Chen Feng’s face shifted, and he exclaimed in shock, staring blankly at the streak of cyan light that Xia Xinyan had transformed into, slowly vanishing into the heavens beyond.

Dongfang He and Gu Jiange’s faces instantly darkened. Huo Yanqing frowned deeply, letting out a soft sigh, appearing somewhat troubled.

“Jiange, didn’t you say this girl’s origins were unknown?” Dongfang He stared coldly at Gu Jiange. “Now look, she turns out to be a girl from the Xia family. If she had died here, fine, but now that she’s left alive, the Xia family will certainly come seeking retribution.”

Chen Feng took a deep breath, his face etched with apprehension. “The Xia family is one thing, but that Yang family…”

The mention of the Yang family immediately turned the faces of those from the Four Great Powers ashen, their expressions growing grim.

“You all know the arrogance and cruelty of the Yang family. In the Boundless Sea, if they aren’t provoked, these madmen stir up trouble everywhere. If someone accidentally offends one of their people and gives them an excuse, they might wipe out the entire clan, leaving not a soul behind. If the Yang family truly gets involved in this, our four families might suffer massive losses.”

Chen Feng sighed.

Earlier, when dealing with Shi Yan and the other, Chen Feng had been so arrogant, acting as if he held the world in contempt. Now, upon mentioning the Yang family, he was sighing endlessly, as if he had provoked demons and monsters, instantly reduced to a subservient state.

“Although the Yang family and the Xia family are allies, the Yang family holds the dominant position and generally won't interfere in Xia family affairs,” Huo Yanqing said after a moment of silence. “Why did she mention the Yang family would also make a move? Logically speaking, unless something major happens to the Xia family, the Yang family shouldn’t concern themselves.”

“That kid…” Dongfang He sucked in a cold breath and suddenly said, “That kid might be from the Yang family, shouldn’t he?”

“Ah!”

This statement caused everyone to gasp, their faces turning pale.

“If he truly is a Yang family member, why would he be unaccompanied by experts? Every talented youth of the Yang family is notoriously overbearing and knows nothing of restraint. If that kid were a Yang family member, after we treated him like that, he would never remain docile. He would definitely use Soul Transmission to send out a message and then confront us.” Chen Feng shook his head.

The experts among the younger generation of the Yang family were all masters of Soul Transmission. Even when alone outside, few other factions would dare to try and kill a Yang family young master. Because, if a Yang family youth sensed danger, they would instantly use their soul technique to broadcast their predicament. Should anything happen to them, the Yang family would know precisely who was responsible. The Yang family was notorious throughout the Boundless Sea for their vengeful nature; if one of their sons was killed, that faction would certainly be annihilated, their entire sect erased from the Boundless Sea.

Therefore, even when Yang family youths venture out alone, unless they can be instantly killed before they can transmit their soul message, even rival factions dare not make a rash move, fearing the endless retaliation from the Yang family.

“I hope he isn’t from the Yang family, otherwise, our four families will truly have to prepare for a bloody war,” Huo Yanqing sighed faintly.

“He was dragged into the cave by the Profound Ice Cold Flame, so he’ll likely be possessed by it. Once the Profound Ice Cold Flame finds a host, it will surely seek a place to complete the possession. During the possession process, the cold energy of the Profound Ice Cold Flame will weaken significantly—this is the optimal time to strike,” Dongfang He frowned. After contemplating for a moment, he added, “We can try.” The others nodded slowly. Before long, a group arrived at the cave entrance. Looking at the ice-sealed cavern, the people from the Four Great Powers pooled their strength, attempting to break through. Various attacks rained down upon the entrance, yet the cave remained as solid as iron. No matter how hard the Four Great Powers exerted themselves, they could not shatter the entrance.

Three days later, the chilling energy on Menluo Island gradually receded. The ice covering the island began to melt away.

Half a month later, the glaciers on Menluo Island were entirely gone. The icy aura that had enveloped the island vanished without a trace. Conversely, the several volcanoes that had been suppressed began to stir restlessly, spewing out magma.

“The Profound Ice Cold Flame is no longer on Menluo Island.” Chen Feng hovered in the sky, sensing intently, then shook his head and sighed. “It has found a carrier and will definitely leave via the seabed to find a location to complete its possession. Now that it has left, the icy aura on Menluo Island has dissipated too. Even if reinforcements arrive now, it will probably be difficult to find the Profound Ice Cold Flame.”

“The life form of a Heavenly Fire is different from ours. As long as it conceals its presence, even a God Realm expert nearby would struggle to detect it with divine sense. It seems this trip was utterly wasted, and we even managed to provoke the Xia and Yang families. Our luck is truly terrible,” Dongfang He chuckled wryly, cupping his hands. “We should leave now. If you are inclined, you may continue the search.”

“We are leaving too.” Upon realizing the icy aura had vanished from Menluo Island, the Four Great Powers understood the Profound Ice Cold Flame must have departed long ago. Knowing they were unlikely to find it, they wasted no more time and departed Menluo Island one after another.

Half a year later.

Boundless Sea, Galuo Sea Domain, Undead Island.

The Galuo Sea Domain was one of the five major sea domains in the Boundless Sea, comprising thousands of islands large and small. The largest and most famous among them was Undead Island.

The main island of the Yang family.

The sea and Undead Island were themselves peculiar marvels.

