Chapter 594

Chapter 594: Delving into the Icy Mist

The coldness of the fifth layer of the Ice Tower was overwhelmingly intense. Even Ye Yun, who had comprehended the Ice Element Law, nearly failed to endure it. How could Du Jianyin, merely at the Fifth Level of the Golden Core stage, withstand it? In an instant, he was frozen solid, trapped within an Ice Crystal Seal.

Ye Yun glanced sideways, a faint smile curling his lips. He held no fear for Du Jianyin. Even if Du Jianyin had mastered One with the sword, it was just one aspect of the Sword Path’s mysteries. Within the Ice Tower, the icy essence slowed all movement, and the fifth layer’s coldness was nearly unbearable. Even an Ancestor at the Fifth Level of the Nascent Soul stage would find themselves as immobilized as Ye Yun.

*Crack!*

The icy light encasing Du Jianyin flashed and shattered. Sword arcs surged around his body, barely shielding him from the coldness. Yet his face paled, his frame trembling violently. The sword light could only weakly resist the icy essence, leaving him with most of his combat strength drained.

Ye Yun fared similarly. The bitter cold rendered him nearly motionless, each step a grueling effort. However, his adaptability and resistance to the cold surpassed Du Jianyin’s, allowing him to gradually recover.

“Ye Yun, surrender the Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit, and I’ll spare your life,” Du Jianyin hissed, sword light swirling around him. His face was ashen, yet murderous intent blazed in his eyes.

Ye Yun couldn’t help but laugh. “Du Jianyin, can you even fight in this state?”

Du Jianyin stiffened, then sneered. “You underestimate the Sword Path’s mysteries. I’ve achieved One with the sword—I am the sword itself. How could a sword fear cold? Ridiculous.”

Ye Yun kept his hands behind his back, not bothering to look at him. “If you’re so certain, why not strike?”

Du Jianyin didn’t move. Every shred of his strength was spent resisting the coldness, leaving nothing for combat. Yet his Sword Path was extraordinary. As a child chosen by destiny, reincarnated with Ancient Sword Intent, he possessed unparalleled comprehension. After moments of adjustment, he managed to divert a sliver of power.

To Du Jianyin, Ye Yun appeared equally crippled by the coldness. Once his sword light coalesced, he believed he could slay Ye Yun.

Unaware of these thoughts, Ye Yun surveyed his surroundings. White Icy Mist blanketed everything, obscuring all vision. He trudged forward, each step met with crushing resistance. The icy essence sapped his speed and drained his true qi. A single lapse in concentration, and the coldness would invade his body, freezing him instantly.

Ye Yun channeled his mystical power to resist the cold. Part of him wished to let the icy essence penetrate, hoping the Heart of Immortals and Demons would absorb it. But since devouring vast amounts of icy essence in the second layer, the artifact had lain dormant, refusing to release even a wisp of spiritual power despite his summons.

Ye Yun wasn’t worried. The Heart of Immortals and Demons remained beyond his full control, their connection tenuous yet reliable in crises.

As Ye Yun advanced, Du Jianyin watched in disbelief. He prided himself as a peerless talent among the Great Qin Empire’s youth. In Thunder Falls Valley, he’d partially grasped the Ancient Sword Intent before achieving One with the sword, boosting his strength immensely. Despite being at the Fifth Level of the Golden Core stage, he could rival Ancestors at the Fourth or Fifth Level of the Nascent Soul stage. Even Master Hei Xu, an Ancestor at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage suppressed to the Fifth Level, might struggle against him.

Yet here, even with One with the sword and sword light shielding him, Du Jianyin teetered on the edge of collapse. The fifth layer’s icy essence overwhelmed his defenses, stripping him of combat prowess.

Worse, Ye Yun was pushing deeper into the Icy Mist—where treasures surely lay. Losing the Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit was bad enough, but if Ye Yun claimed more treasures, Du Jianyin would explode with fury.

Gritting his teeth, Du Jianyin rallied his true qi. Sword Energy flared around him as he took a resolute step forward.

White Icy Mist swallowed him whole, freezing him instantly. The disparity between their resistance to the coldness was clear.

But Du Jianyin was no ordinary cultivator. His white sword, a relic of his Ancient Sword Intent lineage, trembled. Ice crystals shattered, dispersing as mist. With sword light flickering around him, he took another step.

After taking that step, he wasn’t frozen by the icy mist. Though remaining stationary for ten breaths, he still retained strength for a third step. With each step, Du Jianyin grew more adept at resisting the icy essence. Surging Sword Energy shielded him while true energy flowed within him, gradually restoring his power.

A smug smile touched Du Jianyin’s lips – this was the reincarnated Ancient Sword Intent’s power, capable of cutting through all existence. Even this unimaginably intense cold couldn’t affect him, a mere Fifth Level Golden Core cultivator.

"The divine majesty of Ancient Sword Intent isn’t for mortal comprehension," Du Jianyin boasted, lifting his head to check if Ye Yun stood just one step ahead.

His expression froze in the next instant, shock and disbelief flooding his eyes. Instead of closing, the gap between them had widened – Ye Yun’s figure now flickered like a distant mirage, their separation stretching from several zhang to a full ten zhang.

"Impossible! How can Ye Yun move so fast through the fifth layer’s cold?" Du Jianyin’s certainty wavered. He’d assumed his growing adaptation to the cold and Sword Energy’s protection would let him overtake Ye Yun, claim the Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit, and seize the hidden treasures.

Securing those prizes would guarantee his mastery of heart-sword unity, nourish his soul, and propel him to seventh-level Golden Core’s peak – perhaps even pill-break rebirth.

Yet Ye Yun now advanced twice as fast, vanishing into deeper coldness. Panic rising, Du Jianyin rushed forward only to falter – distracted thoughts weakened his Sword Energy’s defense, nearly letting freezing energy penetrate his body.

Stabilizing himself, Du Jianyin restored his sword light’s perfection. But Ye Yun had completely disappeared into the glacial depths.

"Ye Yun… Your Ice Element Law comprehension surpasses expectations. With your grasped sword intent, we’ll be lifelong rivals. Grown to full potential, you’ll make excellent whetstone for my blade."

Unhearing, Ye Yun moved with increasing ease as his body acclimated. Within moments he’d traversed ten zhang, disappearing into billowing icy fog.

Icy radiance surrounded him, white mists occasionally flashing blue. After another ten zhang, Ye Yun paused, extending his spirit perception across dozens of zhang.

The cold revealed its marvel – perception spread normally within one zhang, but beyond that froze solid. Only swift retraction prevented permanent damage to his soul.

After multiple failed attempts, Ye Yun abandoned the effort. "Brother Jian, any sensing here? Obtaining Meteor Arrow with Sun-Shot Bow would be ideal."

"Impossible," rumbled Ancestor of Sword Path’s voice. "Sun-Shot Bow’s fire essence would dispel this cold. It can’t exist in Ice Tower."

Ye Yun nodded, having expected this. As he penetrated deeper, the environment shifted subtly. The cold ahead felt weaker – illogical, as intensity should increase.

"Strange mist ahead. Caution," warned Ancestor.

Undeterred, Ye Yun pressed on. If fourth layer held Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit, fifth layer’s treasures must surpass it.

This Secret Vault’s might awed him – merely reaching fifth layer required profound Ice Law comprehension. Sixth layer remained utterly beyond reach.

Drawing breath, Ye Yun stepped into the thinning cold.

Instantly, the world transformed.