"If it's merely the old demon in human form, there's still a fair chance—by releasing the entire body of cold energy that has been sealing the island. However, those ice-sea demons are naturally cold-attribute creatures, and thus, they are not particularly averse to this restriction." The gray-haired elder still expressed some reservations. "We haven't been closely monitoring the situation. The ice-sea demons can utilize the relic left behind by our founding patriarch from ancient times to counteract this. This very relic has been stored in our palace for countless millennia—precisely for this very day. With that in mind, we only need to pay close attention to the demons of eight levels and above." The beautiful woman became remarkably composed. Upon hearing this, Bai Yaoyi and the gray-haired elder instinctively exchanged glances, both showing a look of sudden clarity. "Had the palace master not mentioned this, we might have completely overlooked the relic. Indeed, with this relic at hand, the ice-sea demons would be mere liabilities upon entering our island. Unfortunately, it seems this relic is only effective against lower-level ice-sea demons. Otherwise, it would have been a decisive weapon." The gray-haired elder smiled faintly, somewhat at a loss. "Well then. Though the situation is thus, the host of the spectral creatures this time has indeed come with great momentum. Our chances of holding the ground won't be very high. We should have the lower-ranked disciples in the palace evacuate promptly—scatter them as needed, and only keep those who are truly useful. That way, we won't suffer unnecessary losses." "Yes, Master Palace!" Over several consecutive days, the once-quiet Xiao Ji Palace finally began to stir, and a palpable sense of urgency, typical of battle preparations, spread throughout the palace almost overnight. Not only did half of the magical arrays and seals open up, but numerous lower-ranked disciples began to leave the palace, vanishing without a trace, their final destinations unknown. Two days after the conversation between the graceful lady and Bai Mengxin, within the stone pavilion of the Xuling Hall's Xuanyu Chamber, the senior monk Han Li suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes while meditating. The young senior elder of Jijiguang looked at the others seated and meditating in the room, then slowly said, "Yesterday, I already explained several key points and essential techniques to the several of you. Given your respective aptitudes, I believe you should all fully grasp this secret method within just two days, with ample time to spare." Upon hearing this, the expressions of Han Li and the others varied, and they all gradually opened their eyes. "None of my concerns—I have thoroughly comprehended the method," the monk smiled. "I have already mastered it two days ago," the elderly woman replied with pride. "As for me, I have no issues either," Han Li said calmly. As for Bai Mengxin and the young man in the green robe, there was no need for further words. Since all of you have expressed such confidence, there is no further delay. Let us begin immediately. This breakthrough will take at least a few days, and possibly up to a month—regardless of whether it succeeds or not, we hope to complete this secret method in one continuous effort. To be honest, Master Han is still somewhat concerned about matters outside the hall. He hopes to be able to leave this place as soon as possible. "Master Han said, his expression growing serious. Upon hearing this, the others naturally had no objections. Then, Master Han and his two companions retrieved a stack of pre-prepared array flags and array discs from their storage bags, stepped out of the room, and began setting up several extraordinary magical arrays around the cavern. Although Han, Li, and the others did not need to participate directly, they naturally wanted not to miss a single moment of observing these secret techniques. Their body flames were once again activated, and they stepped out of the room to observe the movements of the three junior disciples of Xiaoji Palace from the sidelines. Since all the array tools were pre-manufactured, Master Han and his companions arranged the arrays swiftly, completing the entire setup within just a cup of tea's time. Several layers of arrays, centered on the pile of loose stones, subtly radiated a solemn and majestic atmosphere, with faint symbols continuously flickering in the air. Han Li's figure flickered, and instantly she floated midair. After surveying the spell array, she suddenly spun around, her ten fingers simultaneously snapping. A dozen spell gestures shot forth, embedding themselves into the array and transforming into ten or so wisps of pale mist that vanished instantly. The entire array resonated with a deep, steady hum, with vibrant spiritual lights pulsing in various hues. Meanwhile, the originally pervasive cold jade qi that had filled the cave's floor seemed suddenly disturbed, surging and splashing upward as if cold water had been poured into a hot oil pan. Yet at the very center, upon the massive stone, a cluster of milky-white cold qi remained perfectly still, unaffected. "Excellent," Han Li said, hovering above the scattered rocks, surveying the scene with a satisfied expression. "The more abundant the cold jade qi is, the better—yet it must also remain stable throughout the surrounding areas. Only then can the chances of breakthrough be significantly enhanced." At that moment, Han Li's gaze fell upon the five towering beams of light that suddenly emerged from among the scattered stones under the power of the spell array. These beams, uniformly luminous and shimmering, were of five distinct colors—purple, red, white, black, and yellow—clearly formed by the concentrated gathering of pure spiritual energy, and they encircled the massive stone formation at their center. Between each beam, delicate streaks of radiant light were continuously connected, pulsing and shimmering as though the beams were one unified entity. As soon as the array took shape, Han Li's eyes flashed slightly. Without speaking, he emitted a ripple of jade-green light, instantly transforming into a streak of green light that shot straight toward the purple beam. After the light faded, he stood gracefully, his robes flowing, atop the peak of the purple beam. The elderly