98: Chapter 98 Bloodbath in the Ice Cave, Seal Suppresses the Demons

"Senior Brother Chu, Senior Sister Su, Gui Li, Ye Xiao, prepare for a fight to the death! Listen to my command, concentrate your power, and kill that old ghost in the middle first!" Lin Ye transmitted his voice, his tone cold and resolute.

At the same time, he gripped the "reincarnation seal" tightly in his left hand, while his red dragon sword pointed obliquely at the ground with his right.

All the remaining Qi, Sword Intent, and even the faint connection he had just formed with the "reincarnation seal" due to his oath were crazily mobilized within him.

"Heh heh, stubborn! Kill!" The skeleton-like old man (Elder Yougu) saw Lin Ye and the others' Battle Intent rising, let out a strange laugh, and waved his withered claws.

"Form the 'Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul-Devouring Formation'! Trap and kill them!"

Dozens of Yinkui Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators immediately dispersed, each taking out a small black flag.

As they waved them, streams of black Qi rose and connected, instantly setting up a sinister and terrifying ghost Formation in the ice cave hall!

Black mist churned, ghosts wailed and wolves howled, and countless hideous ghost shadows emerged in the Formation, trapping Lin Ye and the others in the center.

The three Golden Core Peak Elders stood at the Formation eyes, presiding over the great Formation, their auras connected to the Formation, increasing its power.

"Break the Formation first!" Lin Ye shouted sharply and struck first!

He did not attack the three Elders directly but targeted the Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were maintaining the Formation!

These people were the Foundation of the Formation; killing them would weaken it!

"Starfire Prairie Fire!" The red dragon sword swept across, and the red-gold sword light turned into a rain of fire, sprinkling onto the nearest few Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

At the same time, he secretly channeled the "reincarnation seal," attempting to trigger a trace of its instinctual power of "suppression" and "breaking evil."

Hum!

The "reincarnation seal" vibrated slightly, and a wisp of Chaos-colored light spread out.

Although it was not strong, wherever it passed, the black mist in the Formation seemed to have met its nemesis, rapidly dissipating and retreating!

The ghost shadows that were pouncing over let out miserable screams, their forms twisting, and their power greatly reduced!

It really worked! Suppression by rank!

"What?! That is... the aura of the reincarnation seal?! He can actually trigger a trace of its power?!" Elder Yougu was both shocked and angry.

"Change the Formation! Ghost King gathers form, ten thousand Souls unite!"

Following his sharp shout, the black mist in the Formation crazily gathered toward the three Golden Core Peak Elders.

Instantly, above their heads, a huge Ghost King phantom condensed, standing ten zhang tall, with three heads and six arms, a hideous face, and emitting the terrifying fluctuations of an Early Stage Nascent Soul!

The Ghost King's six arms each held a saber, sword, whip, rope, banner, and seal, and they smashed down fiercely toward Lin Ye and the others!

"Block it!" Chu Yun, Su Waner, Gui Li, and Ye Xiao all tried their best, using their various means to meet the Ghost King's attack.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The four of them clashed head-on with the Ghost King phantom, all of them shaken until they vomited blood and flew backward, their injuries worsening.

The Ghost King phantom also paused slightly.

Now!

A fierce look flashed in Lin Ye's eyes.

Ignoring his own weakness, he poured the last bit of Qi he had just recovered, along with the wisp of Chaos light transmitted from the "reincarnation seal," and the "Lingyun Sword Intent" seed between his brows, all into the red dragon sword!

His figure turned into a stream of red-gold light.

He did not attack the Ghost King but, using the extreme speed of the "Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation," bypassed the Ghost King and dashed straight to the edge of the Formation, toward the Elder standing on the far left of the three Golden Core Peak Elders—the one whose aura seemed slightly weaker (Elder Youhun)!

To capture the bandits, first capture the king; to break the Formation, first break the eye!

"Junior, you seek death!" Elder Youhun was shocked and angry, not expecting Lin Ye to be so fearless and so fast.

He hurriedly channeled his protective ghost Qi while offering a white bone shield to block in front of him.

However, this sword strike from Lin Ye had gathered all his remaining strength, and it was further enhanced by a trace of the "reincarnation seal" Origin power.

How could it be ordinary?

"Break!"

The red-gold sword light, carrying a touch of Chaos color, like a red-hot branding iron piercing into accumulated snow, easily pierced through the bone shield, punctured Elder Youhun's protective ghost Qi, and then... fiercely pierced into his chest!

"Ah—!!" Elder Youhun let out a miserable scream.

He could feel a terrifying Sword Qi containing the power of "Reincarnation" and "destruction" raging inside his body, even threatening to annihilate his Golden Core and Divine Soul!

What was even more terrifying was that the aura of the "reincarnation seal" made the ghost Dao Cultivation Technique he practiced feel like it had encountered a natural enemy, its operation becoming sluggish!

