Within each rhombic shard of ice, it seemed a frigid world was held captive. Hundreds of these shards descended upon Ji Changkong, yanking him into a land of profound, biting cold where endless ice and snow stretched out, seeming to suffocate thought and even breath itself.

The "Blazing Thunder Cold Flame" stirred within him, its fire and lightning energies spiraling into chaos, manifesting as dragon-like bolts that swam through the void and thunderclaps like millstones echoing across the sky, while blooms of fire, the size of grinding stones, scattered and saturated the very fabric of heaven and earth.

As the fire and lightning forces erupted, this intensely cold domain began to shatter. Yet, this realm of ice was merely a mosaic of fragmented spatial shards; after every explosion, under the influence of some mysterious power, it would swiftly restore itself to its previous state.

No matter how fiercely the fire and lightning raged, how violently they distorted and collapsed this novel world, Ji Changkong could not break free to return to the real one. This was Shang Shaowu’s domain! Here, Shang Shaowu was the undisputed deity, capable of controlling everything at will—heaven, earth, time, space—all subject to the slightest fluctuation of his intent. Ji Changkong quickly grasped this reality.

He ceased his futile struggle, instead opening his mind to sink his spiritual sense into the Celestial Origin Pearl, establishing a connection with the strange world within. As his consciousness entered the Pearl, the ancient world inside immediately shifted. Following the impulse of his thought, the Celestial Origin Pearl suddenly shone with a brilliant rainbow light. In his Sea of Souls, the seven-colored Soul Imprint flickered, seemingly resonating with the world inside the Pearl.

Suddenly, a force capable of annihilating all creation surged forth from the Celestial Origin Pearl. Vortices materialized out of thin air in this icy world, spinning frantically in the void like nascent black holes, swallowing everything in this frozen domain. Mountains, rivers, icy chill, and hard ice vanished into the swirling abyss.

The world, constructed from splintered spatial fragments, did not collapse again; instead, it was rapidly devoured by the heavenly vortices. In moments, this unstable, eerie world vanished without a trace. Ji Changkong was returned to the true world.

Not far from him, Shang Shaowu’s face was utterly grim. He held in both hands a piece of ice jade exuding a chilling, spectral coldness. The jade was covered in ancient, intricate patterns that delineated distinct regions, each seemingly representing a different world. This jade was what Shang Shaowu referred to as his Natal Cold Ice. “Celestial Origin Pearl!” Shang Shaowu grated through clenched teeth. “You actually possess the Celestial Origin Pearl. What is your relationship with Yang Haili?” Yang Haili?

This was the first time Ji Changkong had ever heard that name. Judging by Shang Shaowu’s expression, he was certain that Yang Haili must have been the previous owner of the Celestial Origin Pearl, and the strange, singular thread of primary soul thought attempting to possess his body must have belonged to Yang Haili. “You are that expert from the Shang family who reached the Divine Manifestation Realm yet chose reincarnation, correct?” Now that matters had reached this point, Ji Changkong had also deduced the other's origin.

As expected, Shang Shaowu nodded. “Indeed!”

“No wonder you dared to speak so boastfully before.” Ji Changkong recalled the words Shang Shaowu had uttered back in the valley. At the time, he hadn't understood, but now everything was clear.

“Are you Yang Haili’s disciple?” Shang Shaowu’s expression grew complicated, and he did not move to attack. “If you are Yang Haili’s disciple, out of respect for him, I can hand over that Ice Slave to you and overlook your previous transgressions.”

“I have no connection with him.” Ji Changkong shook his head. With a flicker of thought, deafening roars erupted from distant peaks, and numerous small mountains soared through the air, circling around him.

“Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array!” Shang Shaowu’s face changed, followed by a cold snort. “You still claim no connection to Yang Haili? If you weren’t his disciple, how could you deploy the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array?” Shang Shaowu looked up at the approaching peaks, his expression shifting between dark and uncertain, clearly showing significant apprehension.

“I have no intention of making an enemy of your Shang family; I only require Shang Bingjie.” Ji Changkong frowned. He didn’t know the exact relationship between Shang Shaowu and Yang Haili, but he certainly didn't wish to forge ties with the Shang family under Yang Haili’s name.

“Hmph! While the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array is formidable, the array you possess clearly fails to unleash the profound mysteries of the true technique. When forging your array, you lacked dozens of scarce materials, and with only your Skillful Intent Realm cultivation, you can, at most, manifest sixty percent of its true power!” Shang Shaowu seemed intimately familiar with the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array.

He was absolutely correct. When the array was forged on the Five Elements Continent, many materials were indeed hard to acquire, and at that time, his cultivation was too low. Though the array was completed, it was far from capable of exhibiting its real might.

“I do not know Yang Haili, but I suspect he is already dead,” Ji Changkong said after a moment of hesitation. “It’s possible he also reincarnated, like you. When I obtained the Celestial Origin Pearl, only a sliver of his soul remained within, which I refined to death. I acquired the condensation method for the Ancient Nine Transformations Absolute Array from his memories. Strictly speaking, we were enemies.”

“Refined to death?” Shang Shaowu let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “Yang Haili was at the peak of the Divine Manifestation Realm, once known as the foremost expert of that entire realm. Even with just a remnant of his divine soul, there is no way you could have refined him to death. Are you certain it was merely a wisp of his divine soul you destroyed?”

