Thick, white mist shrouded the forest canopy, and heavy snow blanketed the trees and the earth. Several sharp beams of white light pierced through gaps in the clouds and fog, reflecting off the snow—the howling blizzard had ceased only moments before.

Two figures emerged slowly from the depths of the forest. The one in front wore a silver-white robe, its lapel trimmed with pale gray edging embroidered with the pattern of a strange beast, complementing his tall figure and elegant, aristocratic bearing. Trailing behind him was a youth clad in black, hands casually clasped behind his head, chewing on a straw, his eyes wandering aimlessly.

"Hey, tell me, why the hell did we come to this godforsaken place?" Ji Zangchuan finally couldn't help but ask after walking for a while.

Lian Guang didn't turn his head, saying lightly, "To retrieve the Water God's Tear of the Ice and Snow Empire."

"Why not retrieve the Dragon Rock Armor from the Divine Rock Empire, where the Earth Temple is, first? Rushing over here in such a hurry, is the Water God's Tear going to sprout legs and run away?" Ji Zangchuan pursed his lips faintly.

Lian Guang paused mid-stride, causing Ji Zangchuan, who was following closely, to stop as well. Lian Guang lifted his head to gaze at the sky. Above the vast, misty forest, the view was indistinct. After watching for a moment, Lian Guang slowly lowered his gaze and murmured, "Because the Water God's Tear is the key to entering the 'Snow Domain'." Ji Zangchuan’s pupils contracted slightly, his voice trembling, "You mean, you're planning to go to the 'Snow Domain'? Do you even know what that place is? That was a dimension created by the Water God back then. The level of peril inside—only those three monstrous beings from the top three Seals would even have a hope of venturing in. If we go, it’s pure suicide!"

Lian Guang took another step, his calm voice drifting back, "That's why I said we needed to get the 'Water God's Tear' first. With this key, navigating the Snow Domain will be much easier. Then, you can choose to go seize the Dragon Rock Armor in the Divine Rock Empire; I can manage alone." Ji Zangchuan shook his head like a rattle drum, "Stop joking. Lord Earth Core Supreme commanded me that once I found you, I must not leave your side for an instant, or else... I dare not risk the consequences."

A slight curve appeared on Lian Guang's lips. "You should know that with your meager strength, going into the 'Snow Domain' would only lead to your own death. Even though you possess the Heaven-Slaying Dagger, it will likely be useless in a place like that." Ji Zangchuan managed a bitter smile, shaking his head with a soft sigh, "I know that, but what choice do I have? Please, just be kind and don't go to that wretched place. Otherwise, my life will be buried right alongside you. You're perfectly fine, eating arsenic on a birthday—do you have a death wish?"

Lian Guang spoke calmly, "You know the corpse of the Goddess of Light is buried there. Obtaining her body, and if I can manage to consume it... you know what that means."

"Of course, I know that, but one needs a life intact to do any consuming. But if the Goddess of Light buried her body there, she must have had her reasons. There might be guardians. You must remember, the strength of the Goddess of Light's guardians is terrifying. Can we possibly succeed?"

"How will we know if we don't try?" Lian Guang’s lips curled into a sinister arc, a strange light flashing in his eyes. Ji Zangchuan didn't notice; his face had twisted into a grimace, sour as a bitter melon.

The periphery of the Temple of Light.

Ye Zhu, clad in light, gauzy white robes, stood at the edge of a cliff. A biting wind roared up from the deep valley beneath the peaks, whipping her robes into a frenzy. She gazed into the distance, musing, "I saw the news last time; my brother now possesses strength comparable to the Hall Master of Light. He should be safe enough on the Ancient Continent, as long as he doesn't run into those monsters that broke in from other worlds... But, if my brother has awakened, perhaps they should be the ones who are afraid?" A slight, upturned curve touched her lips.

Suddenly, a series of "swish-swish-swish" sounds sliced through the void behind her, and thirteen figures materialized, standing as rigidly as iron spikes. Leading them was the Hall Master of Light, followed by twelve individuals in white robes, their chests embroidered with the golden motif of a sun on their collars.

This emblem, within the Temple of Light, represented the First Council of Elders!

Mention the First Council of Elders, and in the hundreds of civilizations governed by the Temple of Light, countless people felt a wave of awe, as if looking upon a deity three feet above their heads. This was because everyone admitted to that council was peerless in their generation, a powerhouse whose strength dominated the world!

Through countless ages, the number of members in the First Council of Elders had never exceeded thirty. In its most powerful historical period, there were only five people!

The other elder councils, such as the Second Council of Elders, specifically recruited powerhouses who had made great contributions to the Temple of Light and achieved the strength of the Half-Step Epoch Realm. This council numbered nearly two hundred members, and the Lords of several civilizations under the temple's purview were all members of this body.

