Chapter 138: Chapter 137: Soul Ice Spirit Fire

Xia Country was one of the first places where Secret Realms resurfaced. Having experienced catastrophe early on, it had since recovered its strength and cultivated countless experts, becoming capable of contending with the native Demon Race on short notice.

As a great nation, its sheer power was something the North Snow Wolf Clan, one of the Northern Wilderness Demon Clans, couldn’t hope to match. If Xia Country truly committed, the Grandmaster stationed in North Border City alone could lead an expedition to conquer North Snow Ridge!

As these thoughts flashed through the mind of the Three Race Elders, a chill crept up the part of his spine not yet permeated by the Ice Soul Poison. He was secretly alarmed, ’That Grandmaster from Xia Country in North Border City seems to have already left the city to search for his people!’

For the past several decades, both sides had occasionally exchanged casualties. Missions targeting the North Snow Wolves would appear in Xia Country’s so-called "rookie tournaments," but the death of one or two was no big deal on North Snow Ridge. After all, even a Martial Arts Grandmaster had to consider the cost of going to war with the Wolf King.

But now, over nine hundred people were going to die on North Snow Ridge—more than the entire new generation of the Demon Race that the North Snow Wolves had left here!

Wiping out an entire generation—a hatred that vast was unforgivable!

The Three Race Elders’ body trembled slightly. He suddenly clenched his jaw, a look of grim determination and ferocity twisting in his eyes. ’Once the Secret Realm opens, everyone has to die. That Grandmaster from Xia Country won’t necessarily know they all died on North Snow Ridge. Maybe we can even pin it on the Kunlun Demon Clan and let them fight it out amongst themselves!

Besides, these are the most exceptional young prodigies from Xia Country’s Northwest Province. If we extract their potential bloodlines and use a Secret Technique to absorb their Cultivation Methods, our clan will be destined for greatness!’

At this thought, the Three Race Elders gave a hideous smile. He closed his eyes again, steadied his trembling claws, and resumed absorbing the Soul Ice Spirit Charm.

...

[A wisp of Soul Ice Spirit Charm has been refined]

[A wisp of Soul Ice Spirit Charm has been refined]

[...]

[Third Realm of the Bright Soul]

[28775/30000]

Jiang Qiu and Ice Lotus were like a ceaseless vortex, devouring the Soul Ice Spirit Charm at an ever-increasing rate.

The endless Soul Ice Spirit Charm within the Ice Palace condensed into a snowy mist, forming a spiraling tempest that converged on the pair. The astonishing sight was reflected in the eyes of the youths, their eyelashes frosted with ice, filling their hearts with awe and terror.

Even the Three Race Elders on the Ice Platform above frowned and opened his eyes. Seeing such a bizarre phenomenon, he slammed his hand on the ice and shot to his feet, glaring down furiously. "What is going on?!"

Based on past experience, by this point in the first trial, even the clan’s own geniuses should be struggling to hold on. Most of them should have already been forcibly ejected.

But a quick glance revealed that while most of his clan’s younger generation behind him looked pale, very few had actually disappeared.

’Haven’t they absorbed enough Ice Soul Poison?’

’Those two down there absorbed it all!’

The Three Race Elders’ body trembled as he spat a mouthful of blood onto the Ice Platform. Clutching his back, he ground his sharp fangs together with a piercing screech. "A mongrel and a bastard! How have they absorbed so much Soul Ice Spirit Charm and remained completely unharmed?!"

"Ooh..."

Ice Lotus shuddered at the thunderous roar, pressing her small, ice-cold face fully against Jiang Qiu’s fiery chest.

It had been uncomfortable at first, but she was naturally sensitive to all things related to Spirit Charm. Having absorbed so much, and with Jiang Qiu’s warmth protecting her, a good deal of the Ice Soul Poison had already dissipated.

Moreover, the power within her body was steadily accumulating, and the legacy within her bloodline seemed on the verge of breaking through to a new stage. This spurred her to absorb the Soul Ice Spirit Charm with even greater effort.

She was just a little bit away from crossing the threshold into the Spirit Communication Realm...

"Hooo..."

Jiang Qiu slowly exhaled a murky breath, opened his eyes, and looked up at the cursing Three Race Elders on the Ice Platform, his gaze razor-sharp. "Not only are Ice Lotus and I fine, but I will also lead every last one of them out of this Secret Realm alive."

