In the far north of the Tiannan Star, mountain ranges stretched endlessly. The weather there was bitterly cold, with snow perpetually falling. Every peak was encased in thick ice, and few dared to reside there long-term unless they were cultivators mastering the profound mysteries of ice-elemental power.

The Shang family cultivated the chilling, icy power across their entire lineage. Every member of the Shang family diligently practiced the cold element, finding the harsh environment highly conducive to their cultivation efforts, where practice yielded double the results.

Within each icy peak, several dozen Shang family members cultivated. The highest and most frigid peak served as the secluded training ground for the Shang family's high-ranking echelon. Shang Yuanzhi, her face frigid, ignored all inquiries, ascending directly from the base to the summit. At the peak, a massive ice spire stabbed toward the heavens. This dense formation of ice shards created an array that concentrated the chilling essence, making the atmosphere on this mountain ten times colder than any other.

Shang Yuanzhi stood within the ice spires and stamped her foot, sending a bone-chilling wave of cold energy deep into the mountain's core.

Not long after, three figures with grim expressions emerged from between the massive ice shards. These three were shrouded in swirling cold energy. The leader, whose head was covered in frost, his expression stiff, spared Shang Yuanzhi a glance and stated flatly, "What is it?"

"Your son has been captured," Shang Yuanzhi stated in a single sentence.

"What?" The rigid cheeks of the leading middle-aged man twitched. He rotated his neck, and his joints cracked audibly. He seemed to have been in seclusion for a long time, taking a moment to adjust.

Shang Yuanzhi quickly recounted the events, concluding, "Anyone who can slay five Ice Slaves and capture Shao-wu alive likely possesses the cultivation of the Ruyi Realm. Shao-wu is currently in his hands, and he has specifically demanded an Ice Slave named Shang Bingjie, requiring the dissolution of the Profound Ice within that Ice Slave's soul ocean."

"Second Brother, the matter of the Ice Slaves is entirely your responsibility. This Ice Slave named Shang Bingjie—do you recall her?" the leader pondered for a moment, turning to a man beside him who resembled him but possessed a distinctly colder, fainter demeanor.

"I know that girl. Her innate talent is exceptional; her essence has already been condensed, and there is a strong hope she can break through to the Nie Qing Realm shortly," the cold man nodded. "She is currently my Yu'er's Ice Slave and shares a good relationship with her. However, she is not on Tiannan Star right now; she accompanied Yu'er to Fire Prison Star. I don't know when she will return."

"Fire Prison Star!" Shang Yuanzhi snorted. "It seems time is short; we will need to find an alternative approach."

"Shao-wu has been closely watching the Night Shade Clan lately. Could that brat be connected to them? Yuanzhi, when you observed him, could you discern his origins?" the cold man inquired.

"I couldn't discern anything," Shang Yuanzhi shook her head.

"Second Brother, send a message to Yu'er and instruct her to bring that Ice Slave back. You, meanwhile, prepare another Ice Slave, altering her appearance to resemble Shang Bingjie. In three days, we will use her to exchange for Shao-wu. Once Shao-wu is secured, we will immediately capture that brat, ascertain his history, and then kill him." The leader paused in thought before issuing the orders.

"Understood." The cold man nodded.

In a secluded valley.

Ji Changkong tossed Shang Shao-wu down carelessly. With a flicker of his mind, a five-colored light barrier imprisoned Shang Shao-wu. The wound on Shang Shao-wu’s chest seemed bound by some force, preventing any blood from flowing. Shang Shao-wu’s expression remained sinister; from start to finish, he offered no pleas for mercy, instead unleashing a torrent of threats.

Tired of the incessant threats, Ji Changkong suppressed Shang Shao-wu’s ability to speak altogether. Soon after, a gray aura flashed, and with a clatter, the gray halo fell to the ground inside the valley. As the light dissipated, the three dizzy Night Shade sisters were revealed.

"Why did you imprison us?" Ye Meixiang, her face veiled, glared fiercely, making threatening gestures like a small tiger baring its fangs—a sight both ferocious and endearing.

"If you had advanced a few more steps, you would have been captured. You truly have no fear of death," Ji Changkong shook his head, saying casually, "At a place not far from here, a woman just appeared. She called someone 'Auntie Zhi.' That woman possesses Ruyi Realm cultivation. If you had gone there, you would have been seized instantly."

"Shang Yuanzhi!" Ye Meizi exclaimed in shock, a look of lingering fear crossing her face, followed immediately by gratitude. "Thank you."

"Do you know anything about the Shang family?"

"A little."

"Could you tell me in detail about the Shang family experts?"

"Certainly." Ye Meizi readily agreed. Under Shang Shao-wu's murderous gaze, she approached Ji Changkong. "However, you must hand this Young Master Shang over to us for disposal."

"No, I need him for the exchange," Ji Changkong refused.

"I see," Ye Meizi considered for a moment, then proposed, "Then, before you use him for the exchange, let us have one day for revenge. How about that? Don't worry, we won't kill him."

