Chapter 1

In the vast universe, across countless territories.

If one were to ask who the main characters of the era have been over the past few decades, it would inevitably be those who have already reached the pinnacle of power.

On their path to the summit, the names of ancient races have become indelible hues in their stories.

In the vast universe, the Ice Spirit Clan.

This is a race that has existed since ancient times, the absolute rulers of the Ice Spirit Continent. The depth of their heritage is unfathomable, and even in the entire vast universe, the Ice Spirit Clan is a colossal entity that holds a significant place.

One could say that throughout the vast universe, there are very few things that can stir this ancient race.

The most recent such event was over a decade ago.

But just now, the entire clan has been in turmoil for a full half an hour, with all the clan members looking up at a beam of white light descending from the sky.

Some shouted in frenzy, some fled in panic, and some rose into the air to find the source of the white light.

The entire Ice Spirit Clan was in an indescribable state.

The white light descended from the sky, majestic and grand, covering all the central areas of the Ice Spirit Clan.

It came without warning, with no gathering of dark clouds or scattering of stars. It was as if it were a divine warning, sacred and awe-inspiring, making all the clan members, regardless of their strength, feel a heavy pressure.

This was the pressure of a superior over an inferior, merciless and unrelenting.

Such pressure was familiar.

And when the pure white light column dissipated, the turmoil within the clan seemed to be instantly doused with a bucket of cold water, coming to an abrupt halt.

It was too fast, the speed at which it dissipated was so quick that no one could react.

The Supremes who had already risen into the air all descended, staring at the place where the white light had disappeared, lost in thought.

If they hadn't been mistaken, that place should be...

"Have you found out?"

On top of the Ice Spirit Clan's tower, an old man stood with a group of clan members in white robes behind him. His tone was steady, showing no panic.

He was the sky of the Ice Spirit Clan, and no matter what happened, he could not be flustered.

The Ice Spirit Clan members behind him bowed respectfully, feeling the unique pressure of the Supreme, and reported the situation: "The place where the light column landed is the area where the Ancestral Order is kept, and it did not cause any damage to the surrounding areas."

This was the most bizarre thing. When they arrived, the area was completely intact, and the powerful light column seemed to be just a facade, projecting onto this place without any substantial effect.

If they hadn't truly felt the pressure contained within the light column, they might have even doubted that it was just an illusion.

Hearing the reports from the people behind him, a glint of insight flashed in the old man's clear eyes.

He thought of something, but he wasn't sure.

"Ancestor, should we report this to..."

The clan member's voice paused at a suitable point. Even though he didn't finish his sentence, everyone in the Ice Spirit Clan knew what he meant.

In the Ice Spirit Clan, the highest-ranking person was not the old man with white hair, but a woman, a legendary figure.

Before the old man could respond, the next second, snow and ice swirled in the room, shattered ice crystals scattered in all directions, and the surrounding air seemed to drop to an extreme point instantly. Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the source of the cold.

It was a figure in a light white dress, stepping out of the space, with a noble demeanor and a delicate face like a young girl, her deep blue hair flowing, and her expression cold, radiating a chill.

The surrounding Ice Spirit Clan members lowered their heads and averted their gazes the moment they saw her.

"Clan Leader."

Hearing the greetings around her, the woman seemed to ignore them, walking straight through the crowd toward the old man.

The clan members on either side lowered their heads, not daring to look up.

"Clan Leader."

The old man, seeing her approach, called out respectfully.

This woman was the one he had personally elevated to her current position.

"What is the meaning of this anomaly?"

Her voice was cold, as cold as the snowflakes drifting around, evoking a sense of reverence.

"The light column landed on the Ancestral Order, but it did not cause any damage. This situation makes me think of a possibility."

The old man straightened up, facing the now quiet clan, and explained softly.

But if anyone had noticed his current state, they would have seen that the usually steady old man was now clenching his fists, trembling slightly.

The woman glanced at him, said nothing, and waited quietly for him to continue.

The old man closed his eyes, trying to control his emotions. After a long moment, he slowly opened his eyes and spoke: "It seems like the sign of a spirit vein awakening."

The woman's lively eyes finally showed a ripple: "A light column of this magnitude, a divine vein?"

