Zhi Xuan stepped inside and resealed the protective formation, immediately moving closer to the Heavenly Cauldron to seek warmth from the Extreme Ice that was so piercing outside. Fortunately, the formation he had created from the runes of the Ancient Heaven Memory Legacy functioned well to protect the niche.

  "Senior, what happened?" Ao Sheng asked, now leaning his Black Water Dragon King Spear against the wall. He and Xiao Die had felt the sudden fluctuations of destruction outside, followed by total silence.

  Zhi Xuan only snorted, sitting cross-legged near the Heavenly Cauldron, letting the Azure Holy Flame warm his cold skin. He felt his Heavenly-Devil Blood churning, neutralizing the remnants of the soul backlash absorbed by the Heavenly Sword.

  "Only those two Crimson Lotus beasts have vanished from our path," Zhi Xuan replied flatly. He moved his hand, and the Extreme Ice Core from the Dragon Snake drifted out, radiating an alluring Pure Ice Law. "This core is a pure Extreme Ice Core. The Ice Law contained within it is denser than what is outside this cliff."

  Zhi Xuan waved his hand and opened his palm; there, a Black Ink Tortoise carcass rotated slowly, its form intact despite its severed head. It radiated a striking and powerful aura of defense.

  "I will transform this into armor for the two of you," Zhi Xuan continued calmly. He had already thought of creating armor for the two small children before him, along with making permanent armor for his own robes once he obtained this tortoise shell. "We will remain here for a few days. I will forge and create strong armor for you to withstand the Extreme Ice storms, and after that, I will absorb the Ice Core."

  Ao Sheng and Xiao Die were stunned to see the Extreme Ice Core and the intact Black Ink Tortoise carcass. Those were two Ancient Beasts at the Crimson Lotus realm, which had just raged with a power capable of tearing the icy sky. Now, their remains lay before them, silent and submissive. The floating Ice Core radiated an enticing aura of spiritual essence.

  "Making armor?" Ao Sheng asked, his golden-blue eyes reflecting curiosity and admiration. The shell of the Black Ink Tortoise was known for its impenetrable Earth and Water Law defense.

  "Yes," Zhi Xuan replied. He had partially recovered, but forging artifacts in the Five Elements realm was a process that demanded immense concentration. He moved his fingers, and the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron drifted closer, emitting a condensed Azure Holy Flame, ready to burn and purify. "This shell is a defensive spiritual treasure. With a shell from a beast at the Soul Transformation level, at the very least, you will no longer need to fear Verdant Titan beasts or extreme weather."

  "This will not burden you," Zhi Xuan continued as he produced a blade of Devil Blood Sword from his fingers, quickly separating the body from the shell. He then floated the shell into the Heavenly Cauldron while storing the Black Tortoise body in his storage bag. "It will merge with your bodies; it will be very light yet strong at the same time."

  Zhi Xuan exhaled, cleaning the remains of frozen blood from the giant shell before placing it into the Heavenly Cauldron. The shell, being a defensive treasure from a Crimson Lotus beast, radiated very stable Earth and Water Laws. Zhi Xuan realized that forging an artifact that merged with a body possessing Ancient Blood was a more delicate process than mere artifact forging.

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes. Within his Sea of Consciousness, he summoned memories regarding the forging of body-merging artifacts from the Ancient Heaven Memory Legacy. This was not just about forging armor; it was about creating a second layer of Law defense that resonated with the Ancient Blood of Ao Sheng and Xiao Die.

  He channeled Pure Wind-Lightning essence into the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron. The Azure Holy Flame inside immediately roared, the bluish-golden fire enveloping the Black Ink Tortoise shell. The shell, which was immune to ice blades and spiritual essence, began to soften under the heat of the Azure Holy Flame. However, the Earth and Water Laws embedded within it refused to surrender.

  "Ancient Laws, submit to the Eternal Law," Zhi Xuan murmured. He brought out the Heavenly Sword. The sword was not used to cut, but as a Law catalyst. Zhi Xuan channeled the Pure Wind-Lightning Law into the blade of the Heavenly Sword, then used its tip to carve Purification Runes onto the surface of the reddening tortoise shell inside the cauldron. The process was very slow and required extraordinary precision.