"Save me!!" Elder Youhun screamed in terror.

"Second brother!" Elder Yougu was shocked and hurriedly controlled the Ghost King phantom, abandoning Chu Yun and the others, as a huge ghost claw grabbed at Lin Ye's back.

The other Golden Core Peak Elder (Elder Youying) also shouted and pounced over.

But having succeeded in one strike, Lin Ye did not linger in the fight.

He violently withdrew his sword and retreated, simultaneously throwing the last few "Heavenly Thunder Talismans" and "Flame Explosion Orbs" he had been holding in his hand toward the pursuing ghost claw and Elder Youying!

Boom boom boom!

The explosion blocked the pursuit for an instant.

Lin Ye had retreated to Chu Yun and the others' side, his face as pale as paper, barely able to stand.

That sword strike just now had completely drained him.

But in his eyes, there was a trace of a cold smile.

Seeing that Elder Youhun had a bowl-sized transparent hole in his chest, with faint Chaos-colored flames burning on the edges, he screamed as his body rapidly shriveled and aged, finally turning into a pile of black ash with a "pop."

Even his Golden Core could not escape, and he was completely annihilated!

One sword, slaying a Golden Core Peak (albeit through a sneak attack and suppression)!

The scene fell into dead silence once again.

The remaining Yinkui Sect Cultivators, including Elders Yougu and Youying, all looked in horror at the pile of black ash and then at Lin Ye, who was swaying but held the "reincarnation seal" with cold eyes.

For the first time, fear arose in their hearts.

This Qi Refining junior was too terrifying!

Not only did he have endless means, but he could actually trigger the power of the "reincarnation seal," and he was so fearless of death!

"He is at the end of his rope! Attack together, kill him! Avenge second brother!"

Elder Yougu recovered from his shock and let out a venomous roar.

Together with Elder Youying, he controlled the slightly dimmed Ghost King phantom and pounced again!

The remaining Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators also suppressed their fear and crazily channeled the Formation to attack.

"Protect the Acting Sect Master!"

Chu Yun, Su Waner, Gui Li, and Ye Xiao, although heavily injured, saw Lin Ye achieve such a result, their morale boosted, and they gritted their teeth to stand in front of Lin Ye, fighting to the death to resist.

However, the gap in strength between the two sides was simply too great.

Soon, Chu Yun and the others were in precarious situations.

The flame of Su Waner's "soul-calming ancient lamp" flickered, Gui Li and Ye Xiao added several wounds deep enough to see bone, and Chu Yun was swept by the Ghost King phantom's whip, vomiting blood and falling to the ground, his aura weak.

Seeing that the five of them were about to be completely submerged.

Lin Ye looked at his companions who were protecting him with their lives, and then looked at the "reincarnation seal" in his hand, which was slightly hot and seemed to have become a bit more active after drinking the blood of a Golden Core Peak.

A flash of madness crossed his eyes.

Since conventional methods were exhausted, then... do the extraordinary!

He violently bit the tip of his tongue and sprayed a mouthful of essence blood onto the "reincarnation seal."

At the same time, using the faint connection he had just established with the "reincarnation seal" as a guide, he crazily communicated with the vast power within the seal, and... attempted to use his own Dao Heart, Divine Soul, and even his Reincarnation Oath as "the key" to "request," to "guide," and even to "command" this supreme seal to release at least a trace... of true "Reincarnation" power!

"With my blood, with my oath, with my Dao Heart! reincarnation seal, please help me, suppress the demons!"

Hum—!

The "reincarnation seal" shook violently and erupted with unprecedented Chaos light!

A supreme pressure, ten times, a hundred times stronger than before, as if it could dominate the life and death Reincarnation of all things, erupted with a boom!

Wherever the light reached, the huge Ghost King phantom, like ice and snow under the sun, instantly melted and vaporized!

Elders Yougu and Youying, as well as all the Yinkui Sect Cultivators, all felt a terrifying suppression and fear originating from the depths of their Souls.

The ghost Qi in their bodies crazily backlashed, their Cultivation Techniques completely stalled, and even their Golden Cores and Divine Souls were trembling, as if they would be "judged" by this light in the next moment and cast into Reincarnation!

"This... is this the true power of Reincarnation?! How could he trigger it?! No—!!"

Elder Yougu let out a desperate roar, and together with Elder Youying, fled crazily backward, wanting to escape the range of this Chaos light.

However, it was already too late.

The Chaos light, like mercury pouring onto the ground, instantly enveloped the entire ice cave hall.

All the Yinkui Sect Cultivators, whether they were the Golden Core Peak Elders Yougu and Youying, or the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Disciples, the moment they were swept by the Chaos light, their movements all froze.

