259: DAP

They explored the other quiet rooms one after another, but the situation was the same.

Whether it was the seemingly sharp Magical Artifacts, the scrolls recording Cultivation Techniques, or the jade bottles containing Medicinal Pills, without exception, they all turned to dust the moment they were touched.

Everyone had come full of anticipation, only to end up empty-handed, and they couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

"It seems the true Opportunity can only be on that central Dao platform."

Yao Delong's gaze turned once again to the ice lotus Dao platform, which exuded an ancient aura.

On the Dao platform, that blurred ice figure still sat cross-legged, as if quietly watching the futility of the intruders.

As the distance closed, that bone-chilling coldness suddenly intensified!

It was no longer just a simple low temperature, but a terrifying cold might that seemed capable of freezing the Soul and solidifying Yuan energy!

The cold air on the white jade floor tiles condensed into Qiong Shuang visibly, and the air itself became viscous.

"Hiss... so cold!"

Li Linger couldn't help but shiver, hurriedly circulating her Profound Yin power to protect her body.

A thin layer of ice crystal shield automatically appeared on Lin Qingxue's body, her expression remained normal, and there was even a hint of enjoyment in her eyes.

The Nascent Soul Stage cultivators Shi Jian, Zhao Feng, Sun Lie, and Wang Yan, and others, also hurriedly circulated their Yuan energy, forming shields on their bodies to resist this bone-deep cold.

Yue Shan's body was covered in a heavy earth-yellow light, as if he had donned a suit of rock armor.

Xiao Huohuo had flames rising around his body, but in this extremely cold environment, the flames also appeared dim and flickering.

Han Yun's golden arrow phantoms swirled around her, cutting through the invisible cold currents.

Lin Shishi drove her water-elemental Yuan energy, forming a deep blue shield on her body.

Yao Delong's Nine Yang True Fire flowed slightly on his body, and the reddish-gold light evaporated all the approaching cold air, making him appear the most relaxed.

Qiong Shuang was even more in her element, squinting her big ice-blue eyes comfortably, and even secretly inhaled a few mouthfuls of pure cold air.

When everyone stepped into the range of the nine giant ice pillars surrounding the Dao platform, a sudden change occurred!

Hum—!

The entire Dao field space shook slightly!

The blurred ice figure on the Dao platform seemed to come alive!

Two cold, indifferent gazes, which seemed capable of piercing the Soul, slowly swept over the crowd below.

An indescribable pressure, like an invisible iceberg, descended with a boom!

"Those who trespass on the Dao field and disturb my master's quiet Cultivation shall be executed!"

A cold, emotionless voice, like the friction of ten-thousand-year black ice, rang directly in everyone's Sea of Consciousness!

Before the voice faded, the Dao patterns on the nine giant ice pillars suddenly lit up!

The ice-elemental Spiritual Qi throughout the entire Dao field instantly became violent!

Countless ice needles, fine as ox hair but containing terrifying penetrating power and extreme cold, shot towards everyone from all directions without any dead angles, like a rainstorm of pear blossoms!

Each ice needle was enough to easily pierce through the protective Yuan energy of an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator!

"Careful!"

Shi Jian roared, his spear dancing like a Dragon, with heavy spear shadows, shredding all the ice needles aimed at him and those nearby, emitting dense sounds of metal clashing!

Yue Shan roared, his giant axe dancing wildly, and his heavy earth-yellow Yuan energy formed a barrier, resisting the ice needles, with clanging sounds ceaselessly ringing in their ears!

Han Yun's bowstring vibrated rapidly, and her golden arrows intercepted them accurately.

Xiao Huohuo's flames rose as he tried to melt the ice needles, but with little effect.

Li Chen, Zhao Feng, Sun Lie, Wang Yan, and others also used their various means to fight hard, and for a time, the situation was perilous!

"Hmph! Mere tricks!"

