Song Wanníng darted backward, her long sword flashing forward in a decisive slash. From the altar ahead, the phantom of an ancient beast surged forth.
It roared at her, baring its fangs. The moment its maw opened, everything around them was instantly frozen solid.
Song Wanníng herself was encased in ice, but within a heartbeat the frost shattered away from her body.
The Ferocious Beast's fury spiked, and it lunged at her again.
Countless ice blades whirled through the air toward her, spinning madly mid-flight. Their power doubled in an instant, pressing down with crushing force.
Her gaze sharpened. Her sword flashed in rapid succession, releasing a flood of fire-aspected demonic qi. Fire and ice clashed violently, their opposing natures erupting in a blinding impact.
The collision shook the entire cavern.
Just as Jiang Cen stepped into the underground palace, the violent tremors made her flinch. With her spiritual power sealed, she felt as helpless as in her previous life—weak and defenseless. Every rustle and creak set her nerves on edge.
Now, feeling the entire chamber quake, panic clawed at her.
"I haven't even found the treasure yet. I can't afford for anything to go wrong!"
Ignoring the pain wracking her body, Jiang Cen frantically began searching the ice palace.
Meanwhile, Song Wanníng was already locked in fierce combat with the Ferocious Beast.
Fire and ice—eternal opposites.
Neither side held back.
Her sword forms flowed without pause, her Sword Dao domain pressing down on the Ferocious Beast with overwhelming might.
In a sudden shift, she swept past its flank and slammed her palm forward.
"Roar!"
The Ferocious Beast leapt, yet her strike still landed. Its body shattered into nothingness.
But in the blink of an eye, it reformed, as whole as before.
Now utterly enraged, it hurled itself at her again.
Song Wanníng's heart sank. Her blade swept out once more.
Boom.
The underground palace trembled violently. Ice cracked and splintered all around, the sharp crackling making one's scalp prickle.
In just a few breaths, the two had exchanged more than a dozen blows. Cold and firelight mingled beneath the earth, painting the cavern in a strange, eerie glow.
Shards of ice burst from the collapsing walls and floor, pelting toward her.
Her gaze turned cold. She sank her qi into her dantian, and a four-colored circular halo rippled outward from her body.
The moment it touched the flying shards, the halo's energies merged with them— and all the ice melted into water. The flood quickly rose, submerging half the altar.
The Ferocious Beast's rage deepened. Raising a massive claw, it drew the water upward, forming a gigantic sword of ice. It hurled it down at her.
She vaulted upward, landing on the sword's spine, and drove her own blade down with all her might. The ice split apart from within.
Crack.
Fragments rained down.
Its eyes bloodshot with fury, the Ferocious Beast conjured weapon after weapon, hurling them at her without pause.
Man and beast clashed in an even fiercer frenzy.
…
Time slipped by in a flash.
Jiang Cen had climbed to the highest level, searching desperately for a way forward.
Xiao Jin, having spotted her, quickly reported to Song Wanníng.
"Heh."
Locked in battle, Song Wanníng let out a low chuckle.
This Ferocious Beast had been formidable in life—likely at least at the Divine Soul stage. No wonder it could still suppress her even now.
Killing it outright in one strike would not be easy.
The smarter play was to seize the box and flee, perhaps even dragging someone else into the mess.
Her eyes gleamed as she sent a mental command to Xiao Jin.
"When I give the word, lure her inside."
From Jiang Cen's stray thoughts, it was clear this "opportunity" had been placed here for her by the Heavenly Dao of the Mùsù star system.
Once Jiang Cen entered, she might have some special means of drawing the box to herself.
Song Wanníng suspected that the thing drawing the box's attention was most likely the Ten Thousand Demons Banner.
Setting those thoughts aside, she refocused on the Ferocious Beast.
Her own temper was flaring now. If not for the elemental opposition between them, this fight would have ended long ago.
The Ferocious Beast lunged again. Her eyes flashed, and a twin-petaled blood lotus bloomed between her brows.
In the next moment, the Ferocious Beast stumbled into a crimson realm.
Its target had vanished. Panic flashed in its eyes.
"Get out here! Human, don't think hiding will save you. I'll find you! Come out right now!"
It roared over and over, flailing blindly through the domain.
Soon, its composure began to crack.
That was when it saw her.
A beautiful woman, smiling sweetly.
She simply stood there, watching it with quiet amusement.
The Ferocious Beast's heart jolted. Without thinking, it crouched low to the ground, not daring to meet her eyes.
Somewhere deep in its mind, it recalled the moment its master had subdued it—the unbearable pain it never wished to feel again.
…
Trapped in the domain, the Ferocious Beast was now face to face with its deepest fear.
Song Wanníng's Primordial Soul was no stronger than the Ferocious Beast's, so she could not see what it was experiencing. But she knew this was her best chance.
She immediately shifted to the altar, seeking a way to take the box.
The moment the box sensed her, it shuddered with excitement, rattling its chains.
The links clinked in a steady rhythm, strange markings etched into their surface. The sight made her pause in thought.
She struck at the chains with her sword, but to no effect.
Time was short. She had to act before the Ferocious Beast broke free.
Calming her breath, she thought quickly—and then remembered something.
If the box resonated so strongly with demonic qi, this place was likely constructed by a high-ranking demon clan figure.
The most potent demonic energy she carried was the Demon God's Origin.
Though her internal world had formed, the Origin still rested at its center.
She decided to try it. If she was wrong, she'd think of another way.
Drawing upon the Demon God's Origin, she let its power surge toward the altar.
Thick demonic qi wrapped around her, then swept toward the chains.
This time, the moment it touched them, the chains recoiled like frightened serpents, retreating at astonishing speed.
Even she was surprised at how quickly they fell away.
She had only meant to test a theory—yet in that moment, she seemed to see the Demon God again, smiling at her with lazy confidence, as though the world lay within their grasp.
Her heart stirred. She swiftly seized the box and stored it in her internal world.
Then she sent a signal to Xiao Jin.
Understanding instantly, he transformed into a beam of golden light, tracing the exact path Song Wanníng had taken earlier, marking a clear way forward.
Had Jiang Cen been given more time, she might have found her own route. But with a path now glowing before her eyes, she could not resist— and hurried into the passage without hesitation.