189: The Eternal Frozen Realm, Guardians of the Ice Spirits

The closer they got to the majestic glacial mountain range known as the Permafrost Domain, the more rapidly the surrounding temperature dropped.

The air was no longer filled with ordinary cold Qi, but with an extreme ice-attributed energy that seemed capable of freezing the Soul Origin.

Even the strongest Dou Ling guards in the caravan had to circulate their Qi with all their might to resist, their faces turning an unnatural bluish-white.

The camel beasts became restless, emitting low whines, and would have almost lost control if not for the animal trainers' strenuous efforts to soothe them.

The mercenary team that had been rescued was even more dishevelled; if not for Li Ao occasionally emitting a trace of gentle Nirvana Power to dispel the excessively dense cold around them, they would have probably long since turned into ice sculptures.

Only Li Ao, Medusa, and Jin Ling, who possessed the Ice Spirit Clan Bloodline, adapted well to the environment here.

Jin Ling even felt the restless cold Qi within her body become much more docile in this place, and a rare faint blush appeared on her pale cheeks.

"Ahead is the outer barrier of the Permafrost Domain," Steward Wu said, pointing forward, his voice trembling slightly.

A few miles ahead, a colossal energy storm wall, visible to the naked eye and composed of countless tiny ice crystals, rotated and flowed slowly like a curtain connecting heaven and earth, separating the inside from the outside.

Inside the storm wall, the scenery was blurry; only more towering glaciers and flowing auroras could be seen.

The heart-pounding energy fluctuations emanated precisely from this storm wall.

"This is the 'Extreme Cold Storm Barrier' set up by the Ice Spirit Clan; without their permission, forcibly breaking in, even a Dou Zun expert would be instantly frozen and torn to shreds," Jin Ling explained softly, this was information her mother had told her.

The caravan stopped about a mile from the storm barrier, not daring to advance further.

Li Ao's gaze swept over the gigantic storm barrier, his Soul Power attempting to penetrate it, but he felt an incomparably pure and vast ice-attributed energy blocking him, even faintly transmitting a backlash force, causing him to raise an eyebrow slightly.

The strength of this barrier far exceeded his expectations; the Ice Spirit Clan's foundation was indeed profound.

"Let's wait here; the Ice Spirit Clan's patrol team should discover us very soon," Steward Wu said, then ordered the caravan to set up camp on the spot and ignite more heating devices.

Sure enough, not long after, the storm barrier ahead fluctuated, rippling like water, and then, more than ten figures slowly emerged from it.

These individuals were uniformly clad in exquisite ice-blue armor, intricately engraved with snowflake and ice crystal patterns, emitting a faint cold light.

Each of them had a chilling aura and eyes as sharp as ice picks; the weakest among them were at the Peak of Dou Ling, and the leading squad leader had even reached the Peak Dou King level.

Their appearances were no different from the Human Race, but their skin was generally fairer, their hair mostly ice-blue or silver-white, and their pupils were pure ice-blue, devoid of any emotion.

They were precisely the Ice Spirit Clan's patrol team!

As soon as they appeared, their cold gazes swept over the entire caravan like a scan.

When they saw Li Ao and Medusa, the squad leader's expression visibly grew much more serious, clearly discerning that these two were not to be trifled with.

And when his gaze fell upon Jin Ling, who was protected behind Medusa, his brows immediately furrowed tightly, and an undisguised look of disgust and repulsion appeared on his face.

"Outsiders, this place is the Ice Spirit Clan Forbidden Ground; retreat quickly!" The squad leader's voice was icy, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, like ten-thousand-year-old glacial ice.

Steward Wu quickly stepped forward, bowed, and respectfully said, "This adult, we are entrusted by Madam Jin of Wanjin Pavilion in Tianbei City to escort Young Miss Jin Ling back to her clan, and we have an important matter to discuss with your Elder.

This is the token."

As he spoke, he held up the ice-blue feather-shaped token with both hands.

The Ice Spirit Clan squad leader glanced at the token, his eyes fluctuating slightly, but the repulsion on his face did not diminish.

He said coldly, "Jin Furong? The descendant of that sinner who mingled with outsiders and defiled our clan's Bloodline? Does she still have the face to return?"

His words were extremely harsh, causing Jin Ling's delicate body to tremble, her face instantly turning even paler, and tears of grievance welling up in her light blue eyes.

Li Ao frowned, took a step forward, blocking Jin Ling, and looked calmly at the squad leader: "Entrusted by others, loyal to the task.

