In the heart of the extreme north, ancient layers of ice and snow have accumulated over countless eons. At a glance, the landscape is pure white without any impurities, cold to the point of near silence and lifelessness. The pervasive white frost mists strangely weaken spiritual perception, making this place full of the unknown, with many unexplored areas and hidden, indescribable dangers.
Behind a crystal-clear icy peak lies a tranquil lake, as blue as a gem. In a place where even the air currents are nearly frozen, the lake’s water remains liquid, possessing a peculiar, deep blue hue. As blizzards sweep across, ripples gently undulate on its surface, beautiful as a dream.
Yet, anyone who assumes that unfrozen lake water must not be extremely cold and dares to touch it might find their fingers instantly freezing, the frost spreading to their feet and internal organs, turning them into a real ice block, which would eventually erode into countless ice shards in the wind.
Above the lake, blizzards howl and whirl constantly, within which blades of ice form and icebergs the size of grinding stones drift.
By locating the lake, one can directly ascend through the blizzard without stopping or looking back, eventually reaching a place shrouded in hazy mist. Here, everything appears distorted and flickering, constantly shifting between visibility and invisibility. At the core of this mist floats a peculiar palace, entirely constructed from various forms of ice and snow. Inside this palace are many bizarre and wondrous sights, filled with rare opportunities, yet no one has ever truly ventured deep, only wandering its outer chambers. It is known among the northern sects as the “Ice and Snow Immortal Palace.”
Chen Zhao, wearing a fur hat and a silver ice-scaled robe, stood in a square room embedded with eight ice mirrors on its four walls, cautiously observing the scenes reflected in the mirrors. Beside him stood his junior apprentice and wife, Liu Zejun. Opposite them stood an elderly man with snow-white hair and skin like frozen ice, his aura matching Chen Zhao’s in strength.
After traveling southward and encountering Meng Qi, suffering defeat and returning, Chen Zhao had spent the past decade refining his skills. He had explored the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace several times, gaining valuable insights and finally ascending the third Celestial Ladder, becoming a Grand Master. Now, he had returned to attempt a deeper exploration. However, he still encountered numerous layers of restrictions. Although he had explored further than before, he ultimately halted here, unable to proceed further.
“Brother, let’s return. We’ve gained enough from this trip,” Liu Zejun said, still shaken by the recent danger.
The elderly man opposite, whose demeanor was as cold as carved ice, sneered, “Chen, don’t think that just because you’ve taken a half-step forward you can do as you please. We old fellows have remained at this level for decades, and even after multiple attempts at cooperation, we’ve never managed to penetrate deeper. Relying solely on yourself? Hmph, a foolish dream!”
The two had coincidentally encountered each other while exploring, both being driven here by a monster made of ice and triggered restrictions.
Chen Zhao’s eyes always seemed narrowed. He chuckled, “Not only have you grown old in years, but your hearts have aged as well, losing your sharpness and the courage to explore the unknown and face challenges. That’s why you remain stagnant, making no further progress.”
As he spoke, his gaze shifted across the eight mirrors made of cold ice, each displaying different scenes within the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace. Some showed areas obscured by swirling ice dust, others revealed paths paved with reflective ice bricks. There was also a pitch-black, despairing path faintly illuminated by a few distant blue lights, the main route leading to the palace’s core. This path was guarded by countless ice monsters as powerful as Grand Masters and terrifying restrictions capable of reducing Chen Zhao and others to dust. Each section explored would light an ice lamp, and since only the nearby lamps were lit, it was evident that no one had ever traversed the entire path.
As his words faded, Chen Zhao suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “It’s him again!”
Liu Zejun and the ice-like elder both turned their gaze. At the end of the main path appeared an ancient bronze coffin, covered in verdigris, exuding an aura of age and time. It seemed solid, yet there was something unfathomable about it.
The ancient bronze coffin paused for a few breaths before vanishing.
“It’s him!” Liu Zejun and Chen Zhao exchanged glances filled with confusion.
This bronze coffin resembled the one they had seen in the southern demonic ruins, but they could not understand the connection between the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace and that place.
“Hmph, making a big deal out of nothing,” the ice-like elder scoffed. This bronze coffin was hidden deep within the palace’s core, occasionally moving and revealing itself to those within the northern sects. Although it certainly sparked curiosity and questions, why did Chen Zhao have to act so surprised?
