As they disembarked, Lan An and Hua Qing Zhu's expressions grew solemn.
A bone-chilling cold seeped through, stinging their skin.
The frigid aura emanated from beyond the gate—their next destination on this perilous journey.
"As expected, Extreme Ice. Even its ambient chill bites the flesh," Hua Qing Zhu murmured, affirming her decision to bring Lan An, bearer of Strange Flames.
"What lies beyond?" Lan An mused, stroking his chin.
"Let's find out," Hua Qing Zhu replied softly, her exquisite face cautious. She condensed ice and earth spiritual energy, forming a robust shield around her body.
Lan An pondered briefly, then unleashed two Strange Flames. Golden and purple flames intertwined, enveloping him in a protective blaze.
Cautiously, they stepped through the gate.
A frozen domain greeted them, entirely crafted of ice. Even the air crystallized, drifting as icy wisps through the space.
"Ah!" Hua Qing Zhu gasped.
Her formidable Mid Body Unity shield proved useless. The ice pierced through, freezing her skin inch by inch, seeping into her pores, coursing through her veins. Her spiritual energy stalled, the cold piercing her bones. Despite gritting her teeth, she shivered, her rosy lips drained of color.
She'd only taken one step into the chamber.
"This domain is laced with Extreme Ice forged by a Peak Tribulation Realm master—truly terrifying!" she realized, her body now rigid, encased in ice. Her platinum hair turned crystalline, her form a stunning ice statue—gorgeous yet immobile.
In this state, death by freezing was inevitable. Even self-detonation would be futile; her nascent soul would freeze upon escape.
Lan An's face darkened. Despite his dual Strange Flames, the chilling aura infiltrated, his blood thickening, on the verge of solidifying.
Yet, his condition was better than Hua Qing Zhu's. He hadn't fully frozen and managed to retreat from the icy domain.
"Even two Strange Flames aren't enough?" Hua Qing Zhu's frozen face flickered with resignation.
She should've anticipated this. Though Strange Flames outclassed Extreme Ice, Lan An's cultivation was too low to counter ice forged by a Peak Tribulation Realm Extreme Ice Demon Monarch.
Despite her high estimation of Extreme Ice, its terror exceeded expectations. A Mid Body Unity expert like her was powerless.
Her senses dulled, divine sense sealed. In the silent space, she assumed Lan An had fled.
Understandable—a peerless genius with vast resources, destined for greatness, wouldn't die here with her.
As her blood froze and spiritual energy waned, she resolved, "I won't die so pathetically!"
Channeling her remaining spiritual energy to her dantian, she prepared to self-detonate.
Sizzle…
A familiar sound interrupted her.
A faint warmth pierced the ice, halting her resolve.
Boom!
The ice encasing her shattered, along with her defensive robe.
A warm embrace enveloped her bare form, accompanied by a man's ragged breathing.
Lan An, wreathed in ferocious Thunder Flame, unleashed Emperor Flame and Tri-Color Tribulation Lightning without restraint, obliterating the Monarch's Extreme Ice to save Hua Qing Zhu.
He hadn't anticipated her robe disintegrating, revealing an unparalleled sight.
Her skin, whiter than snow, gleamed flawlessly. Her lithe waist, clasped in his hands, felt divine. Above, her ample peaks pressed tightly, leaving no gap, adorned with delicate ruby crests—a masterpiece of nature.
Below, her slender legs and curvaceous hips exuded elasticity, her sacred valley emitting an intoxicating fragrance, framed by neatly trimmed platinum wisps.
Unlike a youthful maiden, she was a ripe, mature beauty, radiating allure, ready to be savored.
Lan An couldn't tear his eyes away until a chilling voice snapped, "Seen enough?"
Hua Qing Zhu gritted her teeth. Her body, exposed to a man for the first time, quickened her icy heart. Had he not just saved her, she'd have crushed him.
"Ahem!" Lan An coughed, clutching her tightly as he retreated from the deadly chamber.
Hua Qing Zhu huffed, donning a regal white gown, restoring her cold, lofty demeanor.
Only then did she scrutinize the power enveloping Lan An.
Her expression shifted, phoenix eyes narrowing. "Tri-Color Tribulation Lightning? Three Strange Flames?"
As a Mid Body Unity expert, she recognized their origins, her heart roiling with shock.
What kind of freak was he?
"You're bold. If the world learns this secret, even Senior Wu San Niang couldn't protect you!" she warned, her gaze complex.
She understood the implications. With such powers, if Lan An reached Tribulation Realm, the planet would kneel before him. The Extreme Ice Demon Monarch dominated with one Extreme Ice. Lan An, with three Strange Flames and Tri-Color Tribulation Lightning, could slaughter a hundred Monarchs if he matured.