Our purpose for this trip is only to escort Young Miss Jin Ling back and deliver the token.

Please inform your superiors."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an invisible pressure that made both the squad leader and the guards behind him feel a catch in their breath.

The squad leader's expression changed slightly, sensing Li Ao's unfathomable aura.

His tone softened a little but remained firm: "Hmph, what if you have a token?

Our clan rules state that those with impure Bloodline are not allowed to enter!

Moreover, she even brought two unknown foreign experts?

Who knows if you harbor malicious intentions!"

"You!" Steward Wu's face flushed with anger.

A trace of coldness also flashed in Medusa's purple eyes, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop a few more degrees.

Just then, Jin Ling gathered her courage, stepped out from behind Medusa, and, suppressing her tears, said in a trembling but firm voice, "My... my mother said that with this token, I can request an audience with Elder Bing He!

Please... please inform Elder Bing He!"

"Elder Bing He?" The squad leader's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and a trace of apprehension flashed in his eyes.

Elder Bing He held a high position in the clan and had a rather eccentric temper, but he indeed had some old ties with Jin Furong.

He pondered for a moment, then coldly swept his gaze over Li Ao and Medusa before instructing a guard behind him: "Go and report to Elder Bing He, just say... Jin Furong's daughter has returned with the token, and she also brought two foreign experts."

"Yes!" The guard acknowledged the order, quickly turned, and disappeared into the storm barrier.

The atmosphere on the scene became somewhat stagnant for a time.

The Ice Spirit Clan's guard team still watched Li Ao and the others vigilantly, while the caravan waited anxiously.

Li Ao stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, as if he paid no attention to the tense atmosphere before him.

However, his Soul Power quietly spread, sensing his surroundings.

In this extremely cold environment, his nirvana star core seemed even more active, and his perception of energy became more acute.

Suddenly, he felt something and seemingly inadvertently swept his gaze towards a distant ice hill to his side and rear.

There, he sensed an extremely subtle, cold aura that was out of place with the surrounding ice-attributed energy.

Although it flashed by, it did not escape his perception.

"The people from the Hall of Souls... indeed followed us here, and they're hiding even deeper," Li Ao sneered inwardly, "It seems this trip to the Ice Spirit Clan is destined not to be peaceful."

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the storm barrier ahead fluctuated again.

This time, it was no longer cold guards who emerged, but an old man dressed in a simple white robe, with white hair and beard, and a gaunt face.

The old man held an ice crystal staff, his eyes seemingly cloudy, but occasionally when they opened and closed, they held a wise light that could see into people's hearts.

His aura was restrained, but Li Ao could feel that the old man's strength was definitely at the Dou Zun level!

He was Elder Bing He, as Jin Ling had mentioned.

Elder Bing He's gaze bypassed everyone and landed directly on Jin Ling.

In his unruffled eyes, a complex emotion flashed—nostalgia, a sigh, and a touch of pity.

"So similar, truly like your mother when she was young..." Elder Bing He murmured, then turned his gaze to Li Ao and Medusa, lingering on Li Ao for a moment, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Are you two the ones who escorted Ling'er here?" Elder Bing He spoke, his voice gentle, yet carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Precisely," Li Ao cupped his hands, "Entrusted by Madam Jin, we escorted Young Miss Jin Ling back and are to deliver this item."

He took out the ancient ice spirit talisman.

The moment he saw the ice spirit talisman, Elder Bing He's pupils constricted slightly, and a look of emotion finally appeared on his face.

He looked deeply at Li Ao, then at Jin Ling, and finally sighed.

"Very well, since it is Furong's wish, and with the token here... you, follow this old man inside."

He waved his hand, and the Extreme Cold Storm Barrier immediately split open a passage wide enough for several people to walk abreast.

"Elder, this does not comply with clan rules..." The squad leader hastily interjected.

Elder Bing He glanced at him indifferently: "Rules are dead; people are alive.

This matter, this old man has his own judgment."

The squad leader immediately fell silent, not daring to say more.

Elder Bing He looked at Li Ao and Medusa: "You two, please.

As for the caravan and the others, wait here."

Li Ao and Medusa exchanged glances and nodded.

"Jin Ling, let's go," Li Ao said gently to Jin Ling.

Jin Ling looked at the passage leading to her clan, her eyes filled with excitement, apprehension, and hope.

She nodded vigorously, closely following Li Ao and Medusa.

The three, led by Elder Bing He, stepped into the legendary Permafrost Domain.

Behind them, the storm barrier slowly closed, completely cutting off the external wind, snow, and prying eyes.