Rewind—
A total of fifty-seven seconds before Bing Tian's arrival. The planet Ice Jade was as peaceful as any day, slightly more so than most, and within one of its highest populated and prosperous cities with a Bing Clan's official embassy, two figures were sitting in the comfort of gentle lighting and the sweet aroma of exquisitely-made tea.
Wei Wuyin sat beside the window, peering outside as he sipped his sweet tea.
"Mommy! Mommy! Can I have this? I want this!" A young boy, about six or seven, tugged at his mother's sleeve as he urged impatiently. The mother had a weary, tired expression, her cultivation decent, but her wallet wasn't the same. She glanced at the vendor and then at the offered merchandise, a stall of exceptionally rare fruits capable of nurturing the cultivation bases and bodies. The boy pointed at the most expensive apple-like fruit that was lit with faint flames.
Helplessly, she reached into her spatial ring and paid, hiding the flash of worry-filled pain in her eyes. "Be sure to eat it properly, okay?" She brightly smiled at her baby boy's excited cheers. Her pain and worry dissipated as she vowed to work a little harder this month.
"Here's all the information regarding the one named Xiao Bing for the last fifteen years; I also included the Bing Clan's elites, Chosen, and leaders. This is the most I can do on short notice. Forgive me if it's lacking, Fellow Daoist." A middle-aged woman gently slid a Spiritual Jade across the table, her eyes glinting as she looked at the man before her. While his face was concealed by a faint layer of spiritual light, she knew this was an Ascendant!
They served Wei Wuyin!
Moreover, they were renowned for rewarding their assets absurdly well. While it was an open secret amongst information dealers, she didn't hesitate to divulge deep secrets and any dirt she could find, compiling it all in this slip. While she said it was lacking, how could fifteen years of detailed accounts of Xiao Bing's life and care be lacking? How could the dirty laundry, skeletons in their closet, dark rumors, and fine cultivation details possibly be lacking?!
She smiled gleefully in her heart; the pay-off for this will certainly not be lacking! As a Mystic Star Phase cultivator, this was an opportunity she refused to lose. If this went well, she might be able to transcend her failure to become a genuine Ascended being and reattempt cultivating the vast Dao!
Wei Wuyin sipped his tea again, casually moving his hand as he accepted the spiritual jade. With a quick sweep of the info, he was rather pleased. The cultivation world thrived on resources and information, and there were bound to be all types of shady organizations like these everywhere. Even the Golden Gate Pavilion was the most prominent information broker of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, hence their fearsome status of being existences one could never offend.
This woman was a Heavenly Seer as well, but she was rejected by the Golden Gate Pavilion and strove to survive through this profession by establishing an information-based brokering organization hidden in the shadows. Unfortunately, most elite cultivators and Chosen had Seer-preventative measures in place, and this meant all those besides the Golden Gate Pavilion had difficulty earning enough to sustain a proper path to Ascension.
They had to resort to other means to gather and sell information, such as espionage and other spycraft. Wei Wuyin had heard that some of these organizations would send beautiful virgin women to Immortal Heroes to bait them into dual cultivation and grasp all manner of details that would often be used by their rivals and enemies.
Wei Wuyin was mostly satisfied with the contents of the jade. He hated moving without understanding everything regarding the situation, including what could threaten Xiao Bing's life. Of course, he kept his eyes on the Protective Rune's status.
Since Xiao Bing had this rune, Wei Wuyin would be foolish to recklessly interact with Xiao Bing without knowing what and where the threat was coming from, especially considering that this warning indicated Wu Yu's protection was ineffective. As an exploitative Blessed, Wei Wuyin had long since learned how insightful information was equally as important as capabilities. Additionally, this was a warning produced by Karmic Luck, and he wouldn't be him if he didn't try to find a way to fully exploit this opportunity.
"Good," Wei Wuyin nodded. This pleased the middle-aged woman, whose eyes couldn't hide their smile. Wei Wuyin took out a spatial ring and slid it across the table, rising from his seat, "Within that is an opportunity to reach the Soul of Mysticism Phase; if you want, you can take it. Otherwise, you can take your payment. Should we need anything else, we'll contact you."
Wei Wuyin turned and left.