No, she had seen the awakening of a divine vein within the clan before. The light that time was just a bright glow, but the light column in the sky now was dozens of times more powerful.

So, that means...

"Ancestral Vein..."

How could it be?!

The old man's voice trembled. After all, he was one of the beings standing at the pinnacle of the vast universe, and the only thing that could make him lose his composure was the event from decades ago.

The woman's eyes widened slightly. Although she disliked the old man, she knew that his understanding of the Ice Spirit Clan far exceeded hers.

But how could it be the Ancestral Vein?

But if it really is the Ancestral Vein...

"Immediately investigate all the young members of the clan."

The woman decisively issued orders to the clan members behind her.

"If it really is the Ancestral Vein..."

Then, perhaps the opportunity for the Ice Spirit Clan to regain its former glory will have arrived...

At that time...

"Clan Leader..."

The clan members who received the orders had already dispersed, and the old man's gaze turned to the woman beside him.

"There will be no obstacles from the Martial Realm."

The woman knew what the old man wanted to say and responded coldly.

"You know, Ancestor, the time left for the vast universe is not much."

After saying this, spatial fluctuations rippled around the woman. She gave the silent old man a cold look and took a step forward.

The old man watched as the woman's figure disappeared before him, silent, but his eyes gradually deepened.

The decision made decades ago secured the Ice Spirit Clan's current standing. This time, he would watch the Ice Spirit Clan regain its glory under his hands.

...

In the Ice Spirit Clan, there is a place called the Sin Domain. Within the Sin Domain, it is surrounded by ice and snow year-round, with the cold intensifying and never seeing any warmth.

In such a place, even Ice Spirit Clan members who cultivate with cold energy would find it difficult to use their spiritual energy due to the extreme cold, and the constant cold would cause irreversible damage to any living beings inside.

Since it is called the "Sin Domain," it means that the living beings imprisoned here are all considered "sinners" in the Ice Spirit Clan.

Ordinary sinners would not be locked up here; those who come here have committed heinous crimes.

The Sin Domain of the Ice Spirit Clan has not been opened for a long time, and in the past few decades, only one couple has entered the Sin Domain.

"Mother, I don't know what you mean by longing, but I know you must miss Father very much, which is why you left at this time."

It was a small stone tablet, and in front of it stood a small child.

Judging by his appearance, the boy was only about three years old, but at this age when he needed companionship to grow, he had forever lost his parents.

He couldn't cry because the weather in the Sin Domain was very cold. If he couldn't hold back his tears, they would instantly freeze on his face.

In the past, with his mother around, he didn't need to worry about such things.

But from today on, he was alone.

Alone, and lonely.

He looked at the stone tablet in front of him. His mother's body had turned into ice and snow, scattering in the Sin Domain. His mother had said she wanted to be with his father forever, so she chose to leave in the same way as his father, hoping to see him again one day.

He should be happy, he should smile.

But...

"Don't leave me..."

He looked at the words "Bai Yu" on the tombstone and squatted down.

At that moment, he felt the loneliness of the Sin Domain concentrate on him, making it hard for him to breathe.

Mother was gone, the only person in the world who was related to him was gone, which meant that in this icy world, all the people connected to him had disappeared.

Leaving him alone.

Alone.

He hugged his knees, burying his face between them. The deep blue short hair on his head turned white in an instant, and the white spread faster and faster.

When the light column in the sky appeared, his hair was already completely white, a full head of silver.

Time passed, second by second, he squatted on the ground, his mind blank, not knowing what to think, not knowing what he could think.

He was a precocious child, so long ago, he knew that because of his birth, he had taken away his father, and now, he had also sent away his mother, who was sick with longing.

"Mother said I should live happily."

For a long time, really a long time, so long that he didn't even know how much time had passed.

He lifted his head, his delicate little face now wore a mournful smile.

This smile was ugly, ugly as if he was about to cry.

"Mother said I should live freely."

He stood up, looking at the endless ice and snow in the Sin Domain. Here, he was not free.

Mother had told him that the suppression in the Sin Domain was caused by something called the "Ancestral Order," which is why his father, who was once powerful, was also suppressed here.

