(Godrealm)

"There is a royal edict," the figure of the tyrant king Wuduantian appeared on the announcement screen of the Holy God Capital's Information Department Building, "Starting today, new taxes will be collected. Our army suffered a major defeat in the Central Plains, and supplies on the front lines are running low. The tax rates across the country will be tripled!"

"What?"

"Tripled! Are they trying to make our families suffer?"

Not a single citizen was without a troubled expression, while only the beggars remained carefree, living in the woods unconcerned about these matters irrelevant to them.

"Father!" Tong'er burst into Wuduantian's room in anger, "The way you're collecting taxes, our economy and people cannot bear it!"

"What do you know?" Tian shattered the dragon table with one hand, fuming, "Do you know what terms they discussed? Marrying you off to the prince of the Northern Region!"

Tian's face turned purple with rage.

It's worth noting that the Northern Region used to have influence throughout the entire continent. How could Tian not have heard the saying "a starving swan is bigger than a chicken"?

Now they have returned, and the years of recuperation have left the empire, which had just experienced a war, powerless to fight again, especially since the Ye family in the Northern Region has three immortals to support them.

"..."

Tong'er couldn't find the words to educate her father at that moment. "They said they will hold a grand wedding for you in four years... I!"

Tian couldn't continue.

"Yuanhui, " Tong'er's mind went blank, "Yuanhui... I, I agree to the Emperor's request, I agree...!"

With a slap, Wuduantian struck his daughter for the first time in his life.

Likewise, in the front line of Snow City, the confrontation between Ikuk and the long-haired man was destined to last only a moment, as Ikuk's body was pierced by a golden spear, falling to the ground.

"Cough, you're strong, together we can conquer the world!"

"Alas," the long-haired man pretended to be regretful, "So weak? What a pity, I don't kill weaklings! Chief Ik, it's time for you to wake up from your dream! You're just a frog in a well!"

On the ground, Ikuk realized the gap between himself and the outside world. He was only a small tribal chieftain, powerless to challenge the Four Towers.

"Is that so?" Ikuk's will to struggle completely crumbled, "Am I just... dreaming? My daughter was right."

"Chief, be careful!"

The Grand Marshal arrived in time, shielding Ikuk from behind.

"You?" Ikuk was surprised that the elder who usually criticized and opposed him had come to his rescue. He hurriedly shouted, "Grand Marshal, run, you are no match for the Tyrant King!"

"Oh, the Tyrant King?" The Grand Marshal sneered, "I wonder which of the Eighteen Stars of the Tyrant King you are?"

"Hehehe, old man, I am just the eighth among the Eighteen Stars, Poison Refinement! Out of respect for your confusion, allow me to send you on your way today!"

With that, the long-haired man drew his sword.

"Ahaha," instead of drawing his weapon, the Grand Marshal crouched down and whispered in Ikuk's ear, "Kid, today, Uncle will show you our clan's secret technique...!"

"Icebound Century!"

The Grand Marshal fully unleashed the remnants of his saintly body, emitting a terrifying aura beyond the peak of the boundary.

Faced with the sudden powerful pressure, Poison Refinement was also shocked, quickly activating the power of the stars!

"Too late!"

With those words, the Grand Marshal's body dissipated, but the exceedingly cold stream rushed towards the long-haired man, freezing him in place before his feet left the ground.

"This is?!" Ikuk reluctantly picked up the manual left by the elder and looked at the ancient words written on it – Icebound Century, the sealed one... The so-called Eighteen Stars turned into ice chips after being swept by a gust of wind!

In a daze, Ikuk reflected, "I was truly wrong. I truly didn't know I had shackled the child's wings."

"I truly believe Neer will fulfill the wishes of our people, he will… Neer, Father will never again…"

In this underground world, though it possessed a sky similar to the surface, the flakes drifting down from above were not snow but ash-filled sky!

"Descendant of the Frost Horse tribe, are you willing to carry out my will and crush all those greedy ones?"

"I am willing," Neer replied involuntarily.

"Then, are you willing to embrace the power of the dark path to fulfill your mission for revenge on behalf of your people?"

The voice echoed in her ears once more.

The ghostly voice and the deserted streets made Neer extremely fearful. In the gray-toned streets, Neer saw the General and her father, and she joyfully ran towards them.

"Neer... darkness, Neer, plunge into darkness..."

The hollow eyes of the elders and her father made her even more terrified.

She screamed and ran into the distance, with her father and the elders chasing after her continuously.

"Don't run, Neer!" Neer had no choice but to run forward at this moment.

"No, please stop, I am Yuanhui!" Yuanhui? That silver-haired boy?

Regaining her senses, Neer was embraced by Yuanhui at the edge of a cliff. Looking down, she saw the bottomless Northern City Cliff!

"Thank you... Yuanhui, perhaps I should rediscover myself, rather than following the will of the Frost Horse God!"

"I... will never obey others! I have my own will."

Neer's delicate and beautiful little face had turned into a pink balloon that could burst at any moment.

