Outside the cave dwelling, verdant mountain ranges rose and fell, clouds and mist swirling around them.

Luo Bingning wore an ice-blue long dress, her black hair cascading down to her waist like a waterfall, every strand emitting a faint chill of frost.

Her face was cold and peerlessly beautiful, her brows and eyes carrying an overwhelming sense of authority.

Her Soul Transformation–stage cultivation caused the spiritual energy around her to surge like tidal waves, yet it was restrained to just the right degree.

“Xi’er, are you ready?”

Luo Bingning’s voice sounded like colliding ice, crisp yet filled with killing intent.

Lin Xi took a deep breath and reached out to straighten her plain-colored long dress.

Her cultivation had stabilized at Core Formation late-stage, but in front of Luo Bingning, she still had to deliberately restrain her aura.

After all, in the eyes of outsiders, she was merely an ordinary girl following the Empress.

“Bingning-jie, I can depart at any time.”

Lin Xi’s voice was soft and sweet, her face carrying a worried expression.

“It’s just that the Blood Shadow Sect is extremely powerful. Can you really deal with them alone?”

Luo Bingning turned around and the coldness in her eyes instantly melted into gentleness.

She reached out and lightly caressed Lin Xi’s cheek, the warmth from her palm making Lin Xi’s heart race.

“Xi’er, don’t worry.”

Luo Bingning’s voice became much softer.

“The trash of the Blood Shadow Sect isn’t worthy of me spending much effort.”

Her gaze sharpened again.

“Today, I’ll let the entire cultivation world know what price must be paid for offending me, Luo Bingning.”

Lin Xi nodded obediently on the surface, but her mind was rapidly calculating the battle to come.

[Detected fluctuations in the host’s emotions]

[Current task: Witness Luo Bingning display imperial authority]

[Recommended that the host make auxiliary preparations]

Luo Bingning extended her palm and spiritual energy condensed into an ice-blue escaping light.

“Xi’er, come here.”

Lin Xi walked over and was gently pulled into Luo Bingning’s arms.

The escaping light wrapped around the two of them, rising into the air and streaking toward the Blood Shadow Sect at high speed.

Lin Xi leaned against Luo Bingning’s embrace, sensing the faint icy fragrance emanating from her body.

This scent was unique, not from any rouge or powder, but something innate to Luo Bingning’s constitution.

“Bingning-jie, the Blood Shadow Sect’s mountain gate defenses should be very strong, right?”

Lin Xi asked, pretending to be worried.

“Their Nine Nether Blood-Fiend Grand Formation is said to be Heaven-tier mid-grade and capable of withstanding attacks from Soul Transformation–stage experts.”

Luo Bingning let out a light laugh, one filled with unconcealed disdain.

“Heaven-tier mid-grade blood-fiend formation?”

Her voice brimmed with confidence.

“Xi’er, do you think mere blood-fiend power can contend with my pure Ice Phoenix bloodline?”

Lin Xi blinked, a look of realization appearing on her face.

“I understand now. The Cold Law naturally restrains blood-fiend evil qi.”

She secretly opened the system shop in her mind and began selecting items that might be needed.

[System Shop]

[Current points: 9300]

[Recommended items:]

[Thousand-Li Sound Transmission Talisman: 100 points each]

[Spiritual Energy Concealment Talisman: 150 points each]

[Formation-Breaking Pearl (Heaven-tier, low-grade): 1500 points]

[Ice-Attribute Law Amplification Stone: 1200 points]

After thinking it over, Lin Xi first exchanged several transmission talismans and concealment talismans.

[Exchange successful]

[Thousand-Li Sound Transmission Talisman x5: 500 points]

[Spiritual Energy Concealment Talisman x3: 450 points]

[Current points: 8350]

* * *

The escaping light cut through the clouds at astonishing speed.

In less than an hour, a towering mountain range appeared in the distance.

That was the Luoxia Mountain Range, the location of the Blood Shadow Sect’s main headquarters.

