Facing a powerful enemy in the future, it was only natural to investigate thoroughly, to discern the truth from illusion.
"Husband, are you planning to go personally to the Suspended Ice Mountain?"Cai Yan asked with a slight hesitation.
"No. I naturally have ways to probe the situation at Suspended Ice Mountain. No need to worry. I won't take unnecessary risks right now. Besides, it's only reconnaissance, not a direct confrontation with the Ice Queen."Yi Tianxing replied calmly with a faint smile.
"Yes. Your safety concerns the entire Great Yi. Unless absolutely necessary, you must take care of yourself,"Lian Xing also nodded and added.
This battle had far-reaching consequences. It had cemented the Ice Queen's terrifying reputation across all races. Countless races now trembled at the mere mention of her name. Unknowingly, she had become a taboo—something unapproachable, untouchable.
This invisible fear was a psychological blow to the entire continent.
If the Ice Queen were to appear on the battlefield again, morale would likely plummet instantly. The will to resist would collapse.
Night fell.
The moon shone bright in the sky, but eerily, snowstorms continued to sweep across the land. Snowfall under moonlight—such a bizarre juxtaposition was once unthinkable, but during this age of calamities, it had become disturbingly common. It was as if the laws of nature were being rewritten, producing these eerie phenomena.
The moonlight and swirling snow intertwined, painting a hauntingly beautiful scene.
Suspended Ice Mountain still floated silently in mid-air, unmoving.
The snow-white mountain glistened like crystal under the moonlight. Everything seemed tranquil, completely still—as if nothing lived on the mountain anymore.
Not even a trace of life could be sensed.
But beneath a nearby ancient tree, hidden in the shadow cast by the moon, a faint silhouette could be seen—so subtle that even someone standing right next to it would fail to notice.
"Interesting. I can sense a terrifying presence within Suspended Ice Mountain. It must be the Ice Queen."From within the shadow emerged a face—none other than Yi Tianxie, the shadow clone of Yi Tianxing.
By now, his cultivation had reached an astonishing level.
His Ten Thousand Evils Dao Body (万邪道体) held an unimaginable advantage in this chaotic world. It was like a bug in the system—capable of absorbing all negative energies and evil thoughts, refining them into nourishment. What took other cultivators a hundred years to accumulate, he could achieve in mere months—or even days.
Utterly heaven-defying.
With his prior foundation and the creation of the Heavenly Scripture of Ten Thousand Evils ("万邪天经")—a technique none could understand better than its creator—his cultivation had progressed unhindered. He had already broken through to the Dharma Phase Realm, and now was far more unfathomable than before.
Especially given his nature as a shadow incarnation, his aura was illusory and elusive, superior to even the most advanced concealment techniques. If he didn't want to be found, no one could perceive him—not even determine his cultivation.
Still, his confidence was unmistakable.
What's more, Yi Tianxie had recently received a great fortune in the Lanruo Temple, resulting in a massive transformation and breakthrough.
Swish!!
With a thought, Yi Tianxie silently vanished from the shadows, reappearing atop Suspended Ice Mountain. Like a ghost, he moved completely unnoticed—stealthing through the shadows.
"What a magnificent mountain. As a natural spectacle alone, it's among the rarest in the world."
This was no ordinary glacier. The mountain brimmed with lifelike ice sculptures, ice trees, and ice flowers—exquisite under the moonlight. Even a glance would leave one awestruck.
There were also palaces atop the mountain. Countless ice beasts lay slumbering, completely still. If not for the faint signs of life within them, one would have thought they were mere statues.
Under the moonlight, shadows sprawled across the land.
Yi Tianxie moved through them fluidly, leaping from one to another, eventually reaching the peak of the mountain.
There, a massive Ice Throne stood proudly—entirely forged from countless ice swords, emanating an overwhelming sharpness. The cold it radiated was far stronger than anywhere else.
The throne's chilling aura alone was enough to freeze any cultivator below the Fate Map Realm on the spot. This throne was no ordinary item—it was a terrifying Ice-type Supreme Treasure, both offensive and defensive in nature.
And on the throne sat the Ice Queen, her eyes closed as if asleep, completely undisturbed by the world.
She... was sleeping!
"What is that?"Yi Tianxie's eyes suddenly locked onto an empty space beside the throne.
There stood a strange structure—entirely composed of realistic heads. Yes, severed heads from various races: werewolves, humans, winged people... Each one bore the frozen expression of death.
"These must be the heads of powerful beings slain on this mountain. Were they displayed here as trophies?"Yi Tianxie examined the heads with interest.
They were piled densely, forming what appeared to be a bizarre construction.
Each head was encased in ice, turning them into ice bricks. But within each "brick" lay a severed head, and in their eyes, one could still sense traces of soul essence.
Clearly, not only had their bodies been frozen, but also their souls—preserved within the icy prison.
Looking more closely, Yi Tianxie noticed that the arrangement faintly resembled a lotus platform.
Though it seemed chaotic, there was a strange internal order. The heads were connected in mysterious ways, giving the platform an uncanny sense of completeness—despite being unfinished.
"What is she trying to do? Could it be that the Ice Queen released news to lure powerful beings here—only to kill them and use their heads to construct this... demonic lotus platform?"The thought raced through Yi Tianxie's mind.
This was no coincidence. This was a scheme.
"How is it? Isn't the Frozen Lotus Platform (冰雪莲台) that I'm building quite beautiful?"A cold voice echoed.
The Ice Queen, who had seemed asleep, opened her eyes and gazed directly at Yi Tianxie's hiding spot.
"Indeed, it's magnificent and spectacular. So this is why you've been luring the strong here,"Yi Tianxie didn't flinch. He stepped out of the shadows and stood before her, nodding as he examined the Frozen Lotus Platform.
"To forge this platform, I need souls of great power. I kill them, refine their essence and blood into their severed heads, and seal their souls within. This gives the Frozen Lotus innate spirituality,"the Ice Queen said calmly from her throne.
She wasn't surprised by Yi Tianxie's appearance at all. It was as if she had known he was here all along.
After all, Suspended Ice Mountain was her territory—her domain. Here, she was a goddess.
Yi Tianxie had anticipated this. But he had come regardless—testament to his confidence.
"What is it that you truly want?"Yi Tianxie asked, his gaze sharp with mischief.
"I am simply exercising my right. In lands covered by ice and snow, I am sovereign. All life within must submit. I shall lead them into eternal existence,"the Ice Queen responded coldly.
"And if they refuse?"
"If they refuse, then all life in my realm will be turned into ice statues, forever frozen—becoming part of my Ice Kingdom,"she declared without hesitation.
"And what if I refuse?"
Yi Tianxie's eyes fell on the Frozen Lotus Platform—more precisely, on a single lotus seed within it.
This ice-blue lotus seed, etched with ancient runes, radiated intense Ice Law energy. From the skulls around it, streams of essence flowed into the seed.
Clearly, the seed was the core of the entire structure—nourished by the essence of countless powerful beings.
"If you refuse... then die,"the Ice Queen said coolly.
As the words left her lips, the Ice Throne beneath her flared with blinding light. Beams of sword energy burst forth, merging mid-air into a colossal Ice Dragon, its body forged from crystalline sword-light. With a roar, it slashed out a claw—a strike of countless sword beams—aimed directly at Yi Tianxie's head.