Chapter 1741: Ice Shadow (Part 1)

Eastern Divine Region, Snow Song Realm.

Just as Yun Che pursued Xia Qingyue into the God Realm of Absolute Beginning, the Snow Song Realm finally faced a catastrophe that seemed anything but unexpected. As the star realm where Devil Master Yun Che 'originated' in the God Realm, its continued peace was, in itself, a crime, especially while countless surrounding star realms had fallen into a dark calamity.

Once it was confirmed that the Snow Song Realm would not be invaded by devils, countless fleeing profound practitioners from surrounding star realms flocked there, vying for entry. As a result, almost all human cities in the peripheral regions of the Snow Song Realm became overcrowded, leading to various large and small disturbances. Yet, seemingly out of fear of the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect, few foreign profound practitioners dared to approach the central Ice Phoenix Realm. This fear wasn't solely due to the sect's power, but also because it was, after all, the sect where Devil Master Yun Che had once trained.

When his face reappeared in the Eastern Divine Region via the God Heaven Projection, it cast an incredibly terrifying shadow over all profound practitioners there. This shadow subtly imbued the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect with an additional dark deterrent in their hearts.

But beyond deterrence, it might also bring...

Crackle! The snowy white sky was suddenly filled with purple lightning. With a thunderous boom, a hundred bolts of lightning abruptly descended, striking the barrier of the Ice Phoenix Realm. Under the thunderous assault, the Ice Phoenix barrier instantly fractured with countless cracks. It shrieked prolonged in its tremor, violently shattering the tranquility of the snow region.

From high in the distant sky, the Devil Queen Chan Yu looked down, casting a brief glance. What was expected had indeed arrived.

The Ice Phoenix vibrated, and countless ice figures swiftly rose. Mu Bingyun and Mu Huanzhi were the first to fly out of the Ice Phoenix Realm, gazing intently at the uninvited guests descending from the sky in the distance. To be able to strike the Ice Phoenix barrier to such an extent with a single flash of lightning, that was clearly the power of a Divine Master!

The swirling ice mist slowly dispersed. Within the cratered snow region, eight male figures were revealed. They were all dressed in deep purple outer garments, emblazoned with lightning runes. Most of their clothes were stained with blood, their faces and hands covered in wounds, and their expressions were grim, tinged with a hint of savagery.

"Roaring Divine Thunder," Mu Huanzhi muttered softly. He recognized at a glance that the attack on the Ice Phoenix barrier was the unique profound lightning of the Shocking Thunder Realm. When he clearly saw the leader, his aged eyes sharply narrowed, and his last shred of hope vanished.

The Shocking Thunder Realm King... Li Daoan!

"So, it is the Shocking Thunder Realm King who has arrived," Mu Bingyun said, her ice-cold brows furrowed. "Our Snow Song Realm and your Shocking Thunder Realm have never seemed to have any deep ties. If the Shocking Thunder Realm King is here to seek refuge, please make yourself at home. Why such a grand display?"

"Hmph..." Li Daoan sneered coldly, though his smile was twisted and ugly. His body bore numerous wounds inflicted by dark profound energy. Clearly, he had recently clashed with a devil profound practitioner of the Divine Master Realm whose strength was significantly above his own, and the outcome had left him quite dishevelled.

"Snow Song Realm King," Li Daoan said grimly, without any pretense. "Now, all realms in the Eastern Region have been invaded by devils, yet only your Snow Song Realm remains unharmed! It seems Yun Che... that Dark Devil Master, truly is nostalgic!"

On the opposing side were only a Level Two Divine Master and seven Divine Sovereigns! Even if the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect exerted its full power, there was almost no hope of resistance.

Mu Huanzhi stepped forward, speaking in as gentle a tone as possible. "Shocking Thunder Realm King, Yun Che was indeed a disciple of the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect back then. However, he was expelled from the sect long ago and has had no connection with our Ice Phoenix Divine Sect for a long time."

"Furthermore..." Mu Huanzhi lowered his voice slightly. "Our Snow Song Realm is protected by the Moon God Realm; this is known throughout the Eastern Region. If the Shocking Thunder Realm King is here as a guest, our sect will naturally welcome you. If your intentions are otherwise, the Shocking Thunder Realm King should reconsider."

