Chapter 360: Ancient Holy Land Great Dragon
The Ice and Snow Palace was a major sect in the Northern Domain, with a heritage spanning over ten thousand years, its power only slightly below that of a Holy Land.
Legend had it that their founding patriarch was not human, but a snow ape, whose cultivation reached the heavens, able to contend with the Holy Lands ten thousand years ago.
No matter how great the inheritance, there is a time of decay; no matter how powerful the person, there is a moment of passing. Nothing is eternal.
Ye Fan, Pang Bo, Tu Fei, and a big black dog stepped onto an ice plain, beginning their plan to hunt Holy Sons and capture Holy Maidens.
Yao Guang's reserve Holy Son had entered the Ice and Snow Palace and had yet to come out. The group arrived in this region, naturally targeting him.
This area had an extremely high altitude, exceeding eight thousand meters. Even in summer, it was a land of ice and snow, with howling winds that had been eternal since ancient times.
In the past, during the darkest era of chaos, a earth-shattering battle had occurred here. What was once the pure land of a Holy Land was completely destroyed.
Peerless experts had pierced the heavens, leveling endless snow-capped mountains, turning this place into an endless ice plain.
The Ice and Snow Palace was merely a major power that later established itself here. In a more ancient era, there had been an older and more glorious inheritance on the ice plain.
"Who destroyed a Holy Land?" Ye Fan asked, feeling shocked after hearing Tu Fei speak.
"It's not very clear. That was something from seventy to eighty thousand years ago, the darkest era after the Ancient Era, when the most terrifying chaos occurred, and many Holy Lands participated in the war," Tu Fei shook his head.
"How powerful would one need to be to destroy a Holy Land?" Pang Bo was also shocked.
"I feel like it might have been a Forbidden Zone chaos..." the big black dog said hesitantly.
"Do you know something?" Ye Fan's heart stirred. The big black dog had an astonishing background; the more ancient the matter, the clearer its understanding.
"The Eastern Wasteland has seven Forbidden Zones of Life, each one terrifying beyond measure. Even a Great Emperor could not level them. One hundred and ninety thousand years ago, there was the Primordial Ancient Mine dark chaos, where rivers of blood flowed across the land. One hundred and fifty thousand years ago, there was the Immortal Mountain dark chaos, causing widespread suffering."
Everyone was surprised, looking at the big black dog. The Primordial Ancient Mine and Immortal Mountain were terrifying Forbidden Zones in the Northern Domain and Central Region of the Eastern Wasteland, respectively.
None of them had heard that the Forbidden Zones of Life had triggered dark chaos, which seemed extremely terrifying, sweeping across the land with floating corpses and flowing blood.
"Seventy to eighty thousand years ago, known as the darkest era after the Ancient Era, countless died in that great chaos. It seemed to be a cleansing," Tu Fei spoke, looking at the endless ice plain. "I vaguely heard that an invincible Divine King of the Jiang Family used an Extreme Weapon to level this place."
"Hiss"
Everyone drew in cold air. The true power of an Extreme Dao Sacred Weapon was hard to describe. There were rumors that if supported by enough Dao power, it was equivalent to a Great Emperor being reborn.
"Indeed... Holy Lands also have their strengths and weaknesses," Ye Fan sighed.
Black Emperor was profound, saying, "Naturally. Holy Lands that produced a Great Emperor and possessed an Extreme Weapon had the greatest confidence, fearing no major power in the world."
What it said was true. Looking back over a hundred thousand years, the number of Holy Lands was greater than now, with half having been annihilated in history.
Upon careful thought, the destroyed inheritances were all major powers that had not produced a Great Emperor or possessed an Extreme Weapon. In short, their foundations were insufficient.
Pang Bo said, "It seems now that the surviving Holy Lands might not only have their own ancient scriptures. They should be more powerful than the world imagines."
Everyone nodded in agreement. The deeper they understood, the more they felt the Holy Lands were unfathomable and extremely terrifying.
Half an hour later, they reached the deepest part of the ice plain and saw a range of snow-capped mountains towering into the clouds, a vast expanse of white.
Tu Fei explained, "Legend has it that seventy to eighty thousand years ago, there was no ice plain, only endless snow-capped mountains. There are vague rumors that a Divine King of the Jiang Family, wielding an Extreme Weapon, leveled them, forming this landscape, leaving only this patch of snow mountains, covering a hundred miles, as a relic."
The high mountains were hard to see to their peaks, rising into the clouds. Above were the grounds of the Ice and Snow Palace. On every great snow mountain stood magnificent ice palaces.
Ye Fan said, "The old ape who founded this sect truly had vision, choosing this place. These majestic mountains are clearly extraordinary."
