"This…" Instantly, the Chief stood up from the throne. One of the elders gasped. "Multiple elemental energy? Impossible!"
"Look closely," another whispered, observing the Dou Qi with a widened gaze.
"They are not separate elements… they're merging! These elements aren't fighting each other… they are fusing into one origin!"
Shen Yi's voice was calm, his tone faint but strong. "My physique works in harmony with all elements. Five elements, ice, wind, wood, dark, light, and more. It's called the Chaotic Physique."
He raised his palm again, and lightning wrapped around it like liquid silver. Flame appeared within the lightning, swirling with wind energy, while the core pulsed with spiritual pressure.
The fusion was smooth, frighteningly natural... an impossible balance that no ordinary Dou practitioner could copy.
The elders stared, frozen not by ice but by awe. To have even two harmonized elements was rare; three was amazing. But to merge all elemental attributes perfectly… that was something beyond understanding.
Before anyone could speak, a heavy pressure came down from Chief Bing He, standing in front of the throne. The temperature dropped sharply, the light dimming. A deep voice echoed across the hall.
"A body that harmonizes with all elements… Such a body would be a perfect vessel."
The chief's voice was rough but powerful. His gaze was calm, but Shen Yi noticed uncontrollable greed through his pupils.
"What do you mean by vessel? I am just here to join the valley… not to become anyone's vessel."
The Chief's gaze was fixed on Shen Yi, hunger flickering in his cold eyes. "You came to Ice Valley to serve, which also means that your physique now has great purpose," he replied softly and then added. "You should be grateful… you've saved me the trouble of searching for a new physique. Your body… will serve me well."
The surrounding elders stiffened. None dared to speak. They knew the Chief's potential was nearing its end; he had been searching for a new body for decades. To get a body compatible with all elements… that was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Shen Yi didn't move. His expression remained calm. "So that's your choice?"
Bing He smiled faintly. "You should be honored."
Then the Chief raised his palm, and instantly the temperature dropped sharply. The entire hall was frozen solid... space itself turned into ice. An enormous frost hand appeared in the air, crashing down towards Shen Yi.
Members of the Ice River Valley outside felt the tremor shake the valley. Blue light exploded from the mountain peaks as countless symbols activated, strengthening the formation.
Inside, the frost hand struck the spot where Shen Yi stood. For an instant, it seemed to crush him… until a faint hum echoed from within the explosion.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The ice shattered. Golden-gray lightning arced through the air, rippling like living veins of thunder.
Shen Yi stood unharmed, eyes cold, golden-gray electricity dancing around him. The frost that had touched him instantly turned into vapor.
"You froze space," Shen Yi said quietly, "But you forgot what happens when lightning shatters it."
He raised his hand; the air howled. A massive surge of chaotic lightning erupted outward, smashing into the elder's ice domain. The storm devoured the cold energy like a starving beast. Each bolt twisted into liquid arcs, turning the hall into a sea of seething power.
"Impossible!" Chief Bing He roared, forming countless layers of ice armor, each thicker than a mountain wall. "What kind of lightning is this!?"
Shen Yi didn't answer. His palm flicked, and the storm condensed into a single sphere... a swirling core of gray, black, and silver thunder. It pulsed once, then expanded violently.
The hall exploded; pillars collapsed, shards of glacial jade flying in all directions.
The surrounding elders barely managed to retreat, but the unforgiving berserk lightning engulfed and devoured everything in its path.
Everyone, including Chief Bing He, screamed as their bodies were engulfed by the gray lightning; their protective Dou Qi shattered instantly. The flesh froze, burned, and disintegrated all at once... reduced to ash and dust in a single breath.
The storm raged for several minutes before fading. The whole valley was gone, replaced by a massive crater of melted ice and floating ash.
The surviving guards and disciples trembled at the edge of the ruin, staring at the lone figure standing in the void amidst the gray mist.
Shen Yi's cloak fluttered lightly. His power had already pulled back, calm and controlled. He looked down at the fading traces of lightning swirling at his feet.
"Greed makes even the wise blind," he murmured softly. "A pity."
He turned and began walking towards the void gap in front of him, each step echoing faintly in the silent ruin. The guards and disciples could only watch, none daring to stop him.
The mountain trembled again as lightning veins spread through the valley's foundations, erasing every remaining seal and barrier hidden underground.
Outside, the sky turned gray; the surrounding ice dwellers looked up as arcs of chaotic lightning spread across the clouds like cracks in reality. The ice peaks that had stood for centuries began to collapse one after another.
As time passed, the Ice Valley's destruction news spread like wildfire, and the whole Central Plain shook. Even those strong forces sent their experts to assess the situation.
Somewhere deep inside the Western Region, a secret realm.
A lonely figure wearing a dark robe was standing on the cliff edge. Suddenly, a few dark shadows loomed through the black mist and materialized, kneeling behind him.
"Chief, the Ice River Valley has been destroyed… the Dou Qi signature matches the person who killed Guardian Hun Mo."
The shadow movement froze. He turned a little, revealing his red pupil through the side profile, and spoke softly, "You go personally and bring his soul to me."
"Yes," The looming figure spoke and then disappeared into a spiraling mist, leaving behind the Chief alone.
"Lightning that can affect the soul… it's interesting." He muttered and then fell silent, looking at the dark starry sky in front of him.
…
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