Outside the Iron-Blood Great Wall, in an extremely secluded corner, a figure shrouded in a black robe stood silently. Only a pair of pitch-black eyes could be seen beneath the hood, reflecting a strange, deep gleam as they stared at the massive fortress. Their gaze was unfathomably sinister.
"Interesting... I never thought that after all these years, Da Yi would truly rise and become a force to be reckoned with. From a kingdom to an imperial dynasty—the potential of the human race truly cannot be underestimated."
"The Ice Queen... a born deity of ice and snow. Although merely newly born, as an innate divine being, her command over the laws is naturally superior. And yet, even such a formidable being has fallen to Yi Tianxing's hand. No wonder he holds the top spot on the Hunter's Ranking. Dealing with him is no easy task."
The black-robed figure muttered to themselves, their eyes growing more profound.
In the past, they had tried every possible method to prevent Da Yi from rising, yet all had failed. Instead, each tribulation had only refined and strengthened it further. Now, as a full-fledged imperial dynasty, Da Yi could no longer be shaken by mere plotting.
Now that the Ice Queen's threat had been neutralized, the external factors hindering Da Yi's growth were nearly all gone. As soon as Yi Tianxing had his hands free, there would be nothing to stop Da Yi's steady expansion.
It was growing stronger by the day.
This reality left the black-robed figure inwardly helpless. They had few cards left to play—and even those were ineffective against Yi Tianxing. Especially now, after personally witnessing the power of the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower, their wariness only grew. For now, launching an attack on Da Yi was no longer feasible.
"Wonderful! We won! We actually won!"
"No more fear of the beast tides breaching our immortal cities, no more waking up to a new Ice Age. Even the Ice Queen has been subdued by His Majesty! This might finally mark the end of the natural disasters!"
"We won! Finally, we won! As expected of His Majesty! This battle… I was part of it too!"
"I wonder how long this snowstorm will last. Was it really the Ice Queen's doing? If so, then the calamity is over. If not, then at least a major threat is gone. Da Yi fears no snow disaster—we lack neither supplies nor food. Even if the snow lasts a year, we'll hold!"
Throughout Da Yi's immortal cities, countless citizens erupted with joy and celebration.
When Yi Tianxing had called upon their power earlier, they had understood the war had reached its most crucial juncture—possibly even the final showdown. Now, it was clear: Da Yi had emerged victorious.
Beast Plain – Golden City
In Golden City, the Beamon King fell into a long silence. Facing in the direction of Da Yi, his expression grew grim.
"Yi Tianxing… who would've thought your strength would grow to such terrifying levels? To even suppress the Ice Queen… compared to the Divine-Demon Battlefield, you've grown unimaginably powerful. The rate of your progress is… terrifying."
He felt no relief.
Though the Ice Queen was now sealed, the threat of Da Yi had skyrocketed. If Yi Tianxing could subdue the Ice Queen, he might very well be able to sweep across the entire continent. Individual power may not always decide a war—but at a certain threshold, it could determine the fate of the world.
"The Ice Queen may be sealed, but the beast tide still rages. Send word: resist the tide at all costs. If we can't hold, retreat underground. Endure, and we'll survive this disaster."
The Beamon King swiftly issued his orders.
The beast tide rampaged on—but it was no longer Yi Tianxing's concern.
Back in the palace, Yi Tianxing briefly informed Cai Yan and the other consorts before entering a meditation chamber.
With a thought, he stepped into the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower.
This time, he appeared within a normal tower-floor space—one created by the Thunder Pool. Lightning streaked across the skies, thundering as it shattered the air. The sheer power of the lightning was palpable.
This was a realm of thunder, brimming with the law of lightning at its most intense.
In the center of this stormy plain stood a grand palace. Countless bolts of lightning lashed at its walls, but none could harm it. Instead, the lightning shattered against the spinning Ice Soul Stars circling the palace, frozen in midair like intricate sculptures.
The ground was covered in layers of frost.
From the signs, it was clear the palace—the Ice Palace—had once raged in defiance, trying to escape. But it was all in vain.
Yi Tianxing approached the palace, eyes calm.
"Queen of Ice and Snow, a guest has come. Will you not offer a welcome?"
"Hmph! Who's your guest? We were just locked in a life-or-death battle."
The Ice Queen's cold voice echoed from the palace.
Yi Tianxing's arrival hadn't escaped her notice. Being imprisoned here, how could she possibly greet him with warmth?
"The battle is over. That doesn't mean we can't become friends. Surely, you won't refuse to let me enter and talk? There are things I need to verify with you."
Yi Tianxing smiled calmly.
The Ice Queen fell silent.
Though unwilling to admit it, the truth was plain—she had been defeated. No matter how proud or aloof she might be, there was no point in acting arrogantly toward someone who had already subdued her.
Whoosh!
The circling Ice Soul Stars moved aside, clearing a path.
Yi Tianxing stepped into the Ice Palace.
Instantly, he was surrounded by biting cold. Icy energy seeped into every corner, threatening to penetrate his body and freeze him from the inside out.
At the heart of the hall, the Ice Queen sat on her throne, expressionless and cold as ever.
Yi Tianxing looked around—there was nothing else in the hall. He didn't mind. With a wave of his hand, a frosted table and chairs appeared.
"Do you drink wine?" he asked with a smile.
"No," she answered flatly.
But after glancing at Yi Tianxing, she rose from the throne and sat across from him, without showing hostility.
"Then let's have tea. I have some spirit tea I collected."
Yi Tianxing nodded and retrieved a canister of Ice Mist Tea—a rare spirit tea that thrived in frozen lands. It was hard to cultivate but had remarkable effects. When brewed, it released a layer of mist shaped like snowflakes and hailstones, vivid and beautiful.
This tea could calm the heart, sharpen the mind, suppress inner demons, and even aid in cultivating ice-related laws.
For someone like the Ice Queen, its value was undeniable.
He set out a tea set, poured hot water, and began brewing.
A mist of illusions formed above the tea—snow dancing, hailstones swirling, all seemingly real.
Soon, the tea was ready.
Yi Tianxing raised his cup slightly toward the Ice Queen, then took a sip. Instantly, a wave of fatigue lifted from his body, leaving him refreshed.
"So," the Ice Queen asked after tasting her tea, "you've imprisoned me here, yet you don't kill me. What are you planning?"
Her eyes bore into his face as if to engrave it into her memory. Until now, she hadn't believed anyone could rival her. Now that someone had not only fought her—but won—his intentions were all that mattered.
Yi Tianxing smiled faintly.
"Do we have a grudge?" he asked.
"No," she answered without hesitation.
"Any grievances?"
"None."
"Then why should I kill you? There's no reason for us to be enemies. Why not be friends?"
She didn't reply—only fell silent.
"We don't have to be enemies. If we can find common ground, we might even become allies," Yi Tianxing continued. "You invaded the continent, trying to subjugate all… If I'm not wrong, you want faith—the power of worship and incense."
The Ice Queen's pupils narrowed.
She said nothing—but his words had struck home.
"You want all of Da Yi's people to pray to you, day and night. That's not something we can allow. My people must stand tall and rely on themselves. To kneel would be to sever our foundation. But that doesn't mean there's no alternative."
Yi Tianxing's gaze grew firm.
"Have you heard of the Fengshen List?"
"The Divine Investiture List? The national treasure of a fortune dynasty."
Of course, the Ice Queen knew what that was. The Fengshen List was the linchpin of a destiny dynasty—an artifact that bound the entire court into a unified whole.