Causing Chaos in the Blood Refining Hall, The Ice Block's Heavenly Tribulation

Deep within the Blood Refining Hall's stronghold, sunlight filtered into a vast natural cavern. Structures were built along the sheer cliffs, while a dark river flowed below. A small boat drifted along the river, carrying three figures.

At the forefront stood an elderly man, hunched and gaunt, his face disfigured by grotesque fleshy growths. Beneath his tattered brown robe, his body was a mass of twisted, protruding flesh.

To his left was a Daoist priestess, her long black hair flowing, a vermilion mark adorning her forehead. Despite her religious garb, her demeanor exuded an alluring charm.

The third was a familiar face—Tan Zhuyin, the Demon-Summoning Saint.

"The identities for both of you to participate in the Hidden Dragon Assembly have been prepared," the ugly elder said, producing two dossiers.

"One is Qu Songyun, ranked twentieth among the Hidden Dragons. The other is Zhao Jing, ranked twenty-fifth. The Blood Refining Hall will ensure these two disappear."

"Here is their information. Study it carefully."

Tan Zhuyin frowned as he flipped through the documents—both targets were women.

"Why are they both female?"

"These two have high rankings, diverse martial arts, and aren’t affiliated with major sects, making them ideal for concealment. There’s no need for concern, Saint. I’ve already prepared methods for both of you."

"When the time comes, you’ll only need to..."

The elder’s laughter carried a sinister edge.

Replacing these two meant their fates were sealed.

"That won’t be necessary."

The vermilion mark on the Daoist priestess’s forehead dissolved, reshaping her features. Her voice shifted from gruff and masculine to light and feminine.

"Qu Songyun" gazed at them with pitiful eyes, trembling.

"Where... where are you taking this helpless maiden?"

With the higher-ranked identity taken, Tan Zhuyin snorted. "You think you can pass as a heroine with that coquettish act?"

"For the sake of the Blood God, this humble servant must endure," the priestess replied, reverting to her original form with a smirk.

"Saint, having met the Dreamcloud Ancestral God, do you now disdain serving the Blood Refining Ancestral God?"

"I bear my duty to the Ancestral Gods without question. I simply refuse to associate with those who are neither man nor woman."

Tan Zhuyin’s mocking grin widened as he watched the swirling yin and yang energies around the priestess, though he dared not act.

Even without the Blood Refining Ancestral God’s guidance, he would still attend the Hidden Dragon Assembly.

He turned back to the elder.

"Find me a man’s identity instead."

"But, Saint, Zhao Jing has already been lured here. Surely you—"

As the boat docked, the elder hesitated.

Before he could continue, a Blood Refining Hall disciple rushed through the passageway.

"Elder! Zhao Jing didn’t come alone! She brought four allies disguised as Beast Hall’s Divine Envoys! We can’t hold them off!"

"Not alone?"

The priestess’s voice deepened abruptly.

His first thought was that their hideout had been discovered by the Great Yu Imperial Court and was about to be razed.

The hunched elder paled. "Zhao Jing has always worked alone, shunned by her peers. What realm are these others?"

"Third Realm."

"Then it can’t be the Imperial Court’s elites. They’d never send Third Realm fighters."

The elder exhaled in relief before scowling. "You can’t handle a few Third Realm cultivators? What use are you?"

"Their methods are... unnatural," the disciple stammered, drenched in sweat.

"?"

Have you lost your mind?

You’re a damned demonic cultivator!

"Explain clearly, or I’ll refine you into medicine!"

"The first wields a broken sword. Behind him was an old man—we thought it was some strange divine projection at first, but then the specter detached itself and slapped several Third Realm brothers to death with a single strike."

"Sounds like the Sin Mound’s ghost-driving arts..." the androgynous priestess mused.

"The second just sat there, unmoving, letting us attack. But every injury was reflected back onto the attacker."

"Then why keep attacking him?"

"That bald bastard’s insults were vile!"

The disciple seethed, teeth clenched at the memory.

"Then there was a poison user—fast as the wind. A few brothers finally cornered him, but after just a few exchanges, they were all poisoned!"

"The last one used a sword technique. Only one move, but each strike was like the Judge of the Underworld’s decree—once drawn, blood must spill..."

"The second-ranked assassin of the Misty Rain Pavilion—‘Judge’s Decree.’ Has his successor emerged?"

The elder finally recognized one, but his bewilderment only grew.

"Why would the Misty Rain Pavilion meddle in our Demon-Summoning Sect’s affairs?"

"Those killers will do anything for coin. No surprise," the priestess said, feigning nonchalance.

Tan Zhuyin sneered. "If you can’t block the Judge’s Decree, then avoid its edge and whittle them down. Fools."

"That’s what we tried!"

The disciple was near tears. "But then the swordsman suddenly mounted the poison user! One with relentless swordplay, the other with godly movement—we couldn’t catch them, couldn’t fight them! Even the Inner Realm division leader is dead!"

"..."

Mounted... on a person?

What kind of cursed tactic is this?!

"Hmph! No matter who they are, daring to cause trouble on my turf means they’ll be refined into elixirs!"

The elder’s Outer Realm pressure erupted, the stone walls around them writhing into pulsating flesh, reeking of blood.

His own grotesque flesh squirming, he stepped not into the passageway but directly into the living wall.

......

A hundred meters above, dusk draped the land in serene crimson.

"This should be secluded enough."

Before a ruined temple on the outskirts, Ying Bing walked calmly, her expression cool and detached, the Tribulation Body Jade in hand.

She had weathered heavenly tribulations—even the Immortal Ascension Tribulation.

Mastering this jade should take little time.

By then, night would have fallen.

She could use the Moonlit Connection to reach Li Mo and have him fetch her.

Idly rubbing the jade’s carved figure, she steadied her mind.

Few would guess that the unshakable, ice-cold "Frost Immortal," who feared neither heaven nor tribulation, worried about finding her way back in the dark.

Or when he would come for her...

Hum—

A violet thunder rune ignited on the jade’s surface. She had chosen the most common tribulation—lightning.

The clear sky darkened instantly, clouds churning as gales howled.

Bolts of lightning coiled within the storm, serpentine and destructive, the air thickening with annihilation.

"The first tribulation is already this intense?"

A translucent jade veil shimmered over Ying Bing’s skin as she narrowed her phoenix eyes.

.....