I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

"Run!" someone shouted, and the four of them immediately fled in four different directions like startled rabbits!

Qin Yuan's eyes were icy cold; how could he let them escape? He moved like lightning, leaving afterimages in his wake.

"Bang!" "Pfft!" "Ah!"

With a few short, muffled thuds and screams, the four early-stage Nascent Soul robbers fell from the sky almost simultaneously, lifeless. Each of them was killed instantly, either with a pierced heart or a smashed skull.

The whole process took only two or three breaths.

Yun Qingyao stood at the back, watching Qin Yuan dispatch five Nascent Soul stage bandits as easily as crushing ants, her heart filled with shock and speechlessness. She knew Qin Yuan was strong, but she hadn't expected him to be this strong. Mid-stage Nascent Soul peak cultivators were like clay chickens and earthenware dogs before him.

Qin Yuan flicked non-existent dust off his sleeves, walked to the short old man's corpse, and collected his storage ring and the pair of black iron golems. He then took the storage bags of the other four. A cursory scan with his divine sense revealed that they indeed contained many items and resources belonging to disciples of various sects, indicating that they had indeed committed numerous evil deeds.

"I did make a small fortune." Qin Yuan put away his things and said to Yun Qingyao, "Senior Sister, let's go."

Yun Qingyao nodded and followed Qin Yuan's steps, but her heart remained unsettled for a long time. She suddenly felt that traveling with this former junior brother, perhaps no villains would dare to disturb her along the way.

The two figures disappeared into the vast glacier. Shortly after they left, several furtive figures appeared near the battlefield, and upon seeing the five corpses on the ground, they all gasped in horror.

"It's 'Black-Hearted Old Ghost' and his gang! They're all dead?"

"Judging from the wounds, they were all fatal blows! Who did this? Could it be that a Void Refinement stage expert happened to be passing by?"

"It didn't seem like it... I vaguely saw it just now, it looked like a young man and a young woman..."

"A young man? Could it be... Qin Yuan, the newly promoted prospective Dao Child of the Taiyi Immortal Sect?!"

"Quickly! Spread the word! 'Black-hearted Old Ghost' has met his match. Qin Yuan's strength is unfathomable; he's not to be trifled with!"

The news spread like wildfire throughout parts of the Lesser Universe Realm. Qin Yuan's name, already associated with the lingering prestige of the Gathering of Prodigies, now carried an added layer of ruthless power. And more attention began to turn to the core area where the storm was about to break—the projection of the Temple of War.

The Frozen Realm truly lives up to its name.

Stepping into the glacier area, the temperature plummeted, and a biting wind, carrying fine ice crystals, cut like a knife. As far as the eye could see, everything was a vast expanse of white, with towering icebergs, expansive ice fields, and crisscrossing crevasses. The air was filled with pure yet piercing ice-attribute spiritual energy, a treasure trove for cultivators practicing cold-based techniques, but for others, it required constant circulation of spiritual energy to resist the chill.

Qin Yuan and Yun Qingyao traveled by air, with Yun Qingyao surrounded by swirling clouds that blocked out most of the intense cold. Qin Yuan's situation was much simpler. After achieving minor success in the second level of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars," his physical strength had greatly increased, and this bit of cold was like a gentle breeze to him, requiring no special resistance.

"Deep within the Frozen Realm, there is said to be the ruins of an ancient 'Ice Soul Mystic Palace.' Whenever the Lesser Universe Realm opens, the restrictions outside the palace weaken, making it a primary location for obtaining treasures such as 'Mystic Ice Essence' and 'Ice Soul Jade Lotus.'" Yun Qingyao transmitted her thoughts through divine sense as she flew. She seemed to have a simplified map of the area in her hand. "My target is a spiritual object called 'Nine-Aperture Ice Cloud Mushroom,' which has miraculous effects on the condensation of the Dao of Clouds and Mist. It usually grows near the 'Mystic Ice Cave' deep within the Frozen Palace."

"Mystic Ice Cave..." Qin Yuan noted down the name. He didn't have much need for ice-related treasures, but since they were traveling together, he might as well take a look.