Everyone in the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect knew never to mention the words "Moon God Realm" in front of Mu Bingyun. However, facing the formidable Shocking Thunder Realm King, he had no choice but to use the Moon God Realm as a shield.

"Moon God Realm?" Upon hearing Mu Huanzhi's words, Li Daoan showed no fear; instead, a mocking expression appeared on his face. "Heh heh heh... What Moon God Realm now? The Moon God Realm has been completely blown to smithereens by the devils, not a speck remains. What? You don't know yet?"

"Wh-what!?" Mu Huanzhi was greatly startled; he couldn't believe his ears.

Mu Bingyun also sharply raised her gaze, her eyes wide with shock. The Snow Song Realm was, after all, on the furthest border of the Eastern Divine Region. Having closed its borders early, it had not received this horrifying and soul-shattering news.

Li Daoan waved his arm, and violent lightning immediately wrapped around his entire body. A devastating aura almost enveloped the entire Ice Phoenix Realm. His gaze was cold and grim as he said ominously, "My son, Jianming, died at the hands of devils back then! My Shocking Thunder Realm... will never coexist with devils!"

"Now, my Shocking Thunder Sect has suffered heavy losses from the devil invasion! It's time for us to collect our debt."

Crackle! As he splayed his five fingers, lightning collided in a furious display, and an even more terrifying pressure descended, enveloping them. Li Daoan's voice trembled slightly. Facing devils who feared no death, the Shocking Thunder Sect's plight was far more than "heavy losses." Naturally, he had no face to admit he had abandoned his sect and fled. Filled with resentment and suppressed fury, he simply wanted to vent his rage wildly upon the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect.

"If I were to slaughter your Ice Phoenix Sect, that Northern Region Devil Master..." He grinned, his smile gradually turning savage. "...would surely be very pleased, wouldn't he!"

"Wait! There must be a misunderstanding!" Mu Huanzhi said anxiously. "The first rule of our Ice Phoenix Divine Sect is that upon encountering devils, one must exert full effort to eliminate..."

"No need for further words with them!"

Before Mu Huanzhi finished speaking, Mu Bingyun had already spoken coldly. The chilling gleam in her hand flashed, the Ice Phoenix Snow Princess Sword shining dazzlingly. "Li Daoan, your Shocking Thunder Realm suffered a devil calamity, yet you appear here. It seems you chose to be a cowering, fleeing dog with no home!"

"Bingyun!" Mu Huanzhi exclaimed in shock. In his alarm, he even called her by her name directly.

"Now you flee to my Snow Song Realm, spouting self-righteous words and flaunting your power!? Are you even worthy of being an Upper Realm King? Absolutely disgraceful!"

She instantly saw that this Shocking Thunder Realm King had come to vent his frustration after being defeated by devils. To grovel before him would only invite further humiliation.

"Heh heh heh," Li Daoan's face turned grim. "Well said, Snow Song Realm King!"

Watching the lightning aura about to erupt from Li Daoan, the Devil Queen Chan Yu pointed a finger. Suddenly, her gaze shifted slightly. The dark profound energy she was about to release rapidly retracted, and her figure disappeared deeper into the snow clouds.

"Hahahahaha, well said. Is such a character even worthy of being an Upper Realm King?"

A calm laugh echoed without warning. Accompanying the laugh was an invisible aura of pressure, not intense, but powerful enough to instantly calm all cold winds across the vast snow region. Even the thunderclouds Li Daoan had just condensed in the air vanished instantly.

Under the pressure, Li Daoan's face drastically changed, and he sharply turned his head. Amidst the boundless white snow, a figure stood quietly. No one knew when he had appeared there, or if he had been there all along. He had a fair complexion, a serene expression with a smile, and wore a long, light-golden robe. The moment he appeared, the boundless snow light seemed to dim in comparison.

When the divine runes on his golden robe entered Li Daoan's eyes, his entire body trembled, and his voice was filled with deep dread as he stammered, "Brahma... Brahma King!"

With that startled cry, he immediately recovered. He hastily bowed low, saying, "Li Daoan, the Shocking Thunder Realm King, greets Lord Brahma King."

Upon hearing the words "Brahma King," the seven Divine Sovereigns behind Li Daoan almost turned pale with shock and also hastily bowed. This person was none other than one of the Brahma Kings of the Brahma Monarch God Realm!

