When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

Meanwhile, the situation in the valley had changed dramatically.

Snowflakes poured down from the heavens like scattered jade fragments.

Ten feet away from Yi Chen, several ice sculptures of different shapes stood in an arc.

—Those were the elite soldiers who had just changed into their Thousand-Frost Iron weapons and charged towards the Taiyi Sect members.

Before they could even finish their charge and make their next move, they stepped into the white mist and were immediately swallowed by the frost that silently spread to their feet, freezing their flesh in an instant.

"Domain/territory...?"

In the distance, a soldier who had narrowly escaped entering the territory was panting heavily, muttering to himself.

When a cultivator masters their spiritual power to the extreme, they may have the opportunity to comprehend a domain.

Among countless cultivators, only a select few can reach this realm. Even within the Nascent Soul stage, the existence of a domain is rare. To cultivate to this level, both fortuitous opportunities and profound understanding are indispensable. Opening a domain is equivalent to stepping into another realm—

What does that mean?

Within the four directions of heaven and earth, I am the law, I am the master.

Although a domain is powerful, it is closely connected to the cultivator's sea of ​​consciousness, consuming a great deal of their divine sense, and therefore has a time limit. Moreover, the characteristics of each cultivator's domain are different. Yi Chen's domain is ice-sealing—since he stepped into the Nascent Soul stage, he has only used his domain a handful of times, since ordinary battles do not require the use of such a trump card.

The fact that he went to such lengths shows just how much he valued the boy behind him who was forming his nascent soul.

One step inside means death.

Wei Jin frowned slightly and turned to look around.

Although Yi Chen controlled him so that he was not affected by the frost while inside the domain, and would not be frozen to death, water and fire are mutually exclusive, and so are ice and fire. Once this domain was opened, it would be equivalent to completely ruining his and Xiao Huandu's moves.

Tsk.

That's why people say ice and fire spiritual roots don't get along.

Everyone looked grim as they gazed up at the scene before them.

Humans have always relied heavily on the Thousand-Frozen Iron's lethality against half-demons, but they have consistently overlooked one problem.

If even close combat is impossible... what use is the Thousand-Frozen Cold Iron?

So they immediately changed their strategy, and the formation changed abruptly. Arrows inlaid with azure cold iron, carrying spiritual power, were nocked onto longbows. The bowstrings rang out in unison, and in an instant, tens of thousands of arrows, like a swarm of bees, shot through the snow and ice towards the frozen territory!

Xiao Huandu was startled.

This group actually wanted to use a rain of arrows to recreate the blue rain that had fallen over the imperial city that day!

"Ahhh, Xue Ling'er, save me!"

Seeing arrows flying from all directions, Hua Ling mentally went through her thoughts, hugged Xue Ling, and trembled. Every second she wondered if she would be shot to death by a hidden arrow flying from somewhere.

As a result, the arrows disappeared into the white mist, and the ice line climbed up inch by inch until it froze solid. The flying arrows broke in two and fell to the ground.

In an instant, a series of cracking sounds rang out.

Hua Ling was still in a daze, and shook her head, looking in Yi Chen's direction.

...She used to speak recklessly, didn't she? She offended someone she shouldn't have.

However, Wei Jin felt a little worried and uneasy. They had stayed here for too long, and the enemy's numbers were too large. Although they could still put up a fight, Yi Chen's way of fighting, which consumed his divine sense and spiritual power, was not the best strategy.

"How long can your domain last?" Wei Jin asked directly.

Yi Chen remained silent.

Wei Jin sighed, knowing that Yi Chen was probably thinking, "I'll hold out until my disciple reaches the Nascent Soul stage." So he simply put away his weapon, pinched a talisman between his fingers and tossed it next to Yi Chen, and set up various spirit-gathering formations. He threw out all his treasures like they were free to extend the duration of the entire domain.

We should try to stall for as long as possible.

Lightning ripped through the dim sky, but Chu Xianlan's final tribulation lightning still did not descend.

Just as the clash of spiritual energy left the place devastated, a dazzling golden light swept across the valley from the sky, and the spiritual energy fluctuations rippled through the heavens and earth.

—Sanskrit.

Not only that.

That was a Sanskrit chant carrying the oppressive power of someone at the Tribulation Transcending stage.

The moment the melody began, it was like a gentle breeze passing through the forest, instantly flooding into the consciousness of all the elite soldiers present.

Those royal elites who were previously injured or whose spiritual energy was depleted were shaken! Their previous injuries were healed, and they finally caught their breath amidst the swirling snow. With abundant energy flowing into their bodies, they felt refreshed and rejuvenated.

Clang clang clang—

Such awe-inspiring Zen sound could only remind them of one person.

