Chapter Thirty-Nine: Spirit of the Extreme Frost, the Ice Dragon

Looking closely, within a radius of ten thousand miles, the land teemed with vitality. Lush vegetation, graceful mountains and rivers, and a gentle breeze sweeping through imparted an indescribable sense of tranquility to the soul. Yet, in the perception of the Prince of Yin, beneath this façade of life pulsed a strange and ineffable force. It was as if the very vitality of this place could be artificially forged—an unnatural undercurrent threading through every corner.

“There. Over there.”

His divine sense swept out, and a flash of clarity glinted in the Prince’s eyes as he pointed toward a nearby mountain valley. Without delay, he stepped lightly, his figure instantly appearing above the valley. A faint, chilling aura radiated from him; as he tread the air, the space beneath his feet trembled, and a sudden storm erupted within the valley below.

Gale winds surged, raging through the ravine. Trees, grass, and boulders, battered by the tempest’s force, withered and broke apart like rotten wood, collapsing in an instant.

A long, resonant dragon’s roar abruptly echoed from all directions, and in that moment, the landscape within ten thousand miles was utterly transformed. The endless forest scenery dissolved rapidly, revealing a barren wasteland. From deep beneath the earth, an unprecedented chill surged upward, enveloping the Prince of Yin.

Suddenly, a mighty rumble shook the ground as rocks crumbled and a vast fissure split open across the land.

“Why… have you trespassed into my domain…”

A terrifying aura, comparable to the late Immortal Realm, swept forth as a sullen voice boomed across heaven and earth—its endless fury crashing like thunder in the ears of the Prince and his companion.

From the yawning chasm, a colossal beast, its entire form an icy blue, burst forth in a flash. Its serpentine body, lizard-like limbs, the hooves of a stag, and scales like a fish—every inch was carved from purest frost, exuding an unending cold. The creature’s form was so exquisitely wrought it seemed hewn by the world’s own hand.

It was unmistakably a great ice dragon.

The instant the dragon appeared, it shot toward the Prince of Yin like an arrow loosed from a bow.

“Insolence!”

Not far away, Qing Li’s gaze darkened. With a cold shout, her form flickered, and a white spear materialized in her grasp. She closed the gap in an instant, swinging the spear fiercely at the dragon’s head.

A heavy crash rang out, and the dragon let out a furious, earth-shaking roar. Its massive body twisted violently, then spun around to lunge at Qing Li. Yet Qing Li, employing her earth-shrinking footwork, evaded every assault with effortless grace.

“Human! How dare you show such disrespect to me!”

The ice dragon, unable to strike Qing Li, grew even more enraged. Its deep, thunderous voice vibrated through the air, and suddenly, a terrifying chill swept across the land. Within moments, wind and snow raged across tens of thousands of miles, the temperature plummeting to a bone-piercing cold.

Next, the dragon’s gigantic body shimmered, transforming into a multitude of gleaming points of light that coalesced into the form of a youth, sixteen or seventeen years of age. Clad in azure-blue brocade, his bearing was proud and aloof. His eyes shone bright as stars, his features were striking and handsome, and at the center of his brow flickered a peculiar icy-blue mark. Around him, a terrifying aura emerged, faintly seeping out.

“You have offended me. Neither of you shall leave today.”

His cold gaze swept over the Prince of Yin and Qing Li, hate flashing in his eyes. A long sword appeared swiftly in his hand. He slowly raised his right hand to his shoulder, a cold smile curling his lips—and in the next instant, his figure vanished.

“This…”

Qing Li was caught off guard, a note of hesitation escaping her lips as she hastily spread out her divine sense, alert to every direction. After the youth disappeared, she found herself unable to sense even a trace of his presence. Even the Prince of Yin’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise, as he regarded the scene thoughtfully.

“Die!”

Suddenly, from the void behind Qing Li, an ice-blue shadow appeared without warning. As the youth reformed, a glint of frost flashed in his eyes; with a chilling shout, he slashed his sword down at Qing Li.

Yet, fully on guard, Qing Li spun around the instant the youth appeared, swinging her spear to meet the strike.

A violent hum split the air as the two figures staggered backwards, each retreating several steps. In a flash of blue light, the youth vanished once more. Qing Li, gripping her spear tightly, swept her wary gaze around, her expression grave.

“Die, you cur!”

At that moment, a surge of cold erupted behind the Prince of Yin, and the youth’s furious voice rang out. Materializing, the youth slashed his sword fiercely at the Prince of Yin.

“My lord, look out!”

Qing Li’s heart lurched. Alarm flickered in her eyes as she cried out, knowing she was too late to help.

But what happened next left Qing Li momentarily stunned, a trace of bewilderment flickering in her eyes.

As soon as the Prince of Yin sensed the youth behind him, he arched an eyebrow, turned, and waved his hand.

A resounding slap rang out. Before the youth’s sword could even get close, he was sent hurtling downward by the Prince’s blow.

With a thunderous crash, dust billowed from the ground as the youth was smashed into a deep pit.

“Will you submit?”

The Prince of Yin glanced down at the crater, his expression indifferent, his voice detached.

“I am the incarnation of ultimate frost, the spirit favored by heaven and earth! My future achievements will surpass even the Immortal Emperor!”

The youth in the pit glared up, hatred burning in his eyes. Feeling the fiery pain on his face, he roared his defiance.

“And you think you can subdue me?”

“Oh?”

The Prince of Yin was mildly surprised. With a slight pause, he waved his hand—and the space around them suddenly collapsed.

A sound like the birth of the world and the end of all things reverberated as a terrifying, illusory river appeared in the void, enveloping the youth in the pit below. Even the hidden, deep underground river exuded a soul-cleansing power, resonating with the Yellow Springs—a force so profound it set the soul trembling.

“This is…”

The youth’s pupils contracted sharply at the sight of the phantom river. His body trembled uncontrollably as a tidal wave of dread surged through his heart.

“The Yellow Springs arrive… The Prince reveals himself…”

He muttered in a trembling voice, terror written clearly across his face. The power that emanated from that river—there was no doubt, it belonged solely to the Yellow Springs. The identity of the man above was now unmistakable.

The Prince of Yin!

Why was he here?

Why had he set his sights on me?

As these thoughts spun wildly in his mind, bloodshot veins filled the youth’s eyes. His body shook, a flicker of pain and hatred passing through his gaze—yet beneath it all, a deep sense of grievance.

Why me?

At that moment, a cold, detached voice rang out once more…