Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Jiang Chen and his group sped through the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm.

After passing through the Icebound Corridor, the wind and snow had vanished, allowing them to advance much more quickly.

Along the way, Jiang Chen discovered many mutilated corpses scattered on the ground.

He frowned, recognizing many of them as the experts they had encountered in the Ice Hall.

"Jiang Chen," Zifeng Jun asked grimly, "why do their deaths look so similar to the person who died from the Bloodline Seal back in the Treasure Vault?"

Jiang Chen glanced at him and uttered four words: "Survival of the fittest!"

The group was taken aback.

Then, a look of contemplation appeared on their faces.

The condition of the mutilated corpses made it clear they had died from the Bloodline Seal.

Jiang Chen had already told them how to break the Bloodline Seal, so it was unlikely they would have been foolish enough to try it themselves, die, and then let someone else claim the treasure.

Combined with Jiang Chen’s words, "Survival of the fittest"...

Zifeng Jun and the others had already guessed the story behind the bodies—they must have been coerced into becoming tools for others to break the Bloodline Seal!

After all, once someone performed the Blood Recognition and died to the Bloodline Seal...

...the seal would be nullified!

A look of lingering fear appeared on Purple Wind Frost’s face. "It’s a good thing we’re with you, Jiang Chen! Otherwise, with my level of strength, I’m afraid I would’ve been captured and used as a tool to break the seals!"

Zhao Hongluan’s face paled slightly as she nodded with a grave expression.

Jiang Chen’s expression remained calm.

’The weak are prey to the strong, and only the fittest survive!’

’This was simply the law of survival in this world.’

’There was nothing to be surprised about!’

"We’re here!"

Jiang Chen said suddenly.

With the help of the Golden-winged Roc Body Technique, his speed was several times faster than his usual full pace.

Before them stood a massive ice mountain!

The ice mountain emanated a faint, chilling aura, leaving the land barren of any life for ten thousand meters in every direction.

The surface of the ice mountain was pockmarked with deep, dark ice caves.

"This is the Profound Celestial Ancestor Realm’s Second Stage trial location—the Ice Wing Demon Cave!" Zifeng Jun announced.

Purple Wind Frost explained, "According to my father, the Icebound Corridor tested willpower and luck. This Ice Wing Demon Cave, however, tests perception, reflexes, carefulness, and caution. See the ice caves on the mountain? A type of Ice Beast called the Ice-Winged Demon Insect lives in them. The Ice-Winged Demon Insects are terrifying. They’re tiny—only the size of a finger—but they travel in massive swarms."

"It is said that each ice cave contains at least a few million Ice-Winged Demon Insects. Some of the larger caves house tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of them. Our task is to use the plank paths on the face of the Ice Wing Demon Cave to get to the other side. Once we’re behind it, we will have safely passed the Second Stage trial!" said Purple Wind Frost.

Zhao Hongluan asked, "Can’t we just fly over?"

"Flying over is impossible!"

Jiang Chen shook his head, pointing to the peak of the Ice Wing Demon Cave. At that very moment, an expert was attempting to fly high over the summit.

However, the moment he flew above the summit, the entire Ice Wing Demon Cave began to shake violently. Suddenly, from the thousands upon thousands of densely packed ice caves, streams of black shadows shot out.

They converged into a gigantic black hand that swatted down from the sky.

BOOM!

The expert in mid-air was instantly enveloped by the massive black hand.

It was a swarm of finger-sized black insects. Under their relentless bites, the mighty Union Palace Realm expert was devoured in an instant, leaving not even a trace behind!

The Ice-Winged Demon Insects then flew back into their respective caves.

"Hiss..."

Everyone gasped in horror.

Zhao Hongluan gave a wry smile and said helplessly, "It looks like taking the plank paths is the only way."

"We need to be extra careful on the plank path. Don’t stray from it under any circumstances, or you’ll be swarmed by the Ice-Winged Demon Insects. Also, we can’t make any noise whatsoever. Doing so will also alert them," Zifeng Jie instructed.

Jiang Chen and the others nodded.

They weren’t three-year-olds; they wouldn’t make such a basic mistake!

"Let’s move out!"

Jiang Chen’s group followed suit.

All the experts moved cautiously in their groups, completely focused, not daring to make the slightest sound.

The plank path was narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass at a time by turning sideways.

Jiang Chen and his group’s journey along the path was surprisingly smooth, and they encountered no danger, even well into the second half of the crossing.

However, just as they were about to step onto the final section of the path, with success seemingly within their grasp...

Suddenly, Jiang Chen’s gaze froze. At the foot of the Ice Wing Demon Cave, he saw several figures slowly emerge from a hiding spot in the shadows.

It was Zifeng Jie, Bing Long, Bing Xu, Luoyu Chuan, Xia Shang, and numerous experts from the Royal Family and the Ice King Race.

At that moment, they were all looking up, sinister smiles on their faces as they stared at Jiang Chen’s group.

"This is bad!"

Jiang Chen’s heart skipped a beat as a strong sense of unease washed over him.

Zifeng Jun, Purple Wind Frost, and Zhao Hongluan had also spotted Zifeng Jie and his cohorts.

Expressions of shock and unease filled their faces.

"Why are they here?"

"We were careless! I thought they had already passed through the Ice Wing Demon Cave. I never expected them to hide off to the side and wait for us..."

Jiang Chen’s group communicated secretly via voice transmission.

Purple Wind Frost looked worried and desperate. "What do we do now?"

Jiang Chen replied, "If something happens, the three of you must not resist. Just leave it to me!"

"Okay!"

The three of them had absolute, unquestioning faith in Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen patted the Black Emperor’s head, which was nestled in his arms.

Little Black nodded, his expression clearly saying, ’Don’t worry, you can count on me!’

「At the same time...」

From below the Ice Wing Demon Cave, Zifeng Jie’s voice echoed, filled with vengeful glee. "Hahaha, Jiang Chen! You never thought you’d see this day, did you?"

"You will die for daring to oppose my Royal Family!" Bing Xu shouted.

The experts of the Ice King Race cheered them on. They each held a large bow, with arrows tipped with oil-soaked packets that were already set ablaze!

They were fire arrows!

Once they hit, they would create a deafening roar.

Bing Long slowly raised his right hand, a cold, murderous intent on his face. He looked at Jiang Chen and spoke slowly, "Jiang Chen, in your next life, remember to be more discerning. There are some people you simply cannot afford to provoke!"

The moment his voice fell.

An icy glint flashed in Bing Long’s eyes as his hand chopped down.

SWISH!

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

A volley of flaming arrows, each tipped with an oil packet, shot out, creating a rain of fire that streaked toward Jiang Chen’s group on the face of the Ice Wing Demon Cave...