Could it be that powerful being in the Tribulation Transcending stage who has long since retired from worldly affairs...?

The Venerable Three Phases...has emerged from seclusion?

For the Taiyi Sect members, the all-pervasive, melodious zither music was nothing short of soul-crushing. The powerful pressure of the Tribulation Transcending stage cultivators came with sound waves, as if they were being crushed by a boulder.

The unexpected turn of events left Xiao Huandu's face completely ashen.

Xiao Huandu braced himself against the hilt of his sword with his backhand, barely managing to support his body with all his might. A wave of nausea surged in his throat, almost causing him to vomit blood, but he still forced himself to endure the churning blood and looked in Wei Jin's direction immediately.

Wei Jin was also disturbed by the chanting and was in great pain.

"Master...

Xiao Huandu transformed into a giant wolf and approached Wei Jin. With a flick of his tail, he also gathered the other spirits of heaven and earth into his protective circle.

The massive body clung tightly to Wei Jin, using its flesh and blood to barely shield him from the sounds of the outside world.

Like a stupid dog, it desperately protects the things it cares about most.

Wei Jin pursed his thin lips and looked at his disciple who was protecting him. His gaze was complicated, and his mood was like a tangled mess that was hard to describe. He raised his hand and injected a stream of spiritual energy into Xiao Huandu's body.

"Get out of the way."

Wei Jin pushed the giant wolf away, his mind racing with calculations. If the newcomer was indeed the Three-Phase True Form...

Let alone protecting Chu Xianlan and helping her survive the tribulation, none of the people present could expect to leave this valley alive.

The cultivation and experience accumulated over a thousand years by the Three Phases Venerable are beyond their reach; only someone like the Pointing Moon True Man could contend with him.

"Master, don't be angry, I want to protect you... I will protect you well," Xiao Huandu whimpered softly, still stubbornly holding him. "Why do you always try to push me away? Master, I want to stand by your side..."

Wei Jin was slightly taken aback, and actually saw a trace of genuine sadness on the dark wolf face.

"Disciple knows that I always make you angry, knows that I am a half-demon and have disgraced Master. It doesn't matter if Master hates me... I was overestimating myself, but I just want to protect you. If... anyone wants to hurt you, they must first step over my dead body."

The giant wolf's eerie green eyes stared intently at the person in front of it, its vision seemingly blurry, and the light in its eyes appearing as if it were about to shatter at any moment.

These words caused Wei Jin an imperceptible throbbing pain in his heart, and the pent-up frustration that had been weighing on his chest seemed to be gradually disappearing.

Why say all this...

Seeing Xiao Huandu like this suddenly reminded Wei Jin of the time back in the Taiyi Sect, of how this wolf cub pretended to be obedient, wagging its tail and eagerly following him around calling him "Master." Unfortunately, the obedience was all an act, and its identity was fake.

Anyway, he never tells the truth.

Therefore, it's best if these words aren't true.

Wei Jin gritted his teeth, almost roaring, "Step over your dead body? You think it's noble to casually give up your life like that? Do you think it moves me? Or should I thank you for saving my life? Xiao Huandu, I raised you all these years, not so you could die in front of me!"

"Master..." Xiao Huandu's tone seemed to be both wanting to cry and wanting to laugh.

The two were struggling to their limits, and Hua Ling, Yan Ling, Xue Ling, and Di Ling trembled with fear, not daring to utter a sound.

The little creatures felt superfluous.

"Get out of the way!"

Wei Jin reached out and grabbed the giant wolf's fur by the side of its neck. Looking up, he saw golden light pierce through the wind and snow, and a black and gold carriage drove across the sky, appearing in everyone's sight—

"Your Highness!"

"It was His Highness the Crown Prince who made the move!"

"As expected of a disciple of the Three Phases Venerable, a cultivator with a unique Heavenly Spiritual Root in the world, Your Highness truly possesses the demeanor of a powerful figure!"

The cheers and praises rose one after another. To everyone, Ji Ran's arrival was like the coming of a savior, not to mention that he had a large number of reinforcements behind him.

Inside the carriage.

Ji Ran exhaled softly, his fingers stilling on the piano, a strange smile appearing on his face.

The weapons wielded by members of the royal bloodline are all high-grade Heavenly Treasures, such as Ji Fuyao's Heavenly Phoenix Umbrella and Ji Cheng'an's Azure Water Sword. The ancient zither in his hand is named Wenxin.

The sound of the zither can kill silently, or it can heal the body and mind.

He is adept at both offense and defense, and his moves are infinitely mysterious. He doesn't have any grand, sweeping techniques, which is perfectly suited to his identity.

