In the vast expanse of the universe, Tian Nan Star was utterly insignificant. Many years ago, it was merely a desolate celestial body, rarely drawing any attention. Only those masters traversing immense stellar routes would occasionally pause there to replenish their vital essence, yet they never lingered long.

It wasn't until the Shang family settled permanently on Tian Nan Star that it gradually gained some semblance of life. Under the Shang family’s management, deposits of cold iron deep within the planet were excavated. Along with the cold iron, they also unearthed cold jade and cold marrow—precious materials essential for cultivating specific arcane methods.

Tian Nan Star was perpetually frigid, and the planet’s core was bone-chillingly cold. Even if ordinary people knew that exotic ores might exist deep within the core, they could not endure the profound cold necessary for entry and mining.

The Shang family, however, was different. Specializing in the profound secrets of ice and cold, the Shang family members were not only perfectly adapted to Tian Nan Star's abnormal cold but could also delve into the even more desolate core to extract ores. This is how they discovered the cold iron, cold jade, and cold marrow, gradually bringing Tian Nan Star to modest renown. Through the Shang family's diligent efforts, Tian Nan Star gradually accumulated some population, and marketplaces dedicated to trading cultivation materials were established to attract masters from other races for trade.

Masters from neighboring stars, seeking to gather the cultivation resources they required, would travel vast distances to frequent the markets on Tian Nan Star. Slowly, Tian Nan Star began to exert influence in the surrounding regions, and the Heavenly Scholars of the major races across the adjacent stars all came to remember this celestial body.

Some Heavenly Scholars from other races who also specialized in the profound secrets of ice and cold gradually recognized the benefits of cultivating on Tian Nan Star. They began seeking out secluded spots to train, and over time, the number of cultivators on the planet grew, extending beyond just the Shang family.

However, although other racial masters began cultivating on Tian Nan Star, because the Shang family arrived first, and because the planet was developed under the Shang family's power, any Heavenly Scholar wishing to reside and cultivate there long-term had to receive the Shang family's approval and pay a tribute of Yuan Crystals every century.

On Tian Nan Star, the Shang family was the dominant power; any arriving Heavenly Scholar had to abide by the Shang family's rules. Ji Changkong wandered casually, his expression calm, through the largest marketplace established by the Shang family.

This marketplace was divided into four major sections—East, South, West, and North—designated for the trade of metallic ores, spiritual herbs, profound codices, and divine weapons, respectively. Each section spanned a hundred mu, teeming with figures and ceaseless activity, with countless masters coming and going.

Making a rough mental calculation, he noted no fewer than five hundred shops across the four zones, and over a thousand people setting up stalls on any available patch of ground. This scale was more than ten times larger than the trading grounds established by the few Wood race members on the Abandoned Lands.

Among the passing crowds were not only common races like Human, Feather, Three-Eyed, and Wood but also rarer ones such as the Charm, Demon, Bone, and Heavenly Craft races.

The Demon race comprised alien beings formed through the ultimate transformation of fierce beasts and flying fowl; they generally resided in mountains and lakes and rarely associated with other races.

The Bone race members were skeletal, appearing at a glance like desiccated corpses weathered over millennia, utterly devoid of moisture. As they walked, the bones within their bodies made strange, rattling sounds.

Noticing a Bone race man and woman pass by, Ji Changkong’s thoughts stirred, and he suddenly recalled the White Bone Skeleton hidden within the bell. If that skeleton were clad in human skin, it might bear a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to the Bone race.

Could that White Bone Skeleton have been refined directly from the skeletal remains of a Bone race master? This question surfaced in his mind.

Recalling the White Bone Skeleton brought a strange expression to his face. Ever since the skeleton entered the bell, the bell had begun absorbing the strange energy floating throughout the vast star field, much like a star itself. During his journey across the sea of stars, the bell never ceased absorbing this ambient energy.

Only when he was nearing Tian Nan Star did the bell halt its intake. After releasing the White Bone Skeleton again, he was startled to see the eerie ghost-fire flickering in the skeleton's eye sockets, indicating it had fully regained its power.

It turned out the White Bone Skeleton could recover its strength through this marvelous method after it was depleted. This discovery brought a flicker of joy to his heart. Besides the Demon and Bone races, the Charm race members also caught his eye. The reason was simple: the Charm race members were simply too beautiful!

Whether male or female, they were exquisitely handsome. Every member of the Charm race was a stunning beauty capable of captivating all beings. Though three Charm maidens passed by veiled, Ji Changkong only glimpsed their beautiful backs, yet his spirit soared.

