Overdraw the future and become a peerless martial god

Chapter 159 The Fire of Return to the Ruins, the War of Reversal
The sky and earth grew increasingly dark.

The wind and snow in the far north are no longer just a physical manifestation of cold; they are like the embodiment of some ancient memory, pressing heavily on the Cangque Mountains and sealing the entire world into an invisible coffin.

The air was so cold it almost stopped; the snow stopped falling and instead seemed to be squeezed down from the sky inch by inch, carrying the chill of time.

Chu Ning and Dong'er walked side by side, their steps slow and deliberate, slowly approaching the Well of the Coffin. It seemed as if only their footsteps could be heard in the world, deep and solemn.

In the wind and snow, their figures were like solitary shadows breaking through the darkness. The snow was knee-deep, and each step made a soft "crackling" sound, as if they were crushing solidified soul bones.

They seemed to be walking on a tomb of souls that had slumbered for ten thousand years, and all the places they passed through were ruins.

The ultimate place in the legends of the Snow Fox Clan, the final resting place of the foxfire, the final chapter of the soul.

It is also the only way out when all souls cannot return to heaven, and it is the place where Qingli, as the Holy Maiden of the Fox Clan, must return to her home.

Dong'er, holding the Ice Soul of the New Moon, stood before Chu Ning.

That piece of pure, cold jade seemed to hold the moonlight in its palm; it had not yet truly blossomed, but its invisible aura already stirred the heavens and earth.

Her fingers trembled slightly, not from the cold, but from a sense of oppression that came from the depths of her soul.

It was a suffocating feeling, like an ancient, desolate chill, as if the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for her to take the wrong step.

"call."

Just as she slowly raised the Ice Soul, something in the world seemed to be awakened.

It was a spiritual light slumbering deep within the wind and snow; wisps of silver-blue fox flame emerged from the white snow, rising silently.

They are like starlight falling to earth, fleeting and uncertain, yet carrying a certain ancient rhythm, slowly drifting in the wind.

At first, the fox flames were like a thin mist, like a dream, but then they gradually solidified, turning into illusory and agile fox shadows that danced and swirled between heaven and earth.

They are like souls buried by time, quietly awakened by the cold glow of the new moon's icy light, carrying memories and obsessions, waking up from the accumulated snow and the eerie wind.

Wisps of fox flame slowly gathered around Dong'er, swirling and dancing around her, both gentle and eerie; both solemn and sorrowful.

They coiled around her like the spirits of a fallen race, keeping watch over the last of her bloodline; or like slumbering starlight, ignited by the light of destiny, shining once more upon the mortal world.

The Crescent Moon Ice Soul hummed softly in her palm, without releasing any attack, yet it seemed that with a single will, it could draw upon the spiritual fires of heaven and earth, causing all flames to bow down.

Beside her, Chu Ning, clad in bone armor, stood quietly.

He did not let his lightning energy leak out uncontrollably, but instead pressed it inch by inch into the depths of his bones.

The power of lightning slowly surged out from within his body, and fine, spiderweb-like lightning threads emerged from both sides of his spine, flowing along his sternum and ribs and embedding themselves into his body surface like water, eventually transforming into flowing lightning patterns.

The lightning patterns, like those carved bone patterns, gleamed with a bluish-white light and trembled softly in the wind and snow, as if sealing away the wrath of thunder.

The bone armor burned quietly, not dazzlingly, yet it seemed as if a divine power from the abyss flowed within it.

The lightning and fox flames complemented each other, like the only two remaining flames in this deadly place—one was lightning fire, which suppressed all evil; the other was soul flame, which guided the souls of gods and men.

The wind and snow seemed to freeze before them at that moment.

The snowflakes seemed to touch some invisible barrier, losing their courage to move forward and detouring around it, as if neither heaven nor earth dared to disturb the two figures heading towards the void.

"Keep moving forward, don't stop."

Chu Ning's voice was low and slow, yet steady and firm, like the sound of a bell piercing through the wind and snow, striking the heartstrings.

Dong'er bit her lip, her fingertips still slightly cold, but the hesitation in her eyes had been suppressed.

She took a deep breath and slowly raised the Crescent Moon Ice Soul in her hand. Its cold light shone like water, and the soul fire resonated with it.

The starlight suddenly brightened, and the foxfire stirred restlessly.

Wisps of silver-blue fire rose from the snow, twisting and swirling in the void, as if being led in a predetermined direction.

They converge into a long river of starlight, guiding the way forward along the ancient veins buried in the snow and mist.

At that moment, the fox flames shone like lamps, like a falling starry river, illuminating the direction of the coffin well.

But in this tranquility, a shrill cry pierced the air.

