Twelve magnificent sled dogs growled.
Behind them, on the ice cart, was a mountain of Bear King bones and rare century-old Snow Worm Tea.
Xue Lan's eyes were red as she carefully tied a hand-dyed, colorful sword tassel onto Ling Tian's jade dragon sword hilt.
"Senior Brother Ling, Elder Sister..."
Her voice was choked with sobs and reluctance.
Su Meier gently flicked her Nine-tailed, and the Qingqiu Secret Technique was instantly activated.
In a flash, she had transformed into a graceful young man in green robes with an ethereal demeanor.
The young man bowed slightly, elegantly fanning open a delicate folding fan with his right hand.
He mimicked a man's cupped-hand salute, his voice clear and resonant.
"Junior Sister Xue Lan, rest assured."
"When Brother Ling and I return from our travels in Dongji City, we will definitely bring back the finest rouge and powder from the Central Plains for you!"
With that, she playfully winked at Xue Lan through the gaps in her folding fan.
Ling Tian, standing nearby, happened to catch a glimpse of the fleeting, cunning eyes behind the fan.
His mouth twitched involuntarily.
This little girl was always so mischievous.
Then, Ling Tian shook his wrist downwards.
"Crack!"
All the ropes tethering the sled dogs fell off.
The Jade Dragon was unsheathed, transforming into a dazzling Sword Qi that tore through the wind and snow, soaring straight into the sky!
He conjured a Sword Incantation with his fingers.
The vast Sword Qi swept forth like raging waves, supporting the ice cart and slowly lifting it into the air.
"Everyone! The mountains are high, the waters are far, we shall meet again in the Jianghu!"
Ling Tian's voice clearly reached the ears of everyone in the tribe.
To the astonishment of the crowd, the ice cart was enveloped by Sword Qi.
Like an ice-blue meteor, it sped towards the edge of the ice plain.
Above the tribe, a lingering azure sword mark remained.
This was his farewell gift.
Three days later.
At the edge of the boundless ice plain, a blurry black line appeared.
Su Meier suddenly reached out and gently tugged on Ling Tian's sleeve.
"Brother Ling Tian, lend me some true Qi."
A green glow circulated at her fingertips, and her waist-length, snow-white hair visibly shortened to her shoulders.
Her brow bones subtly rose by three points, and her facial contours became more defined.
In the blink of an eye, she had transformed into a young Cultivator with cold eyes and an aloof demeanor.
"From now on, I am your Junior Brother Su Qing."
Her voice remained cold, and she then saluted Ling Tian: "Su Qing, Disciple of the Nanhai Cloud Sword Sect."
Ling Tian casually conjured a smooth ice mirror and held it before her.
"Hmm, with this appearance, no one should be able to recognize your true form as a Nine-tailed Sky Fox."
"Naturally!"
Su Meier, or rather, Su Qing, raised an eyebrow proudly.
"Our Qingqiu clan's transformation technique is our signature skill!"
"Unless an old monster from the Immortal Realm personally comes, no one will be able to see through it."
The fox-shaped Jade Pendant that hung from her waist now, with a thought, transformed into a three-foot green blade, hanging diagonally from her belt... Dongji City, shrouded in a thin mist, resembled a colossal profound iron beast prostrate on the earth, exuding a cold and majestic aura.
The city walls, a hundred zhang high, were covered in a thick layer of solid ice, reflecting a chilling blue light in the morning sun.
Twelve massive arrow towers, like the fangs of a giant beast, were strategically distributed around the city walls.
Outside the city walls, hundreds of snow camel caravans were busy unloading goods in the open space.
The white mist exhaled by the Cultivators outside the pass mingled with the chilling frost spewed by the caravans' ice soul horses.
They combined to form a hazy white fog.
On the city gate, two powerful characters were carved—"Zhenbei" (Guard the North).
The moment the two entered the city.
Ling Tian sensed over a dozen Divine Senses sweeping over them.
Among them, there was even one carrying the unique pressure of the Soul Emergence Realm!
Su Qing transmitted a light chuckle: "Senior Brother, it seems Dongji City is indeed full of hidden talents."
"Let's go to the market first and deal with this pile of bear bone Materials."
"Later, when we get to the place, Senior Brother, you just need to stand by with your sword and watch me perform."
"Ding-a-ling—"
With a crisp chime, the heavy curtain of the Xuanbao Pavilion was lifted by an invisible Sword Qi.
Su Qing, toying with a Bear King's tusk that shimmered with a faint starlight, stepped over the threshold.
His boot sole "accidentally" brushed against the lampshade of the ever-burning lamp at the entrance, lit with mermaid oil.