Wherever the three maidens passed, masters of the Feather, Wood, and Three-Eyed races nearby looked on, mesmerized, intoxication clouding their eyes. One bold youth from the Three-Eyed race even stepped forward to strike up a conversation, but he was politely rebuffed by the three maidens.

Masters of various races moved back and forth across the four major zones. Ji Changkong drifted through the dense crowd, yet he failed to spot a single expert from the Blood race.

According to Vicks, the Blood race had a deep connection with the Purgatory Ghost race. He had hoped to casually find a Blood race master to inquire about the current status of the Augustus family, but fate had it otherwise; after searching extensively, not a single Blood race member appeared.

In such a large marketplace, there were many masters from various races, but most were at the Nine Palace Heaven Realm, with some at the Ten Directions Heaven Subtle Realm and the Nirvana Purge Realm. However, not a single expert from the Free and Easy Realm was encountered.

Wandering the marketplace for a while, with no immediate intention of purchasing anything, he approached a stall adorned with the single character "Wind." Behind the stall sat an elderly Feather race man with his eyes closed, his hair white and face etched with wrinkles. He sat cross-legged, utterly still, radiating a tranquil air.

Occasionally, someone would approach, offer a Yuan Crystal, and only then would the elder open his slightly clouded eyes. Only when asked a question would he offer a brief, detached reply.

A Wind Messenger was a unique type of individual who earned Yuan Crystals by selling information. They possessed their own intelligence networks, knew something about events occurring in various regions, and the most skilled ones even knew of major happenings in distant star fields.

Presenting a Yuan Crystal, Ji Changkong waited for the Feather race Wind Messenger to open his eyes, then asked directly, "What is an Ice Slave?"

A strange light flickered in the Wind Messenger's eyes. He stared vigilantly at Ji Changkong for a moment, and once he confirmed the inquirer was not from the Shang family, he whispered, "One hundred Yuan Crystals!"

Ji Changkong was pleased rather than angered. Daring to demand a hundred Yuan Crystals indicated this individual surely knew the secrets of the Ice Slaves. Thinking this, he unhesitatingly produced a hundred Yuan Crystals and handed them over, watching the messenger quietly.

The Feather race Wind Messenger slightly shook his shoulders. His back hunched, and his gray wings spread out, covering most of his body, leaving only an ancient, deeply furrowed face exposed. "An Ice Slave is a form of special cannon fodder used by the Shang family. Within the Soul Sea of every Ice Slave, there is a piece of Profound Ice. This Profound Ice fuses with the Ice Slave from childhood, becoming an integral part of the Ice Slave's Soul Sea. The Profound Ice enables the Ice Slave to cultivate rapidly and bypass many bottlenecks, quickly breaking through to the Ten Directions Heaven Realm."

Pausing here, the Feather race Wind Messenger grew even more cautious. He carefully scanned his surroundings, ensuring no Shang family members were nearby, before lowering his voice to continue, "The Profound Ice is an exotic treasure refined by the Shang family, forged by blending cold iron, cold marrow, and cold jade with twelve types of rare ice-attribute materials. It is also imprinted with the Shang family's cultivation mysteries. Normally, the Profound Ice should be a divine treasure, but once it merges with an Ice Slave, while the Ice Slave advances quickly, they forever lose their freedom, eventually even losing their self-awareness!"

"Every direct descendant of the Shang family bears a Profound Spirit Seal in their mind from childhood. The Profound Spirit Seal is ten times more precious than the Profound Ice; its refinement is far more difficult, and it contains the Shang family's true ice-elemental mysteries. Furthermore, the Profound Spirit Seal has a greater function—it can control the Profound Ice!" the Messenger declared.

"You mean that a direct Shang descendant possessing a Profound Spirit Seal can command those Ice Slaves who possess Profound Ice?" Ji Changkong's heart sank.

Nodding, the Feather race Wind Messenger continued, "Correct. The Shang family prepares a Profound Spirit Seal for every direct descendant but prepares Profound Ice for the collateral relatives on subordinate planets. Should those collateral descendants cultivate to an extremely high realm one day and come to the Shang family on Tian Nan Star, they will be assigned as servants to those direct descendants. Every direct Shang descendant is granted several Ice Slaves upon reaching adulthood. If they encounter danger, they can use the Profound Spirit Seal to make the Ice Slaves die for them. You might not know, but when the Profound Ice in an Ice Slave’s Soul Sea finally detonates, it creates immense destructive power, enough to buy them precious time to escape."

