Chapter 57: Essence of Frozen Soul

“Senior, it’s a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding!” Jiang Feng’s shoulders trembled with fear, his eyes wide and filled with panic, terrified that Jue might unleash havoc within his sea of consciousness.

But Jue was not to be swayed by such pleas. His patience had been pushed to the limit by both Little Ghost and Jiang Feng, turning him into a figure exuding murderous intent, ready to slay any god or ghost that crossed his path. His hands moved in swift, intricate patterns, and from the depths of the sea of consciousness, his nether soul power surged forth as if drawn along by an invisible thread—one whose end was firmly gripped in Jue’s hand.

A chilling surge of nether soul power, guided by Jue’s will, silently slipped into Jiang Feng’s body.

Jiang Feng felt as though a needle of icy silver had suddenly pierced his flesh, making his whole body go rigid. In that moment’s paralysis, a wave of searing pain assaulted his very soul, while, deep in the sea of consciousness, Jue’s face was adorned with an inscrutable smile, a sinister aura emanating from him that made it hard to breathe.

Swish!

Without a second thought, Jiang Feng hastily marshaled his own nether soul power, casting it forward like a fisherman casting a line, chasing after that invading force.

But as he guided his power to catch up with Jue’s, he realized with some embarrassment that the pain he’d felt had merely been the natural ache caused by the nether soul power dissolving the ice crystals within him. For a split second, he’d truly believed Jue meant him harm.

“Thank you, Senior Jue,” Jiang Feng quickly offered his gratitude, then apologized profusely, “I was too hasty in my assumptions just now, I never meant to insult you. Please, don’t take it to heart.”

Jue snorted coldly and turned his head away, his manner proud but not truly angry with Jiang Feng, which touched Jiang Feng deeply.

As the ice crystals melted under the influence of the nether soul power, they transformed into gentle streams that flowed through Jiang Feng’s body, leaving him feeling utterly comfortable. More astonishingly, he sensed his physique growing stronger and more robust under their nourishing touch.

“Senior, what is this water? Why do I feel my body has grown so much stronger?”

Jue let out a sly chuckle. He’d finally found an opportunity to mock Little Ghost and had no intention of letting it slip by.

“This is Little Ghost’s Frost Soul Elixir. When it forms ice crystals, it’s a fearsome nether weapon; but in its liquid state, it nourishes flesh and blood, greatly enhancing cultivation.” Jue’s cunning eyes sparkled. “It’s actually meant to be part of her puppet arts, but using it on you doesn’t quite make you a puppet.”

“A puppet?”

Jiang Feng was stunned. He could guess what Jue meant: inject this Frost Soul Elixir into another’s body, and you could control them as your puppet. As a liquid, it strengthens the puppet’s body; but if the puppet ever outgrows the master, the elixir can be crystallized from within, killing the puppet instantly!

But Jiang Feng was not alone in his shock.

Little Ghost stood rooted to the spot, as if she had become a statue. It was as if she’d faded from the world entirely, bereft of any awareness.

“Little Ghost, there’s no need for such humiliation. It’s only nether soul power,” Jue said nonchalantly.

“Nether soul power?” Little Ghost’s mouth fell open, as if she were in the midst of an unbelievable dream. “Is it truly nether soul power? The legendary force said to surpass even nether energy?”

Jue nodded with a prideful smile that seemed carved into the deep lines of his face.

“Oh heavens, it really is nether soul power—one in ten thousand, a peerless force!”

Little Ghost seemed somewhat deranged, her nerves fraying—she flailed with excitement and then wept softly, only to suddenly look up, unable to believe it. “I still don’t believe it. Let me see for myself!”

“Boy, let her see,” Jue instructed.

Jiang Feng looked at the two intractable elders and sighed inwardly. He had already resolved that once he attained the level of Underworld King, he would never lightly use nether soul power again. Yet he had barely escaped the Bloodfiend Tree before his secret was exposed to a third person besides Jue.

Sensing Jiang Feng’s hesitation, Jue said casually, “Relax. Little Ghost is one of mine. She’ll keep your secret, and besides, if she witnesses your nether soul power, she might just end up staying here as I have, unwilling to leave your side.”

“Huh? Why? Is nether soul power that valuable?” Jiang Feng asked, even more troubled. If Little Ghost stayed, it would be as if he housed two ancient monsters—combined, they were over three thousand five hundred years old—within his body. He found that hard to accept.

