Battle Through the Heavens: Harmony of Flame and Shadow

"Who could it be? Many exceptional individuals have appeared in the Great Thousand World recently. Setting aside Demon Slayer King Jiang Yun, even Xiao Yan is an extraordinary figure. This is not the era where someone like Mohe You can be called a prodigy anymore."

"Do you think I would lie to you?"

"I heard that this prodigy also comes from a lower realm. That realm was invaded by the extraterrestrial evil race but was saved by the Martial Ancestor."

"Really? To be able to save a lower realm invaded by the extraterrestrial evil race, this Martial Ancestor must be incredibly talented!"

"Could it be another prodigy like Demon Slayer King?"

"Impossible, the Heavenly Emperor is undefeated across the world!"

In the tension of war, apart from fine wine and beautiful women, these stories and rumors spread the most.

Recently, many prodigies have appeared in the Great Thousand World, and these individuals have become the talk of the realm.

Compared to the lower-level cultivators, the supreme deities of the Great Thousand World are aware of more secrets.

In less than a hundred years, the final Great Thousand Alliance will commence. If it succeeds, the Heavenly Evil Deity sealed in the Northern Wilderness Hill will be completely obliterated.

However, everyone knows this Great Thousand Alliance won't be that simple.

This Alliance could very well be a war between the Great Thousand World and the extraterrestrial evil race.

It's said that heroes emerge in times of strife. Within this context, more top-tier strong individuals are likely to appear in the Great Thousand World. In the past few years, numerous prodigies have emerged in large numbers.

The Green Robed Sword Saint of the past, Jiang Yun, Xiao Yan, and Qin Tian who followed are among them.

Now, a new prodigy has appeared in the southwest of the Great Thousand World.

According to information from the Great Thousand Palace, this individual known as Lin Dong is quite legendary. The lower realm he was in was invaded by a team of the extraterrestrial evil race led by a Demon Emperor. Eventually, Lin Dong gathered the will of all beings in his realm and successfully merged with the realm's embryo, becoming its master and killed the Demon Emperor.

It's common for lower realms to be invaded by the extraterrestrial evil race, as hidden spaces surround the Great Thousand World. These spaces are lower realms; if not closely situated or utilizing special methods, they are hard to detect, making rescue from the Great Thousand Palace impossible.

Normally, an invaded lower realm ends up enslaved or exterminated. Defeating a Demon Emperor, let alone fleeing, is deemed incredible.

Considering that both the extraterrestrial evil race and the Great Thousand World belong to higher systems of cultivation, with spiritual and demonic energies as higher forms of energy, it's a suppression by higher dimensions. Hence, it's seemingly impossible for lower realms to triumph.

But Lin Dong achieved it, earning much respect.

After eliminating the Demon Emperor, the Tianxuan Lower Realm, due to its bad luck, was noticed by a sweeping operation of the extraterrestrial evil race. Lin Dong's battle with the Demon Emperor drew their attention.

Later, Lin Dong and a squad from the evil race encountered each other. Fortunately, the opposing squad had no Demon Emperor and was annihilated by Lin Dong.

However, the location of the Tianxuan Lower Realm was exposed. For the realm's safety, Lin Dong ascended to the Great Thousand World to seek assistance.

With the Great Thousand World's intervention, the crisis of the Tianxuan Lower Realm was resolved. Soon after ascending, Lin Dong made a name for himself on the southern battlefield.

The warriors of the Tianxuan Lower Realm, under Lin Dong's leadership, established the Martial Realm on a southern continent, earning him the title of Martial Ancestor.

Shortly after the Martial Realm was established, they went on a frenzied spree, killing countless extraterrestrial evil races. Several armies led by Demon Kings were devastated by them, painting mountains and rivers with blood. Lin Dong even exterminated a Demon Emperor.

Thus, the name of the Martial Ancestor of the Martial Realm resounded for the first time in the Great Thousand World.

The Ice Spirit Clan is located on the Ice Spirit Continent in the southern territory of the Great Thousand World. It is a well-known continent within the Great Thousand World.

