Translator: AnubisTL

Azure Ridge Domain, home to the Shangqing Sect's mountain gate.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In the tranquil Soul Lamp Hall, over a dozen crisp sounds of soul lamps shattering echoed abruptly.

The Shangqing Sect elder guarding the hall froze in place.

More than ten soul lamps belonging to foundation establishment elders had extinguished in succession?!

What calamity had befallen them?

Before he could fully process the shock, an even sharper crack reverberated through the hall.

Crack!

After confirming the direction of the shattering sound, his face contorted with disbelief as he shakily rose to his feet.

He was certain that the sound had come from the stone platform where the ancestor's soul lamp rested!

"Impossible..."

He muttered to himself, his voice trembling with panic as he rushed toward the platform.

Upon reaching the deepest part of the Soul Lamp Hall, the Shangqing Sect elder nearly fainted.

On the stone platform before him, one of the four perpetually burning soul lamps had shattered and gone dark!

"Ancestor Xuan He... this is terrible! Ancestor Xuan He's soul lamp has gone out!"

"More than a dozen fellow sect elders have also perished just now!"

Like a stone dropped into still water, this news sent shockwaves through the Shangqing Sect, which had long dominated the Azure Ridge Domain. Such calamitous tidings had been unheard of for ages!

The death of a powerful core formation ancestor was an earth-shattering event!

Boom!

Upon receiving the news, all the Shangqing Sect's high-ranking members, including the sect leader, gathered in the Soul Lamp Hall.

Their expressions were grave as they stared unblinkingly at the shattered, extinguished soul lamp.

"How could this have happened to Martial Grand-Uncle Xuan He?"

"What went wrong? Why did Ancestor Xuan He's soul lamp go out?"

"Could something have happened in the Great Wilderness Domain? So many deaths at once!"

"..."

Safe and peaceful within the Azure Ridge Domain, these Shangqing Sect leaders struggled to comprehend the true state of affairs in the Great Wilderness Domain.

In their understanding, a core formation realm expert was a force to be reckoned with, a pillar of heaven and earth.

Such a being could never fall so easily.

"Senior Brother Sect Leader, what should we do?"

"Fortunately, Ancestor Wen Xing's soul lamp shows no abnormalities."

The sect leader of Shangqing Sect, his face grave, slowly spoke:

"First, inform the other two ancestors. Once the soul lamp guides Ancestor Xuan He's remnant soul back, we'll have the ancestors use the Trace to the Origin technique to see if we can retrieve the last images he saw in life!"

The reason major sects establish Soul Lamp Halls, where disciples leave a wisp of their soul essence to light soul lamps, is precisely for this purpose.

These soul lamps are specially crafted artifacts, each capable of attracting remnant souls.

When a lamp's owner dies, the lamp attempts to gather any lingering fragments of their divine soul.

At that point, the sect's ancestors can use the Trace to the Origin divine ability to retrieve the final memories and images seen by the remnant soul.

Of course, in cases like True Lord Xuan He's, who died in another great domain, the vast distance makes gathering his remnant soul extremely unlikely.

Sect Leader Qing Xuan of the Shangqing Sect stared at the three remaining soul lamps on the stone platform, a chill creeping down his spine.

"Why do I keep having this ominous premonition?"

His gaze shifted back to the Great Wilderness Domain, to the ice plains in its northernmost reaches.

After dealing with the Shangqing Sect's forces sent to this region, Li Qing reunited with Shen Ningbing.

"Junior sister, have you found any trace of Ancestor Bing Yun?" Li Qing asked with concern.

Shen Ningbing shook her head silently, her eyes sweeping the surroundings. She confirmed that the aura of the Ice Extreme True Manual had abruptly vanished here.

"The trail ends completely in this area. I can't sense anything beyond this point."

This was the westernmost edge of the ice plains. Continuing south would lead into the territory of Moonchase Palace.

Li Qing gazed up at the bright moon hanging high in the night sky and gently reassured her, "Ancestor Bing Yun is blessed by fate. She wouldn't meet with misfortune so easily. Junior sister, try to relax."

A moment later, a thought struck him, and he added, "By the way, do you remember True Monarch Yue Xuan we met in Ancient Hua Imperial City?"

"Senior Yue Xuan helped Ancestor Devourer of Heaven, and she even mentioned knowing Ancestor Bing Yun!"

"Do you think Ancestor Bing Yun might have sought refuge at Moonchase Palace?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ningbing's beautiful brows furrowed deeply. She hesitated, "It's possible, but Master's relationship with Senior Yue Xuan wasn't particularly harmonious."

"I doubt Master would seek protection from Senior Yue Xuan."

This was a matter of past grievances and entanglements between the older generation, something even as True Lord Bing Yun's disciple, she knew little about.

Li Qing could only offer a wry smile. Considering the possibility they'd just discussed was the limit of his ability to put himself in their shoes.

For now, the Shangqing Sect's pursuers had been temporarily dealt with, at least relieving some immediate concern for Ancestor Bing Yun's safety.

Perhaps this was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune!

Just as the two were debating whether to continue searching for Ancestor Bing Yun at Moonchase Palace, a vast and condensed aura descended from the distant sky!

Boom!

Sensing the approaching aura, Li Qing and Shen Ningbing immediately turned to look.

A resolute young man strode through the air, radiating an aura of Vast Righteousness and extraordinary dignity.

Dressed in a pristine white Daoist robe, he showed no fear upon seeing Li Qing and Shen Ningbing, flying directly toward them.

Li Qing exchanged a glance with Shen Ningbing before stepping forward, clasping his hands in a calm greeting. "May I ask who you are, esteemed sir?"

The young man's hair whipped wildly in the cold wind. His stern face flickered with a peculiar expression when he saw Shen Ningbing, before he declared confidently:

"I am the Pure Yang Physique you have been searching for!"

Pure Yang Physique!

Li Qing's heart jolted at these words. He never imagined that the Pure Yang Physique, which the demonic path had been desperately seeking for so long, would simply appear before him like this.

If he recorded this scene with a jade slip, he could claim a substantial reward from any demonic sect.

Yet Li Qing hesitated. He sensed a faint but undeniable threat emanating from the young man.

Even though the man's cultivation was only at the early Core Formation Realm, he still made Li Qing, a mid Core Formation Realm cultivator, feel uneasy.

If they were to fight, Li Qing couldn't confidently say he could overpower his opponent.

"Heh, Fellow Daoist, you jest. I came here not to seek out the Pure Yang Physique."

"However, since you claim to possess the Pure Yang Physique, whether true or false, I advise you to exercise extreme caution. Many are currently searching for you."

To be honest, while Li Qing felt some apprehension, he wasn't overly fearful of this man.

After all, Shen Ningbing was by his side, along with the combat power of Fan Tong and the two third-tier demonic beasts, Ninth Insect.

Even if the Pure Yang Physique's combat prowess were truly heaven-defying, he couldn't possibly defeat all four of them alone.

"Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist, but those who sought to harm me are already dead."

"I came here simply to understand one thing: what is your purpose in being here?"

(End of the Chapter)

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