  Every carved rune had to pierce the layers of primal Earth and Water Laws embedded in the shell. Nine days passed inside the ice niche. Zhi Xuan did not eat or drink; his entire attention was poured into the Heavenly Cauldron. Ao Sheng and Xiao Die simply sat, witnessing the extraordinary forging process. They absorbed the spiritual energy remaining in the Ancient Beast carcasses that Zhi Xuan had butchered and allowed the Summer Law from the Heavenly Cauldron to seep into their Ancient Blood, strengthening the effects of the Golden Dragon Blood they had consumed.

  On the ninth night, Zhi Xuan opened his eyes. A sharp Wind-Lightning light flickered within them. The Black Ink Tortoise shell had been completely purified; its Earth and Water Laws had been drawn out and filtered into pure essence floating in the air, while the shell itself had softened into a black jade liquid radiating a cold defensive luster.

  "Ao Sheng, Xiao Die, prepare yourselves," Zhi Xuan commanded, his voice hoarse yet firm. "This will be a swift process. You must stabilize yourselves and allow this liquid to merge with your Ancient Blood."

  Ao Sheng and Xiao Die immediately sat cross-legged. Ao Sheng brought out his Black Water Dragon King Spear, leaning it against his lap. Xiao Die closed her eyes, channeling the essence of her Thousand Feathered Moth Ancient Blood, preparing to receive.

  Zhi Xuan raised his hands. The black jade liquid emanating from the Heavenly Cauldron split into two perfect spheres of liquid. He channeled Blood-Binding Runes from the Ancient Legacy into both spheres. The runes flickered, connecting the jade liquid with the spiritual auras of Ao Sheng and Xiao Die. One sphere shot toward Ao Sheng, the other toward Xiao Die.

  The black jade liquid immediately pierced their skin, being absorbed into their pores and swimming along their meridians and Ancient Blood. Ao Sheng roared faintly. The pain was not only physical but also a conflict of Laws. The tortoise shell was Earth and Water Law; his Golden Dragon Blood was Water and Thunder Law.

  The two Water Laws clashed before finding harmony. Ao Sheng’s body glowed with fine black scales, which immediately receded back into his skin, leaving an invisible layer of defense beneath his flesh.

  Xiao Die whimpered, but she was calmer. The black jade liquid was quickly absorbed by her Thousand Feathered Moth Blood, which held Wood and Wind Laws. The Wood element within Xiao Die’s Ancient Blood quickly embraced the Earth Law from the tortoise shell, creating a stable foundation.

  Within one shichen, the process was complete. Ao Sheng and Xiao Die opened their eyes. They felt their bodies were much denser and heavier, but at the same time, their Wind and Water Laws felt lighter. They both stood up, moving their arms and legs. The sensation of the armor merged with the body was very subtle, nearly imperceptible, but the feeling of impenetrable defense was real.

  "Senior, this is amazing!" Xiao Die exclaimed. She stepped lightly on the icy ground, and the ground did not crack. She moved her hand, and the surrounding spiritual essence felt more difficult to pierce her skin. "I can feel a double defense! The tortoise's Earth Law makes my Wood Law more stable!"

  Ao Sheng nodded in agreement. He swung his Black Water Dragon King Spear. The Black Water fluctuations enveloping his spear felt denser and heavier, as if the Earth defense from the tortoise shell had provided a solid anchor for his Water Law.

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  "Thank you, Senior Zhi Xuan," Ao Sheng said, bowing respectfully with deep sincerity. The sacrifice of Ancient Blood followed by the gift of body-merging armor—Zhi Xuan had bound their loyalty not by force, but by a profound and valuable kindness.

  Zhi Xuan snorted softly, a thin satisfied smile appearing on his lips. He closed his eyes and moved his fingers; now it was his turn to create armor. He did not need to build body armor like Ao Sheng and Xiao Die; instead, he melted the remains of the black tortoise shell and absorbed them to strengthen the Slaughter Seals.

  With the Heavenly-Blood Body Law, the body became a weapon. Thus, no external armor was worthy of him. The black jade liquid immediately slid from the cauldron and fused with the Slaughter Seals. The spiderweb pattern on his chest felt thicker and its durability was terrifying; even the ice Zhi Xuan sat on below felt subtle cracks, proof that his body now felt both heavy and light at once.