Tu Fei nodded, "Naturally. That old ape's cultivation reached the heavens, able to contend with Holy Lands, leaving behind endless legends. Some say it was born in these snow mountains, and others even claim that the path it practiced was the Dao lineage of the Holy Land destroyed seventy to eighty thousand years ago. By founding the Ice and Snow Palace, it was like that Holy Land was revived."
"I sense it. Yao Guang's reserve Holy Son is on the snow mountain ahead," Pang Bo spoke.
He had cultivated the Demon Emperor Ancient Scripture and possessed extraordinary methods. While pursuing Yao Guang's reserve Holy Son, he had marked him with a Demon Emperor divine technique, allowing him to sense his presence within a certain range.
If the opponent hadn't fled to the Ice and Snow Palace, he would have been killed and couldn't have escaped.
Ye Fan said, "Then we'll wait by the tree stump. A major sect like the Ice and Snow Palace is too powerful for us to provoke. We can only wait outside."
Within a hundred miles, the towering mountains rose into the clouds, all part of the Ice and Snow Palace's territory. Through the wind and snow, one could faintly see many mountains glittering with crystal—those were magnificent ice palaces.
"I estimate that healing his wounds will take at least seven days. Being hit by my Demon Emperor Nine Slashes' 'Form Extinction' and surviving is already a stroke of luck for him," Pang Bo said.
Ye Fan deeply understood how terrifying the Demon Emperor Nine Slashes were. When he fought the old demon of the Azure Lotus at the Undying Hall, he and Black Emperor had nearly perished together.
At this moment, upon hearing the words "Demon Emperor Nine Slashes," Black Emperor's eyes burned with desire, wanting to pounce on Pang Bo and force the ancient scripture from him.
"We don't have to wait idly. I've received secret intelligence that the Holy Maiden of the Zi Mansion Holy Land will visit the Ice and Snow Palace and then head to the Divine City. Perhaps we can capture her in advance."
Pang Bo now had a special status, holding an unusual position among the Demon Clan. Though he couldn't mobilize the various Demon Clan branches, it was easy for him to obtain secret intelligence through his connections.
"That's good news!" Tu Fei perked up.
Black Emperor also spoke, "That woman. Last time she chased me, if I hadn't urgently crossed the void, it would have been dangerous."
"Haha, I look forward to hunting a Holy Maiden. I hope we succeed," Tu Fei laughed.
Ye Fan walked around the snow-capped mountains, stroking his chin and thinking seriously. "This place looks more and more unusual. It might hide a Dragon Vein with massive pieces of peerless Divine Source."
He needed at least ten million catties of pure Source to break free from the constraints of the Dao Palace Secret Realm and enter the Four Extremes Secret Realm—an astronomical number.
"Massive peerless Divine Source—can we dig it out?" Pang Bo and Tu Fei knew he had cultivated the Source Heaven Scroll and had confidence in his Source Art.
Ye Fan shook his head, "Probably very difficult. Even if we could stabilize the Dragon Vein, it would cause a huge commotion. This is the Ice and Snow Palace's territory; it would only benefit them."
Tu Fei said, "Let's go take a look first. Seventy to eighty thousand years ago, there was a Holy Land here. There might not only be massive Divine Source but also other treasures."
Within a hundred miles, the mountains all towered into the clouds, with endless snow.
Ye Fan used his Earth-Viewing Art to carefully observe, feeling more and more that this place was extraordinary. There might be a great dragon divine vein containing super-massive Divine Source.
"It seems to be in the back mountain. Let's circle around."
Feather-like snow fell continuously, almost blinding their eyes. The snow mountains were bitterly cold.
Pang Bo used his Demon Emperor divine technique to probe, "The back mountain seems to have no one from the Ice and Snow Palace."
"I see. The rumors are true," Tu Fei smiled. "The founding patriarch was an old ape, and the sect has always been especially kind to snow apes."
The hundred-mile range of snow mountains was enough for the Ice and Snow Palace to build its Dao grounds. It was said that the back mountain was left for a group of snow apes, with no disciples or followers cultivating there.
Upon learning this, the group was overjoyed and decided to venture deep into the back mountain to investigate thoroughly. If they could really dig out massive peerless Divine Source, it would be a great fortune.
"This place absolutely has a great dragon!" Ye Fan was deeply shocked.
They went deep into the back mountain, traveling between the great snow peaks through the icy, snowy terrain. Ye Fan used Source Art to see through illusions and capture the dragon qi.
"There is an extremely strong dragon qi underground. It must be a supreme Dragon Vein!"
Ye Fan gazed. The snow peaks were connected, like the spine of a great dragon, majestic and imposing.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's dig it out," the big black dog urged, its eyes turning green.
"I'm worried this Dragon Vein might have something strange. It might seal a Primeval Royal Clan. Moreover, seventy to eighty thousand years ago, this was a Holy Land's Dao grounds, so there are likely more complications," Ye Fan pondered.