The two flew over the glacier, occasionally spotting other cultivators below, most hurrying towards the depths of the secret realm. Scattered battles also occurred, mostly over a single ice-attribute spiritual herb or a small ice marrow vein. Qin Yuan ignored them, as long as they didn't provoke him.

After traveling for about two hours, the scenery suddenly changed. A vast ice valley appeared in their sight, and in the center of the valley stood a magnificent palace! The palace was entirely constructed of an unknown blue ice, crystal clear, reflecting dreamlike colors in the dim light. The palace covered a vast area, with layers of halls and pavilions, and the eaves and brackets were all carved from ice. Although it was in ruins, one could still see its former grandeur. A thin, constantly flowing pale blue light curtain enveloped the palace, which was the barrier.

At this moment, no fewer than a hundred cultivators had gathered around the Ice Palace, belonging to different factions, in small groups, each occupying their own territory, waiting for the restrictions to weaken further. Disciples from Taiyi Immortal Sect, Wanjian Pavilion, Xuantian Sect, Qingmu Sect, Tianyin Valley, and even some of the stronger affiliated sects were present. The scene appeared calm, but undercurrents were surging; they exchanged wary glances and were on guard against each other.

The arrival of Qin Yuan and his companion attracted the attention of several people. On the Taiyi Immortal Sect's side, several prospective Daoist disciples and core disciples who recognized Qin Yuan nodded in greeting. Liu Suifeng was among them, accompanied by two others, and smiled and nodded at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan, carrying Yun Qingyao, landed in the area where the disciples of the Taiyi Immortal Sect were gathered. Several familiar or acquaintances immediately came forward to exchange pleasantries.

"Senior Brother Qin, you've come too!" A preparatory Daoist disciple in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm said with a smile. "With Senior Brother Qin here, our Taiyi Sect is even more confident about this trip to the Ice Palace."

"Junior Brother Qin, well done with the Flowing Cloud Sect matter!" Another veteran captain of the Sky Patrol Guard patted Qin Yuan on the shoulder.

Qin Yuan responded to each question with neither servility nor arrogance. Yun Qingyao stood quietly behind him, her aloof demeanor drawing attention. Many eyes lingered on her, but upon seeing Qin Yuan, most withdrew their gazes.

"Junior Brother Qin," Liu Suifeng approached, still with his gentle demeanor, "this must be Junior Sister Yun from the Xuan Yuan Sect, a pleasure to meet you. The Ice Palace's restrictions will likely weaken to a level where it's safe to enter in about half a day. Would you like me to explain the situation here, Junior Brother?"

Qin Yuan nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother Liu."

Liu Suifeng didn't hold back, whispering, "The opening of the Ice Palace this time has attracted many people. Their main targets are nothing more than a few types: top-tier spiritual treasures such as the Profound Ice Essence, the Ice Soul Jade Lotus, and the Nine Aperture Ice Cloud Mushroom, as well as ancient ice cultivation inheritances or treasures that may be left deep within the Ice Palace. Among them, the Profound Ice Essence and the Ice Soul Jade Lotus are the focus of competition, especially the Profound Ice Essence, which is said to have a certain auxiliary effect on breaking through the bottleneck of the Void Refinement stage."

He glanced at the other sects and continued, "The Wanjian Pavilion is led by 'Cold Edge' Jian Wuhen, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator whose swordsmanship follows the Yin-cold path. They are determined to obtain the treasures here. The Xuantian Sect mainly sent Lei Hao's group, who suffered losses, but they also have another group led by 'Ice Fairy' Ling Shuanghua, who is also skilled in ice-based divine abilities. The Qingmu Sect is led by the Wood Spirit Twins; their target seems to be a special 'Ice Soul Vitality Spring' deep within the Ice Palace, which has a wonderful harmonizing effect on wood-based techniques. The Youming Palace... Young Master Youquan is said to have been injured at Meteor Lake and has not been seen yet, but another peak Nascent Soul cultivator, 'Ghost Hand' Yin Wuming, has arrived. This person's methods are unpredictable, so we need to be careful. The Tianyin Valley, Dabei Temple, and other sects have fewer people, and their targets are relatively scattered."