The Blood Shadow Sect’s mountain gate was built atop a precipitous peak, the entire mountain shrouded in a faint red light barrier.

That was the glow emitted by the Nine Nether Blood-Fiend Grand Formation, eerie and dangerous in appearance.

Before the gate, more than a dozen Blood Shadow Sect disciples were patrolling.

They wore blood-red robes, their faces pale, eyes faintly glowing with crimson light.

These were all signs of cultivating blood-path evil techniques.

“Bingning-jie, how are we going in?”

Lin Xi clutched Luo Bingning’s sleeve, pretending to be nervous.

“Should we find a hidden place first and make a detailed plan?”

Luo Bingning lowered her head to look at Lin Xi in her arms, her eyes filled with affection.

“Xi’er is always so cautious.”

She reached out and gently stroked Lin Xi’s long hair.

“But this time, there’s no need for any plan.”

Luo Bingning’s voice turned incomparably cold.

“I want everyone in the Blood Shadow Sect to know the consequences of daring to harm Xi’er.”

She suddenly dispersed the escaping light and slowly descended onto the open ground before the Blood Shadow Sect’s mountain gate.

A terrifying pressure erupted from her body, enveloping the entire mountain.

The patrolling disciples felt this overwhelming aura and their bodies instantly stiffened.

A Core Formation–stage disciple barely raised his head and saw Luo Bingning standing at the center of the clearing.

“H-Heavenly Frost Empress?!”

His voice trembled so violently he could hardly speak.

“Impossible! Didn’t the Heavenly Frost Empress flee after being severely injured?!”

Luo Bingning’s icy gaze swept over the disciples, not a trace of mercy within it.

“Fled after being severely injured?”

Her voice sounded like clashing ice, crisp yet filled with endless killing intent.

“Seems that trash Xiao Xuesha sent back some inaccurate information.”

Luo Bingning slowly raised her right hand, pure ice-blue light gathering in her palm.

“Since you think I was heavily injured, I’ll let you witness what true despair looks like.”

Sensing the threat of death, the Blood Shadow Sect disciples tried to flee.

But Luo Bingning’s pressure was as heavy as a mountain, leaving them unable to move.

“Heavenly Frost Empress, spare us!”

A Nascent Soul–stage steward knelt on the ground, his whole body trembling.

“We were just following orders. Everything was Blood Slaughter Ancestor’s idea!”

Hearing this, the killing intent in Luo Bingning’s eyes grew even more intense.

“Blood Slaughter Ancestor?”

Her voice was as biting as a frigid wind.

“I’ll deal with him today as well.”

The ice-blue light in her palm grew brighter and brighter, the surrounding air beginning to condense into fine ice crystals.

Lin Xi stood a short distance behind her. On the surface, she looked frightened and tense, but inwardly she was admiring Luo Bingning’s performance.

The Empress truly looked overwhelmingly domineering like this.

She didn’t remain idle either, quietly activating a Spiritual Energy Concealment Talisman to completely hide her own aura.

In the coming battle, she would need to be ready to provide support at any time.

“Blood Shadow Sect, today is the day of your annihilation.”

Luo Bingning’s voice echoed through the valley, carrying unquestionable authority.

She lightly raised her jade hand and the ice-blue light in her palm instantly surged.

Countless strands of Cold Law converged, forming a gigantic ice-crystal sword qi.

This sword qi stretched hundreds of zhang in length, entirely pure ice-blue in color and radiating heart-stopping power.

“Nine Heavens Ice Phoenix Slash!”

Luo Bingning cried out sharply and the massive ice-crystal sword qi howled as it cleaved straight toward the Blood Shadow Sect’s mountain gate.

The Nine Nether Blood-Fiend Grand Formation sensed the threat and instantly activated at full power.

The blood-red light barrier grew denser, countless crimson runes flickering within it.

Yet all of this was utterly feeble before Luo Bingning.