This continent is not particularly unique in the Great Thousand World, but it gained fame due to the presence of the Ice Spirit Clan.

The Ice Spirit Clan is an ancient race in the Great Thousand World with a long history dating back to ancient times. Over its millennia-long history, it has produced numerous super strong individuals.

In its heyday, the Ice Spirit Clan was a formidable force in the Great Thousand World, rivaling even the Ancient God Clan and commanding the reverence and worship of countless forces.

Though the present Ice Spirit Clan has declined somewhat, the saying "a camel that is dying of hunger is still bigger than a horse" holds true. With supreme deities still in their ranks, they remain a significant force in the Great Thousand World, deeply respected by countless strong individuals.

Today, this ancient race is about to receive a great surprise.

In the northwest of the Ice Spirit Continent stands the Myriad Frost Peak, a towering mountain appearing menacing due to its sharp ice spikes. The mountain, ice-blue in color, is covered with thick ice layers that gleam coldly under the sunlight.

At the peak stands a black-robed figure with hands behind his back. He slightly raises his head, revealing a resolute profile with a knife-chiselled face.

He sports a pair of deep-set black eyes, which seem ancient, as if having experienced reincarnation.

This person is Lin Dong, the recently emerging leader of the Martial Realm, known as the Martial Ancestor.

Lin Dong gazes into the distance where the space is violently distorting. Faintly, there seems to be a massive ice gate emerging, exuding an ancient pressure.

That is the spatial gate leading to the ancestral land of the Ice Spirit Clan.

"Don't worry, Huanhuan. I will make sure you awaken."

Lin Dong looks at the ice gate, and with a sudden wave of his hand, an ice coffin emerges. The translucent ice coffin glistens under the sunlight, and inside lies a sleeping beauty. Gazing at her, the young man's eyes are filled with determination.

While he is engrossed in the sight of the beauty within the coffin, faint footsteps sound from behind him. He turns to see four figures approaching, and a rare smile appears on his stern face.

One of the figures, a lady wholly clad in a black dress, looks both elegant and imposing. Her vigilant eyes soften with a soothing smile as she rushes over to Lin Dong and affectionately grabs his sleeve.

The two men accompanying her are notable individuals too. One is as handsome as a celestial being, while the other, as robust as a towering mountain, exudes a ferocious aura as he stands there, akin to a fearsome tiger.

These four are Lin Dong's most important companions from the Tianxuan Continent: Qingzhu, Qingtan, Little Marten, and Xiao Yan.

"How was it? Did the Ice Spirit Clan agree?"

Hearing Lin Dong's query, the smile on Qingtan's face vanishes, and she replies with some distress, "The Ice Spirit Clan's Ice Spirit Stele is their precious treasure, and only those with royal blood from the Ice Spirit Clan can leave an ice spirit imprint on it at birth."

"Elder Sister Huanhuan possesses the royal bloodline of the Ice Spirit Clan, but the stubborn clan refuses to lend out the Ice Spirit Stele to revive her."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dong furrows his brow and says in a low voice, "Even if I promise to compensate for the loss of energy from the stele and reward them with twenty thousand Demon Slayer Points, they still won't agree?"

Lin Dong, a master refiner, can repair the damage to the Ice Spirit Stele. As long as it doesn't reach the level of supreme sacred artifacts, he can attempt it.

In this way, the Ice Spirit Clan wouldn't lose anything, gain Lin Dong's friendship, and obtain twenty thousand Demon Slayer Points. It's a huge benefit.

Two Demon Emperors need to be killed to amass twenty thousand Demon Slayer Points. It's the result of the collective effort of the Martial Realm, and Lin Dong greatly appreciates their support. However, why won't the Ice Spirit Clan agree?

Sensing the frustration in Lin Dong's voice, Qingzhu shakes her head, and the group falls silent.

"Brother, why don't we force them? The Ice Spirit Clan is not what it used to be. They only have one Ling-level Supreme Deity left. How dare they hinder Sister-in-law Huanhuan's revival? We should uproot their ancestral land if they persist." A deep, thunderous voice rings out as Xiao Yan glares at the distant Ice Spirit Clan.

