Chapter 890: Dual Breakthroughs

The cold wind, like a blade, howls as it slices the ten‑thousand‑year ancient ice of the Fa Tian Sect's forbidden land.

In this ultra‑cold abyss designated as forbidden ground by the sect, the temperature is extremely low, the wind howls, seeming able to freeze a person's soul. Yet amid this ice‑bound wasteland stands a dwelling entirely built of ice crystals, like a dreamlike crystal palace, quietly towering.

The dwelling is wholly transparent, crystal clear, exuding a chilling aura that makes the heart race. Sunlight refracts through the ice, creating multicolored beams, making the interior seem like a fairyland.

The surface of the dwelling is covered with intricate sealing runes; every seven days a new icy chain spontaneously solidifies, and now seven chains are fully entwined.

This is the Fa Tian Sect's supreme secret technique "Seven Tribulations Cold Prison"; only those of great willpower dare attempt it.

Inside the dwelling, Yang Lan sits cross‑legged.

Her long hair is already encrusted with frost crystals, and tiny ice shards have formed between her brows.

The tragedy ten years ago remains vivid: Yan Buji's golden blade piercing her sister's heart, the spray of blood, her sister's final parting smile, and the phrase that floated with the messenger talisman, "Live on."

"Sister, I will use his blood to sacrifice for you."

Yang Lan slowly spreads her palm, and a half‑page of an ancient book, shimmering with golden light, levitates.

Arcane Dao Script!

It is the priceless treasure that the sisters earned after nine near‑deaths, and thus it attracted the attention of that dog‑thief Yan Buji!

The text on the page begins to flow, turning into countless golden specks that sink into her brow.

In an instant, her sea of consciousness roils with towering waves.

The ultimate chill of the "Nine Turns Frost Heaven Manual," the uncanny transformations of the "Mystic Yin True Scripture," and the vast divine awareness of the "Grand Void Divine Illumination Scripture" begin to merge under the harmonization of the Arcane Dao Script.

Within Yang Lan's meridians, the flow of spiritual energy constantly reshapes, at times surging like a glacier, at others like a hidden current in a dark pool.

"Not enough..."

She suddenly bites her tongue tip, spitting a mouthful of refined blood onto the script. As golden light surges, the secret of the fourth technique, "Ice Soul Nirvana Technique," emerges! It requires using one's own body as a furnace to forcibly fuse the disparate arts.

The temperature inside the dwelling drops sharply, and Yang Lan's skin begins to develop fine cracks, the blood freezing before it can seep out.

In the first year, her left arm fully crystallized; in the third year, her right leg lost sensation; in the seventh year, her heart ceased beating. Yet under the empowerment of the Arcane Dao Script, her divine consciousness remained clear, watching her flesh gradually turn into ice sculpture.

Until the winter solstice of the tenth year, when the final cold‑prison chain began to shatter, Yang Lan opened her eyes.

"Break."

With a casually uttered single word, the seven chains shattered simultaneously. The entire crystal dwelling exploded with a thunderous blast; above the Mystic Frost Sect, the swirling snow halted, then rolled upward, condensing at ten thousand meters into an ice mirror spanning a hundred miles. Reflected in the mirror is a figure in white, surpassing the snow.

Yang Lan stands on air, lightly tapping her fingertips; a mountain peak a thousand li away is instantly cloaked in frost, then turned to powder. She feels the brand‑new power coursing within her!

It is no longer mere icy force, but the "Profound Ice Soul" that fuses four supreme techniques.

"Another Elder has broken through!"

"The mighty aura of the Refining Void Stage!"

We still don't know when we will break through. The disciples within the sect send waves of awe and envy, but for Yang Lan it is of no consequence.

"Yan Buji..." she looks south, the chill in her eyes deepening, "Your life, I will take it myself!"

On the other side, the north of the Myriad Way Mountains houses the Burial Dragon Abyss, said to be the landing place of a true dragon from antiquity!

