Chapter 1533: Chapter 57: The Collapse of Sumeru Mountain

The cultivation of Cold Ice Power, with foundational rules in place, Zhou Yan transitioned from an unstable progression to a state of stable and gradual improvement.

With a foundation akin to the King’s Mark, the transformation effect on this foundation grew increasingly effective.

Utilizing this Heaven and Earth, Zhou Yan began condensing the Cold Ice Origin Element into the King’s Mark, integrating it with the Thunder Flame Seal.

This was a very challenging process; even though transformation occurred in every billionth of a breath here, the speed of condensing the Cold Ice Imprint grew slower, and the condensation effect transitioned from initial rapid changes to gradual difficulty, which marked a significant change.

Zhou Yan actually sensed this transformation.

The process of cultivation is not always smooth. Moreover, the state of Fake Saint Spirit involves transforming to increase the King’s Mark, an endeavor truly pursued only by actual Saint Spirits.

Looking toward the distance, Zhou Yan saw Mu Qingyan diligently cultivating, condensing the rules of Cold Ice Origin. How is this process not about condensing the King’s Mark?

"Is Mu Qingyan condensing the King’s Mark, transforming it to a stronger state? Do more condensed King Marks lead to increasingly difficult innovations in their attributes in later stages?"

"If that’s the case, the first time I condensed the rules of the Thunder Flame Seal in the Holy Spirit Heavenly Fire Land without feeling much difficulty, was it because my Original Mark is the Thunder Flame Seal—or perhaps because the seal had already been condensed by the Thunder Flame Monarch to over ninety percent completion? Hence on that level, I felt no difficulty?"

"And Yanyan, was she condensing the King’s Mark in such a world?"

"In the process of condensing, will my state be projected into other Saint Spirit’s Void, just as Mu Qingyan’s state falls before my eyes now, and my state becomes a vista in the view of other Saint Spirits? Was I then emotionless or emotional? Was I as fierce and terrifying as Mu Qingyan appears now?"

"The Holy Spirit Land truly is a remarkable place!"

After some derivation, Zhou Yan whispered to himself, deeply touched.

The condensation of Cold Ice Rules is not difficult, but the challenge lies in deriving Cold Ice Origin Rules to transform and imprint them onto the King’s Mark.

Only through this, in this Heaven and Earth, can Zhou Yan feel the powerful effect of transformation.

Zhou Yan also knew this was an opportunistic moment; such chance is rare, the Holy Spirit Land is an opportunity, and possibly the last one. If not seized now, later there might not be another chance to grasp it.

Zhou Yan took a deep breath, silently calming his mind, and then embarked on rigorous cultivation once more.

...

Sumeru Immortal Mountain.

Sumeru Immortal Mountain was nearing destruction, with the Void’s turbulence making it nearly impossible to continue existing independently.

Yet some cottages on the mountain peak, and the thousands of peaks standing around it, remained defiantly erect, resisting the unknown Power of Destruction crashing down.

The Emperor stood before the old wooden hut, eyes filled with an unknown worry.

Beside him, Bai Ying’s face also showed signs of anxiety.

"Emperor Fu Xi, Zhou Yan has entered the Holy Spirit Land for ten days now. Ten days isn’t long, but isn’t the Fake Saint Spirit only allowed a maximum stay of nine days in the Holy Spirit Land? Why... hasn’t Zhou Yan come out yet?"

Bai Ying’s inquiry prompted a look of contemplation from the Emperor.

"That’s supposedly true, but even Pangu might not deeply understand the Holy Spirit Land, so in this matter, we can only wait for results. Before that, join me to the edge of the Holy Spirit Land, where Pangu and others are waiting."

"Why should I go?"

"Various Tao origin combinations are needed here, and among this, more complex issues are involved, directing our development towards forming a brand-new structure. Our Tao acts as a sediment, a foundation of this new structure."

"Within this, the Jade Fox Clan’s innate charming ability is indeed significant."

The Emperor said.

"Research? Is Lee Ran managing it? What exactly does he want to do?"

Bai Ying frowned slightly, speaking with discontent.

"If we knew what he intended, he wouldn’t be Lee Ran. Here, he is more composed than Zhou Yan, but I prefer to engage with Zhou Yan."

The Emperor smiled faintly, said.

"Zhou Yan is emotional and sincere, whereas Lee Ran remains mysterious."

Bai Ying nodded, said.

"Fine, with Zhou Yan absent, I’ll follow you to the Sacred Spirit Border, it’s good to meet Pan Emperor and others, after all these years, some things must be done inevitably, and ultimately, there’s no escaping them."

Bai Ying sighed and said.

"The past is the past, the chaos wrought by the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox isn’t tied to you."

The Emperor sighed softly and said.

Bai Ying sneered but did not refute.