"Shh-!"

A blurry afterimage suddenly darted out from the snow and mist ahead. It resembled a fox, had the appearance of a ghost, was tattered, and was surrounded by ghostly flames. It charged out suddenly, carrying with it a biting cold wind and a rage that had not dissipated for millennia.

Its twisted form, like a flash of lightning, pierced the silence, its long, screeching howl shaking the surrounding fields.

Immediately following, a second and a third shadowy figure appeared in succession, and more dark figures wriggled out of the snow and crawled out from under the broken tree shadows. They crawled, leaped, or slithered, like spirits emerging from an ancient tomb.

Those were not fox spirits, but fox souls—the spirits of the clan that had not returned to the Void.

Their bodies were fragmented, some with missing ears, some with half their bodies frozen in ice, their eye sockets hollow, exuding a sense of death and obsession.

The figure, a blur of reality and illusion, was draped in a tattered fox-print fur coat, like the embodiment of the last vestige of the deceased's will.

They are fearless of wind and snow, unable to distinguish friend from foe, recognizing only one direction—to protect.

That is a sacred place, a void, the resting place of the fox clan's souls, where no living person is allowed to set foot.

The wind and snow suddenly intensified, as if heaven and earth were responding to this awakening.

Above the Fox Ancestor's fiefdom, the winds of the netherworld howled, and snow mist swirled like a tide from all directions.

Within the white fox's ghostly presence, a large ghostly figure raised its head and roared, spewing out a storm of soul power like a snow wave, layer upon layer, pressing down on the two, shaking the heavens and earth.

The fox spirits stopped lingering and instead rose into the air together, their claws like hooks and their eyes lifeless, as they pounced on Chu Ning and Dong'er.

At that moment, the world seemed to be torn apart by a thousand-year-old obsession; the snow was no longer tranquil, but transformed into a violent wail.

Dong'er's pupils contracted sharply, her steps faltered, and her heart tightened instantly as an instinctive fear surged within her chest.

Her fingers trembled slightly, and the icy light in her palm was as small as a bean. Facing this group of loyal spirits from the past, she truly felt for the first time what it meant for a living person to intrude into the realm of the dead.

She had never faced such a heavy obsession. It was not an ordinary demon or a vengeful ghost, but a group of old spirits that had long been forgotten by time, yet whose will had not been completely dissipated.

They are souls, not flesh and blood; they are spirits, yet they bear the imprint of their ethnicity.

An ancient spirit, existing between the souls of the dead and bloodlines, has slumbered in this desolate land for a hundred years. Now, awakened by the appearance of the Ice Soul, its obsession remains, destined to repel the living.

Dong'er's heart skipped a beat, almost crushed by the overwhelming spiritual power.

She knew that if she took a wrong step and lost her soul, she might be devoured by the myriad souls in the well, fall into eternal reincarnation, and turn into a wisp of dead fire at the bottom of the well.

"Don't be afraid."

Chu Ning's voice was deep, yet it was like thunder and snow, piercing through layers of wind and landing steadily in her ears.

The next moment, he took a step forward.

"boom!"

A ring of lightning suddenly erupted beneath his feet, seemingly igniting the entire icy wilderness. Thunder and lightning intertwined, and an electric net appeared, blocking her way as if separating the boundary between life and death.

His bone armor solidified instantly, with lightning bolts like snakes slithering around the two of them, and purple light like flames, like a god in armor, standing proudly atop the snowy plain.

"With me here, they can't hurt you."

He turned to look at her, his gaze intense.

For a moment, Dong'er was stunned.

It wasn't that he wasn't afraid; rather, at that moment, he shouldered all the danger and pressure himself without wavering.

Amidst the swirling snow and wind, several fox spirits approached the bone armor.

They roared, their soul fire raged, and their sharp claws lashed out like blades in the snowy night.

"Snapped--!"

Lightning, sharp as blades, erupted from between Chu Ning's shoulder armor and spine, the purple lightning forming threads that crisscrossed like a net, instantly weaving a lightning barrier.

The fox spirits that approached first twisted violently the instant the lightning pierced their bodies, emitting a shriek. Then, with a "boom," they exploded in mid-air into nothingness, soul mist, which scattered and turned into the afterglow of the snow.

But in the next instant, even denser soul shadows rushed in from all directions.

They are fearless of thunder and destruction, and they do not know life or death.

Those fox spirits may have been guardians or martyrs, long since devoid of knowledge and understanding, but their obsession remains.

Though their souls were broken and their consciousness scattered, they still rushed towards the two of them without regard for their own safety. It was not an attack, but a sacrifice—a charge to die for the holy land.

