A Chaotic World

Under the effects of the Shackles of the Frozen Menace, even those at the Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm were unable to move freely.

Since she was only at the Second Cycle Origin Core realm, the situation was far worse for Nanlan Qianxue, who was struggling so hard under the pressure that she did not even realise that she was being targeted at the moment.

However, what she did notice was the Pure Snow Serpent King falling to the ground right in front of her.

Screech...! Screech...!

Even after falling, it continued to cry out and squirm around in pain, with blood pouring out of the grievous wound that had been formed on its body.

Nanlan Qianxue was not one who empathised with others all that much, but it was different when it came to the Pure Snow Serpent King.

Just like how the Pure Snow Serpent King seemed to have taken a liking to her, she could not help but feel an inexplicable sense of closeness with the giant serpent as well.

Unfortunately, that only served to make the current scene more heartbreaking for her.

Forced to lie prone on the ground by the overwhelming pressure, Nanlan Qianxue struggled to reach out with her trembling hands, reaching towards the suffering Pure Snow Serpent King without much thought.

Little White...

Nanlan Qianxue did not possess any healing techniques. Even if she did, someone of her cultivation level would not be able to do much for a wound of such severity.

Despite that, she still reached out in the hope that her touch could make the Pure Snow Serpent King feel better, even if only emotionally so.

Around her, however, everyone else was much more worried about her than the Pure Snow Serpent King.

"Protect Young Lady Nanlan!"

"Guard Young Lady Nanlan!"

When the other members of the assault team realised to their horror that the Frost Claw Overlord was about to make a move on her, they could not stop themselves from shouting out in dismay.

It was not as though they did not feel for the dying Pure Snow Serpent King, but they could tell that the Pure Snow Serpent King had already met its end after that strike from the Frost Claw Overlord. It might not have died immediately, but only a miracle would be able to save its life now.

Instead of brooding over its fate, the more important thing was to protect those who were still alive!

Still, despite their strong will to protect Nanlan Qianxue, their thoughts remained only as such – thoughts.

Nanlan Qianxue had been rendered completely helpless under the Shackles of the Frozen Menace, and they were no different. Those at the Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm could barely move under the domain, but their movements had been slowed to the point where they would never make it in time to protect her.

All they could do was watch in despair as the Frost Claw Overlord summoned up yet another storm of energy.

Next came a wave of frost that shot straight towards Nanlan Qianxue – the exact same attack that had taken down the Pure Snow Serpent King.

With that much concentrated energy flying towards her, Nanlan Qianxue finally noticed the dangerous situation that she was currently in.

She gritted her teeth and drove her origin core to the limit, channelling all the origin force she could muster and also tapping on the steady stream of energy that was constantly being fed to her from the depths of the mountain.

Energy burst forth from within her, bestowing upon her a level of strength unlike any that she had ever experienced.

Yet even that was not enough to resist the domain of an Overlord.

The difference in cultivation level was simply too large to be overcome in such a manner.

Just like those around her, Nanlan Qianxue could do nothing but lie there and watch as the wave of frost approached. At this moment, Nanlan Qianxue felt as though this wave of frost was akin to the hand of the reaper, moving in on her to claim her soul for the underworld.

This was true helplessness in the face of an inevitable death.

Boom-!

The wave of frost smashed down like a merciless hammer, conjuring up a storm that sent rubble, dust, and snow flying in all directions. The sheer force destroyed even the strengthened grounds of the Courtyard of Remembrance, digging a hole multiple metres deep.

From just the aftershocks alone, it was obvious that once struck by such an attack, even someone at the Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm would not be able to escape unscathed.

"Young Lady Nanlan!"

"Young Lady Nan... lan...?"

The other members of the assault team shouted out in horror as the wave of frost completely decimated where Nanlan Qianxue's figure had been. However, their cries of despair were quickly overcome by a new emotion.

Confusion.

That was because they could clearly see Nanlan Qianxue's figure beside where the wave of frost had smashed into the ground.

Did the Frost Claw Overlord miss?

Impossible.

Then did Nanlan Qianxue manage to escape at the last moment?

All eyes were on her at the moment, so how would she ever be able to do so without anyone realising?

But if both scenarios were out of the question, then what exactly happened?

How did the wave of frost, which was headed straight for Nanlan Qianxue, end up missing its target?

Everyone else present was confused by the current situation, but the Frost Claw Overlord certainly was not.

He turned his attention towards a corner of the Courtyard of Remembrance, where a young man returned his gaze with eyes shining with a silvery light.

"Spatial technique... and is that an incomplete domain?" the Frost Claw Overlord rubbed his chin in contemplation. "How interesting."

He had to admit that he never expected such an outcome. And it was all the more surprising considering the culprit responsible for it.

A Fourth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist actually performed a spatial technique, and on top of that, it was even while under the effect of his Shackles of the Frozen Menace.

Still, while he did feel surprised, the Frost Claw Overlord did not lose his composure.

No matter how talented or how many trump cards in their possession, there was just no way any Origin Core realm martial artist could ever hope to defeat him.

