Forty-nine radiant halos interwove with one another, their Azure light illuminating the entire teleportation hall, transforming it into a netherworld illusion.

  The eight cultivators atop the Profound Yin Ice Pillars had already shifted from kneeling on one knee to prostrating themselves fully, both knees pressed to the ground. Their foreheads nearly touched the ice floor, their bodies trembling faintly with excitement—

  All forty-nine rings illuminated meant that the arrival was not merely a senior of the sect, but an envoy who had returned bearing a sacred relic!

  As the light gradually subsided, two figures condensed into solid form at the center of the formation.

  The one in front wore plain green robes, appeared about twenty years of age, and possessed refined features. His expression was calm as still water. What truly stirred unease was the chill that flowed naturally around him—

  It was not an intentionally released aura of spiritual pressure, but a kind of netherly presence, as if born with him, perfectly attuned to this world of ice and frost.

  Behind him stood Ah Mei, blue-skinned and red-eyed, quiet and still. The nine yellowed talismans on its body fluttered without wind, dark-gold runes faintly visible beneath the AzureThey were none other than Yun Che and Ah Mei.

  The instant Yun Che appeared, his eyes narrowed slightly. His divine sense spread outward like a tide, sweeping across the entire hall in a heartbeat—

  The eight guards were all at early Golden Core, while the Ice Puppet Generals sealed within the coffins behind them ranged from late Foundation Establishment to early Golden Core.

  If anything went awry…

  Yun Che’s thoughts stirred. Within his dantian and qi sea, the two Nine Nether cold cores trembled simultaneously. Threads of extreme cold force were already poised to erupt.

  Ah Mei seemed to sense something as well. Its crimson eyes swept over the ancient runes carved into the ice pillars. Thoughtful, it silently positioned itself half a step behind Yun Che.

  The eight guards rose in unison. The leading middle-aged cultivator clasped his fists solemnly, his voice carrying an unmistakable hint of reverence.

  “Senior has descended—this junior, Han Shuo, failed to welcome you from afar. May I ask… which senior you are?”

  Yun Che had already thought matters through during the transmission. His expression remained composed as he replied calmly,

  “Yun Che. Please inform Senior Han Mingzi that I come at the final request of Elder Wu Ming, bearing urgent matters.”

  “Elder Wu Ming?!”

  Han Shuo’s pupils shrank. He exchanged glances with the other seven, all of whom shared the same shock. Wu Ming had been a transmission elder who vanished three hundred years ago—his seniority was extremely high. If this man truly acted on his behalf…

  After a brief hesitation, Han Shuo’s attitude grew even more respectful.

  “This matter is of great importance. This junior dares not decide alone. Senior Yun, would you be willing to accompany me to meet the executive elder of the Ice Abyss Hall?”

  Yun Che nodded. “Much obliged.”

  Han Shuo descended from the ice pillar, the ice coffin behind him levitating in tandem. He raised a hand in invitation.

  “Senior, please follow me.”

  The group entered a side ice corridor.

  The passage was broad, its walls embedded with Azure glowstones that emitted a soft, cold light. Han Shuo led the way, secretly probing Yun Che with his divine sense—

  This sudden young arrival clearly possessed only Foundation Establishment cultivation, yet the Nine Nether cold force within him was so pure and intimidating that even a Golden Core cultivator felt faint pressure.

  What unsettled him even more was Ah Mei behind Yun Che.

  The blue-skinned figure’s runes flickered; its aura was strange—like a puppet general, yet not quite. Its level of sentience was so complete it was nearly indistinguishable from a living being…

  “Senior Yun,” Han Shuo ventured cautiously,

  “May I ask… is the one behind you your Ice Puppet General?”

  Yun Che glanced at him, neither confirming nor denying.

  Han Shuo, however, continued studying Ah Mei. Suddenly, he exclaimed in shock,

  “Such a sentient puppet—I have only seen records of this in ancient sect texts! It is said that only those who cultivate the Nine Nether Samsara Codex to great completion can awaken a puppet’s intelligence fully, almost granting it rebirth…”

  Mid-sentence, he froze, as if realizing something. When he looked at Yun Che again, the reverence in his eyes deepened further.

  Yun Che frowned slightly. This man appeared respectful, yet every word concealed probing intent. He ceased responding and instead shifted his attention to the ice coffin behind Han Shuo.

