Chapter 209: Demon's Extract

In the Imperial Palace of the Empire, there is an ancient, deserted basement. Although this place is called a basement, it is actually an extremely magnificent hall. Even though this place has experienced nearly a thousand years of time, it has always maintained its complete appearance. If a history enthusiast were to see this hall, they would surely be unable to help but marvel at the superb craftsmanship of the artisans who built this underground palace a millennium ago.

This place is the most secret location in the entire Empire; apart from the successive emperors, only a handful of people know of its existence. This is because this place is where the symbol of the Empire's highest military power—the Teigu—is stored. Although many Teigu stored here have been lost due to historical reasons, no one knows whether Teigu possessing terrifying power still exist in this place.

Today, this place, which has been silent for who knows how many years, has had its tranquility broken once again. Two figures appeared at the entrance of the palace, and the sound of their footsteps seemed extremely loud in this silent palace.

"This place is the legendary location of the Empire's highest secret, the place where the Teigu are stored!"

A middle-aged man who looked no different from a mountain of flesh, accompanied by a woman with long blue hair wearing a military uniform, stopped in front of the palace and spoke slowly.

"Minister, in this place, can I find a Teigu that is worthy of my attention?" the woman asked coldly, her tone carrying a thick sense of arrogance, as if she did not hold this middle-aged man in any regard at all.

"Stored here is a Teigu known as the most terrifying ice Teigu, named Demon God Manifestation—Demon's Extract. It is said that this Teigu was forged from the blood of a Super Danger Beast that lived in the extreme north, possessing unrivaled power. However, for a thousand years, no one has been able to obtain this Teigu, because everyone who drank the blood went mad and died!" Mentioning this Teigu, the Minister still felt a lingering fear.

"The strongest ice Teigu, is it? Only something like this is worthy of me!" Esdeath's lips curled into an arc, and she could not help but recall the scene several years ago when Lingyun froze the entire lake with a single sword strike.

"General Esdeath, have you really decided? That Teigu is, after all..."

"It is merely the blood of a Super Danger Beast, and besides, only this kind of strongest Teigu is worthy of someone as strong as me! Furthermore, do you think I would even look at those weak Teigu?" Esdeath interrupted the Minister without hesitation.

Esdeath was not boasting; having experienced Lingyun's guidance and having fought against Danger Beasts for years, she possessed powerful strength. After entering the Imperial Capital and being tempered by the flames of war, her strength had undergone a qualitative leap, and even ordinary Teigu Users were no match for her. After all, to be able to become a Great General of the Empire, strength was an indispensable part.

Esdeath looked toward an altar, on which sat a large golden goblet. This goblet was clearly not made of ordinary materials; a thousand years of time had not left any marks on it. What was even more eerie was that this goblet was actually emitting cold air.

"Just drinking a small sip is enough!" the Minister reminded her from the side.

Esdeath directly ignored the Minister's words and reached out to grab the goblet on the altar. Then, she actually drank the entire contents in one breath, even though only a sip was needed.

"This..." The Minister watched Esdeath's actions and could not help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. "Did she succeed?"

"The taste is not bad, just a little cold!" Esdeath put down the goblet in her hand and said.

No sooner had she spoken than a terrifying cold air began to spread continuously with Esdeath as the center. Simultaneously, a highly tyrannical aura also spread out; it was the ferocity of the Super Danger Beast hidden within the blood. The Minister at the side could not help but shiver under the pincer attack of these two auras. Layers of sharp ice thorns instantly appeared on the floor of the palace, forcing the Minister to retreat repeatedly.

"As expected of the blood of a Super Danger Beast, is it really so terrifying that even General Esdeath cannot withstand it?" the Minister muttered to himself. "It seems another person is going to go mad!"

"It is merely the blood of a Super Danger Beast; you are still far from making me go mad!" Esdeath's arrogant voice came from within the sky full of ice crystals.

