“I’m finally out.”
After a.s.suming his dharma idol form, Chu Rui, who was chubby in his true form, seemed surprisingly awe-inspiring.
His dharma idol seemed to be wreathed in a nebula full of stars.
This part of the starry river that was enveloped in thick frosty mist year-round was finally lit up.
The stars in the distance also shone dazzlingly, as if a profound connection had been established between them and Chu Rui’s dharma idol.
“Grand Monarch Ice Bones!”
Chu Rui’s eyes were filled with strong killing intent as he made a pulling motion with his huge, fleshy hand.
WHOOs.h.!.+ WHOOs.h.!.+ WHOOs.h.!.+ WHOOs.h.!.+
Shooting stars that were tens of thousands of kilometers away suddenly had their directions changed.
Summoned by Chu Rui, the shooting stars dashed over at lightning speed with an all-penetrating momentum, dragging glorious tails behind them as they did.
Sealing spells that had been cast with the Annihilation Bone Spear’s freezing death power were instantly broken.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Crisp ice-breaking sounds echoed out in every direction, pleasing the ear.
“The fact that you were able to trap me wasn’t because you’re stronger than me, but because you set me up with Frigid Depths’ power.” Chu Rui looked down at the translucent and sparkling ice layer that covered the Frigid Depths, a hint of a scruple appearing in his eyes. “After all, the Frigid Depths were transformed from the shattered domain of Xuan Yu, the late Ice Emperor.
“You only chose to hide in this place because you wanted to derive enlightenment from the Ice Emperor’s profound understanding of cold power, didn’t you?
“However, I only realized this after I made the mistake of entering the Frigid Depths. So it was the combination of your bloodline power and the residual divine power of the Ice Emperor’s shattered domain that trapped me down there. It wasn’t just you.”
Chu Rui let out a cold harrumph.
Both Yu Suying and Mo Qianfan were flabbergasted. Clearly, this was new information to them.
“Xuan Yu, the Ice Emperor!”
“I can’t believe the Frigid Depths was actually transformed from the Ice Emperor’s shattered domain!”
Even the Saint domain disciples of the Extreme Coldness Palace had bewildered looks in their eyes as they gazed down at the Frigid Depths. “Shattered domain of the Ice Emperor? Is that true?”
They then fixed their eyes on Lu Qingchen.
Lu Qingchen was the only one whose expression didn’t change in the slightest. Apparently, he knew about this.
He let out a snort and said, “The Frigid Depths’ secrets are also our sect’s biggest secrets. Both the Frigid Ice Divine Kingdom and Gelid Heavenly Ice Sword have profound connections to the Frigid Depths. It’s natural that you don’t know certain things.”
By saying these words, he practically admitted that what Chu Rui had said was true: the Frigid Depths indeed had something to do with Xuan Yu, the Ice Emperor.
Standing on the broken ice layer, Nie Tian turned to Yin Xingtian and asked with a confused expression, “Xuan Yu, the Ice Emperor? Who’s that?”
After Chu Rui had broken free, Yin Xingtian and Nie Tian had remained on the frozen surface of the Frigid Depths.
The hole in the ice layer healed immediately after Yin Xingtian pulled his Heavenbreaker out.
As Nie Tian withdrew the Star Behemoth bone, his orange-red flame spark also left the ice layer and flew back to him.
With a revering look in his eyes, Yin Xingtian looked down at the sparkling lights that were slithering in the ice layer, and said, “Xuan Yu was one of the most gifted cultivators throughout human history. He didn’t belong to the four ancient great sects or any other forces. He relied solely on himself to grow stronger as a cultivator in a remote realm.
“Eventually, he managed to advance to the late G.o.d domain, which was something only a handful who didn’t belong to the four great sects have ever accomplished in human history!”
Waves of respect rose in Nie Tian’s heart as he asked, “Then how did a peak expert like him die?”
Yin Xingtian smiled bitterly. “The original master of the Blood Purgatory Sea was a late tenth grade Demon grand monarch. Grand Monarch Eternal Purgatory was a Demon overlord, whose name was feared throughout the starry river. Blood Warden Cardy carries his bloodline.
“It was during a battle against him that Xuan Yu, the Ice Emperor, perished, body and soul. Only parts of his shattered domain endured and disappeared after the battle.
“Things weren’t any better with Grand Monarch Eternal Purgatory. However, with a secret method, the Demons preserved a drop of his Blood Essence in the Blood Purgatory Sea before the battle. Since he died in battle, that drop of his Blood Essence has been absorbing the rich flesh aura of the Blood Purgatory Sea, therefore preserving his chance at coming back to life.
“Grand Patriarch Cardy was made warden of the Blood Purgatory Sea so that he could help revive Grand Monarch Eternal Purgatory.
“However, I heard that he somehow died in the Domain of the Falling Stars.”
Yin Xingtian’s expression grew strange as he said these last words, as if he was convinced that Cardy’s death didn’t have much to do with the Domain of the Falling Stars.