  His divine sense pierced through the frost-veiled coffin wall, revealing a completely ice-blue desiccated corpse within. Its eyes were shut, yet Yun Che could clearly sense a cold killing intent coalescing inside—

  The instinctive hostility of a puppet general toward unfamiliar spiritual probing.

  Han Shuo sensed this as well and lightly patted the ice coffin. The killing intent immediately subsided.

  He turned with a smile.

  “Forgive the display, Senior. This Profound Ice Corpse General was bestowed upon me by my master, retrieved from deep within the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Tomb. Though its intelligence has yet to awaken, its combat instincts are formidable. Refining it back then took no small effort.”

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  Yun Che replied blandly,

  “A Golden Core–level puppet is already quite decent.”

  Han Shuo’s heart jolted. The ice coffin was capable of blocking divine sense—even ordinary Golden Core cultivators could not see through it. Yet this Senior Yun discerned the puppet’s realm at a glance…

  His attitude grew even more deferential. After some hesitation, he asked again,

  “Senior… your puppet—can it speak?”

  Before the words fully landed, Ah Mei abruptly turned its head. Its crimson eyes swept coldly over Han Shuo, and a string of harsh, archaic syllables escaped its mouth.

  Han Shuo’s expression changed sharply.

  “Th-this… intelligence awakened to the Comprehension of Speech stage?!”

  Yun Che finally lost patience and shot him a cold glance.

  Han Shuo immediately fell silent, though the shock in his eyes remained. After walking quietly for a time, he could not help himself and resumed speaking—moving from puppet refinement techniques to the sect’s recent state, from fellow disciples to various hall elders.

  It sounded like idle chatter, yet every sentence carried subtle probing.

  Though Yun Che did not respond, he gleaned quite a bit from the man’s words.

  “…Though our Nine Nether Relic Tomb remains hidden from the world, the Northern Domain branches are still connected. Take this Cold Abyss Trial—elites from seven branches have arrived…”

  The corridor widened ahead, icy light spilling from the exit.

  Truly annoyed by the incessant chatter, Yun Che flashed forward, accelerating out of the passage.

  The view opened abruptly.

  This was an ice hall slightly smaller than the teleportation hall. Five massive玄冰 pillars stood arranged in a pentagram. Atop each pillar floated a Azure ‘Hanming Iceflame’.

  Within each flame, crystalline runes flowed faintly, radiating a peculiar chill—

  Not purely cold, but fire contained within ice, yang hidden within yin, profound beyond measure.

  At the center pillar sat an elderly man.

  White-haired, ruddy-faced, with a youthful bearing, his eyes were closed. As he breathed, wisps of gray-green qi drifted from the five iceflames, entered his seven orifices, circulated once through his body, then slowly dispersed back into the pillar beneath him.

  Cycle after cycle—endless and unbroken.

  The instant Yun Che stepped into the hall, the old man’s eyes snapped open!

  Two gazes sharp as ice blades fell upon Yun Che, scanning him thoroughly. Yun Che swept with his divine sense—

  Mid–Golden Core cultivation, aura solid and restrained, only one step from late stage.

  Han Shuo hurried in and bowed respectfully.

  “Executive Elder Han Jue of Ice Abyss Hall, this junior Han Shuo greets you. This Senior Yun descended from the teleportation array—forty-nine rings fully lit—bearing the sacred Samsara Volume jade slip. He claims to act on Elder Wu Ming’s final request and seeks an audience with Patriarch Han Mingzi.”

  At the mention of “Wu Ming” and “Samsara Volume,” Han Jue’s expression shifted repeatedly. He rose slowly, his gaze complex as he regarded Yun Che.

  “Daoist Yun… was this truly entrusted to you by Senior Brother Wu Ming?”

  “It was,” Yun Che replied evenly.

  Han Jue fell silent, then asked quietly,

  “Senior Brother Wu Ming… has he passed on?”

  “To block a powerful enemy, he self-detonated his Nascent Soul. His soul has returned to the netherworld.”

  Yun Che’s voice was calm, yet Han Jue’s body trembled faintly.

  The old man drew a deep breath, his gaze turning solemn.

  “Since Daoist Yun bears Senior Brother Wu Ming’s trust, you are an honored guest of the Nine Nether Relic Tomb. This old man is Han Jue, current executive elder of Ice Abyss Hall. May I ask—what is your relationship with Senior Brother Wu Ming?”