Amidst the flickering yellow glow, the lone eye of the shopkeeper behind the counter suddenly widened.
He stared intently at the bear tooth in Su Qing's hand.
That tusk, glowing with starlight, was precisely the condensed essence of the Ice Plain Bear King!
"Shopkeeper, give me an estimate."
Su Qing "snapped" open his folding fan and casually slammed the enormous Bear King's skull onto the profound iron counter.
It made a dull thud.
The visitor meant trouble!
A few beads of sweat appeared on the shopkeeper's forehead.
He carefully picked up the skull and then glanced at the other bone Materials piled beside it.
"Complete Bear King bones... excellent quality... seven hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones."
The shopkeeper's voice was a bit dry.
"Shopkeeper, your ice abacus certainly clatters loudly."
Su Qing gently tapped the counter with his folding fan, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips.
"But why is the price always so low?"
He extended a slender finger and lightly flicked a thick section of the Bear King's spine nearby.
"Buzz!"
Above the thirty-six vertebrae, a faint starlight suddenly appeared.
"Look at these naturally formed Big Dipper bone patterns."
Su Qing's tone was leisurely: "If those Artifact Refining fanatics from the Star-Casting Pavilion knew, wouldn't they be scrambling, clutching their 'Heavenly Creations,' to snatch it?"
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's lone pupil constricted slightly, and his fingers, clutching the profound ice abacus, tightened their grip.
"The market price for a complete Bear King's bone is at most eight hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones; my offer of seven hundred is already..."
"Wait!"
Su Qing's folding fan "swished" open completely, revealing the four bold, cursive characters: "See the subtle, know the profound."
"Shopkeeper, look here again..."
The tip of his fan suddenly pointed to the inner side of a rib bone.
As a trace of green light flashed from his fingertip, an extremely faint blood-colored Talismanic Incantation mark subtly emerged on the inner side of the rib bone.
"Three hundred years ago, when Tianyong City encircled and suppressed the remnants of the Blood Demon Sect, the 'Curse-Bearing Bone' they used seemed to be this kind, no?"
Behind the curtain at the back of the counter, a very faint clinking of cups was heard.
Ling Tian, who had been observing with his sword, moved his arm slightly, and his jade dragon sword gently pushed aside the corner of the curtain.
Behind the curtain, a middle-aged Cultivator in profound black Daoist robes was seated.
On the hem of the Daoist robe, five ancient Seal characters, "Tianyong Law Enforcement Hall," were conspicuously embroidered.
"Cough..."
The shopkeeper's lone eye darted about.
"This... this Curse-Bearing Bone requires special secret methods to refine; ordinary people simply cannot..."
He mused for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
"Young friend, you... name your price."
"No rush."
Su Qing slowly spread a huge Bear King's fur on the counter.
The fur was exceptionally well-preserved, exuding the chilling aura of the savage ice plain.
"Now, feel the direction of the sword marks on this fur."
A wisp of faint green fox fire ignited at his fingertip, sweeping across the fur.
On the fur, the seemingly chaotic sword injury marks.
Under the illumination of the fox fire, they subtly began to flow, as if forming a complete Heavenly Sword Array!
"If this diagram were to be copied and integrated into the Sect's mountain-protecting grand array..."
Su Qing had not finished speaking.
"Nine hundred!"
From behind the curtain, a hoarse voice suddenly came, "These Bear King bones and Bear King fur, Tianyong City wants them!"
But Su Qing seemed not to have heard, slowly rolling up the bear skin and sighing with feigned regret.
"Alas, what a pity."
"The Myriad Treasures Tower just sent me a message yesterday, saying that the Profound Yin Sect is willing to exchange two ice soul Pills for these Materials."
As he spoke, he seemingly inadvertently revealed a Jade Slip from his sleeve.
On the Jade Slip, a faint Profound Yin mark flashed by.
"However, I have always respected the Xuanbao Pavilion's century-old golden reputation..."
The shopkeeper's lone eye instantly became bloodshot, and his breathing grew heavy.
He slammed his hand onto the abacus and gritted his teeth, saying, "One thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones! And an additional three bottles of healing holy medicine, Profound Jade Rejuvenation Dew!"
"The shopkeeper is indeed straightforward!"
The look of regret on Su Qing's face instantly vanished, and his folding fan "snapped" shut.
"In that case, it's a deal!"
Just as the transaction was about to be completed, Su Qing reached out and lightly tapped the Bear King's skull.
As a green light flashed from his fingertip, a cluster of ice-blue mist, exuding a chilling Sword Intent, was extracted from within the skull.
