are top-tier spiritual objects.

Not long after, everyone regrouped in the Ice Palace.

Everyone's expressions bore smiles, appearing to have gained much.

After scouring the Ice Palace, everyone transformed into light and departed from this place in the earth's crust.

But just as they emerged from the earth's cavern, everyone immediately restrained their aura.

In the distance, everyone saw a mass of demonic wind rushing toward the void, flying overhead.

"Truly, enemies meet on a narrow road!"

Seeing this mass of intense demonic wind, Zhenjun Zhuxing's face showed a cold smile.

"Is it the demon god of the Tianlang Prefecture?"

Zhang Jian also saw this scene, and upon seeing it, he smiled and said.

"Since we have encountered them, let us follow and see; if there is an opportunity, we will avenge the severed arm of our Fifth Thunder Senior Brother!"