His Brahma Monarch aura and the unique golden divine runes on his outer robe clearly proved his identity. Without even glancing at Li Daoan, he slowly stepped forward. To the astonished gazes of the Ice Phoenix disciples, he actually bowed slightly and said, "I am Qianye Zixiao, the Tenth Brahma King of the Brahma Monarch God Realm. By order of my King, I have come to invite Realm King Bingyun of the Snow Song Realm to be a guest in our Brahma Monarch Realm."

As his words fell, before the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect could respond, he suddenly swung his arm backward, and a golden handprint was flung through the air.

*Smack!*

This was undoubtedly the loudest slap everyone present had ever heard in their lives. When the golden handprint struck Li Daoan's face, the earth trembled violently, and snow accumulated for thousands of miles was shaken into the air. A blizzard followed, covering the sky and obscuring the sun. Li Daoan, meanwhile, was sent flying dozens of miles away by that single palm strike. All his teeth were shattered, and the frontal and cheek bones on his right side were completely crushed. When he shakily got to his feet, his entire left side of the face was a bloody mess, making him look half-human, half-ghost.

"Hmph! You got your ass kicked by devils, and now you come to bully an innocent Middle Star Realm?" Qianye Zixiao said with a faint laugh, without turning his head. "Truly disgraceful."

Li Daoan's vision was blurred with blood, and his body trembled. The moment he opened his mouth, gushing blood mixed with teeth poured out from his numb lips.

"Realm King Bingyun is a distinguished guest our King wishes to invite, yet you dare to be so disrespectful. This time is merely a slight punishment. Should there be a next time..." He slightly cast his gaze aside. "Hmph, get lost!"

Li Daoan clutched his left face, suddenly turned, and scrambled away, rolling and crawling. He didn't dare to say another word. The seven Divine Sovereigns who had come with him also quickly followed, looking incredibly dishevelled.

Turning his gaze back, Qianye Zixiao's face once again wore a smile. "Realm King Bingyun, my purpose for coming has been clearly stated. I hope Realm King Bingyun will grant me this small favour and accompany me to the Brahma Monarch God Realm."

High in the distant sky, Chan Yu restrained her aura. She immediately sent a telepathic message to Chi Wuyao: "Master, the situation has changed. The Tenth Brahma King has appeared in the Snow Song Realm."

"He intends to take Mu Bingyun away. However, he hasn't shown any aggression; instead, he's been very courteous."

In another space, Chi Wuyao frowned sharply. A Brahma King of the Brahma Monarch God Realm? Why would he appear in the Snow Song Realm at this time? The Brahma Monarch God Realm is in the Southern Region of the Eastern Divine Region, while the Snow Song Realm is in the far north. Given that important dimensional profound formations in the Eastern Divine Region were destroyed immediately, for a Brahma King to have evaded all devils and appeared in the Snow Song Realm at this moment...

There was only one possibility:

Before the devils' full descent had erupted, when they were only feigning attacks on the Northern Region, the Brahma Monarch God Realm had already dispatched a Brahma King to quietly approach the Snow Song Realm! At that time, even the God Heaven Realm had not truly taken it seriously, let alone perceived the impending doom. Yet the Brahma Monarch God Realm had already taken action.

Qianye Fantian... that Northern Region's foremost Divine Emperor, his foresight was indeed astonishing! At that time, he certainly couldn't have foreseen the current situation. Yet he had made such extremely cautious preparations.

"Do not intervene," Chi Wuyao said with a furrowed brow.

"Chan Yu understands," the Devil Queen Chan Yu said, looking down with a very solemn expression. In a direct confrontation, she would not fear this Tenth Brahma King in the slightest. However, the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect absolutely could not withstand the collateral power of their battle.

"Once he takes Mu Bingyun far away, I will find an opportunity to rescue her in the star region," she whispered.

"No," Chi Wuyao replied. "You continue to stay in the Snow Song Realm to prevent other unforeseen circumstances. I will handle this matter personally!"

Putting away the telepathic message, Chi Wuyao's enchanting eyes turned cold. She suddenly felt fortunate that she was still in the Northern Region of the Eastern Divine Region.

Mu Bingyun was Mu Xuanyin's only living relative. Whether for Yun Che's sake or out of her own personal reasons, she could not allow Mu Bingyun to be harmed!