Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

In her fury, Liou Xueyan paid no heed to the destructive storm surging behind her; she gathered her Immortal Puppets and wielded the Immortal Puppet Map, shattering the vault of heaven in a single strike as she lunged straight toward Xu Yang.

"Madwoman."

Xu Yang cursed under his breath, soared skyward, and dashed toward the exit.

At that very moment—

The exit above suddenly crumbled.

Immortal radiance burst forth; two colossal hands descended from the heavens with lightning speed, grasping Xu Yang and Liou Xueyan and sweeping them out of this world.

After every living soul vanished, the Cold Vein Heaven and Earth was entirely swallowed by the destructive storm.

Yet on the surface, astonishing immortal patterns emerged, spreading swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, shrouded the entire chaotic realm before rapidly retracting.

It was unmistakably the work of several Golden Immortal powerhouses, who, in but moments, thoroughly suppressed and sealed the collapsing Cold Vein Heaven and Earth, transforming it into a massive sphere of light.

Even the storms within were forcibly shattered.

The heavenly treasures and Cold Vein within, though annihilated, left behind nothing but pure, concentrated cold energy.

It was almost as though the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace had gained another treasure trove; given a few years, it would generate countless valuables and greatly accelerate cultivators’ progress, an asset of immense worth.

Upon the boundless glaciers, the crowd assembled; compared to before, more than a hundred were missing, all disciples of the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace.

The culprit was plain for all to see!

Yet at this moment, no one cared to dwell on the matter; their attention was wholly seized by the two who emerged last.

Xu Yang was drenched in blood, his wounds ghastly beyond bearing.

Liou Xueyan’s wrath soared to heaven, murderous intent rolling off her.

"Palace Master, Xu Yang stole my fortune. He deserves death!"

Xu Yang coughed out a mouthful of bloody foam, just about to speak, when the Fourth Elder let out a hearty laugh and strode through the air.

Immediately, all gazes were drawn in his direction.

They saw the Fourth Elder sweep his sleeve with practiced grace.

Swoosh swoosh!!

Two figures of light intertwined and materialized.

The first was the words announced by the Cangxue Golden Immortal upon entering.

The second was the phrase Xu Yang uttered inside, deliberately provoking Liou Xueyan as she attacked.

The faces of every powerhouse in the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace instantly darkened.

Liou Xueyan finally managed to calm herself, if only reluctantly.

The Fourth Elder smiled blandly, "Palace Master Cangxue, I wonder, were these words spoken in truth?"

The Cangxue Golden Immortal drew a deep breath; her face remained impassive as she said, "My words are gold. I do not speak in falsehood!"

"Though it is true that my sect’s disciple Xu Yang claiming the Immortal Dragon Marrow is somewhat unjustifiable, as Xu Yang himself said—he did not move, it was the Immortal Dragon Marrow that moved."

"If Xu Yang is to die for this, then, honored Palace, for what purpose did you invite us here?"

With the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace enveloped in silence, the Fourth Elder briefly paused and continued, "I have already notified the Sect Leader, who should arrive before long, together with Elder Dan Qi."

The Cangxue Golden Immortal’s expression changed faintly.

If this escalates, it would surely end in battle.

If it came to that, there would be no easy resolution.

Yet, thinking of the fortune lost by Liou Xueyan, the Cangxue Golden Immortal felt heartache intense as if bleeding!

She cast an unfriendly glance at Xu Yang and spoke indifferently, "The Fourth Elder is too suspicious. The Ice and Snow Immortal Palace would not act so base."

"Within, Xueyan too was provoked in the moment. This sort of situation, I believe no one could remain calm."

"The Palace Master speaks truly."

The Fourth Elder nodded with a smiling expression.

Xu Yang had received the Fourth Elder’s warning; at this time he kept his head low, silent as if uninvolved in the matter.

He knew all too well what he had taken from Liou Xueyan.

That the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace’s experts could still restrain themselves truly was remarkable.

Liou Xueyan’s face was full of resentment. She wanted to speak but was stopped by a single look from the Cangxue Golden Immortal.

She fixed the Fourth Elder with a heavy gaze and said grimly, "However, if Xu Yang wishes to depart from the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace, he must agree to one condition of mine."

"After all, that fortune should have belonged to Xueyan."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yang’s brows furrowed.

