With a low shout, Yu Ci's sword vibrated in kind, its tones rippling through the air, clashing with the opponent's Sonic Blade, scattering its sharpness in disarray. With deft grace, he neutralized the lethal move, and then, propelled by Sword Energy, he strode forth, covering dozens of feet in a single step, breaking free from the encircling chill.

Since the formation of his Seed True Talisman, Yu Ci's swordplay had become ever more fluid and natural, easily parrying even the most sudden and vicious attacks. He was at ease, and so was the one who whispered incessantly by his side, who now chuckled:

"The Ghost Sound Cold Prison has been activated, covering just over two acres. There seem to be twenty-one people over there."

Yu Ci hummed in acknowledgment, aware that his ally was assisting him. With a leap, he shifted his angle and swept towards the depths of the forest. A tide of cold air surged in pursuit, and wherever it passed, countless ice particles and hoarfrost clung, rustling softly.

The Ghost Sound Cold Prison was a joint attack technique mastered by the Ice Snow Demon Palace, a branch of the Northern Land Demon Gate. That day, outside the Sword Garden, Yu Ci and his companions had encountered the Heartless Palace's treasured artifact and had mentioned the Ice Snow Demon Palace, with Zhang Yan and Li You specifically bringing it up. This technique, imbued with cold poison and capable of stirring malevolent energies, was exceedingly formidable, particularly due to its deceptive nature, launched by the collision of two sound waves, ensnaring many an unwary soul.

The Ice Snow Demon Palace... indeed, a force not to be overshadowed by the Eastern Orthodox Sect.

Though he was encouraged to seize the opportunity to purify his sword intent, Yu Ci was no foolhardy man. He would not blindly withstand the enemy's fierce onslaught, choosing instead to exploit the complex terrain of this space to discern the truth from the false.

**********

When the Ghost Sound Cold Prison failed to achieve its desired effect, Yuan Wang, the one in charge, grew frustrated: "Who is over there?"

No one could provide an answer.

Yuan Wang was one of the Ice Snow Demon Palace's most outstanding fourth-generation disciples, with a well-established reputation. Of course, as a disciple of such a prominent sect, he was well aware of his own capabilities. The Ice Snow Demon Palace's legacy was not particularly linked to Sword Cultivation Techniques, and the sect's interest in the Sword Garden was moderate at best; otherwise, someone of his rank, barely squeezing into the top ten, would not have been chosen to lead and represent them at the gathering.

On the other hand, dwelling in the extreme northern lands of bitter cold, with little communication with the outside world, the palace would never miss an opportunity to showcase its power. Hence, the sect elders personally commanded the Heartless Palace to send them forth, their intentions clear to Yuan Wang.

"Where is the Mysterious Ice Heart Mirror?"

This artifact could reflect the opponent's location and the intensity of their aura, among other fundamental details. It also amplified the effects of long-range curses like "Ghost Sound Cold Prison." The Heart Mirror had just materialized, as the encounter had been sudden, and Yuan Wang had released the Ghost Sound Cold Prison promptly, not needing to confirm his target nor fearing casualties. Within this Guixu, every opportunity had to be fought for; if they were to annihilate their enemies, it would be merely the latter's misfortune.

Following Yuan Wang's command, several disciples of the Ice Snow Demon Palace hurriedly crafted ice into form with their curses, presenting it to him for observation. Yuan Wang peered into the polished surface of the mysterious ice mirror, employing the secret methods of the Ice Snow Demon Palace to decipher the information conveyed therein.

"Alone, with cultivation... at the Initial Stage of the Golden Elixir? Is this some kind of mistake?"

His visage was far from pleasant. At his side, among his sect brethren, seven were Golden Elixir Cultivators, including one at the Golden Elixir Upper Level, only half a step behind him. The other thirteen were at the Nature-Connecting Upper Stage. Together, they had struck first but had embarrassingly failed, a disgrace indeed.

"Imbeciles, a bunch of imbeciles!" Yuan Wang's scathing rebuke spared no one, and his fellow disciples, accustomed to his harshness, bowed their heads in silence.

Renowned for his exacting standards, Yuan Wang was as unforgiving to himself as he was to others. As a rising star within the Ice Snow Demon Palace, his innate abilities were top-notch. Yet, it seemed the Demon Lord had played a cruel joke on him; his talents, though exceptional, were not the perfect match for the mainstream legacy of the Ice and Snow Demon Technique.

In the frigid atmosphere of the palace, he often faced disdain. To turn his fortunes around, he chose the path of Sword cultivation, a side door within side doors. Relying almost entirely on himself in the first half of his life, he gritted his teeth and carved out his own domain, eventually catching the attention of the elders and rising to prominence. This very journey had shaped his stern and exacting nature, bordering on nitpicking.

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The term "imbeciles" inadvertently included himself as well.

After his tirade, his mind seemed to clear, and glancing at the Mysterious Ice Heart Mirror, he suddenly paused: "Could this person be... that one?"

He stroked his chin, momentarily lost in thought. Two days prior, he, Wen Shifei, and others had confronted cultivators from the Lichen Sect in the Lifeless Deathless Garden and had suffered a significant setback. Old Daoist Yu Zhou was formidable, his Transforming Departure Sword Mist technique was so refined it rivaled the combat power of a Vacuum Walking Cultivator, making him a dangerous adversary. Even with the combined strength of the Demonic Sect factions, they had been forced to retreat in humiliation.

