"You truly do appear different," the woman remarked, materializing unexpectedly in front of Liang.
Liang’s eyes flickered, He was no longer the person he had been just a year ago.
While others might find it challenging to discern his exact cultivation due to the enigmatic nature of the chaos rune, the unmistakable aura of a seventh-order expert was impossible to completely conceal.
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"You, too, appear changed. I assume you’ve made significant progress," Liang observed, meeting the woman’s gaze.
"Humph, if even you could improve, why wouldn’t I?" the woman sneered dismissively. Her silver-tinged robes flowed gracefully around her slender figure.
"Now that you’re here, let us proceed," she demanded abruptly, her voice laced with an air of authority.
Liang narrowed his eyes, contemplating his options. Should he refuse? But to do so would inevitably provoke a fight he had no desire to engage in. His mind raced, sizing up the situation and considering the potential consequences of both compliance and defiance.
"Are you reneging on our agreement?" the woman brow raised, her aura surging. Wisps of elemental energy swirled around her.
"Reneging on our agreement? Me?" Liang sneered, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Since I have given you my word, I will, of course, honor it."
"Let us proceed," Liang declared, his tone firm and resolute, as he stepped purposefully towards the location of the void gate.
The woman cast a lingering gaze at the scarred and war-torn ancient battlefield before following suit.
Soon enough, they emerged on the other end of the portal, standing upon the icy cliff.
Liang surveyed their surroundings with a keen eye, then turned to her, a wry smile on his lips. "It seems we’re not alone."
"Just ants," the woman laughed, her voice echoing coldly in the frosty air. With a casual wave of her hand, the ice around them came to life, shards rising and swirling, coalescing into razor-sharp blades of frost. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the icy blades hurtling in multiple directions.
Liang, on the other hand, flexed his fingers slightly, and a more intricate formation began to materialize, enveloping the entire cliff in its embrace. Countless void blades started to form, each emanating an air of ominous power.
Following the icy projectiles, these void blades soared, tracing the same deadly paths through the air.
***
Galactic Dragon City...
"It’s truly a sight to behold," the woman exclaimed, her eyes surveying the colossal ice dragon statue that encircled the city from above.
"Oh, what are your thoughts on it?" Liang asked, genuinely curious.
"Divine Way!" The woman’s voice, though she uttered merely two words, struck Liang like a thunderclap, reverberating powerfully in his ears.
"You’ve heard of it before?" she inquired, a hint of amusement lacing her tone. "The Divine Way is a lost cultivation method from the previous epoch. It’s quite unusual for someone to recognize it."
"I possess only fragmented information, nothing more," Liang remarked casually, his knowledge of the Divine Way stemming from the Boundless Void Depository.
The Divine Way involved harnessing the great laws of heaven to create a deity position and accumulate karma in order to achieve immortality. Karma, the life force derived from the devotion of worshippers towards the deity, was the key to transcending and achieving the godhood.
"I can’t believe that this particular cultivation still exists," the woman mused, her tone tinged with disbelief.
"Indeed," Liang agreed, nodding. "What are your thoughts? Can you estimate the his power?" His gaze shifted towards the dragon statue.
After a moment of contemplation, the woman shook her head. "He wields immense power, likely surpassing the seventh-order."
"I see, so avoiding them is the wisest course of action," Liang chuckled. The corners of his lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Them?" confusion flickered across the woman’s eyes, her brows furrowing in uncertainty.
Liang chuckled once more, his voice carrying a hint of mischief. "There are two other cities similar to this one - Black Tortoise City and Kun Peng City. Each possesses its own deity overseeing the city."
"Dragon, Black Tortoise, and Kun Peng... Three divine beasts, with three deities positions," the woman murmured, her gaze distant as she connected the dots in her mind.
Liang’s eyes flickered with intrigue. "Have you heard of them before? You seem to possess knowledge about these three deities."
"It was merely a legend I once heard," the woman replied quietly, her tone tinged with a sense of nostalgia.
Liang frowned slightly, pondering the significance of her words. Rumors had circulated that this planet was once part of the Nether Planes. Perhaps her knowledge stemmed from there.
"What’s your name, by the way?" the woman asked, realizing that despite their prior interactions, they still hadn’t exchanged names.
"Liang," he replied casually.
"Liang. I see. My name is Venia De Vil. You may call me Venia," she offered, a slight smile playing at her lips.
Liang nodded, acknowledging that using names would facilitate smoother communication.
"So, how do you plan to assist me in returning to the Nether Planes?" Venia suddenly asked, her gaze locked onto his.
"Traveling to the Nether Planes through conventional means, employing my void power, would take hundreds of years. However, fortuitously, there is a portal to the Nether Planes here," Liang explained casually.
"Here? Then, let’s go!" Venia exclaimed eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"Huh, it’s not as simple as that. The portal is situated in an exceptionally perilous location. Even someone with your abilities would struggle to pass through safely," Liang remarked with a chuckle.
From the trove of the old man’s memories, Liang learned that the portal lay hidden within the Everlasting Ice Forest, one of the most perilous locales in Frostfell. Not only is it the dominion of the Ice Sylphs and Snow Golems, but it also harbors a myriad of bizarre and foreboding entities.
Beyond these two races, it’s exceedingly difficult for anyone to safely navigate the forest. Even if one were to reach the portal’s vicinity, nearing it would be a feat unto itself. The portal is bound by an ancient seal, promising dire repercussions to anyone who dares approach. Furthermore, it is under the vigilant guard of eight late-stage Runic Mastery Realm experts, split evenly between the two races.
"Eight experts?" Venia’s eyes narrowed in contemplation. That number posed a significant challenge; indeed, confronting them all single-handedly was beyond her capabilities.