The wind at the outer perimeter of the God-Entombing Ice Valley was no longer merely cold but carried pure ice-attribute spiritual energy and faint killing intent, like countless fine ice needles, trying to penetrate protective spiritual light through every pore. Tang Xiaoqi stood beneath a wind-sheltered ice cliff, his body faintly flickering with alternating crimson flows and cyan spiritual charm, warding off the bone-piercing chill. He gently closed his eyes; spiritual sense extended like a tide toward the Ice Valley, yet when touching that region filled with chaotic spiritual power and fierce Dao rhymes, it was cleverly repelled and weakened.
The situation within the valley was like being covered by a heavy ice fog—difficult to see fully. Yet from just the outer perimeter, he clearly sensed at least seven or eight powerful auras. Two were most noteworthy: one ice-cold and thorough, carrying the solemnity and order of sect disciples—should be the Glacial Ice Pavilion's "Ice Phoenix" Ling Qingshuang; the other elusive, its chill carrying loneliness and desolation—presumably the Cold Silence Sect's "Snow Prince" Liu Hanyan. Beyond these, there were also several auras, some, someviolent, some deeply hidden—all clearly experts drawn by the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. The lowest cultivation was late Foundation Establishment; False Core stages were not absent.
Zhao Tiezhu circulated blood qi nearby, his skin taking on a bronze sheen, resisting the omnipresent chill. He lowered his voice: "Xiaoqi-ge, this lineup... there are way too many people! How are we gonna play this?" Even the rabbit spirit hiding in its warm bag poked out its head, ears alertly pricked, its little paws gripping Xiaoqi's collar tightly.
Xiaoqi slowly opened his eyes. There was no fear in his gaze, only a spark of comprehension flashing across. He gently stroked the Four Symbols Jade Pendant at his chest, now slightly warm, feeling that cool summons from deep within the Ice Valley that resonated with the pendant. He said firmly: "Many people is precisely proof of this treasure's rarity. This Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus—I must compete for it."
His tone was calm yet carried undeniable resolve. This was not a momentary impulse but derived from clear understanding of his own Dao path.
Since reaching Foundation Establishment great perfection, he had polished his foundation to incomparably solid. His spiritual power, refined through numerous fortunate encounters and the Spring Life Art's tempering, was pure and full of vitality. His spiritual sense, nourished by the Meditation Comprehension Secret and Purifying Spirit Flame, exceeded others of his level. His physical body, initially tempered by the Vajra Subduing Divine Art and baptized by Dragon Blood Wine, was exceptionally tough. Additionally, he had many other foundations: the Four Symbols Jade Pendant, Purifying Spirit Flame, Nirvana Phoenix Sword, Creation Cauldron, and more. One could say his conditions for forming a Golden Core were already all prepared.
Yet that final step always felt slightly lacking. He deeply understood that Golden Core quality varied—there were high and low levels, and it determined how far one's Dao path could go. Ordinary people might form a Golden Core naturally, but what he sought was far from that. Bearing the Purification Origin, carrying Four Symbols power, and having comprehended his own Guardian Sword Heart and path of balance, his goal naturally was the legendary Superior Quality Golden Core, or even... the Ultimate Golden Core!
This Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus might precisely provide this most crucial element.
First, its abundant spiritual power and effect of increasing Golden Core formation odds. This was the most direct temptation, sufficient to drive any Foundation Establishment cultivator insane.
Second, it lay in the "extreme-cold vitality" Dao it contained. Within Xiaoqi, due to the Vermillion Bird Soul Crystal and Southern Ming Departing Fire, the fire element was. Though balanced by the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal's water-nourishing power and Purification Origin, it leaned toward yang. Yin-yang imbalance was not the path to forming the most perfect Golden Core. The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus united extreme-cold energy with a thread of living vitality—it was that trace of pure yang (vitality) gestating within extreme yin. If he could draw its Dao rhyme into his body, harmonize dragon and tiger, balance kan and li, achieving yin-yang intersection and water-fire mutual achievement, the quality of his Golden Core would definitely rise another level. This collision of extreme cold and vitality was precisely the catalyst he desperately sought—the catalyst to cause qualitative transformation in his spiritual power and Dao rhyme!
Third, the ice-attribute law fragments the snow lotus might contain, though not entirely aligned with his primary cultivation of Purification and Guardian paths, "Purification" itself included imagery of "ice-sealed extinction" and "cleansing rebirth." Comprehending the purity and extinction within this extreme cold might allow his understanding of the Purification path to become more comprehensive and profound, even touching upon a hint of "absolute purification" imagery. This had incalculable benefit for forming a Golden Core bearing his own Dao mark.
Fourth was the Four Symbols Jade Pendant at his chest. The pendant's unusual activity was no coincidence. Xuanwu governs the north, belongs to water; its nature is extreme cold and extreme stability, overseeing guardianship. The emergence of a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus in this northern extreme-cold realm might precisely hint at Xuanwu's power. If he could obtain the lotus, perhaps he could further stimulate the Xuanwu Soul Crystal's power within the pendant, making the Four Symbols more balanced, providing more powerful foundation support for his Golden Core formation.
Risk and opportunity coexisted. Within the valley, experts lurked; the environment was extreme; there were unknown Ice-Phantom Clan mysteries and Aunt Su's whereabouts puzzle. Yet the path of cultivation itself was opposing heaven to seize fate—if one abandoned opportunity due to fear of risk, one's Dao heart would gather dust, and future cultivation would advance with difficulty.
