Chapter 439: Fallen Spirit Ice Source, Ice Crystal City

On the second day, as planned, Xiao Ming handed over the items to Venerable Tian Huo. Afterward, he spent a few more days in Holy Pill City, dealing with some matters concerning the Heavenly Court, before finally departing.

Naturally, Xiao Ming's departure did not escape the attention of those who were keeping an eye on him.

Shortly after he left, several figures also departed from Holy Pill City. Not long after these figures departed, some individuals wearing the attire of the Heavenly Court's law enforcement team followed suit.

...

In the main hall of the Hall of Souls.

Hun Mie Sheng sat cross-legged in a secret chamber, surrounded by billowing black fog. Occasional cries of souls echoed, making it feel as if he were in the realm of ghosts.

Seemingly accustomed to such surroundings, Hun Mie Sheng paid no attention to the eerie sounds and continued to cultivate in silence.

Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes. With a calm tone, he spoke, "You're saying that Xiao Ming has left Holy Pill City again?"

"Yes, Hall Chief, this is the information our spires in Holy Pill City have reported. Unfortunately, we lost several of them in the process." A resolute voice sounded in Hun Mie Sheng's ear.

"And how do you know this isn't a trap they set to lure out our spies placed in the Small Pill Tower?" Hun Mie Sheng asked indifferently.

"That's impossible. The remnant of the Xiao Clan told Xuan Kong Zi that he intended to go to the Fallen Spirit Ice Source. This information was overheard by our spies coincidentally; it couldn't be fake."

"Oh, if that's the case, then this information is likely true..."

Narrowing his eyes, Hun Mie Sheng pondered how to make good use of this information.

Since the establishment of the Heavenly Court, the Hall of Souls had remained relatively low-key. It wasn't that Hun Mie Sheng didn't want to deal with the alliance that posed a threat to them, but most of the Hall of Souls' forces were already scattered, busy capturing soul bodies to compensate for their previous losses.

Reassembling their forces in a short period was quite troublesome.

Regarding the Heavenly Court, Hun Miesheng remained inclined to sow discord and reap the benefits.

Stirring up trouble was not a mere fantasy. While the Heavenly Court had gained the support of a large number of sects and factions, it had also pushed these forces' enemies to stand against them. With a little push from the Hall of Souls, those forces wouldn't mind taking action against the Heavenly Court in the shadows.

In this situation, whether the Heavenly Court or other forces emerged victorious, it wouldn't hinder the Hall of Souls' plans to capture soul bodies.

Although the Hall of Souls wanted to act as the fisherman, it didn't mean they wouldn't take the initiative to strike.

Xiao Ming's solo journey was undoubtedly a good opportunity. If they could capture the first Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Court, the Alliance would naturally be unable to continue its existence.

Of course, the Heavenly Court was a minor concern compared to the Tou She Ancient God's Jade carried by Xiao Ming.

However, Xiao Ming's strength was not weak. According to Hun Mie Sheng's estimation, even an ordinary three-star Dou Saint would likely have trouble dealing with him. This was the reason for his consideration.

"Hall Chief, should we send someone to capture Xiao Ming?"

"Hmm, invite a four-star Dou Saint from within our clan."

Hun Mie Sheng made the final decision. He didn't want to pass up this opportunity, but for security reasons, he decided not to use the strongest members of the Hall of Souls. Instead, he would ask for assistance.

The unexpected decision surprised the voice.

"Do we need to alert the clan? I believe the strong individuals in our hall are more than enough to handle him. If we involve the clan elders, we might face punishment..."

The moment the voice spoke, Hun Mie Sheng's calm expression shattered, replaced by a trace of anger on his face.

"Enough! If it weren't for you fools pushing aside the arrangements I made, how could Xiao Ming have grown to this extent? Hmph, a bunch of useless idiots!"

"..."

The person who received the scolding remained speechless. Who would have known that Xiao Ming's growth speed was so terrifying, and his combat power far surpassed other strong individuals of the same level?

Each time they dispatched powerful individuals, they were of much higher rank. Last time, they even sent a Dou Saint, but they still couldn't capture him.

This was purely because Xiao Ming's strength was beyond their imagination, right?

Hun Mie Sheng couldn't be bothered to deal with them any further. After venting his dissatisfaction, he dismissed the person.

"Enough, remember to follow my instructions this time, now leave!"

"Yes!"

...

Fallen Spirit Ice Source.

The white snow and ice howled, covering the ice source as if a sharp knife, annihilating everything in its path. Within the howling wind, there seemed to be faint cries of agony, blending together to create an atmosphere that resembled a dark purgatory.

Desolation, death...

This was the representation of the Fallen Spirit Ice Source.

Here, everything remained unchanged through the ages, and with no changes, time had lost its relevance.

However, the Fallen Spirit Ice Source was not as lifeless as it appeared on the surface. Apart from the central dead zone, various cold-loving races lived in other regions of the ice source.

In the southern Ice Pole Sea, the northern Wind and Snow Plains, and the western Fallen Spirit Abyss, powerful races thrived…

Xiao Ming's starting point was the outpost for human exploration, located in the eastern part of the Fallen Spirit Ice Source, known as Ice Crystal City.

In front of a small shop in Ice Crystal City that sold maps, thick snow had accumulated.

Pedestrians were wrapped tightly in clothing, hurriedly passing by. The young shop attendant dragged his bulky frame, using a broom to sweep away the snow at the entrance, all the while berating his unscrupulous boss in his heart.

"Hello, do you have maps of the Fallen Spirit Abyss for sale here?"

Suddenly, a young male voice sounded, causing the shop attendant to raise his head.

The figure that entered his sight was indeed young, just as he had imagined.

But there was a slight difference.

'Handsome appearance, smooth and delicate skin. Despite the freezing weather in Ice Crystal City, he only wears light clothing. His demeanor is calm and composed. He's a formidable expert!'

The shop attendant made this judgment and immediately plastered a fawning smile on his face.

"Yes, yes, yes! Our store has maps of both the Ice Pole Sea and the Fallen Spirit Abyss. We have them all for sale, including maps of the dead zone. Please come in, sir!" the shop attendant replied eagerly.

Xiao Ming, who had traveled a long way to reach Ice Crystal City, glanced at the shop attendant, then nodded lightly and stepped inside.

Upon entering the small shop, Xiao Ming noticed that the temperature inside had returned to a comfortable level. Clearly, there was a heating system in place.

The interior of the shop wasn't as small as it appeared from the outside; several people were already searching through maps.

However, Xiao Ming's arrival didn't attract the attention of the others.

As the shop attendant entered the store, he skillfully took a small booklet from a shelf and handed it to Xiao Ming.

"Sir, this is the map you need. It includes all of Fallen Spirit Ice Source's routes, the most recent ones for this week, ensuring safety."

Xiao Ming took the map and casually flipped through its pages, then asked, "Do the routes on the map of the Fallen Spirit Ice Source change frequently?"

"Well, it's not accurate to say they change frequently. We make modifications about once every one or two months. You see, in the Fallen Spirit Ice Source, there are heavy snow accumulations and the migration of magical beasts, among other factors, which can easily render the original routes ineffective," the shop attendant explained.