The silence was broken, and the balance was about to collapse once again.
The ancient and boundless intent emanating from the very core of the soul ice crystal, like a boulder thrown into a still lake, stirred up towering waves in this fragile space composed of shattered Dao seals, newly born spiritual light, and icy consciousness.
The remaining consciousness of Immortal Lord Qingxu trembled violently. This thought... shared the same origin as the "Ice Soul Condensation Technique" he cultivated, yet it was far more profound and primal, seemingly the source of all ice-based laws, carrying an unchanging coldness and majesty. It was not an attack, but rather a piece of information sealed away for countless years, which, by chance, was pried open by Su Nian's newly born spiritual light and his sacrificed essence, creating a sliver of a crack.
The reaction of the Dark Gold consciousness was more direct and intense. For the first time, the cold, detached observational mind experienced a violent fluctuation similar to a "data storm." The previous assessment, which was tinged with "astonishment," was quickly overturned and replaced by an almost greedy, highly focused desire to investigate.
[Warning! An unknown high-level information entity has intervened! The energy level cannot be analyzed! The priority of the laws transcends the existing cognitive framework!]
[Redefined: The anchor point (Su Nian) is not an ordinary soul vessel, but in fact... a high-level law inheritance secret!]
[Highest priority instruction update: Decipher the unknown information entity! Obtain higher-order laws! At all costs!]
[…Forcefully elevate observation privileges! Initiate deep soul scanning program! Risk ignored!]
The icy intent, like countless invisible probes, attempted with unprecedented intensity and precision to penetrate the protective "filter" erected by Immortal Lord Qingxu, directly piercing the ancient intent awakening within the ice crystal core. This time, the dark gold consciousness disregarded the potential damage to Su Nian's nascent spiritual light; its target was clear and fervent—the "encrypted information" beyond its comprehension!
"boom--!"
Immortal Lord Qingxu felt as if his sea of consciousness was pierced by billions of ice needles. The scanning power forcibly amplified by his dark gold consciousness made his broken soul flicker like a candle in the wind, on the verge of extinction. The protective filter he had constructed groaned under the unbearable pressure, and its warm light quickly dimmed under the impact of the cold probes.
No! We absolutely cannot let it succeed!
This ancient consciousness is a part of Su Nian, a presence deeply hidden within the origin of her soul. Forcibly deciphering the dark gold consciousness is tantamount to a brutal dissection of the soul, potentially destroying her and this precious inheritance along with it!
A fierce determination born of despair surged from the depths of Qingxu Immortal Lord's soul. He was shattered, with nothing left to lose! His remaining power was insufficient to fight back, but he still possessed... his very existence!
Instead of trying to stabilize the collapsing filter, he took an even more audacious step—actively guiding it!
He used his shattered Dao seal ruins, his remaining soul power, and even the cold intent that the Dark Gold Consciousness was trying to scan as a "fuse" and "fuel" to actively crash into the ancient and vast intent that was spreading out!
Since isolation is impossible, let's stir up this mess completely! Let's push this uncontrollable chaos to its extreme!
He wanted this ancient idea to collide with the scanning of the dark gold consciousness on his "battlefield" first!
"laugh--!"
It was like cold water being poured into boiling oil, or like stars colliding with a plane.
Three forces of vastly different natures and strengths clashed violently in the "medium" and "battlefield" of Immortal Lord Qingxu!
The cold, metallic consciousness scanned, like a precise scalpel, attempting to analyze everything.
The vast and desolate aura of ancient ideas, like an ancient glacier, indifferently crushes everything.
The remnant soul and fragments of the Dao seal of Immortal Lord Qingxu, like moths drawn to a flame, tragically ignited everything.
Indescribable chaos and pain instantly engulfed Immortal Lord Qingxu. His consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse, repeatedly tearing and reforming, as if simultaneously experiencing freezing, analysis, and spontaneous combustion. He seemed to hear the sound of the very foundation of his existence shattering, his vision filled with countless fragmented lights and distorted data streams.
However, in this extreme chaos, an unexpected variable occurred.
That ancient and boundless consciousness seemed to be angered by the "aggressive" and "analytical" scanning of the dark gold consciousness. Or perhaps, it was the resolute will of Immortal Lord Qingxu, who was willing to destroy his own foundation and use his body as a shield to protect the "inheritor" (Su Nian), that resonated with some ancient principle contained in this consciousness.
That intention was no longer merely pervasive, but suddenly coalesced!
A pale blue radiance, indescribable in its brilliance and chill, erupted from the core of the soul's ice crystal!
This radiance was not energy, but a highly condensed manifestation of laws! It instantly broke through the shackles of the remnant soul of Immortal Lord Qingxu, ignored the scanning barrier constructed by the dark gold consciousness, and, like mercury spilling onto the ground or like a glacier shifting, it eroded the part of the intent projected by the dark gold consciousness in a way that transcended the dimensions of this world!
[Error! Error! Encountering countermeasures from unknown laws! Information flow reversed! Core logic protocol impacted!]
For the first time, the Dark Gold Consciousness emitted a wave of near-terrification. Its scanning probe, before the pale blue light, melted and disintegrated rapidly, like ice and snow meeting the sun. Even more terrifying, the light flowed upstream along the channel of thought it projected, and the supreme laws of "freezing" and "stasis" it contained began to freeze the Dark Gold Consciousness's thought process!
