I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Almost simultaneously, "glug-glug—" a large number of bubbles suddenly rose from the originally silent, pitch-black pool, and the pool water began to churn violently. A chilling aura, ten times stronger than before, shot into the sky like a volcanic eruption! The white frost on the edge of the pool spread outward at a visible speed, the air temperature plummeted, and even the rocks made a slight cracking sound as they were unable to bear the weight!

"Form a defensive formation!" Zhao Zheng reacted extremely quickly this time, shouting sharply. He and the other team members quickly moved closer, connecting their spiritual power to create a light barrier to resist the terrifying cold wave that swept in.

Qin Yuan stood at the forefront of the cold wave, his spiritual energy flowing naturally around him. His powerful physical body, perfected at the first level of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars," shone brightly, keeping out the extreme cold and malevolent energy that was enough to freeze even a Golden Core cultivator. A faint golden light shone in his eyes as he locked his gaze on the center of the churning pool.

From the churning black pool, a blurry shadow composed of dense malevolent energy slowly rose. At first, the shadow was formless, but it quickly coalesced into an outline about ten feet tall, neither human nor beast, composed entirely of pitch-black malevolent energy and water flow, with only two scarlet points of light shining at its head, filled with violence and greed.

"A demonic spirit? No... it's a man-made 'Yin puppet'!" Li Zhen exclaimed in shock. "A puppet forged from the Yin energy of the earth's veins, fused with living souls and materials! Judging by its power, it's at least comparable to the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm! And being in this icy pool's home ground, its power is even greater!"

The Yin Puppet's scarlet eyes locked onto Qin Yuan, seemingly sensing his earlier probing. It let out a silent shriek (mental shock), then raised its giant arm, formed from streams of malevolent energy, bringing with it a dark, icy current that lunged at Qin Yuan like a giant python! Wherever it passed, even the air froze into fine ice crystals.

"Captain, watch out!" Su Wan exclaimed.

Qin Yuan's expression remained unchanged, and he didn't even use his spiritual power. In the instant the giant icy python struck, he clenched his right fist and unleashed a simple, direct punch!

There was no dazzling aura, only pure, extreme power, and a fleeting, almost imperceptible dark starlight on the surface of the fist, seemingly capable of absorbing all light.

The first level of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars" is complete - the power of stars is initially enhanced, and the physical body's power explodes!

"boom!!!"

The fist collided with the giant icy python, producing a muffled, thunderous roar. The seemingly surging icy python was actually shattered by this punch, turning back into scattered, chilling aura! The force of the punch continued unabated, slamming heavily into the Yin Puppet's body, which was composed of streams of chilling aura.

"Pfft!"

A large hole was blasted into the Yin Puppet's chest, and jet-black malevolent energy flowed out wildly. It let out a silent roar of pain (or perhaps rage), its scarlet eyes blazing brightly, and more malevolent energy surged from the pool, attempting to repair its body.

"As expected, it originates from the pool water and the earth's vein energy. Without destroying the core or severing its connection with the bottom of the pool, it is difficult to completely destroy it." Qin Yuan instantly understood.

With a swift movement, he charged towards the Yin Puppet! His movements seemed slow, yet he left a clear afterimage in the chilling, malevolent space, skillfully avoiding the icy shards and malevolent energy generated by the Yin Puppet's swings.

"He's going to get close?" Zhao Zheng was terrified. Faced with such an energy aggregate, cultivators usually choose to use ranged magical abilities to wear it down; who would directly rush in for hand-to-hand combat?

Qin Yuan was already close to the Yin Puppet. The Yin Puppet extended both claws, its chilling power capable of freezing the soul, aiming for Qin Yuan's head. Qin Yuan neither dodged nor evaded; his hands flashed out with lightning speed, precisely seizing the Yin Puppet's wrists!

Sizzle—!

A piercing sound rang out, and thick white smoke billowed from the point where Qin Yuan's palm touched the Yin Puppet's wrist, the result of the intense friction and cancellation between the extreme cold evil energy and his physical protective power. The muscles in his arm bulged slightly, and the power of stars flowed beneath his skin.

"rise!"

With a low shout, Qin Yuan, relying on his unparalleled physical strength, actually swung the ten-foot-tall Yin Puppet into the air! Then, to the astonishment of his teammates, he smashed it fiercely against the hard rock wall far away from the cold pool!

"BOOM!!!"

The rock wall was smashed, sending shards of rock flying and creating a huge crater. The Yin Puppet's body twisted violently, its malevolent energy dissipating even faster, and its crimson light dimming considerably. It seemed enraged by this brutal attack and sensed the threat; its body suddenly swelled, as if about to self-destruct, releasing all the terrifying, chilling energy it had accumulated at once!

"Trying to self-destruct?" Qin Yuan sneered, his mind racing.

"System, advanced simulation - current situation, optimal method to interrupt and control this puppet's connection with the bottom of the pool."

[Instructions received. Scanning target 'Yin Puppet' and surrounding environment (icy pool, earth vein energy, concealment formations)...Analyzing...]

[Consumes 500 energy points.]

[Deduction complete. Optimal solution: Using the spiritual power characteristics of the ninth level of the "Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique," specifically the "Profound Origin Suppressing Spirit" style, to simulate a portion of the power of the "Taiyi Breaking Evil Divine Light." This requires precise spiritual power output nodes, totaling seven locations: the Yin Puppet's chest, shoulders, knees, brow, and the projection point of the array's hub three zhang below the pool's surface. This can temporarily seal its core of evil energy circulation and disrupt its connection with the array at the bottom of the pool for three breaths.]

A flood of complex information rushed into Qin Yuan's mind. His eyes sharpened, but he did not loosen his grip on the Yin Puppet's wrists. The Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique within his body circulated rapidly, and the nature of his powerful and pure spiritual energy underwent a subtle change, acquiring a unique flavor of suppression and exorcism.

His free left hand was held together like a sword, with a point of brilliant yet destructive spiritual light gathering at the fingertip, which he then pointed out in rapid succession!

Heart! Left shoulder! Right shoulder! Left knee! Right knee! Between the eyebrows!

With each strike, the Yin Puppet's body trembled violently, its dissipating baleful aura momentarily halted, and its scarlet light rapidly dimmed. The raging, explosive energy within its body seemed to be forcibly restrained by invisible shackles.

With his last finger, Qin Yuan did not point at the Yin Puppet, but instead flicked his finger, and that point of spiritual light transformed into a thin line, which shot with perfect accuracy into a certain spot three zhang below the churning, dark pool!

"Buzz—!"

The hidden formation at the bottom of the pool trembled violently, its operation momentarily disrupted. The connection between the Yin Puppet's body and the bottom of the pool was forcibly severed!

It's now!

Qin Yuan loosened his grip on Yin Kui's wrists, his right hand slightly spread its five fingers, turning his palm into a claw, and a miniature, high-speed rotating vortex of spiritual energy condensed in his palm. With a powerful suction force, he pressed it hard against the scarlet spot between Yin Kui's eyebrows, which was temporarily sealed and had become dull and lifeless!

"Get out here!"

A powerful suction force erupted, forcefully pulling out a struggling, silent, shrill gray-black ball of light from between the Yin Puppet's eyebrows—this was the core that drove the Yin Puppet, the Yin Sha Soul Core that fused the living soul and the refiner's mark!