"What's the fuss?"
Hua Qing Zhu's ruby lips twitched at Lan An's dismissive tone, barely restraining the urge to swat him. This was the inheritance of a Peak Tribulation Realm cultivator, the mightiest existence on Dragon Crossing Star, and he dared to scoff?
When she'd stumbled upon the method to enter the Extreme Ice Demon Monarch's tomb, Hua Qing Zhu had been ecstatic for days, meticulously studying ancient records to minimize risks. Legend held that the Monarch created the Extreme Ice Heavenly Art, a Supreme Spirit-Grade technique that elevated ice spiritual energy to a formidable state called Extreme Ice, rumored to rival true Strange Ice. With it, the Monarch had dominated the Yellow Sand Continent, unchallenged.
Compared to the Mysterious Ice of the Lan Clan, Extreme Ice was leagues superior. Hua Qing Zhu believed mastering this art would vastly boost her combat prowess, not to mention the Monarch's lifetime hoard of resources. Even ordinary Tribulation Realm cultivators would go mad for this tomb. Yet, a mere Late Fusion Realm youth dared to belittle it?
Then again, his master was the Frenzy Queen, Wu San Niang, a peak continental powerhouse. Perhaps he had reason to be unimpressed.
"Today's events are secret. Don't breathe a word to anyone, understood?" Hua Qing Zhu warned, her eyes sharp.
"Got it," Lan An replied, pursing his lips. He understood her caution. The inheritance and wealth of a Peak Tribulation Realm cultivator, while not thrilling him, could drive most ice cultivators on the planet insane, willing to kill for it. Even Hua Qing Zhu, a Mid Body Unity expert, and the White Sand Dynasty would face trouble if word spread.
Lan An also grasped why she brought him. The Monarch's tomb, so meticulously designed, likely held traps infused with Extreme Ice. His Strange Flames—Golden Crow Void Flame and Purple Heart Void-Burning Flame—were perfect counters. His role was to neutralize these dangers.
Unbeknownst to him, Hua Qing Zhu had initially planned to silence him after using his flames. But his bond with Bai Lian Hua and his status as Wu San Niang's disciple—whose wrath she couldn't bear—made her abandon the idea. She couldn't risk her daughter's heartbreak or the Frenzy Queen's vengeance.
Taking a deep breath, Hua Qing Zhu cleared her mind and led Lan An deeper into the tomb.
The cave wasn't deep. They soon reached its bottom, where a crude stone tomb stood, a square hole deliberately carved into it.
Hua Qing Zhu retrieved a chilling token from her storage ring, fitting it perfectly into the hole.
Rumble!
The ground quaked. The tomb split like double doors, revealing a shimmering staircase descending into the earth's depths.
As the staircase appeared, dense spiritual energy surged out, forcing Lan An to inhale sharply, cursing inwardly. The Extreme Ice Demon Monarch was absurdly extravagant—the endless staircase was crafted entirely from Supreme Spirit Stones!
Over three million, by Lan An's estimate. Enough to power a Time Acceleration Array for three thousand days. For someone desperate to expand his array's range, this was a juicy prize.
Their breathing quickened as they cautiously descended, wary of traps.
Lan An's eyes gleamed. If he could take these stairs, his wealth would skyrocket.
Reaching the bottom, he spun around, swiftly storing the entire staircase into his Spirit Realm Pearl with lightning speed.
Hua Qing Zhu's expression turned odd. Moments ago, he'd scoffed at the tomb's value, yet now he greedily claimed the stairs?
"Show some dignity! There's better inside," she said coolly. While the Supreme Spirit Stones were valuable, she coveted the Extreme Ice Heavenly Art most.
"Money can buy immortality. I don't need what's inside," Lan An retorted, masking his embarrassment with a bold front.
Hua Qing Zhu snorted, ignoring his claim to the stairs, and turned to the scene ahead.
A bubbling natural lava pit blocked their path, with no visible route forward.
"Let's go."
Hua Qing Zhu enveloped herself in earth spiritual energy, forming a robust shield, and plunged into the lava.
Lan An shrugged, cloaking himself in Strange Flames, and followed.
The natural lava posed no threat. They passed through effortlessly, emerging into a spacious marble chamber. Somehow, the lava couldn't seep inside.
Stepping in, they found they could no longer fly.
"A Flight Prohibition Array," Hua Qing Zhu noted calmly. Walking was no issue.