"Look carefully, see it through, then decide," Tu Fei said.
Ye Fan and the others continued deeper, constantly observing the snow mountains. Ye Fan could almost be certain that there was an extraordinary divine object underground.
"This terrain is—True Dragon Nirvana!" Ye Fan was shocked. The Source Heaven Scroll described this terrain, involving yin and yang, life and death, very mysterious.
"What does that mean?" Pang Bo asked.
"Profound and mysterious. If there's no living creature inside, we might obtain a great divine treasure."
"And if there are ancient creatures?" Tu Fei asked.
"Then it must be a peerless deadly ground, a king's nest of the ancient races. With our strength, we absolutely can't touch it!" Ye Fan said gravely.
"What's that smell, so fragrant?" The big black dog suddenly raised its head, showing a surprised expression.
"Is there? I don't smell anything," Pang Bo said doubtfully.
"Don't compare yourself to it. A dog's nose is the sharpest, especially this dead dog with a big background," Tu Fei said.
"Woof!"
The big black dog bared its teeth but didn't bite. It sniffed the air, "There might be some heavenly treasure about to ripen."
With that, it sprinted through the snow mountains, charging forward.
Ye Fan, Pang Bo, and Tu Fei followed closely. After traveling over ten miles, they too smelled the fragrance.
"This dead dog's nose is too sharp. Standing upwind, it could smell the fragrance from over ten miles away," the three had to admire.
The enticing fragrance came from a snow valley. When they arrived, they were startled to see many humanoid creatures in the valley, covered in long white fur.
"These are snow apes, born with immense strength. Newborns can tear apart lions and tigers. They are definitely demonic beasts. There might be old apes who have cultivated to very high levels!" Tu Fei was shocked.
What surprised them even more was that dragon qi coiled around the valley. In the center of the valley, several spiritual herbs glowed green in the snow, each bearing a golden fruit.
"Dragon-shaped fruits? What kind of rare fruit is this?" Even the big black dog didn't recognize them.
There were six spiritual herbs, glowing green, about a foot tall. Each bore a fruit about half a foot long, golden and crystalline, shaped like a true dragon, very extraordinary.
"These are Source Dragon Fruits!" Ye Fan exclaimed, further confirming that there was a great dragon underground.
"What are Source Dragon Fruits?"
"They are rare herbs that grow nourished by dragon qi. Though the fruits can't compare to ancient divine medicines, they are definitely top-tier spiritual medicines."
The group calculated silently and felt it would be difficult to pick these spiritual fruits. There were too many snow apes. If they angered them, it might alert the Ice and Snow Palace.
"There's a snow cave ahead, also emitting dragon qi!" Pang Bo's eyes were sharp.
Not far away, halfway up a snow mountain, there was a huge cave, pitch black, with dragon qi seeping out.
"Let's go take a look!"
Ye Fan flew ahead, with Pang Bo and Tu Fei following. The big black dog reluctantly glanced back at the Source Dragon Fruits before turning and leaving.
They quickly arrived at the snow mountain, descended, and entered the cave.
Inside the cave, it was very spacious and dry, with some stone basins and stone bowls, as well as stone beds.
The cave was vast, leading deep into the mountain, very clean with no strange smells.
"This seems to be the dwelling of those snow apes. Let's take a quick look and leave!"
They realized this might be the snow apes' nest and couldn't stay long.
Tu Fei said, "Let's search around. These snow apes might be descendants of the old ape who founded the Ice and Snow Palace ten thousand years ago. Maybe that old ape left something behind."
Pang Bo shook his head, "This group of snow apes clearly doesn't have any terrifying-level beings. They probably don't have any treasures hidden."
"Dragon qi is seeping out here. It might be connected to the supreme Dragon Vein underground," Ye Fan said solemnly. He also felt that today might be a special day; normally, dragon qi wouldn't be seeping out.
The big black dog's greed flared up again, "Maybe we can enter the underground from here and dig out peerless Divine Source!"
Everyone was tempted. They followed the direction of the seeping dragon qi and went deeper into the mountain.
"What is that?"
Deep in the mountain, there was a large hole like a demonic well, leading straight down into the earth. But the mouth of the well was sealed by a piece of transparent ice.
"The dragon qi is seeping from this well!"
"Look, there's something in the ice!"
They were shocked to find that inside the transparent ice sealing the well mouth was an old ape, sitting cross-legged with eyes closed, lifelike.
It was tall, covered in white beast fur, with a peaceful expression, as if still alive.
The more they observed, the more shocked they became. This old ape had the aura of the Great Dao, as if it were one with heaven and earth. That was why they hadn't noticed it at first.
"Could this be the old ape who founded the Ice and Snow Palace ten thousand years ago?"
"Did it pass away here?"
Everyone was very surprised. This old ape had sealed the well mouth with its own body. There must be something extraordinary below.