The First Council of Elders, however, remained an entity akin to a god.

No one could command the members within it, not even the Hall Master of Light. Only by convening all members of the Elder Councils, including the First Council, for deliberation could the most appropriate plan be decided upon.

At this moment, the twelve members of the First Council of Elders—some young, some old, male and female—gazed upon Ye Zhu near the cliff edge with infinite reverence.

Her exquisitely fine features, her nearly perfect appearance—they had witnessed it countless times; even if they were blinded, they would recognize the Goddess of Light. Although the Hall Master of Light had cautioned them on the way that Ye Zhu was only an Envoy of Light and they must not forget that, upon seeing her countenance, they were still struck with shock and a primal, instinctive respect.

"Envoy Your Grace," the Hall Master of Light said respectfully, "For your journey to the 'Snow Domain' to seek the corpse of the Goddess of Light, I have specially dispatched the twelve strongest members ranked from first to twelfth within the First Council of Elders, including myself, to accompany you to the 'Snow Domain'."

Ye Zhu turned around, seeing the twelve figures in white robes. She said quietly, "So many are unnecessary. Many powerful figures have recently entered the Ancient World. You should remain here and guard the foundations of the Temple of Light. Of the others, only the top three need accompany me."

The Goddess of Light couldn't help but interject, "The 'Snow Domain' is far too dangerous. How can you go with only three people? If we encounter ferocious Snow Beasts, we won't be able to hold them off at all."

Ye Zhu looked at her, "Do you think that if you went, you could hold them off?"

The Goddess of Light bit her lower lip, realizing Ye Zhu spoke the truth. If even the current Ye Zhu couldn't resist, they would be instantly annihilated. She lowered her head and said heavily, "I know that if we go, we won't be of much help. However, if we encounter Snow Beasts, or some unknown dangerous areas... we can clear the path for you, or perhaps help distract the Snow Beasts."

Ye Zhu's pupils contracted slightly.

The twelve figures in white robes all lowered their heads and stated earnestly, "Envoy Your Grace, we are willing to follow you into the Twin Domain to search for the corpse of the Goddess of Light. We voluntarily sacrifice ourselves to become the stones paving your path. As long as it increases your chance of finding the Goddess of Light's body, we will stop at nothing!"

Their resolute and fervent voices seemed hot enough to ignite the biting cold wind.

Ye Zhu's body trembled slightly. She lowered her head, her delicate teeth gently biting her lower lip. After a long pause, her fingers finally relaxed. She turned toward the clouds and mist beyond the cliff face, her voice ringing out, cold and undeniable, "I said, three people will suffice!"

The Dragon Armor Mountain Range, in the forest.

Boom-boom-boom...

Explosion sounds, like those of bomber planes, roared away in a straight line, resembling an invisible giant charging forward at high speed. High mounds of yellow dust erupted from the ground, and through the rising dust cloud, two figures could vaguely be seen clashing together at light speed, their movements so fast they were blurred, impossible to discern clearly.

A massive impact shook the ground deeply, causing it to sink inward. Then, the swirling, flying dust slowly drew back the curtain, revealing the figures of the Ten Pavilions True Man and the Six Ghost Slaves. The black robes of the Six Ghost Slaves had vanished, shattered into powder by the intensity of the battle, leaving their bodies covered entirely in a rolling, humanoid black mist.

The Ten Pavilions True Man, however, remained utterly composed, his dagger-sharp black eyebrows slightly furrowed, carrying a hint of defiance and disdain. He tilted his chin slightly, his fists colliding fiercely with the Six Ghost Slaves, as if frozen in time. After a moment, the two violently separated from each other.

"Some skill," the Ten Pavilions True Man licked his lips, his eyes fiercely fixed on the Six Ghost Slaves. "It seems I must use this, or this will truly be troublesome." As he spoke, his pupils suddenly turned cyan, shimmering with a lively glow.

The black miasma churning around the Six Ghost Slaves grew agitated and uneasy. He stated coldly, "Rumors said the Realm of Truth was extraordinary; having seen it today, it is nothing more." The six white halos above his head suddenly brightened, like six spinning wheels of light, and actually detached from his body, hovering in mid-air.

These six spinning wheels of light gradually enlarged, each reaching a diameter the height of a person.

"Six Paths of Reincarnation!" a hoarse, deep voice spoke, carrying a sharp, chilling edge. Black light flashed out from the void directly surrounding the six white wheels, as if shot out of thin air, forming a black vortex.

An intense sucking power radiated from this black vortex. Nearby shattered tree debris and soil from the ground were torn away, shooting into the black vortex, penetrating it, and then vanishing, as if swallowed by a monstrous maw.

The land covering an area of nearly one hundred thousand kilometers began to tremble violently, as if overwhelmed by immense dread. (To be continued)