Chapter 3560: Ice Xuanzu (Gone Today)

In the Wanlong Mountain Range, within the Heavenly Rainbow Cave.

Inside a secluded mountain cave, Wang Lihe, Wang Huayue, and over a dozen other cultivators sat in a circle, discussing something while pointing at a piece of green animal hide.

They had been in the Heavenly Rainbow Cave for over two decades. During this time, they explored the area within a million-mile radius, losing a batch of treasure-hunting puppet beasts and sustaining one severe injury.

Had they not brought a sufficient number of treasure-hunting puppets, their losses would have been substantial.

"There's an eighth-tier demonic beast here, and powerful restrictions there. It will be very difficult to bypass them," Wang Lihe said, pointing to a spot on the terrain with a serious expression. They wanted to visit a mountain peak with many flying swords but were either blocked by demonic beasts or restricted barriers.

"Never mind. We can come back another time if there's an opportunity. For now, let's leave this place and try to rendezvous with Patriarch Qingshan and the others," Wang Huayue suggested.

"The Myriad Dragon Continent is vast, and finding Patriarch Qingshan and the others won't be easy," Wang Yi'er said, frowning. This was not the Profound Spirit Continent; they would be hunted down as soon as they showed themselves. Under such circumstances, reuniting with Wang Qingshan and his group was quite difficult, especially since they didn't even know their whereabouts.

Just as Wang Lihe was about to speak, a loud screech echoed. Startled, he took out a glowing magic disk and said in a deep voice, "The warning formation has been triggered. I don't know if it's a demonic beast, a cultivator, or someone from our own clan."

"I'll go out and take a look, then act accordingly," Wang Yi'er said, standing up and flying out.

Not long after, Wang Lihe took out a golden, shimmering magic disk and cast a spell. Wang Yi'er's surprised voice rang out: "Patriarch Lihe, everyone, come out quickly! Patriarch Qingshan and Senior Chen are here!" Hearing this, Wang Lihe and the others brightened with joy and flew out one by one.

Wang Qingshan, Chen Yueying, and Wang Yi'er stood in an open area. After leaving the Heavenly Blossom Mountain Range, Wang Qingshan and Chen Yueying had headed directly for the Heavenly Rainbow Cave. He wanted to find the Two-Tone Agate Stone, and along the way, he discovered special marks left by Wang Lihe and the others, leading him to this location.

"Greetings, Patriarch Qingshan, Senior Chen," Wang Lihe and the others hurried over, bowing in salute.

"Is it just you all? Where are the others?" Chen Yueying asked, frowning.

"An alien Mahayana cultivator pursued us, and Senior Ye stayed behind to cover our retreat. We were also chased by alien cultivators and got separated from the rest," Wang Lihe explained, taking out a green jade slip and handing it to Wang Qingshan. Wang Qingshan took the jade slip, swept his divine sense over it, and his eyes lit up. Wang Huayue then took out a green animal hide and handed it to Wang Qingshan.

"An eighth-tier demonic beast! It's on our way. Let's go and take a look," Wang Qingshan said, glancing at it before putting it away. If it truly was a sword spirit, that would be excellent.

Chen Yueying said nothing; she and Wang Qingshan were now in the same boat.

Wang Qingshan summoned the Azure Lotus Shuttle, carrying them as they flew southeast.

Less than half an hour later, they appeared above a majestic emerald-green mountain peak. After crossing this mountain, they would reach the eighth-tier demonic beast's lair.

A deafening roar echoed, startling Wang Lihe and the others, their expressions becoming tense.

"It's just one Mahayana cultivator," Wang Qingshan said dismissively. The stone golem's warning indicated there should only be one Mahayana cultivator.

After crossing the peak, a peach blossom forest appeared before them. In the distance was a colossal valley, from which a series of explosions emanated. A mournful beast roar pierced the air as a massive, entirely red giant goose flew out of the valley, its body covered in blood, shedding many feathers. Before it could fly far, a flash of white light appeared, and a shimmering white net materialized out of thin air, engulfing the red giant goose. The red giant goose struggled fiercely, spitting out a crimson flame, but to no avail, as the white net tightly bound it. The white net glowed intensely, emitting a bone-chilling cold that instantly froze the red giant goose, transforming it into an ice sculpture.

A rosy-faced old man in a white robe flew out of the valley. The white-robed elder had long ears, a high nose, snow-blue eyes, and a white swirling spirit mark on his head. When he saw Wang Qingshan and the others, he was scared out of his wits. His body erupted in white light, transforming into a white streak of light and escaping through the air.