Perpetual dragon demonic energy forms a blood‑colored mist, turning the place into a forbidden realm even Transcendent God cultivators dare not tread lightly.

At the abyss's bottom, a shirtless man endures the onslaught of countless strands of dragon demonic energy.

His skin is already ragged, exposing stark white bones, yet the battle fervor in his eyes burns ever brighter.

"Again!"

Ye Zhi Long roars, hammering a fist toward the dragon‑shaped demonic spirit lunging from the mist.

At the moment of impact, his arm bone emits a brittle crack under the strain, yet it shatters the spirit. The scattered dragon demonic energy is inhaled through his open mouth, provoking even greater agony within his body.

Years ago when he first entered this place, he was nearly torn to pieces by a strand of dragon demonic energy.

But now, he actively devours this terrifying energy capable of annihilating Transcendent God cultivators.

"The path of Martial Dao is, after all, defying heaven to change destiny!"

In Ye Zhi Long's mind, the scene from ten years ago replays repeatedly: the fierce battle with Yan Buji, making Ye Zhi Long realize that even if the opponent's Martial Dao realm is lower, they can still forcibly level the combat power through myriad means!

"Interesting!"

This battle fervor can only be cleansed with the opponent's blood!

"My Martial Dao respects neither heaven nor earth, nor honors ghosts or gods; it trusts only myself!"

With a long howl, Ye Zhi Long suddenly leaps into the deepest part of the Burial Dragon Abyss.

There, a complete true dragon residual thought dwells, the manifested final will of that ancient colossal dragon.

"Human, you seek death!" the true dragon residual thought roars thunderously.

Ye Zhi Long does not reply, merely assuming the most basic opening stance. His Martial Dao has always been like this—no flamboyant techniques, only pure strength and will.

When the dragon claw strikes down, Ye Zhi Long's body is nearly crushed.

Yet he laughs, a wild, unrestrained grin.

"Destiny, as they call it, is nothing but chains!"

"My Martial Dao!"

"Revolution! Heaven! Destiny!"

In the final roar, his fist pierces the dragon's head. The true dragon residual thought emits a resentful wail, turning into countless specks of light that merge into his body. The Burial Dragon Abyss begins to collapse, while Ye Zhi Long's shattered body reassembles within golden light.

When the smoke clears, a brand‑new figure steps out of the void. Every inch of his skin flows with a pale golden radiance, and his gestures stir resonance throughout heaven and earth.

Martial Dao Refining Void, complete!

Ye Zhi Long looks south, battle fervor raging in his eyes: "Yan Buji, this time I will not let you go!"

Time rewinds ten years.

Yan Buji stands on a barren cliff, pinching a messenger jade slip between his fingertips, golden light swirling in his eyes.

"Yang Lan has gone into seclusion?" he snorts coldly, crushing the jade slip, "Indeed clever."

Since killing Yang Qing in the Dream Realm battle, Yan Buji has been continuously searching for Yang Lan's whereabouts.

Unfortunately, this woman acts extremely cautiously—she not only completely hides her whereabouts but also relies on the Fa Tian Sect, making her hard to catch in a short time. Although Yan Buji is confident in his formidable strength, he wouldn't be so foolish as to directly attack the sect; after all, the Fa Tian Sect houses a Hall of Sages and Saints, and there must be a Mahayana cultivator overseeing it!

「Since I can't kill her, I'll let her live a few more years first. 」He curled the corner of his mouth into a cold smile, 「Besides, the Dao Strategy Profound Chapter will eventually be mine. 」

He waved his hand, and several streaks of golden light shot out, transforming into a few forged pages of the "Dao Strategy Profound Chapter", scattering throughout the South Court. Although these fakes lack the true chapter's ability to deduce, they are enough to make greedy people fight tooth and nail, causing confusion.

After all, Yan Buji has more and more enemies in the South Court, and spreading the Dao Strategy Profound Chapter is all benefit and no harm for him.