A week passed by.

Unlike the icy landmass, exploring the entire water body was a more tedious task. However, despite the difficulties, he managed to do so by the week’s end, ensuring that no stone was left unturned.

Standing on top of a frozen cliff, he glanced down at the clashing waves.

’I’m finally done...’ he thought to himself.

Plunging into ice-cold water and being in it for hours and hours wasn’t something he wanted to experience for long. Even though he had the Crimson Fire Arts to keep himself warm, it was still an experience he would only wish for his enemies.

[Progress: 40% -> 45.4%]

"So that’s the most it would budge, huh..." Yi Chen muttered with a bitter smile while glancing at the mission panel.

Initially, he thought that after exploring the water body, his progress percentage would rise to at least 60%. However, reality was often disappointing.

A sigh escaped his lips as he stared at the icy ground below.

’Well...I might as well try.’

======== STATUS ==========

Name: Icy Ground

Remark (1/3): Encompasses the entire landmass [Regenerate: 10,000 EXP]

=========================

Seeing that it worked, he immediately generated the remaining two responses. The resulting gain was only enough to push his progress bar by a few decimal points in the end.

[Progress: 45.4% -> 46%]

Seeing the progress only widened the bitter smile on his face.

"Now let’s go about getting the remaining fifty-four percent..." he muttered while letting out a tired breath.

In the last few days, he had thought of a few ideas with regard to it. Specifically, two distinct things came to his mind. One was the towering stone tablet, and the other was the five-meter-tall white door they were supposed to open.

"I’m sure my progress percentage would increase significantly after I go through their remarks..."

Yi Chen muttered.

With that said, he ventured deeper into the icy landmass. However, his destination wasn’t the campsite but the places he had already passed through.

While exploring the water body, he realised that distinct features like uneven mounds or cracks also had status panels of their own, so he wanted to claim the ones he hadn’t checked on land as well.

There were several features in his mind, and luckily, he roughly remembered all their locations more or less.

’I had dealt with the Glacial Soldiers yesterday, so I still have two more days until I’ll need to return...’

He thought while making his way towards the features several kilometres away.

As a result, by the morning of the third day, his progress bar had increased...at least somewhat.

[Progress: 46% -> 50%]

"You’re back." Gao Zhen, who had freshened up and was about to start her usual session, said when she heard his steps.

"Yes, how’s the progress?" Yi Chen asked the question, which had become a habit by now.

"Good as usual," Gao Zhen replied with her regular answer. The bright light in her eyes clearly suggested that what she said just now was the truth.

With each passing day, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation rising in her heart as she was progressing steadily towards mastering the Abyssal Blackglacial Arts.

’To live a life away from my father’s influence, huh...’ Gao Zhen momentarily entertained the idea, which had become a regular part of her life by now.

A mixture of anxiety and excitement welled up in her heart.

"Had breakfast?" Yi Chen asked the next moment after seeing her confident expression.

"Yes, I was just about to start my session." Gao Zhen answered with a nod.

"That’s good." Yi Chen replied with a smile and turned towards the stone tablet. There were only a few hours left in the countdown.

05:53:32

"Then practice without any worries. I’ll let you know when only ten minutes are left," he said the next instant.

"Alright." Gao Zhen nodded with a smile and, sitting in front of the stone tablet, immersed herself in mastering the Qi Absorption Art, her heart completely free.

It was evident that she fully trusted Yi Chen’s words.

Seeing her entering a meditative state, Yi Chen soon shifted his focus towards the stone tablet in front of him.

’...You better not disappoint me now.’

With that thought, he opened its status panel.

======= STATUS ========

Name: Abyssal Blackglacial Arts

Type: Qi Absorption Art [Dark Natured]

Remark (1/3): This is only one-tenth of the entire art. [Regenerate: 10,000 EXP]

======================

Since he had already gone through this once, it didn’t trigger any response from his mission panel. Therefore, Yi Chen wasn’t discouraged. The next instant, he regenerated the remark.

[Remark (2/3): Bestowed to the Ice Abyssal Sovereign (Regenerate: 25,000 EXP)]

.

.

[Remark (3/3): Created by the Dark God]

’Dark God?’ Yi Chen frowned with curiosity when he read the name, but before he could think more on it, the mission panel flashed next to his vision.

[Progress: 50% -> 72%]

’This...!’

He almost roared in excitement when he saw a huge jump. However, with Gao Zhen meditating just beside him, he restrained himself and didn’t let out a single word.

The next second, he turned towards the white door a few meters away and started walking towards it, anticipation evident on his face.

’With this, the mission will finally be completed...’ he thought confidently.

With only two remarks, the stone tablet had given more than twenty per cent.

On the other hand, he had never checked the white door’s status at all, so with only twenty-eight per cent more remaining, he couldn’t help but stare at it passionately.

After arriving next to it, he finally opened its status panel.

===== STATUS =======

Name: Ice Door

Use: Allows one to exit the Frozen Ice Realm

Remark (1/3): Place hands over the imprints and pour Dark Qi [Regenerate: 10,000 EXP]

===================

Seeing the progress bar jump by 10% his eyes glimmered with anticipation, making him regenerate the next response immediately.

[Remark (2/3): Once the ice turns black, the door shall open (Regenerate: 25,000 EXP)]

"Yes!"

Yi Chen exclaimed, clenching his jaw as he saw it rise by another 10%. With only eight per cent remaining, he generated the final response.

[Remark (3/3): Failing to master the art won’t produce the required results.]

.

.

.

[Progress: 92% -> 95%]

’This fucking shit of a...’