Chapter 18 Trapped

Old Man Ping was wide mouthed and wide eyed, he could barely let out any words, he was entranced by the pearl. "What am I feeling?!"

Qin Ming gave a soft sigh "this is known as a Dao relic, when someone who has reached an insane level in the Dao dies, they form this type of treasure!"

Old Man Ping looked up at Qin Ming "so this was a person, hmmm interesting!"

Qin Ming stood up "well I'll leave you with that, this should take you to One With Ice level of enlightenment! I have to go see if my friend has escaped"

Qin Ming stood up and departed, he long since understood the hidden pathways and thus was able to navigate it fairly easily. Once he left the citadel he quickly transformed into a blip of light. Fire was on the soles of his feet boosting his speed even more so. This seed boost was all thanks to the Dao of Inferno. Without it there was no way he would be able to move as fast.

This wasn't it each time he moved he cut down space by a few meters that rocketed him forward, this was due to his understanding in the Dao of Qiankun! He had reached the World level in the Dao of Ice and was centimeters away from reaching the World level in the Dao of Martial Arts. so for him to master Primordial Daos which were on a way lower level of enlightenment was child's play! The only trouble was actually recving insights into those Daos!

He quickly reached her location, Tainlong Xun was quietly sitting in the same place. Once Qin Ming appeared Tianlong opened her eyes. "I am sorry big sister, I would have broken you out a lot sooner! It was just you were locked in meditation!"

Tianlong releases a deep breath, "it is ok little brother. Now release me!"

Qin Ming steps back a bit. "Who are you?!"

Tianlong stands up "I am Tianlong Xun! Who else would I be! Release me little brother!"

Qin Ming smiles slightly "you are lying! Why suppress your aura! Tell me who you are! And while you are at it tell me where the real Tianlong is!"

Tianlong starts to reform and distort; they start to reveal their true form. This was unlike anything Qin Ming had ever seen. It had several faces on its back, Qin Ming even noticed a few. "W-what are you!"

They had legs like a spider and one head in the front of what you could call a 'head'. Its body was long and stretched over five meters. It had two long beasts like claws, one was from a sea serpent, and the other was like a dragon. They were an amalgamation of thousands of living creatures.

Qin Ming fell to his back and started to slowly crawl away. "W-what are you!"

They spoke; it sounded like thousands of voices were talking at the same time! "I am nothing and everything. I am the beginning and the end. Alpha and omega! You catch the drift! Hahaha I am your doom!"

Qin Ming stood back up "what did you do to Tianlong!"

They thought for a moment "oh the dragon hmmm let me think…. ah yes she was so close to making a breakthrough in the Dao of Qiankun. Yes, yes she was so tasty!"

Qin Ming lost color in his face, the color in his irises disappeared. Spiritual pressure gathered in one area and pushed down on the area with such massive force! His eyes become bloodshot. A cone of bright yellow and red spiritual energy shot down on Qin Ming. "Speak carefully and I might save your life! Did you kill Tianlong!?!"

They wrap their hands around their head. "Oh my well I don't think I could eat it without killing her, so you tell me!"

Qin Ming opened his eyes and they were bright gold. "Wrong answer!"

They sigh "why is it always like this?"

Qin Ming's arms and legs started to turn scaly, they were azure. In the space between the scales saphier light shines through. His feet grow claws and his hands talons. His teeth become razor sharp, and poke out of his mouth. His claws and talons are both a gold yellow. His wrist and ankles both grow sapphire fur. On the sides of his mouth he grows whiskers that extend several meters. The horn in the middle of his head radiates starlight. It glows as intensely as the sun! He also grew to the size of twenty meters! His remaining skin becomes space-like with red and blue stars dotting it.

His back grows four arms made of ice each one indistinguishable from the others! They start to yawn "how boring another diremonster!"

Qin Ming was in a fit of rage and he didn't even hear his mocks. He turns into a blip of light. In an instant he travels to them.

"Ninth stance [Wave Conquers All]!"

