"Does Master have any further instructions?"
Fletcher Toba turned around, a bit worried, thinking Vulcan Pi wanted to pursue the matter of Diana Toba.
"Back then, you and your sister saw Ian Song captured by Prime One Church experts with your own eyes, didn't you?" Vulcan Pi asked meaningfully.
"That's right. Not only did we see it, but a lot of other people did too!" Fletcher Toba answered honestly.
"I've just received word that in only three days, thirty-two more Prime One Church branch altars have been destroyed!" Vulcan Pi narrowed his eyes, a mysterious gleam flickering within.
"How is that possible?" Fletcher gasped, while Diana Toba's eyes lit up with delight.
"Pfft!"
Vulcan Pi pointed a finger, unsealing Diana Toba's cultivation, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be that kid's doing."
"Impossible! Ian Song is already locked up in the Prime One Church's Demon Prison—how could he possibly destroy thirty-two branch altars?" Fletcher shouted in disbelief, his voice tinged with jealousy.
"Big brother, you didn't see it yourself, so how do you know it wasn't him?" Diana Toba retorted.
"Because it doesn't make sense at all! Destroying thirty-two branch altars in three days—even if he's insanely strong, that's basically impossible!" Fletcher Toba still refused to believe it, loudly arguing back.
"If you don't believe it, then you and your sister should head to the Tang Dynasty and investigate for yourselves!" Vulcan Pi's voice rang out. "If you find out it's really him, and if Diana can convince him to join the Fire God Church, I'll personally arrange for you to marry him!"
"Who wants to marry him!" Diana Toba's pretty face flushed as she protested shyly.
"Haha!"
Vulcan Pi burst out laughing. "You really think you can hide your little feelings from me? If you didn't care about that kid, why would you run off to the Tang Dynasty? And if you didn't care, why beg me to save him?"
"Master, please stop...!" Diana Toba grew even more bashful. "Don't worry, I'll definitely convince that guy to join our Fire God Church!"
"Alright, off you go!" Vulcan Pi waved his hand.
............
Snowfield Province. On a certain ice plain, there's a massive gorge ravaged by strange, howling winds. Even Fusion experts feel uncomfortable stepping inside.
"Master, the Ice Souls are deep within this gorge!" Carl Yelson explained as he led the way. "This place looks barren and lifeless, with nothing but strange winds. Since a batch of Ice Souls only forms every ten years, no one's ever paid much attention to it."
Besides Ian Song, his entourage included Lana Blue, Leo Hunter, and Rex Steele, who had recently broken through to mid Fusion.
With a huge supply of top-grade spirit crystals and a demon-level cultivation manual from Ian, Rex Steele managed to break through to mid Fusion in just two years inside the Divine Temple, adding another powerhouse to Ian's ranks.
Rex Steele's breakthrough made Lana Blue, Yellowhide, and the others green with envy. Luckily, Ian wasn't stingy; he picked out several demon-level manuals from the library and taught them too.
Since he'd calculated that the Ice Souls were about to be born, Ian had Carl Yelson lead the group here to find them.
Half an hour later, the group had already made their way deep into the gorge. Oddly enough, the closer they got to the center, the weaker the strange wind became—until finally, it vanished completely.
"Master, look! There's someone over there!"
Suddenly, Rex Steele pointed ahead.
Several thousand meters away stood an ice wall, and beneath it sat a green-robed Daoist.
All at once, the green-robed Daoist seemed to sense them. His eyes snapped open, shooting out two sword-like beams of pressure that made Ian and the others feel an intense sense of oppression.
"A late Fusion expert!"
Ian could confirm it.
The next moment, the green-robed Daoist's brows furrowed slightly—a subtle movement that made everyone's heart clench.
Where do you brats come from? If you know what's good for you, get out of here!
How dare you! Who do you think you are, speaking so rudely to my master?" Carl Yelson snapped back at the Daoist.
The Daoist's brows furrowed even deeper as he stood up, releasing a wave of crushing pressure that made it hard to breathe. "I'll say it one more time: leave now, or die!"
Who do you think you are? You think we'll just leave because you say so?" Carl Yelson sneered.
Courting death!
The Daoist's gaze turned icy as he raised a finger.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
All three—Lana Blue, Rex Steele, and Leo Hunter—were blasted hundreds of meters back, coughing blood.
A transparent bolt of finger-force shot toward Carl Yelson's brow at lightning speed. Even before it arrived, Carl felt his body freeze under a wave of piercing cold. But as a mid Fusion expert, he managed to shake off the chill with a surge of his Nascent Soul and punched out to counter.
Boom!
Splat! Blood mist erupted, and Carl Yelson's entire arm exploded into bloody fog.
