187: Ice Spirit Secrets and Body Tempering with Fiendish Qi

The next few days of travel were relatively peaceful.

Perhaps the Wild Eagle's crushing defeat had a deterrent effect, as the Hall of Souls did not immediately organize a new round of attacks.

The caravan trekked along the ancient trade route across the boundless ice plains, facing the almost unchanging white snow and cold day after day.

This monotony was a torment for those with weak wills, but for Li Ao, it was a rare Opportunity for introspection.

Besides necessary vigilance and travel, he spent most of his time on horseback or in his tent at night, continuing to comprehend and absorb the Evil Qi of the nine nether cold iron, and deducing the “Three Forms of Nirvana.”

This afternoon, the snowstorm briefly ceased, and a rare warm winter sun shone on the ice plains, reflecting dazzling light.

The caravan took a short rest on a relatively flat ice sheet.

Jin Ling, wrapped in a thick snow fox fur, sat on a fur-covered stone, watching Li Ao not far away, still holding the dark cold iron and quietly meditating.

After a few days of interaction, her fear of Li Ao and Medusa had greatly diminished, replaced by more curiosity and gratitude.

She hesitated for a moment, then gathered her courage and spoke softly: “Young Master Li Ao... you seem very interested in this cold iron?”

Li Ao emerged from his meditation, looked at Jin Ling, and seeing the tentative curiosity on her small face, he smiled slightly and walked over to sit beside her: “Yes, this item is beneficial to my Cultivation.”

He did not elaborate on Nirvana Power, but instead asked: “Young Miss Jin Ling, you seem to know quite a lot about the extreme cold objects of the Northern Region?”

When a topic she was familiar with was brought up, Jin Ling's eyes brightened slightly, and she became less reserved: “I... because of my Physique, I have read many ancient texts about ice-attribute medicinal materials and minerals in the Northern Region since childhood.

My mother also hopes that I can learn more, perhaps to find a way to alleviate the cold Qi backlash within my body.”

She paused, organized her thoughts, and continued: “According to ancient records, nine nether cold iron is not merely a mineral; it is more like an ‘exotic life form’ condensed by extreme cold and deathly Evil Qi in a special environment like the Eye of the Underworld Sea.

The Evil Qi it contains can not only freeze the Physical Body but also corrode the Soul.

Ordinary people who are exposed to it for too long will suffer mental derangement and their vitality will wither.

However, if one Cultivates an extremely Yin-cold attribute Cultivation Technique, or like Young Master you... have special methods, one can use it to temper oneself and even comprehend deeper Concepts of ‘stillness’ and ‘ending’.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Li Ao's eyes; he hadn't expected Jin Ling, at such a young age, to possess such extraordinary knowledge.

What she said about ‘exotic life form’ and ‘ending Concept’ subtly touched upon the essence of Nirvana Power.

“It seems Madam Jin’s efforts in having you read extensively were truly well-intentioned,” Li Ao praised.

Jin Ling lowered her head slightly, a little embarrassed: “I am only talking on paper.

It is truly remarkable for someone like Young Master to be able to control such a fierce object for Cultivation.”

“Everyone has their strengths,” Li Ao said calmly.

“You possess the Ice Spirit Clan Bloodline, and your perception of ice power is naturally keen; this is also a talent that others cannot obtain.”

At the mention of the Ice Spirit Clan, Jin Ling's eyes dimmed slightly, and she softly said: “But... this talent brings me more pain.

If not for my mother's tireless efforts, I might not have lived until now.”

Li Ao could feel the bitterness in her words and asked: “The Ice Spirit Clan... what kind of clan is it exactly?

Since they possess such a powerful Bloodline, why would they let you wander outside, and why do they need this ‘ancient ice spirit talisman’ to return?”

This was something he had always been puzzled by.

Logically, the Ice Spirit Clan should highly value a descendant with such a precious Bloodline.

Jin Ling looked up, gazing at the snowline where the distant ice plains met the sky, a complex expression in her eyes: “According to some ancient manuscripts my mother and I have read, the Ice Spirit Clan is a very ancient and reclusive clan.