With his mind he causes a giant wave of pressure to smash down on them. They are blown back a bit but endure it nonetheless. With all six of his hands he smashes each palm into their side. At that same moment each finger executes [Ice Realm]'s first stance.

"[First dance, Ice shuttle]"

Sixty rockets made of Ice shoot into their body. When the rockets destroy their flesh, a dark viscous blood pours from them. When the blood is exposed to air it dissipates into smoke. It smelt of raw sewage but Qin Ming wasn't affected.

They squint and try to fight back when they swing their first Qin Ming executes the first stance.

"[Twig in a Stream]"

His ice hand snakes around their hand and blows it back. Each of his hands executes the third stance.

"[Wave Cracks Stone]"

two jet streams of pressure smashes against their solar plexus. Two more smashed against their yintang, and the last two slammed against the tangzhong. Over his months of training he learned that most of these 'things' are able to use the other two dantains! They could be divided as such, the qihai, which stores a basic amount of energy. The tangzhong, which stores three times as much and is much more potent. Finally the yintang, which stores an ocean of energy, is extremely potent!

Qin Ming couldn't access the other two, Old Man Ping tried but was unable to access these stores of power in his body. He even deemed it impossible! For Qin Ming to think they didn't have these was foolish, so he struck all three.

They coughed up blood, which turned into smoke. Qin Ming then used the Dao of Qiankun to smash the surrounding space around him, he turned them into a cube of flesh and carnage!

Qin Ming spared no expense in dealing with them. He fell to his knees, he released a hearty bellowing cry. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

He slammed his fist into the ground. When he did this entire section of the ravine fell down. The rock wall came falling down and rocks tumbled down. "DAMNIT! DAMNIT!!! FUCK THIS FUCK EVERYTHING!!!! BASTARDS FUCKING BASTARDS!!!"

Qin Ming had a river of tears falling down his face, "SCREW YOU!!!"

After everything cleared he searched for Tianlong's things. He sent his divine sense to cover this region. His tears clear up instantly. "Huh what is this?

"Tianlong Xun!"

He instantly zips to the location, when he arrives he finds a small ring. Qin Ming picked it up and examined the ring. "This is a storage treasure!"

He slowly let his energy take over Tianlong's energy, and soon her energy faded away. Qin Ming opened the storage ring, he searched the things inside and found a couple of weapons, immortal pills, and Dao manuals. He kept flashing past everything. "NOTHING,NOTHING!! DAMN IT SHOW ME SOMETHING BIG SISTER PLEASE, PLEASE!!!"

He sobbed uncontrollably, he blubbered loudly as he fell down and curled up in a ball. "Please give me something…."

Qin Ming's dantian started to glow, the Icedawn Pearl he contained within it started to hum. It vibrated and even began to make Qin Ming feel cold. Qin Ming was devoured by depression, he didn't feel anything. Qin Ming felt like he was falling into a bottomless abyss. This was a tremendous blow to his heart. It would be difficult for him to recover.

A very, very familiar voice rang out to him. He almost felt warm, he was being forcefully dragged from his void. His tears faded away. A cold yet warm hand rubbed his face "my son get up, no more tears."

This voice was somewhat spectral. Qin Ming slowly looked up and he broke down one more, he was in awe. Unable to move a single inch, he was shaking. "I-Icedawn, is that you?"

She sighed softly "oh my boy, you beautiful child! It is me. I have quietly watched you, you are growing so much! Come child, she is not dead!"

Qin Ming shot up "Icedawn, what do you mean! She's alive!"

Icedawn laughs creamily "my son please you may call me Lu Snow! Yes she is alive, the ring look at it carefully."

Qin Ming picks up the ring and eyes it. His eye swims around the object looking for something, anything. "Lu Snow, what do you see that I don't!?"

Lu Snow holds her hand out and grabs Qin Ming's. "Look my son, the carvings in the ring! It is activated with the Dao. it is more than the surface level analysis."

He hops to his feet. Instantly he sends the Dao of Wind into the object. The ring starts to morph and transform, gears klank as the ring changes. Steam escapes from the cracks. It pops into a staff. He once again searches the ring and he sees her arm!"