"I understand," Ji Changkong said, taking a deep breath, his face grim. "Thank you."

"You're welcome; I take payment," the messenger replied.

Forcing down the worry rising in his chest, Ji Changkong produced another Yuan Crystal and offered it, asking, "Do you know anything about the Augustus family of the Blood race? And do you know of the Ice race and the Flame Demon clan?"

"The Augustus family?" The messenger shook his head. "The Augustus family of the Blood race vanished entirely after a battle on a desolate star with the Ice race and the Flame Demon clan two hundred and twenty years ago. It is rumored that the Ice Emperor of the Ice race and the Flame God of the Flame Demon clan fought Gu Di in that battle, and all three were reportedly injured. The reason for the fight remains unknown."

"After that battle, the Augustus family disappeared. Shortly after the Ice race and the Flame Demon clan left that star, they were tracked down by the Heaven-Piercing Ghost Mother. It seems these two races were wiped out by her. Whether the Ice Emperor and the Flame God managed to escape the Ghost Mother's clutches is uncertain; I doubt it highly. The Ice Emperor and Flame God only possessed cultivation at the Divine Communication Realm. Facing the Chaos Realm's Heaven-Piercing Ghost Mother without external help, they likely faced certain death."

"Two hundred and twenty years ago?!" Ji Changkong gasped in astonishment. "Are you certain this happened two hundred and twenty years ago?"

The Feather race Wind Messenger grew displeased, his expression turning cold. "Are you doubting the accuracy of my information?"

"Apologies, I was just... just too surprised." Ji Changkong forced a bitter smile. Time truly flew; without realizing it, he had spent so long within the Tian Yuan Pearl.

After leaving that star, on his journey to Tian Nan Star, he had been continuously processing the profound secrets of the Seven-Colored Soul Imprint within his Soul Sea. Within that imprint, there seemed to be various mysteries concerning the evolution of heaven and earth. Before arriving at Tian Nan Star, he could only vaguely surmise that he might have broken through to the Free and Easy Realm.

Thirty-six divine ability variations had strangely appeared in his Soul Sea. Each variation resembled the "Heavenly Evolution Ancient Art," containing profound mysteries of the world’s power. He knew of the existence of every variation but struggled to grasp the true essence of their power.

During this period, his Soul Sea had been in constant flux. The thirty-six variations of the Seven-Colored Soul Imprint continuously manifested various scenarios in his Soul Sea. Whenever he had leisure, he would begin studying those transformations, yet until now, he had only comprehended a small portion of the mysteries of one named "Heavenly Fire Scorches the Plains," and even that required the aid of the "Netherworld Cold Flame" and the "Flame Thunder Sacred Fire."

The thirty-six divine ability variations could be combined and merged every twelve arts into a greater divine ability. When all thirty-six variations were comprehended and fused, they could form an even grander divine ability. However, only by fully grasping each one could he know the name of the final merged ability and comprehend the terrifying power of that ultimate mystery.

"Hmph!" The Feather race Wind Messenger suddenly stood up, his anger still evident, and paid him no further mind, departing directly.

For a Wind Messenger, having the accuracy of his information doubted was a profound insult, far more irritating than harm to his family. It seemed he had no intention of forgiving Ji Changkong. No matter how Ji Changkong apologized, the messenger remained silent and quickly vanished from the marketplace.

After the Wind Messenger disappeared, Ji Changkong composed himself and decided to find a Shang family member to question. This was the Shang family's domain, and openly challenging them tomorrow would be impossible. He planned to target a weaker direct descendant of the Shang family, capture them while they were alone, and then force information regarding Shang Bingjie’s whereabouts. With this thought, he moved through the marketplace, looking for a young, direct descendant Shang master to strike against.

After some searching, a handsome and imposing young man from the Shang family finally became his target. Beside the young man were two elders around fifty years old, both possessing cultivation at the Nirvana Purge Realm. Yet, within both elders' Soul Seas resided a piece of Profound Ice.

Clearly, these two elderly men served as the young man’s Ice Slaves, cannon fodder prepared to die for him.

The Shang youth was not in a hurry to leave the market; he was steadily following the three Charm maidens, appearing very interested in them. He trailed them from a distance, a constant smile on his face, seemingly intent on capturing their attention. This forced Ji Changkong to follow suit, inwardly cursing the youth for not focusing on more serious matters!