The Azure Dragon Saint's phantom emerged from themysteriousblack water sphere. That vast as star sea, weighty as earth pressure caused the entire cavern space to congeal. Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister's hearts were violently shaken, nearly compelled to kneel and worship before this supreme authority. It wasn't deliberate hostile intent, but natural reverence arising from absolute difference in life level and power essence.
However, that massive Azure Dragon phantom didn't look at them. Its gaze seemed to penetrate through countless ages and space, falling upon some destined trajectory of fate, carrying a trace of understanding and infinite vicissitudes. The phantom lasted only a few breaths before slowly dissipating like a reflection in water, re-integrating into that continuously rotatingmysteriousblack water sphere, as if it had never appeared.
But that vast pressure engulfing the cavern didn't dissipate with it; instead, it became even clearer, more... targeted.
Just as Xiao Qi thought he could step forward and attempt to claim the Black Tortoise Soul Crystal's origin within thatmysteriousblack water sphere, anothermutation occurred!
"Crack... crack..."
Around the cavern, that incredibly hard, extreme-cold-imbued dark ice walls suddenly emitted dense, teeth-grinding cracking sounds! Then, before the two's astonished eyes, dozens of completely dark-ice-formed humanoid guardians, like soldiers awakening from slumber, broke through the ice and emerged!
These guardians stood over a zhang tall, their entire bodies presenting the samemysteriousblack color as the altar and water sphere. Their forms weren't finely carved, but carried a primitive, rough sense of power. They had no facial features, only roughly humanoid silhouettes. In their hands they gripped long spears, massive shields, or battle axes condensed from cold ice. They radiated cold, dead, yet incomparably powerful auras—each guardian's strength was actually comparable to early Golden Core! And those few leading guardians slightly larger in size, wielding ice crystal shields, had auras reaching mid Golden Core!
Upon appearing, they marched with heavy, orderly steps, like cold war machines, silently surrounding the altar and also sealing Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister outside. Those countless pairs of "eyes" without pupils all fixed their "gaze" upon the two intruders. Cold, murderous intent like substantial matter instantly locked onto them!
Evidently, these cold ice guardians were the final barrier left by the Azure Dragon Saint's will here, guarding the Frost Ice Eye and soul crystal origin! Any who attempted to approach would face their merciless attacks!
"Be careful! These guardians aren't living beings, but pure combinations of ice elements and the Saint's will—physical defense extremely strong, and unafraid of ordinary techniques!" Third Senior Sister Liu Yun instantly judged the guardians' true nature, her expression grave. dozens of Golden Core level elemental guardians—this lineup was enough to make any cultivator below Nascent Soul despair!
"Push through!" Xiao Qi's eyes sharpened. Time was urgent, no room for hesitation. He struck first, tentatively sending a Crimson Flame Palm imbued with Vermillion Bird Soul Crystal's power toward the nearest guardian!
The scorching flame palm struck the dark ice guardian's chest, emitting a "boom" explosion! Flames splashed, that guardian's chest dark ice was scorched slightly red, showing a tiny melting mark. But it only swayed slightly before continuing to approach without concern, its ice crystal spear thrusting toward Xiao Qi's face with bone-piercing cold! And that slight burn on its chest, supplemented by the surrounding dense cold, was recovering visibly to the naked eye!
Fire attacks, minimal effect! This place's cold ice environment and the guardians' innate qualities greatly weakened fire-type techniques.
Xiao Qi's form flashed swiftly, dodging the spear, his brow furrowed. He attempted to channel the White Tiger Soul Crystal's sharp power. A condensed golden sword energy hacked at another guardian's arm, only leaving a cut about an inch deep, failing to sever it, and that cut also slowly repaired itself.
Physical attacks and conventional elemental attacks, neither very effective!
Just as Xiao Qi pondered countermeasures, back-to-back with Third Senior Sister, fending off ice spear and ice axe attacks from all directions, looking somewhat overwhelmed, his jade pendant at his chest again transmitteddifferentmovement. This time, not burning heat, but a warm, carrying meanings of tolerance and communication—mainly originating from the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal and Purification Source.
Azure Dragon belongs to water, same origin as Azure Dragon! Purification Source, tolerates all things, resolvesviolent energy!
An idea flashed through Xiao Qi's mind like lightning!
He stopped attacking and instead sharply retreated a step, hands forming a peculiar seal before his chest. He fully channeled the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal's power. A pure, gentle, life-filled wood-essence spiritual energy rippled outward from his center—not attacking, but like a friendly greeting, attempting to establish connection with the pervasive cold everywhere and those cold guardians.
Simultaneously, he integrated the Purification Source's power into this wood-essence spiritual energy—not for purification, but to convey anwill of "harmless," "friendly," "same origin"! He tried to tell these intellectless guardians, acting purely on instinct and preset will, that they weren't invaders, but inheritors and protectors of power of the same origin as Azure Dragon!
This process was extremely dangerous. He completely abandoned defense, entrusting his safety to Third Senior Sister behind him. Third Senior Sister also understood his intent—her sword danced like wheels, intercepting all attacks aimed at Xiao Qi. Her pressure greatly increased, blood already seeping from the corner of her lips.
That pure, gentle water spiritual fluctuation carrying purifying, tolerantwill spread outward like ripples, brushing past those steadily closing cold ice guardians.
A miracle occurred!
Those originally aggressive, ice crystal weapons waving guardians' movements all simultaneously halted! Their faceless faces seemed to "look toward" Xiao Qi—more accurately, to "sense" that aura of same origin as the Frost Ice Eye yet gentler and more tolerant (Azure Dragon power), and that purewill dispelling all hostility and distracting thoughts (Purification Source).
Especially Xiao Qi's jade pendant at his chest, where those three soul crystal phantasms already in place, belonging to the Four Symbols same as Azure Dragon, emitted clear, unmistakable origin resonance!
The leading guardian wielding a massive shield, at mid Golden Core, slowly raised its arm. All surrounding cold ice guardians, as if receiving a silent command, instantly stopped all attack movements, stepping back in unison, opening a passage toward the altar!
They still "gazed" at Xiao Qi, but that cold murderous intent had dissipated, replaced by a sense of... recognition and protection. They recognized Xiao Qi as a Four Symbols inheritor, permitting him to approach the Frost Ice Eye.
Xiao Qi let out a long breath, his back soaked with cold sweat. He solemnly clasped his fists in salute toward those standing guardians.
"Thank you."
Then he turned, supporting Third Senior Sister whose breath had become disordered. He fed her a healing pill. The two smiled at each other, both feeling the sensation of surviving a disaster.
No bloodshed, no destruction. Through understanding the essence of power and clever application, they passed this final trial.
The two adjusted their breath and stepped onto that nine-level dark ice altar, walking step by step toward that floating, containing the Black Tortoise Soul Crystal's complete originmysteriousblack water sphere at the apex. The final inheritance was within reach.