Chapter 507: Wind and Cloud Converge, the Secret of the Big Explosion

Regarding this foolish fox, whose mind was entirely focused on dual cultivation, Wang Yu was speechless.

"We've arrived at your homeland. For this trip to the Heavenly Palace, you will serve by my side."

"Oh?"

Xue Yu jolted awake, a snowy white light emerging from her sleeve to form a human shape. Her charming and alluring figure leaned delicately against Wang Yu, looking pitiful.

She said, "Master, Yu Niang can't defeat those fierce people. I can only let Master ride on me, serving as a mount for the journey..."

"Worthless creature."

Wang Yu flicked away the head that had snuggled close, scolding her good-naturedly. A smile soon touched his lips; despite his feigned disapproval, he still held affection for her in his heart. Otherwise, why would he have indulged her for so many years?

The casual chatter between master and servant came to an abrupt end.

As the group entered the Endless Ice Plain, the land turned into frozen tundra, with ceaseless snow and wind blowing constantly. The bitter, bone-chilling cold froze people from head to toe. The ice storms in the distance harbored significant dangers; even Nascent Soul cultivators would likely face ill fates if they entered. It was said that no cultivator had ever managed to cross the entire Endless Ice Plain.

The atmosphere within the group suddenly grew grim.

Heavenly Peng King and others closely followed the Five-Colored Saint Lord, conversing about something unknown, an invisible barrier formed by their divine senses preventing outsiders from eavesdropping. Wang Yu observed for a while and felt that something was amiss. He then scanned the large procession and spotted several acquaintances: Old Monkey King of True Words and the stern, brawny Shadow Mastiff King standing together. It seemed they were also communicating about something.

Wang Yu swiftly approached, riding his flight. He greeted them, "Mastiff King, King of True Words."

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wang."

The two demons responded quickly. However, as he drew near, the Mastiff King, who had been speaking volubly, immediately ceased, reverting to his former silent, stern demeanor. Seeing this, Wang Yu immediately confirmed his suspicions.

He asked indirectly, "Fellow Daoists, as pillars of the Northern Demon Race, and with this Heavenly Palace secret realm being a treasure trove left by the Demon Race's First Saint Lord, I trust you would not begrudge providing me with some guidance?"

"Guidance?" The Old Monkey King paused, pondering the contents of the secret meeting that the Mastiff King had just told him about, concerning Heavenly Peng King and others before their departure. He hesitated whether to inform Wang Yu.

Unexpectedly, the Mastiff King replied directly, "The Heavenly Palace secret realm is not opening for the first time. Our clan is quite familiar with it, and there's a good deal of valuable information in past records. Many of its arrangements are advantageous for the demon race to utilize, such as the first trial in the secret realm, known as the 'Road of Extreme Cold Hell'..."

The Mastiff King, whether feigning ignorance or genuinely failing to grasp Wang Yu's subtle hint, actually began explaining the situation within the secret realm. This information had already been given to him by the Five-Colored Saint Lord. There was no need for him to repeat it. After the Mastiff King finished, Wang Yu saw that the King of True Words still had no intention of speaking. He shook his head and returned to the front of the procession.

At that moment, Heavenly Peng King subtly glanced at him, seemingly wanting to say something, but considering the impropriety of the occasion, he said no more.

Thus, another dozen days of travel passed.

On this day, the Northern Demon Race procession arrived at the summit of a high mountain. This peak had been horizontally cleaved at its waist by immense power, forming a vast platform. The ground was paved with dark blue ice bricks. Upon entering this area, the external wind and snow were isolated, and the howling wind and cold air could not penetrate. It was like a safe haven in the world of ice and snow.

Wang Yu suspiciously stared at the seemingly empty area, quickly sensing numerous hidden powerhouses all around—some concealed in dark clouds, others beneath the earth. Only one group openly revealed their presence. A total of thirty-six Nascent Soul experts, mostly with blue and white hair, emanated an aura of frost that perfectly complemented the environment. In such conditions, they were truly in their element.

