He stopped exactly above the small island that served as the root of the Tree of Life, looking up to gaze at Ruo Xianxue, whose nine tails appeared calm. She was merely staring at her claws with those Sun and Moon double pupils, as if even a Devil deeply appreciated the arrogance of her own form.

  "Great Saint," Zhi Xuan called out coldly. He flicked his hand, and in his palm appeared three Law runes: Lightning, Wind, and Extreme Ice. "The Three Elements are complete. What do you think of my achievement?"

  Ruo Xianxue exhaled; the sound of her spiritual breath was like the whisper of ice among the branches of the Tree of Life. She lowered her hand from her gaze, those Sun and Moon double eyes now focused on the three runes shining in Zhi Xuan's spiritual palm. The Lightning Rune pulsed with a crushing majesty, the Wind Rune curved with boundless freedom, and the newly born Extreme Ice Rune radiated stagnation and absolute silence. Three laws, three tyrannies, now resided within a single foundation.

  "Ugly," Ruo Xianxue replied without hesitation, her tone flat and cold, showing not a shred of admiration. "You spent three years just to understand a frozen will that you should have grasped simply by watching how an iceberg rejects heat. You are a Heavenly Devil, Zhi Xuan. You should be faster than this."

  Zhi Xuan snorted softly, his thin smile in the Sea of Consciousness growing colder. "That is uncalled for, Great Saint. The will of Extreme Ice is the embodiment of Static Death, the perfect opposite of the Pure Wind Law. It takes time to dissect such a tyrannical philosophy."

  "Philosophy? You are always trapped in the snare of words," Ruo Xianxue mocked. She leaped down from the branch of the Tree of Life, her nine tails sweeping the air above the Sea of Consciousness. "However, I must admit, your Extreme Ice Law has reached a rare purity. It is a manifestation of a frozen will, not merely a cold Water Law. The combination of these three Laws—Wind, Lightning, and Extreme Ice—has made your foundation unparalleled in the Five Elements realm. Three pillars supporting Heaven and Earth."

  "Oh, do not flatter me," Zhi Xuan replied, turning his face away and waving his hand, as if his achievement were something accomplished in a single day. "I could actually have reached it in one day, but the Heavens would be angry if I borrowed the Laws of Nature too quickly."

  Zhi Xuan raised his hand and summoned the Heavenly Devouring Chalice, which contained the Soul Lantern housing thousands of wandering souls. Zhi Xuan stared at the Heavenly Devouring Chalice, which radiated an incredibly sharp Extreme Yang aura. Although it was previously used to devour anything, he thought of understanding the next Law using this chalice.

  "Fire Law, I will use this Heavenly Devouring Chalice," Zhi Xuan murmured, staring at the glowing red mouth of the jar. "As for the Earth Law, I will easily obtain it alongside the Fire Law in the Crimson Land Valley."

  Ruo Xianxue looked at the Heavenly Devouring Chalice floating in the air, her Sun and Moon double eyes narrowing. The Extreme Yang aura emitted by the Devil Artifact was indeed suitable for forging an understanding of the Fire Law.

  "The Soul Lantern inside, though filled with Yang essence, is essentially a manifestation of the Soul and Purification Laws," Ruo Xianxue hissed. "Pure Fire Law is a relentless destruction, Devil. That chalice will only help you understand Soul Fire or Purification Fire, not the Primal Fire that dominates the Crimson Land Valley. You need a source of Primal Fire, not just a Yang catalyst."

  Zhi Xuan gave a small nod. Ruo Xianxue's reasoning made sense. The Heavenly Devouring Chalice focused on devouring all forms, and the Soul Lantern was perfect for whenever he spilled blood and absorbed souls. The Crimson Land Valley was a territory dominated by the Law of Primal Fire, originating from the earth's core and ancient magma.

  "If you wish to conquer the Crimson Land Valley, you cannot rely solely on that chalice," Ruo Xianxue continued. She stepped closer, her eyes radiating sharp curiosity. "You do indeed possess Extreme Ice now—but that does not mean all forms of Nature will accept that ice. You need an understanding of Fire that burns everything, not just what resonates with Extreme Ice."