At this moment, between heaven and earth, only the soul fire burns eternally, and only the obsession rages on.

"Crackling—crackling—!"

Thunder roared, echoing across the icy plains, like lightning shattering the snow; the lightning patterns, like angry snakes, twisted and tore through the sky.

One after another, fox spirits broke through the wind and snow, shrieking as they rushed in from all directions, one after another, only to turn into green smoke in the lightning.

The phantom twisted inch by inch in mid-air, eventually dissipating without a trace, leaving only a faint mist of souls that drifted with the wind and returned to this icy land.

But their numbers have not decreased; on the contrary, they have become even more astonishing.

From the depths of the snow-covered forest, beneath the crater, and even in the cracks of the ice beneath their feet, one after another, blurry soul figures emerged.

They climb or rush, their steps strange yet their obsession burning fiercely, their roars like a snowy sea surging, the waves never ceasing, the raging tide growing ever stronger.

Chu Ning's bone armor fully unfolded, purple lightning solidified into armor, and lightning threads intertwined like a spider web, flowing along his skin and outlining an impenetrable lightning curtain around him, tightly protecting him and Dong'er within it.

His eyes were like torches, cold and stern, a composure honed by wind, snow, and murderous intent. Wherever his gaze fell, there was only hostility, yet his steps never faltered.

"Walk."

He gave a low shout, his voice like thunder, and the lightning marks under his feet suddenly exploded, cracking the thick ice layer. The lightning, like the flames of stars, spread from the soles of his feet, and a pillar of lightning cleaved a path through the ice and snow. He put one arm around Dong'er, protecting her by his side, and strode quickly into the depths of the Coffin Well.

Dong'er also gritted her teeth, her mind tense.

She raised her hands high, with the Crescent Moon Ice Soul suspended in her palms. Illuminated by the lightning, it resembled an inverted icy blue star, radiating a sacred glow amidst the wind, snow, and thunder.

Guided by her will, the fox flames around her suddenly blazed fiercely, and the silver-blue flames fell like stars, gathering layer upon layer around her.

Those scattered sparks, now seemingly awakened by some ancient will, meandered from the depths of the snowfield and among the remnants of ghosts and spirits, all disappearing into her palm and converging into a radiant light.

It was not just foxfire, but more like an echo of the clan's memory, a fragment of will that had been dormant for thousands of years, awakened by the Ice Soul and transformed into a lamp to guide the wandering souls home.

Her palm seemed to hold a lamp of soul fire, its light slowly rising, blooming with a sacred and solemn tranquility amidst the thunder and snow.

On one side were tens of thousands of fox spirits, their obsession undiminished, vowing to protect the sacred domain with their souls and bodies, even at the cost of colliding with the thunder and being annihilated in both form and spirit.

On one side, the true fire that guides souls quietly ignites in the girl's hand, gathering the faint light of a thousand souls to illuminate the way home.

Lightning, soul fire, and snow intertwined, and a curtain of light, intersecting silver-blue and purple lightning, bloomed around them, as magnificent as a god descending to earth.

The wind and snow roared all around, yet a moment of tranquility remained beneath the sky.

They walked slowly side by side, one wearing lightning armor and the other holding fire as a lamp. Protected by the lightning curtain and surrounded by foxfire, they walked through the snow, as if they had carved out a path for souls that only they could walk between heaven and earth.

At that moment, the icy plains were silent, all souls were still, as if heaven and earth yielded and all spirits bowed their heads.

The return of the gods to the Tao is nothing more than this.

At that moment, a strange phenomenon occurred.

The Crescent Moon Ice Soul in Dong'er's palm suddenly trembled slightly, as if it had sensed some ancient call.

The next instant, the long-dormant fox head pendant suddenly burst forth with a dazzling silver light, as if billions of soul stars had instantly ignited at its core.

"Om-"

A low hum resonated in the soul, like moonlight striking a bell, an echo from ancient times, slowly spreading between heaven and earth.

Amidst the swirling light and shadow, a silver-white halo slowly emerged from the depths of the Ice Soul, initially as thin as a thread, but in an instant transforming into a dazzling divine ring, suspended in mid-air.

The Heart of Ice is like a key that has been unlocked, reawakening a sealed power and a will that does not belong to this world.

At the center of the halo, a phantom image coalesced.

A woman slowly appeared atop the fox's head, her silver hair cascading down to her waist, fluttering like snowflakes in the breeze. A crescent moon mark adorned her brow, like the coldest star in the night sky, and a radiant glow flickered across her forehead.

Dressed in snow-white clothes, pure white as frost, with flowing robes, she exuded an aura of unapproachable majesty.