The Fourth Elder said, "May the Palace Master be direct!"

"Within the Black and White Starry Heaven, whenever Xueyan requests, Xu Yang must unconditionally do one thing for her!"

"Impossible."

The Fourth Elder shook his head without hesitation, "If Xueyan’s demand is for Xu Yang to kill himself? To throw away his life? To provoke some terrifying existence? What then?"

Xu Yang raised his head and looked at the Fourth Elder, glimpsing gravity in his eyes.

He understood that if he refused, escape from the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace would be nigh impossible.

If truly trapped here, even if the Sect Leader and his master arrived to take him, who could know what the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace might do in the meantime?

No one could guarantee!

"I can accept the demand, but it must not violate the principles of a cultivator, nor cross my own boundaries, nor threaten my life!"

Xu Yang gazed at the Cangxue Golden Immortal, enunciating every word.

The Cangxue Golden Immortal stared at Xu Yang in long silence, before murmuring: "Fine."

"Let the contract be sworn."

Contract?

Xu Yang frowned at the Fourth Elder.

The Fourth Elder sighed, secretly transmitting, "Once sworn, the contract cannot be violated. To break it will bring fierce backlash—the consequences dire."

"When a Golden Immortal such as Cangxue forges it, at her peak, unless you surpass her before Xueyan enacts her request—"

Upon these words, Xu Yang understood the nature of the contract.

It seemed he had no choice but to accept.

Swoosh!

The Cangxue Golden Immortal tapped her finger; a silvery ancient scroll materialized out of thin air.

She conjured countless immortal seals, weaving them into the ancient scroll. Upon its surface appeared a host of sacred immortal birds, cold sparrows, ice phoenixes and other primeval beasts, miraculous and wondrous; they clustered round the scroll as it slowly unfolded, revealing lines of archaic script that radiated solemn, awe-inspiring divine might, shaking heaven and earth.

At last, the Cangxue Golden Immortal intoned solemnly, "Infuse your blood essence and primordial spirit!"

Xu Yang drew a deep breath, pressed forth his blood, and split off a wisp of primordial spirit to merge within.

Liou Xueyan threw Xu Yang a resentful glance, her face thunderous as she complied.

Bang!

The ancient scroll closed gently, the visions of immortal beasts folding within.

Instantly, Xu Yang felt as if an intangible force of law enveloped him.

This was the binding of the contract!

Though not a genuine law of immortality, it was nonetheless born from the power of a mighty Golden Immortal, and in some respects, possessed absolute threat.

Xu Yang sighed.

This was perhaps the best outcome.

To do one thing for Liou Xueyan—without violating his principles or endangering his life—might pose some trouble, but now that he had forged a twelfth-grade immortal foundation, his cultivation would skyrocket with time; no matter how Xueyan tried to make things hard, it wouldn’t be much of a challenge.

Besides, it was a form of compensation for having seized the Immortal Dragon Marrow.

If Liou Xueyan was not a fool, she would know how best to use this opportunity, rather than pursue mindless revenge!

"This object shall be held by Xueyan. When she asks, and you fulfill her request, it will self-destruct and pose no further threat!"

"With this matter resolved, I will not see you off."

Finishing, the Cangxue Golden Immortal waved her hand and departed through the air with Liou Xueyan.

Xu Yang felt a pair of eyes filled with bitter hatred flicker over his body, and vanish.

All around, the crowd wore complex expressions.

The disciples of Ice and Snow Immortal Palace seemed to think this outcome far too merciful for Xu Yang, their faces sour and malicious.

By contrast, Ji Hong, Luo Jiang, and the others looked on with envy and awe.

"I truly envy you," an elder of Guiyuan Sect glanced at Xu Yang, speaking to the Fourth Elder with a hint of jealousy.

"Hmph."

The Fourth Elder snorted coldly, yet his joy and excitement could not be concealed.

"By the order of the Palace Master, I shall see you all out."

A palace cultivator swept over with a sour face and spoke.

It was merely a Celestial Immortal attendant.

Evidently, the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace was far from pleased.

Not even a single elder would come to see them off.

Yet at this time, neither Xu Yang nor the Fourth Elder minded; even if they were made to leave unescorted, it mattered not.

Leaving this place as soon as possible was all that counted.

"Go!"

The Fourth Elder flung his sleeve, leading everyone away in haste.