He circulated his divine sense, carefully scanning the ice plain ahead, searching for the three ten-thousand-zhang ice peaks arranged in a triangular formation that Ling Yunzi had described.
At the same time, a faint dragon aura and chaos presence emanated from his body, keeping him constantly vigilant for any sign of the Beiming Divine Clan.
The three stood shoulder to shoulder at the edge of the Eternal Ice Plain. Behind them stretched continuous snow mountains. Ahead lay the perilous and unknown forbidden ice territory.
The wind and snow howled fiercely, tugging at their robes, yet it could not scatter the resolve in their eyes.
The path to the Blood Soul Cold Pool had only just begun. The threat of the Beiming Divine Clan was already close at hand.
After flying in this manner for about ten days, the scenery before them finally became completely monotonous yet majestic.
An endless white ice plain spread to the limits of vision, merging almost seamlessly with the grey-white sky.
Massive glaciers wound across the land like silent giant dragons lying prostrate. Fierce winds whipped up snow powder that had not melted for millennia, forming vast white curtains that blurred the line of sight.
The cold here was bone-piercing, capable of instantly freezing ordinary iron. Without powerful protective treasures or special techniques, a typical True Immortal cultivator would probably not last more than a few hours.
“Senior, we have already entered the periphery of the Eternal Ice Plain.”
Ling Shuang’s voice carried through the wind and snow. A layer of crystalline sword qi swirled around her, isolating her from the severe cold and storm.
“Several thousand li further ahead, we will gradually approach the middle region. That is also the area usually patrolled by the Beiming Divine Clan. We must exercise greater caution.”
Chen Ping nodded. He lowered their flying altitude and speed. His divine sense, like the most precise radar, fanned out from himself to scan the area ahead in finer detail.
The ice plain was not lifeless. He could detect faint yet resilient life auras beneath the ice layers, belonging to ice-attribute demonic beasts or spiritual plants adapted to extreme conditions.
Occasionally he also sensed lingering traces of magic power from other cultivators, mostly ancient and carrying an ominous sense of finality.
Sure enough, after pressing deeper by about two thousand li, the edge of Chen Ping’s divine sense keenly captured several distinctive auras.
Those auras were cold, pure, carrying an innate nobility and aloofness. They approached rapidly from the side ahead. Their movement was not simple flight but rather a seamless integration with the ice plain and blizzard beneath their feet, gliding towards the trio.
“Someone is coming,” Chen Ping said calmly as he halted their escape light.
The Red Cloud Demon Lord immediately grew alert. Dark red demonic essence faintly circulated around him.
Ling Shuang gripped her sword hilt tightly, her beautiful face tense.
Moments later, three figures emerged silently from the blizzard ahead like phantoms.
The newcomers all wore ancient-style ice-blue battle armour engraved with intricate snowflake and divine patterns.
They were tall, their skin a cold white from years without sunlight. Their features were deep and handsome, but their eyes were like eternal ice, devoid of warmth.
On their foreheads, a faint blue ice crystal mark could be seen, glowing softly.
The leader possessed the strongest aura, around the Third Grade Heavenly Immortal realm. He held a crystalline ice spear. Its tip pointed at the trio as he spoke in a cold, emotionless tone.
“This place is the territory of the Beiming Divine Clan. Entry by outsiders is strictly forbidden. Leave at once, and you may be spared death.”
His voice was not loud, yet it pierced clearly through the howling wind, carrying an unquestionable commanding tone, as if expelling ants that had strayed into a divine domain.
The characteristic arrogance and xenophobia of the divine clan were fully displayed in that single sentence.
Chen Ping regarded the three haughty Beiming Divine Clan warriors before him. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
He was not a bloodthirsty person. This trip was solely to obtain the herb and save a life. He had no desire to create unnecessary complications or enemies.
He stepped forward half a pace and spoke in a calm, peaceful tone. “Friends from the divine clan, we have no intention of offending your noble territory. We come only because of an urgent matter. We need to reach the Blood Soul Cold Pool to harvest a life-saving spiritual herb, the Millennium Blood Soul Cold Lotus.”
“This herb concerns the life and death of a close friend’s dao companion. I beseech the three of you to grant us passage for convenience’s sake. Afterwards, we will certainly offer generous thanks or equivalent treasures as compensation.”
The Red Cloud Demon Lord’s lips moved as if he wished to speak, but in the end he held back, merely watching the three divine clan members tensely.
Ling Shuang also sheathed her long sword and gave a slight curtsey to show sincerity.
However, the face of the spear-wielding leader showed not the slightest change. Instead, as if he had heard something utterly laughable and offensive, the corner of his mouth twisted into a cold sneer.
“Mere mundane ants dare to address us as friends?”
His voice cut sharper than the cold wind. “The Blood Soul Cold Pool is one of the sacred pools of our Beiming Divine Clan. Every blade of grass and every tree within belongs to the divine clan. How could we allow outsiders to covet or touch them?”
One of the other warriors snorted in derision. “Save a life? The life or death of you mundane beings concerns our divine clan how? Get out of the ice plain at once. Otherwise, leave your lives here and become dried bones upon this plain!”
The third warrior directly raised a longbow condensed from ice crystals. A chilling arrow locked onto Chen Ping from afar, radiating murderous intent.
“Captain, why waste words on these inferior creatures? Kill them cleanly. It will also serve to deter other fools who dare spy on our sacred grounds.”
The three exchanged words, their attitude utterly overbearing, leaving no room whatsoever for negotiation.
That arrogance etched into their very bones, along with their extreme contempt for those “not of our race”, caused Chen Ping’s gaze to gradually turn cold.
All colour drained from the Red Cloud Demon Lord’s face. His eyes filled with despair and anger.
Ling Shuang’s hand tightened once more on her sword, her knuckles turning white.
“So there is no room for discussion?”
Chen Ping’s voice remained calm, but those familiar with him, like the Red Cloud Demon Lord, could already detect the storm brewing beneath that tranquillity.
“Discussion?”
The spear-wielding captain acted as if he had heard the greatest joke. He swung his ice spear, tracing a chilling arc through the air. “The will of the divine clan is the will of heaven. Allowing you to leave is already great mercy. Since you refuse, then… die!”
The instant the word “die” left his mouth, all three divine clan warriors moved at once!
The spear-wielding captain vanished like a ghost. In the next moment he appeared above Chen Ping’s head. The ice spear carried a soul-freezing chill as it stabbed straight towards Chen Ping’s crown!
The archer’s bowstring vibrated. Three arrows formed entirely from extreme ice laws shot out in a triangular formation, targeting the hearts of Chen Ping, the Red Cloud Demon Lord, and Ling Shuang respectively. Wherever the arrows passed, fine cracks of ice even appeared in space itself!