Little Ghost was already impatient to witness nether soul power and chimed in reassuringly, “Exactly. I’ve known Jue for nearly three hundred years. If he wouldn’t harm you, neither would I.”

Seeing her eager anticipation, Jiang Feng sighed and, despite his indignation, could only swallow his complaints. With a thought, he guided a trace of nether soul power to float out from the depths of his consciousness.

It was his first time truly observing the nether soul power: a warm, supple thing, like a shimmering bubble, aglow with brilliant white light—strangely adorable. Yet both Jiang Feng and Jue knew that this tiny mote was worth more than vast quantities of ordinary nether energy.

Little Ghost stared in utter amazement. Only when the power drifted before her eyes did she snap back to herself, exclaiming, “Unbelievable! Such pure power—this truly is the most formidable force of legend. May I test its strength?”

Jiang Feng intended to refuse—after all, this was his own sea of consciousness; if something went awry, he’d be the one to suffer. But before he could speak, Jue cut in generously, “Go ahead, experiment all you wish!”

Jiang Feng nearly exploded with rage at that.

Little Ghost wasted no time, drawing moisture into her hand. Jiang Feng’s face turned pale: wasn’t that the Frost Soul Elixir dissolved within his body?

Normally, the elixir was used for subtle, intricate arts, but now Little Ghost forged it into a long, deadly ice spike, brimming with violence and murderous intent.

That surge of hostility, combined with Jiang Feng’s long-standing aversion to the Frost Soul Elixir, intensified his anxiety. The icy, hateful spike looked as though it could pierce anything, sending chills through his heart.

Jue, noticing his worry, teased, “You defeated a terror like the Plum Severing Sword, yet you’re afraid of Little Ghost’s Frost Soul Spike? Don’t be ridiculous—trust in your nether soul power.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” After some thought, Jiang Feng realized Jue had a point. The Plum Severing Sword was a legend, and even if what he’d faced was only a wisp of its ancient aura, it was still formidable. If he could survive that, what was there to fear now?

He shrugged, shaking off his needless concern.

Meanwhile, Little Ghost, engrossed in testing the nether soul power, heard every word of their exchange and almost stumbled. “Did Jue just say he defeated the Plum Severing Sword? But that sword was the undefeated myth of Jue’s era—even in its final battle, it fell only to a host of underworld saints. Yet this unremarkable young man bested it?”

A wave of astonishment swept through her, but almost instantly, she scoffed, “Jue, you’re really stretching the truth. The Plum Severing Sword was destroyed ages ago—how could he have defeated it?”

Jue grinned smugly, “That’s where you’re mistaken. Before their extinction, they created the Bloodfiend Tree, within whose fruit lingered traces of those mighty souls. What he defeated was one such remnant.”

Little Ghost snorted, saying nothing more, but her expression made her thoughts clear: so, it was only a remnant!

The familiar feel of the ice spike in her hand filled her with fighting spirit, her aura swelling unrestrained.

So what if it was nether soul power? It was just a small trace—how much trouble could it cause?

She was, after all, a formidable figure, steeped in tales of Jue’s battles. Confidence in combat was second nature to her, and a chill, honed by countless battles, swept through her soul.

That cold, battle-hardened instinct sharpened her focus, her speed increased, and the spike’s edge became infinitely more lethal in an instant.

Her mind was utterly calm—only in such a state could she fight with perfection.

Before her floated a brilliant white orb, radiating dangerous energy, but to her it seemed no more than passing mist.

She was certain that, even if this was the legendary nether soul power, it could not withstand her strike.

“Senior, this ghostly lady looks truly formidable,” Jiang Feng remarked admiringly, watching the flickering glint of the ice spike.

Jue was generous with his praise. “Of course—three centuries ago, she came here and withstood the Sandfall for a full day and night without a scratch. It wasn’t until dusk the next day that she suffered her first wound.”

Jiang Feng couldn’t help but gasp.

The Sandfall!

To endure that for a day and night unscathed—what awe-inspiring strength!

He regarded the woman before him—elegant one moment, a war goddess the next—and was lost for a moment in wonder. A single, determined thought took root in his mind: he must keep her by his side.

With both Jue and this woman, he was sure he could reach the level of Underworld King at the fastest possible speed!

The razor-sharp ice spike struck the blazing orb of nether soul power—and in that instant, everything changed.