Undoubtedly, this was the mixed-blood Ice Clan team led by Bing Jiu, the son of the Second Generation Ice God. Among them were also many cultivators from the Northern Suppression Tower. They were the most formidable group apart from the Northern Demon Race. Given the circumstances, their primary competitor for the Northern Demon Race was this very group.

However... with so many people, the number of Saint Orders would certainly be insufficient. Moreover, the Southern Demon Race still had a group of over twenty people yet to arrive, not to mention other powerful individuals from all corners of the land who had unexpectedly obtained Saint Orders. The total number already exceeded the 108 Saint Orders.

The demon powerhouses remained silent, approaching the Ice Clan group and confronting them. Wang Yu, seeing these expected targets, remained impassive. His eyes quickly fixed on Bing Jiu. Despite being only at the early Nascent Soul stage of cultivation, this individual commanded such a large group of powerful experts, indicating an extremely high status. The Soul-Searching Evil Art was specifically prepared for individuals like him. This soul-searching secret art had successfully advanced over the past thirty years. The fifth-tier soul-searching technique was sufficient to bypass most spiritual sea restrictions and oath bindings in the Ice Prison Realm, ensuring that he could obtain the desired information before the opponent's soul shattered.

The ice-attribute Dharma Aspect inheritance, the sooner he obtained it, the better. After all, he was already very close to the Soul Transformation stage, and he needed sufficient time to perfect his own Dharma-Image Heaven and Earth. If he could have a fight before entering the secret realm, that would be ideal.

With his hidden agenda, Wang Yu concealed himself behind the other demons, silently listening to the Five-Colored Saint Lord's conversation with the opposing party.

"Friends of the Ice Clan, this place is the imperial residence and secret vault of our Demon Race's First Saint Lord. I hope you do not entertain any improper thoughts, lest the situation become unpleasant."

These mixed-blood Ice Clan members had generally not been born long ago. Their emphasis and pride in their bloodline were almost instinctual and difficult to control. The Five-Colored Saint Lord's seemingly normal warning was, in fact, like an insult. It nailed them to a pillar of shame, especially the phrase 'Demon Race's First Saint Lord.' Those aware of the truth within felt immense disdain.

Just as someone could not help but blurt out, "What First Saint Lord of the Demon Race? That was clearly..."

"Silence!" Bing Jiu suddenly reprimanded, his gaze sternly fixed on the person: "This Divine Son is conversing with the Demon Saint Lord. When is it your turn to interrupt?"

The mixed-blood Ice Clan member realized he had spoken out of turn, immediately recognizing his mistake. He slapped himself hard and silently retreated into the group, saying nothing further. Such prestige and control over his team indicated that Bing Jiu was by no means a simple character. This did not quite align with the news Wang Yu and others had previously received about the Ice God's Son wreaking havoc across the ice plain. Could it be due to fear? But it didn't seem so...

After Bing Jiu finished reprimanding his subordinate, he turned to the Five-Colored Saint Lord and said, "Although this place was established by the Ice Phoenix Saint Lord, it does not restrict which races may enter. Anyone holding an Ice Phoenix Saint Order may enter. This Divine Son was fortunate enough to obtain a few and wishes to explore within. Surely, the Saint Lord will not obstruct me?"

His implication was that while his Ice Clan team was rather large, they were all his bodyguards, and only a small portion would enter. This would then match the number estimated by the Northern Demon Race.

The Five-Colored Saint Lord nodded upon hearing this. "Since the Divine Son is not afraid of the dangers within the secret realm, this Saint Lord naturally will not hinder you." Having said that, he no longer showed any intention of driving them away.

Although this attitude caused some dissatisfaction among the demons, they refrained from saying much, out of consideration for the Saint Lord's benevolent reputation. Their ability to rationalize was quite strong. However, once the Five-Colored Saint Lord returned to the group, Heavenly Peng King and the other 'Old Four Kings' in their small circle expressed their dissatisfaction.