"This, this is Tianlong! She is too smart, just too smart!"

Tianlong had actually saved herself, she knew she was no match for them and thus cut her arm off. "Now Qin Ming grab her arm and send your immortal power into it!"

Qin Ming nodded and did as Lu Snow instructed. Then at that same moment her arm started to form a skeleton, that grew veins and stitched muscle over it, it also weaved skin over that! Tianlong Xun had fully regenerated! Qin Ming swung his arms around Tianlong Xun. "Big sister, I thought you had died, how!?"

Tianlong fell to her knees and covered her eyes with her hand "what, what happened!? All I remember is meditating, then suddenly this thing appeared, after that it's all blank!"

Qin Ming shakes his head "that is ok, don't worry I dealt with them! We're safe now!"

Tianlong sobs "little brother did I die! I couldn't have died! What is going on!"

Qin Ming puts his hands on her shoulder "calm down big sister, breath, tell me what did you see!"

Tianlong was shaking. Her lips trembled and her nose watered, she was unable to speak. She couldn't breathe!

Qin Ming held her tightly "it's ok big sister, everything is gonna be ok. You're here now, you are safe."

She just whimpered, she was trembling and she began to simper. She couldn't move at all. She stayed curled up unwilling to move an inch. Icedawn gently put her hands on Qin Ming, "come child it's time!"

Qin Ming looks up "time for what!?"

She smiles "to go home, we have work to do!"

Qin Ming looks as though he swallowed his tongue, "b-but what about Tianlong!?"

Icedawn sighs and holds his cheek "my boy there is very little you can do! This is her tribulation, not yours. She'll be fine, I promise you!"

Qin Ming stood up "if you can promise me, then I will trust you!"

Icedawn frowned, "she did die, that is never a good experience! But she will make it through."

Qin Ming helped Tianlong to her feet, she held onto Qin Ming tightly and did not let him go. Qin Ming held onto her as well and flew off into the distance. When they reached the village it had been turned into a kingdom of ice. Icedawn widened her eyes "what is this, is that…."

When Qin Ming had left Old Man Ping he had just gained insights into the Dao of Ice, but now, he was at a very high level. "This is a Dao Realm, but how did he form one so quickly!?"

Icedawn turned to Qin Ming, "my son, did you show him my Pearl?"

Qin Ming looked over at her "yes I did, but how did he jump so far?"

Icedawn frowned "I am not a toy, I am a person. How could you do that to me!?"

Qin Ming jumped back "I-I'm sorry! I didn't know! I thought you were a relic of the past, I thought you wanted to share your insights!"

Icedawn relaxed her shoulders and gave a softer look, "it is ok, just please don't do that again!"

Qin Ming looked as though his head was about to fry "but then, if I may ask, why did you leave behind any Dao relics? You could have just been sent back? But you decided to turn into a Dao treasure!"

She looks forward, "Listen to me my boy, I plan on having my revenge, a total of four people have received insights from my pearl. You are the only one I decided to take on as a disciple!"

Qin Ming had trouble picking his jaw off the floor, his eyes were so wide they almost popped out of his skull, "you mean I am your student!"

Icedawn sighed "sadly enough yes! You were the one closest to me, you are a star god, and a Celestial Dragon. Were your beats lineage lacking in understanding of the Dao your god half made up for. Were you lacking in cultivation speed and talent, your beast half covered for! You were perfect, and you have exceptional talent!"

Qin Ming had soft watery eyes "ahhhh that's so!"

Icedawn pushed him away "don't go crying on me! I have no idea how to deal with a crying child!"

Qin Ming never had any maternal affection, he only had Su Lei! He felt very fond of Icedawn and even considered her his mother in some regards! So for her to talk so highly of him he felt nothing but pure affection. He nodded and changed his vision to gaze at the kingdom of ice that had just sprung up almost out of the blue!

In less than a second they arrived at the citadel. This region held the most overbearing pressure. The Dao of Ice was densely condensed in this region, Qin Ming swiftly turned his head to Icedawn "Lu Snow, can you destroy Old Man Ping's Dao Realm!?!"