  Zhi Xuan sighed. He stored the Heavenly Devouring Chalice back into his Sea of Consciousness. He had indeed relied too heavily on his artifacts to solve all his Dao problems, especially since he was determined to understand both elements.

  "Very well, Great Saint," Zhi Xuan replied, his tone returning to calm focus. "I will seek the source of Primal Fire. But what about the Earth Law? Won't the Crimson Land Valley, whose name alone implies Red Earth, provide enough understanding for me?"

  Ruo Xianxue snorted, her brief laughter sounding like shattering crystals. "The Earth Law. It is the densest Law; everything grows from the soil and from Life itself. The Earth Law is the Foundation of the Universe—an existence that is always present, carrying the burden of all other Laws. You will not be able to reach it simply by stepping on its ground."

  Ruo Xianxue drifted down from the tree branch, approaching Zhi Xuan and circling his body, placing a finger on her lips with a smirk that seemed meant to pierce him. She purred softly and stopped right in front of Zhi Xuan, her double Sun and Moon pupils staring coldly at him.

  "Lightning brings destruction, Wind brings all movement, Water flows and freezes," Ruo Xianxue hissed, her nine tails fluttering. "Thus, Earth is what supports all things, and Fire brings purification and a new Era. Now, are you still able to stand if the entire Earth were placed on your shoulders, and every step you took was filled with Hellfire?"

  Zhi Xuan only stared at Ruo Xianxue. He was not daunted by the provocative gaze or the suffocating spiritual question. The newly born Extreme Ice aura around him resonated with absolute tranquility, rejecting vibrating emotional fluctuations. The question was a test of understanding the true meaning of how the Laws of Nature functioned.

  "Bearing the Earth and walking upon Hell," Zhi Xuan murmured in a low whisper. He asked himself if he could survive if the entire earth truly pressed down on him until he broke, while beneath him was a deep sea of Hell. "Then, with the Heavenly-Blood Body Law, using the blood of those who have become fertilizer for me, I shall step over both Laws."

  Zhi Xuan smiled, a cold and confident smile. He looked into Ruo Xianxue's double eyes, and even though Ruo Xianxue was a cruel Holy Devil, he felt a hint of warmth in that gaze—a hidden approval.

  "Five years remain for the Three Plains Competition," Zhi Xuan decided. He turned around and walked into the Sea of Consciousness, moving away from the small island. "I will come to the Hongmeng Empire, bringing all the disasters of the Natural Laws."

  Zhi Xuan did not wait for Ruo Xianxue's reply. He left his spiritual body in the Sea of Consciousness, letting it dissolve back into silence before returning to his physical body. Inside the ice niche, the piercing cold was immediately felt again. Ao Sheng and Xiao Die, who had just finished absorbing the Extreme Ice Core, opened their eyes. Their auras were now much more stable, and the newly born ice defense added a new layer of immunity beneath their skin.

  "Senior, we are finished," Ao Sheng reported, standing tall with the Black Water Dragon King Spear in hand.

  Zhi Xuan gave a small nod. He stood upright, his silvery hair shimmering faintly under the Azure Holy Flame light from the Heavenly Cauldron. His presence was no longer like a raging storm, but like an unshakable iceberg—heavy, static, and lethal.

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  "Very well. We shall move," Zhi Xuan commanded, his voice carrying a newly born authority. "The Crimson Land Valley awaits. We will waste no more time here."

  He waved his hand. The formation around the niche dimmed and vanished. The Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron drifted back into Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, and the remaining Azure Holy Flame immediately went out. The brutal cold of the Extreme Ice rushed back in, but it could no longer penetrate their defenses. Zhi Xuan brought out the Seven-Star Boat. The artifact immediately expanded, radiating an elegant silver light. The three of them jumped onto the deck. Zhi Xuan stood at the prow, his gaze fixed to the north.

  "The Crimson Land Valley lies beyond the Extreme Ice Mountains and the volcanic plains of the Northern Continent. It is the intersection of Primal Earth and Primal Fire," Zhi Xuan explained, his voice calm. "This journey will be different. There will be no more cold Laws."