Their faces maintained extreme terror, and then... their bodies, like weathered sand sculptures, started from their feet and rapidly turned into the finest dust, spreading upward, and finally completely dissipated into the air, leaving not even a trace behind.

No screams, no explosions, only silent annihilation.

It was as if they had never existed. The power of the reincarnation seal erased everything!

In just a few breaths, there was not a single living thing left in the ice cave hall, except for the five of them, Lin Ye and his group. Even the black mist from the "Ten Thousand Ghosts Soul-Devouring Formation" that had been set up earlier had completely dissipated.

Silence. A deathly silence.

Only the chaotic light emitted by the "reincarnation seal" slowly retracted, becoming subtle once again, as it hovered above Lin Ye's palm, rotating slightly.

Chu Yun, Su Waner, Gui Li, and Ye Xiao stared blankly at this scene, which was like a miracle. They then looked at Lin Ye, who held the seal like a descending Heavenly God, yet his face was deathly pale and his aura was so weak it was almost extinguished. Their hearts were filled with indescribable shock and... a trace of fear.

The power of this "reincarnation seal" is too terrifying! Is this the supreme authority held by the "Gatekeeper"?

Lin Ye slowly retracted the "reincarnation seal", his body swaying as he nearly collapsed. Su Waner hurriedly stepped forward to support him.

"Junior Brother Lin, how are you?" Su Waner's voice was choked with tears. She could feel that Lin Ye's aura had weakened to the extreme, and his life force seemed to be slipping away.

"I... I'm fine. Just... excessive exhaustion." Lin Ye forced himself to endure and swallowed several Medicinal Pills, but they had little effect. Forcing the true power of the "reincarnation seal" just now had nearly drained all his essence blood, Divine Soul, and even his life force. If the "reincarnation seal" hadn't seemingly acknowledged him and fed back a faint trace of vitality, he likely would have died on the spot.

"We must leave here immediately... The commotion just now was too great, and it might... attract something even more terrifying," Lin Ye said intermittently.

"Let's go!" Chu Yun struggled to stand up. Together with Gui Li and Ye Xiao, they protected Lin Ye and Su Waner, stumbling toward the exit of the ice cave.

There were five when they arrived, and five when they left, but all were heavily injured, especially Lin Ye, who was on the verge of death.

Supporting each other, they trudged with difficulty through the ice cave passage. The passage that had felt long and dangerous upon arrival now seemed much shorter, driven by their will to survive.

Finally, they walked out of the "Reincarnation ice cave" and returned to the ice-cracked canyon.

Outside, it was still the eternal wind and snow.

"Go to... the Snow Soul Tribe ice palace... It is... relatively safe there..." Lin Ye said, using his last bit of strength, before his vision went black and he completely passed out.

"Junior Brother Lin!"

"Acting Sect Master!"

Everyone exclaimed in alarm and hurriedly checked on him, discovering that Lin Ye was only unconscious from exhaustion. However, his internal condition was extremely dire; his vitality was weak, his Meridians were dried up, and his Divine Soul was dim, like a candle in the wind.

"Quick! To the Snow Soul Tribe!" Chu Yun carried Lin Ye on his back, Su Waner led the way holding the lamp, and Gui Li and Ye Xiao brought up the rear. The five of them trudged through the wind and snow once again toward the Snow Soul Tribe ice palace.

They did not know that shortly after they left, deep in the ice cave, where the "Gate of Reincarnation" had originally vanished, the Void Realm slightly twisted. A blurry, hundred-zhang-tall terrifying demonic shadow, seemingly composed of pure shadow, slowly emerged. At the head of the demonic shadow, two points of scarlet light, like stars, looked in the direction Lin Ye and the others had left, emitting a low, ancient roar filled with endless greed and killing intent:

"The 'reincarnation seal'... the 'Gatekeeper'... finally, they have appeared..."

"The day of the Demonic Lord's... arrival... is not far off..."

The demonic shadow slowly dissipated, as if it had never appeared. Only the wind and snow continued to howl.

Three days later, at the Snow Soul Tribe ice palace.

Saintess Bingli used the tribe's secret techniques, combined with the "Ice Soul Heart-Condensing Lotus" and a large number of rare Spirit Medicines, to barely stabilize Lin Ye's injuries and preserve his last thread of life. However, Lin Ye remained unconscious, and his internal condition was complex; his vitality, Qi, and Divine Soul all required a long period of recuperation and could not be recovered in a short time.

The injuries of Chu Yun, Su Waner, Gui Li, and Ye Xiao had stabilized with the help of the Snow Soul Tribe and were slowly recovering.

Saintess Bingli looked at the unconscious Lin Ye on the ice bed, then at the "reincarnation seal" in his arms, which was emitting a faint chaotic luster. Her icy blue eyes were filled with complexity.

