"Back then, when the Ice Spirit Maiden was about to ascend, she employed great feats of magic to freeze the Ice Deep Island for a hundred years, compelling our lineage to confront the cultivators of Xiao Ji Palace. But now, after so many years have passed, with the matter of the ascension to the spiritual realm becoming increasingly involved, I fear we may have to act once again. Indeed, Brother Che has invested considerable effort in nurturing this embodiment—wouldn't it be a loss if it were harmed?" The lady in silver robes spoke calmly and evenly, her demeanor and manner exuding no trace of warmth or earthiness. "Only within space fissures capable of housing a grand structure such as the Hall of Immortal Spirit could space nodes remain stably preserved until now. As Brother Che mentioned, we've already searched several other locations, and found nothing. If we still fail to find any here, what will you do thereafter?" The lady in silver robes blinked with keen interest. "It's simple—continue seeking space nodes. Ancient cultivators of old could find them on their own; why can't I? Only the duration may be longer." The young attendant paused, then replied with a cold smile. "Yet our time seems to be running short. I've heard you are a descendant of an ancient immortal beast from the Spirit Realm—your powers are extraordinary, and your lifespan far exceeds that of ordinary beasts. Yet after so many years, wouldn't you have already begun employing secret techniques to seal your true form, thus extending your life?" "If Lady Feng knows this, then why does she still consult me?" The young attendant's expression darkened, as though struck at a deep-seated concern. "Yet such a makeshift strategy—masking the reality with illusion—cannot endure much longer. A few days ago, I received a message from Wulong Sea: the old white deer immortal has passed away. He too is a descendant of a celestial and terrestrial spirit beast, having attained mastery since the ancient age of war. Normally, he only deploys his true form when his life is truly in peril. Even so, he has merely managed to survive thus far, still inevitably returning to the cycle of celestial and terrestrial rebirth." The silver-robed woman sighed, gazing toward the distant sealing array, her eyes momentarily clouded with uncertainty. "Therefore, as long as we can pinpoint the location of the spatial nodes, even if the journey proves perilous, I shall venture forth. Should Master Bai be willing, we might well join forces and attempt it together." The young attendant's eyes sparkled with sudden resolve as he said this to the woman. "For now, let us wait until Brother Che truly identifies the spatial nodes before making any move. This small, fortified palace may not be so easily breached after all." The silver-robed woman maintained a composed, indecisive expression. "Please rest assured, Lady Feng. In past years, our Wàn Yāo Gǔ valley launched several solo assaults on Xiao Jí Palace, breaking through their ice citadel on multiple occasions and forcing human cultivators to retreat into the Xū Líng Pavilion. With the support of all of you now, this task will be even more certain. However, once the enemy uses the Xū Líng Pavilion to tear open the space and flee, we shall rely upon your divine abilities to assist." The elder spoke solemnly. "Rest assured—we, the Ice Phoenix clan, are naturally endowed with the innate capacity to tear through space. We will not let you down." The silver-robed lady smiled gently. Each of them sensed a remarkable and immense spiritual pressure suddenly surging upward from the vast, misty cold fog, swiftly spreading out in all directions. At that very moment, a resonant sound—somewhere between a dragon's roar and a tiger's cry—rolled across the horizon. The ice sea demons gathered around the ice phoenix instantly grew pale, each one visibly shaken and some nearly losing their balance. The fully manifested beasts from the Ten-Thousand-Beasts Valley remained undisturbed, gazing at the ice sea demons with expressions of bewilderment. The silver-robed woman, a ten-tiered spirit beast, paid little attention to the sound at first, yet upon hearing it, her voice erupted in astonishment and anger: "The Sea-Calming Bell—the ancestral treasure of our ice sea lineage—was truly captured by that Ice-Soul Immortal years ago." The elder and the young boy exchanged glances, each displaying a touch of surprise. Nevertheless, the impact of this bell's resonance on the ice sea's high-tiered clans appeared to last only for a brief moment. The group of spirits, having suffered a slight setback, released their spiritual aura and expelled their talismans to shield themselves. Immediately, the effect of the bell's resonance dropped to a minimum—aside from a mild dizziness, it was nearly negligible. Seeing this, the silver-robed woman's expression improved somewhat, yet her mind suddenly flashed to something else. At that moment, her form shimmered and she instantly transformed into a radiant crystal glow, shooting skyward. The crystal glow then burst in mid-air, dispersing into countless fine crystalline filaments that vanished silently into the void. A moment later, the glow subsided, and