Chapter 30: True and False

"Do you feel it?" Lin Xue asked softly.

Zhang Jun nodded; the connection between them had never been this strong, almost telepathic.

The Ice Soul sensed something was wrong, face full of doubt: "Impossible! How could you……"

Lin Zhen shouted on the screen: "Stop them quickly! Don't let them complete the true Yin-Yang Union!"

The Ice Soul wasted no words, both hands thrust out, icy power surging across the sky.

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue stood back to back, simultaneously circulating their techniques.

"This time we've gone too far." Zhang Jun gave a bitter laugh.

"This is the real Lin Xue." Mo Wuyou's voice was soft, yet it struck Lin Xue's heart like a heavy hammer.

Lin Xue stumbled on her feet, almost unable to stand.

She looked at the person in the ice crystal who looked exactly like her, feeling as if she were dreaming.

"This… impossible…"

Zhang Jun supported Lin Xue, staring at the ice crystal.

Mo Wuyou sighed: "Twenty years ago, Heavens Beyond Heaven had their eyes on the Ice Soul Body. They wanted to use the power of the Nine Yang True Classic, and the Lin family was just right."

"So… I'm just a container?" Lin Xue's voice was so small it could barely be heard.

Mo Wuyou walked to the console, pulled up a bunch of data: "You two were originally one person, one yin one yang. Heavens Beyond Heaven split Lin Xue into two, creating a yin-yang balance."

Zhang Jun's mind was in turmoil. No wonder Lin Xue's Ice-Cold Heart Classic and his Profound Yin True Art complemented each other so well—it was all planned.

"Then… my past… my life… is all fake?" Lin Xue grabbed her hair, looking miserable.

"Not entirely." Mo Wuyou said, "You have a part that's real, but someone gave you a mission—find the Zhang Sect Heir, do some Yin-Yang Union."

The "Lin Xue" inside the ice crystal spoke again, her voice echoing directly in everyone's minds: "We were originally one, separated for so long—it's time to reunite."

Zhang Jun gripped Lin Xue's hand.

Lin Xue glanced at Zhang Jun, she could feel his intentions, but the Soul-Eating Poison flared, pain making her unable to straighten her waist, black aura on her forehead.

"No time left." Mo Wuyou's expression was grave: "Only Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow can cure the poison, and the ice marrow is inside the ice crystal."

At that moment, the lab's big screen suddenly lit up, a blurry figure emerged. Gradually the image cleared, a middle-aged man in a white robe appeared, looking quite fierce.

"Mo Wuyou, long time no see." The man's voice was low and deep.

Mo Wuyou's face changed: "Heavenly Lord!"

"Heavenly Lord?" Zhang Jun instantly became alert, "The boss of Heavens Beyond Heaven?"

The Heavenly Lord chuckled: "Zhang Jun, son of Zhang Tiangang, we finally meet."

Zhang Jun clenched his fists.

"Simple." The Heavenly Lord pointed at the ice crystal: "Use your Yin-Yang Power to awaken the Ice Soul, and I'll give you Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow to save Lin Xue."

Zhang Jun was now in a bind. If he refused, Lin Xue would surely die; if he agreed, no one knew what the "Lin Xue" inside the ice crystal would do after waking.

"Don't listen to him!" Mo Wuyou exclaimed, "Heavens Beyond Heaven just wants to use the Ice Soul Body and your Yin-Yang Power to practice the Nine Yang True Classic!"

The Heavenly Lord sneered: "Mo Wuyou, you think hiding in Spirit Vulture Peak keeps you safe? My men are already at the mountain's base."

The screen switched, showing hundreds of people in black clothes climbing the snow mountain, various weapons visible in the snow.

Lin Xue suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood. She grabbed Zhang Jun's sleeve, weak and breathless, saying: "Save me…"

Zhang Jun looked at Lin Xue, heart aching. He looked at the Heavenly Lord: "Fine, I agree, but you must give me the ice marrow first."

The Heavenly Lord shook his head: "First awaken the Ice Soul, then I'll give the ice marrow."

Zhang Jun had no choice but to nod.

Mo Wuyou opened the path to the ice crystal; Zhang Jun supported Lin Xue as they walked over.

"No matter what happens, don't forget who you are." Mo Wuyou whispered in Zhang Jun's ear, secretly slipping him a crystal core: "If things truly become impossible, this can help you."

Zhang Jun hid the crystal core, walked to the ice crystal, took a deep breath, placed his hand on the ice surface, and began circulating the Yin-Yang Union.

Ripples spread across the ice crystal; the "Lin Xue" inside opened her eyes wide, eagerly sucking in the energy Zhang Jun fed in. Zhang Jun felt his own power being drawn away, but he secretly held back—a portion of Yin-Yang Power quietly entered Lin Xue's body beside him.

"Power… this feels so good…" the "Lin Xue" inside the ice crystal closed her eyes, looking very pleased.

The ice crystal slowly melted, turning into a blue stream flowing down. A person who looked exactly like Lin Xue stepped out, her eyes ice-blue, looking somewhat frightening.

"I am the Ice Soul, finally out." She stretched, a chill rising from her body.

The Heavenly Lord laughed on the screen, looking quite pleased: "Good, now give them the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow."

The Ice Soul snorted coldly, waved a hand, and the whole lab froze over. Mo Wuyou reacted quickly, hastily putting up a protective shield.

"You think I'll listen to you?" the Ice Soul mocked, "You sealed me for twenty years—I saw through your little tricks long ago."

The Heavenly Lord's face looked grim.

"Price?" the Ice Soul laughed, "Now I have the Ice-Cold Heart Classic and Zhang Jun's Yin-Yang Power—who can do anything to me?"

She looked at the failing Lin Xue: "As for you, my vessel, it's time to return what's mine."

The Ice Soul reached out to grab Lin Xue's neck; Zhang Jun stepped in front: "Don't move her!"

The Ice Soul sneered: "Zhang Jun, don't you want to know why we were split into two?"

At that moment, the Heavenly Lord's projection suddenly changed, the face becoming clearer—it was Lin Zhen, Lin Xue's father!

"Dad?" Lin Xue stared in shock.

Lin Zhen sighed: "Xue'er, don't blame Father; for studying the Nine Yang True Classic, I had no choice."

"You… you're actually the boss of Heavens Beyond Heaven?"

Lin Zhen nodded: "Twenty years ago, I discovered the secret of the Ice Soul Body in the Lin family bloodline. To create this, I could only split you into two—one bearing the yin-cold origin, the other retaining human feelings."

The Ice Soul snorted: "He just wants to use us to open the Nine Yang True Classic."

Lin Zhen continued: "The Nine Yang True Classic holds a great secret that concerns the entire martial world. I need yin-yang balance to unlock it."

Zhang Jun suddenly recalled what Old Mo and his mother had said—behind the Dragon Clan lay something even more formidable. It turned out everything was the scheming of Lin Zhen and Heavens Beyond Heaven!

"You used us… you used everyone…" Zhang Jun was furious.

Lin Zhen had a blank expression.

Bing Po suddenly struck out, slapping at Lin Xue. Zhang Jun blocked in front, taking the palm directly, his chest freezing over.

"Zhang Jun!" Lin Xue was terrified.

Bing Po sneered: "You two, one is about to die, the other is not far off, and you still want to fight me?"

Zhang Jun forced himself to stand up.

Lin Xue grabbed Zhang Jun's arm, and their breaths connected again. Strangely, the Yin Yang power that Zhang Jun had secretly injected into Lin Xue's body began to take effect, reacting with her internal Cold Ice Heart Scripture.

"If we combine our strength, can we match her?" Lin Xue asked.