Tenth Pavilion True Person’s complexion grew increasingly ashen, and the blood still poured ceaselessly from his body; his life force was draining away at an alarming rate.

“Faster, faster,” Tenth Pavilion True Person gasped, his eyes fixed ahead. “Take me north, to the Land of Extreme Cold. With my current strength, this wound cannot heal on its own. I must go to the coldest place to freeze it, and wait until I encounter someone stronger who might know how to stop it.”

“The Land of Extreme Cold?” Ye Chen started, then recalled a place. “The Ice and Snow Empire in the north—that must be the coldest. I heard… there is a world hidden deep within the ancient realm called the Snow Domain.”

“The Snow Domain?” Bai Yijun couldn’t help but glance at him, her eyes flickering slightly. “I’ve never heard that place named before. Some commoners refer to snow-capped mountains as the Snow Domain; I wonder which one you mean?”

Ye Chen looked back at her, his gaze narrowing slightly, and he subtly shook his head in a gesture of caution.

By this time, Tenth Pavilion True Person had already nodded. He opened his eyes, flashing a sharp, brilliant light. “Yes, the Snow Domain! However, with the strength you two possess, I fear you won’t even reach the outer rim before being torn to shreds by the monsters guarding the perimeter.”

“What!” Bai Yijun’s delicate features changed color. She looked at Tenth Pavilion True Person’s sincere face, finding it hard to believe. “What kind of place is this Snow Domain? If the outer monsters can tear us apart, how terrifying must it be deep inside? And why have I never heard of such a perilous place?”

She turned to look at Ye Chen, saying nothing more, though a hidden gleam crossed her eyes.

Tenth Pavilion True Person noticed nothing. He forcibly suppressed his injuries, his face pale as he said, “The Snow Domain is a ** world left over from that era. It’s not strange you haven’t heard of it; few people know of this location. Hurry and take me there; you must arrive within three days.”

Bai Yijun’s expression shifted uncertainly. “But you just said that even the monsters on the outermost edge can tear us apart. In that case, aren't we walking into a death trap…?”

“Of course, I won’t let you die needlessly.” Tenth Pavilion True Person seemed to have expected her question. He turned to look at Ye Chen beside him, as if contemplating or closely examining him. After a moment, he spoke. “Within your body, there is a unique power belonging to a dark creature. I sensed it; it seems to be essence blood from a dark being that has integrated into you. Furthermore, judging by the aura of this essence blood, its previous owner must have been quite powerful. For you to possess the essence blood of a dark creature in the ancient world and still survive to this day speaks to your immense fortune. I will enter a deep slumber for a time. You must deliver me to the depths of the Snow Domain; freezing my body solid will suffice. Before that, I will entrust my mark to you.”

Ye Chen was stunned.

He hadn't expected Tenth Pavilion True Person to discern the divine blood within him with just a few glances. It was indeed the essence blood of a dark creature. Given that his current physique was at the peak of the Divine Spirit realm, he had only refined 9.9% of the divine blood. It was clear the original owner of this blood must have been a figure of supreme power.

This was his most guarded secret, yet it was now completely exposed to Tenth Pavilion True Person.

“You are going to pass the ** onto me?” Ye Chen’s eyes flashed, and the blood within him surged. He knew perfectly well how powerful this thing was. The fact that the Six Paths Ghost Slaves, who could so easily injure Pangu before, were effortlessly slain by this entity was proof enough that this thing was absolutely terrifying.

“Indeed, but I will reclaim it when I awaken,” Tenth Pavilion True Person replied, his sharp eyes seeming to pierce through everything. “Don’t harbor greedy thoughts and try to kill me after receiving it. I have a failsafe prepared. If I die, the ** in your body will automatically vanish, and as it disappears, it will tear your body apart. Therefore, you have no choice; our relationship is like that of a mother body and a child body.”

Ye Chen’s brow furrowed slowly. He lowered his head in deep contemplation for a long time before taking a deep breath and stating gravely, “I will definitely protect you until you are safe.”

“Mmm,” Tenth Pavilion True Person nodded lightly, then said, “Sit in front of me now, relax your body, and I will begin the **.”

Ye Chen glanced at Bai Yijun, catching the look of worry and concern in her eyes. A warmth spread through his heart. He gave her a reassuring look, then sat cross-legged before Tenth Pavilion True Person, his legs folded.

Breathe deeply. Relax the body.

Ye Chen’s consciousness was like a still lake. At his level of cultivation, his state of mind was completely controllable—he could rage if he wished, or achieve perfect calm instantly.

Tenth Pavilion True Person nodded in satisfaction. He raised his long, slender fingers, the tips glowing like crystalline jadeite. A strand of ethereal silk drifted from his fingertip and gently brushed across the fabric on Ye Chen’s back.