’Using the Ice and Snow Contract as a nexus to absorb the poisonous Soul Ice Spirit Charm, the speed of my Realm advancement is breathtaking. I’ve already caught up to Xia Qing, the top genius of the new generation at the Spirit Control Academy.’

’Not only can I ignore the Ice Soul Poison myself, but with Ice Lotus’s help, I can even draw in the Soul Ice Spirit Charm from a wide area, ensuring Lin Wei and the others are better protected.’

’Getting out of this Secret Realm might not be impossible after all!’

As this thought crossed his mind, the vortex above Jiang Qiu and Ice Lotus slowly expanded.

"Three Race Elders, let’s make our move while most of them are immobilized!" the burliest member of the North Snow Wolf Clan snarled, baring his teeth. A cold light glinted on his claws, his frost-white face contorted with rage. "It’s a complete waste to let them take advantage of our Ice Palace!"

As one of the mainstays of his generation, he was now in the Spirit Communication Five Realms. His name was Lang Jian. With his pure North Snow Wolf Clan bloodline, he had forged Sixth Rank Jade Sinews, and his resistance to the Ice Soul Poison was nothing short of astonishing. He had once been a peerless prodigy who had come close to reaching the second level of the trial.

But back then, he had been in such a wretched state that he’d reverted to his true form. His body had been completely covered in white frost before he lost consciousness. When he awoke, he was already outside the Ice Palace.

Yet now, he was watching some Human Race brat who didn’t even cultivate Soul Ice Spirit Charm endure for seven days with ease. In just a little while, the Ice Platform would descend, and they would all pass through the Frozen Gate into the second level of the trial!

Lang Jian’s chest heaved with his ragged breathing. Soul Ice Spirit Charm condensed between his claws, the corners of his eyes glinting with a viciousness like that of a drawn blade.

TAP.

The Three Race Elders reached out and pressed down on Lang Jian’s poised claws. Anger brewed in his eyes as he grunted, "Most of our own people are in poor condition right now. Besides, that brat was able to take one of my Ice Claw attacks. His strength is not to be underestimated. Don’t act rashly, you’ll only get yourself hurt and endanger our kin..."

"Grrr!"

Lang Jian gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, his muscles bulging beneath his padded coat.

WHIRRR...

Soon, the elevated Ice Platform descended, once again filling the gap in the middle of the railing-less ice path. The Three Race Elders waved for everyone to hurry as he headed toward the Frozen Gate at the far end.

At that moment, the eyes of the seven hundred-some North Snow Wolves gleamed. They hugged their shivering bodies and shuffled forward, terrified of being left behind and unable to enter the Frozen Gate.

All of them had been inside the Ice Palace at least once before, but as mere participants in the trial, none had ever set foot on the other side of the Frozen Gate—the second level of the Wolf Emperor’s trial.

They never imagined that they would, in their lifetimes, get a glimpse of the world beyond the Frozen Gate—all thanks to a Human Race prodigy!

THUD, THUD, THUD...

Watching from a distance as the Three Race Elders and the other members of the Demon Race slipped through the gap in the Frozen Gate, their figures vanishing into the Soul Ice Spirit Charm that was as thick as a blue fog, Jiang Qiu took a deep breath. The swirling Soul Ice Spirit Charm above his head surged after them like a receding tide.

"Did all the Soul Ice Spirit Charm from the first level of the trial just go through the Frozen Gate?"

he muttered, turning his head and raising an arm.

[Talent Transformation x1]

[Soul Ice Spirit Fire]

[Description: Formed from the fusion of the foundational Fiery Flame Spirit Charm and the Soul Ice Spirit Charm. It can suppress some characteristics of the Soul Ice Spirit Charm and neutralize the Ice Soul Poison.]

SWOOSH—

Blue flames ignited in Jiang Qiu’s right palm, spreading out in a vortex over everyone’s heads. The frost on their brows and hair melted away, rising as steam.

In moments, they were all pushing themselves up, still trembling. They grasped at the warm air with their hands, overjoyed. "Jiang Divine has this kind of power, too?"

Xia Qing frowned slightly, pursing her lips as she watched Jiang Qiu’s figure, which stood like a torchbearer in the cold night. Her heart skipped a beat. ’His control over Spirit Charm is incredible. If he were to attend the Spirit Control Academy, his Talent would surely be greater than mine...’

Lin Wei and Niu Yao stared wide-eyed, then let out long, turbid breaths of their own.

’If it weren’t for Jiang Qiu, we all would have been frozen solid by the Ice Soul Poison. We never would have survived the seven days...’