  “Recipient of his inheritance. Bearer of his token. One who will complete his unfinished charge.”

  Yun Che slowly raised his hand. The Azure jade slip appeared in his palm, the characters Samsara Volume gleaming with ancient luster beneath the Hanming Iceflames.

  The moment Han Jue saw it, his pupils shrank violently. He stared deeply at Yun Che, then suddenly smiled.

  “So it is Junior Nephew Yun returning to the sect. The title is no empty courtesy—Senior Brother Wu Ming was of the same generation as my master. By seniority, you are indeed my junior nephew.”

  He waved to Han Shuo.

  “You are dismissed. I will personally bring Junior Nephew Yun to meet Senior Brother Han Mingzi.”

  Han Shuo hurriedly acknowledged and withdrew. As he turned, a trace of contemplation flashed through his eyes.

  Once he was gone, Han Jue warmly invited Yun Che onto the central ice pillar. With a wave of his hand, an ice table formed, upon which sat two ice-jade cups that filled themselves with Azure spirit liquid.

  “Junior Nephew Yun,” Han Jue said casually while pouring,

  “may I ask where Senior Brother Wu Ming cultivated all these years… and how exactly he met his end?”

  Yun Che lifted the cup and took a light sip. The liquid transformed into pure cold force upon entering his throat, dispersing through his limbs and resonating faintly with his Nine Nether cold force.

  He set the cup down and replied calmly,

  “Senior was trapped in the Ancient Ice Ruins for three hundred years. His puppet general, Minghai, was eroded by a nether will and betrayed him. To protect the inheritance, Senior self-detonated to block the enemy.”

  “Minghai…”

  Han Jue’s expression darkened.

  “The natal puppet forged with Nine Nether Darksteel as bones and Profound Yin Cold Marrow as flesh?”

  Yun Che nodded.

  Han Jue sighed deeply.

  “Back then, Senior Brother Wu Ming left with a copy of the Samsara Volume and that puppet to seek Earthly Fiend Cold Qi. He never returned. The sect searched many times in vain, assuming misfortune had struck… To think it was betrayal by the puppet.”

  He paused, scrutinizing Yun Che.

  “Since you inherited Senior Brother Wu Ming’s legacy, you must have cultivated the Nine Nether Cold Prison Art?”

  Yun Che did not answer. He merely raised his right index finger and pointed lightly into the air.

  At his fingertip, a Azure ice lotus condensed out of nothing. Its petals unfurled slowly, every vein clear and lifelike. Even more astonishing—

  At its core burned a strand of Hanming Iceflame.

  Ice containing fire. Yin embracing yang.

  The very profundity Han Jue had just displayed in his own cultivation.

  Han Jue’s expression shifted once more. The last trace of doubt vanished completely. He clapped his hands in praise.

  “Such pure Nine Nether cold force! To replicate the essence of ice–fire equilibrium to this degree… Senior Brother Wu Ming truly chose the right successor.”

  What he did not know was that Yun Che was not imitating at all—

  He was forcibly unifying the two extremes with extreme cold dominion, a reality far more terrifying than appearances suggested.

  At that moment—

  All five Hanming Iceflames in the hall dimmed simultaneously!

  Wisps of smoke surged from their cores, converging in the hall to form an illusory human figure. Before the figure fully solidified, a vast, abyss-like pressure descended upon the entire ice hall!

  Han Jue’s expression tightened. He rose instantly and bowed deeply.

  “Han Jue pays respects to Senior Brother.”

  Yun Che’s pupils contracted. Under that pressure, the two cold cores within him trembled violently. Extreme cold force circulated instinctively to protect his body, barely resisting the suffocating oppression.

  He looked up.

  The smoky figure gradually clarified—a white-bearded elder clad in a Azure star robe. His features were ancient and unadorned; when his eyes opened and closed, it was as if stars were born and extinguished.

  When his gaze fell upon Yun Che, the temperature of the entire hall seemed to drop by another thirty percent.

  “Wu Ming junior brother’s successor?”

  The aged, icy voice echoed through the hall like the collision of primordial frost.

  and Wu Ming’s legacy has finally been acknowledged by the sect.

  to Han Jue’s recognition,

  and now the arrival of Han Mingzi himself—

  will become Yun Che’s true sanctuary,

  or merely a far stricter prison?