"Old Lu, since the main purpose of this trip is to bring back the Azure Dragon Demon Venerable, these unexpected Ice Clan members must be excluded. What if they cause problems?" Fire Crow King, Thunder Kylin King, and others shared the same sentiment. They felt the Five-Colored Saint Lord was too soft.

He, however, argued eloquently: "Only a few will enter anyway. Even without them, those powerhouses hidden in the shadows, waiting for us to open the door, would also be a nuisance. Are we to clear out everyone? If so, the Northern Demon Race would become a target for all, and even those rogue cultivators who bear no ill will would intentionally sabotage our efforts. If we don't drive them away, they will naturally clash among themselves over the treasures in the secret realm. We should focus on our own affairs; why bother with them?"

His reasoning was clear and well-structured. This immediately left the three kings speechless. Their original intention to stir up trouble vanished completely. After Heavenly Peng King fell silent, no one else voiced opposition.

As time passed, more and more people arrived. When they saw the Ice Clan and Northern Demon Race each occupying a spot on the platform, coexisting peacefully, they no longer specifically concealed themselves. Instead, they formed groups of two or three and stood quietly nearby, or they exchanged a few words if they encountered someone they knew. Overall, it remained quite peaceful. Among them, the tall and short pair of Yan Ling and Yu Tangtang were also spotted by Wang Yu beforehand, but he did not reveal himself to contact them.

During the wait, Wang Yu continuously cultivated in silence. The spiritual energy environment of the Endless Ice Plain was very suitable for a cultivator like him, who followed the path of ice and frost. The demonic essence within him became more active, and his cultivation speed increased by at least thirty percent. If he could find a treasure land that nurtured extraordinary cold, his cultivation speed would be even faster. The supportive effects provided by such special environments were superior to those offered by ordinary fourth-tier spiritual veins.

Just as he was cultivating, a divine sense, both strange and familiar, subtly contacted him. It was Heavenly Peng King! He had wanted to speak with Wang Yu ever since they were on the road. However, the timing hadn't been right. Now, having secretly contacted him, he began, "Fellow Daoist Wang, do you still remember the favor I did you back then, when I helped you deal with a powerful enemy?"

This owed favor stemmed from the Nine Evil Sword Monarch incident. Wang Yu naturally wouldn't deny it. He had already repaid the favors to the King of True Words and the Mastiff King. The Battle of Biyun Sect back then would have been a good opportunity to repay this favor too, but nothing came of it afterwards.

"Heavenly Peng King, please speak freely. I am not one to go back on my word."

After a moment of silence, Heavenly Peng King recounted the matter in detail. Wang Yu's pupils constricted slightly. Learning the great secret that the Azure Dragon Demon Venerable was actually secluded in the Heavenly Palace secret realm to heal his wounds truly shocked him. He had thought the Five-Colored Saint Lord merely wanted him to refine pills in the secret realm to bring back for their ancestor's use. Now, it seemed, they intended to have the Demon Venerable recover to his peak state within the secret realm? And then harvest the entire Heavenly Palace secret realm?

It was unclear whether the other party was friend or foe for now. However, if he intended to take the crucial treasures from the secret realm, this individual would certainly not stand idly by. Before he could ponder more questions, Heavenly Peng King continued to lay out the predicaments he faced, one by one. The application of this favor was actually to deal with the Five-Colored Saint Lord!

Wang Yu remained silent for a long time. More and more questions surfaced in his mind. The Five-Colored Saint Lord's true intentions were questionable; his intuition told him that this individual was planning something immense, making it difficult to fathom his thoughts. If he wanted to pursue the greatest benefits, the Azure Dragon Demon Venerable would be an unavoidable challenge. If he could obtain the Soul Transformation opportunity within the secret realm, cooperation might not be out of the question.

