Chapter 129

"Thank you!" Lingxiao clasped his hands, and did not decline, for restoring his strength was crucial at this moment.

Yun Tingcang once again focused his attention on Yun Tingliao, his hands forming a complex and ancient seal; the stellar power of the entire hall seemed to be drawn, gathering into a dazzling Milky Way that slowly poured into Yun Tingliao's body, temporarily forming a powerful seal that completely suppressed the spread of the annihilating force.

After doing all this, Yun Tingliao's breath remained weak, but it no longer continued to deteriorate, as if time had stood still upon him.

"His injury cannot be treated by ordinary means." Yun Tingcang said in a deep voice, "It requires the 'Bishui Xiyue' from the depths of the 'Jiuyou Han Yuan,' the land of utmost yin and cold, aided by my own origin, to gradually dispel that annihilating force and reunite the soul and spirit."

His gaze swept over Lingxiao and the others: "But Jiuyou Han Yuan is a forbidden land of the demon realm, extremely cold and bone-piercing, with ferocious beasts lurking; even demon kings dare not venture deep. Obtaining the Bishui Xiyue is no easy task."

"Moreover, I myself am injured and still need to attend to my younger brother's recovery; I am truly stretched thin…"

Bishui Xiyue—I never expected it to be nowhere to be found in the spiritual realm, yet it would be in the demon realm, but what are we to do! Lingxiao couldn't help but frown, for now not only does Yun Tingliao need it, but his Rourou also needs it…

Lingxiao pondered slightly, lowered his eyes, and said in a deep voice: "The Third Prince was injured while saving my human disciples; this matter, I, Ling, cannot shirk responsibility."

"Master, your injury……" Luo Changfeng urged anxiously.

"It's fine; after taking the pill, I've improved considerably." Lingxiao waved his hand, his attitude resolute.

Shi Ran also stepped forward, her heterochromatic eyes firm: "I will go too." Perhaps her demonic power attribute could better adapt to that environment, and she also wished to stay by her master's side.

Wei Yuzhu was even more unreserved: "Your Majesty, I volunteer to go!"

Yun Tingcang looked at them, his silver vertical pupils revealing no joy or anger: "Since you insist, then go. Ji Zongguan will give you the map and token, but whether you can obtain it depends on your abilities."

He paused, his voice turning icy once more: "As for that black-robed man…… I, will mobilize all the demons of the demon realm to find him; whoever dares to harm my wolf clan's descendants must pay the price!"

As his words fell, he flicked his sleeve, a gentle force wrapping around Yun Tingliao, and both figures instantly vanished into the depths of the hall.

That oppressive pressure also dissipated with it.

Luo Changfeng and Shi Ran exhaled in relief, only then discovering their backs soaked in cold sweat.

The Ji Zongguan mentioned by the Demon Emperor was precisely the woman who had just guided them; she appeared silently once more, holding four jade slips and a cold bone talisman in her hand: "These are the map of Jiuyou Han Yuan and the markings of areas where Bishui Xiyue may grow. This bone talisman can help you resist some of the cold, but remember, do not venture deep into the cold abyss's core, for there…… lies an ancient remnant of great terror."

Receiving the jade slips and bone talisman, feeling the lurking chill and ancient demon script within, the four knew that the next leg of their journey might be even more arduous than facing the black-robed man.

But to save Yun Tingliao, they would not hesitate to enter the dragon's pool and tiger's den.

"Delay is not advisable; we shall set out immediately." Lingxiao took the Wan Yao Blood Soul Pill, feeling the surging medicinal power dissolve, and said in a deep voice.

Their gazes met, all filled with resolve.

The new challenge lay before them.

Ji Zongguan led Lingxiao's group out of the Celestial Hall with a blank expression, without further pleasantries, merely handing Wei Yuzhu a bone token engraved with demon script: "Holding this token allows unobstructed departure from the Holy City; travel westward ten thousand li, and you will see the entrance to the cold abyss. The Emperor has ordered that checkpoints along the way will not obstruct, but within the cold abyss, life and death are left to fate."

"Thank you." Lingxiao took over the conversation, slightly nodding. This steward's aura was inwardly restrained, his cultivation unfathomable; though his attitude was cold, he did not deliberately make things difficult, which was already a great fortune.

Leaving the oppressive Holy City, the four instantly turned into streaks of light, following the jade slip map as they sped westward.

The Wan Yao Blood Soul Pill indeed proved extraordinarily effective; the surging vitality and stellar power merged into Lingxiao's limbs and bones, not only quickly repairing his sword wounds but also gradually expelling and refining the remnants of the entangling annihilating force. His pallid complexion visibly regained its rosy hue, and the sword aura emanating from his body once again became condensed and sharp. Though not fully restored to peak, he now had the strength to fight again.

