Once a cultivator reached the third level of the Void King Realm, a peculiar object would condense within their body known as a Void Thought Crystal. A Void Thought Crystal contained the lifetime experience and martial essence of a peak Void King Realm powerhouse. Even after the martial artist's death, the Void Thought Crystal would not vanish.
The founding ancestor of Ice Heart Valley had left the Profrost Sword at the bottom of the Creation Cold Pond, but there was no Void Thought Crystal. That alone spoke volumes.
She might really be alive!
But even so, having not appeared for twenty or thirty thousand years, no one knew where the founding ancestor Bing Yun currently was — or whether she was even still alive.
Still, for Luo Li, this was undoubtedly incredibly uplifting news.
Luo Li turned to look at Yang Kai and let out a soft sigh.
She realized that if Yang Kai were a disciple of Ice Heart Valley, he would undoubtedly be an extraordinary blessing!
Ever since he had set foot in Ice Heart Valley, far too many joyous events had occurred. First Chi Huo had been slain, then her own injuries had fully healed. Now the Profrost Divine Sword had reappeared in the world, and Su Yan's account had indirectly confirmed that the founding ancestor might still be alive…
Every one of these developments was wonderful news for Ice Heart Valley.
Unfortunately, Yang Kai was a man — there was no way he could join Ice Heart Valley. Moreover, he himself didn't seem to hold the sect in particularly high regard.
"Senior, it's time we paid the Fire Radiance Sect a visit," Yang Kai suddenly said.
"Mm." Luo Li nodded upon hearing this. "It is indeed time."
She gazed into the distance, her eyes deep and unfathomable.
From this day forward, Crimson Star would be ruled by Ice Heart Valley!
…
A fleet of five jet-black warships departed from Ice Abyss Island. Aboard the ships were roughly three thousand of Ice Heart Valley's elite, and under the lead of the main flagship, they set course for the Fire Radiance Mountain Range.
As one of the most prominent major sects on Crimson Star, Ice Heart Valley naturally possessed its own warships.
However, Yang Kai noticed that even their best vessel was only upper-grade Void-class, serving as the main flagship, while the other four were merely mid-grade Void-class.
In terms of quality, they couldn't compare at all to the one he possessed.
It seemed that across the entire Star Domain, Void King-class warships were extremely rare treasures.
As powerful siege weapons, this expedition to the Fire Radiance Mountain Range aimed to annihilate the entire Fire Radiance Sect. Naturally, Luo Li would deploy warships — these formidable mobile fortresses of war.
The Ice Heart Valley disciples all knew what this mission entailed. Every one of them wore a solemn expression, a hint of ruthless determination between their brows.
Centuries of conflict had deepened the enmity between Ice Heart Valley and the Fire Radiance Sect beyond repair. Many of their senior and junior sisters had perished at the hands of Fire Radiance Sect martial artists. Because they were women, once captured by Fire Radiance Sect members, their fate was often worse than death.
Upon learning that the Supreme Elder would personally lead the charge, all three thousand elites had volunteered eagerly, their pent-up fury ready to explode the moment they reached the Fire Radiance Mountain Range — to burn their ancient enemy to ashes.
The fleet moved at remarkable speed. Though Ice Heart Valley was tens of millions of li away from the Fire Radiance Sect, in just a few short days the five warships arrived at the outer perimeter of the Fire Radiance Mountain Range.
On the main flagship, Luo Li stood at the bow, her gaze sweeping across the distance. Behind her stood the senior leadership of Ice Heart Valley.
Yang Kai and Su Yan were also among the crowd.
"So this is the Fire Radiance Mountain Range?" Yang Kai looked ahead with visible astonishment.
As far as the eye could see, mountains rose and fell in undulating waves. The vast range stretched like a colossal dragon crouching upon the earth, extending for untold tens of thousands of li, layer upon layer of dense forest and towering peaks vanishing into the horizon without end.
Moreover, the entire mountain range seemed to be suffused with extremely dense fire-attribute spiritual energy. To the naked eye, a faint crimson glow flickered between the ridges.
Even the ambient temperature had risen noticeably.
"That's right. This is the Fire Radiance Mountain Range. Beneath the earth runs a Fire Dragon vein, which happens to perfectly complement the cultivation techniques of Fire Radiance Sect martial artists, allowing them to advance their cultivation rapidly here." Luo Li did not speak; it was Bing Long who explained in a soft voice to Yang Kai.
"But starting today, this land no longer belongs to the Fire Radiance Sect," Ran Yunting added with a cold snort.
The moment her words fell, she seemed to notice something and cast her gaze downward, extending a hand to make a grabbing motion in empty air.
Amid panicked cries, a martial artist wearing Fire Radiance Sect robes was drawn through the forest below and pulled through the sky onto the deck of the flagship.
The man appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with unremarkable cultivation — merely the first level of the Return Void Realm. His fire-attributed Sacred Yuan had been completely suppressed by Ran Yunting. Once he landed on the deck and saw the throngs of women surrounding him, his heart lurched. He immediately understood the situation and shouted, "Ice Heart Valley! What are you doing here? Invading the Fire Radiance Mountain Range in such force — are you trying to start a war with our Fire Radiance Sect?!"
"A war?" Ran Yunting's cold laughter was relentless. "When has Ice Heart Valley ever been at peace with your Fire Radiance Sect?"
The martial artist's expression froze, left without a reply.
Indeed, these two powers that dominated Crimson Star had never been at peace. Skirmishes broke out constantly, but an open invasion into another faction's territory on this scale — that had never happened before.
"What do you want?!" The Fire Radiance Sect martial artist showed a surprising backbone. Facing so many cultivators whose realms far surpassed his own while standing at a lower level of cultivation, he still managed to question them.