Chapter 567: Dominating Divine Weapon, Guarding the Northern Plains

After the Sovereign's Scion beneath the glacier merged with the nail in his third brother's glabella, no aura emanated from him. The nail itself showed no strange changes; everything seemed as if nothing had happened.

Xu Qing sat cross-legged in the distance, gazing at the glacier below. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly stood up, carefully backing away, attempting to leave. Although he hadn't encountered any danger following the other party so far, this didn't mean that what might happen next would be as uneventful as the journey. Therefore, Xu Qing felt that now was the best time for him to depart. As for future events, given his current cultivation level, it was better not to get involved.

However, just as Xu Qing had retreated less than ten steps, the nail on the giant's face beneath the glacier suddenly flashed, and a deep voice resonated in Xu Qing's mind. “Little one, it's not time to leave yet. Wait for me a moment.” Xu Qing paused, quickly considering the deep voice, which spoke again. “If you wish to leave, I won't force you. In truth, at this moment, I have no surplus energy to detain you. But you once told me that the Red Mother is our common enemy. I am about to undertake a great endeavor, and its success rate would be higher with your help. Even if you don't assist me, I will still proceed. The path is beneath your feet; you must judge for yourself.” The voice no longer echoed.

Xu Qing remained expressionless. After looking down at the giant within the ice below for a long moment, he bowed with clasped fists, then turned and sped away at full speed, quickly vanishing from sight.

Silence fell upon the area. After a long while, a soft sigh echoed from beneath the glacier.

Four hours later, Xu Qing's figure suddenly reappeared in the dark distance. After confirming that the other party had indeed not stopped him from leaving, he chose to return. The moment he came back, he sat down cross-legged and calmly opened his eyes. “I'll wait for you!” “Thank you!” The deep voice responded from beneath the glacier. Xu Qing closed his eyes and waited silently.

Meanwhile, beneath the glacier, some distance from this spot, a momentous event was commencing. The place Xu Qing had been brought to was real; he had not been deceived. The ancestors of the Nether race, who resided on the Unmelting Glacier, were indeed subordinates of the Sovereign. And it was true that when the Red Mother arrived, they chose to betray the Sovereign and were subsequently suppressed. Their bodies disintegrated, and their great world shattered into countless pieces, mostly turning to ash. Only one core fragment fell here, buried beneath the glacier. Within that core fragment were countless souls of the dead from that traitor's great world. They were mostly in a hazy, dreamlike state, devoid of much consciousness, and largely dormant.

Because their actions back then were deemed meritorious, the souls of the dead within this world fragment were permitted to reincarnate, thus giving rise to the later Nether race sects. However, the barrier between Yin and Yang was not easily crossed. There were many restrictions within, so although many Nether race members returned over countless years, most of them merely roamed within the Sacrifice Moon Domain. Some said this was formed by the Sovereign's resentment merging into the Heavenly Dao. The place the whirlpool beneath the lake led to was that fragment of the great world, actually buried beneath the Unmelting Glacier. Its scope was not much different from a small world.

Faint ghostly fire and soul light flickered across the glacier. The light source here seemed like snowflakes falling from the sky, layering the ground. Cold winds swept through in gusts, producing howls like wailing ghosts. If any mortal were to hear it, their soul would surely tremble. In the dim light, one could vaguely see wisps of unaware souls floating and wandering across the black glacial land and mountains of this world, drifting both inside and outside the glacier. For them, there was no concept of time. In this state of oblivion, only the instinct of hunger remained. All living creatures were their targets.

At this moment, a different light suddenly shone high above the edge of this great world. This light was initially red, then blue and yellow were added, eventually transforming into a multicolored radiance that spread outwards. Under the dazzling multicolored light, countless souls within this world instinctively locked onto this spot, and even some dormant souls buried deep beneath the ice showed signs of awakening. Subsequently, streaks of light bands emerged from that multicolored vortex, coiling like tentacles around crystal coffins, extending them out one by one and placing them onto the black glacier. After all hundreds of coffins were placed, these multicolored light bands slowly retracted until they merged back into the vortex and vanished. But the vortex remained there, waiting.