"Shopkeeper, a trace of Sword Intent from when it was slain still remains in this Bear King bone, not yet completely dissipated."
Su Qing carefully sealed this cluster of ice-blue mist into a Jade Bottle.
"I used some special methods to Seal this Sword Intent, and it can be preserved for twelve hours."
He handed the Jade Bottle to the shopkeeper, lowering his voice.
If you were to resell it to those Sword Cultivator families, you could easily earn another five hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones.
"What?!"
The curtain was suddenly pulled open!
The envoy from Tianyong City stepped out, his eyes burning as he stared at the jade bottle in Su Qing's hand, and asked sharply, "Is it Sword Intent left by a Nascent Soul Stage Sword Cultivator?"
"That is natural."
Su Qing smiled slightly and handed over the jade bottle.
The moment the bottle touched the envoy's fingers, a thick layer of ice soul immediately formed on it.
"Last night at midnight, I slayed this fiend, and then used ice soul power to Seal it. I guarantee that when you comprehend it, the Sword Qi will surge as if you were there."
The Tianyong City envoy eagerly took the jade bottle, and his Divine Sense immediately probed into it.
A moment later, a look of wild joy appeared on his face. He quickly pulled out a bulging Spirit Stone bag from his Pregnant and threw it directly onto the counter.
"Twelve hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones! This Sword Intent also belongs to my Tianyong City!"
With that, he took the packaged Materials and quickly left the Xuanbao Pavilion.
Su Qing smilingly pushed the extra two hundred Spirit Stones in front of the shopkeeper.
"A thousand was agreed upon, and a thousand it is. As for that Sword Intent, it was merely an extra."
He changed the subject and leaned closer to the shopkeeper.
"These extra two hundred Spirit Stones are a token of respect from this Junior to the shopkeeper."
"Please, shopkeeper, do me a favor and tell this Junior where to go to inquire about information in Dongji City?"
The shopkeeper took the two hundred Spirit Stones and gave Su Qing a grateful look.
Then, he pulled out a small, non-gold, non-jade badge from under the counter and slipped it into Su Qing's hand.
"At midnight, in the Ghost Mask Cave of the Black Market in the south of the city."
"With this badge, find 'Baixiaosheng.' He should have what you want to know."
...Leaving Xuanbao Pavilion.
After walking a long distance, Ling Tian finally couldn't help but ask, "When did you learn to use ice soul to Seal Sword Intent?"
"Hehe."
Su Qing blinked slyly, "When you slayed the Bear King, I secretly used a Qingqiu Secret Technique to collect a wisp of residual Sword Intent aura, and then nourished it with profound ice power. That's all."
"It's enough to fool them."
...Midnight, Black Market in the south of the city.
The air here was filled with damp and cold mist.
On both sides of the aisle, lanterns emitting a faint phosphorescent glow hung, like countless ghostly eyes, swaying in the darkness.
From the crevices of the moss-covered stone steps, crimson unknown liquid seeped out, emitting a faint odor of decay mixed with blood.
In the mouths of the surrounding bronze beast heads, rusty iron cages were held.
Half-demon slaves huddled in the cages, and in their frightened vertical pupils, the cold glint of concealed weapons of the masked visitors was reflected.
A corner deep within the Black Market.
Su Qing skillfully pulled out a High-Grade Spirit Stone and slipped it into the hand of the guard at the entrance of the Ghost Mask Cave.
The heavy bronze door slowly opened.
A rich scent of decaying medicine, mixed with an even more pungent smell of blood, assailed them.
The light inside the cave was dim.
A mechanical construct was curled up in a huge profound iron cage.
Its mechanical eyeballs on its head slowly rotated, making a "clack clack" sound.
"What is it?" a mechanically synthesized voice asked.
Su Qing handed over the jade badge given by the shopkeeper.
"I'm inquiring about an Immortal ruin."
The mechanical eye of 'Baixiaosheng' flickered a few times, "Immortal ruins... there have indeed been recent appearances..."
Its voice was intermittent: "Such important information... requires... requires a treasure in exchange."
Ling Tian's face was expressionless. He flicked his finger lightly.
A purple Talisman flew out, hovering in front of 'Baixiaosheng'.
Above the Talisman, lightning surged, and the words "Thunder Talismanic Incantation" were faintly visible.
This was something he had carved after his Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage, containing a trace of heavenly thunder power.
'Baixiaosheng,' who took the Talisman, suddenly erupted, and its six mechanical arms began to spin wildly:
"Three hundred li to the east, Yunlan Mountain Range."
"A natural phenomenon, a seven-star alignment!"
"An Immortal ruin has appeared, and the barrier power still exists, allowing entry only for Cultivators below the Immortal Realm!"