"He forcibly invoked the Origin of the 'reincarnation seal'. Although he killed the powerful enemy, he also exhausted almost everything. If this seal had not already acknowledged him as its master and fed back a trace of vitality, he would have perished long ago. Now, his internal condition cannot be cured by ordinary Medicinal Pills and Qi. He needs to be slowly nourished by mild Heaven And Earth Treasures containing the Concept of 'Life' and 'Reincarnation', supplemented by powerful methods to nourish the Divine Soul, only then is there a possibility for him to wake up and recover his cultivation."

"Heaven And Earth Treasures with the Concept of 'Life' and 'Reincarnation'..." Su Waner murmured, suddenly remembering something. "The 'spirit-nourishing bead' might have some effect, but it is far from enough. Could it be... that we must search for the legendary 'Spring of Life' or 'Reincarnation Immortal Plant'?"

"Both of these items are legendary and hard to find in this world." Saintess Bingli shook her head. "However, our tribe's ancient records state that in the deepest part of the 'Eye of the Northern Deep', in the core where chaotic space-time and the power of Reincarnation intertwine, a strange 'Ice Soul Reincarnation Flower' occasionally gestates. This flower contains a trace of the vitality of Reincarnation and might have some effect. But that place is even more dangerous than the 'Reincarnation ice cave'; it is a true dead zone from which no one has ever returned alive."

"As long as there is hope, we will go!" Chu Yun said without hesitation.

"No, your injuries have not healed, and going there is suicide," Saintess Bingli said. "Besides, before he fell unconscious, he likely wanted to return to the Sect as soon as possible to complete the 'three keys' homecoming ceremony and stabilize the passage. Demon Lord Yinming has already sensed the appearance of the 'reincarnation seal', and the great catastrophe is approaching. Time, perhaps, is running out."

Everyone fell silent. On one side was Lin Ye's life, and on the other was the Sect and the great catastrophe for all living beings.

"Perhaps... we can split into two groups," Ye Xiao suddenly said. "One group will escort the Acting Sect Master and the 'reincarnation seal' back to the Sect, for Supreme Elder Tianxuan and others to preside over the ceremony. The other group will head to the depths of the 'Eye of the Northern Deep' to search for the 'Ice Soul Reincarnation Flower'."

"Who will go to find the flower?" Gui Li asked. That place, once you go, you might not come back.

"I will go." Su Waner suddenly spoke, her voice calm and firm. "I have the 'soul-calming ancient lamp' and the 'spirit-nourishing bead', which have a certain resistance to the Divine Soul and extreme environments. Moreover, Junior Brother Lin was severely injured while saving us. I must do something."

"I will go with you," Chu Yun said.

"I will go too," Gui Li said.

"No." Saintess Bingli shook her head. "The depths of the 'Eye of the Northern Deep' cannot be conquered by numbers. Moreover, the Sect also needs manpower. I suggest that Su Waner take my tribe's token and map and go alone. She is meticulous, and with the ancient lamp and the spirit-nourishing bead, she has the highest chance of success. Chu Yun, Gui Li, and Ye Xiao, you will escort Lin Ye and the 'reincarnation seal' back to the Sect. My Snow Soul Tribe can provide you with a relatively safe secret passage and send people to escort you for a portion of the journey."

Go alone? To such a dead zone?

Su Waner's delicate body trembled slightly, but her eyes became even more firm: "Okay. I will go."

Chu Yun and the others wanted to say something more, but seeing Su Waner's resolute gaze and thinking of the Sect's crisis, they could only nod in silence in the end.

"There is no time to lose, prepare to set off immediately." Saintess Bingli was swift and decisive.

One hour later. Outside the ice palace, the wind and snow continued. The two groups were about to part ways.

Su Waner had changed into a cold-resistant leather armor specially made by the Snow Soul Tribe. Carrying her pack, holding the "soul-calming ancient lamp" and the token and map given by Saintess Bingli, she said softly to Chu Yun and the others, and also to the unconscious Lin Ye: "Wait for me to return."

Then, she turned around resolutely and walked alone toward the even colder and more dangerous depths of the "Eye of the Northern Deep". Her figure appeared thin yet incomparably strong in the wind and snow.

Chu Yun, Gui Li, and Ye Xiao took the still-unconscious Lin Ye, along with the "reincarnation seal", the "command token of ten thousand ghosts", and other items, and set off on the road back to the Lingyun Sword Sect under the escort of several Snow Soul Tribe warriors.

They did not know that what awaited them on the road ahead was an even more turbulent undercurrent and the impending Demonic Calamity that would sweep through the entire Cultivator world of the Tianfeng Kingdom!

Meanwhile, the consciousness of the unconscious Lin Ye seemed to have sunk into an endless darkness and Chaos.

Vaguely, he seemed to see a door, an incomparably huge door composed of stars and Reincarnation.

Behind the door, there seemed to be a familiar yet strange figure quietly waiting.