It wasn’t until they were out of the secret chamber that the two realized how timely their escape technique had been.

The time spent in the secret chamber felt long but was actually very short. Yet, in that brief period, most of the ice sculptures outside had reanimated. The city was now filled with ice people, seemingly still following the king’s orders, searching the entire city for the two trespassers.

Looking around, everywhere were crimson eyes, a truly chilling sight.

It was inconvenient for Dugu Qingli to bring someone along using her ice escape technique, but it was much more flexible for both of them to use their own evasion methods.

Actually, Lu Xingzhou really wanted to know, if everyone had reanimated, what happened to that couple hiding behind the tree? The man’s hands were probably intertwined with the woman’s clothes; could they separate?

And in such a large city with so many people, there must have been some couples in the middle of making love when they were frozen. Could they separate?

Dugu Qingli had no idea this guy was thinking such trivial thoughts. The two of them deployed their respective escape techniques, quietly avoiding all the ice people, and returned to the imperial palace.

As expected, the king and his formidable generals had already left to search for them. The palace’s defenses were rather ordinary at this moment. Moreover, the ice people generally had weak divine senses, so no one discovered the two little “mice” sneaking in.

Lu Xingzhou, hidden in the thick mist, confidently surveyed the ley lines. Indeed, to set up a stable spatial array, the imperial palace was the most suitable location for the array’s core.

Lu Xingzhou pinpointed the central location, had Dugu Qingli take him under the ice layer, and then labored underground, using spirit stones to construct an array diagram and bury the core array stone.

This part of the adventure had completed a crucial step.

However, it still required the ice people to be foolish enough not to discover the mysteries beneath the ground; if they did, all efforts would be in vain. So, essentially, the problem of these reanimated ice people still needed to be resolved for true safety, but that seemed very difficult…

Lu Xingzhou pondered for a moment, then attempted to construct a superimposed array.

As the array patterns grew more complex, Dugu Qingli’s eyes widened, and she quietly asked, “What kind of array is this again?”

At this moment, the two were hiding in a dug-out pit beneath the thick ice layer, pressed closely together. Dugu Qingli whispered in his ear, which felt even more intimate than their accidental closeness in the secret chamber earlier.

But perhaps because they had a little “rehearsal” just now, neither of them felt anything particularly special at this moment.

Lu Xingzhou replied, “I’ve superimposed a Demonic Suppression Array. It will be even more effective when used with my Red Lotus Calamity Flame. I want to see if it can suppress their demonic intent. Setting up two arrays is too cumbersome. Superimposing them allows both to take effect simultaneously, saving some steps. After all, both are grand arrays, and the palace is just the core; I still need to place them at all four corners. Saving one step could save my life.”

Dugu Qingli: “…”

Can steps be saved just like that? Dugu Qingli sometimes felt this guy was more like Qinqin Tinglan’s disciple than herself. His vast knowledge… and he didn’t seem to spend much time on these studies.

Actual combat requires experience, but these supplementary studies only require understanding and application. Lu Xingzhou’s talent in these areas was truly terrifying.

Lu Xingzhou finished the array core. “Let’s go. While the palace is empty, let’s check out the Taiyin True Flame.”

The two flashed to the location where the Taiyin True Flame had previously shot upwards. Due to the flame’s ascent, the ice layer here had completely melted into water, seeping into the bricks and soil below, which was suitable for Lu Xingzhou’s current water escape technique.

“You hide in the ice nearby and keep watch for me. I’ll go down and take a look, then come right back.” With a *ziliu* sound, Lu Xingzhou disappeared using his water escape.

Since the Taiyin True Flame could attack upwards, it couldn’t be buried too deeply. Indeed, after descending only a few *zhang*, he encountered soil that had lost moisture due to prolonged burning. Lu Xingzhou, while laboriously pouring water downwards, used the water he released for his water escape, wriggling like a caterpillar all the way to the bottom.

At the bottom was a cavern about a *zhang* in diameter, with a cluster of moon-white flames flickering in the center.

“It really is the Taiyin True Flame,” Lu Xingzhou said, landing nearby, a little cautious.

Flame seeds naturally vary in grade, and their subjugation difficulty differs. It took some effort to subdue the fire seed in the desert and the Ruined Golden Flame in the Demon Subduing Realm.

The previous Mountain River Purple Flame was of an extremely high grade, beyond Lu Xingzhou’s current ability to subdue, but it was a domesticated furnace fire, which its owner could naturally collect with ease.

This Taiyin flame seed might have been domesticated by the king many years ago to arrange the palace array, but with the king’s death all these years ago, the flame seed had become wild, and its wildness was hard to tame. Fortunately, in this extremely cold environment, the power of the Taiyin flame seed was also greatly weakened. Relying on the affinity of his fire bone, he might be able to try.

There would be some risk, but it was worth it.

Lu Xingzhou took a deep breath and formed a hand seal.

The flame suspended in space began to shrink, shrinking until it became a single spark, flying into Lu Xingzhou’s spiritual platform.

Lu Xingzhou let out a muffled groan. His soul sea felt like it was about to explode, and his head throbbed with pain.

In his *Mingtang* (forehead area), the existing Ruined Golden Flame trembled, not daring to breathe loudly. The Red Lotus Calamity Flame seemed calm and indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with it. The Mountain River Purple Flame unfolded its protection for the spiritual platform, resisting the invasion of the Taiyin True Flame.

It was as if an emperor was protecting his land.

The Taiyin True Flame, like the gentle moonlight, seemed ordinary and its power appeared average, yet it was omnipresent, illuminating the mountains and rivers.

