Reaching The Ice Mountain
The Divine Ice Phoenix Empress accepted the Celestial Ice Spark from the Half-step Divine Beast-level Ice Phoenix's beak and nodded.
The Celestial Ice Spark's quality was as she expected it to be, a Celestial Lord-level Celestial Ice Spark.
"I won't take your source of cultivation without giving anything in return. I will teach you a few techniques that will be useful before and after the Divine Beast Realm," the Divine Ice Phoenix Empress stated coolly.
Shortly after, the Divine Ice Phoenix Empress used the spirit transmission technique to impart a few primordial techniques to the Half-step Divine Beast-level Ice Phoenix.
Some primordial techniques were about ice power control, some were about spiritual cultivation, and some were about physical transformation.
Nevertheless, they were all primordial techniques unique to the ice phoenix race.
The knowledge was very easy for the Half-step Divine Beast-level Ice Phoenix to understand. Thus, it lowered its head to the Divine Ice Phoenix Empress again to express its gratitude.
"I don't have a lot of time, so take care of my disciple. I want you to guard her when she refines this Celestial Ice Spark. Furthermore, in the future, you will treat her exactly how you would treat me," the Divine Ice Phoenix Empress instructed.
After the Half-step Divine Beast-level Ice Phoenix expressed that it understood the Divine Ice Phoenix Empress's instructions, the divine aura around Lynne's body slowly vanished.
Lynne's face paled with a sense of weakness after regaining control of her body. Even though it was only for a short moment, what little lifespan she had left was further shortened.
'You don't have much time left, child. Start refining the Celestial Ice Spark immediately. The ice phoenix will guard you,' the Divine Ice Phoenix Empress urged.
"Yes, Master," Lynne nodded.
The notion of her lifespan nearing depletion terrified her. As such, she didn't hesitate to follow her master's instructions.
Kree!
The ice phoenix suddenly gave a soft cry, catching Lynne's attention before she glanced at the spot pointed by the ice phoenix's beak.
"You want me to refine the Celestial Ice Spark there?" Lynne asked for confirmation.
The ice phoenix nodded.
"Alright," Lynne agreed.
Shortly after, she moved to the location by the ice phoenix's giant body. Then, the ice phoenix wrapped its wings around her and created a quiet and enclosed space for her to
"Thank you," Lynne smiled.
Before long, Lynne closed her eyes and shut off her perception of the outside world before focusing her attention on the Celestial Ice Spark's power.
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A few miles away from the frozen land region, Leon continued his search with Aria, Darlene, Faelyn, and his mother, Elizabeth.
Yiii—!
Another Peak Paragon-level vengeful spirit felled after colliding with Leon's Nihility Barrier, leaving nothing behind.
It was unfortunate that they had to slay the vengeful spirits without gaining their soul cores. However, it can't be helped. Looking for Lynne was more important.
Nevertheless, they weren't going out of their way to attract all the Paragon-level vengeful spirits in the area.
The ladies were moving together with Leon's mother under stealth mode while he, himself, was the bait. He took the lead to clear the obstacles in their path.
Suddenly, Leon paused his steps after sensing the change in the environment ahead. Elizabeth and the three ladies eventually caught up before a few of them expressed confusion.
"Why did we suddenly stop, son?" Elizabeth asked.
"There's a vast frozen land up ahead. The heavy mist starts thinning there, but so do the vengeful spirits," Leon mentioned with knitted brows.
"Isn't that a good thing? It means that it'll be safer to search for Lynne. We wouldn't have to worry about attracting these vengeful spirits," Elizabeth thought.
However, Leon shook his head.
"On the contrary, it's even more dangerous, Mother," Leon corrected.
"The frozen land ahead is strong in cold yin energy. This makes it a more appealing location than these parts of Extreme Misty Forest for the vengeful spirits to settle. However, there are even less vengeful spirits in that frozen land region for some reason."
Nevertheless, they didn't stop moving. After entering the frozen land region and reaching the end of the mist, they discovered the crescent mood-shaped ice mountain up ahead.
"Paragon-level vengeful spirits are avoiding this ice mountain even though it contains the highest concentration of cold yin energy!" Aria's eyes flickered with discovery.
"I've also noticed that," Leon agreed with a nod before furrowing his brows in the next moment.
"We should be around the halfway point in Extreme Misty Forest. Yet, the core region of the Extreme Misty Forest is a frozen land without trees. This is rather strange."
"No, the core region of Extreme Misty Forest being a frozen land makes sense. It explains the heavy cold yin mist throughout Extreme Misty Forest. However, it's strange that the environment is like this, to begin with. It's unnatural."
"Wouldn't it be easily explained if a Celestial Ice Spark is hidden in this frozen land?" Aria wondered.
"That's the only explanation," Leon nodded.
"But it's clear that the vengeful spirits are avoiding the ice mountain in spite of the ice mountain containing a possible Celestial Ice Spark with abundant cold yin energy. That means there's a high chance something even Peak Paragon-level vengeful spirits fear is guarding the Celestial Ice Spark!"
"And Lynne is heading straight for it! We better hurry!" Leon urged with a grave look.
Everyone quickly sensed that urgency and nodded.
If she was currently heading towards the Celestial Ice Spark's location ahead of them, then she was in grave danger.
"We don't know what we might be facing, so everyone should be on their toes," Leon solemnly advised.
Despite suspecting something more powerful than Peak Paragon-level vengeful spirits ahead, Leon had no choice but to proceed with everyone.
Nevertheless, the cold yin energy was frighteningly cold towards the ice mountain. Besides Leon, the others couldn't advance without Aria's help.
"This is as far as we can go, son. Go on without us. We'll wait around here," Elizabeth suggested after she was holding the group back.
Whether it was her, Darlene, or Faelyn, none of them could endure the cold on their own. Thus, Aria volunteered to stay back and look after them.
"Go; find Lynne.. Mother and Sister Faelyn will be fine here with me and Sister Darlene," Aria assured.