Her expression was quiet and solemn, her gaze lowered, as if she were looking at a world that was both distant and familiar.

At that moment, the wind and snow in the world suddenly stopped, and all souls fell silent for a time, as if all living beings in this icy plain were holding their breath at her appearance.

is her.

Qing Li appears.

Speechless, tearless.

She simply stood there quietly in the void, as if returning from the end of time, carrying a past that never ended.

There was no sorrow or joy, no surprise or doubt, only endless calmness and determination. What was embodied in her was the dignity and decisiveness of the former Holy Spirit King.

She slowly raised one hand.

It was a slender and beautiful hand, with fingers like jade and a coldness like snow, as if it had traversed the slumber of endless ghosts and finally awakened at this moment.

At this moment, all the fox spirits seemed to feel a call from the deepest part of their bloodline. They froze, stopped in the wind and snow, bowed their heads and lay prostrate on the ground, their souls trembling slightly, not daring to go any further.

That was not an order.

Rather, it is the will of the king, an innate suppression, which cannot be defied even in the face of death.

The next instant, the white fox spirit that had been the first to pounce suddenly froze, its eyes still burning with brutality and confusion.

Its body suddenly froze in mid-air, its limbs trembling, as if it were firmly imprisoned by the call of some ancient bloodline.

An irresistible tremor emanated from within its soul, rendering it unable to struggle even slightly.

"Woo..."

It let out a low growl, the sound no longer fierce, but instead carrying a sense of bewilderment and suppressed excitement.

It slowly curled up in the air, like a young animal in the morning frost, gently falling to the snow, its four hooves on the ground, its forehead covered in snow, its body low to the dust.

That is the oldest and most solemn kneeling ceremony of the fox clan—only when facing the true bloodline master will they spontaneously kowtow and submit to the instinct deep within their souls.

The second, third, and so on, all the hundred and thousand souls that followed came to a halt.

Their steps seemed to be simultaneously pulled back by the hand of fate, their rage subsided, their restlessness ceased, and they all stared blankly at the silver-haired, snow-clad phantom in mid-air.

—It's her.

That wisp of soul light was her.

Qing Li, the true saintess of the Snow Fox Clan.

They have long since perished, yet they have not been forgotten; they have long since departed, yet they have never left.

"Ow—"

A fox's cry suddenly rang out, hoarse and far-reaching, as if awakening from the depths of time. It was like a frost-covered bell resounding through heaven and earth, shaking the soul and awakening slumbering memories.

Then came the second sound, the third sound... ten sounds, a hundred sounds, layer upon layer, like surging waves, like the evening drum and morning bell on an ancient mountain peak, piercing through the wind and snow, resounding across the icy plains.

The fox spirits throughout the entire snowy region all let out mournful cries.

That sorrow was not a mournful weeping, but a soul song overflowing with emotion, a lament and joy born of years of silence awaiting return to the Lord.

They kneel, prostrate, murmur, and kowtow, as if all spirits were making a pilgrimage.

The snow path that was originally obscured by the tide of souls has now reappeared amidst the prostrate heads of countless souls, and the central path leading to the Well of Coffins naturally parted as they bowed their heads.

No more hostility, no more attacks.

—Because she is not an intruder.

She is the one who returns, the queen, the last flame of the fox clan's soul, and the holy blood light that returns after being exiled to the world of the dead.

Sparks swirl around, and the ethereal figure is like a god.

The fox spirits all vanished, and the heavens and earth fell silent.

The wind and snow seemed to hold their breath at this moment, the earth stood still, and even the sky fell into solemn contemplation.

The Crescent Moon Ice Soul in Dong'er's palm suddenly emitted a long, resonant roar.

"Om-"

That was the sound of the clan bell, the echo of the fox clan's ancestral spirit, as if it were ringing for the return of the holy maiden, and for the awakening of the clan.

In the distance, the gray-white icy road that stretches across the wind and snow, leading to the abyss of the coffin, is slowly being reshaped amidst the bowing of all spirits, as if forged by divine decree, extending to the end of destiny.

Chu Ningjing stood in the center of the Sea of ​​Fox Souls.

He gazed at the silvery-white ghostly figure slowly bowing its head, his expression dazed. Its left eye was empty, as deep as an abyss; its right eye, however, shone with a soft light, love quietly flowing within it, like the last warm hue in the twilight snow.

He remained silent and motionless, as if his entire being had sunk into an ancient dream along with her soul.

Dong'er stood quietly beside him, tears welling in her eyes, but she dared not utter a sound.

At that moment, she seemed to finally realize that she was merely the igniter of the sacred light in this grand ceremony of returning souls, the destined guide of souls.