"Tiezhu, Rabbit, this expedition is extraordinarily dangerous." Xiaoqi looked at his companions, his gaze candid: "If you wish to withdraw, you may still return to Frostwolf Fortress to wait."
Zhao Tiezhu thumped his chest: "Xiaoqi-ge, what are you saying! Would this old Zhao be someone who fears trouble? A Golden Core opportunity! I want some of that too! At worst, I'll risk this life!" Though simple, he also understood that following Xiaoqi brought greater opportunities.
The rabbit spirit squeaked twice, patting its Treasure Pouch with its little paw, indicating it had stored many "good things"—useful in critical moments.
Xiaoqi's heart warmed slightly. He nodded: "Good! Then we shall storm this dragon's pool and tiger's den!" He no longer hesitated, beginning to formulate a plan. Charging head-on was undoubtedly the most foolish choice. The priority was understanding the valley's specific situation, the snow lotus's exact location, and the distribution and movements of various factions.
He took out several high-grade "Invisibility Talismans" and "Qi-Concealing Talismans" obtained from Heavenly Axis City, distributing them to Zhao Tiezhu with instructions: "We act separately, sneak in carefully, communicate via spiritual sense. Primary objective is reconnaissance—absolutely do not fight unless necessary." He looked at the rabbit spirit: "Little one, I'm counting on you—sense where spiritual energy and treasure radiance are most concentrated, or where special fluctuations occur."
The rabbit spirit nodded vigorously, emerging from the warm bag, its nose flaring as its ruby eyes carefully studied the Ice Valley direction.
The three, using the talismans' power, gradually blended their forms and auras into the wind, snow, ice, and rock—three wisps of blue smoke, silently sneaking toward the God-Entombing Ice Valley's entrance, that like a huge beast opening its cold maw.
Closer to the valley mouth, the air's spiritual energy grew more chaotic; the ice-cold Dao rhyme also became clearer. Battle scars began appearing on the ground—frozen bloodstains, shattered magical artifact fragments, ice-encased limbs... silently narrating the clashes that had erupted. Occasionally they saw corpses thoroughly frozen into ice sculptures, faces still frozen in expressions of terror or greed.
Xiaoqi carefully shuttled between ice pillars and rock crevices, his spiritual sense contracted to the extreme, covering only a few zhang around himself, avoiding detection by others. He saw Glacial Ice Pavilion disciples in unified ice-blue robes, forming a simple ice formation, occupying a higher ice platform. Leading them was a woman with a graceful figure, face veiled in frost, eyes cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice—the very Ling Qingshuang. Her aura, as if1 with the surrounding snow and ice; the False Core realm's pressure emanated faintly.
On the other side, Cold Silence Sect's Liu Hanyan sat alone atop a prominent ice pillar. White robes like snow, his handsome face carried aloofness; the space around him seemed colder than elsewhere. Snowflakes falling near him would automatically flow around him.
Beyond these two most prominent groups, Xiaoqi sensed several hidden auras. One figure wrapped entirely in a black robe, aura like a venomous snake, lurking in shadows; one burly man with a massive ice axe on his back, his killing qi; and one seemingly ordinary gray-robed elder, squatting on the ground studying the ice layers—but when Xiaoqi's spiritual sense swept over him, he felt a faint blockage, obviously carrying unusual treasures or secret arts.
The valley's terrain was far more complex than it appeared from outside. Everywhere were jagged ice peaks, bottomless ice crevasses, and ice caves leading who-knew-where. Chaotic ice-attribute spiritual energy created natural interference, making spiritual sense probing extremely difficult.
Just then, the rabbit spirit on his shoulder suddenly tugged Xiaoqi's hair vigorously, its little paw pointing toward a direction deep in the valley. There, a faint blue glow glimmered through the wind and snow, and simultaneously a more pure, more tempting lotus fragrance drifted on the wind—though extremely faint, it instantly attracted all cultivators' attention!
"The snow lotus is about to mature!" someone whispered.
The previously restrained standoff atmosphere instantly shattered! Several figures simultaneously surged forward, transforming into rushing toward where the glow appeared!
The Glacial Ice Pavilion formation's light blazed brightly. Ling Qingshuang shouted clearly: "Form formation, advance!" Cold Silence Sect's Liu Hanyan also transformed into a snow line, moving first yet arriving last. The black-robed cultivator melted into shadows like a specter, speed terrifying. The axe-wielding barbarian howled, shattering the ice beneath his feet, charging wildly.
Chaos—imminent!
Xiaoqi's gaze sharpened, yet he did not immediately follow the crowd's rush. He suppressed the restlessness his spirit felt due to the lotus fragrance, maintaining calm. The temptation of the Golden Core opportunity was immense, but precisely at such times, a clear mind was needed. He gestured for Zhao Tiezhu to stay calm while he himself carefullysuppress, choosing a relatively secluded route that curved toward the glow's flank.
He knew the real contest was just beginning. And that snow lotus that had stirred countless hearts was the core lure of this bloody storm. Whether his Golden Core path could be paved through this depended on whether he could, within this extreme cold realm surrounded by heroes, seize a thread of his own fortune!