The Abyssal Sea, beneath the ocean’s depths.
“Great King, the master of the Silent Ice Mountain was besieged and slain by a group of cultivators led by the deputy city lord of Scarlet Cloud City, the ‘Nine-Headed Serpent Ancestor,'” one of the five Abyssal Attendants reported respectfully, bowing low. “The cultivators succeeded in their ambush because among them was an exceptionally terrifying individual—one who specializes in soul techniques. Once unleashed, his soul attack spans a full million miles, affecting all within its range… The ordinary Hunyuan lifeforms suffered severe weakening, and the guard forces failed to adequately protect their king. That is why the master of the Silent Ice Mountain ultimately perished.”
“Soul techniques?” The towering figure of the ‘Abyssal Sea Master,’ seated cross-legged on the ocean floor, opened his eyes. His cold, abyssal gaze flickered with surprise.
The soul…
The soul is the foundation of life. To wield soul techniques with such devastating power—even after being imprisoned in the Sacred Realm for countless ages, he had never heard of such a thing before.
This Abyssal Sea Master, after all, was of relatively low status. Had he been of higher standing, he would have known that among cultivators below the level of Hunyuan lifeforms, none had ever manifested soul techniques of such terrifying potency.
“How powerful was his soul technique, that even Divine Emperor-level guards could not protect the master of the Silent Ice Mountain?” the Abyssal Sea Master inquired.
“From our investigations, we learned that ordinary Hunyuan lifeforms at the mid-level Divine Emperor stage would perish without exception if caught within that soul domain. Late-stage Divine Emperor-level beings would also suffer casualties, though fewer in number. Most would retain only ten to twenty percent of their strength. As for the Divine Emperor-perfected guards, their power was typically halved!” one attendant answered reverently.
The Abyssal Sea Master felt a chill in his heart.
How terrifying!
“What is his name?” the Abyssal Sea Master demanded.
“We questioned the Silent Howlers, but they did not know. This soul-attacking cultivator is newly risen to prominence. Later, we interrogated numerous other Hunyuan lifeforms along the way and finally learned that the cultivators refer to this master of soul techniques as ‘Flying Snow Divine Emperor,'” the attendant replied respectfully. “This Flying Snow Divine Emperor also resides in Scarlet Cloud City and appears to hold an extremely high status.”
“Flying Snow Divine Emperor?” The Abyssal Sea Master silently committed the name to memory. “When I next emerge to hunt, I shall make sure to eliminate this Flying Snow Divine Emperor first.”
Originally,
among the cultivators of the Sacred Realm, the one he most desired to kill was ‘Windcloud One Leaf.’ But now, in his heart, the priority had shifted—Flying Snow Divine Emperor must die first!
Those who had reached the ‘half-step Hunyuan’ level in two different Daos were rare, but he had heard of such beings even before his imprisonment. Yet a soul technique of this magnitude? Never before! Such a monstrous cultivator, if he were to break through the final shackles and ascend to become a Hunyuan lifeform… A soul-specialized Hunyuan would be an unprecedented threat. He had to be eliminated.
“No rush, no rush.”
“My next emergence shall be the time for action.” The Abyssal Sea Master closed his eyes once more, and the five attendants silently withdrew with utmost deference.
—
The Heartvoid Continent, the Broken Tooth Mountain Range.
Dongbo Xueying, clad in white robes, stood alone at the foot of a towering mountain on a floating island, gazing upward at its imposing form.
The mountain was a deep, ominous red, its surface etched with countless intricate patterns that pulsed with unfathomable mysteries.
“The Thousand-Eyed Being was a terrifying Hunyuan lifeform capable of wounding even ‘Meta.’ Its corpse has fragmented into countless floating islands,” Dongbo Xueying mused silently. “Those mysterious eyes are but a fraction of its form. Many of the unique locations across these islands are remnants of its remains. This mountain before me… must be formed from the powdered bones of its skeleton.”
A single speck of dust, a mountain unto itself.
Dongbo Xueying had been meditating here for a long time, for within this mountain lay the profound secrets of the Void Dao.
“Though these are mere fragments, unlike the intact corpses of Hunyuan lifeforms in the Sacred Realm, these scattered pieces are astonishing in their own right,” he reflected.
Each had its advantages.
The corpses of Hunyuan lifeforms in the Sacred Realm allowed him to witness complete Void techniques manifested through their bodies. However, ordinary Hunyuan lifeforms could only exert power at the Divine Emperor-perfected level at best. The techniques their bodies displayed were of little interest to him—merely useful for accumulating insights into the Void Dao.
As for the floating islands?
