Central Continent.
In the deepest reaches of the earth trench.
Two cold lights suddenly ignited within a dark, cavernous alcove.
They were the eyes of Bai Ningbing.
She had ended this period of secluded cultivation. Not only had she mastered an Ice Snow Path killer move, but she had also gained a fleeting insight into the Ice Snow Path.
"I can clearly feel that my understanding of Ice Snow has deepened further. I'm not far from the Grandmaster realm," Bai Ningbing murmured softly.
"Unfortunately, ever since I transformed into a Dragon Person body, my efficiency in comprehending the Ice Snow Path has dropped significantly. Most of my current mastery at the Grandmaster level is built on prior accumulated experience."
Bai Ningbing had once possessed the Northern Dark Ice Soul Body, which granted extraordinary advantages in cultivating the Ice Snow Path and Soul Path, allowing her realm to advance rapidly.
But after altering her physical body, this advantage was affected.
Dragon Persons excelled in the Slave Path. If Bai Ningbing switched to cultivating the Slave Path, she would enjoy certain benefits as well. However, the extent of those benefits could not compare to the advantages her Northern Dark Ice Soul Body had provided for Ice Snow and Soul Path cultivation.
Humans were the most spiritual of all living beings. The talent of the Ten Extreme Physiques absolutely surpassed that of exotic races.
Bai Ningbing carefully stepped out of the alcove.
The alcove had formed naturally, situated along the cliff wall of one side of the earth trench.
She quietly activated her Breath Concealing Ice Pearl killer move. Soon, an ice-thread-thin line appeared around her slender, elegant neck, circling it once.
This move was created by Bai Ningbing herself—it did not come from the Bai Xiang True Inheritance.
All the killer moves Bai Ningbing subsequently activated would not leak any aura. Because the residual energy was stored away and condensed into tiny ice pearls, each arranged along the ice-thread line.
The downside of this technique was twofold: first, it would sacrifice some of the killer move's power; second, once the ice pearls accumulated to a certain number, they would fuse together into a noose that would tighten around Bai Ningbing's neck, causing injury—or even death.
"Exploring the depths of this earth trench means I absolutely need a method to conceal my aura," Bai Ningbing said calmly. She quietly activated an investigation killer move, scanning her surroundings.
After emerging from the hidden vault, she had been cultivating in the depths of the earth trench and had been hunted by wild beast packs—suffering significant losses in the process.
Fortunately, she had the Bai Xiang killer move. Even a single remaining shard was enough to keep Bai Ningbing alive and unkillable; otherwise, she would never have survived until now.
"Within a hundred li, there are three Ancient Desolate Beasts, plus one pack of Archaic Desolate Beasts," Bai Ningbing quickly ascertained the situation.
She was only at the Seventh Transformation in her cultivation, and the environment here was extraordinarily perilous. Typically, even Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals who came down to explore would find it a struggle.
But behind such tremendous risk lay equally tremendous profit.
The cultivation resources here were of the Eighth Transformation tier. Even if Bai Ningbing couldn't utilize them herself, she could sell them in Treasure Yellow Heaven and purchase whatever she needed.
By nature, Bai Ningbing loved adventure. Most people would live in constant fear in a place like this, but she was immersed in it, thoroughly enjoying the thrill of teetering on the edge of life and death time and time again.
"Cultivating here is dangerous, but there's still a chance of survival. Returning to the Five Regions Two Heavens would be far more perilous. Whether it's Fang Yuan, Shadow Sect, or Heavenly Court—all of them want to hunt me down."
Bai Ningbing had a clear grasp of her situation.
"Hm?" Just as Bai Ningbing was about to leave the alcove, her expression shifted slightly.
She sensed that most of the wild beasts entrenched in the area had suddenly become like cats that caught a whiff of blood, frantically relocating and stampeding in one direction.
While some beasts and packs remained unmoved, they were quickly swept up by the momentum of the majority, carried along against their will.
And so, a massive beast tide rapidly took shape before Bai Ningbing's eyes.
"What's going on? These beasts seem to be attracted by some mysterious object—they've abandoned their original fights and slaughter, rushing madly in that direction. What could it be?"
Curiosity surged within Bai Ningbing.
Without hesitation, she activated a movement killer move and merged into the beast tide.
The beast tide gradually coalesced. Dense clusters of Archaic Desolate Beasts surrounded a corner of the trench, interspersed with the occasional enormous Ancient Desolate Beast.
The corner was also located along the cliff wall of the earth trench. It was slowly protruding outward, resembling a burial mound. At this moment, it radiated a yellow-brown and vivid red glow.
The radiance flowed like water, circulating ceaselessly, dazzling and brilliant.
And at the very top of the earthen mound stood a tombstone! Characters seemed to be inscribed on it, but they were obscured by the glowing light. Even using investigation killer moves, one could not make them out clearly.
Bai Ningbing had already transformed into her Bai Xiang form, squeezing in among the beast horde.
"What place is this? There's such dense Earth Path and Flame Path aura. What's hidden inside? Could it be immortal materials? Or perhaps an Immortal Gu?"
"But why is there a tombstone as well? There seem to be characters on it. Was this done by someone? Who was buried here?"
Bai Ningbing swept her gaze across the surrounding beasts.
A flicker of understanding arose in her mind: "The vast majority of these beast packs are Earth Path and Flame Path predators—no wonder they were drawn here. Beasts of other paths make up only a small fraction; they were simply swept along."
BOOM!
At that moment, the two-colored radiance enveloping the burial mound suddenly shot skyward, transforming into a colossal pillar of interwoven yellow and red light.
The beasts roared in unison, wild with excitement.
Some beasts began charging toward the light pillar, seemingly trying to be the first inside, but were quickly tackled and trampled by the beasts behind them.
The beast horde descended into chaos and frenzy, turning on one another in a savage struggle to break into the light pillar.
Yet even the beasts that reached the forefront and collided with the light pillar could not succeed. The pillar stood immovable, its defenses formidable—beasts slamming into it was like trying to topple a massive mountain, unable to advance even a fraction.
Bai Ningbing was, after all, a Gu Immortal. Her intelligence far surpassed that of the beasts. She stayed huddled at the outer periphery. Though she was somewhat caught up in the turmoil, she primarily watched and waited for changes.