Strange Flames were one thing, but Tri-Color Tribulation Lightning—the power of the Heavenly Dao—was coveted by all.
If Tribulation Realm elders learned of this, they'd hunt him relentlessly, seizing his powers or killing him to prevent his rise. Even Wu San Niang, mighty as she was, couldn't fend off a swarm of Tribulation experts.
This explained Lan An's secrecy, never unleashing his full power even in life-or-death battles.
Hua Qing Zhu doubted she'd risk revealing such a secret to save him. Her heart tangled with confusion, gratitude, and exasperation at his recklessness.
"I couldn't let a beauty die before me. Besides, I trust you'll keep my secret," Lan An shrugged.
His words stirred her, a strange warmth flooding her heart. Outwardly, she huffed, "Only the dead keep secrets forever. That was foolish!"
"Call me a fool then. If you were a man, you'd be dead," Lan An teased, grinning.
"You…" Hua Qing Zhu inhaled deeply. He'd risked everything to save her. "You must never reveal Tri-Color Tribulation Lightning to others. It'd spark a Tribulation War, coating the planet in blood!"
Though she cited the world's safety, Lan An sensed her genuine concern.
"I only reveal it to my wives," he nodded seriously, staring at her.
Her heart skipped, flustered by his slick tongue. She diverted, "How do we cross this Extreme Ice Domain?"
Lan An smirked, Thunder Flame flaring anew. Gesturing for her to stay put, he re-entered the chamber.
The Extreme Ice surged, but he repelled it effortlessly.
Grinning fiercely, he roared, "Spirit Fusion Palm!"
His hands glowed, channeling his full power, infused with Nirvana Spirit Water. His strongest strike tore space, spiderweb cracks spreading.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Where Spirit Fusion Palm struck, Extreme Ice shattered, melting into the air.
In moments, a corner of the domain was obliterated.
Lan An aimed to destroy the entire Extreme Ice Domain.
His Five Supreme Cauldrons spun, absorbing ambient spiritual energy, swiftly restoring his reserves.
Satisfied, he unleashed Spirit Fusion Palm again, ravaging the ice.
BOOM! CRASH!
From outside, Hua Qing Zhu heard the relentless destruction, curiosity drawing her to peek.
Witnessing the violent spectacle, her lips twitched. She hadn't expected such brute force to overcome the trial, nor his boundless spiritual energy, unleashing Spirit Fusion Palm without fatigue.
If the Extreme Ice Demon Monarch saw his barrier demolished so crudely, what would he think?
"A true freak," she muttered, feeling useless. Her Mid Body Unity strength contributed nothing; Lan An handled everything.
A day later, Lan An's rampage reduced the Extreme Ice to a ten-meter patch, the rest reverting to bare stone. Hua Qing Zhu could now enter, trailing him.
Suddenly, Lan An paused, retracting Spirit Fusion Palm. Eyeing the remaining ice, he ceased destruction.
"Why stop?" Hua Qing Zhu asked, puzzled.
He produced a jade stone, infusing it with soul force, and handed it to her. "If danger strikes, crush this. I'll come instantly."
"What are you planning?" Her curiosity piqued; he always surprised her.
Grinning, Lan An cloaked himself in Thunder Flame and dashed to the remaining ice, sitting cross-legged.
Before Hua Qing Zhu's stunned eyes, he retracted his flames.
Crack!
Without protection, the diminished Extreme Ice still froze him solid, the cold seeping into his flesh and bones, agony indescribable.
Even Hua Qing Zhu couldn't withstand it initially.
"He's mad!" she gasped, rushing to free him.
BOOM!
The ice shattered, Thunder Flame erupting as Lan An emerged.
Suppressing the pain, he grinned wildly, sensing his body's increased resilience.
"Haha, it works!"
He retracted his flames again, letting the ice encase him.
This time, he endured longer, releasing Thunder Flame only when his senses nearly faded, freeing himself.
His body toughened further.
"Using Extreme Ice to temper his body?" Hua Qing Zhu exclaimed, awestruck by his daring.
Did he always train so harshly?
"Go on ahead. Ignore me. I'll break through to the next body cultivation level!" Lan An instructed, freezing himself again.
He'd tempered with Strange Flames and Tribulation Lightning. Now, Extreme Ice offered intense pain but rapid progress.
"I can't always rely on him," Hua Qing Zhu murmured. Glancing at his resolute figure, she pressed forward.
As her graceful silhouette vanished beyond the gate, Lan An withdrew his gaze, muttering, "Hope nothing goes wrong…"
Closing his eyes, he immersed himself in cultivation.