Upon learning that the Frigid Depths had such a profound connection to the Ice Emperor, Mo Qianfan and Yu Suying also became full of respect.
“Lu Qingchen!” Yu Suying spat. “If this Frigid Depths was transformed from the remains of the Ice Emperor’s domain, how dare you allow Grand Monarch Ice Bones, a Bonebrute, to occupy it?”
Facing her accusation, Lu Qingchen looked somewhat ashamed and said, “The grand monarch came to the Frigid Depths a hundred thousand years ago. I, I wasn’t even born then.”
Face cold, Yu Suying said, “So I suppose the previous sectmasters of the Extreme Coldness Palace colluded with Grand Monarch Ice Bones long ago. I only changed my mind about our deal because I learned that you’re actually working with Grand Monarch Ice Bones after I entered the Domain of Frigid Depths.
“The Profound Purity Palace may occasionally fight other human sects for better development, but we’d never work with outsiders!”
Lu Qingchen snorted and said, “My hands are forced sometimes. Every sectmaster of my sect would go to derive the ultimate truths of cold power from the Frigid Depths, and would inevitably meet Grand Monarch Ice Bones. I...”
He intended to say that he didn’t have a choice, and that he had been enslaved by Grand Monarch Ice Bones after entering the Frigid Depths, and thus had to put the whole Extreme Coldness Palace in his hands.
“That’s enough.” Chu Rui ran out of patience, his enormous dharma idol striding towards Grand Monarch Ice Bones, treading the starry void.
Large pieces of crystallized star power flew out of his sleeves to form profound star formations that seemed mighty enough to alter the starry river, control the sun and moon, and turn heaven and earth around.
“Grand Monarch Ice Bones! Now that I’ve come out of the Frigid Depths, do you still wish for this battle to continue?”
Clutching the Annihilation Bone Spear, Grand Monarch Ice Bones said arrogantly, “You were right. I did trap you with the Frigid Depths’ help. However, I’m more than capable of defeating you without it. It’ll just take a bit more time and effort. But now that you’ve broken free, and you have the help of two other G.o.d domain humans, I suppose this battle...”
Grand Monarch Ice Bones seemed hesitant.
Nie Tian frowned. “Vice Sectmaster!”
They had gone to great lengths to free Chu Rui. He deemed that if they worked together now, they could definitely kill or seriously injure Grand Monarch Ice Bones.
However, Chu Rui didn’t seem to want this battle to continue.
“Nie Tian...” Chu Rui’s soul voice came from the third fragmentary star mark on his chest. “Our sect is in dire peril. And you yourself said that the Remote Beginning Heavenly Sect has set their mind on one of your domains. If we fought Grand Monarch Ice Bones now, no matter the result, I doubt that I’d be able to fight again anytime soon.”
“Now we know that Luo Wanxiang has been secretly contacting the Phantasms. In this situation, if I were to get in trouble, I’m afraid that our sect will really fall out of the four ancient great sects.”
Nie Tian was the only one who was able to hear these words.
Chu Rui expressed his concerns and scruples in clear terms.
Upon remembering what was happening in the Domain of Heaven Python, Nie Tian fell silent as well.
At this moment, Grand Monarch Ice Bones looked at Chu Rui, Yu Suying, and Mo Qianfan, then took a glance at Yin Xingtian. He waved his large hand and said, “I’ll have to pay a heavy price myself if I want to kill you. Forget it. You may leave now. However, don’t enter the Domain of Frigid Depths ever again. Otherwise, don’t blame me for adopting different manners.”
Yu Suying let out a cold harrumph. “The Domain of Frigid Depths is human territory. Are you saying that you, a Bonebrute grand monarch, are going to claim it as yours?”
A meaningful look appeared in Grand Monarch Ice Bones’ glittering eyes. “Our territory and yours may border each other soon. Who knows? Times have changed. It’s just that you don’t know it yet.”
Yu Suying looked baffled. “Times have changed?”
Luo Wanxiang had said the same thing. Now, a Bonebrute grand monarch had also said it.
This baffled Yu Suying. She couldn’t help but fix Chu Rui with an inquiring gaze.
Chu Rui shook his head unknowingly.
Nie Tian jumped in and asked, “By saying ‘times have changed,’ do you mean the appearance of a large number of hybrids?
“I know about this ‘brand new world’, where humans, outsiders, Ancientspirits, and a large number of hybrids are living together. Do you have anything to do with it?”
Grand Monarch Ice Bones suddenly fixed his icy gaze on him and said, “Who would have thought that as a Son of the Stars, you know quite a lot. You’re right. They approached me, but I refused to join them. However, if what they told me is true, they must have the power to change the heavens and alter the earth.” (Idiom: change the world tremendously/make great changes)
“Even the four great sects may not be able to stop them. Your world may be the first to witness the changes that come with the new era.”