Before the three could avert their gaze, a figure suddenly appeared near the dark, despairing path. Dressed in a green robe and carrying a long sword, the figure’s profile was handsome, and his aura was empty and expansive, seemingly filling the entire visual field.
“Who is he?” The ice-like elder looked toward Chen Zhao and Liu Zejun, finding that they also did not recognize this man.
The figure’s profound and empty aura, along with the eerie sensation of omnipresence, instinctively made them feel that he was immensely powerful, surpassing even their wildest imaginations.
Chen Zhao murmured, “Could it be a Dharma Body expert from the south, a Land Immortal?”
As they spoke, they saw the green-robed man take a step forward, entering the dark path.
Instantly, every blue ice lamp along the entire path illuminated simultaneously, lighting up the darkness like a dream. The green-robed man’s figure seemed to exist simultaneously at every point along the path, including its end. Then, he entered the core, disappearing from the view of the Ice and Snow Immortal Mirror and from Chen Zhao and others’ sight.
“This…” Chen Zhao, Liu Zejun, and the ice-like elder stood with their mouths half-open, incredulously watching this scene. The dark path that had trapped countless northern sect experts across generations was as fragile as paper before the green-robed man, serving no purpose at all, as if it had never existed. Perhaps placing a few ice sculptures there would have been more effective!
They believed in the danger and terror of the dark path, never doubting it. Therefore, there was only one conclusion: the green-robed man’s strength indeed surpassed their imagination, far exceeding the records of Dharma Body experts in ancient texts.
This, this is the Dharma Body from the south?
In their shock, their vision blurred, and they saw four figures flying toward the entrance of the dark path.
One figure wore wide robes and a large sleeve, with his hair tied in a hairpin, his hands hanging low, his features exuding a strange charm of gods and demons, and his temperament was leisurely and self-assured, with a faint sense of the passage of ancient time.
Another figure had a bronze complexion, a tall and mighty body, surrounded by countless light points, sacred and noble, holding a giant axe in his hand, with nine Dao patterns on it, causing people to shudder involuntarily at the sight.
Another figure had a transparent body, hidden in the void. If it weren’t for his slight movement, Chen Zhao and the old ice sculptor believed they would never have noticed him.
The last figure wore a red robe, his face pale but not weak-looking, his eyes as if hiding a sea of blood, especially sinister!
“Another Dharma Body expert!” The first two gave Chen Zhao and others a feeling no less than the previous green-robed man, while the latter two were also quite terrifying, slightly exceeding the records of Dharma Body experts in ancient books.
As the four Dharma Bodies successively passed through the dark path, Chen Zhao felt that a major event was about to happen. The ice-like old man and Liu Zejun couldn’t help but take a few steps back.
At this moment, the man in the wide robe and large sleeve, who looked leisurely, suddenly turned his head to look at a mysterious height, as if seeing Chen Zhao and others through the Ice and Snow Immortal Mirror!
His eyes were unusually indifferent, like a god or demon looking down on the human world, one gaze deep like a dead end, one gaze aged like time.
“He discovered us!” Chen Zhao’s acupoints reacted instantly, the room suddenly becoming scorching hot, as if the sun had risen.
However, the man with the wooden hairpin merely smiled slightly and turned his head back, and the four entered the core of the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace.
“He thinks we’re too weak and doesn’t bother to act against us?” The ice-like old man speculated after a moment of silence.
…
In the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, within a small Daoist temple.
Meng Qi was cultivating the Infinite Seal when suddenly his heart stirred. He looked up at the high sky and saw the subtle shifting of stars in the extreme north.
“Someone has entered the secret place leading to the Jade Pond…” Meng Qi immediately understood the situation as the thought arose.
According to Lu Ya’s words, after truly entering the secret place, there would be corresponding celestial phenomena, though not obvious. Therefore, those unaware of the secret would not suspect anything.
However, Meng Qi felt more puzzled.
He had only just learned of the Jade Pond not long ago, and someone had already entered. What a coincidence!
…
Deep within the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace.
Because of Han Guang’s previous actions, he could only walk ahead, serving as the vanguard, unable to desert in the heat of battle.
However, a smile lingered on his lips, as if he were at ease and unbothered. The Dharma King of Salvation was hidden in the void, his gaze profound, unknown to his thoughts. The Blood Sea Rakshasa tightly gripped the Blood Transformation Divine Blade, her eyelids half-closed, much quieter than usual.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage