35: Leaving a glimmer of hope, trading in the snow

The moment the Heavenly Dao oath was established, Jiang Chen could clearly feel the mountain-and-sea-like killing intent that had locked onto him dissipate.

It wasn't that Han Li didn't want to kill him.

It was the Heavenly Dao Law that forbade him from having such a thought.

Jiang Chen's hand, which was pressed on the Phoenix Egg, loosened slightly.

The destructive energy within the egg, which was about to erupt, immediately quieted down considerably.

He did not drain the Phoenix Origin from the egg.

Doing so would be like draining the pond to catch all the fish, leading to endless future troubles.

A Nascent Soul Cultivator who has completely lost hope is no different from a mad dog whose granddaughter has died.

Even a cornered rabbit will bite, let alone Prince Zhenbei.

What he wanted was only the most essential part, as well as to completely sever Huang Bing'er's supreme Opportunity for "Nirvana Rebirth."

Now, his goal had been achieved.

He left approximately ten percent of the Origin power.

Then, Jiang Chen's palm completely moved away from the egg.

Buzz!

That trace of Phoenix Origin he had left, no longer suppressed, immediately transformed into a gentle golden light as if it had found its kin, surging into the unconscious Huang Bing'er nearby.

Although this power was not enough to allow her to undergo Nirvana Rebirth and transform into a goddess.

It was sufficient to sustain her life, repair her damaged internal organs, and even greatly improve her innate meridional Physique.

From then on, she might not be able to become a Phoenix goddess who could burn the heavens and boil the seas, but becoming an ordinary princess with a Physique far superior to ordinary people and living a long life would be more than enough.

Her destiny had been forcibly twisted by Jiang Chen from a brilliant, broad avenue to an ordinary country path.

This was "deprivation."

After doing all this, Jiang Chen grabbed Huang Bing'er by her collar and casually pushed her towards Han Li, who was not far away.

"Here's your princess back."

Han Li subconsciously reached out, and a gentle spiritual power emerged, steadily catching Huang Bing'er.

His Divine Thought immediately probed into Huang Bing'er's body.

When he discovered that the princess's vitality, though weak, was much more stable than before, and even her meridional deficiency had somewhat alleviated, his suspended heart finally relaxed by half.

But what followed was deeper confusion and apprehension.

He raised his head and looked at Jiang Chen with an expression as if he was looking at a monster.

This young man, from beginning to end, displayed a calmness and ruthlessness that surpassed his age and even his cultivation.

Setting a trap to lure the snake out of its hole, then removing the firewood from under the cauldron.

Applying extreme pressure during confrontation, leaving no loopholes.

Afterward, leaving a glimmer of hope to manipulate people's hearts.

Could this really be done by a junior in the Foundation Establishment Stage?

Who exactly was he? From which hidden Demonic Sect did he come? Or was he an old monster undergoing Possession and Rebirth?

Countless thoughts flashed through Han Li's mind, but he dared not ask.

The Heavenly Dao oath, like a shackles, firmly bound his words and actions.

"Let's go, Prince Zhenbei."

Jiang Chen's voice broke the silence.

"My bodyguard should fulfill his duty."

The two words "bodyguard" made Han Li's face twitch fiercely.

His face was ashen, and without a word, he held Huang Bing'er and turned to walk out of the ice cave.

Jiang Chen followed him unhurriedly.

The remnant soul of the Frost Dragon, now so weak it was almost transparent, watched their retreating figures, its Dragon eyes filled with complexity.

It had failed to complete its mission of guardianship.

But it had also witnessed the continuation of the Bloodline.

Finally, it let out a long sigh, and its massive phantom dissolved into specks of ice crystals, completely dissipating and merging into the Nine Nether Cold Spring... Outside the ice cave, in the Fengku Corridor.

The Zhenbei Army soldiers, who had been tormented and disheveled by their Heart Demons, had re-formed their ranks.

When they saw Prince Zhenbei emerge from the ice cave holding the unconscious Ninth Princess, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next moment, they saw the black-clad young man following behind the Prince, looking composed.

Everyone's faces showed expressions of astonishment.

Who was this?

Why was he coming out with the Prince?

Why did the Prince's gaze towards him seem so... complex?

It was a mix of immense killing intent, yet forcibly suppressed humiliation and apprehension.

Like a fierce tiger chained, watching a fox strutting arrogantly before it.

No one dared to ask.

And no one dared to move.

Han Li held the princess, bringing Jiang Chen with him, as if escorting the most important prisoner, step by step, silently passing through the entire Zhenbei Army formation.

The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

Finally.

They reached the end of the Fengku Corridor.

The wind and snow outside assailed them.

Han Li stopped.

He turned around, his cold gaze fixed on Jiang Chen.

"This Prince's oath ends here."

His voice seemed to come from the depths of the Nine Nether.

"The next time we meet, no matter where, this Prince will kill you."

Jiang Chen smiled indifferently.

"I hope you still have the Opportunity."

With that, his figure, without any lingering attachment, turned and merged into the vast wind and snow, instantly disappearing.

Only Han Li remained, holding the unconscious girl in his arms, standing in the wind and snow, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

But the departing Jiang Chen did not know.

When he thought he had only stolen the Phoenix Origin and Bloodline.

A more ancient, more secret thing had already quietly imprinted itself deep within his Divine Soul along with that power.

It was a fragmented Legacy memory from an ancient Phoenix.

A memory about the "Truth of the Heavenly Dao" of this world.