the woman gently descended back onto the ice mountain, her jade complexion now pale and stern. "What has happened? Why has the Phoenix Maiden expended so much spiritual energy to invoke the Great Search of the Divine Mind?" the elder frowned, speaking slowly. "These small members of the Xijiguang Sect have been simultaneously activating the Sea-Stabilizing Bell and dispatching large numbers of cultivators to slaughter our lower-tier members of the Ice Sea Clan. Though they only detect a limited area, many have already fallen." The silver-robed woman sneered, her eyes cold and sharp. "Could there really be something like this? I did hear of it once upon a time. The noble house once possessed a rare treasure that, when heard by a creature with icy-cold nature, would cause its bones to loosen and its muscles to weaken, rendering it completely immobile. Isn't that precisely what the 'Seaward Bell' is known for? Yet, how did it end up in the hands of human cultivators?" The young attendant mused. "Not much at all. The bell isn't as powerful as the legends claim—it's merely a replica of a spiritual treasure. Those with a cultivation level of eight or above are barely affected and can withstand the bell's resonance with their own inner energy. However, cultivators below level eight are indeed significantly impacted. In fact, when the Ice-Heart Immortal Princess once sealed our Ice Deep Island, she simply vanished without a trace." The lady in silver robes took a deep breath, and her expression quickly returned to its usual composure. "It seems this must have been the very measure the Ice-Heart Immortal Princess left behind to counteract your Ice Sea lineage. Friend Feng, what are your plans now? Should we dispatch someone to rescue your relatives?" The elder stroked his beard thoughtfully "No need. The influence of these sea-stabilizing bells will only last for a single incense-burn, at most. By the time we arrive, these human cultivators have already evacuated. Even if all of them are eliminated, it wouldn't be a significant matter. The lower-tier beings we encounter in our ice sea are plentiful—nothing can seriously harm the vital essence of our ice sea. Moreover, this is simply impossible! Even with the aid of these sea-stabilizing bells, they could only manage to reach half of them in time, which would be a remarkable achievement. Nevertheless, I've taken note of this grievance. Listen carefully—once you breach the Small Supreme Palace, do not spare a single lower-tier cultivator who hasn't entered the Immortal Spirit Hall. Eliminate them all." The silver-robed woman bowed slightly, then suddenly raised her head, a deep resolve and intensity radiating from her brows. The ice sea beasts at her side responded in unison, acknowledging the orders. "Excellent! Then let us proceed to break through the array. Though your contingent could not arrive in time, our Wàn Yāo Valley's lower-tier pathways remain undamaged." As long as the cold air on the island dissipates, we shall be able to lend our strength to assist us. But until then, we must first break through this great array before we can proceed." The young boy chuckled and then, with a breath, expelled a cluster of black qi that immediately transformed into a gray, misty banner floating before him. Yet, with the assistance of all of you, I believe within just a few days, we shall be able to dissipate the current seal entirely using the spirit aura within the banner." The child said with pride. Then, he rubbed his hands together, and a gray spell struck the banner. Instantly, a shimmer of gray light flashed, causing the small banner to spin swiftly. The various phantom beasts depicted on it wavered and trembled, growing increasingly dense and numerous. The silver-robed woman observed this, nodded in approval, and then issued a command with a single word. At once, the surrounding spirits rose into the air, some spouting clouds and mist, others summoning their magical artifacts and incantations. The old man remained expressionless, issuing his own commands. In response, the myriad creatures from Wàn Yāo Gǔ surged upward, transforming into streams of light and performing the same rituals to summon their treasures. At once, gales of wind surged, nearly veiling half the sky. The child saw this and burst into loud, hearty laughter, then suddenly tightened his face, emitting a series of indistinct incantations. As the incantations rang out, the Ten-Thousand-Beasts Banner before him swelled up magically, rising and expanding in the air. The chant lasted for the full duration of a cup of tea. A colossal banner, thick as a water cistern and soaring nearly a hundred zhang high, materialized atop the ice mountain, standing like a pillar supporting the heavens. The phantom creatures depicted upon the banner now appeared as if real, each one assuming the size and scale of a living being, swirling and dancing with lively energy. At the same time, a group of fifteen figures of varying statures suddenly emerged from the cold air, concealed within the incantations. With a mere gesture, they released vibrant hues of light, directly confronting the host of demons. In an instant, a great battle erupted. (First chapter!