The ice-crystal sword qi carried the power of the pure Ice Phoenix bloodline, naturally restraining all evil auras.

The blood-red barrier was as fragile as thin paper before the sword qi.

Boom—

A thunderous explosion shook heaven and earth, the entire mountain trembling violently.

The Nine Nether Blood-Fiend Grand Formation was torn apart in a single strike and the Blood Shadow Sect’s mountain gate instantly turned to dust.

Those disciples who failed to escape in time were directly frozen into ice statues by the overwhelming power, then shattered into countless ice fragments.

Within the Blood Shadow Sect, countless cultivators were jolted awake by the sudden attack.

They rushed out of their quarters to see the mountain gate gone, fear flooding their hearts.

“It’s the Heavenly Frost Empress!”

“The Heavenly Frost Empress has come for revenge!”

“Hurry and notify the Ancestor!”

Panicked cries rang out one after another within the sect.

Luo Bingning flashed and appeared directly in the Blood Shadow Sect’s central plaza.

She surveyed the terrified cultivators around her, eyes filled with icy killing intent.

“Xiao Xuesha is dead. Where is Blood Slaughter Ancestor?”

Her voice echoed throughout the sect, carrying an authority that brooked no refusal.

“You have ten breaths. Bring Blood Slaughter Ancestor out and the rest of you may be spared.”

The cultivators looked at one another, no one daring to answer.

Blood Slaughter Ancestor was their spiritual pillar, but facing a Heavenly Frost Empress who had recovered to her peak and even surpassed it, even they lacked confidence.

“Ten breaths have passed.”

Luo Bingning’s voice rang out again, cold enough to inspire despair.

“Since you can’t invite him out, then you can all be buried together.”

She raised her palm once more and even more terrifying Cold Law began to gather.

At that moment, an enraged roar came from deep within the Blood Shadow Sect.

“Luo Bingning! You dare run wild in my Blood Shadow Sect!”

A blood-red figure shot out from the depths of the mountain. It was none other than Blood Slaughter Ancestor.

He stood eight chi (6ft) tall, his body exuding a thick stench of blood, eyes flashing like blood-red gemstones.

His Nascent Soul late-stage peak cultivation caused his spiritual energy to surge like a sea of blood.

“Blood Slaughter Ancestor!”

Seeing him, the Blood Shadow Sect cultivators felt as if they had seen salvation.

“That’s great, the Ancestor has emerged!”

Blood Slaughter Ancestor hovered in midair, looking down at Luo Bingning.

“Luo Bingning, I thought you’d crawled into some rat hole to hide.”

His voice was hoarse and unpleasant, like a wailing ghost.

“I didn’t expect you to dare deliver yourself to my doorstep.”

Luo Bingning looked up at him, killing intent in her eyes condensing into something tangible.

“You and I have long been locked in a life-and-death feud. Now that my injuries have recovered, should I really leave you alive to keep harassing me and Xi’er?”

Her voice was frighteningly calm, but those who knew her understood that this was the stillness before the storm.

“Xi’er? That strange little girl they reported?”

Blood Slaughter Ancestor sneered.

“A mere Foundation Establishment ant, is she really worth caring so much about?”

The moment those words fell, Luo Bingning’s killing intent exploded.

The surrounding temperature plummeted sharply as countless ice flowers condensed in midair.

“You are courting death.”

Luo Bingning’s voice sounded like ice from the deepest abyss, suffocating with killing intent.

Lin Xi stood in the distance, complex emotions surging in her heart as she watched.

For her dignity, Luo Bingning was enraged to this extent.

That feeling of being protected with complete devotion sent a warm current flowing through the depths of her heart.

[Detected Luo Bingning’s emotions fluctuating violently]

[Killing intent index has reached peak]

[Combat power evaluation: In current state, can easily defeat Blood Slaughter Ancestor]

The system’s assessment made Lin Xi even more certain of the outcome.

Blood Slaughter Ancestor might not be weak, but facing an enraged Luo Bingning, he was destined to meet only death.