"That is acceptable," Ji Changkong smiled broadly. He turned to the eager Ye Meixiang and Ye Yue, saying, "You two can proceed against him now. As long as you don't kill him, anything goes." He removed the light barrier binding Shang Shao-wu, though the captive remained unable to move.

"That's wonderful!" Ye Meixiang clapped her hands, instantly energized. She and Ye Yue moved to Shang Shao-wu's side. The two sisters stared at him for a moment before Ye Meixiang produced a beetle marked with red spots. As soon as the beetle appeared, it burrowed directly into Shang Shao-wu’s chest, entering his body through the bloody wound.

Shang Shao-wu, whose speech was already restrained, suddenly had his eyes bulge and his body convulse violently, his face contorted in terror as if enduring extreme agony.

"That Shang Yuanzhi is one of the Shang family experts, holding Ruyi Realm cultivation. Besides her, the Shang family has three other Ruyi Realm masters: Shang Shao-wu’s father, Shang Wuya; his second uncle, Shang Mu; and his third uncle, Shang Luohai. Furthermore, we heard that the Shang family once had a Tong Shen Realm expert, but he reportedly self-destructed after suffering a Qi deviation. According to intelligence from our Night Shade Clan, that Tong Shen Realm expert has likely been reincarnated and is cultivating again, though no one knows where he is now."

Ye Meizi paused, then added, "Behind the Shang family, there is another mysterious power, seemingly connected to that reincarnated Tong Shen Realm expert. Our Night Shade Clan cannot trace the origin of that power, but whenever the Shang family encounters an enemy they cannot handle, that mysterious force appears."

"That sounds quite esoteric," Ji Changkong nodded and chuckled. "Four Ruyi Realm experts—it seems I've provoked significant trouble."

"Indeed," Ye Meizi nodded seriously. Her bright eyes darted around. "But if you cooperate with our Night Shade Clan, perhaps you won't need to fear the Shang family. What do you say? Are you interested? I suspect you might possess Ruyi Realm cultivation; our Night Shade Clan needs experts like you the most."

"Oh?" Ji Changkong raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile appearing on his face. "If your mother were to entrust all three of you sisters to my care, I might consider it, hehe."

"Dream on," Ye Meizi seemed to recognize his jest and played along. "Isn't one enough?"

"Not enough, not enough," Ji Changkong burst into laughter. "I said before, it’s only exciting when all three of you are together; one loses its flavor."

"Lecher!"

"Scoundrel!"

Ye Meixiang and Ye Yue turned back, glaring at him in unison.

"Haha, just joking," Ji Changkong stood up, reached out, and patted a nearby white skeleton. He said to Ye Meizi, "I need to prepare. You watch Shang Shao-wu for me. I'll leave this skeleton here; even if a Ruyi Realm expert comes, as long as it’s here, they won't be able to harm you. You two keep a close eye on Shang Shao-wu, but don't beat him to death before I return."

"Go on, go on. I will slowly communicate with Young Master Shang," Ye Meizi nodded, her gaze turning icy as she looked at Shang Shao-wu.

He cast a pitying glance at Shang Shao-wu. He knew the young man would endure torture at the hands of the three sisters, but recalling the ruthlessness the Shang family showed to their Ice Slaves, he felt Shao-wu deserved it. Being cautious, after warning the three sisters one last time, Ji Changkong transformed into a streak of lightning and vanished instantly without a trace.

"Sister, does this person really have Ruyi Realm cultivation?" Ye Meixiang sounded skeptical. "He doesn't look that old!"

"He dares to challenge the Shang family and managed to leave Shang Yuanzhi's presence—he must have Ruyi Realm cultivation. Otherwise, even if he defended with all his might, Shang Yuanzhi could have snatched Shang Shao-wu from him," Ye Meizi explained.

"What about Shang Shao-wu?" Ye Yue urged. "Why don't we take this fellow away and subject him to our clan's grand torture to extract the locations of the Shang family's ice treasures?"

"Didn't you see that skeleton?" Ye Meizi sharply rebuked. "That guy isn't simple-minded. The skeleton he left was supposedly to protect us, but it's actually to prevent us from running away. He explicitly said before leaving that this skeleton isn't afraid even of Ruyi Realm experts. That’s clearly a warning not to make any rash moves."

"That bastard is full of schemes! He just said he wanted all three of us! Hmph! I really want to tear his mouth apart!" Ye Meixiang huffed in annoyance.

"He never harbored ill intent toward us; I can tell. He holds someone else dear in his heart," Ye Meizi smiled faintly. "Those who appear the most flirtatious sometimes have the firmest hearts. Come, while he is gone, let's focus more effort on Young Master Shang and see if we can extract anything."

The three sisters clustered around Shang Shao-wu, beginning to subject him to the unique methods of the Night Shade Clan, putting him through sheer torment.

Ji Changkong arrived at the place where he had separated from Shang Yuanzhi, observed for a while, and nodded subtly, preparing to set up an array.

Of course, he didn't believe the Shang family would honestly hand over Shang Bingjie. Therefore, he began preparations in advance, planning to work on the exchange location thoroughly before the Shang family arrived, lest he be caught unprepared and fall into their trap.