Ye Chen felt as if his back were being cradled by a gentle breeze, and then he felt a mysterious yet sharp energy permeate his body through his back. It was like an invisible palm passing through his skin, touching his internal organs and spine, and then lightly grasping his soul.

A look of agony crossed Ye Chen’s face, and fine beads of sweat streamed down his forehead. He gritted his teeth, enduring the hand touching his soul, etching something stroke by painstaking stroke, as if carving a sculpture.

The entire vessel was silent.

Time slipped away slowly.

In the blink of an eye, ten minutes passed.

Bai Yijun seemed to be holding her breath, her eyes locked onto the two men, fixed tightly on Ye Chen’s face. The moment she sensed anything amiss, she would strike Tenth Pavilion True Person without hesitation!

Ye Chen was her life. If she lost him, she would genuinely stop caring about everything—ancestors or otherwise, she would fight desperately.

Yet, under her tense watch, Ye Chen’s complexion shifted from its initial ruddy color to pale, then quickly back to red. Gradually, a strange aura began to emanate from him—as light and gentle as the wind, yet as sharp and indifferent as a dagger.

“Infuse!”

Tenth Pavilion True Person’s hand suddenly slapped forward, his long, pale palm pressing firmly against Ye Chen’s back, forcing his entire body to arch his head upward. Bai Yijun clearly saw a complex and mysterious cyan mark appear on Ye Chen’s forehead, seemingly formed by intricate cyan lines, like an ancient war god. An invisible wave of energy pulsed outward from their bodies, fluttering the edges of their clothing.

Dark energy surged across Ye Chen’s face before slowly receding after a long moment. He lowered his head, breathing heavily, sweat dripping like raindrops from his nose.

Tenth Pavilion True Person behind him shuddered violently and spat out a mouthful of blood, his face growing even paler. He reached up to clutch his chest, his face flushed, and only after a considerable time did the disturbance subside. He urgently adjusted his internal circulation, and only after a while did he gradually recover.

Ye Chen stood up, turned, and bowed to Tenth Pavilion True Person. “Thank you, Senior, for the inheritance.”

“It is nothing,” Tenth Pavilion True Person gasped, his face even paler. “First, tell Pangu and the others to retreat temporarily and find a secluded place to settle. You will accompany me to the Snow Domain!”

“Understood.” Ye Chen nodded, then turned to instruct Xiao Zai Shi, “Send an electric message to the Bagua vessel and inform them of the situation.”

“Yes, Master.” Xiao Zai Shi quickly nodded. She vaguely sensed that Ye Chen was different than before; the pure black coldness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a sharpness like the wind and a depth like the starry sky, making it impossible to read his intentions from his gaze.

“Ancestor,” Ye Chen addressed Tenth Pavilion True Person. “Please enter the cryo-chamber inside the vessel first. Although it won't suppress the injury, it might slow the progression slightly.”

“Mmm,” Tenth Pavilion True Person stood up and followed him to the cryo-chamber, casually sitting down in a spot.

Ye Chen excused himself and returned to the living room, where he saw Bai Yijun waiting for him. He walked over and said softly, “I know you must have many questions swirling in your heart; I will tell you.” He made a subtle motion with his hand, rubbing his index finger and thumb together, and a Wind Cage barrier instantly condensed around them, isolating their voices.

Ye Chen led Bai Yijun to sit on the sofa. Looking at her bewildered and concerned eyes, a smile touched the corner of his lips. “You must be wondering why, despite being born into one of the Nine Great Families, you never heard of the Snow Domain, yet I know of it.”

“Mmm,” Bai Yijun nodded lightly.

Ye Chen looked into her eyes and spoke word by word, “Because… I have awakened.”

“Awakened?!” Bai Yijun was startled and scrutinized Ye Chen from head to toe. “But your aura hasn’t become much stronger.”

Ye Chen smiled faintly. “Because it is a memory awakening—only a portion of the memories have surfaced, not the complete set. As for the awakening of power, that hasn't happened yet. However, this confirms that I am not a ‘Blank’ individual without reincarnation. From these memories, I know of the Nine Worlds and the Ghost King. This suggests that in a past life, I was someone very powerful, likely on the same level as Tenth Pavilion True Person.”

The so-called Blank people referred to those who had no reincarnation cycle.

Bai Yijun suddenly understood, glancing down at her own body, then her brow furrowed slightly. “No wonder my strength suddenly entered a very high tier after I received your heart as my body. I suspected then that it was likely due to your heart. In that case, my becoming this strong is probably because of your heart, or rather, your heart had already awakened the moment it became my body.”

“Yes, you could put it that way,” Ye Chen nodded gently.

Bai Yijun immediately looked at him. “Then, from those memories, did you discover who you were in your previous life…?”