  He channeled Pure Wind-Lightning essence into the Seven-Star Boat. With the Extreme Ice Law he had just mastered, his navigation became more efficient. He no longer simply pierced the wind; he froze the space in front of him for a moment, creating a path of total silence, before pushing the boat through that frozen gap with the Wind Law.

  WHOOSH! ZZZRT!

  The Seven-Star Boat shot forward. Its speed far surpassed their previous journey. They crossed the remnants of the Extreme Ice Mountains, leaving the towering crystal pillars behind them, leaving the snowflakes and the formation that protected them from the Extreme Ice.

  Two short weeks passed at unimaginable speed, cutting through months of distance. The scenery below them began to change dramatically. The layers of ice and snow vanished, replaced by cracked, reddish-brown plains. The air became hot and dry, carrying the scent of sulfur and volcanic dust.

  "The Crimson Land Valley," Zhi Xuan murmured. He moved his finger and dove down from the air. "Two little ones, prepare yourselves."

  The Crimson Land Valley stretched before them like an ancient burn mark on the face of the world. The plain was covered in maroon dust, interspersed with deep cracks that radiated scorching heat. From a distance, the valley appeared peaceful, but its spiritual energy pulsed with dense Earth Law and burning Fire Law, creating a suffocating pressure.

  Zhi Xuan dove the Seven-Star Boat, letting it hover low over the cracked ground. He immediately deactivated the Extreme Ice Law. The presence of the Ice Law in a Primal Fire environment would only trigger unnecessary Law conflicts and deplete his essence.

  He stored the Seven-Star Boat and landed softly on the hot red earth. Ao Sheng and Xiao Die jumped down. Ao Sheng’s Black Water Dragon King Spear immediately touched the ground, and he felt the dense Earth Law resisting his Golden Dragon's innate Law.

  "The Earth Law here is very different from ordinary Earth," Ao Sheng hissed. "It is very heavy, Senior. It feels as if every step requires ten times the effort."

  Xiao Die nodded in agreement. Her Law felt strangled here. The Earth Law in the valley was so dense it restricted growth and movement, and the heat from the hidden Fire Law made every strand of her essence feel dry.

  Zhi Xuan exhaled; a heat mist immediately enveloped the air around him. He waved his hand, and the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron drifted out. He did not resonate the Winter Law; instead, he allowed the cauldron to absorb the surrounding Primal Fire Law that resonated with the Summer Law.

  WHUSH! WHUSH! WHUSH!

  Strands of light with fluctuations from Five Element cultivators surrounded them just as they were about to step forward. Ten figures in transparent robes with strong killing intent appeared, carrying daggers and a scroll, indicating they came from the Eternal Killing Temple.

  Zhi Xuan tightened his jaw; he immediately pulled Xiao Die and Ao Sheng close. He did not expect to meet the emissaries of the Eternal Slaughter Temple again; someone must have paid them a high price to hunt him.

  "Kill Zhi Xuan, bring his head," the ten robed figures said in unison, as if the judgment of murder had been recorded by the Heavens themselves.

  Zhi Xuan snorted, a cold and sharp laugh breaking the hot silence of the Crimson Land Valley. He was not surprised. His reputation, combined with the news of him carrying the Heavenly Sword and being directly invited by the Hongmeng Empire to the Three Plains Competition, must have attracted the attention of major factions. The Eternal Killing Temple—a group of shadows that appeared only for rewards and blood feuds.

  "You have come from afar to deliver your lives," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice calm, but every word carried the resonance of his newly tempered Laws. His silvery hair fluttered subtly, contrasting with the heat of the valley. "I have not even finished understanding the Earth and Fire Laws here, and you have already brought mortal blood for my fertilizer."

  The ten robed figures—assassins carrying the weight of Five Element cultivation—spoke no further. They moved in unison. Eight of them dashed forward, swinging daggers enveloped in a dark purple aura that corrupted essence. The remaining two, who appeared to be leaders, began to tear an ancient scroll in their hands, preparing to release a high-level Slaughter Formation.

  "Little rats," Zhi Xuan snorted roughly. He moved his finger, and the Heavenly Sword immediately appeared in the air. "It has been a long time since I felt blood to forge my body."

  ZRINGG! SHRAKK! WHUSH!

