The source of the earth vein was discovered to be a mound enveloped by strange white flames.
These peculiar white flames seemed to burn endlessly, spreading along the earth vein to various subterranean caves.
Upon closer inspection, the mound resembled a colossal skull.
The skull was severely damaged, its flesh long gone, leaving only the skull that had not yet completely faded.
These strange white flames were burning from within the skull, constantly spreading outwards.
Surrounding the mound were four totem-level extraordinary beings: the Ice Demon Empress, the Ice-Eyed White Tiger Emperor, the Cold Crow Demon Lord, and the Frost Giant King.
They each occupied a cardinal direction, absorbing the white flames.
Other extraordinary beings dared not approach.
The Ice Snake Demon Lord had come here, confident that the Mist Beast would not dare to act.
If they disturbed these totem-level extraordinary beings, they would not survive.
Although the Mist Beast was single-minded, it was not foolish.
Faced with this situation, it had no choice but to cease its attack.
Zheng Dong's clone watched this scene from afar, not rushing to get closer.
At this moment, another of his clones arrived, meeting up with him.
In comparison, this clone had encountered more extraordinary beings and faced constant trouble along the way.
Meanwhile, Zheng Dong's main body on the ground learned of the general situation in the underground cavity through his clones.
He pondered for a while and decided to try and ascertain the source of the strange white flames.
Of course, two clones were not enough; more were needed.
Thus, Zheng Dong also used his Earth Evasion skill, bringing Youyou and Little Purple to the underground cavity.
Immediately, Zheng Dong instructed Youyou to condense more clones and use the quasi-divine skill, Necromancer Sovereign, to command the surrounding undead towards the core of the cavity.
Given Youyou's current mastery of undead clones, she could condense up to 365 undead clones, each capable of using the quasi-divine skill, Necromancer Sovereign, to command the undead.
However, the growth level of the commanded undead would not exceed the General level.
To assist Youyou in commanding these undead, Zheng Dong also condensed numerous clones to participate.
Concurrently, Zheng Dong's two clones secretly attacked the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast.
The Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast confronted each other, unwilling to yield, but neither dared to initiate an attack, fearing they would provoke the surrounding totem-level extraordinary beings.
Zheng Dong's clones decided to give them a push.
They released the Splitter Seeds that Zheng Dong had prepared in advance.
These Splitter Seeds were hidden within the illusions of the combined skill, Profound Mystery Phantom, cast by Zheng Dong's clones.
Upon seeing the suddenly appearing illusions, the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast became wary.
However, the illusions multiplied, making them difficult to dispel. Initiating a fight would risk disturbing the surrounding totem-level extraordinary beings.
This left both the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast feeling frustrated.
As they hesitated, numerous Splitter Seeds parasitized them. Even though the Mist Beast lacked a fixed form, it could not escape parasitization.
The parasitization directly siphoned various elemental energies from the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast. Soon, Zheng Dong's individual splitters took shape and attacked them.
In any other location, such provocative behavior would have long ago prompted the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast to destroy Zheng Dong's splitters.
Now, with many concerns, they could only strike cautiously, fearing they might cause too much commotion.
However, Zheng Dong's splitters were not honorable; they not only attacked them proactively but also deliberately created significant disturbances, drawing the attention of the totem-level extraordinary beings.
Soon, the nearest and most hot-tempered, the Ice Demon Empress, looked at the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast in anger.
Without regard for whether it was their fault, the Ice Demon Empress directly used her ultimate skill, Absolute Zero, intending to freeze them to death.
Facing the totem-level Ice Demon Empress, the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast panicked.
They did not want to die and could only flee.
But immediately after, the Ice Demon Empress used her ultimate skill, Blizzard.
This was a large-scale attack skill, causing a blizzard to instantly sweep the surroundings and the temperature to drop drastically.
This also displeased the other totem-level extraordinary beings.
They often fought amongst themselves, and seeing that the Ice Demon Empress had not quickly subdued the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast, the Cold Crow Demon Lord taunted her a few times.
This provoked the Ice Demon Empress to unleash her ultimate move, Eternal Freeze, attacking the Cold Crow Demon Lord as well.
The Cold Crow Demon Lord, having frequently experienced the Ice Demon Empress's Eternal Freeze, not only avoided the attack but also counterattacked, injuring the Ice Demon Empress.
Seeing this, the Frost Giant King, who had a good relationship with the Ice Demon Empress, also intervened.
However, he was blocked by the Ice-Eyed White Tiger Emperor.
Instantly, the four totem-level extraordinary beings resumed their daily brawl.
They often fought to secure the best position for absorbing the strange white flames, and their grievances ran deep.