Too fragmented!
The mysterious eyes were the most intact. Dongbo Xueying had once scoured countless floating islands, studying those eyes, memorizing their internal sigil structures, and only then deducing his killer move in the Illusory Realm Dao.
And those eyes were the most complete remnants.
Other parts of the Thousand-Eyed Being’s body contained even more scattered fragments of knowledge. This mountain, for instance, might represent one-billionth of a terrifying technique the being once wielded. Too minuscule. Had it been even a tenth, Dongbo Xueying might have been able to simplify and deduce something. But with such scant traces, all he could do was draw inspiration—actual technique reconstruction was impossible.
Still, it was better than nothing.
Especially now that he had obtained the corpse of a ‘High-Level Hunyuan Lifeform’—the master of the Silent Ice Mountain. Though missing its heart and some blood, the body remained largely intact, allowing him to glimpse the countless techniques embedded within. Studying the remnants of the Thousand-Eyed Being in tandem only deepened his understanding.
“Be careful.”
“Many areas of these floating islands are perilous. Do not throw your lives away.”
Five Cosmic Gods from the Heartvoid Continent moved cautiously across the island, their detection arts active, wary of any lurking Deathblooms.
After half an hour, they finally reached their destination—only to freeze in shock.
“The ‘Flame-Rock Mountain’—the most enigmatic site on this island, brimming with treasures. Why are there no Deathblooms guarding it? There should be patrols!”
“How strange.”
“We steeled ourselves, prepared to sacrifice even our avatars for a chance at some relics. Yet here we are, right at the foot of the mountain, and not a single Deathbloom in sight.”
Though puzzled, they pressed onward.
Cosmic Gods of the Heartvoid Continent with avatar techniques often ventured into the Broken Tooth Mountain Range, gambling for fortune. At worst, they would lose an avatar—nothing more.
“Hm?”
As they drew closer, they spotted a white-robed youth standing at the mountain’s base, calmly observing its towering form.
“Flying Snow Divine Emperor!” The five Cosmic Gods gasped in unison.
Dongbo Xueying turned his gaze toward them.
“We pay our respects to the Flying Snow Divine Emperor,” they immediately bowed in reverence.
With a glance, Dongbo Xueying recognized them as fellow cultivators from the Heartvoid Continent. He nodded. “There are no Deathblooms around the Flame-Rock Mountain. You may take what relics you wish, but be cautious when leaving.”
“Thank you, Flying Snow Divine Emperor!” The five Cosmic Gods trembled with gratitude.
Inwardly, they rejoiced.
“So it’s because of the Flying Snow Divine Emperor! No wonder the Deathblooms are absent.”
“Those Deathblooms wouldn’t dare show themselves. Rumor has it even the Deathbloom Monarchs have been defeated by the Flying Snow Divine Emperor in battle!” they whispered excitedly among themselves.
Years ago,
Dongbo Xueying had single-handedly hunted down the Undying Nether Emperor, pursuing him even into the depths of the Hunyuan Void before finally slaying him.
That battle alone cemented his status as the undisputed strongest cultivator in the Heartvoid Continent.
Yet…
His legend only grew in the Broken Tooth Mountain Range. Tales spread of his clashes with the Monarchs—each ending in their defeat. Now, the Flying Snow Divine Emperor stood unchallenged as the supreme power across both the Heartvoid Continent and the Broken Tooth Mountain Range. Revered by all, his presence alone caused Deathblooms to scatter in fear.
“Truly terrifying. The Flying Snow Divine Emperor can effortlessly defeat the five Monarchs of the Broken Tooth Mountain Range. Weren’t they said to be the closest to becoming Hunyuan lifeforms? Is he on the verge of ascension?”
“Who knows? Regardless, his strength has soared far beyond what it was when he slew the Undying Nether Emperor. My master says his power has reached an inconceivable realm—he may become a Hunyuan lifeform at any moment.”
The five Cosmic Gods exchanged hushed words.
To them, the Flying Snow Divine Emperor was already a myth—a figure so overwhelmingly powerful that even Cosmic Gods could only marvel in awe.
—
Meanwhile, Dongbo Xueying continued his silent contemplation of the Flame-Rock Mountain’s intricate patterns, absorbing their secrets.
Then—
A sudden realization struck.
His avatars in the Sacred Realm, his homeworld, the Heartvoid Continent—all shared the same consciousness. Now, as insights collided across his myriad selves, a new revelation blossomed in his mind.
A brand-new method of Hunyuan Body Refinement emerged. Though he had devised countless variations before, this time—
He felt it.
Perhaps… this was the one.
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