Wei Yuzhu, Shi Ran, and Luo Changfeng each took their pills, adjusting and digesting. The pill Yun Tingcang bestowed upon Luo Changfeng and Wei Yuzhu was a "Tianyao Ningyuan Dan," greatly replenishing their depleted spiritual power and even loosening the bottleneck of their cultivation. As for the pill given to Shi Ran, it was somewhat peculiar—not purely for replenishing spiritual power, but carrying a tranquil, calming effect that harmonized yin and yang, perfectly helping her suppress the restless abyssal demonic power within her from devouring shadows, causing the bloodiness in her eyes to fade considerably.

Wei Yuzhu glanced at Shi Ran, her heart stirred; that red thread entwining seemed not to have appeared for a long time, a pity that Ruan Xinli was not here, otherwise she could tell whether Shi Ran's condition had worsened or improved.

In the western borders of the demon realm, the deeper they went, the more desolate and strange the scenery became. The land gradually gave way to grayish frozen soil, vegetation sparse, only some cold-resistant moss and low shrubs glimmering with ice-crystal light. The temperature in the air plummeted sharply, breath turning to ice, the biting wind like knives scraping across, mixed with pure yin-cold demonic energy, penetrating everywhere to erode both flesh and soul.

Had it not been for the bone talisman given by Ji Zongguan emitting a faint warm light, forming a weak protective shield, merely enduring this journey's extreme cold would have made it impossible for cultivators below Golden Core to take a single step.

"What terrifying cold……" Luo Changfeng couldn't help but shiver, mobilizing spiritual power to resist, "This is merely the outskirts."

Lingxiao's expression grew solemn: "Conserve spiritual power; the cold abyss within will likely be even more brutal."

Several days later, a scene resembling the edge of the world appeared before them.

It was an incomparably vast abyss, its opposite shore invisible, only endless, rolling grayish-white cold mist. From beneath the abyss came a soul-shuddering extreme chill and some ancient, deathly, heart-pounding aura. Standing at the edge and looking down, one could only see tens of zhang below blocked by thick, impenetrable cold mist, deeper still a realm of eternal darkness and death. This was Jiuyou Han Yuan.

The light from the bone talisman flickered uncertainly here, obviously under immense pressure.

"The map indicates that Bishui Xiyue usually grows in the extreme cold caves of the abyss cliffs, or in places where cold veins converge." Lingxiao carefully sensed the information in the jade slip, "We must search downward along the cliff, utmost caution, for this place certainly holds more than just severe cold."

He looked toward Shi Ran: "Rourou, your demonic power attribute is special; perhaps you resist cold better, and your perception is keener—you shall lead the way. Changfeng, you will support the flanks, setting up warning talisman formations. Shishu Wei, you will provide central support. I will take the rear."

"Yes, Master (Elder)!"

Arrangements made, the four descended cautiously. Upon entering the abyss's range, that terrifying cold instantly surged more than tenfold! The bone talisman's light flashed violently, as if it might extinguish at any moment. Bone-chilling cold ignored protective spiritual light, madly drilling into the body, freezing blood, stiffening meridians, even making thought seem sluggish.

Shi Ran's body automatically emanated a layer of faint black-gold mist, blocking most of the cold outside; her heterochromatic eyes flickered as she carefully discerned the energy flow on the cliff. Luo Changfeng continuously cast Yang Fire talismans, briefly dispersing the surrounding cold mist to open a small visible area. Wei Yuzhu's cinnabar sword burned like fire, Lingxiao's sword intent faintly emitted, his sharp sword qi shredding the approaching cold.

The descent was slow and arduous. The cliff was not smooth, covered with various oddly shaped ice spikes and frozen soil boulders; occasionally one could see moss and ice crystals emitting a faint blue or pale white light, providing a weak light source in this land of death.

Suddenly, a huge shadow lunged from the front-left, accompanied by a piercing shriek!

It was a creature resembling a giant bat, yet its entire body was composed of ice, wings spanning several zhang, claws flashing with icy blue light, and the breath from its mouth instantly froze the surrounding air into ice crystals.

"Careful! It's an Ice Bat of the Cold Abyss!" Lingxiao warned as he spoke, his sword qi already striking first!

Hiss—

A dazzling sword light flashed, and the ice bat was instantly severed in two, shattering into countless ice shards. But before anyone could catch their breath, more shrieks echoed from all sides within the cold mist, dense blue lights flickering awake—who knew how many ice bats had been startled!

"Form the formation! Do not let yourselves be scattered!" Lingxiao shouted low, his sword light expanding into a ring-shaped sword curtain, shielding the group at its center.

Luo Changfeng swiftly threw out formation flags, setting up a simple Fire Formation; the scorching flames temporarily repelled the swarming ice bat swarm. Shi Ran's eyes flashed with a fierce light; her abyssal demonic power transformed into countless shadowy tendrils, precisely piercing into the ice bats' bodies, instantly draining and shattering them, with extremely high efficiency. Wei Yuzhu's sword light protected her body, slashing down the stragglers.