As for the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast, they were not as composed as the Cold Crow Demon Lord when facing the Ice Demon Empress's Eternal Freeze.
The Ice Snake Demon Lord was frozen into an ice sculpture, its survival unknown.
The Mist Beast, despite lacking a fixed form, also could not escape being frozen. Its mist turned into ice shards, scattering across the ground, leaving only its life core, the Mist Beast Crystal.
None of Zheng Dong's splitters, which were close to the Ice Snake Demon Lord and the Mist Beast, survived.
Seeing the Mist Beast Crystal on the ground and the Ice Snake Demon Lord, whose fate was uncertain, Zheng Dong's clone wanted to seize them.
At this moment, the Ice Demon Empress was engrossed in the fierce battle and likely would not pay attention to these two spoils of war.
Immediately, one of Zheng Dong's clones used Spatial Teleportation, grabbed the Mist Beast Crystal, and was about to teleport away again.
The Ice Demon Empress then swatted at him.
Zheng Dong's clone was shattered on the spot.
However, the Ice Demon Empress also suffered, as her distraction allowed the Cold Crow Demon Lord to injure her again.
This also presented an opportunity for the Cold Crow Demon Lord.
It was better to absorb the white flames together with three rather than four.
It intended to eliminate the Ice Demon Empress.
Having suffered a loss, the Ice Demon Empress dared not be careless and angrily resumed fighting the Cold Crow Demon Lord.
Witnessing this, Zheng Dong's remaining clone still wanted to try.
This time, he used the Earth Evasion skill to reach the location of the Mist Beast Crystal, intending to stealthily steal it.
But he was still discovered by the Ice Demon Empress.
However, the Cold Crow Demon Lord's attacks were too fierce, and the Ice Demon Empress could not disengage. Nevertheless, she remembered Zheng Dong's clone.
If an opportunity arose, she felt she would strike again and shatter Zheng Dong's clone.
Zheng Dong's clone was quite surprised, not expecting it to go so smoothly.
This Mist Beast Crystal was equivalent to an Level 8 resource; this adventure was worthwhile.
What remained was the Ice Snake Demon Lord, frozen into an ice sculpture.
Logically, this fellow should also be dead.
However, Zheng Dong could not confirm.
Still, he felt that since the Ice Snake Demon Lord was frozen, he should try to retrieve it.
However, the Ice Snake Demon Lord's massive size made it difficult to move.
Fortunately, Zheng Dong's main body also arrived.
As Zheng Dong rushed over, the numerous clones he had condensed, along with Youyou's clones, commanded thousands of General-level undead, who also arrived outside the core area of the cavity.
Through his clones, he had a clear understanding of the current situation.
Because of the presence of the four totem-level extraordinary beings, he did not enter the core area. Instead, he sent his numerous clones ahead while he used the combined skill, Profound Mystery, Perfect Possession, and hid himself.
One of his clones, holding the Relic Bead, prepared to seize the opportunity amidst the chaos to store the Ice Snake Demon Lord in the relic space.
Instantly, he used Spatial Teleportation, arriving before the Ice Snake Demon Lord, and brazenly attempted to take away the frozen ice sculpture of the Ice Snake Demon Lord.
This action completely enraged the Ice Demon Empress.
Once was enough, but to do it again and again, this provocative behavior made the Ice Demon Empress feel ignored. She could no longer tolerate it and used Absolute Zero to freeze Zheng Dong's clone to death.
Unfortunately, it was not over yet.
The next second, another of Zheng Dong's clones used Spatial Teleportation, arrived, picked up the Relic Bead dropped by the previous clone, and continued to attempt to take the Ice Snake Demon Lord.
This scene almost drove the Ice Demon Empress insane. She disregarded the Cold Crow Demon Lord's attack and once again swatted Zheng Dong's clone to pieces.
There was no help for it; her temper was like that; once it erupted, she couldn't control herself.
This was also seized upon by the Cold Crow Demon Lord, who intended to eliminate the Ice Demon Empress, unleashing his ultimate skill, Ice Age.
This not only severely injured the Ice Demon Empress, but all of Zheng Dong's clones that had entered the core area, as well as most of the General-level undead commanded by Youyou, were killed.
Even the Ice Snake Demon Lord, frozen into an ice sculpture, suffered secondary damage, shattering into a pile of ice shards, leaving only its life core, the Ice Snake Demon Lord's Heart, not yet destroyed.
Although the Ice Demon Empress did not die, she was severely injured and dared not remain in the core area, fleeing in panic.
Seeing this, the Cold Crow Demon Lord began to instigate the Ice-Eyed White Tiger Emperor and the Frost Giant King to attack the Ice Demon Empress together.
The Frost Giant King had no choice but to agree.