  The Heavenly Sword immediately gleamed with lightning runes on its dark blade. Zhi Xuan, on the other hand, kept Ao Sheng and Xiao Die behind him. He caught the Heavenly Sword in his hand, slashing around him in a reddish lightning strike, carrying the weight of an Immortal Artifact's destruction.

  ZHINGG! SRAKK! WHUMP! WHUMP!

  Three of the emissaries raised their hands high, floating a golden block that radiated the shimmer of a Seal. The red lightning slash was immediately handled by that golden block, causing a violent clash that exploded the surrounding air. Zhi Xuan jumped back while carrying Xiao Die and Ao Sheng, snorting roughly.

  "Rats that have grown large," Zhi Xuan hissed. He smiled thinly and cruelly, leaving Ao Sheng and Xiao Die behind him, moving them away from the threat of the ten Five Element cultivators. "Xiao Die, Ao Sheng, stay here and watch how I harvest blood."

  Zhi Xuan did not wait for a reply. He dashed forward, not with the usual speed of wind, but with a leap of lightning that split the ground. His silvery hair fluttered wildly, and his eyes radiated a cold sapphire-blue light, contrasting with the burning heat around him. The Heavenly Sword in his hand roared, its blade glowing with spinning Lightning and Wind runes, emitting an unparalleled aura of destruction.

  The remaining eight assassins, though wary, could not anticipate Zhi Xuan's new speed. They were accustomed to his fighting style which relied more on separate Lightning and Wind Laws, or long-range combat. But now, Zhi Xuan moved like a storm that halted and exploded instantly.

  WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP!

  Three people hovered in the air. One of them raised a finger, and an endless golden circle of swords appeared above his head. The other two moved their fingers; one launched a barrage of sharp ice crystals, ready to shred everything, while the other brought out an artifact in the form of a Seal ring.

  ZHUSS! SHRINGG! SHRINGG! ZRAKK! ZRAKK!

  The golden sword circle above the first assassin's head roared, releasing strands of golden sword blades that flowed heavily toward Zhi Xuan, each blade carrying an aura of sharpness capable of cutting essence.

  At the same time, the ice crystal barrage from the second assassin shot out at insane speed, aiming for Zhi Xuan's vital points, while the Seal ring in the third assassin's hand raised the earth around Zhi Xuan, trying to lock the spatial fluctuations around him and prevent a Wind-Lightning escape.

  Zhi Xuan smiled. His smile was like an ice blade meeting fire, cold yet lethal. He was not daunted by the barrage of Laws and artifacts released by the three assassins. He had understood the essence of the Extreme Ice Law—now he could use it not only for defense but for a lethal counterattack.

  WHIRL! WHIRL! DING! DING!

  Zhi Xuan launched the Heavenly Cauldron toward the three lethal attacks. The Heavenly Cauldron shot forward and expanded. The Four Seasons Law released by the Heavenly Cauldron made all the Laws spread by the three assassins irrelevant, slowing their Laws for a moment. Zhi Xuan dodged to the side, weaving through the strands of attacks.

  ZHINGG! ZRAKK! WHUMP! WHUMP!

  The Heavenly Sword swung sharply, launching a reddish cross-slash that carried the weight of Heavenly Lightning's wrath, aimed directly at the three assassins. The three assassins immediately responded, forming a formation, but Zhi Xuan was faster and dashed again, swinging the Heavenly Sword to deliver a single slash.

  CRACKLE! ZRAKK!

  The single slash of the Heavenly Sword, now reinforced by Pure Lightning and Wind Laws, split the air with an ear-piercing sound, aiming not only for the body but for the souls of the assassins. The blade glided like a shadow made of dense reddish lightning.

  The assassin controlling the Seal ring was the quickest to react. He roared, channeling all his Five Element essence into the ring. The Seal ring emitted a dense yellow light, creating a spiritual Earth wall that suddenly appeared before the three assassins.

  DUAGH!

  The Heavenly Sword struck the spiritual Earth wall with brutal force. Earth was the most stable defensive Law, and that wall, forged by high-level Five Element cultivators, should have been able to withstand any attack beneath the Soul Transformation realm.