However, his words earn him disapproving glares from the others.

"You fool, this is the home of Ice Master Huanhuan. Even if you don't care for their favor, consider Huanhuan herself. If you destroy this place, how will our brother explain it to her when she wakes?" Little Marten chides Xiao Yan while smacking his head.

Receiving this scolding, Xiao Yan scratches his head awkwardly and falls silent.

Lin Dong looks at Xiao Yan and, after some thought, tells the four, "You all should return to the Martial Realm first. With the current intense war between the Great Thousand and the extraterrestrial evil race, the Martial Realm needs strong individuals to guard it. Leave this matter to me."

Though reluctant to leave, the group nods in trust of Lin Dong and departs the Ice Spirit Continent.

After they leave, Lin Dong gazes at the ice coffin, gently caressing it as if touching her face. Memories of her smiling face flood his mind, and determination flashes in his eyes.

Looking at the colossal icy gate in the distant distorted space, Lin Dong quietly extends his hand, and brilliant lightning flares in his palm. The Lightning Emperor's Staff, encircled by thunder dragons, appears in his grip.

The Ice Spirit Clan is Huanhuan's home and should not be treated recklessly. However, if they persist in refusing her revival, he will press on unwaveringly despite possible consequences.

With a firm grip on the Lightning Emperor's Staff, Lin Dong strides toward the icy gate, his black eyes filled with resolute determination.

At that moment, in the ancestral land of the Ice Spirit Clan, a grand feast is underway. The strongest of the Ice Spirit Clan, the Heavenly Supreme Ice Spirit Ancestor, is personally hosting the event. The grand hall is filled with melodious bamboo music and drowning in festivity.

Within the hall are gathered numerous strong individuals from the Ice Spirit Clan, their vast spiritual energy causing spatial distortions. However, amidst this powerful group, three figures stand out, emanating an oppressive aura.

At the center of the hall sits an elder clad in a blue robe. His face is azure blue, and a terrifying cold radiates from him with each movement, freezing even the surrounding space.

The elder occasionally freezes ambient spiritual energy into colorful ice crystals, which he then swallows, and a boundless power swirls in his eyes.

This elder is the strongest of the Ice Spirit Clan, the Heavenly Supreme Ice Spirit Ancestor. Known for his tremendous power in the Great Thousand World, he is the most formidable pillar of the Ice Spirit Clan.

"Hahaha, Brother Ice Spirit's extreme cold spiritual energy becomes more terrifying by the day. I am humbled." A loud laugh comes from below, from an elder with snow-white hair and beard, his white skin exuding spiritual energy.

The elder is the Snow Demon Elder, also a Heavenly Supreme, who has been friends with the Ice Spirit Ancestor for many years.

The praise greatly pleased the Ice Spirit Ancestor, but he modestly replied, "Brother Snow Demon's North Sea True Qi is unparalleled in the Great Thousand World."

"You humans are so hypocritical, always flattering each other. Isn't it tiring?" An amused laugh interrupts their mutual compliments, without concern for their Heavenly Supreme status.

Yet, far from being offended, the Ice Spirit Ancestor and Snow Demon Elder exchange a knowing smile and look at the speaker.

Seated nearby is a burly elder clad in a black robe with violet-gold eyes. His voice is robust, and a dragon's roar seems to echo.

Just sitting there, his presence exudes an aura that makes people's hair stand on end, like a fearsome primeval dragon.

He is currently drinking heavily and watching the enchanting dancers in the hall.

"Dragon Venerable is as straightforward as always," remarks the Ice Spirit Ancestor, enviously looking at the elder, who is a respected elder of the Dragon Clan, renowned and at the peak of the Spiritual Supreme level, both in power and status, mightier than himself.

"Alas, it's a pity the Battle Emperor is not here."

"I've heard that he's on the Red Flame Continent, smitten by a woman and pursuing her madly. Who knows, maybe we'll see a Saintess in the Battle God Hall soon." The Snow Demon Elder laughs, a knowing smile spreading amongst the men.

"Boom!!!" (Chapter End)