  "With the body as the vessel, blood as the form," Zhi Xuan hissed. He could feel the essence weaving a thread, a thread that thickened the Slaughter Seals on his body, strengthening his form which was previously supported by the blood he had absorbed.

  WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP!

  Zhi Xuan opened his eyes. The pillar pattern on his forehead emitted a subtle flash, blending Lightning, Wind, and now, a bit of the thick Earth Law from the Black Ink Tortoise shell. He was finished. His body, which had felt vulnerable after the injury from the Heavenly Wrath Claw, now felt solid, as if every bone was coated with an impenetrable defensive essence.

  He took a long breath; a mist of cold essence escaped his mouth. Thirteen days had passed inside the niche. He had given armor to the two small children and strengthened his own defensive foundation. Now, it was time for the true tempering of the Law.

  "Two little ones," Zhi Xuan called, his tone flat yet full of authority. "Since we have wasted too much time here, we will remain so that I may temper the Ice Law first. You can survive even several years here with that armor. I will go out and find a place to temper the Extreme Ice Law here."

  Ao Sheng and Xiao Die nodded in unison, their expressions full of admiration and obedience. They knew that every second Zhi Xuan spent in the Five Elements realm was crucial.

  "Senior, we will keep watch in this niche," Ao Sheng said, radiating the aura of a serious young warrior. "We will use the Heavenly Cauldron as an anchor. The newly merged Earth Law makes me feel stable, and my Black Water essence can monitor the fluctuations outside."

  Xiao Die stepped forward, bowing gracefully. "Senior, I will use the Fine Rainbow Powder to hide the fluctuations of this niche. With this defensive armor, even if other beasts approach, we can hold them back."

  Zhi Xuan nodded in satisfaction. He did not need to worry. The double protection—the tortoise shell armor and the Summer Aura from the Heavenly Cauldron—was more than enough. With their ancient blood now denser, they were a small fortress of defense. He stood up, the Snow Phoenix jade in his hair vibrating subtly. He looked at the Extreme Ice Core in his hand, radiating an alluring aura of frozen destruction. In the Sea of Consciousness, the seed of the Ice Law in the Heavenly Samsara Wheel spun rapidly.

  "Very well. I am going," Zhi Xuan decided. He brought out several Divine Black Jade Stones and high-grade spiritual stones, piling them near the Heavenly Cauldron to maintain the Azure Holy Flame and the niche's defensive formation. He then waved his hand, and the Concealment and Separation Formation he had made at the narrow gap opened. The piercing cold air rushed in again, but now Zhi Xuan ignored it. His body, strengthened by the Slaughter Seals now layered with Earth Law, felt impenetrable.

  WHOOSH! ZZZRT!

  Zhi Xuan streaked out of the niche. He did not fly elegantly; he glided along the ice cliff walls with a speed that could only be achieved by the combination of Wind and Lightning Laws. He pierced through the churning essence storms, moving toward the highest peak of the Extreme Ice Mountains. His goal was to find the core of the Extreme Ice Law, the place where the Law was densest and most cruel. Only by immersing himself in the center of frozen destruction could he force the Ice Law seed in his Heavenly Samsara Wheel to bloom.

  After gliding for several shichens, he reached the highest ice peak, a crystal pillar that pierced the cloud layers. Here, the wind roared with a high-pitched sound capable of tearing eardrums, and the air felt like sharp ice powder. The temperature here was beyond the realm of mortal Five Element cultivators—this was a territory where the Ice Law had reached full autonomy, rejecting other Natural Laws.

  Zhi Xuan landed on that peak. He immediately sat cross-legged. The frozen wind carrying spiritual ice blades struck his body, but only created small ripples on his Slaughter Seals. He placed the Heavenly Sword before him, its blade plunging into the crystal layer of snow. Zhi Xuan closed his eyes and formed a mudra with his hands.

  "Extreme Ice," Zhi Xuan murmured. He loosened his defenses and the Extreme Ice air immediately pierced his body; his black robes appeared in sharp contrast against the Extreme Ice Sea. "Winter Wind is not just a wind. That wind is Winter set in motion by the wind."