This was not the Frost Claw Overlord being overconfident. Rather, it was a mere stating of facts, just like how water will always flow to a lower ground.

And the other party's current state only served to prove his point.

At this moment, the exhausted Lu Tianzi had fallen to one knee, his breaths short and quick. Around him, swords flew around in the shape of a dome, warding off the effects of the Shackles of Frozen Menace.

Despite his obvious exhaustion, Lu Tianzi could not help but feel relieved.

The Limitless Mirror Eye allowed him to temporarily create a separate dimension within the eyes, summoned into existence for just that few moments of the technique's activation.

In the past, he had used this separate dimension of the Limitless Mirror Eye to move projectiles during battle, and not just once as well. However, this was his first time using the Limitless Mirror Eye to move an actual person.

If not because of how Elder Chang had transported them to the separate dull grey world earlier, giving him the first-hand experience of how one could be forcibly pulled into a different world, Lu Tianzi would not even have imagined doing such a thing with his current proficiency of the Limitless Mirror Eye.

In that sense, he actually had thank Elder Chang to thank for this!

However, despite the successful activation of the technique to save Nanlan Qianxue, such a move had still been extremely taxing on Lu Tianzi, evident from the blood trickling down the corners of his eyes.

"What a pity," the Frost Claw Overlord let out a regretful sigh. "If you hadn't chosen such a foolish path, you might have been able to make a name for yourself in the future. But now, the only end that awaits you is death."

Another wave of frost appeared, this time much faster than before, descending upon Lu Tianzi in an instant.

Flowing River Silent Strides!

The snow around Lu Tianzi melted in an instant, forming into water that wrapped around his feet. With that, Lu Tianzi's speed skyrocketed to a level unlike before as he dashed out of the way just before the wave of frost connected.

"It won't work a second time," the Frost Claw Overlord's voice rang clear.

Lu Tianzi widened his eyes in shock as the wave of frost changed directions in an instant, chasing him down like a serpent going for its prey.

Seeing how easily the wave of frost had kept up with his movements, Lu Tianzi immediately understood something – he in his current state would never be able to avoid this attack.

That left only one other option, and that was to defend against it somehow.

However, the Pure Snow Serpent King was the best example of what would come out of that. It was a powerful beast at the Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm, yet a single strike had brought it straight to the brink of death.

In that case, if Lu Tianzi wanted to stand any chance of surviving this ordeal, he would have to produce a level of strength much higher than that of the Pure Snow Serpent King, even if it was just for the moment of collision against this wave of frost.

For any other Fourth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist, this was an impossible task that bring about nothing but despair. However, Lu Tianzi did not give up just like that, not even when he was already in a state of exhaustion.

Two illusory green vortices shimmered into existence behind him as he drove his true origin core to the limit.

His appearance started to change as he activated this beastial bloodline.

The Radiant Raven Bracelets glowed brightly, sending a surge of essence energy into him.

The link to Frostguard Mountain continued to feed him with energy, further expanding the energy reserve that he could tap on.

His eyes continued to give off a silvery light as he maintained the Limitless Mirror Eye, allowing him to see through the energy movements in the surroundings.

Huge pillars of water rose from the snowy ground, forming into giant spheres that hovered around him. From each of these spheres of water, a smaller stream shot out to gather upon the tip of the blade in his left hand – the Fallen Sun.

The Fallen Sun had been an Overlord rank sabre from the time of its birth. And now, an inscription symbol on the sabre, one that had not been there before, started to emit an intense light.

The Moon Culler in his right hand gave off a strong aura of Yin energy. This seemed to resonate with every sword that was flying around him in the sword of domes, as each of them began to emit a similar aura, albeit slightly weaker.

At the same time, the Nine Flames Pendant hanging on his neck burst forth with lights of nine different colours.

In a matter of moments, Lu Tianzi seemed to have undergone a complete transformation before everyone's eyes, turning from a relatively weak Fourth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist to one who emitted an aura strong enough to contend against those at the Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm!

Everyone watching could not help but gape in astonishment, and that was including members of the assault team who already had an inkling of his strength from before.

For the first time since he made his appearance, a frown appeared on the Frost Claw Overlord's face. Even he could not help but feel shocked by what he was seeing.

But shock did not equate to worry, and the Frost Claw Overlord remained as confident as ever.

Even if Lu Tianzi managed to obtain strength that could contend against Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artists...

Even if Lu Tianzi had multiple Overlord rank treasures at his disposal...

Even if Lu Tianzi had a way to mitigate the effect of the domain of an Overlord...

So what of it?

He was a true blue Overlord realm powerhouse.

There was an insurmountable difference in the level of strength between he and any Origin Core realm martial artists, a difference that that even those at the top of the Heaven's Warrior List would find difficult to overcome.

And how could this random guy ever compare to those monsters ranked at the very top of the continent?

Just as the Frost Claw Overlord and everyone else was thinking the same thing, Lu Tianzi made his move.

It was a move that would be remembered as a turning point in the history of the continent, setting a precedence that would influence everyone's understanding of cultivation from this point on.