However... with such a significant disparity in power, he didn't believe the other party would yield the opportunity to him. The demon race's predicament of being unable to enter or exit the Severed Boundary Mountains was entirely caused by humans. In the eyes of a peak Soul Transformation existence like the Azure Dragon Demon Venerable, aside from the matter of the Ice Prison Realm's captivity, racial conflict was the primary problem that had to be considered. His severe injuries stemmed from racial conflict, so all aspects of the issue had to be taken into account.

Heavenly Peng King's full disclosure indeed presented Wang Yu with a difficult problem. His original plan to go on a rampage now had to be put on hold, requiring him to devise a new strategy. Furthermore, his initial intention for Yan Ling and the other person not to contact him was to prevent targeted retaliation from opponents who couldn't directly harm him, as a preventative measure. Now, it seemed having more disposable power at hand might not be a bad thing.

Heavenly Peng King's request was for Wang Yu to be more vigilant towards the Five-Colored Saint Lord, to ensure no issues arose during the refining of the treasured elixir, and to put more effort into the fifth-tier pill formula. If an accident truly occurred, a civil war would be unavoidable.

As his thoughts reached this point, Wang Yu suddenly had a flash of inspiration, conceiving an idea that would harm others without benefiting himself. He said, "Senior Peng King, since there are so many issues within the group, these Ice Clan cultivators might become the greatest variable. Why not eliminate them beforehand?"

Heavenly Peng King had originally thought the same, but was then convinced by the Five-Colored Saint Lord's reasoning. At this moment, he repeated that explanation to Wang Yu. Unexpectedly, Wang Yu then dropped a bombshell.

"Does Senior Peng King know that the Ice Phoenix Saint Lord's true identity is a pure-blooded Ice Clan member, naturally resembling an Ice Phoenix? This Heavenly Palace secret realm is similar to the hundreds of inheritance holy temples on the ice plain. They are all contingencies left by the Ice Phoenix for the Ice Clan. This Son of the Ice God is a perfect being specifically bred by the Gatekeeper Tribe, arriving exclusively for the Heavenly Palace secret realm! If my guess is correct, they should possess the ability to enter the secret realm without using Saint Orders."

These words almost shattered Heavenly Peng King's understanding. His divine sense fluctuations abruptly intensified.

"—This is impossible!"

At this moment, the Five-Colored Saint Lord suddenly turned to look at Wang Yu. He no longer detected any divine sense fluctuations, but his subsequent attention was frequently directed at Wang Yu, forcing their secret conversation to halt. Heavenly Peng King's expression turned exceedingly grim. He wanted to ask, but found himself unable to speak. For some reason, he strongly resisted the Five-Colored Saint Lord knowing this information... or rather, deep down, he suspected that the Saint Lord already knew this secret but had simply not told them. The situation became exceptionally strange and bizarre.

This secret came from an underground palace of the Grand Yin Sect: specifically, the Black Stele of the Profound Bone Mountain Underground Palace! The Black Stele contained secrets passed down through generations by ancestors using special methods, revealing the truth of the Ice Prison Realm to their descendants, hoping that one day, the cultivators of this realm could truly be liberated. The source was trustworthy.

Suddenly, a Nascent Soul Heavenly Peng Clan member stared wide-eyed and said, "You Ice Clan half-breed, what are you looking at me for? Believe it or not, I'll kill you, you smelly brute!"

The frail-looking Ice Clan member looked utterly bewildered. He hesitantly pointed to himself, a foolishly cute expression suggesting, 'Are you talking to me?'

The great demon of the Heavenly Peng Clan immediately grinned menacingly. Upon receiving a confirming instruction from his King, he instantly erupted, giving the opponent no time to react with his extreme Heavenly Peng speed, and shattered their head with a single slap. A peculiar ice crystal Nascent Soul emerged from the body, staring furiously at the great demon and shouting, "Divine Son, this dead bird ambushed me..."