241: Treasure hunt in the ice cave: a clash of terrestrial immortals.

Deep within the ice cave of Hanyue Valley, the chill and Killing Intent intertwined into an invisible barrier.

Jun Xiaoyao stood three zhang away from the ice coffin, the hem of his dark robe stained with unmelted snowflakes, his gaze fixed on the star shattering stone emitting a faint glow atop the ice coffin lid—the stone body was translucent.

Inside, stars seemed to flow, faintly echoing the totem Aura seen earlier at the Black Stone Tribe.

"Senior Beigong, there is no need to hold back."

Jun Xiaoyao's voice broke the deathly silence, calm yet carrying an unquestionable resolve, "This old thing knows too much; he cannot be allowed to live."

The Overlord Spear in Beigong Wang's hand hummed, and a three-inch Protective Aura condensed at the spear tip: "Rest assured, Young Lord!"

Before the words had even faded, he had transformed into a black rainbow, the wind from his spear tearing through the ice layer as he aimed directly for the Great Priest's face.

The Great Priest abruptly tore off his bone mask, revealing a face covered in wrinkles, though his eyes flashed with greedy red light.

He formed hand Seals with both hands.

Driving the "Myriad Bone Heart Sutra" to its limit, the rock walls on both sides of the ice cave suddenly exploded, and countless bones surged out like a tide, condensing into a giant bone statue before him; the giant statue held a bone hammer and smashed it down to meet the Overlord Spear.

"Clang—"

The moment the spear and hammer collided, the entire ice cave shook violently, and ice chips fell like a rainstorm.

Beigong Wang was shaken back three steps, his boot soles plowing two deep furrows into the ice surface; the Great Priest let out a muffled groan, as the left arm of the giant bone statue was shattered by the spear's Protective Aura, turning into bone dust that filled the air.

"The Land Immortal Realm is nothing more than this."

Beigong Wang sneered, his spear momentum rising again, the Overlord Spear drawing an arc in the air, the spear shadows like a wheel, shredding all the surging bones, "This evil art of yours is a joke before me!"

A flicker of fear flashed in the Great Priest's eyes, but he remained stubborn: "Arrogant brat! Once I absorb the power of the star shattering stone, it will be your death day!"

He lunged violently toward the ice coffin, his withered palms reaching straight for the star shattering stone.

"Don't even think about it!"

Shadow One burst out from the shadows, his ten-fingered oil-soaked thimbles sparking as he struck directly at the Great Priest's heart.

His Shadow Assassination Technique was adept at surprise attacks, and the timing was impeccable, catching the exact moment when the Great Priest's old force was spent and his new force had not yet arisen.

However, the Great Priest had long been prepared; a bone fissure suddenly split open on his back, and three bone spurs emerged, precisely blocking Shadow One's thimbles.

The corpse poison on the bone spurs splashed onto the ice, instantly corroding three black holes.

"Ignorant little worm."

The Great Priest sneered and backhanded a palm strike, the palm wind carrying the stench of a corpse, forcing Shadow One to retreat several steps, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth—the gap between the Heavenly Human Realm and the Land Immortal Realm was, after all, hard to bridge.

Just then, Beigong Wang's Overlord Spear struck again, the tip sliding along the ice, avoiding the giant bone statue's frontal interception, and pierced the statue's knee from a tricky angle.

The giant bone statue collapsed with a roar, revealing the Great Priest behind it.

"It's over!"

Beigong Wang roared, his spear momentum changing abruptly, the Overlord Spear transforming into a swimming Dragon, bypassing the Great Priest's defense, the tip pointing straight at his Dantian.

A flicker of madness flashed in the Great Priest's eyes; he suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of essence blood, which landed on the star shattering stone, causing the stone to instantly erupt with blinding light.

An indescribable suction force surged from the stone, and thirty percent of Beigong Wang's Protective Aura was forcibly sucked away!

"Hahaha! The star shattering stone has recognized its master!"

The Great Priest laughed wildly as he lunged toward the star shattering stone, "With it, I can suck dry the Internal Energy of all of you! Jun Xiaoyao, your Beyond Heaven will eventually become nourishment for my Myriad Bone Grotto!"

Jun Xiaoyao frowned slightly, crushing a signal flare within his sleeve with his fingertips—the suction of this star shattering stone far exceeded expectations, and Beigong Wang's Aura was weakening at a visible rate.

"Medical Immortal, it's your turn."

Following Jun Xiaoyao's words, a scent of medicinal herbs drifted from the entrance of the ice cave.

Medical Immortal walked in slowly with a medicine chest on his back, holding a white jade porcelain bottle in his hand containing a pale golden medicinal liquid: "Young Lord, this is 'Evil-Breaking Liquid' refined from ice fire flowers and seven star grass, specifically designed to counter such evil objects that suck Internal Energy."

He flicked his finger, and the porcelain bottle turned into a streak of golden light, passing over the battle and landing precisely on the ice coffin lid.

Seeing this, Beigong Wang abruptly retracted his spear and retreated, simultaneously flicking his finger to strike the porcelain bottle with a burst of Protective Aura.

