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--- Chapter 461 ---
After returning to the plane beneath the Ice God's Palace, Beta, or more accurately, Han Yuan, re-entered his body, greeted by a mild, throbbing headache.
This was the lingering aftereffect of the soul-splitting technique. While he knew the birth of Gamma would affect them, he didn't expect it to put a heavy toll on their collective soul.
"So this is what it feels like to stay inside the storage tool? Pretty bizarre experience, not gonna lie," Gamma's voice echoed out. "Hey, Beta, if the space within the Sky Poison Pearl is infinitely expanding, and I activate mine right now, wouldn't we just create an infinite loop of space?"
Coupled with the immediate attack of rambling from the Sky Poison Pearl, Han Yuan couldn't help but rub his temples in irritation.
Thankfully, because this Sky Poison Pearl belonged to him, he possessed a vital capability. Yup, a mute function.
"Beta, don't you dare mute me!" As if realizing what Han Yuan was about to do, Gamma immediately rambled some more, but his voice vanished real quick.
"Hey-!"
As the annoying voice abruptly cut off, Han Yuan finally sighed in relief and peace.
When he opened his eyes again, however, he jumped. Hanlong Nuji was staring at him from mere inches away.
"Whoa... You're way too close, Nuji!" Han Yuan stammered, taking a hasty step back.
Hanlong Nuji offered a faint, knowing smile. "Han Yuan, your soul..."
"I couldn't help but notice it has grown weaker."
"But considering how stable your physical condition remains, it seems your soul-splitting avatar technique works perfectly fine after all."
"Yes, and perhaps, it's working a bit too well." Han Yuan replied in return, making the Blue Dragon even more eager to know the details.
Han Yuan didn't mind telling Hanlong Nuji about his experience in splitting his own soul and developing the third avatar, Gamma. After all, even if the Blue Dragon knew the method, she wouldn't dare to do it.
And sure enough, as Hanlong Nuji heard Han Yuan's painful experience, she couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
There is a significant difference between splitting a wisp of soul and your soul entirely.
A wisp of soul is merely a memory that recorded reminsence of soul, and then existed and maintained by spiritual energy. So, if it disappears, there is no real repercussion to the source.
Of course, since how weak a wisp of soul is, it can't function much aside from holding information and acts to examine for a likely inheritor.
And splitting one's own soul is no different than dividing existence into several pieces.
Honestly, the negative outweighs the positives it brings.
But. Yes, a big but. If done properly and successfully, splitting soul would bring not only a stronger effect on one's cultivation.
If we used Han Yuan as an example, not only could he explore more paths of cultivation with different bodies and many diverse cultivation systems, but he could also access different planes. And these planes span infinite distances and are connected thanks to him.
Upon realizing this, a wave of reassurance washed over Hanlong Nuji. She firmly believed that Han Yuan would eventually help her reach the Primal Chaos Dimension.
To a supreme being like her, relying on his tangible, multiversal rope was far more dependable than the fickle urges of fate.
"But where is your fellow avatar, Han Yuan? I don't see you bringing him back," Hanlong Nuji asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"He is right here." Han Yuan shook his head gently and then snapped his fingers, pulling Gamma out from the Sky Poison Pearl.
Hanlong Nuji blinked in shock as a ball of silver-green flame materialized, hovering before her eyes. Within the dancing fire, she could make out the faint silhouette of a human figure curled tightly into himself.
"Hello! My codename is Gamma, though you can also call me Han Yuan in the future," Gamma greeted, transmitting his thoughts into Hanlong Nuji's mind, giving the Blue Dragon a jolt of surprise.
Hanlong Nuji poked the silver-green flame with a slender finger, "Such a stable soul origin... Your existence, no, the collective existence of you all, is nothing short of a miracle."
"Hey, hey! No touching! Have some respect for my personal space, Blue Dragon Lady," Gamma complained, slapping her probing finger.
"Blue Dragon Lady..." Hanlong Nuji's smile widened as she looked back at Han Yuan. "I actually like this one more."
Han Yuan rolled his eyes at her. "Then I will leave him in your care."
"You two need to familiarize yourselves with each other anyway."
He paused, his gaze turning distant. "Besides, there are still a few matters I need to tie up in Glory City regarding this timeline."
"Whoa, wait! Don't leave me alone with her, Beta! This is too fast, way too fast, I tell you!"
Ignoring Gamma's frantic protests, Han Yuan pretended to be deaf and blind to his fellow avatar's dilemma and vanished from the spot.
"..." Gamma stared at the empty mat in sheer disbelief.
"Well, my partner... It looks like we have plenty of time for a long, pleasant chat." The Blue Dragon Lady flashed a playful smirk, poking the flickering flame once more with her fair, graceful finger.
"Damn you, Beta..." Gamma cursed under his breath.
Meanwhile, Han Yuan returned to the heart of the Ice God's Palace. The moment he stepped inside, his divine sense picked up a crisp, fracturing noise.
Yes, the frozen cocoon surrounding Ye Ziyun had begun to crack.
"You've returned," the Icy Star Titan boomed, rumbling through the palace as he sensed Han Yuan's presence.
Han Yuan nodded. "Mhm. I came to check on Ziyun. It seems my timing is perfect. How many days has it been since I left with Nuji?"
The giant pondered for a brief moment before replying, "Calculating from the moment you first crossed into the Ice God's Domain, roughly six or seven days have passed."
"A week, basically." Han Yuan nodded in understanding. "Her absorption speed is quite impressive."
The Icy Star Titan voiced his rare agreement. "Indeed. This inheritor of the Ice God is truly exceptional."
"Not only did she assimilate the Ice Elf bloodline at an astonishing rate, but the Blue Dragon's blood has also perfectly fused with her entire being."
"While she cannot be compared to a monster like you... With these dual bloodlines, dominating an entire era will be an effortless feat for her."
"She still needs time to grow. Let's not rush things," Han Yuan replied casually.
Kacha!
A sharp, glass-like shattering sound echoed through the silent palace halls.
A slender, porcelain hand broke through the icy shell, gradually revealing soft, elegant curves beneath the reflecting cold light. As Ye Ziyun stepped out of the crumbling cocoon, her physical appearance seemed unchanged at a glance.
However, Han Yuan instantly noticed that the chill aura radiating from her had grown significantly deeper, sharper, and overall, colder.
On her smooth forehead, a faint, crystalline ice mark glowed with divine light, cementing her status as the true Heir of the Ice God.
When Ye Ziyun opened her eyes, her irises had transformed into a deep, majestic sea-blue, complete with the piercing slit of a royal dragon. She locked eyes with Han Yuan, a storm of complex emotions swirling within her gaze.
"Ziyun is deeply grateful for Lord Han's grace." She took a soft breath, her voice trembling slightly. "I know I have spoken of gratitude before... but a debt this grand is something I could not possibly repay even in a lifetime."
"All I can do... is dedicate my entire life to you."
As the words left her lips, her frozen heart actually beat with a restless passion, though she fought hard to maintain her calm composure.
Han Yuan merely smiled, extending an open hand toward her. "Let us go. Glory City is still waiting for our return."
"Yes!" Ye Ziyun's eyes shone with a brilliant light as she stepped forward, firmly grasping his warm, reassuring hand.