woman and others moved no less skillfully than Han Li—within the next instant, they also ascended to the other beams, exchanged a brief glance, and then settled into meditation posture. Han Li did the same. At this moment, the spiritual energy within his body began to flow slowly, following the secret technique and method he had previously received, while the purple-falling fire surrounding him Suddenly, Han Li gave a low cry and changed the hand seals he was holding. Instantly, a sphere of purple light emerged from where he sat, then coalesced and transformed, eventually taking the form of a radiant lotus flower about one zhang in diameter. The lotus shimmered with a soft purple hue, delicate as a cicada's wing, and breathtakingly beautiful. At the same time, the purple lotus fire that surged around Han Li's body suddenly seemed stimulated, rising in intensity by half as soon as the purple lotus appeared. Seeing this, Han Li's brow furrowed slightly, and a touch of surprise appeared on his face. The secret teachings given by Han Li the Elder did not mention that this array of seals could enhance the power of the cold flame—this was indeed an unexpected discovery. If he could master the method of setting up this array, it might prove extremely useful in the future. However, Han Li soon noticed that as the purple lotus fire intensified, his internal qi consumption accelerated significantly. It seemed that the method of enhancing the cold flame's power through the array still had certain shortcomings. Thinking thus, he glanced toward the other light pillars, where the monks and young scholars were seated. He saw that these Yuan-Enlightened cultivators, like himself, each had a radiant lotus bloom unfolding beneath them—identical in shape and size. They too were seated within their lotuses, experiencing the rising intensity of the cold flame. His eyes flashed several times as he glanced toward a side wall of the cavern. There, within a cluster of milky-white cold light, his strand of Taiyin True Fire lay quietly concealed, slowly absorbing the surrounding Xuanyu cold qi, undetected by anyone. Fortunately, the entire Xuling Hall was sealed under divine restrictions, otherwise he would not have dared to release this spiritually attuned flame so openly. Yet, as he still held his gaze fixed, a voice from above already reached him: "It seems that your several companions' extreme cold flames have matured to a deep red hue, capable of sustaining themselves for a long time. With that, I am at ease." Then I will enter the Xuanyu Cold Qi. The other Daoists, as previously discussed, should activate the Cold Flame. As soon as the Cold Li Master finished speaking with solemnity, a ripple passed through the dry blue ice flame surrounding him, and he floated upward, gently settling onto the milky cold sphere. A series of thunderous sounds followed, and as the blue flame and white glow interwove and flashed, the scholar-general's form completely dissolved into the cold sphere. It seemed that this dwarf had employed some means to allow the dry blue ice flame and the Xuanyu Cold Qi to collide yet remain harmonious—much like the Cold Li Master had acquired an additional layer of milky luminous aura, standing out particularly vividly. At that moment, the young man in green robes and Bai Mengxin simultaneously flipped their hands, each producing a faintly blue array disc. With a series of precise gestures, they skillfully manipulated the discs, and instantly a five-colored light curtain rose up around the entire array, fully enclosing Han Li and the others. Then, outside the luminous screen, a fierce gale surged up, lifting a swirling, misty hurricane that swiftly obscured everything within the screen, so that no one outside could see what was happening inside. Elsewhere in the cavern, the previously turbulent pale cold air gradually calmed the moment the hurricane appeared. Only that streak of crimson flame remained tucked in a corner, continuously consuming the surrounding cold light. Time passed slowly, yet the hurricane within the rubble never ceased, and beyond the wind, no other unusual sounds emerged. Seven or eight days later, numerous beasts from beyond the northern realm finally emerged grandly, advancing from two directions—approaching from inland and from the icy sea—encircling and pressing the island from both flanks. The path was thick with lingering spirit energy and an atmosphere of intense martial aura. The smaller clans and families residing near the northern realm naturally grew alarmed, rushing to evacuate and relocate their settlements, retreating away from the island. With such overwhelming momentum, the Xiaji Palace naturally received the news immediately, and at nearly the same time, promptly lifted the seal on the celestial yin pulse's cold eye atop the island, causing the island's cold air to suddenly become several times colder than usual, with wind and snow raging throughout the land. The creatures from the inland, primarily the Wan Yao Valley, had already anticipated this development; upon seeing the situation, they immediately stationed numerous lower-tier beasts outside the island to gradually deplete its stored cold energy, while sending several teams of beasts ranked seven or above to advance inland. In contrast, the group of creatures arriving from the Ice Sea, largely unafraid of the northern cold and snowstorms, directly entered the island, where thousands of beasts immediately broke off into numerous smaller groups and flew toward Xiaji Palace. Though the Northern Ming Island is not vast, once these creatures entered, they instantly vanished into the icy, snowy landscape, as if they had disappeared into the sea. The senior cultivators of Xiao Ji Gong naturally wouldn't allow these beasts to approach Bing City so easily. Leveraging the magical arrays and boundless cold energy, a series of battles immediately erupted across the island. (First chapter! ) Hehe, also recommending a friend's book! 《New Chu风云》 (Book No. 1465671) A young vice president from an IT company, after reincarnating, becomes the son of a wealthy merchant. Initially intending to live a carefree, indulgent life, he unexpectedly becomes entangled in the court's political struggles, ultimately assisting an underappreciated prince to ascend the throne and forging a remarkable legacy in a new era.