"Snap!"

The porcelain bottle shattered, and the Evil-Breaking Liquid splashed onto the star shattering stone, making a "sizzling" sound.

The originally flowing starlight dimmed instantly, and the suction force dropped sharply.

The Great Priest screamed, his palm pressed against the star shattering stone being corroded by the medicinal liquid, revealing ghastly white finger bones.

"My star shattering stone!"

The Great Priest acted like a madman, ignoring his festering palm, still clutching the star shattering stone tightly, "I will kill you all!"

Beigong Wang seized this fleeting opportunity, the Overlord Spear like a poisonous Dragon emerging from its cave, the tip piercing through the Great Priest's chest.

The Great Priest looked down at the spear tip in his chest, the red light in his eyes fading rapidly, finally turning into a trace of unwillingness: "Myriad Bone Grotto... will not let you go..."

Before the words had even finished, his body had turned into fly ash, leaving only a black bone talisman on the ice surface, with the words "Burial God Abyss" carved on it.

Beigong Wang pulled out the Overlord Spear, the blood on the spear tip instantly evaporated by his Protective Aura: "Young Lord, it's done."

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the bone talisman, rubbing the words "Burial God Abyss" with his fingertips, his eyes deep: "It seems there is a greater scheme behind this Myriad Bone Grotto."

He turned to look at Gu Yao, who was tied to the ice pillar, "Saintess, you can speak now—where is the third star shattering stone? And what kind of place is the Burial God Abyss?"

Gu Yao's face was pale; watching the place where the Great Priest had vanished into dust, her body trembled uncontrollably: "I will say... I will say... the third one is... is at 'Heaven Burning Cliff' in the Western Region, and the Burial God Abyss is... is the Forbidden Ground of our Myriad Bone Grotto; legend has it that the 'Bone God' is sealed inside..."

"Bone God?"

Jun Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow, "Continue."

"The Bone God is our ancestor, said to have reached the Void Shattering Realm; back then, to make a Breakthrough, he set up the 'Myriad Bone Spirit Devouring Formation' in the Burial God Abyss, which requires three star shattering stones as the formation eyes to open..."

Gu Yao's voice grew lower and lower, "Once opened, it can absorb the Spiritual Qi of the entire continent, allowing the Bone God to resurrect..."

Jun Xiaoyao put the bone talisman into his pocket and nodded at Zhao Gao: "Take her down and 'entertain' her well."

Zhao Gao understood and signaled two Luowang Assassins to drag Gu Yao away.

Gu Yao's screams gradually faded into the distance, and the ice cave returned to silence, with only the faint glow of the star shattering stone flickering on the ice coffin.

Beigong Wang walked to the ice coffin, carefully removed the star shattering stone, and handed it to Jun Xiaoyao: "Young Lord, this stone is very evil; it's best to deal with it as soon as possible."

Jun Xiaoyao took the star shattering stone; it felt cold to the touch, and the flow of stars inside the stone body seemed to have slowed down significantly.

The System panel suddenly popped up automatically:

[Detected star shattering stone (second piece), triggered hidden quest: Explore the Burial God Abyss]

[Quest Reward: Special Summon Opportunity x1, unlock Void Shattering Realm summoning authority]

[Accept?]

Jun Xiaoyao chose "Yes" without hesitation.

He could feel that with the appearance of the two star shattering stones, the undercurrents of the continent had begun to surge faster, and if Beyond Heaven wanted to gain a firm foothold in this storm, or even become the ultimate beneficiary, it had to take the initiative.

"Senior Beigong, take half of the men to guard Hanyue Valley to prevent a counterattack from the Myriad Bone Grotto."

Jun Xiaoyao placed the star shattering stone into a specially made jade box, "Shadow One, you come back to Beyond Heaven with me; prepare to go to the Western Region."

"Yes!"

The two replied in unison.

When they left the ice cave, the snow had stopped, and the sunlight shone through the clouds onto the snowfield, reflecting a blinding light.

Jun Xiaoyao looked up toward the direction of the Western Region, where the Heaven Burning Cliff was located, and also where the third star shattering stone was hidden.

He knew that the road ahead would surely be even more dangerous; the remnants of the Myriad Bone Grotto, enemies hiding in the shadows, and even the potentially existing "Bone God" would all be obstacles to Beyond Heaven.

But what of it?

A cold, sharp arc curled at the corner of Jun Xiaoyao's mouth, his fingertips tapping gently on the jade box—from the day he Transmigrated into this world, he understood that to survive and to control his own destiny, he had to be more ruthless and stronger than everyone else.

The resource territory of Beyond Heaven must not stop here.

The star shattering stone of Heaven Burning Cliff, the secrets of the Burial God Abyss—he would uncover them all with his own hands.

And those who stand in the way...

A cold glint flashed in Jun Xiaoyao's eyes; from the direction of the ice cave behind him came the shouts of Beigong Wang training his subordinates, and the humming of the Overlord Spear echoed across the snowfield, carrying the deterrent power belonging to Beyond Heaven, spreading far and wide.