"Frost Horse God, I seek revenge, but!"

Gasping for breath, Neer clenched her teeth and continued, "I have my own thoughts and won't change for anyone. Sobbing, I want to roam the continent, fulfill my dreams, and become stronger!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the temple, shrouded in ashes, appeared before them. The icy city illusion was just a dream, and the walls of the temple were constructed from light yellow gems, with houses covered in white ashes and a thin layer of snow floating around.

Yuanhui and Neer exchanged smiles and then said, "It seems this is the real temple!"

He thought mockingly about what kind of expression the old man rushing towards the temple's mirage would have.

Neer reached out and touched the temple's door, on which were engraved the illustrious feats of the Frost Horse God during the War of the Heavenly Demons.

"In the War of the Heavenly Demons, twelve gods, twelve heavenly gods faced off against the Heavenly Demon Emperor Chiyou," Neer translated the tribal language depicted above word by word.

"The twelve heavenly gods condensed the nebula and resealed the Heavenly Demon…"

"No," The Immortal walked slowly out of the darkness towards Neer, eyes filled with sadness.

"Master?"

Seeing the Immortal standing before her, Neer couldn't help but feel worried.

"During the War of the Heavenly Demons, none of us twelve reached the level of the heavenly gods. Only I can be considered a quasi-heavenly god, while the Frost Horse God and the others only reached the level of immortal emperors!"

The Immortal choked up a bit.

"Only two of us twelve survived, facing the true heavenly god – the Heavenly Demon Emperor! The strength of the heavenly gods can be said to be unrivaled, possessing a blade that can cut down everything!"

Nel no longer paid attention to Wuxian, but as if being summoned, walked through the grand doors of the temple. Wuxian made way for the next Frosthorse God and watched Nel's departing figure, murmuring to himself, "Is this the destined mission?"

Looking at Yuanhui, who appeared equally lost, Wuxian sighed silently, swallowing the words on his lips—perhaps the previous great war was about to repeat itself!

People continued to fight for power, as the once colorful dynasty now faded into the background.

The cursed Evil Blood City, which sealed an ancient kingdom, was once again engulfed in a terrifying incident of demons covering the sky. The city, known as the entrance to hell, now exuded a suffocating dark power.

Inside the hall, there were no extravagant decorations, only earth-yellow walls. The only things inside the temple were statues of the twelve sacred beasts and the Frosthorse God statue at the center of the hall.

Gazing at the lifelike Frosthorse God statue, it seemed like there were unfinished instructions in his mouth.

"My child, you have finally come before me!" The ancient divine image spoke with a weathered voice, "You will inherit not only the bloodline of the gods but also their mission. The tasks accomplished by the twelve gods will now rely on you."

As the divine image slowly descended, it was replaced by the massive mechanical core—the Titan!

"It's the core of the Frosthorse God!" Wuxian exclaimed, covering his mouth in shock. The Titan emitted a chilling cold, enveloping the child in a freezing aura.

"Child, this Titan is the result of my nearly a thousand years of work, focusing on support and control! It can weaken the enemy to their lowest state."

Nel's pale hands slowly grasped the base of the yellow stone eye (Titan). As soon as Nel made contact with the Titan, it melted into Nel's body as if turning to liquid.

Suddenly, a wave of coldness rushed towards them. "Not good," Wuxian's face changed.

Yuanhui and Wuxian hurriedly moved back, as the terrifying soul force spread throughout the palace, causing thick frost to form on the interior walls.

"This... what is this?"

Having just stabilized himself, he brushed off the mud on his body and noticed long wings sprouting from Nel's back in the hall, enveloping him like a cocoon made of silk.

The Frosthorse God was once the first warrior in the continent specializing in control techniques, famous for his ice cannons and frost streams.

"Let me be your witness, gather the twelve divine beings, and forever send the Demon Emperor to hell!"

(Shengshen City)

Who am I? Why have I come here?

"Hurry, all taxes for this year must be paid in full!"

Angry soldiers barged into civilians' homes, brutally killing those who resisted payment. Shengshen City was engulfed in a bloody massacre!

"Sob, Mom!" A child cried on a young woman's body, but annoyed Shengshen soldiers mercilessly killed the child.

At the southern gate, almost an entire street was occupied by rebels, and hundreds of soldiers wearing white headscarves fought against the royal guards of Shengshen City!

Emperor Wuduantian immediately called on the elder of the Inner Court, Wudongtian, to suppress the rebellion.

"Hey, calm down!"

Wuduantian's uncle expressed dissatisfaction with Wuduantian's actions. He surpassed all the ministers in the court and lamented to Wuduantian, "Nephew, I deeply regret helping you seize the throne by eliminating your father. I never expected you to be such an incompetent ruler!"

"How can I calm down?"

The beard of Wudong Tianqi trembled, and Wuduantian was also forced to stop paying taxes, "Go! Tell the tax department to stop collecting taxes and compensate for the losses of the families, rigorously investigate the assailants! Administer the death penalty...!"