It's not destruction, but... a seal!
Forcibly freeze a piece of consciousness, a piece of information, or a piece of logic in operation at a certain point in time, depriving it of all possibility of change and activity!
Amidst the chaos and suffering, Immortal Lord Qingxu seized this fleeting opportunity!
The dark gold consciousness was temporarily restrained by that ancient will! This was the only, and possibly the last, chance!
He used the last bit of his conscious will to stop perceiving the earth-shattering collisions in the outside world. Instead, he focused all his attention, like a lighthouse, on the core of consciousness that was still pulsating slightly in the eye of the storm, radiating a milky white glow of new life—Su Nian!
His will no longer contained any power, only the purest call and guidance that transcended life, death, and destruction. He transformed all his insights into the "Ice Soul Condensation Technique" (although the Dao Seal was shattered, the knowledge remained), the vague information about the conflict between that ancient will and the Dark Gold Consciousness that was happening in the outside world, and most importantly—the obsession and waiting that transcended reincarnation carried by the name "Xie Chen"—into a silent torrent, gently yet firmly pushing it toward that newborn light.
“Su Nian…”
"wake up……"
"remember……"
"I am here……"
There were no specific words, only the imprint of intense emotions and intentions. Before the Dark Gold Consciousness broke free from its seal, or before that ancient intention caused unknowable effects, he wanted to carve the most crucial anchor point deep within her nascent consciousness—that he had existed, that he had protected, that he had waited.
The milky-white, newly born spiritual light, infused with his pure intention and unconsciously protected by the surrounding pale blue ancient radiance, began a violent and accelerated evolution. The light flickered, as if digesting a vast amount of information, carrying heavy emotions, and recognizing that familiar call…
I don't know how much time passed; it felt like a moment, yet also like eternity.
The collision of external laws seems to have reached a critical point.
After completing the "freezing" of part of the dark gold consciousness, the pale blue ancient radiance seemed to have exhausted the power accumulated from its unexpected awakening. It receded like a tide, shrinking back into the deepest part of the soul ice crystal and disappearing from sight, leaving only the pale gold patterns on the surface of the ice crystal, which seemed to have become more profound and complex.
The partially frozen consciousness of the dark gold emitted a mournful cry, like an "overload," forcibly severing its contact with the pale blue light, and abruptly retracting like a scalded tentacle. Its fluctuations were filled with chaos and fear: [...High-level law...possesses absolute freezing properties at the consciousness level...unbeatable...risk level raised to maximum...entering deep silent observation mode...]
It retreated temporarily, harboring both fear of that ancient idea and a deeper covetousness for Su Nian, this "secret treasure," and lurked deeper into the soul link, no longer easily revealing itself.
The storm seems to have subsided for now.
Immortal Lord Qingxu's consciousness was almost completely scattered, with only a faint, persistent spark remaining to maintain his connection with the soul ice crystal.
He "looked" at the ice crystals.
At the core of the ice crystal, the milky-white halo had stabilized. It was no longer merely a faint, heart-beat-like pulse, but rather radiated a restrained and tranquil glow. Within the light, an extremely tiny yet clearly defined phantom seemed to be slowly coalescing and taking shape.
The illusory figure vaguely resembled Su Nian!
Her newfound consciousness not only stabilized, but also, in this unexpected storm and infusion, condensed the rudimentary form of the origin of spiritual consciousness ahead of time!
She seems to have... turned misfortune into blessing, taking a crucial step in reshaping her soul.
However, just as the remnants of Qingxu Immortal Lord's consciousness felt a sliver of relief and was about to fall into a deep slumber—
The newly formed phantom image of Su Nian's spiritual origin trembled slightly.
A faint yet incredibly clear ripple of thought, tinged with obvious confusion and inquiry, like the first clear chirp of a fledgling bird, actively and accurately reached the dying embers of Qingxu Immortal Lord's consciousness:
"...Xie...Chen...?"
"...Is it...you......?"
The sound echoed directly in the final resting place of his soul.
She...recognized him?!
At the end of this endless shattering and chaos, at the moment when he had given everything and was about to lose consciousness... she responded to him!
An indescribable surge of emotion, like a last warm current, coursed through his fading consciousness.
However, he had no time to respond and was no longer able to remain conscious.
After that call, endless darkness and cold completely engulfed him.
His consciousness fell into the deepest, most profound silence, a silence from which there was no end.
Only when the soul is linked to the other end, the newly formed, solidified spiritual essence still radiates a gentle yet firm light, quietly guarding this ruin that has just experienced a silent divine war, and within the ruin, the remnant soul that was shattered for her and silenced because of her.
---
(End of Chapter 44)
Next Chapter Preview: Su Nian's spiritual consciousness has begun to take shape, and she recognizes the shattered Xie Chen! However, the Immortal Lord's consciousness has fallen silent, the Dark Gold consciousness has retreated and gone into hibernation, and that ancient will has once again vanished. How will the reborn Su Nian face this spiritual ruin? Can she find a way to awaken Xie Chen? What new plan is brewing behind the Dark Gold consciousness's "silent observation"? What secrets does the frozen divine oracle still hold?
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