538: You're weird, kid.

The light of the Ice Soul Locking Constant Ding flared up once more, and the ice net tightened further. Black Impermanence's struggle became increasingly difficult as he let out agonized roars.

However, the evil power contained within the seven Blood Pearls was too immense. Black Impermanence absorbed the evil power faster and faster, causing the blood power within him to surge continuously. As it collided with the ice power, a sizzling sound erupted, and the tremor throughout the Snow God Hall became more violent, as if it would collapse at any moment.

"Boom—!" With a world-shaking explosion, the blood power inside Black Impermanence erupted completely, merging with the evil power of the seven Blood Pearls to form a world-destroying Blood Sea's Power that slammed violently against the Ice Soul Locking Constant Ding.

The ice power and evil power collided fiercely, creating a massive shockwave that instantly sent all the Falling Snow Pavilion Disciples and Elders flying.

Many Disciples and Elders with lower cultivation could not withstand the power of this shockwave at all. Their bodies instantly exploded, turning into pools of blood that flowed into the Formation, becoming nourishment for the refinement of the ninth Blood Pearl.

Immortal Master Ling Shuang was sent flying by the shockwave, crashing heavily against the rock wall of the Snow God Hall. She spat out a large mouthful of blood, her Meridians were shattered, and her aura was weakened to the extreme. The Ice Soul Locking Constant Ding in her hand also nearly slipped from her grasp.

Under the impact of the Blood Sea's Power, cracks appeared across the ice net. Black Impermanence suddenly broke free from his restraints, his evil power surging as his eyes turned hideous and terrifying.

His figure flickered, appearing instantly before Immortal Master Ling Shuang. He extended his pitch-black claws, clutching Ling Shuang's neck and hauling her violently before him. His voice was filled with brutality and mockery: "You think you can stop me? How overconfident! Now, I shall use your Divine Soul and essence blood as a sacrifice for my ninth Blood Pearl!"

Countless tiny blood threads extended from Black Impermanence's claws, entangling Ling Shuang's body and beginning to forcibly extract her Divine Soul and essence blood. Ling Shuang's body convulsed continuously, her face filled with agony, yet she still gritted her teeth and stared at Black Impermanence with determined eyes: "Black Impermanence... don't even think about it... even if I die, I will never let you... complete the blood sacrifice..."

Black Impermanence sneered, his eyes full of cruelty: "On the brink of death and still stubborn! Your Divine Soul and essence blood are formed from the Ice Origin; they are perfect for sacrificing to the ninth Blood Pearl! Once I refine the blood god pearl and open the Blood Realm, the first thing I will do is ensure Bai Ning's Divine Soul can never be reincarnated!"

Immortal Master Ling Shuang's body became increasingly transparent as her Divine Soul and essence blood were continuously drawn out, turning into nourishment for the ninth Blood Pearl.

The outline of the ninth Blood Pearl faintly took shape in the empty space, emitting a world-destroying evil power that dyed even the air into a viscous blood-red color.

Murong Xue trembled all over, her white clothes stained with blood and her hair matted to her cheeks by tears and gore. She watched as Sect Head Ling Shuang was tortured by Black Impermanence, watched as her fellow Disciples exploded one by one, and watched as the Falling Snow Pavilion was about to become the ninth sacrifice point, yet she was powerless—her cultivation was too shallow. Even if she fought with all her might, she would only become nourishment for Black Impermanence, unable to change anything before her.

"It's over, it's all over!" Murong Xue covered her face as tears surged through her fingers, "We are all going to die here!"

Murong Gu knew he could no longer stay hidden, so he spoke in a booming voice, "Aunt Xue, don't be afraid! I'm still here!"

Golden light surged around Murong Gu, like a Scorching Sun dispersing the surrounding sinister and evil aura.

Without a moment's hesitation, with a thought from Murong Gu, the Natal Immortal Cave within his Dantian suddenly opened. A dark red light shot out from the Immortal Cave and landed in his palm—it was the very Blood Pearl he had obtained from the Chen Family Village.

At this moment, the Blood Pearl, nurtured by his Nascent Soul power, had already lost much of its evil ferocity. Its surface was surrounded by a faint golden light, perfectly blending with the aura of his Golden Spirit Art.

"Stop!" Murong Gu gripped the Blood Pearl tightly and roared at Black Impermanence, his voice carrying an unquestionable resolve, "Release Immortal Master Ling Shuang, or I will crush it!"

He applied a slight pressure with his fingertips as golden Spiritual Qi tightly wound around the Blood Pearl. The Blood Pearl instantly let out a slight tremor, as if sensing the threat of destruction.

Black Impermanence's claws, which were clutching Ling Shuang's neck, suddenly paused. The hideousness and frenzy on his face froze instantly, and a flash of bewilderment crossed his eyes.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling upon the Blood Pearl in Murong Gu's palm. He was stunned at first, but then, as if he had realized something, he broke into a fit of maniacal laughter: "Hahaha! So that's how it is! I was wondering why the eighth Blood Pearl had yet to fly over; it turns out you were the one who snatched it!"

He sized Murong Gu up, his pitch-black eyes full of contempt: "A mere Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Early Stage like you dares to hold my Blood Pearl and threaten me, a Half-step Soul Transformation expert? How utterly overconfident!"

In his view, Murong Gu was just a lucky junior. Even if he had taken the Blood Pearl, he could not possibly control it, let alone threaten his plans.

Before his voice had even faded, Black Impermanence suddenly released his claws from Ling Shuang's neck. Ling Shuang went limp, falling to the ground like a broken kite. Her aura was weakened to the extreme, yet she still managed to look up at Murong Gu with eyes full of shock and hope.

Black Impermanence grabbed at the Void Realm with his five fingers, his evil power surging as he shouted toward the Blood Pearl in Murong Gu's palm: "Blood Pearl, return to your place!"

Buzz—!

The Blood Pearl in Murong Gu's palm suddenly began to tremble violently. The golden light on its surface was suppressed by the evil power, and it showed signs of breaking free from his restraint.

From within the Blood Pearl, some invisible summons seemed to come, resonating with the seven Blood Pearls in the Snow God Hall's Formation, attempting to escape Murong Gu's control and rush toward the center of the Formation.

"Don't even think about it!" The Nascent Soul power within Murong Gu's body erupted fully. He circulated both the Golden Spirit Art and the Divine Illumination Seamless Record simultaneously. The golden Spiritual Qi became like solid shackles, tightly binding the Blood Pearl and forcibly suppressing its restlessness.

Within moments, the Blood Pearl's trembling gradually subsided. The evil power on its surface was completely suppressed by the golden light, and it lay obediently in Murong Gu's palm, showing no further signs of breaking free.

"What?!" Black Impermanence's expression changed drastically, the mockery in his eyes instantly replaced by shock. He took a sudden step forward, his voice a roar of disbelief, "You... you can actually suppress the Blood Pearl? How is this possible!"

The Blood Pearl was refined by the Black Wind Stockade over two thousand years using the essence blood and Divine Souls of countless living beings. It contained immense evil power and resentment; even someone like him, at the Half-step Soul Transformation stage, could only barely control it and could not completely suppress it.

But this junior at the Nascent Soul Early Stage before him could actually suppress the restlessness of the Blood Pearl relying only on his own Cultivation Technique. This simply defied all common sense!

Black Impermanence stared fixedly at Murong Gu, his eyes full of suspicion and wariness: "There's something strange about you, kid! What secret are you hiding?!"

"Enough nonsense!" Murong Gu shouted, "Release Immortal Master Ling Shuang and let us all leave, or I will crush it right now and make your two thousand years of planning come to naught!"