Su Qing stepped forward, gently pressing his folding fan against 'Baixiaosheng's' cold brow.
"And what else?"
"Three... three High-Grade Spirit Stones for a detailed map!"
...Five days later.
The outskirts of the Yunlan Mountain Range were already crowded with people.
Tens of thousands of Cultivators gathered from all directions.
Among them were elite Disciples from various Sect forces, led by Elders, arriving on flying Magic Treasures.
There were also solitary Loose Cultivators with fierce auras, and some adventurers traveling in groups with unknown motives.
Ling Tian and Su Qing hovered on their swords, looking down.
Seven huge floating jade boats were particularly conspicuous, with the insignias of various Sects like "Tianyong" and "Chiyan" emblazoned on their hulls.
Just then, Su Qing suddenly reached out and tugged at Ling Tian's sleeve, pointing in a certain direction.
"Senior Brother Ling, look over there!"
Ling Tian looked in the direction he was pointing.
At the entrance of the ruin, eight already dilapidated giant stone pillars emitted a faint blue glow.
A faint, yet heart-palpitating pressure emanated from the area covered by the stone pillars.
That was the lingering aura of an Immortal Realm expert!
"Only those below the Immortal Realm may enter!"
A majestic voice came from deep within the ruin.
The voice contained true Qi fluctuations, as if directly acting upon the Divine Soul.
"There is indeed an Immortal Restriction," Ling Tian whispered.
Su Qing nodded: "It seems the intelligence is correct. Tonight at the hour of Chou, when the Yin Qi is strongest, this barrier Seal will be temporarily weakened."
Before he finished speaking, Ling Tian's gaze sharpened!
He saw a black, grotesque profound bone flying boat slowly descending in the air, about three hundred zhang away.
On the flag of the flying boat, two blood-red characters were clearly written—"Yin Puppets"!
Twelve corpse puppets clad in golden armor carried a magnificent blood-red sedan chair, descending from the flying boat.
The sedan curtain was lifted by a pale hand.
The person sitting inside was none other than Shi Wuya, the Young Lord of the Yinkui Sect, who had attacked Ling Tian and ambushed Su Meier's grandmother at the Tianzhen Pavilion auction!
"Half-step Soul Emergence Realm..."
Ling Tian's voice suddenly turned cold: "Behind the sedan curtain, there is also an Early Stage Immortal Realm Dao Protector hidden!"
Hearing the three words "Shi Wuya," Su Meier... no, Su Qing's body trembled violently!
Her nails dug deep into her palms, and her illusory youthful face instantly turned deathly pale, almost disintegrating.
Overwhelming hatred surged in her eyes!
On that day, at the Tianzhen Pavilion, Shi Wuya not only participated in the ambush of her grandmother, but also, in front of her, extracted the soul of a Qingqiu citizen and refined it into a corpse puppet!
This enmity was irreconcilable!
"Calm down!"
Ling Tian sensed her intense emotional fluctuations and immediately reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.
A warm true Qi slowly flowed into Su Qing's body, helping her forcibly calm down her almost runaway emotions.
"Now is not the time."
Ling Tian's voice was low and full of killing intent: "There is a Realm Restriction within the ruin, and his Immortal Realm Dao Protector cannot enter."
"Once we enter the ruin, it will be his death day!"
"Hoo..."
Su Qing took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She nodded, her voice a little hoarse: "I understand."
The closer the moment of revenge, the more absolute calm one must maintain.
Time, minute by minute, flowed by.
The atmosphere became increasingly tense, as if the air itself had solidified.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the eight glowing remnants of pillars and the invisible barrier that enveloped them.
Everyone wanted to rush in first and seize the initiative.
The hour of Chou was approaching!
"Crack!"
A crisp sound, like shattering glass, suddenly rang out in the silent night sky!
A tiny crack appeared on the invisible barrier that enveloped the entrance to the ruin!
The crack spread rapidly, like a spider web!
"The barrier is open!"
Someone shouted!
"Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!!"
In an instant, countless figures, like arrows shot from a bow, transformed into various colored streams of light.
They surged overwhelmingly towards the cracked barrier entrance!
Shadows flickered, Magic Treasure lights gleamed, and the sound of breaking air was incessant!
Ling Tian's gaze, however, remained fixed on Shi Wuya, a thousand meters away.
Only after seeing Shi Wuya embrace his enchanting female corpse puppet and transform into a bloody light, shooting into the crack, did he move.
"We're going in too!"
Ling Tian roared, and the jade dragon sword burst forth with dazzling light, engulfing him and Su Qing, and they followed closely, rushing into that unknown Immortal ruin!