My little sect, which disappeared a thousand years ago, has become a sacred site!

With a slight thought, Gu Changyuan created a transparent spherical shield that glowed with a faint silver-gray light, completely enveloping him and the women.

The protective shield isolated them from the biting cold and violent wind pressure outside, keeping the internal temperature pleasant and stable, and even allowing them to appreciate the magnificent and desolate ice and snow world outside.

After flying for about an hour, Gu Changyuan, who was traveling at high speed, suddenly frowned. His senses clearly detected an unusually intense and chaotic fluctuation of spiritual energy coming from far below.

His divine sense swept across the scene below, clearly taking in the view.

A chaotic battle was unfolding in a relatively open icy valley.

All the participants were powerful, native spirit beasts of this icy plain:

On one side were three enormous polar bears, covered in thick, snow-white fur and with fangs like spears.

On one side were more than ten agile, silver-white, and fierce-looking Snow Howling Wolves.

The third party consisted of two enormous snow foxes, their fur pure white as snow, but now covered in blood and riddled with wounds.

The two snow foxes were clearly exhausted, covered in blood, claw marks, and bite marks, and were already dead.

Gu Changyuan's gaze swept over the fighting beasts and landed on the center of the two white fox corpses.

A small fox, about the size of three adult palms, was curled up, shivering and pure white.

Surprisingly, although the little fox was terrified, it naturally emitted an extremely faint yet extraordinary pale silver halo around its body, forming a miniature domain about three feet in diameter.

Gu Changyuan keenly sensed that this field seemed slightly different; the spiritual energy was exceptionally active and refined, and it had a strange effect of accelerating comprehension and nourishing the soul.

It is a domain-type innate supernatural power, and it is an extremely rare, top-level domain that assists in cultivation.

A hint of surprise flashed in Gu Changyuan's eyes.

Such supernatural power is extremely rare even among demons, and its value in some aspects far exceeds that of a powerful semi-immortal artifact.

The essential difference between demons and spirit beasts lies in their ability to transform into human form. Demons are born with the potential to transform and can transform into human form through their own cultivation; while spirit beasts, without the help of spirit creatures, cannot transform into human form throughout their lives.

Although both are born with supernatural powers, the supernatural powers of spirit beasts are mostly rudimentary and far inferior to those of demons.

However, the little white fox in front of us is an exception.

No wonder the two spirit beasts fought so hard for this little fox. It was probably not just for hunting or territorial disputes, but also because they coveted this cub with unlimited potential.

At this moment, the three raging bears and more than ten ice wolves seemed to have temporarily put aside their attack on the snow fox and were fiercely fighting among themselves, clearly wanting to decide the victor before deciding on the little fox's fate.

Regardless of which side wins, the little white fox, who has lost the protection of her parents and is carrying a precious treasure, will not have a good ending.

They would either be kept as "trophies" and their abilities exploited, or they would be mistakenly killed in the aftermath of a conflict.

Gu Changyuan made a decision in an instant.

He wasn't a pushover, but to him, rescuing such a gifted little creature in dire straits was just a simple matter.

Moreover, the little white fox's supernatural domain is quite valuable; bringing it back might make it an asset in the future.

"Please wait here."

Gu Changyuan gave Bai Ling'er and the others an instruction, and then his figure disappeared from the protective barrier.

next moment--

"boom!!!"

Like a meteor falling from the sky, Gu Changyuan's figure landed with terrifying force and absolute precision right in the center of the battle between the raging bears and ice wolves.

There was no use of any fancy techniques, just a pure physical impact carrying extremely high kinetic energy and a trace of chaotic energy.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!..."

Centered on his landing point, a thick layer of ice, snow, and permafrost with a radius of nearly 100 meters suddenly exploded upwards, transforming into a circular shockwave mixed with ice, snow, and permafrost fragments, sweeping outwards.

The bears and ice wolves within the blast radius didn't even have time to scream before being instantly torn apart and crushed by the overwhelming force, their massive bodies thrown into the air and shattered.

The scalding blood and shattered internal organs and bone fragments splashed like ink, turning the surrounding white snow into a dazzling crimson.

With a single strike, the three Transcending Tribulation Realm bears and more than ten Transcending Tribulation and Nascent Soul Realm ice wolves were all wiped out.

The snow dust fell slowly.

Gu Changyuan stood still, spotless, not even the hem of his clothes was lifted.

His gaze swept calmly over the two enormous, already lifeless snow foxes, his eyes showing little emotion.

Life and death are preordained; this is the norm not only in this icy world but throughout the entire Nine Heavens Realm.

He took a step forward and instantly appeared beside the two snow fox corpses.

With a casual wave of his right hand, a gentle force shifted the two still-warm giant fox corpses several feet apart, revealing the center they had been desperately guarding.

The little white fox was curled up in a ball, its eyes tightly closed, its fur trembling slightly with fear.

The moment he removed the fox carcass, Gu Changyuan's fingertips twitched slightly, replicating and simulating the aura of two adult snow foxes.

He slowly squatted down, his movements gentle, and reached out a hand to gently lift the little white fox.

The little white fox seemed to sense that familiar and reassuring aura approaching. Its tightly closed eyelashes trembled a few times, and it cautiously opened its eyes a crack.

What met its clear eyes was a strange yet gentle human face, and the aura of "kin" around it that made it feel incredibly attached and safe.

It didn't scream or struggle; it just let out a faint, almost inaudible whimper, filled with grievance and dependence, before obediently, even proactively, shrinking into Gu Changyuan's warm palm.

Gu Changyuan's lips curled into a very faint smile as he carefully cradled the soft, warm little creature in his arms, gently stroking its smooth, satin-like white fur with his other hand.

The little white fox seemed to be enjoying it immensely, even burrowing deeper into his arms.

Gu Changyuan slowly ascended into the air, holding the little white fox.

He looked down at the two lifeless but still guarding snow fox corpses below, and a thought stirred within him.

He didn't land; he simply shifted his thoughts, and the ice and snow in the area below seemed to come alive, slowly flowing and gathering.

Layers of snow covered the two enormous fox corpses, gently enveloping and burying them, eventually forming two small, pristine snow mounds in the icy valley.

Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, rest here forever.

This might be the last small act of kindness he could offer to the parents who protected their cub to the death.