They advanced slowly. At the chamber's far end stood a grand gate, the next passage. But four massive stone statues, carved as fierce generals wielding sharp sickles, stood at each corner, exuding faint pressure.
"Intelligent Stone, Low Spirit-Grade ore. It obeys its master's will through infused intent, even after death," Jin Ni explained.
"What's their strength?" Lan An asked, dubbing them "stone men."
"All four match Early Seventh Transformation physical cultivators, but they can't fly or tear space like normal cultivators," Jin Ni replied.
"Quite the haul," Lan An mused. The Monarch's resources were impressive.
"If I destroy the Monarch's intent within them, can I…?" Lan An's eyes lit up. Intelligent Stone could be loyal allies.
"Worth a try," Jin Ni encouraged.
"Shatter!"
A haughty shout startled Lan An. While he'd been consulting Jin Ni, Hua Qing Zhu had charged the chamber's center.
The four stone men, sensing an intruder, attacked her with ferocious strikes.
Unfazed, Hua Qing Zhu faced all four, her Mid Body Unity strength obliterating one statue effortlessly.
Lan An wailed, "Stop, you wasteful woman!"
Desperate, he used Speed Shift repeatedly, rushing to hug a statue's massive leg. Under Hua Qing Zhu's stunned gaze, he stored it in his Spirit Realm Pearl. The statue, a mere tool, didn't resist.
He swiftly claimed the remaining two, imprisoning them in the Spirit Realm Pearl for later reprogramming.
Panting, he glared at Hua Qing Zhu. If not for her haste, he'd have secured all four. The shattered statue's fragments mocked him.
Hua Qing Zhu's eyes twitched. He'd taken every treasure so far, yet dared glare at her? She'd fought to protect him, assuming he couldn't handle the statues, only for him to resolve it so easily.
Her kindness unappreciated, she froze him in a huff, ice spreading, then strode toward the gate.
Crack!
Lan An broke the ice with his flames, chasing after her. If anything happened to her, explaining to Bai Lian Hua would be tricky.
Beyond the gate, a vast, bottomless abyss stretched hundreds of miles, dark and foreboding. The next gate lay on the far side.
Normally, they'd fly across, but the Flight Prohibition Array forced them to walk. How?
Hua Qing Zhu frowned, attempting to tear space to cross via the void.
"What?" she gasped. The space was unyieldingly solid, impervious to her Mid Body Unity strength.
"The Monarch planned well. This challenge is tough but not deadly," she muttered. Climbing down was too risky.
While she hesitated, Lan An casually pulled an item from his ring.
Hua Qing Zhu's eyes nearly popped as it expanded mid-air—a lavish, majestic vessel radiating noble aura. The Dream Immortal Boat, a Supreme Spirit-Grade flying treasure, bought for 500,000 Fame Points (Chapter 236). Adorned in white with intricate purple patterns, it boasted a pool, luxurious cabins, and a Spirit Gathering Array.
"Finally, a chance to use it!" Lan An laughed, stepping aboard, marveling at its grandeur.
It could hold a hundred people in spacious comfort.
Hua Qing Zhu stood frozen, staring as if he were a monster.
"Come aboard, great beauty! Let's sail and admire the abyss," Lan An invited with a grin.
Hua Qing Zhu inhaled deeply, urging herself to stay calm, and stepped onto the Dream Immortal Boat. She couldn't fathom his resources. Even selling half the White Sand Dynasty might not afford such a treasure.
Lan An, pleased with her rare flustered look and the boat's splendor, mused about letting his wives use it for scenic cruises in the Spirit Realm Pearl.
He fed dozens of Supreme Spirit Stones into the boat's array core.
Whoosh!
Their hair whipped as the Dream Immortal Boat soared, its terrifying speed unaffected by the Flight Prohibition Array, heedless of the abyss's dangers.
If the Monarch knew his painstaking trap was bypassed so casually, he'd likely curse from beyond.
Lan An slowed the boat to savor the journey, noticing Hua Qing Zhu standing alone, her silhouette oddly forlorn.
"As the White Sand Empress, why risk so much for strength?" he asked sincerely. The Monarch's twisted legacy didn't seem worth her effort.
Her mature frame trembled slightly. "I must become stronger, at any cost."
Lan An fell silent, then said, "You remind me of one of my wives—just more mature, more stubborn."
"Who?" Hua Qing Zhu huffed, her pride stung by the comparison.
"She's—"
Boom!
Before he could answer, the Dream Immortal Boat landed on the far side of the abyss.