Ji Ran certainly didn't have the cultivation level of the Tribulation Transcending stage. His current realm was nothing more than an ant in front of the Nascent Soul stage.

But as long as we borrow our master's divine power, what does it matter if we're half-demon? What does it matter if we're at the Nascent Soul stage?

The Three-Phase Venerable's cultivation level far surpasses that of the people or half-demons before him. Faced with his overwhelming cultivation suppression, there is nothing in the world that he cannot accomplish.

We can't wait any longer...

Ji Ran couldn't help but touch her dantian, feeling the Heavenly Spirit Root within her body, which was even less present than usual, lacking its former fullness.

We must completely annihilate the other Heavenly Spiritual Root here.

He was a unique and perfect being, and there should only have been one of him in the world.

Unfortunately, the scene outside the carriage did not bring the crown prince any surprise.

Neither the barrier nor the domain showed any sign of weakening; the figure in pure white remained standing motionless.

Yi Chen's gaze swept over Chu Xianlan behind him, pausing for a fleeting moment.

Master, wait for me.

Since the disciple has spoken, he will naturally wait.

As a teacher, one must not be untrustworthy.

Thinking of this, a touch of tenderness appeared in Yi Chen's eyes, and his gaze on his disciple became exceptionally focused. He was always like this, as if no matter how perilous the situation, he could not easily shake off the gaze fixed on the young man.

He knew that the inner demons could not imprison his Xianlan.

But when Yi Chen turned around, facing the thousands of troops, his eyes remained cold and sharp, his indifferent expression devoid of any warmth.

Amidst the white mist and snow, Ji Ran couldn't see Yi Chen's expression from the outside, but she could still see the undiminished cold light emanating from Bu Xi Zhou.

As her gaze shifted to the thick thunderclouds in the sky, Ji Ran's smile gradually faded, and she couldn't help but click her tongue in amazement.

...a tenacious and dirty half-demon.

Ji Ran's eyes flashed with cold light, her eyelids drooped slightly, and she plucked the strings with her backhand. The clear and melodious tune entered everyone's ears and seeped into their minds.

"Fellow cultivators, the scourge of half-demons has not ended today. Protecting the cultivation world is the shared responsibility of all cultivators. I implore you all to lend me a hand and join me in slaying the half-demons and their accomplices!"

The music suddenly became rapid, like the beating of war drums.

The cultivators felt a surge of exhilaration wash over them like a tsunami, their fervent fighting spirit spread like wildfire, and their sense of justice was amplified to an unprecedented degree.

"Slay the half-demon!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is right! Today is the day to slay the demons and vanquish the monsters!"

"This half-demon deserves to die! It's an outrage against humanity!"

The shouts were deafening. They forgot their pain, their fear, and even the fear that had kept them from advancing. Only one thought remained in their minds—kill!

But unexpectedly, at this moment...

Suddenly, a clear and melodious bird song came from the north of the sky.

Then, at the edge of the sky, a flock of bluebirds gracefully arrived.

They glided past unhurriedly, their wings shimmering with iridescent colors, and then, a powerful demonic aura swept in from the north like a tidal wave.

But that wasn't all; after the Bluebird, more figures emerged from the clouds—

A colossal four-legged beast descended from the sky, a giant strange bird with wings on its back, and countless unnamed monsters pressed down upon this place in a mighty and overwhelming manner.

"Demon race!" someone shouted.

The others noticed the newcomer.

The bluebird flew to the vicinity of Yi Chen and the others, and landed as smoothly as clouds and water, transforming into human form. In the blink of an eye, more demons followed and fell from the sky, crowding half of the valley.

Ming Si looked around and sighed:

"There are so many people."

This is the truth; the scenery near Shuilongyuan is a spectacle that is rarely seen in thousands of years.

With various forces gathered here, things are getting lively.

Some people are even undergoing tribulations, which is quite exciting.

The Frost Realm is a rare sight, and now it's a rarity.

The Northern Darkness Realm has everything you could want.

Ming Si shrugged and laughed, "It's all a mess, might as well drink it."

He was spouting nonsense, which the demons were already used to and didn't pay much attention to. However, the human cultivators clearly showed signs of being out of sorts, their fighting spirit, which had been ignited by the prince's music, was cooled down by a bucket of ice water.

The relationship between humans and demons is already tense, and a slight misstep could provoke conflict, so neither dares to make a move right now.

Ji Ran's smile remained gentle and elegant. "Your Majesty, it's been a long time."

Seeing his politeness, the Demon King smiled, his expression even showing a hint of familiarity, as if meeting an old friend. "It has indeed been a long time. By the way, I recently heard an interesting rumor—that His Highness the Crown Prince's spiritual root was taken from your younger brother? Is that true?"