In terms of attributes, it had a bit of Gu Zhanting versus Ye Tinglan’s dynamic, just with the hero and villain reversed.

Lu Xingzhou had no doubt that if it weren’t for the Mountain River Purple Flame, his only option would be to respectfully send the Taiyin True Flame away; he couldn’t withstand it.

But with the Mountain River Purple Flame, there seemed to be a chance.

A speck of fire spirit appeared in the void, like a magnetic core. The Ruined Golden Flame and Red Lotus Calamity Flame rotated around it. That was the fire origin of Lu Xingzhou’s fire-attributed immortal bone. After Ye Tinglan’s training, it was no longer just a leg bone, but had permeated his entire body, forming the foundation of his flame power.

The Taiyin True Flame, which had been suspended high in the air, acting all aloof and hostile, noticeably weakened in intensity, almost feeling like it had come home.

This was the affinity of flame.

Subsequently, the Red Lotus Calamity Flame surged up into the sky, and the Ruined Golden Flame danced like a meteor around the Taiyin True Flame in the air, while the purple flames covering the mountains and rivers also showed acceptance.

It gave off a feeling of “we are all family, and this is the home of flames.”

Taiyin True Flame: “…”

Unable to conquer it, he could only use gentle persuasion first, and then collect it. Lu Xingzhou endured the intense pain in his sea of consciousness, carefully observing the wildness of the Taiyin True Flame.

It worked.

The Taiyin True Flame, after all, was of a calm nature, not a violent one. Gentle persuasion was effective.

Just then, explosive sounds of clashing energies came from above.

Dugu Qingli, who was keeping watch, was discovered by the patrolling king. With just one strike, the king knocked Dugu Qingli out of her ice escape.

Dugu Qingli drew her sword with a *qiang* and, without a word, challenged the king to a duel, buying time for Lu Xingzhou.

She noticed that in their previous fight, her ice sword had grazed the king’s forehead, leaving a shallow mark that hadn’t healed. Lu Xingzhou’s judgment was correct; these ice people had no healing abilities and couldn’t use medicine. The king was no longer as ferocious as when he first reanimated.

Dugu Qingli seemingly thrust her sword directly at the king’s throat, but her blue eyes were calm, secretly channeling the power of laws, attempting to manipulate the shattered ice on his forehead.

The previously unified ice seal was like the strongest armor, she couldn’t affect it. Now that it had a slight flaw, she could try.

With a loud *dang* sound, the king slapped the side of her sword, sending Dugu Qingli flying far back. But at the same time, the shallow mark on his forehead made a *kacha* sound, cracking wider.

It worked!

Indeed, using ice-based attacks was useless, but directly manipulating the ice on the opponent’s body was effective!

Dugu Qingli’s expression was as still as an ancient well. She stopped her backward momentum and sprang forward again.

The king met her with a punch, and a water dragon roared towards her.

As the water dragon approached Dugu Qingli, it solidified into ice inch by inch. The maiden broke through the ice, her sword tip once again pointing at the king’s throat!

*Pa!* The king clapped his hands together, trapping the ice sword.

Then, with a casual flick, he slammed Dugu Qingli heavily to the ground.

Dugu Qingli’s entire body ached as if it were falling apart. She spat out a mouthful of blood, but her eyes grew even colder.

All her attacks and defenses were merely a facade; in reality, the power of laws continuously encroached upon the king’s forehead, and the crack widened further.

Looking up now, one could almost see the original skin color beneath the ice seal on his forehead.

*Bang!* The king, feeling no pain from his armor being breached, stomped down on Dugu Qingli, who was on the ground.

Dugu Qingli instantly escaped into the nearby ice layer. Without hiding, she immediately thrust her sword out again, as if teleporting.

The king’s foot missed, and Dugu Qingli’s sword was already at his left rib.

However, the king quickly dodged and threw a punch. Dugu Qingli somersaulted in mid-air to avoid it. The force of the punch grazed her arm, drawing out a spray of flesh and making her tumble in the air.

The second punch was already upon her.

She couldn’t win this single combat at all.

Dugu Qingli was in mid-air, about to brace herself to block with her sword, when her waist suddenly tightened, and she found herself in someone’s embrace.

Lu Xingzhou held the little white-haired girl and dodged a few *chi*, and the king’s punch grazed them again.

At the same time, a cluster of moon-white flames abruptly ignited in the crack on the king’s forehead.

For the first time since the battle began, the king let out a scream.

He had previously emitted pained growls when scorched by the Red Lotus Calamity Flame, which were more like demonic roars. This time, however, it was extremely close to a human reaction.

Because it was really burning his flesh!

And it was the Taiyin True Flame, a type of fire that, once attached, was hard to extinguish, like a bone-marrow parasite that couldn’t be removed.

Amidst the screams, a group of subordinate generals arrived.

In fact, the king was originally with his subordinates, but the king’s speed was faster, so he arrived first, indicating how brief and lightning-fast the previous battle actually was.

“Go.” Lu Xingzhou grabbed Dugu Qingli and fled rapidly in a different direction.

“Your wounds, which just healed, are now even worse,” Lu Xingzhou said, quickly slipping a pill into Dugu Qingli’s mouth while flying, chastising, “You just needed to stall; why be so confrontational?”

Dugu Qingli, held entirely in his arms, didn’t answer for a moment.

She had never been one to shy away from battle… there was nothing to explain. Besides, wasn’t the effect quite good? If I hadn’t broken his ice armor, could your fire have burned so comfortably?

Rather than saying that getting injured was a loss, being held like this because of the injury felt like an even greater loss.