If he did not join, the Cold Crow Demon Lord and the Ice-Eyed White Tiger Emperor would likely join forces against him next.
Immediately, they pursued the Ice Demon Empress and left the core area.
Even the Ice Snake Demon Lord's Heart did not pique their interest.
Witnessing this, Zheng Dong's mood was somewhat complex.
Most of the General-level undead he had painstakingly commanded were dead, and his clones needed to be re-condensed. However, he could at least try to approach the source of the white flames.
Thus, Zheng Dong re-condensed his clones, and Youyou also used Necromancer Sovereign, commanding the remaining over two thousand General-level undead to guard the Ice Snake Demon Lord's Heart, preventing other extraordinary beings from snatching it.
After Zheng Dong's clones condensed, they retrieved the previously dropped Relic Bead and stored the Ice Snake Demon Lord's Heart in the relic space.
Subsequently, Zheng Dong's numerous clones, along with the over two thousand General-level undead commanded by Youyou, approached the source of the white flames together.
The closer they got, the lower the temperature became.
Moreover, white flames would occasionally erupt, and if not careful, the General-level undead would be burned to death.
It could be said that the environment here was only suitable for totem-level extraordinary beings; even overlord-level extraordinary beings could not stay for too long.
Furthermore, totem-level extraordinary beings could only stay around the edges; approaching further would result in burns from the white flames.
Zheng Dong frowned.
If his clones could not get closer, he would not be able to ascertain the source of the white flames.
What should he do?
This was a rare opportunity, with the totem-level extraordinary beings absent. If he missed it, he might never have such a chance again.
Time was pressing, so Zheng Dong summoned Jingjing and asked her to help analyze the current situation.
Jingjing looked at the continuously burning mound. The mound was only over a hundred meters high. If it were truly a skull, it must have belonged to a mythical-level creature.
Therefore, Jingjing said, "Master, the only way now is to have Youyou possess you and continuously release Samsara Karmic Fire. With Samsara Karmic Fire, it should be able to counter these white flames.
However, for safety, Master can use the Black Iron Star Armor left by Bai Wenxuan to try and approach gradually. If you feel danger, retreat promptly, and there shouldn't be any accidents."
Zheng Dong thought for a moment and decided to give it a try.
He then put on the Black Iron Star Armor, had Youyou possess him, and approached step by step.
Any white flames that erupted were blocked by the Samsara Flames.
When the two types of flames collided, neither could overcome the other.
This showed that the strange white flames were also extraordinary.
As Zheng Dong approached, he could confirm that it was indeed a colossal skull.
The strange white flames were continuously emanating from within the skull.
To ascertain the source of the white flames, Zheng Dong entered the interior of the skull.
He saw a sharp arrow burning with white flames, still embedded in the skull bone inside.
To call it an arrow, its shaft was thicker than an arm.
It was a Purification Arrow fashioned from the sharpened trunk of a Purification Divine Tree. It should have been much longer than what Zheng Dong saw, but over countless years of burning, only a section of over a meter remained.
The Purification Divine Tree itself could burn to release purification flames.
However, this Purification Arrow, burning and releasing purification flames, intended to completely obliterate the skull. Who was the skull itself?
Zheng Dong did not know.
He was stunned when he saw the Purification Arrow.
Although most of this Purification Arrow had been consumed, the remaining portion could still be considered a mythical-level resource.
Without hesitation, Zheng Dong intended to pull out this Purification Arrow and take it away.
He used Spatial Teleportation to carefully approach the Purification Arrow, releasing Samsara Karmic Fire with both hands as he reached for it.
Unexpectedly, it went smoothly. With a gentle nudge, he pulled it out.
Only then did he notice that the Purification Arrow had shot into a shattered crystal.
The crystal was already in pieces, and only a small portion remained, worn down by the Purification Arrow, stuck in the skull.
This was a shattered divine spark. Only when the divine spark was destroyed would a god-level extraordinary being die.
Zheng Dong did not recognize the divine spark and picked up the shattered crystal.
Instantly, he felt an unbearable headache, and a terrifying scene appeared before his eyes.
This was the last memory left behind by a god-level extraordinary being at the moment of its death.
He saw the Sun Titan, whose divine might was like a prison, have its head exploded by a sudden arrow. To its death, it did not know who had shot this terrifying arrow.
The Sun Titan left behind many legends, even being worshipped as the sun god by some. The place where it fell naturally transformed into a sea of fire.
This was why the fire elemental energy in this area was so dense.
However, as the Purification Arrow continued to burn, the fire elemental energy here gradually weakened, and the original Flame Valley cooled down.
Zheng Dong had no time to be surprised; his spirit was also impacted simultaneously, severely damaged, leaving him frozen in place.