But Chu Ning, standing beside that ghostly figure, was the one she truly longed to approach—that never-ending path home.

She understood, but remained silent. They moved forward quietly.

Thunderous breath coursed through the earth's veins, causing a slight tremor; fox spirits lay prostrate on either side, whimpering softly, as if an ancient lament was making way for them; foxfire quietly appeared, spreading a pale white flame pattern on the snow, like a lamp, like a guide; while the majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance stood silently as witnesses, bowing their heads in quiet solitude for this ceremony of returning souls.

The world seemed to stand still at that moment.

Only the image of the saintess stood before them, like a waning moon in the snow, like the eternal lamp of the clan's soul.

Fox spirits lined the path, starlight served as lamps.

Chu Ning and Dong'er walked slowly forward, their steps steady and light, as if they were treading the path of return that the sacred descendant of the fox clan had walked ten thousand years ago.

One step, one fire; one step, one soul; one step, one vow.

Those are the footsteps of those returning home, the echo of bloodlines, the promise and vigil of the clan spirits in the deep sea of ​​time.

Qing Li's illusory soul, like stars and the moon falling, slowly returned to the Shuoyue Ice Soul in Dong'er's palm.

The icy moon trembled slightly, as if compressing the billions of remnant souls of the entire fox clan into a wisp of ghostly light, returning them to silence.

In that very instant.

The wind suddenly stopped completely.

It wasn't a gradual calming down, but rather a forced removal by some invisible force.

The surrounding area was instantly transformed into a vacuum.

The snow froze in mid-air.

Foxfire, stuck halfway.

The soul's shadow, frozen at a single line.

Heaven and earth are still, and all things hold their breath.

Only time, at this moment, let out a sharp, piercing alarm, as if whispering: It's too late.

Chu Ning suddenly stopped.

His body was taut like a bow in the stillness, his face was like frost, and his left hand slowly gripped the hilt of the knife. The thunderous breath did not move, but it had already solidified into a booming blade deep in his bones and blood.

He spoke in a low voice, his tone like a crack of thunder tearing through the silence:
"...Something's here."

next interest.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a dull and suppressed roar came from the deepest part of the entire ice field, as if an ancient coffin buried for thousands of years was forcibly opened at this moment.

That sound was not just deafening, it shook the very soul.

Beneath the snow, some ancient behemoth... is opening its eyes, which have been dormant for thousands of years.

The light in the sky suddenly changed.

The once inky black snow suddenly collapsed inwards and then burst open violently.

It transformed into a crimson wave, sweeping across the heavens and earth.

It wasn't snow falling; it was the sky that was burned through by blood.

A river of blood, like an inverted abyss, cascaded down from the top of the clouds, tearing the sky apart like a crack in the heavens.

Within the river of blood, countless grotesque ghostly figures with human heads and fox tails surged, along with fragments of white bones, broken weapons, and even distorted fragments of sacrificial texts, all dancing wildly like the wailing of ghosts.

A scorching crimson wave rolled down, tearing through space, as if even the soul was being burned.

Dong'er's face turned pale instantly, her pupils trembled, and she murmured:

"...What is that...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Chu Ning suddenly stepped forward and stood in front of her, his expression as cold and stern as an iron wall, protecting her tightly behind him.

He didn't look back.

But his gaze had already met the depths of the river of blood falling from the sky.

There, some kind of... true evil is approaching.

Chu Ning's expression suddenly turned serious, his iron-like demeanor like a thousand frozen ice crystals, cold and unshakeable.

He took a steady step forward, leaning slightly forward, standing in front of Dong'er like an unyielding barrier.

“That…is neither a beast nor a human.” He said firmly in a low voice, his right eye flashing like a drawn blade, staring intently at the river of blood hanging upside down in the sky.

The river of blood resembled a wound torn from the sky, with crimson blood flowing down in reverse, rolling like flames, intense and eerie.

A gigantic skeletal ape shadow, nine zhang tall, faintly emerged from the flow of blood, resembling a demon god slumbering in an ancient taboo, slowly raising its cracked ape head.

It was a bizarre being with an ape's head and a human body, its bones pale and jagged, with eerie soul fire burning in the gaps between its bones, and blazing blue flames that meandered between its skeleton like ancient netherfire.

Its entire body was bound by black, thousand-year-old chains, which were corroded and heavy, like an eternally impenetrable cage, yet also seemed to be a seal on this ancient evil power.

Five thick bone fingers were strung with blood beads and bone beads, like forbidden talismans, each bead seemingly containing the resentment and curses of countless dead souls.

Its armor was not made of ordinary metal, but woven from peeled skin and tendons, making it look ferocious and bizarre, as if it were writhing like a living creature.

