The bottomless, massive fissure stretched deep into the abyss.
A pair of crimson-red eyes shone vividly in the darkness, so striking that even a single glance sent involuntary shivers through one's body and soul.
"Jiejiejie~"
"Pitiful humans! I thank you for releasing me, though only a sliver of my power is free."
"Still, it is enough for me to completely shatter the sealing array."
An indescribable aura of chaos filled the air. Dugu Yan trembled slightly.
"Humans, I sincerely express my gratitude. As thanks, you shall become the first sacrifices for my escape from this seal."
"Come, offer me your tender bodies and souls—jiejiejie~"
"Rong… Rongrong, wh-what do we do?" Dugu Yan's pupils dilated, her hands clutching Ning Rongrong's shoulders, her fingers ice-cold.
Ning Rongrong's eyes flickered with a subtle change in hue as she examined the chasm below, murmuring:
"The array isn't fully broken. It's still functioning. It should hold for a few more decades."
From the arrangement of the ten-thousand-year cold marrow along the fissure, she could tell—this was a seal.
A formation meant to refine the self-proclaimed soul of Ji Taimei, enveloping the Extreme North.
Its purpose remained unclear, but judging from the entity's words, it likely had something to do with the Ice God.
"If it's just a soul, then we can still manage." She stuffed the piece of ten-thousand-year cold marrow back into the gap she had taken it from, pressing it firmly in place with a surge of zhenqi.
In an instant, the chaotic, inexplicable aura emanating from the fissure was purified, leaving behind only a faint chill.
"Human! You dare reinsert the sealing stone?!" The crimson eyes below burned with furious, murderous intent.
"Die… I will make you die! The most painful death imaginable! Aaaah—!"
A piercing avian shriek echoed through the chasm.
The massive, black-feathered bird with blood-red eyes drew closer. Thanks to her own strength and the unique properties of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Ning Rongrong could still make out its silhouette even in the oppressive darkness.
"What bizarre energy… Similar to the Dark Devilgod Tiger, but that indescribable sensation…"
"Lovecraftian?"
Her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda materialized in her hand.
A multicolored halo radiated outward, illuminating the pitch-black chasm.
Black mist coalesced before the pagoda, gradually forming the figure of a girl—Tokisaki Kurumi, who had been in deep slumber.
"Huh? Why am I out here?" Half-asleep, Kurumi rubbed her eyes, her drowsiness dissipating as she was jolted awake.
"What the—?" The first thing she saw was those terrifying, blood-red eyes.
"Good grief, Ning Rongrong, couldn't you have picked a better opponent?"
If it wasn't a Limit Douluo, it was a god…
Did she think the Dark Devilgod Tiger was some all-powerful being? This thing's soul was clearly on a level surpassing even Di Tian's!
"It's just an overflow of soul energy and divine will. A minor setback."
"Can't we just toss it into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"
"Between you, me, and the Pearl's power, I refuse to believe it can resist."
"Don't just shove everything into your Martial Soul! There's a limit, you know? If the pagoda explodes, I'm done for!"
She had signed a contract with this brat, yet all she got were empty promises. Now, she was constantly dragged into life-or-death situations.
"No escaping this one." Ning Rongrong cut off Kurumi's complaints. "If it fully breaks free, the entire continent is doomed."
She glanced at the approaching entity. "That chaotic energy it's radiating… Don't tell me you don't sense it."
"Tch. Fine. At most, I can buy some time inside the pagoda."
"But don't expect me to handle everything. This thing is way out of my league."
"Good. I'll assist as soon as I can." Ning Rongrong nodded.
Kurumi split off a time-clone to carry Dugu Yan away from the battlefield while her true self flew alongside Ning Rongrong.
The monstrous bird below grew larger, its aura intensifying. The chaotic waves of energy it emitted—something akin to soul power but not quite—were so repulsive that even the Dark Devilgod Tiger felt disgusted.
"Are you sure about this?" Kurumi's scalp tingled with unease. A fragment of a twisted god's will, carrying a remnant of its soul, seeking to fully break its seal…
"We do what we can and leave the rest to fate."
"If we destroy it, the seal should hold for a few more decades. That's enough."
A frigid gale howled through the chasm.
"A show of force, huh…?"
Both Ning Rongrong and Kurumi's eyes gleamed with the image of a clock.
In an instant, the raging winds were swallowed by a massive spatial rift.
"Now!"
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shot forward, rapidly expanding—
Ten meters, twenty meters…
Black and white flames enveloped Ning Rongrong and Kurumi as they charged toward the monstrous bird.
"Humans, no matter what you attempt, it is meaningless before absolute power."
"If not for the Ice God's treachery, I would never have been reduced to this state."
"Now, suffer my wrath!"
"Polar Frostflame!"
A pale-white flame erupted from the black bird's beak.
Though small, the sheer cold it carried instantly coated the entire chasm in thick frost.
"This chill—!"
Ning Rongrong's brow furrowed. "Kurumi, don't touch it! Redirect it with spatial distortion!"
Though confused, Kurumi complied, opening a spatial rift alongside Ning Rongrong to swallow the flame.
"Time and space manipulation… For mere humans to wield such power."
"Unbelievable!"
"But no matter. Once I devour you, that power shall be mine!"
The Ancient Ice Phoenix's jet-black feathers exuded an ominous aura.
It spread its maw wide, soaring above Ning Rongrong and Kurumi before diving down, intent on swallowing them whole.
"Rongrong…" Dugu Yan, carried far away by Kurumi's clone, clenched her fists in frustration.
She had grown so much stronger, yet she was still useless in a battle of this scale.
"Regretting your weakness?" Kurumi's clone asked.
"You—"
"I don't know why she took a liking to you, but Dugu Yan, you're not yet capable of standing on the same stage as beings like that."
"As someone who was once very weak myself, I understand perfectly. Your physique is similar to my former devouring abilities."
"No need for remorse. Just keep improving step by step. No one starts at the top. Work hard, girl!"
"Mm…" Dugu Yan nodded lightly, her gaze fixed on the distant battle.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—Suppress!"
In an instant, the pagoda erupted in size, filling the entire chasm within seconds.
Golden light cascaded downward, illuminating the abyss. Even the eerie auroras outside seemed to fade under its radiance.
"W-what have you done?!"
The Ancient Ice Phoenix realized its soul form was being rapidly drained.
"Stop! Cease this at once! This is my only chance to break free!"
"You wretched brats, STOP!"
Its desperate roars did nothing to halt its absorption into the pagoda.
Its massive form shrank rapidly, engulfed by golden light before vanishing entirely.
The last thing it uttered was—
"Ow! What the—?!"
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shrank back to palm size, returning to Ning Rongrong's hand.
Kurumi's true form, being the pagoda's spirit, had no choice but to follow the Ancient Ice Phoenix inside to keep watch.
If that black bird caused trouble, she'd be the first to suffer.
"A decent success." Ning Rongrong exhaled deeply, holding the pagoda as she approached Dugu Yan, still under the care of Kurumi's clone.
Her clock-like pupils spun as she opened a spatial portal. Once the clone handed Dugu Yan over, it dissipated.
"Sister Yan, I'm counting on you. Get away from the Extreme North as fast as possible, or find a safe place to wait until I wake up."
"Be careful. That bird's presence may have drawn the attention of nearby hundred-thousand-year soul beasts…"
As they stepped through the portal, Ning Rongrong collapsed, her consciousness fully withdrawing into the pagoda's internal battle.