They believe in the Dao of ice and snow, pursuing absolute purity and stillness.

Although their Bloodline Power is strong, it also comes with great risks—‘Ice Soul Backlash’.”

“Ice Soul Backlash?”

“Yes.” Jin Ling nodded, instinctively wrapping her arms around herself as if feeling the chill, “When the Bloodline is impure or one cannot fully control the Bloodline Power, the extreme cold power within the body will go out of control, freezing vitality and eventually turning a person into an unconscious ice sculpture.

I... am precisely because my Bloodline is not pure enough, and I had no one to guide me, which is why...”

Her voice choked a little: “My mother is not a direct descendant of the Ice Spirit Clan; she also... had me by chance back then.

The Ice Spirit Clan has strict rules and is extremely exclusive towards outsiders, especially wary of Bloodline outflow.

My mother tried to return with me back then but was turned away.

If not for an Elder of the clan who remembered old ties and secretly guided us, telling us that only by finding the lost ‘ancient ice spirit talisman’, opening the ‘Ancestral Ice Secret Realm’, and using the power of the ‘ice origin heart’ at the core of the Secret Realm, could my Bloodline be purified and the backlash suppressed, I would probably have already...”

So that was it.

Li Ao understood.

This ice spirit talisman was not only a key but also Jin Ling's hope for survival.

No wonder Madam Jin valued it so much, even willing to use nine nether cold iron and a huge favor to ask for his help.

And the Hall of Souls' coveting of this talisman was probably for more sinister purposes, perhaps to utilize the power of the Secret Realm or to destroy the Legacy of the Ice Spirit Clan.

“Don't worry.” Li Ao looked at Jin Ling, his voice carrying a reassuring strength, “We will definitely reach the Ice Spirit Clan safely and allow you to enter the Secret Realm smoothly.”

His words were calm but contained undeniable confidence.

Jin Ling looked into his deep and resolute eyes, and the unease in her heart seemed to be greatly soothed; she nodded vigorously: “Yes! Thank you, Young Master Li Ao!”

Just then, Li Ao's brow suddenly furrowed slightly, and his gaze sharply swept towards the horizon in front of the caravan's side.

In his perception, a violent and chaotic energy fluctuation was rapidly approaching the caravan's direction!

Mixed within it were fierce beast roars and... human screams?

“Something's happening!” Li Ao stood up, signaling to Steward Wu and Medusa not far away.

Medusa instantly appeared beside Jin Ling, protecting her.

Steward Wu and the guards also immediately became tense, picking up their weapons and forming a defensive formation.

In the distance, above the snowline, dust billowed, and dozens of disheveled figures could vaguely be seen desperately fleeing.

Behind them were several huge, ferocious Demonic Beasts covered in thick white bone armor, resembling giant lizards, but with drill-like sharp heads!

“It's ‘Ice Plain Drill Dragons’! And a whole pack of them!” Steward Wu's face changed as he recognized this terrifying pack-hunting Demonic Beast of the Northern Region Ice Plain.

An adult Drill Dragon is at least a Fifth-Tier Demonic Beast, equivalent to a human Battle King, and its leader can even reach the Sixth-Tier Peak!

They are skilled at burrowing and surprise attacks, and their defenses are extremely strong; their drill-like heads can easily tear through battle Qi defenses!

The fleeing group was clearly a mercenary or exploration team, now heavily casualties, being hunted by several Drill Dragons, and about to be caught!

“Prepare to engage the enemy!” Steward Wu gritted his teeth and ordered.

Although he didn't want to meddle, the opponents were charging straight at them, making avoidance impossible.

Li Ao looked at the several Drill Dragons emitting a ferocious aura, especially the particularly large one at the front whose aura had reached the Sixth-Tier Peak, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

He sensed that these Demonic Beasts, which had long lived in the extreme cold ice plain and fed on ice-attribute energy and flesh, also contained a kind of ‘Ice Evil Qi’ similar to the Evil Qi of nine nether cold iron, but even more violent and full of life-devouring intent!

“Perhaps... I can use them to test my blade.”

Li Ao's lips curved into an arc, and his hand grasped the hilt of the “silent ruin” on his back.