Each ice bat's individual strength was roughly equivalent to a human Golden Core cultivator, but their numbers were overwhelming, and they seemed able to merge into the cold mist, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, fearless of death. The battle lasted for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, after which the four finally cleared this wave of ice bats, each having expended considerable energy.

"This place is perilous; we must find the Bishui Xiyue as soon as possible!" Lingxiao said in a deep voice, feeling that even more terrifying aura lurked deeper within.

The group continued descending, even more cautiously. During this time, they encountered several more waves of attacks: ice pythons capable of spraying soul-freezing cold breath, and formless vengeful spirits condensed from resentment and cold air; each encounter left the four exhausted. Though Lingxiao's wounds had improved, continuous exertion again hinted at a tendency to relapse. Luo Changfeng's talisman consumption was enormous. Wei Yuzhu's face turned pale, her spiritual power nearing exhaustion. Only Shi Ran, relying on the devouring nature of her abyssal demonic power, grew bolder with battle, but the bloodiness in her eyes again intensified, her aura becoming increasingly strange.

Finally, after descending nearly a thousand zhang, Shi Ran suddenly stopped, pointing to a cave mouth hidden beneath a massive ice spike on the lower left: "Master, there…… there is a strong fluctuation of extreme cold energy, and very pure, as if…… there were a lotus-like life force!"

The group's spirits lifted, and they hurried closer. The cave mouth emitted a faint琉璃-colored halo, and the surrounding cold seemed to have gentled somewhat.

Carefully parting the ice spikes to enter the cave, the interior suddenly opened up. At the center of the cave lay a small cold pool, its water clear to the bottom, yet emitting a terrifying chill capable of freezing soul and spirit. And in the pool's center, a crystal-clear, 透明 pearl, as if carved from the purest琉璃, quietly blossomed with light.

"That琉璃 pearl" is a masterpiece painted by nature's brush, combining the clear blue of water, the rhythm of tides, and the pure radiance of moonlight, while simultaneously embodying the firmness and beauty of ice, creating a poetic realm of clarity, tranquility, and a hint of mistiness. Whether one calmly observes its clarity or feels its depth, it inspires endless reverie.

This is the Bishui Xiyue!

However, just as the group rejoiced, preparing to step forward and harvest it——

"Roar——!!!"

An earth-shaking roar exploded from deep within the cave, the entire cavern violently shaking, ice spikes clattering down!

Accompanied by the roar, a pressure far more terrifying, far more ancient than all the demonic beasts outside combined surged forth like a tide, instantly pressing the bone talisman's light down to only a thin layer!

The waters of the cold pool churned, a massive figure slowly rising from the pool bottom.

It was a giant python covered entirely in dark blue scales, yet a crystalline single horn grew upon its head, a pair of vertical pupils pure silver-white, devoid of any emotion, only endless coldness and deathly stillness. Its body was so colossal it nearly filled half the cave, the aura it exuded shockingly reaching the Demon Venerable level (equivalent to the human race's Mahayana stage)!

"Ice Soul Glazed Flood Dragon... Guardian Demonic Beast!" Ling Xiao's face was incomparably grave, gripping the sword in his hand tight.

This was absolutely the greatest crisis of their trip!

The Glazed Flood Dragon's silver-white pupils locked onto these uninvited guests, especially Shi Ran, closest to the Glazed Lotus. It roared once more, freezing cold breath like a burst dam instantly submerging the entire cave!

"Retreat!"

Ling Xiao shouted loudly, sword light exploding, transforming into an indestructible barrier blocking the very front!

Boom!!!

The cold breath slammed into the sword curtain, emitting a heaven-shaking huge sound. Ling Xiao's whole body shook violently, a trace of fresh blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, the injuries just suppressed triggered again!

Luo Changfeng's talismans and Wei Yuzhu's sword light shattered like paper paste before this terrifying cold breath. Shi Ran screamed, abyssal demonic power frantically surging out, forming a black-gold vortex, laboriously devouring and dissolving part of the cold breath, but she was also knocked flying backward by that massive force, crashing heavily into the ice wall.

In just one strike, all four were injured!

The Glazed Flood Dragon slowly coiled its body, freezing killing intent firmly locking onto everyone. It had guarded this lotus for who knew how many years, absolutely would not allow anyone to lay a finger on it.

Ling Xiao wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth, eyes sharp as a sword, saying in a low voice: "Changfeng, Junior Uncle Wei, set up a trapping array to hold it for an instant! Ranran, find a way to disrupt it! I'll handle the main attack! Must end the battle quickly!"

Facing a powerful enemy far surpassing their own side, besides fighting to the death, there was no other way!

The great battle, on the verge of breaking out!