Not long after, the cold wind here let out sharp howls. The souls floating in mid-air rushed forward at high speed like wolves, as if sensing the coffins. The vitality emanating from within them ignited an instinctive frenzy. From a distance, these souls swept in like a storm, instantly reaching the vicinity and lunging towards the coffins. Their sheer numbers formed a black storm, stirring the surroundings. The material of the coffins was clearly specially made; they could seal the disciples within but did not prevent the entry of outside souls. Thus, at least ten thousand souls quickly burrowed into these coffins to rest. The bodies sealed inside had been specially prepared; their souls had long since extinguished, leaving only the empty shells. This only made it easier for the souls to possess the bodies. However, their muddled and chaotic state meant they wouldn't immediately choose possession; devouring was their primary need. This was also one of the reasons why few of the Nether race successfully emerged from this place. Thus, in the blink of an eye, several bodies within the coffins visibly withered. The souls devoured the inner essence of the bodies, turning them into mere skeletons within a few breaths. The souls then rushed out to continue with other coffins.

At the same time, the scent emanating from these hundreds of coffins awakened more dormant souls beneath the glacier. Soon, glacial souls, far more powerful in aura than ordinary souls, emerged from within the black glacier, arriving rapidly with greed and madness. They scrambled to burrow into these coffins, devouring and biting each other in their struggle for possession. Compared to ordinary souls, these awakened souls from beneath the glacier were much stronger, making it easier for them to completely acquire a body and subsequently achieve possession.

Consequently, not long after, the first successful possessor emerged here. With a resounding boom, one coffin directly crumbled into pieces. The figure lying inside slowly sat up. It was a youth whose numb expression gradually changed, releasing fluctuations. An evil aura rose from his body, and finally, his eyes revealed a longing as he looked up at the multicolored vortex. Then he slowly stood up and took a step forward. At first, he moved like a puppet, pausing with each step. As he became more familiar with the body, this stiffness rapidly disappeared. After more than ten breaths, he had fully adapted. He leaped up, entered the vortex, and headed towards the human world.

Soon, another coffin split open, and a figure emerged. However, one coffin was very strange. While other coffins had souls moving in and out, this one only had souls entering, none leaving. From beginning to end, not a single soul that rushed in came out, as if a black hole existed within that coffin. Now, as the bodies in the other coffins successively withered, many souls, following their instinct for life force, set their sights on this strange coffin. In an instant, hundreds of souls rushed in and saw Captain lying in the crystal coffin. One by one, they radiated greed, about to pounce. But just as they approached, numerous mouths suddenly appeared on Captain's body. They swiftly opened and, in an instant, sucked in all those souls. After rapidly chewing, the mouths vanished, and everything returned to normal. Constantly, more souls rushed in...

Time passed in this manner. Most of the bodies in the coffins here withered, and over a dozen successfully revived and left the place. The multicolored vortex also gradually dimmed and eventually disappeared within this world. At this moment, that strange coffin became the only place with life force, so all the surrounding souls instantly headed towards it. Like countless hungry wolves, they burrowed into the coffin from all directions. But the next moment, a surge of power suddenly emanated from within the coffin. The souls that had rushed in, as if encountering a bully, now frantically tried to escape, some even twisting in distortion. However, on Captain, who was lying in the coffin, this time not only mouths but also countless arms sprouted, rapidly grasping at the souls. But too many souls had entered the coffin earlier, and now many were trying to escape. Seeing that some were about to get away, Captain quickly raised a hand and put a mask on his face. Immediately after, his roaring voice echoed in all directions, and the shadow of the Great Tengu materialized, facing the struggling, fleeing souls. In the blink of an eye, souls within a hundred-zhang radius were directly devoured by the Tengu's mouth. Chewing sounds reverberated, causing the remaining souls a hundred zhang away to transform from hungry wolves into startled rabbits, scattering in all directions. Ignoring them, the Tengu's shadow dissipated, and a burp sound came from within the coffin. Captain sat up, stretching, his expression showing comfort and triumph. “Alright, using myself as bait still gets me the fullest meal,” Captain said contentedly as he looked around, then waved a hand and declared proudly. “You two, get out! Is it so warm inside my body that you won't come out? Hurry up, we have important things to do!”

As Captain's words echoed, two figures flew out from his body. At first, they were tiny but instantly grew to normal size. They were Ning Yan and Wu Jianwu. The two of them had clearly experienced some unbelievable events with Captain during Xu Qing's absence, so Wu Jianwu was no longer as spirited as before but instead incredibly cautious. As for Ning Yan, he was numb, but it was evident that both of their auras were much stronger than before, looking as if they had been beaten. Seeing their expressions, Captain sighed.