As it took its first step, the ice surface cracked with a crisp sound, as if a thousand-year-old iceberg had crumbled.

Flames suddenly erupted from its feet, burning not the snow but its bones, like the scorching flames of purgatory, devouring the cold, hard flesh. The scene was utterly bizarre, and the heavens and earth seemed to tremble.

The bone ape did not roar; its voice was deep and muffled, yet carried a timeless pressure as it uttered a desolate and ancient name:

"—Bone-Burning, Ape Lord."

The sound was like a whisper before an ancient storm, like a roar from the depths of the underworld, shaking heaven and earth.

“The Lord of the Blazing Bone Ape,” Chu Ning’s eyes flashed with determination, “among the Twelve Evil Spirits, the fifth seat master, a legendary enemy whom no one dares to face directly, has personally appeared today.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Blood River, a tattered umbrella slowly opened.

The umbrella, like a curtain of darkness, half-concealed and half-revealed, seemed to be slowly rising from the depths of hell.

A figure appeared under the umbrella, looking like a child, but with cold, naked skin, as if stripped of all life.

The boy's face was young, yet it was covered in blood and tears, which snaked down his cheeks, sending chills down one's spine.

His eyes were completely black, with no white showing, as deep and unfathomable as an abyss that devoured all light.

A slight upturn of his lips revealed a strange and cold smile. He walked silently, and the fallen flowers beneath his feet instantly turned to ashes.

With each step he took, it seemed as if he shattered the vitality of this land, and the fox spirits burned themselves in the places he passed, turning into nothingness.

His appearance was like a messenger of death, carrying destruction and despair.

The Ice Soul of the New Moon suddenly trembled, and the Azure Glass Divine Soul deep within the Ice Moon also trembled, its expression subtle, as if it had sensed an extremely ominous aura.

“…Weeping Rain, Crimson Child.” Chu Ning murmured the names softly, his voice like the whisper of death.

The third-ranked master among the twelve evil spirits, the Crimson Rain Child, descended to earth carrying the cries of souls and spirits.

His arrival shattered the tranquility of heaven and earth, bringing endless sorrow and terror.

A chill quickly spread through the air, as if the world had frozen, and the howling wind was mixed with heart-wrenching cries.

The snow suddenly cracked, the fissures spreading like countless blood vessels, as if corroded by his grief.

Chu Ning gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, and the lightning energy within his bone armor suddenly condensed and exploded, the power surging within him seemingly resonating with the heavens and earth.

His gaze was icy cold as he surveyed the two immense pressures surging from the depths of hell.

The scene before Dong'er was like a nightmare descending upon her. A crimson river of blood hung upside down in the sky, and the Bone Ape and the Crimson Child gradually took shape. The oppressive feeling almost shattered her soul.

She felt as if the world had suddenly fallen silent, even the sound of the wind was swallowed up by an invisible terror, and all around was deathly still.

Her legs suddenly went weak, and she almost lost her balance, nearly slipping the Crescent Moon Ice Soul from her fingertips.

The icy moon trembled slightly, as if the fox spirit that had carried it for a thousand years was also feeling a tearing fear.

The soul fire flickered violently in her palm, like a struggling candle flame trying to be extinguished, struggling against the darkness.

"Chu...Chu Ning..." Her voice trembled, her lips were pale, as if her very breath had been taken away by the deathly river of blood.

The sound was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet it was like leaves trembling in a gentle breeze, carrying an unconcealable fear and helplessness.

Chu Ning didn't turn around immediately, but instead steadily supported her. In his palm, lightning energy slowly surged, like a warm and firm force, gently flowing into her body and stabilizing her wavering mind.

His gaze remained fixed on the direction where the two evil spirits had appeared, lightning flashing deep within his dark pupils, cold as a blade.

There was no trace of panic in his eyes; instead, his fighting spirit surged like a tidal wave, enveloping his entire aura as if a storm was about to break out.

A chill suddenly rose in the air, making even breathing feel incredibly heavy.

Chu Ning's voice was soft, yet it conveyed an unwavering determination:
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

His tone was as calm as the snow on a winter night, serenely covering all the noise, but the sharpness hidden in his eyes was like a thunder blade about to be drawn, its cold light flashing, enough to tear through the darkness.

Dong'er felt that power, and her fear was gradually replaced by courage and trust, and the string hanging in her heart slowly relaxed.

At this moment, she was no longer a helpless and vulnerable person, but a guardian with an unbreakable support.

The aura emanating from Chu Ning was like that of a war god on the battlefield, silently declaring: no matter how dangerous the road ahead, he would protect her and this sacred land of the fox clan with his life.