Icedawn shook her head "afraid not. I'm just a spirit treasure now! My connection to the Dao now is fairly low."

Qin Ming sharply sucked on his teeth "this does become slightly problematic!"

Icedawn daintily nodded, she put her hand on her chin "Qin Ming! How close are you till you can make your Dao Realm!?"

Qin Ming walked forward and placed his hand on the ice. He recoiled as soon as he touched it. When he pulled away the skin from his palm was ripped off, it was stapled to the ice itself. He flailed his hand and took a sharp breath into his nose. " 'fraid I'm some ways from being close to that level. I'm at the World level with the Dao of Ice. I almost reached the World level in the Dao of Martial Arts as well!"

Icedawn loosened her shoulders, "this might cause more trouble than Thought. Old Man Ping…" she quietly rolled his name in her tongue.

"What about Tianlong?"

Qin Ming turned his gaze to her. Tianlong was still trembling, she lost all color in her face and her eyes even became white themselves. He shook his head "not happening, look at her!"

Icedawn slumped over, she didn't like what she heard but he was right! "What to do, what to do!?!"

Chieftain Apedo stepped forward. "Let me deal with this!"

She looked at the ice heart, she reached for the ice wall, but Qin Ming quickly grabbed her hand. "Don't! It is extremely dangerous! She whipped back at him, she had an ugly face! Qin Ming pulled back.

She placed her hand on the ice and winced immediately. She kept her hand locked firmly on the ice heart. She, in a very delicate manner, shut her eyes. She hummed with the gracefulness of a dove, she stayed locked in thought. In the pit of her forehead a slit emerged itself. This slit opened and revealed a third eye. This eye was riddled in runes, it had a violet color, and the texture of gravel.

The iris of the eye was bone-chilling, it gave off the impression of a bottomless abyss. It was as welcoming as a void. The eye becomes ephemeral, a spear pokes through the surface of the void. Ripples of the Dao drift from her eye. Chieftain Apedo grabs the glass spear, she twirls it between her fingers.

The spear looked like a shard of dark opal, violet streaks dotted the spear. The spear itself radiated Immortal energy, but the aura ripples it produced was a simplified version. This was a primitive race thus the quality of immortal energy was merely subpar.

She lifted the spear and struck it upon the surface of the ice.

BOOOOM!!!

CRACK!!

The ice heart crumbled. Old Man Ping slumped over and fell on his knees. He crashed face forward in the ground. Qin Ming is wide eyed as he turns to her. "What was that!"

Chieftain Apedo grabbed her chest, she was hyperventilating. Beads of sweat poured from her eyebrow. "Not now, child, I'm tired."

She fainted just as quickly, Qin Ming jumped over himself to catch her in his arms. Qin Ming patted her forehead. She simply extended herself way too much. Icedawn floated over to Qin Ming "my child, do you see why the Dao is not easily transmitted. The Dao of Ice is a fairly weak Dao! I magine if you gave them the Dao of the Sword or Martial Arts!"

This is true if he had given a slightly stronger Dao the entire Abyssal Region could have been shattered. Qin Ming looked at his hand and tightly squeezed them "I am sorry!"

Icedawn lets a soft breath escape from her mouth. "Oh my sweetheart, it is ok! Don't beat yourself up too much."

Qin Ming stood up and called out for medics. In an instant five dark flashes jump to Qin. He Qin Ming glared at them "just who are you!"

They all looked kindly at Qin Ming "sir we are the medical division here. We got things covered from here!"

Qin Ming nodded then with tender movements he handed her over. They took Chieftain Apedo, they turned into flashes of light as they departed. Qin Ming walked over to Old Man Ping, he knelt down. Qin Ming sucks in his teeth, Qin Ming dreaded touching him. The second he did he would be able to feel a pulse or no pulse.

His hand stretched itself, very pain-stakingly slow his hand moved. An icy chill moves through his fingers, "no signs of life…."

Icedawn lifted him up "come Qin Ming we've overstayed our welcome"

Qin Ming whips his head "we can't just leave! I killed Old Man Ping, I have to do something!"

