Chapter — The Awakening of a Vengeful Ice Soul
Observing his Soul Law Orb intently, he noticed something strange. From the boundless darkness that lay at the very core of his soul, faint flickering light particles began to emerge. They were subtle—tiny motes of brilliance in a sea of shadow—yet each particle carried an immense weight of meaning. Slowly, steadily, they drifted and surged toward his second soul like rivers converging into an ocean.
The Law Soul Ring within him shuddered and greedily absorbed the particles. Then—
BOOM!!
A deafening roar erupted inside him, not in the outside world but within his very consciousness. His body trembled as a torrent of memories burst open in his mind, rushing through him like a flood breaking a dam. Techniques, arts, knowledge of every kind—all bearing the mark of ice—poured into him without mercy.
At first, he thought they were simple illusions, mere fragments of imagination. But as he sorted through them, he realized the truth: these were not random fragments. They were inherited memories, bound to his unique Deep Ice Water Physique.
The discovery left him shaken. Those who possessed special physiques could inherit techniques, sometimes entire systems of cultivation. The stronger the physique, the greater and more terrifying the inheritance. Yet what he now held was overwhelming beyond measure. The memories came with such intensity that his head felt as though it might split apart at any moment.
Clenching his jaw, he forced himself to scan through them. One after another, martial skills and cultivation techniques branded themselves into his mind, and shockingly, he found himself able to use them as though he had practiced for a lifetime.
A sly grin curved his lips, followed by a shameless declaration:
"Heh… within seconds, I've already mastered almost all of them to the level of true mastery. Hahahaha! I am a genius now!"
The arrogance in his tone was thick enough to make even the heavens frown. But in truth, his claim was not entirely false. Without his nearly unrivaled soul strength, it would have been impossible to endure, let alone comprehend such a massive inheritance. For ordinary cultivators, even millions of years would not be enough to achieve such a feat.
Inherited skills were unique. They did not require slow grinding or endless repetitions. Instead, they were absorbed like forgotten memories resurfacing. The knowledge became instinct—one simply knew them and could execute them as naturally as breathing. Still, learning hundreds of such skills in an instant was unheard of, making his shameless boasting almost unbearable.
"Even if I'm a little arrogant," he mused aloud, smirking, "so what? I have the capital to back it up. If anyone refuses to believe me, I'll simply freeze them into ice corpses. And if they're stronger than me… then I'll run! Hahaha! Run, find treasures, split my soul, and walk the other eight paths. Revenge can wait—it's never too late for vengeance."
His voice grew colder, darker.
"When I am weak, they force me to flee. But once I am strong, I will send them packing to Shura's realm so they can never again make me run in this life."
With that oath, he cemented his resolve.
---
Cultivation Realms of the Heavenly Path
The universal system of cultivation was engraved deeply into his memory:
Foundation Establishment (Tempered Body) — Tier 1 Mortal, ranks 1–9
Qi Gathering (Earthly Yuan) — Tier 2 Mortal, ranks 1–9
Golden Core (Heavenly Yuan) — Demi-Mortal God, ranks 1–9
Nascent Rank (Yuan Dan) — Mortal God, ranks 1–9
Universal Realm — 1–9
Integration Realm — 1–9
Manifestation Realm — 1–9
Dao Unity Realm — 1–9
Dao Perfection Realm — 1–9
Mahayana Realm — 1–9
Ascension Realm — 1–9
Tribulation Passage Realm — 1–9
Perfected Ascendant Realm — 1–9
Currently, he had reached the Manifestation Realm.
"I was so weak only a few days ago, yet now… look at me. I have grown strong, but I cannot allow arrogance to blind me. The path is still long."
A sigh escaped his lips, followed by a chuckle. "What a caring and loving me, hahaha."
---
After his shameless parade, he unfurled a newly awakened skill. Behind him, wings of divine majesty erupted into existence. They were crystalline, like sculpted ice, yet alive with veins of deep blue liquid that pulsed like flowing blood. Each flap resonated with divine energy, radiating the cold grandeur of an ancient deity.
With a single flap, his body blurred, disappearing in a flash and reappearing above the cliff. Below him lay the ruins of the sect, shattered beyond recognition. His eyes, ordinarily sharp and cold, softened for a brief moment. A trace of grief flickered in his gaze, but it vanished as quickly as it came—like an illusion never meant to exist.
Replacing it was a wicked grin. His lips curled, and a low chuckle rumbled from his chest.
"Li Xuemei, Chanjun… very well. I will remember you both. Remember you clearly. After all, I am a little vengeful."
The words hung heavy in the air, infused with chilling intent.
A heartbeat later, his form blurred once more, wings folding as he vanished into the horizon.
His destination—
The Desolate Mirage.