The island was dotted with hundreds of peaks, large and small, each radiating abundant spiritual energy and harboring various heavenly materials and earthly treasures. There were no mortals on Undead Island; it was populated entirely by Yang family martial artists. Each peak housed Yang family members, and the island was protected by hundreds of restrictive formations, with guards patrolling day and night along the perimeter.

Unless one was a Yang family member or a closely allied friend, it was extremely difficult for outsiders to set foot on Undead Island. Undead Island was effectively a sacred ground in the Galuo Sea Domain. Martial force leaders from dozens of factions within the domain had to come to Undead Island periodically to offer resources and report on the conditions of their territories. If the Galuo Sea Domain were a country, and the dozens of martial factions were feudal lords, then Undead Island was the Imperial City of the Galuo Sea Domain. The Yang family was the sovereign ruler.

Even the Heavenly Evil Grotto and the Xia family, despite holding sway in the Galuo Sea Domain, were considered subordinate in the eyes of all. The Yang family was the true overlord, a view acknowledged even by members of the Heavenly Evil Grotto and the Xia family. Because of the Yang family’s existence, martial artists of the Galuo Sea Domain walked with their backs straight when traveling through other sea domains. When proclaiming their origin as belonging to the Galuo Sea Domain, as martial practitioners affiliated with the Yang family branches, they did so with immense pride.

In other sea domains, the Yang family was famous for being belligerent and overbearing. For centuries, they had fought ceaseless wars to expand the territory of the Galuo Sea Domain, causing misery to neighboring domains, seemingly never pausing. In countless battles, the Yang family members acted as the vanguard, always leading the charge and fighting fiercely in all directions.

Whether it was the Yuanluo Sea Domain to the northwest or the Black Water Sea Domain to the northeast, they were targets of Yang family conquest. Even the Azure Dome Sea Domain to the southeast was often provoked by the Yang family. Over hundreds of years, the Yang family had made enemies everywhere, yet they remained unvanquished; instead, their territory grew wider, and their family power strengthened. The profound might of the Yang family was evident.

One day, at a secluded corner of Undead Island, a small boat slowly approached. On board was a woman with a graceful, slender figure, her face veiled. Her bright eyes held a faint trace of sorrow as she slowly stood up.

“Whoosh!”

The sky at the secluded corner suddenly flashed, and a figure in black armor abruptly materialized atop a massive rock. This person wore heavy armor, carried a black spear, and possessed a sharp gaze. “Who goes there?”

“Xia Xinyan of the Xia family.” The woman briefly suppressed the sorrow in her heart and replied with detached indifference. “I have news regarding the Asura King, Xiao Hanyi, that I need to convey.”

“Wait a moment.” The black-armored guard frowned, pulling out a black horn and whispering a report into it. After a short while, the guard’s expression shifted slightly. “Lord Mo wishes to see you.”

Xia Xinyan nodded. “Lord Mo has fought alongside Lord Xiao for many years. It is convenient for me to explain the situation to Lord Mo as well.”

“Please.” The black-armored guard raised his hand, and a streak of electric light flashed through the void, splitting the thick rock wall at the corner to reveal a narrow passage.

Xia Xinyan lowered her head, sailed through the passage, and stepped onto Undead Island.

On the summit of a mountain thousands of feet high, a middle-aged scholar with a withered face frowned while gazing at the sky, nervously stroking a piece of stark white beast bone, deep in thought. The only structure on the peak was a crude thatched hut. Before the hut stood an oval-shaped, peculiar formation, from which rings of silvery strange light flickered.

Soon, a brilliant gleam flashed, and Xia Xinyan’s figure manifested within the formation.

Mo Duanhun, the foremost of the Three Asura Kings, still looked toward the sky, not turning back. He spoke plainly, “Girl, I hear you have news of Old Xiao?”

“Greetings, Lord Mo.” Xia Xinyan bowed respectfully, then recounted their encounter in that sea region in meticulous detail. As Xia Xinyan spoke, Mo Duanhun’s brow furrowed deeply. When she finished, he shook his head and sighed three times. “What about Young Master Yan? Why haven’t I seen him?”

“Young Master Shi Yan is also in trouble.” Xia Xinyan gritted her teeth, steeling herself to speak.

“In trouble?” Mo Duanhun grinned, revealing a set of stark white teeth. “What happened?”

“Four factions—the Spirit Treasure Grotto Heaven, the Sacred Land of the Celestial Pool, the Dongfang family, and the Gu family—forced us into the cave of the Profound Ice Cold Flame. Shi Yan was possessed by the Profound Ice Cold Flame and dragged into the cave, his whereabouts unknown…” Xia Xinyan lowered her head, her eyes growing misty, her voice slightly choked with emotion.

“Spirit Treasure Grotto Heaven, Sacred Land of the Celestial Pool, Dongfang family, Gu family…” Mo Duanhun nodded slowly. “I will report this to the Family Head. This is a Yang family matter; your Xia family need not involve yourselves. Here is a Heaven Mending Pill; keep it.”

“Lord Mo, Young Master Shi Yan encountered this difficulty with me. Even if the Xia family does not intervene, I personally wish to contribute something,” Xia Xinyan said, accepting the Heaven Mending Pill, biting her lip.

Mo Duanhun looked at her with some surprise for a moment, then slowly nodded. “As you wish.”