“I understand what a divine soul in the Divine Manifestation Realm signifies.” Ji Changkong’s expression remained unchanged, and he casually added, “However, I happen to have mastered the Soul-Devouring Dirge of the Purgatory Ghost Clan. I heard that the profound mystery of the Dirge can refine divine souls, perhaps even eradicate Soul Imprints. Is that true?”

At these words, Shang Shaowu’s expression turned grave. He exclaimed in shock, “Impossible! How could you possibly master the Soul-Devouring Dirge of the Purgatory Ghost Clan? That technique can only be wielded by members of the Purgatory Ghost Clan; outsiders cannot utilize it!” “How about we make a trade?” Ji Changkong suddenly smiled. “You tell me everything about Yang Haili and the Celestial Origin Pearl, and I will tell you why I can perform the Soul-Devouring Dirge. How about that?” “Whoosh, whoosh!”

Sounds of rushing air suddenly came from a distance. Before long, a group of five Shang family experts appeared, carrying the three Ye Meizi sisters. Each of these five experts possessed cultivation at the Nirvana Realm, and further away, over a dozen Ice Slaves watched from afar with icy gazes.

The long eyelashes of the three Ye Meizi sisters were already coated in frost; the vital essence within their bodies was surely frozen solid.

One leading Shang family expert approached, bowed to Shang Wuya and the others… and reported, “We discovered these three sisters before they could fly clear of the Southern Heaven Star and took the liberty of capturing them. Hmm.” Shang Wuya emitted a grunt through his nostrils, waved a hand, and ordered, “Put them down, and you may retreat.” “Yes.” The man respectfully dropped the three Ye Meizi sisters into the center of Shang Wuya’s group and then departed without looking back.

Shang Wuya, Shang Jiaozhi, Shang Mu, and Shang Luohai stood guard over the Ye Meizi sisters. Shang Shaowu took his position opposite Ji Changkong. Though the power within the sisters was restrained, their large eyes were wide open, staring expectantly at Ji Changkong nearby.

Shang Jiaozhi, with a cold expression, stepped forward and tore the veils from the sisters’ faces, revealing three exquisite cheeks capable of overturning cities. The sisters shared a resemblance of about seventy to eighty percent, yet their temperaments differed slightly: Ye Meizi appeared spirited and forthright; Ye Meiyue, ethereal and refined; and Ye Meixiang, charmingly naive.

With the sisters' true visages revealed, even the eyes of the two experts at the Skillful Intent Realm, Shang Wuya and Shang Luohai, brightened momentarily.

“Good, it is them,” Shang Jiaozhi confirmed after studying the sisters closely, saying plainly, “We can use these three sisters to threaten the Ye Ghost Clan and force them to reveal the whereabouts of the Ice Emperor’s cache.”

Seeing the three sisters brought down, Shang Shaowu seemed to recall the pressure they had exerted during his interrogation, and a savage gleam shot into his eyes; anyone could see he harbored a murderous intent. A flicker of despair simultaneously crossed the pupils of the three Ye Meizi sisters.

Shang Shaowu took a deep breath, suddenly turning to look at Ji Changkong, a grin spreading across his face. “You fancy these three girls, don’t you? If you agree to do one thing for me, I can hand all three girls over to you. Of course, I will also hand over that girl named Shang Bingjie. Furthermore, I will truthfully reveal everything regarding Yang Haili and the Celestial Origin Pearl. How about it?” “What do you want me to do?” Ji Changkong asked with a smile. “If it is reasonable, I might consider it. I, as a person, truly dislike endless fighting.” “It’s quite simple. You give me that ‘Source Fire’—the one forged by fusing the Blazing Thunder Sacred Fire and the Netherworld Cold Flame. Once I have that ‘Source Fire,’ all our past grievances will be wiped clean. How’s that?” “Not interested.”

“Then let’s try another way.” Shang Shaowu did not become angry. “Give me the Celestial Origin Pearl. How about that?” “Also not interested.”

Shang Shaowu nodded slowly. “Then there is nothing more to be done. It seems I must risk damaging myself to eliminate you.” “If you truly possessed the cultivation of the Incarnation Realm, I might agree,” Ji Changkong chuckled. “Unfortunately, you have been reincarnated. I don't believe you can kill me.”

“Oh? Then you should try me.” Shang Shaowu’s face gradually darkened. He snorted, “You refuse the toast only to ask for the penalty drink. Since Yang Haili is dead, I have nothing left to worry about. Do you really think I fear you?”

“Who is that?” Suddenly, shouts of alarm came from the distant Shang family members.

A surge of air currents swept by, and a group of seven figures suddenly materialized in the distance. The one leading them was none other than Elder Feiyun of the Feather Clan, whose wingspan stretched five meters. With a flap of his wings, he arrived before Yun’er in the blink of an eye, accompanied by experts from the Wood Clan.

As soon as Feiyun arrived, he fixed his gaze on Ji Changkong and sneered, “He is indeed here. That little girl didn't lie to us.” “Heh heh, after searching for so long, we finally found the main target. Excellent!” the giant from the Wood Clan roared with laughter.