“Follow my aura. Keep up, but walk quietly. Don't disturb those ancient souls, though I have ways to suppress them. We first need to reach our destination.” Ning Yan and Wu Jianwu hastily followed behind, especially Wu Jianwu, who no longer recited poetry. He now looked around nervously, as if any slight stir would make him jump. Ning Yan glanced sideways, contempt in his heart. He slapped his stomach, revealing a vine, which he then twirled in his hand nonchalantly. As the three moved further away, Captain's sentimental voice drifted on the cold wind: “You two, you're really not as good as little Ah Qing. Sigh, I really miss my little Ah Qing now. I wonder how he's doing. He must not be eating well or sleeping soundly.” Captain was very concerned.

Xu Qing was currently sitting cross-legged on the underground ice layer, some distance from the lake, looking at the water. He had waited for a long time. More than half of the agreed-upon day had passed, but the giant figure beneath the glacier showed no change. Xu Qing's expression remained calm. He withdrew his gaze and continued to wait, determined to fulfill his promise of a day. Time passed bit by bit. Soon, the twelfth hour arrived. Xu Qing opened his eyes again, stood up, and spoke towards the ice, “Senior, the time is up.”

“Retreat a thousand zhang away.” From beneath the ice, the Sovereign's Scion's faint and indistinct voice echoed. Upon hearing this, Xu Qing truly retreated, moving over eight thousand zhang away. As he intended to continue, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted from beneath the glacier behind him, reverberating outwards. Moreover, blue light suddenly shone beneath the ice layer, growing increasingly bright and ultimately dazzling, as if a blue sun had formed beneath the glacier. The source of this blue light was precisely the nail in the giant figure's glabella. The nail was now trembling violently, rising inch by inch, as if a force was merging within it, attempting to pull it from the glabella. With every inch it rose, blue light flashed, and the earth trembled. Similarly, a terrifying surge of power also rose from beneath the glacier. The intensity of this surge made Xu Qing's heart pound just by slightly sensing it. It felt more powerful than the forbidden artifacts of Feng Hai County; the difference between them was like that between a firefly and the sun. An ancient aura also permeated the area. All of this forced Xu Qing to continue retreating until he was a hundred li away, yet the feeling of trepidation persisted.

At the same time, due to the emanation of this power, the Red Moon Restriction materialized. Looking into the distance, the world shimmered with red light suppressing the blue light. Their interaction made the glacier shake even more violently, and cracks appeared, as if the heavens themselves were about to collapse and split. Soon, a low roar echoed within Xu Qing's mind. “Help me suppress it!” Xu Qing gritted his teeth. Since he had chosen to stay, he naturally knew what the other party needed him to do. Without hesitation, he raised his right hand, and the Purple Moon Divine Authority within his body erupted beneath the glacier. This was his task: to influence the Red Moon Restriction. It wasn't about controlling the Red Moon Restriction or opening a gap, but rather interfering with it, causing flaws in its operation. As for whether the other party could ultimately succeed, Xu Qing could no longer judge. However, for the Sovereign's Scion, Xu Qing's role was crucial. This slight interference and influence made the difference between zero and something. Before this, his chance of success was zero, but now it was different.

The next instant, an even more violent roar shook the heavens. The fracturing of the glacier spread widely, and the blue light reached its peak. The nail, constantly rising, finally, in that moment, was completely pulled out from the corpse's glabella. The moment it was pulled out, the entire ground of the Northern Icefield instantly turned blue. This scene attracted the attention of the various clans and sects residing in the Northern Icefield. Their world suddenly turned blue, and their minds were filled with surprise and doubt. They did not know what was happening, but a strong sense of trepidation and immense pressure emanated from this blue light, enveloping the entire Icefield. Cracking sounds, at this moment, roared louder than heavenly thunder.