The middle-aged woman curiously glanced at the spatial ring, her fingers quivering as she touched it, sending her Spiritual Sense within, and her eyes widened. There was a silver card with one eye drawn at its center, made with Shadow Intent.
"Shadow Eye?" Her heart began to race, and her eyes fiercely flashed towards the door, realizing that the facially-cloaked young man had vanished. She couldn't even find him as her Spiritual Sense spread forth. Her breathing grew heavier with each passing second.
Shadow's Eyes!
This was a rumor, an existence that couldn't be verified, but those who had dealings in the information field had some awareness of its existence. It was a fable at this point, often described as a web of spies that spread across the entire Grand Cyclic Stellar Region. Unfortunately, no one could verify its existence.
Why?
No one knew!
It was as if a ghost existed, everyone knew its name, but no one knew where it was, what it was, or why it existed! It was a wild conundrum.
The urge to have this as evidence to prove its existence swelled within her heart. Unfortunately, even if she had this desire, the moment she saw the eye with her Spiritual Sense, it slightly trembled before vanishing in a shadowy mist. No matter what method she used, the eye was no longer there!
After ten seconds, she helplessly accepted her fate with a wry smile. Of course, it wouldn't be so easy to prove, right? She inspected the other contents of the ring, and her heart pounded fiercely.
Life!
So much lifeforce!
She saw three golden pills that resembled Solar Stars. They floated within transparent bottles, and they exuded an unimaginably fierce lifeforce! Ninth-grade Life-Replenishing Pills! It was simple yet absurdly expensive. With this, she could try her Second Ascension at least once, with each capable of restoring three hundred years of her spent lifeforce. Unfortunately, it couldn't be used to exceed their natural Soulspan, only recover from lifeforce damaging afflictions and injuries. While extremely powerful, it had its limits as a Mortal-rank product.
When she looked at the card, a tongue of heated anticipation burned within her heart. If the rumors were true, then this was an oath of some sort; if she followed what was written on it, she'd be inducted into the organization!
But when she opened the letter, there was only a single line:
"Cast this spell to enter the shadow with fearless courage."
The words transformed suddenly, forming a Spell Formation that twisted and wiggled. Her Spiritual Sense felt as if it was pricked, and her mind was abruptly infused with a distinct memory of the spell. When she looked back, the spell was gone, and the silver color of the card had vanished, transforming into a dull grey card with a single white word: "Payment."
Her expression changed drastically. What was this? She tried to grasp the intricacies of the card, but she came up with nothing, and her brows furrowed deeply. Did she imagine it all? Only when she tried recalling did she realize it was real! The spell formation was as clear as day within her mind!
But she hesitated; should she? When her thoughts formulated doubt, the memory of the spell formation began to fade. She felt it fracture, and urgency swelled within her heart! If she didn't cast the spell, then she'd likely forever miss this chance! Some might see this and scoff, cautiously acting and taking a wait-and-see approach…
She executed the spell!
An exquisite Spiritual Spell formed above her hands. It flared with spiritual light and then zipped into her glabella. Her eyes went blank for a moment. After a short while, she regained her sense of self and consciousness. For a moment, she was confused, but then, incomparable excitement erupted within her heart. She felt the urge to howl out loud! But she restrained herself, ensuring she didn't cause a scene.
Then, she turned to the horizon, viewing the open window and its brilliant flow of starlight. The Aeternal Sky Starfield had never felt so beautiful before.
"Liang Jie, today's the greatest day of your life…" She smiled brightly towards the largest star in the sky.
BOOOOM!!!
Fifty-seven seconds came and went, and her bright smile and vibrant joy froze as her entire body was flash-frozen by profound Ice Power!
-----
'Bing Jialun' looked to the Dark Void; there was a comet of Mystic Power jetting out of the Sky Layer amidst the developing chaos. His eyes shined as he recalled the two women, especially Xiao Bing! She was a virgin and one with an Everlasting Ice Essence Physique. If cultivated well, she could become a permanent Yin Cauldron for any male cultivator.
This was the power of her physique and why it was labeled 'Everlasting'. Her Primal Yin existed in a state of perpetual permanence, and unless siphoned out cruelly, she'll retain her Primal Yin's initial state until death. It bore remarkable similarities to a Yin Renewal Physique!
An eternal virgin!