Icedawn grabbed his shoulder, her eyes were weary "my son, there's nothing we can do!"

He stammered, he looked around for something, anything! "B-but!"

"Come child enough!"

Qin Ming slumped over his shoulders loosened, they were as flimsy as noodles. His eyes looked heavy and puffy. "This isn't right!"

Icedawn frowns "nothing in life is, you saw mine!"

Qin Ming stood up "let's go!"

Icedawn gave a delighted smile "yes let's!"

Qin Ming gave his hand out and Tianlong Xun took it. Qin Ming moved as fast as he could. He was a streak of lightning zipping in the sky. He reached the mouth of the ravine. He slammed into the wall made of Qiankun! As a result of his experimentation with the Dao of Qiankun he gained very slight insights into the Dao of Space. With all this compiled he was able to shatter this wall.

"R̶̛̺̰͕̿̓̇̾̎̌̐̋̅͊̏͋͂̚͝Ą̵̙͚͔͇̻̥̹͛͐̄͑̏̅̕ͅÀ̵̧̙͈̣̰̼̙̮̓̀̈́̏̂̕ͅA̴͖̳͕̝͖̱̯̼͚͔͚̿̉̓̄̎̅́͂̏̇͌͠ͅĂ̵̢̙̤͓̥̘͈̺̳̻̈͑͌̔̉̒̈̀̄͘Ǵ̵͖͈̼̱̦͉̤̤̟̓́́̃̂̓̄͐̕̚͜͠H̵̨̻̱̙̰͎̲̏̎͋̽!!! R̶̛̺̰͕̿̓̇̾̎̌̐̋̅͊̏͋͂̚͝Ą̵̙͚͔͇̻̥̹͛͐̄͑̏̅̕ͅÀ̵̧̙͈̣̰̼̙̮̓̀̈́̏̂̕ͅA̴͖̳͕̝͖̱̯̼͚͔͚̿̉̓̄̎̅́͂̏̇͌͠ͅĂ̵̢̙̤͓̥̘͈̺̳̻̈͑͌̔̉̒̈̀̄͘Ǵ̵͖͈̼̱̦͉̤̤̟̓́́̃̂̓̄͐̕̚͜͠H̵̨̻̱̙̰͎̲̏̎͋̽!!"

A horrifying ear piercing screech hummed throughout all of the Abyssal Region

Qin Ming stopped in his tracks, "what the!?!"

Icedawn also curves her head "this is?!"

The beast squirts through the trench of the ravine. The beast was horrific, it was covered in scales, these scales were several meters thick. Its mouth looked like a blender, several rows upon rows of teeth. It didn't even have eyes. It had massive tendrils of hair. It was so dense that it looked like rope! When it slid against the ravine walls the rope-like hair tore the rocks it grazed as easily as tearing paper. But the beast itself resonated with Dao.

Qin Ming's nose flared goosebumps dotted his body, like a book in braille. "This is an Origin Beast, the Primordial Dao of Qiankun!"

Icedawn put a hand on her chin and hummed in an affable tone "they must have reacted when you broke their trap!"

Qin Ming bit his thumb "troubling, troubling indeed!"

Icedawn makes a sharp turn to look at him "Qin Ming!!"

He tilts his head "what is it Lu Snow!?"

"The Dao of Storms, how far did you get!"

Qin Ming humms "One With the Turbulent Storms."

Icedawn smiles and laughs like a madwoman "good, good this will work!"

"What's the plan Lu Snow!?"

She smirks and demonstrates a few movements, Qin Ming was delighted "this could work!"

Icedawn smiled "right!?!"

Qin Ming and Icedawn held each other's hands and began to gaily dance together. Tianlong Xun stood up and looked dead serious "I want to help with this plan!"

Qin Ming grabbed her "are you sure? You're ready?"

Tianlong Xun shakes her head "I won't know unless I try!"

Qin Ming was delighted and nodded "good, good, that's what I like to hear!"

Tianlong, Qin Ming, and Icedawn all slap each other's fist, Qin Ming grins "let's get this plan rolling!"