What?!
Seeing this, Lana Blue, Leo Hunter, and Rex Steele rushed to shield Ian.
Carl Yelson let out a miserable scream, stared fearfully at the Daoist, and quickly retreated behind Ian, trembling. "Master, this old Daoist is way too strong—maybe we should leave!"
Though Carl Yelson was mid Fusion, his courage was far inferior to other Fusion experts—almost as timid as Ricky the Rat King.
Daoist, aren't you being a bit domineering?
Ignoring Carl's panic, Ian brushed past Lana Blue and the others, stepping forward to face the Daoist.
The Daoist's expression grew colder. "Brat, don't test my patience. Leave now, or die!"
Ian didn't take the Daoist's threat to heart. Although the opponent was late Fusion, Ian had ways to restrain him. He replied calmly, "Are you here for the soon-to-emerge Ice Souls?"
The Daoist's pupils contracted, and killing intent flashed across his face. "I was going to spare your lives, but now that you know the secret of the Ice Souls, I can only send you on your way!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Daoist strode forward and pointed at Ian.
Master, watch out!
Lana Blue, Rex Steele, and Leo Hunter cried out, flashing in front of Ian and launching a joint attack on the Daoist.
But in the next instant—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
All three—Lana Blue, Rex Steele, and Leo Hunter—were knocked back, crashing hundreds of meters away.
Waaaah!
The three tried to get up but couldn't help spitting out blood.
Seeing this, Ian's heart sank. The green-robed Daoist was even stronger than expected—one move had seriously injured two early Fusion and one mid Fusion expert.
Die, brat!
Murderous intent flashed in the Daoist's eyes as he pointed at Ian again.
Ian waved his hand, and seven figures appeared before him—seven mid Fusion experts who had been cultivating in the Divine Temple.
After switching to Ian's demon-immortal and immortal-level cultivation methods, all seven had made significant progress.
Kill!
The other mid Fusion experts combined their attacks, colliding with the Daoist's finger-force.
Boom!
The shockwave tore through the area. The seven mid Fusion experts staggered back, while the Daoist only swayed slightly.
His eyes were deep as water, staring in surprise at the seven suddenly-appearing mid Fusion experts.
How dare you attack my master! Die!
The Tiger King roared, charging at the Daoist, while the other six mid Fusion experts followed up with powerful magical attacks.
In an instant, the gorge became a battlefield of legends.
Within moments, the gorge was on the verge of collapse.
The Daoist didn't use artifacts or spells, relying solely on a mysterious footwork and finger-force to battle the seven Fusion experts, yet he fought them to a draw.
Roar!
A thunderous beast roar echoed—the Tiger King revealed his true form, a giant demon tiger.
Ricky the Rat King, Ethan the Eagle King, and Silas the Snake King also revealed their beast forms.
With all four demon kings showing their true forms, each one's combat power surged. The Daoist finally felt the pressure. He frowned and reached out to grab an ancient green longsword.
The moment the Daoist gripped the sword, his entire aura changed, becoming even sharper and more menacing.
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
Sword light flowed like water and lightning, weaving through the seven mid Fusion experts with the speed of a storm and the force of thunder.
The sword moves seemed ordinary but packed immense power. The seven, who had just gained the upper hand, were now being suppressed again.
Seeing this, Ian nodded to himself. The green-robed Daoist's strength was likely not inferior to Old Man Heavenly Sword. Ian sensed the Daoist was still holding back.
Given that, there was no need to keep fighting.
Ian produced five formation flags.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The five flags fell in five directions, and a massive formation surged up, enveloping all eight combatants. Ian then tossed out nine formation disks, causing the formation to twist and transform—the gorge vanished, replaced by a glowing green prairie.
Seal!
Ian formed a hand seal, and an invisible force appeared beside the Daoist, binding him tightly.
Hmph, break!
The Daoist shouted coldly, unleashing a surge of energy that shattered the mysterious force binding him.
But that brief delay gave the seven mid Fusion experts a chance—they surged forward to attack.
Boom!
The Daoist was knocked backward, but halfway through he stabilized himself. Seeing the seven mid Fusion experts charging again, his face grew frosty. In the next moment, he formed a sword seal and charged them head-on.
Slash! Slash!
Blood sprayed—two human mid Fusion experts were wounded by the Daoist's sword, while the other five were knocked aside by his blade.
So fierce!
Ian narrowed his eyes and formed another hand seal.
A powerful, mysterious force once again bound the Daoist. This time, he couldn't break free, and a trace of panic flickered in his eyes.
Kill!
The seven mid Fusion experts seized the moment and attacked fiercely.