But from the moment he was born, he realized that he was not suppressed.

He looked at the ice-blue figure at the other end of the mountain, the last living being in the Sin Domain besides his family.

"So, are you going to leave here with me?"

He knew the bird-like creature could hear him, even though they were separated by a mountain.

The ice-blue figure trembled slightly after he spoke, and the next moment, its huge wings flapped violently, flying into the sky and disappearing.

It seems to have refused.

The little boy's face showed a hint of sadness, but this sadness did not last long. A bright blue light directly dove from the sky, heading straight for his position.

The little boy did not dodge or avoid it. He knew that no matter what, it would not harm him.

The blue ice feathers turned into ice crystals in the air, condensing on its body, the streamlined shape like a beautiful phoenix heading straight for the little boy.

The next second, the giant bird's body turned into a streak of light, piercing through the boy's body and disappearing without a trace.

"Let's go."

Just as the boy was puzzled, a clear female voice sounded in his mind.

"You can speak?"

"..."

"Why haven't I heard you speak before?"

"..."

"Have you been here for a long time? Mother said you were here before they came."

"..."

"What kind of bird are you?"

"Shut up, let's go."

The female voice said impatiently but made no movement.

The boy smiled, the previous sadness dissipating a bit.

Not because he found something new, but because it was nice to have someone to talk to.

He turned around, looked at the stone tablet in front of him, and took a deep breath.

Then, he showed a big smile.

"Mother, I will live happily, so you should be happy too."

He picked up the ice-white ring placed on the stone tablet and put it on his right ring finger. This was the only thing his mother left for him.

Then, he turned around and walked over the icy ground, heading toward the outer area of the Sin Domain.

"Xiao Bing, where are we going?"

"Don't call me Xiao Bing."

"Then Xiao Han?"

"I think you want to die."

"Then what do you want to be called?"

"Shut up."

"Shut up is such an ugly name, rejected."

"..."

...

"Is that so? Bai Yu also..."

In a spacious but empty room, the woman sat on the highest throne, listening to the woman below the steps report the news she had received.

Her beautiful eyes showed deep sorrow, was this the final outcome?

"What's wrong?"

A man appeared from behind the throne in the space behind her.

The woman below the steps, seeing this, quietly walked out with her head lowered.

The man wore a purple-black robe, standing with his hands behind his back, his face firm and steady, with a gentle smile. When he arrived, his aura was like a mountain, majestic and grand, but when he saw the sorrow in the woman's eyes, this grandeur instantly dissipated, and he asked with concern.

"Let me lean on you."

The woman's head immediately leaned on the man's body, closing her eyes.

The man placed his hand on her deep blue hair, gently soothing her, but did not ask any questions. What he should do now was to be by her side.

The hall suddenly became very quiet, the silence filled with a hint of sadness.

"Lin Dong, Sister Bai Yu is gone too."

After a long time, the woman said softly.

The man called "Lin Dong" paused in his movements.

"Is that so?"

"Um."

The woman closed her eyes and nodded, saying nothing more.

For them, this was the heaviest favor they had received after coming to the vast universe.

They never thought that, to this day, they would have no chance to repay it.

This matter would be an unforgettable heartache for her and her husband.

The man said nothing, closing his eyes and continuing to stroke the woman's hair.

He knew his wife was very upset, and no matter how much time passed, her kindness would never change.

"Bring the child out."

After a while, the man said softly, "This is the last thing we can do for the couple."

The woman nodded lightly, leaning on him.

This time, there would be no stubbornness from the clan elder. Even if there were more elders to block her, she would not be afraid.

She was the clan leader of the Ice Spirit Clan, the mistress of the Martial Realm, and she was not someone who couldn't protect a three-year-old child.

But at that moment, the woman who had left earlier quietly walked back in, her head lowered, not looking up at the two on the throne.

"Speak."

The woman opened her eyes, pulling her head out of the man's embrace, and said coldly.

The woman, hearing her voice, remained expressionless and respectfully said, "Reporting to my lord, the 'Sin Forbidden Child' is gone."

Boom!!

Nine heavens' divine thunder descended.

The grand hall at the center of the Ice Spirit Clan collapsed with a loud boom.