The world was silent, the wind and snow had stopped, and only their breathing was low and firm, like the silence before a battle, preparing to face the fierce storm that was about to break out.

The two evil spirits were stationed in the Blood River, turning the world red as ink.

Following the churning tide of blood, seven priests emerged slowly, as if gently lifted from the abyss by the power of sacrifice.

They were all clad in crimson robes embroidered with the incantation of offering ten thousand souls, wearing white bone horn crowns, with blood-red talisman chains hanging from their foreheads, and their faces covered with peeled human skin masks. Each mask was silent, yet exuded a chilling aura under the intertwined spell array, as if they had already judged all living beings in silence.

The seven people stood separately, offering their bones to seven altars. Without uttering a word, they simultaneously raised their hands, and incantation flames appeared at their fingertips.

The incantation fire fell like wax tears, seeping into the jar.

The bone jar shattered.

From the seven bone altars, seven sacred artifacts rose as if they had been asleep for many years, dripping with scarlet soul liquid. Each one radiated the intense marks of the "Blood-Guiding Curse Seal".

The Soul-Stripping Golden Hook, with its three-clawed curved blade, is as black as night. Hundreds of fox-lang names are engraved on its teeth, and if you listen carefully, you can hear screams coming from them.

The Forgotten River Silk, like flowing water, hangs in the air and dances slowly, yet it is permeated with coldness and can extract the soul bit by bit from the sea of ​​consciousness.

Blood, bone, fire, and fangs—the remains of beast bones and fangs were scorched black by the Ten Thousand Souls Sacrifice Fire, with crystals surging within, seemingly sealing in the will to live.

……

The moment the seventh sacred artifact appeared, the entire ice plains fell into a solemn silence.

Suddenly, a beam of light, as powerful as lightning, burst forth from the depths of the ancient ice bridge, tearing through the sky like the wrath of a god.

That light was the icy essence of the new moon.

It trembled violently, transforming into a silver-blue vortex. Fox flames suddenly ignited, and ghostly light spread out like a galaxy, instantly illuminating the entire icy blood sea.

Beneath the light and shadow, the fox spirit's figure appeared and disappeared, as if the will of the entire clan had been awakened and surged like a tide.

The leader of the priests slowly stepped onto the high platform. He was wearing a battle robe forged from fox bones, and the broken eye of the fox ancestor on the hem of the robe was like a ghostly pupil, staring coldly into the distance.

Its face was covered with a soul mask made from the skin of a snow fox cub, exuding a sinister and chilling aura.

His voice was as heavy and deep as a cursed bell, striking the hearts of every listener.

"The blood-red eyes of the deity have been opened."

The sound was like cracking ice, reverberating in the air.

"The Soul Bridge is stable, the sacrificial pact has been completed—"

He slowly raised his hand, and the blood curse on his palm shone brightly, surrounded by runes, as if a spell sealed for a thousand years had been rekindled.

"The soul of the saintess grants me divine refinement, forging the body of a 'new master'!"

He formed a hand seal with his five fingers, and a crimson blood curse appeared in his palm, pointing like a fierce hawk at the shimmering, cyan soul shadow.

"The soul returns to the river of blood, to offer sacrifices to our lord for eternal life—fox spirits as fuel, heaven and earth as the furnace!"

Before the words were finished, the soul fire suddenly trembled violently, as if activated by an ancient curse. The fox spirits roared wildly, like an out-of-control storm, and the sound waves shattered the heavens and the earth.

Dong'er's palm trembled violently, and Shuoyue Ice Soul almost slipped from her grasp. The silver-blue flame was suddenly torn apart as if by invisible chains, struggling and being forcibly pulled into the depths of the blood seal, like a trapped soul breaking free of its restraints, tragic and unwilling.

"Chu Ning—!" she screamed in terror, her face as pale as snow, her hands trembling as she struggled to withstand the tearing, powerful force.

A scorching heat and a chilling cold filled the air, as if the heavens and earth were roaring, and the darkness beneath the blood river surged. Chu Ning uttered a low shout:
"Today, thunderbolts will bury you—your souls will be scattered!"

Immediately, the lightning swept out like a tidal wave, boundless and all-encompassing, tearing through the void.

At that moment, lightning patterns suddenly appeared on the bone armor, and the thunderous roar of the bone armor resounded like a war drum.

His figure was as tall and straight as a mountain peak, his eyes flashing with lightning, as if he carried the wrath of the entire world, ready to destroy this endless darkness with one blow.

His voice was deep and resolute:

"I shatter the darkness with thunder."

A flash of lightning appeared, and he was like a bolt of lightning breaking through the sky, facing the blood river and the raging tide of cursed fire activated by the blood curse.