However, this incident had etched an important name into his memory:

Yu Ci!

At this moment, that name and the figure associated with it were incredibly tantalizing.

"Capture him... no, follow him!"

Yuan Wang immediately shifted his objective, a rare smile breaking through his stern facade. Since entering this bizarre and inexplicable space, the alliance of Demonic Sect factions, originally consolidated by Wen Shifei, had slowly disbanded.

This disarray was due to two reasons: first, the labyrinthine pathways and countless spatial rifts made it impossible to discern the correct route; second, the hostile environment, with spaces interlinked to form vast deserts that abruptly turned into boundless seas, and regions so perilous they were unfit for human habitation—some were veritable Outer Realms of the Nine Heavens, where one could perish without a trace.

Moreover, other forces continually disrupted the situation. Xia Boyang, rallying a group from the Jade Purification Alliance, vied with them for the upper hand. Then there was the Heavy Weapon Sect, whose cultivators, utilizing the advantages of Heavy Armor, moved through the void unpredictably, creating chaos. This provoked Old Daoist Yu Zhou into a relentless pursuit, heedless of all else, leading to a world in uproar, with even Wen Shifei joining the fray.

In truth, Yuan Wang's reaction had been slow; others had already targeted the Heavy Weapon Sect Cultivators to glean clues about their sect leader and delve deeper. Yuan Wang's delay had cost him the trail, a source of great frustration. Now, with this opportunity presenting itself, he could not afford to miss it again.

"He entered two days before us and somehow extricated himself from the clutches of the Heavy Weapon Sect Leader; he must possess some fundamental knowledge... Don't corner him too tightly, yet we can't let him escape!"

His command was met with nods of agreement from his fellow disciples.

Yet, no sooner had consensus been reached than a sudden flash of light pierced the void, heralding the approach of a Flying Sword from afar, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. Screams of agony erupted from the outskirts as blood spattered in a gruesome display.

Yuan Wang's fury was palpable as he strode forward to survey the scene, his teeth clenched in a silent snarl. The man impaled by the sword was not yet dead, but his thigh had been severed from his body, and in his excruciating pain, he writhed and wailed without respite. Even the Cultivators, born of the Demonic Sect, could not remain unaffected by the grisly sight, and the atmosphere grew tense with unease.

Witnessing this, Yuan Wang immediately understood the adversary's tactic, and though seething with hatred, his expression cooled into a detached calm. He declared icily, "Maimed and bereft of your core, your path forward is now hopeless. I shall grant you a swift end."

Before his fellow disciples could even react, Yuan Wang's sword plunged through the top of the injured man's skull, claiming his life with an impassive face. In another Sect, such an act might have undermined morale, but the disciples of the Ice Snow Demon Palace were known for their cold-hearted ruthlessness. Yuan Wang's merciless action not only preserved their spirit but even ignited their ferocity.

Wasting no more time, Yuan Wang barked, "Formation Setup!" and the remaining twenty disciples promptly took their positions, their Auras interlinking. The perimeter was once again breached by a Flying Sword targeting a weaker Nature-Connecting Upper Stage Cultivator, but this time it was intercepted by a vigilant Golden Elixir cultivator. Yuan Wang seized the opportunity to discern that the Flying Sword was, in fact, a type of Sword Talisman.

"A hundred steps to the upper left."

At Yuan Wang's command, the twenty-person formation shifted, initially with some resistance but soon a tidal wave of cold surged forth, layer upon layer cascading like an avalanche, the momentum formidable. Wherever it passed, the chill erased all traces of life, encasing the mountain foliage and vines in layers of ice.

*********

Observing the Ice Snow Demon Palace Cultivators swiftly setting up their formation, Yu Ci no longer hesitated and retreated into the sky. A moment's delay, and he would have been engulfed by the overwhelming murderous aura mixed with toxic cold emanating from the opposing formation, which now completely encased the mountaintop he had just vacated. More than that, within a ten-mile radius, the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth was disturbed by their formation, showing signs of stagnation.

Troubles abounded outside, and within, dissent brewed. A voice at his ear voiced dissatisfaction: "Sword refining is akin to heart refining; an impure heart begets an impure sword. Even if you adapt brilliantly to changing situations, always prevailing, how can your swordsmanship be refined without adhering to the principles of the sword?"

Yu Ci chuckled, "So using Sword Technique isn't acceptable?"

"Sword cultivation has always stood apart from the mundane."

The implication was clear: it was not only an expression of pride but also a suggestion for Yu Ci to transform his very way of thinking. Yu Ci neither agreed nor disagreed, but subsequently, he refrained from using the Nine Luminaries Dragon Abyss Sword Talisman. Instead, he cast forth the sharp sword in his hand, launching an attack with the Sword Control Technique taught by his elder brother.

This sword strike failed to achieve its goal, and due to his unpracticed sword-handling technique, he nearly lost his sword in the process. The formation of the Ice Snow Demon Palace capitalized on this, swelling in strength. Within a ten-mile radius, snow and ice blanketed the ground as if the frigid polar extremes had been transposed there.

...