Translator: AnubisTL
If one hadn't descended here personally, no one could have imagined such a vast space existing beneath the earth.
Within this cavernous expanse stood a majestic Ice and Snow Palace, its cold brilliance radiating through the darkness.
After arriving in the Great Wilderness Domain, Li Qing had diligently studied the region's fundamental knowledge, memorizing everything from the ancient powers of the primordial era to the domain's most renowned experts.
Yet he had never even heard of this mysterious underground Ice Palace.
Boom!
To better observe their surroundings, Li Qing flicked his finger, releasing a crimson pill fire that erupted from his hand.
The blazing light illuminated the area, casting a faint blue glow across the cold yet magnificent Ice Palace, creating a dreamlike and ethereal scene.
The Ice Palace had a main entrance, but Li Qing hesitated to enter rashly. Such unknown places often harbored hidden dangers.
Beside him, Shen Ningbing, having composed herself, finally looked up at the palace.
"Senior brother, I forgot to mention earlier, but ever since we entered, I've felt a faint call emanating from within the Ice Palace."
"It seems connected to the cultivation manual I practice. Master likely sensed this call as well, which is why she came down here, right?"
An unusual summons?
Could this place hold special significance for cultivators of the ice dao?
Despite these thoughts, Li Qing felt reluctant to explore further. He asked gravely, "Junior Sister, have you ever heard anything about underground ice palaces like this before?"
Shen Ningbing paused, then slowly shook her head.
"Perhaps we could find a way to save Master inside?"
At this suggestion, Li Qing couldn't help but smile bitterly. While the idea was tempting, he sensed that venturing deeper would be highly imprudent.
Sensing Li Qing's hesitation, Shen Ningbing hesitated for a moment before proposing, "How about I send an ice butterfly in to scout ahead?"
With the situation having reached this point, refusing would be impolite.
In the end, Li Qing said nothing more, simply nodding in agreement. "That's all we can do. If anything seems amiss, we'll retreat immediately."
Before the words had even left his lips, a sudden icy wind swept through the area.
A blue ice butterfly, its wings fluttering, materialized at Shen Ningbing's summons. Its entire body seemed to be formed from ice crystals—the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly, a renowned creature listed in the Records of the World's Extraordinary Insects!
Though the butterfly appeared delicate, it ranked seventy-sixth in the Records of the World's Extraordinary Insects, far surpassing the little golden silkworms Li Qing carried.
In the past, Shen Ningbing couldn't freely command the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly, but now things were different. She had completely tamed this rare Ice Attribute insect.
With a gentle flutter of its wings, the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly drifted gracefully into the Ice Palace.
The pale blue butterfly dancing before the Ice and Snow Palace created a dreamlike scene, straight out of a fairy tale.
Yet Li Qing's expression remained grave throughout, his eyes fixed on everything within.
The ice butterfly glided past frigid ice walls and through rows of razor-sharp ice spikes.
Just as it prepared to advance further, a surge of ice-blue light erupted from within the Ice Palace.
Buzz!
Immediately, the sound of freezing echoed through the air.
Crack! Crack!
The second-tier peak-stage Ice Attribute rare insect suddenly froze mid-flight, its wings ceasing to flutter as it plummeted straight down.
Seeing this, Shen Ningbing's face drained of color, turning deathly pale.
Danger!
"How is that possible? Even the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly couldn't withstand this cold?" Shen Ningbing's voice was filled with disbelief.
The Frost Jade Ice Butterfly was a rare insect with the Ice Attribute, capable of evolving into a third-tier demonic insect at any moment. Such a creature's entire body was practically pure ice crystals.
"Junior sister, can you still sense the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly?" Li Qing asked with concern.
Shen Ningbing nodded vigorously. "Yes, I can still sense it. The Frost Jade Ice Butterfly isn't dead, but it's been frozen solid by an extremely cold aura."
If even the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly had been frozen, this seemingly tranquil Ice Palace clearly concealed immense danger.
Realizing this, Li Qing said, "It's fortunate we didn't rush in impulsively. Otherwise, we would have been frozen solid as well."
"Thankfully, the ice butterfly didn't fly too far in. With some planning, we should still be able to rescue it."
Without at least nascent soul realm cultivation, approaching this Ice Palace was impossible.
Just as Li Qing was pondering how to retrieve the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly, another ice-cracking sound echoed from ahead.
Crack!
Li Qing and Shen Ningbing clearly saw that the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly, which had just been frozen and fallen near the entrance of the Ice Palace, was now covered in icy cracks.
The sight was alarming, but fortunately, Shen Ningbing had a strong connection with her spirit insect.
"Something's wrong! The Frost Jade Ice Butterfly seems to have gained some kind of benefit!"
The cracks multiplied rapidly, until another sharp crack rang out.
Bang!
A shower of ice shards cascaded from the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly's body. As if drawn by an invisible force, the surrounding frigid air converged upon the creature.
In an instant, the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly's aura surged with newfound power.
Having experienced this process before, Li Qing immediately recognized that the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly was beginning to advance to the next stage.
Advancing just like that?!
Upon confirming this, Li Qing's lips twitched involuntarily, struggling to believe it.
He remembered how Fan Tong had nearly died and been resurrected multiple times before finally advancing to a third-tier demonic beast, even with the aid of a third-tier crimson crystal.
If the Blood Lotus Seed hadn't absorbed the excess Red Moon Secret Power back then, Fan Tong would likely have succumbed to complete madness by now.
Yet this Frost Jade Ice Butterfly, merely swept by a mysterious aura within the Ice Palace, had already begun its advancement.
Compared to Fan Tong's arduous struggle, the disparity was simply absurd.
It could only be said that demon beasts with extraordinary bloodlines truly stood apart, utterly incomparable to ordinary creatures.
Under Li Qing's astonished gaze, the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly lying within the Ice Palace began to flutter its wings once more.
With each movement, the butterfly's aura grew increasingly potent, surging higher and higher!
Boom!
In mere moments, the overwhelming aura of a third-tier demonic beast erupted forth.
The already frigid surroundings plummeted to even more extreme temperatures, so cold that even exhaled breath crystallized into frost and fell like snow.
It seemed the Frost Jade Ice Butterfly's advancement was assured, a feat it would achieve with effortless ease!
(End of the Chapter)
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