The chill of heaven and earth intertwined with flames, creating a brutal battlefield, where only thunder roared, shattering all the darkness's encroachment.

The entire ice plain seemed to have transformed into a giant stage of purgatory, where the brilliance of sacred artifacts clashed with the shadows of evil spirits, reflecting the hopes and fears of countless fox souls.

The wind and snow stopped blowing, and heaven and earth seemed to freeze into an eternal moment, with all eyes fixed on the increasingly intense conflict.

A streak of azure lightning, like a serpent from the underworld, suddenly rose from Chu Ning's torn sleeve, instantly piercing through layers of the heavens and stretching into the depths of the void.

The lightning marks seemed to have a life of their own, coiling and swirling, flashing with electricity, carrying a cold and murderous aura.

As the lightning patterns spread, his spine began to tremble and twist, like a dragon that had been dormant for a thousand years intertwining with a winding, coiling lightning serpent. Gradually, a wheel of lightning bones, shining with purple-gold light, materialized within his bones, encircling his back like the mark of an ancient divine beast, signifying his awakening and enlightenment.

He took a step forward unhurriedly, his whole being like a war god forged by lightning, his steps firm and powerful, his landing swift and powerful.

Each step seemed to contain the power of heaven and earth, shattering ice and snow and shattering the void.

In that instant, heaven and earth trembled, thunder roared, as if thousands of thunderbolts had converged into a raging sea, surging across the sky.

"boom!"

A deafening explosion that ripped through the heavens and earth resounded, accompanied by the roar of thunder. Chu Ning's thunderous intent swept over his entire body like a raging tide, transforming into a mighty and unparalleled Thunderclap Slash.

Suddenly, the Broken Snow Blade burst forth with dazzling purple-gold lightning in his palm. The blade was as sharp as lightning, slicing through the air and radiating cold light.

The next moment, the knife was drawn!
The priest, who was about to rush forward to cast a spell and offer a sacrifice, had not yet reacted before the purple-gold blade pierced through his chest.

The Snow-Breaking Blade, like a serpent emerging from its hole, instantly shattered his body and soul lamp, and even his head was crushed in the lightning.

Lightning surged forth like a raging storm, entangling the corpse like a giant dragon's tornado before burning it to ashes, which then drifted away in the wind.

Blood and bone fragments splattered across the ice bridge, then plunged into the churning river of blood, stirring up countless rotting souls that howled and danced wildly, as if a nightmare from the underworld had been awakened, creating an eerie and oppressive atmosphere.

Chu Ning's eyes widened in anger, his right eye spitting out a lightning blade, the purple-gold lightning as sharp as a blade. Although his left eye was blind, it exuded a deeper calmness and determination.

The loss of sight seemed to grant him enhanced perception; his entire being was as if possessed by Thor, his killing intent and fighting spirit burning fiercely.

"She's mine."

His voice was deep and hoarse, with the power of thunder, like a broken sword striking a bell, each word resounding and striking the heart of every listener.

"You dare touch her in the slightest—"

"I will slaughter the entire river!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the wind and snow suddenly exploded, the heavens and earth seemed to tremble, the wind howled, and the snow flew, responding to his roar.

Chu Ning once again stepped forward with his sword drawn. The Broken Snow Blade transformed into a purple-gold lightning screen amidst the lightning. The screen rolled and tumbled as he swung it, with dense lightning runes shining within, resembling a giant shield of the thunder god, protecting his body.

The crimson altar emitted a sharp shriek under the impact of the lightning flames. The blood curses and sacrificial incantations seemed to sense the approaching destruction, trembling violently, the soul lamps flickering, and the cursed fires burning intermittently, as if they were about to be torn apart at any moment.

This is more than just an outburst of murderous intent.

That was a man's protection, a lover's vow to protect her in a time of crisis.

His figure stood tall and sharp, and neither evil spirits nor heaven and earth could shake his unwavering belief.

The oath of the fox spirit, the wrath of thunderous bones, a bloody counterattack torn apart by fate.

He will single-handedly uphold the path of reversal and vow to protect the way back to the soul.

The River of Blood let out a mournful howl, and the Soul Bridge shattered with a deafening roar, as if the laws of life and death between heaven and earth were completely distorted at this moment.

As the lightning shattered, Chu Ning slashed with his right hand, cleaving the Snow-Slaying Blade in two once again, cutting a priest who was trying to approach the Moonlit Ice Soul in two.

The electric arc trembled, and a powerful shockwave spread out, forcing the other two priests back several feet, causing them to stagger.

But Chu Ning was already close to his limit.

(End of this chapter)