Then, Bai Ying was silent for a moment, looking at the Emperor again, eyes filled with a ray of hope.

The Emperor sighed again, saying: "Let me take a look for you, although you know my Gua Image is quite good, facing the Holy Spirit Land, the backlash is often significant."

The Emperor said, unfurling the mark of the King’s Eight Diagram, deploying a unique strength to connect with Heaven and Earth, deriving a peculiar Void.

In the Void, a manifestation of Cold Ice Power emerged, transforming into Endless Cold Ice King’s Marks, which merged into the unknown dark vortex.

That dark vortex had no definite shape, yet seemed somewhat similar to Zhou Yan’s Thunder Flame Seal.

"Is this... condensing King’s Mark? Cold Ice Mark? Zhou Yan has unlocked the attributes of the King’s Mark? Is he already able to condense a King’s Mark?"

The Emperor was taken aback, feeling a bit perplexed.

However, just as this scene appeared, afar, an extremely intense Cold Ice Space suddenly manifested, within which Zhou Yan sat cross-legged, as if comprehending the ancient Supreme Dao.

The aura and power exuding from Zhou Yan’s body far surpassed that of a king, just a wisp of his presence was already enough to startle the Emperor, who was himself a king.

"This is..."

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, and at that moment, Zhou Yan, who was sitting cross-legged in the icy Void, suddenly opened his eyes, his cold gaze sweeping over the Emperor!

Just one glance, and the Emperor felt as if he was being stared down by a peerless fierce beast, his body trembled, the scene of derivation shattered entirely, and the King’s Holy Spirit was shockingly expelled from within him.

After the Emperor retreated, he abruptly stood, blood seeped from his seven orifices, while the expelled King’s Holy Spirit naturally returned to his soul body.

Afterwards, the Emperor’s expression was extremely grave, yet he stabilized his slightly trembling soul body.

"This situation is unusual; what kind of power is this? It’s Evil Spirit Power, yet far more terrifying than any Evil Spirit Power we’ve encountered!"

The Emperor spoke gravely.

Bai Ying, however, was staring at the now dissipated scene, lost in a daze, as if she thought of something.

"True Void."

"That is the power of True Void."

"Comparable to the True Void power of the Lord of Sin, yet unknown who unleashed it, or whether it’s real or fake. If Zhou Yan falls into it, it truly will be a great trouble."

Bai Ying suddenly said.

Her words were filled with deep concern.

It’s not a matter of doubting Zhou Yan’s strength and abilities; it’s that even stepping into the Holy Spirit Land, there’s neither power nor confidence to rely on.

Such a place is inherently filled with unknown factors.

"Let’s go, even knowing all this, we lack the power to change anything; what we can do, we’ve done to the utmost. And you, have sacrificed your ultimate Charming Power for it, sacrificing your emotions, that’s enough."

"If it ends in failure, then we’ve already tried, and there’s no regret."

"Having tried, if it ultimately results in annihilation and destruction, we can die peacefully."

The Emperor sighed, his voice brimmed with a sense of weariness.

Bai Ying also sighed lightly, saying, "I understand, just, if this is the outcome, it might have been better not to have had that dreamlike experience... perhaps, I’m really a bit discontent."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor shook his head and said nothing.

Bai Ying truly unlocked some emotional ties, her connection with Zhou Yan developing to a profound level, suddenly parting now, naturally left her heart with concerns.

This concern, even as a king, cannot be avoided, because the Seven Emotions and Six Desires themselves are the innate characteristics of a king.

A king without these characteristics would be an evil spirit, an incomplete and obsessive existence.

Thus, Bai Ying’s behavior is rather normal.

...

In conversation with the Emperor, Bai Ying stepped out of Sumeru Immortal Mountain.

And after the Emperor and Bai Ying left Sumeru Immortal Mountain, it too began to crumble, beginning to be overtaken by dark brown destructive and corrosive energy.

Like a beach washed by mighty waves, once the endless corrosive energy passed, Sumeru Immortal Mountain ceased to exist.

The space there, barren, as if immaculately swept clean.

Bai Ying and the Emperor stood deep within the Singularity, watching the destroyed Sumeru Immortal Mountain, their eyes filled with sighs and reluctance.

"Sumeru Immortal Mountain, the once Sumeru Mountain, gone just like that. Eternal Life and Immortality are places of calamity, not indestructibility."

"Such a place, such immortality, if there’s a future, hopefully, it won’t exist again."

"Lee Ran’s conclusion was quite accurate; all things are ultimately moderate and balanced, with energy’s total amount remaining constant, as powerful energy entities increase, the number must decrease."

"In this world, energy’s total amount remains constant; it will derivatively transform from one attribute into another, but won’t increase or decrease."

The Emperor sighed as he spoke.

Upon hearing, Bai Ying’s silence ensued.