  Zhi Xuan inhaled slowly, beginning his meditation of comprehension. The Heavenly Sword was immediately muffled even by the Extreme Ice, yet Zhi Xuan allowed it. This time, with his previous understanding of Wind, he found it easier to understand that Extreme Ice does not just move; he found the difference between Pure Ice and Extreme Ice.

  Pure Ice is a calm Natural Law, a peaceful crystal that functions to stabilize water. However, the Extreme Ice roaring around him was a manifestation of total destruction—a Law that rejected life, a freeze that tore at the soul. It was a Law driven by the greed of destruction, not by balance.

  Zhi Xuan opened the Extreme Ice Core he held. The core radiated the cruel aura of the Dragon Snake, packed with concentrated Ice Law. He placed half of the core on his knees and channeled Pure Lightning essence from his hands. The Pure Lightning did not attack; it acted as a spiritual eye, dissecting the structure of the Ice Core.

  He allowed half of the core to dissolve slowly and stored the rest; the pure essence of the Frost Dragon Snake seeped into his meridians. The piercing cold immediately invaded his body, trying to freeze every meridian. However, Zhi Xuan ignored it. His Heavenly-Devil Blood surged, working like a furnace trying to swallow and digest that brutal cold essence.

  In the second month of meditation, Zhi Xuan's body was covered in snow up to his knees. Yet he did not move; instead, he gained an understanding of how Extreme Ice does not actually blow, but exists at a single point that is frozen and absolute. Extreme Ice is not just unmoving; even the wind only carries its Law fluctuations, not fully moving the Extreme Ice itself.

  "The Extreme Ice Mountains, even Wind and Lightning storms cannot shake them," Zhi Xuan murmured, his lips seemingly frozen, yet he remained there. "The wind is only able to touch the heights of the mountains, but it cannot topple even the smallest crystal. Even lightning does not strike. This is a will that is truly frozen. Not moving, but forming a field of death."

  Zhi Xuan smiled thinly, a smile that immediately froze at the corner of his lips. He had found the root of the Extreme Ice Law—it was not a dynamic energy like Wind or Lightning, but a static absoluteness. Extreme Ice was defense, will, and a field that rejected fluctuations. Mortal Wind and Lightning could not topple its Law because the Extreme Ice Law rejected movement.

  "If Water is something that will embrace, fill, and satisfy," Zhi Xuan murmured again, his long black hair covered in falling snow. "Then Extreme Ice is not something to be satisfied, embraced, or filled. Rather, it is to know that freezing itself is death, and flowing itself is life."

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes, letting the new understanding sink into his Sea of Consciousness. He realized he had misinterpreted Extreme Ice. It was not merely the frozen state of Water; it was the Law diametrically opposed to the Wind Law, which always sought movement. Extreme Ice was total stagnation, the will of Nature to lock and shut down.

  By the sixth month, Zhi Xuan was frozen up to his waist. He still did not move, even his hair was now slowly turning partially silvery. He instead remembered when spring arrived, how something was reborn after a deafening winter. Winter was a frozen death, unmoving and rejecting all forms of Natural Laws.

  He realized that the Extreme Ice Law was not about becoming or flowing like the Laws of Lightning and Wind. Rather, he had to live out the meaning of an understanding of a lethal Death. How the Summer Law could only survive and balance, but was unable to devour the extreme Winter Law.

  Two years passed in meditation; Zhi Xuan’s hair had completely turned silvery, and he was frozen up to his neck, yet remained unmoved. He tried to understand why the Extreme Ice Law could spread itself, how an Extreme Ice was formed in the first place, and why they who did not move were able to spread cold and ice that crawled to cover the surface.

  He remembered when Zhu Qinglan formed such pure Water Law, even making her body flow like water when moving. He saw Zhao Xue using her Pure Ice Law to make the Shi Clan's attack swords freeze within the flow of water. However, none was in the form of Extreme Ice that was silent yet whose silence itself spread without the need for self-propagation.

  "Extreme Ice does not need a catalyst; it does not need itself to spread," Zhi Xuan murmured in his Sea of Consciousness; his physical mouth had been locked tight due to the Extreme Ice air that had battered him for several years. "Rather, it is Nature that spreads it. Extreme Ice does not need propagation. Rather, the environment around it slowly freezes because of its presence."