While it took time to recover using Ice Energy, those who dual cultivated with this physique had an equal chance of grasping Everlasting Ice Intent. The benefits of this type of Primal Yin were absurdly high!
Priceless!
But if she was cultivated as a fighter, she had the slightest chance of naturally cultivating a type of Unique Intent on par with Nirvanic Flames and Necro Energy! Everlasting Ice! It was rumored to be capable of sealing space, time, life, and even death!
There was a reason why Bing Tian wanted it for her grandnephew and no one else!
It was said that the Bing Clan's Ancestor had cultivated this Unique Intent! She eventually became the first concubine of the Aeternal Sky Divine Emperor, but she failed her Earthly Ascension and tragically died!
Fortunately, with the Heretical Berserk Godsword, he could obtain her Primal Yin without much effort and cultivate it separately.
°Yun Che, you can't miss this opportunity.° With Bing Tian's soul in his hands, the location of the other two Heavenly World Cores was a matter of time, so he could deviate from his plans slightly. He just had to be fast.
With his mind decided, he hefted the weapon onto his shoulder and stomped the air, causing a pulse of disturbed mana, and he blitzed towards Xiao Bing and Bing Liya!
Boosh!
-----
Above the city, Wei Wuyin's eyes were solemn as he watched the devastation of the planet spread wildly. He focused on casting the protection rune's locator spell, realizing that Xiao Bing was currently moving at high speed, and he swiftly traced her trajectory. The Protective Rune had activated!
Briefly, he glanced at the city below from the Sky Layer. Those at the Qi Condensation Realm and below had already died; the potent Ice Power had ruthlessly snuffed out their lifeforce in an instant. Only those with vibrant lifeforce and a refined body capable of resisting the cold could resist for a little longer, such as the information broker at the Mystic Star Phase.
However, she would soon have her lifeforce snuffed out as well by the ravaging Ice Power.
"..." Wei Wuyin.
The entire planet was ravaged by Ice Power or the destructive force of Mystic Power. Since this was Ice Jade, a protected planet with fortified defenses, this was an unprecedented development. But this had happened without any explanation and swept so fast that the cities were unable to defend themselves properly. Ice Power was naturally invasive as well, and the destructive power was too forceful, so either force was too much for any city.
"This power is roughly on par with an attack from Highlord Bluecloud, but it contains pure Mystic Energy. A self-detonation of a Soul of Mysticism? No, there are no rune fragments. Mystic Star? But it's too powerful." Wei Wuyin was confused as he analyzed the situation. He didn't hastily rush towards Xiao Bing. She was a mortal; even if she died, there were many ways to bring her back to li-
Wait.
His pupils constricted into needle points! If the Heavenly Daos had warned him abnormally, then it's possible that, should she die to this threat, it could be extremely difficult to reverse! What could cause that difficulty?
Something similar to the Nexus War Flag! The power of a Law!
BOOSH!
There was a time for caution, and then there was a time for action. If he waited, he might live forever in regret. Wei Wuyin's Infinite Void Wings manifested, placing a concealment mask on, he sped towards Xiao Bing's location unhesitatingly!
-----
Protected by the Protective Rune of an Earthly Saint, Xiao Bing hugged Bing Liya tightly. She opened her eyes to see a devastated planet from thousands of miles out. Her heart shuddered.
What happened?
She saw the glowing warmth of the rune on her hand, and her heart grew peaceful and emotional. This rune was her continuous reminder that Wei Wuyin hadn't forgotten about her. She bit her lips anxiously.
"Hm?" As the rune caused her to screech across the Dark Void as it halted her backward momentum, inducing a wake of spatial ripples, her eyes caught sight of an approaching figure wreathed in murderous intent.
"Bing Jialun!" Her heart sank with terror.
-----
"Dead?" A figure was looming on the edge of the Bing Clan's Truefrost Domain, their gaze staring actively at Ice Jade, piercing profoundly through to inspect their Void Gate. The devastation was sudden, and even though they hadn't expected it, they saw it all.
"Shall I play the hero? It'll cost quite a bit, but for her…" After those words, the figure's unfathomable aura leaked as they made their move. A burst of silver light and they vanished. Within fixed space, a streak traversed toward Bing Jialun's direction!