Qiong Shuang, curled up on Yao Delong's shoulder, snorted in disdain. Just as she was about to open her mouth to spit out cold air to counter, that cold voice sounded again, carrying an unquestionable majesty:

"Those of the Yao Beast kind are not allowed to participate in the trial! Stand down!"

An invisible force instantly restrained Qiong Shuang, pressing her firmly onto Yao Delong's shoulder, unable to move, and she couldn't even make a sound, only able to glare angrily at the ice figure.

Yao Delong's eyes narrowed. He did not launch a strong attack, but instead protected Xiao Huohuo and Li Linger, his Burning Silence Sword waving out a screen of reddish-gold fire, incinerating most of the incoming ice needles.

He keenly noticed that although this attack was sharp, it did not seem to be a pure killing move, but rather more like a... trial?

Sure enough, that cold voice sounded again, with a hint of scrutiny:

"Ice Soul Origin, Profound Yin Physique... barely acceptable. The others are mediocre, unworthy of my master's treasures!"

Following its words, the power of the sky-filling ice needles suddenly increased!

The target was no longer everyone, but focused on Lin Qingxue and Li Linger!

A flash of brilliance crossed Lin Qingxue's cold eyes.

Facing this terrifying ice needle storm, she did not retreat, but instead took a step forward!

With her ice soul sword suspended in front of her, she formed hand seals, and the purest Ice Soul Origin power in her body erupted without reservation!

"Ice Soul · Condensation!"

With her as the center, an extreme coldness spread out!

The countless ice needles shooting towards her suddenly slowed down when they approached within three zhang of her, as if they had fallen into viscous ice slurry, and were eventually assimilated and frozen by her Origin cold air, turning into crystal-clear snowflakes that fell down!

She was like an ice goddess, standing still in the storm, even absorbing the surrounding ice-elemental energy!

Li Linger, whose cultivation was lower, appeared much more strained.

Her pretty face was deathly pale, she clenched her teeth, and exerted her Profound Yin Physique to the fullest.

A gentle yet tenacious cold air surged from her body, forming a thin, constantly fluctuating Profound Yin shield around her.

The ice needles hit the shield, making "chi chi" sounds, constantly wearing down her Yuan energy.

Her delicate body trembled slightly, and a trace of blood even spilled from the corner of her mouth, but her eyes were exceptionally firm, holding on tightly, and the Profound Yin Qi actually faintly showed signs of condensing and sublimating under the huge pressure!

"Hmm?" The ice figure on the Dao platform seemed slightly surprised by the performance of the two, especially Lin Qingxue's pure Ice Soul Origin, which caused its cold will to have a trace of imperceptible fluctuation.

The ice needle storm lasted for about ten breaths and then stopped abruptly.

"Ice Soul is pure, Profound Yin is tenacious, although immature, the Foundation is acceptable."

The cold voice commented, its tone seeming to soften slightly, "Since you have a connection with ice, I will bestow you with an Opportunity to help you in your Cultivation."

As the voice fell, two ice-blue streams of light shot out from the Dao platform's phantom, landing precisely in front of Lin Qingxue and Li Linger.

In front of Lin Qingxue was a small, exquisite ice crystal pendant, shaped like a perfect snowflake. It was crystal clear throughout, and inside it seemed as if Ice Soul stars were flowing, exuding the purest Ice Soul Origin aura — Ice Soul Star Pendant (low-grade heavenly artifact)!

This pendant could not only greatly increase the power of ice-elemental Cultivation Techniques but also constantly nourish the wearer's Ice Soul Origin, accelerate Cultivation, and form a powerful Ice Soul shield.

In front of Li Linger was a pair of ice silk gloves, thin as cicada wings and exuding a gentle Profound Yin Qi — Profound Yin Ice Silkworm Silk (low-grade heavenly artifact)!

These gloves could perfectly conduct Profound Yin power, greatly enhancing the control over ice-elemental energy, and also possessed powerful defensive capabilities, impervious to water and fire, and difficult for blades and swords to damage.

Both treasures exuded the aura of a Heaven-Grade Weapon that made people's hearts flutter!