At this moment, in Esdeath's mind, a pair of eyes filled with ferocity appeared. The terrifying Evil Energy continuously pressured Esdeath, attempting to invade her consciousness and turn her into a madman who only knew how to kill. But Esdeath's will was incredibly firm, and she actually began to suppress this frantic will in return.

Just as Esdeath suppressed all the will within the Super Danger Beast's blood, she suddenly felt a cold aura appear beside her. The moment this aura appeared, Esdeath's body could not help but stiffen.

"I will die, I will absolutely die!" This was the only thought in her heart right now.

Beside Esdeath, a grayish-white current quietly appeared and slowly spread toward her body.

Esdeath opened her eyes and discovered that she was no longer in the palace, but on a desolate land. This land was covered with cracks and devoid of grass, as if the entire earth had already died.

"What is this place?" Esdeath looked at the scene before her with some horror.

Just as Esdeath was surveying this land, countless grayish-white currents suddenly appeared in the Void and swept toward her direction. Esdeath wanted to defend herself, but discovered that her body was completely stiff, and she could not move even a single finger.

Just as the gray current was about to wrap around Esdeath's body, a cold snort rang in her ears, and a phantom figure gradually solidified in front of her.

"Lingyun?" Esdeath could not help but exclaim.

Although the clothes this person wore were styles she had never seen before, and she could not see this person's face, her intuition told her that this figure who had suddenly appeared, even if not Lingyun, had a great connection to Lingyun.

Seeing this figure appear, the grayish-white currents in the Void could not help but shrink back, but after only a moment of hesitation, they lunged toward Esdeath again.

"How dare you be so presumptuous in my presence!" the figure said slowly, but anyone could hear the fury in his tone.

The figure opened his five fingers, and a terrifying cold air instantly erupted from his body. The cold air spread crazily, and in just a few breaths of Kung Fu, this desolate world turned into a world of ice and snow.

Esdeath's body could not help but tremble. The moment the ice and snow world appeared, she felt a chill deep into her marrow rise from within her body, as if it were about to freeze her into ice shards from the inside out. At this moment, a pale blue light barrier rose around her, isolating all the cold air in this world.

"Eternal Ice Realm!" the figure said lightly.

On the grayish-white currents spreading in the Void, layer after layer of solid ice instantly appeared. No matter how these currents extended, they were ultimately sealed within layers of solid ice. Finally, as the ice shattered, these currents also turned into nothingness.

"Crack, crack," as all the grayish-white currents were eliminated, this world also began to shatter like glass being smashed.

"Who exactly are you?" Esdeath, inside the light barrier, suddenly asked.

The figure did not reply, but simply turned into dots of light and disappeared along with the Void.

Esdeath only felt a flash of white light before her eyes, and then the scene before her transformed back into the underground palace. Only, around her, it was covered in white ice crystals, and her hair color had also changed from the original blue to ice blue. Esdeath felt a sharp pain in her chest, and looking down, a strange mark had appeared on her chest. It was the mark of having mastered the Demon's Extract, but the meaning represented by this mark seemed to be more than just that.

"She actually succeeded? The ice Teigu that no one has been able to control for a thousand years actually has a master!" The Minister, who had been forced into a corner by the ice crystals, could not help but widen his eyes, and then a flash of wild joy surged in his eyes. "As long as I have this trump card, I will be able to oppose General Budo. Truly, Heaven is helping me!"

Esdeath waved her hand casually, and the ice crystals around her instantly shattered into blossoms of ice.

"This seems not bad!" Esdeath said, then ignored the Minister present and walked out of the palace with long strides. She was now impatient to go and test the abilities of this Teigu!

Outside the Imperial Capital, a figure wearing a cloak suddenly raised his head, revealing a young face; it was Lingyun, who had been traveling in this world for several years.

"This power seems very familiar, but why would it appear in this place? Forget it, I am going to the Imperial Capital anyway, I will go and take a look when the time comes!" He looked toward the direction of the Imperial Capital and spoke slowly.