Chen Yueying landed on the ground, forming a hand seal. With a light stomp of her right foot, the gravity in the surrounding hundred thousand li radius drastically increased, slowing down the white-robed elder's escape speed. A river of azure swords surged forward, moving exceptionally fast.

"Fellow Daoist, spare my life! I'm not allied with the Obscure Clan. Spare me, and I can serve you. Please, spare my life!" The white-robed elder cried out in alarm, pleading for mercy.

Wang Qingshan's thoughts stirred, and the azure sword river halted. He said, "Let me plant a restriction on you, and I will believe you. Otherwise, you know the consequences."

A beam of azure light shot from Wang Qingshan's glabella, transforming into an azure lotus. Its petals closed, and it flew directly towards the white-robed elder. It was the Lotus of Divine Sense, a Divine Sense Restriction!

The white-robed elder's expression flickered between hesitation and acceptance. He cooperatively allowed the azure lotus to merge into his head and disappear. An azure lotus now floated above his sea of consciousness, and with a single thought from Wang Qingshan, it could be detonated at any moment.

"State your identity and origin. If you dare to conceal even half a word, you know the consequences," Wang Qingshan said coldly. He took out a small, shimmering golden mirror, infused it with magic power, and the mirror surface emitted a golden glow that enveloped Hao Xuan. The golden small mirror was an auxiliary treasure called the Golden Blossom Mirror, primarily used for lie detection. Of course, it wasn't 100% accurate; exotic treasures, secret talismans, or special elixirs could deceive it.

"This old man comes from the Ice Profound Clan. My surname is Hao, and my given name is Xuan. Our Ice Profound Clan cannot compare to the Blossom Clan or the Obscure Clan. Strictly speaking, our Ice Profound Clan is actually oppressed by the Blossom Clan. It truly warms my heart that you two fellow Daoists attacked the Heavenly Blossom Mountain Range," the white-robed elder introduced himself.

"Get to the point. How many Mahayana cultivators does your Ice Profound Clan have, and why are you here?" Chen Yueying pressed.

"Seniors, our other Mahayana cultivator is traveling abroad and hasn't returned. Our clansmen reported discovering an eighth-tier demonic beast, and I came here to eliminate it," Hao Xuan replied cautiously. He dared not lie, unsure if Wang Qingshan would use soul-searching on him.

"I'm giving you a task: help us find cultivators from the Profound Sun Realm who are hidden among your Ice Profound Clan," Wang Qingshan instructed. It wouldn't be easy for him to find the other clan members on his own, but with the Ice Profound Clan's help, it would be much simpler.

"This... they might not trust our Ice Profound Clan members!" Hao Xuan said cautiously. He dared not refuse, so he could only make an excuse.

"That's your problem; I don't care about anything else. If your Ice Profound Clan kills any cultivators from the Profound Sun Realm, then expect us to come knocking at your door. However, if you find enough Profound Sun Realm cultivators and protect them well, we can help you deal with hostile races. Now, take the eighth-tier demonic beast and leave! You can go and inform the Obscure Clan if you wish, but you know the consequences," Wang Qingshan said slowly. After soul-searching Xun Yan's nascent soul, he had learned quite a bit, including that the Ice Profound Clan was indeed at odds with the Blossom Clan.

Hao Xuan sighed in relief, expressed his gratitude, and then, putting away the white net and the eighth-tier demonic beast, he departed.

"You're just letting him go?" Chen Yueying asked, frowning.

"There's no need to make enemies everywhere. The Obscure Clan and the Blossom Clan have frequently oppressed the Ice Profound Clan, so his chances of betraying us are relatively low. Besides, we don't plan on leaving from here," Wang Qingshan explained. The Heavenly Rainbow Cave had a spatial node leading to the Azure Origin Realm, and he intended to depart from there, returning to the Profound Sun Realm first. Their clansmen were scattered, and searching for them one by one would take an impossibly long time, especially since the Myriad Dragon Continent was even larger than the Profound Spirit Continent and was alien territory. Since they had gone to another realm and caused such havoc, the Tong Clan and other alien races would surely retaliate. He planned to return to the Profound Sun Realm as quickly as possible to give the Aperture Opening materials to Wang Changsheng for his breakthrough. If not for Wang Changsheng providing the Myriad Spirit Dao Fruit, Wang Qingshan would not have been able to begin cultivating the Spiritual Domain, nor would he have acquired so many treasures and cultivation resources. He believed in remembering the source of his blessings.

Chen Yueying nodded and urged, "Alright! It's better to leave the Sky Dome Realm as soon as possible." She had obtained the cultivation method for the Spiritual Domain and intended to go into seclusion for a period to comprehend it.