Deep within the glacier, the nail, emitting endless blue light, slowly reoriented itself, its tip pointing towards the Red Moon Restriction above. With an extreme burst of light from within, the blue nail suddenly surged forward. Carrying an unstoppable momentum and a destructive dominance, it charged directly towards the Red Moon Restriction. In an instant, they collided, blue and red intertwining, with a faint purple flash. During this standoff, a low roar echoed. “Southern refinement of the Earth Realm, Profound Heaven and Ox, divine weapon, are you content to be trapped? With my assistance, if you don't erupt now, when will you?!” The blue nail vibrated intensely. Soon, a wave of unwilling artifact spirit energy surged from within, its aura swallowing mountains and rivers. Heaven and earth changed color, the earth collapsed. The blue nail shot up into the sky, standing above the dome, reappearing in the world. The surroundings churned, and the sky, at this moment, was no longer dim, illuminated by blue light. From a distance, the Northern Icefield appeared to have become a blue world. The ground fractured and exploded to an unprecedented extent. Countless ice layers collapsed, and numerous glaciers shattered, causing the entire northern region to sink. This was an unprecedented upheaval, both for the inhabitants of the north and for the Purple Moon Domain. Such a situation had never occurred before. And with an event of such magnitude, the Red Moon Temple could not possibly be unaware. It was conceivable that even greater disturbances would erupt next, leaving all beings aghast and speechless. As cries of alarm continuously spread, the blue nail remained standing in the sky, not yet departing. It slowly turned, pointing its tip back towards the ice layer. The light upon it grew even more brilliant, flickering repeatedly, as if gathering momentum. At the same time, Xu Qing's figure appeared on the fractured glacier in the distance. He looked up, observing everything. Despite some mental preparation, this earth-shaking scene still stirred immense waves in his heart. “The Sovereign's Scion once said he had a younger brother who died here, and an elder sister sealed here…” “Then he is currently…” Xu Qing's pupils contracted. He turned and ran, clearly aware that this place would surely be torn apart. However, just as Xu Qing's body was speeding away, a vast divine thought echoed in his mind, like a thunderous gong. “Young friend, if you leave now, you will suffer a loss. Do you remember what I promised you? As a Scion, my word is as good as gold. What I promised you, I will surely give!” Xu Qing's steps faltered, unable to resist. He looked up at the blue nail in the distant sky, which was shining ever more brightly, seemingly about to complete its gathering momentum. “What gift?” Xu Qing sent a divine thought. “A fragment of a great world that contains divinity, how about that? Of the three things used to suppress my third sister, this is one.” These words echoed in Xu Qing's mind. Xu Qing's eyes widened, and huge waves surged in his heart. His breathing also became somewhat rapid. He had never imagined that the mysterious item the other party had mentioned earlier was actually a fragment of a great world. It must be known that the mark of a God-containing entity is the birth of a great world. This great world itself possesses incredibly profound abilities, and even any shattered piece of it is an invaluable item. Therefore, although the Red Moon did not take it away, it utilized it to create a sealed cage. For cultivators, its value was even greater. Xu Qing's heart was stirred. At this moment, the thought echoed in his mind again. “So, do you dare to come with me to get it?” “I dare!” Xu Qing's eyes turned red. Such a gain was enough to ignite a frenzy deep within him, similar to when he acquired his first Fate Lamp, imperial-grade cultivation technique, or the sea corpse clan statue. His inner madness was no less than Captain's. At this moment, a human laugh came from within the nail. “Come!”

A sheet of blue light rose from all directions around Xu Qing, rushing towards him. In an instant, it enveloped Xu Qing. Carrying his body, it soared directly towards the sky, eventually approaching the nail. The blue light shone brightly, merging with the nail. This protective force from a shared origin exempted Xu Qing from the inherent pressure of the supreme treasure. The Sovereign's Scion's divine sense, standing atop it, surged with earth-shattering power. “Young friend, I will let you experience a portion of the power of this supreme treasure of my father's from back then!” As the words were uttered, the blue nail let out a world-shaking roar, violently rushing out, transforming into a streak of blue light that shot directly towards the ice layer. Its speed was astonishing, its aura devouring all directions, causing the sky to twist and tear. Wherever it passed, the earth roared, crushing everything in its path and causing the ground to collapse. No obstacle could hinder it in the slightest.

At this moment, within the great world fragment, at the highest point of the endless black glacier, Captain, completely unaware of the outside world, stood there. “Big Sword, little Ning, you two need to be good, alright? Move quickly and display the treasures I gave you. We need to imprint them as fast as possible. Once the imprinting is done, we'll leave immediately. If we're slow, then it's up to fate. Because any place I've plundered will henceforth become dust,” Captain declared proudly. Wu Jianwu quickly nodded, filled with apprehension. Ning Yan also felt a hint of nervousness rise in his heart.

Noticing their expressions, Captain shook his head inwardly. “Still not as good as little Ah Qing. Such little courage. If little Ah Qing were here, he would surely calmly watch me.” He sighed internally, then raised his right hand and tossed a ball of light towards the sky, snapping his fingers. “Come on, little round one!” In that instant, the ball of light suddenly gleamed with a piercing white radiance, and an infinite fiery power erupted from within it. It continuously ascended until it became a sun in the sky! Endless light and heat shone towards the earth, and the white ice surface spread out.