Divine Emperor of Death

*Whoosh!~*

An illusory blur flashed past many rabid obstacles, retaining its speed and flexibility as it flew across a plaza. Countless blue wisps appeared around that blue, blossoming into icy-blue lotuses. They stretched their petals across the sky and enveloped the world that was ablaze.

Looking around, people screamed and ran for their lives as they begged for help from powerful immortal cultivators. Even Immortal Kings were roaming about, but one could see that they were retreating into the distance, intending to regroup. However, that made the many powerless people with weaker cultivation remain vulnerable.

They were besieged by an extreme number of savage beasts that a person in the eye of the storm could only say that their numbers were endless. But at this moment, they saw an icy light bloom in the sky as the flaming village abruptly turned icy in an instant!

*Crrrrck!~*

Each petal that struck a savage beast turned them into a statue, causing the villagers to become shocked. They were safe, causing them to look at the icy-blue-robed woman in the skies.

Innumerable strands of ice were swirling around that figure.

"I see. The trick to comprehending the third essence is to not let the icy indifference freeze our hearts and the intent to survive result in forsaking the myriad lives that seek help dearly..."

Natalya was in awe over the trials. She could tell how much effort the Frostcloud Sword Empress put into the trials by the emotions these illusory worlds showed. It made one's heart quiver in extreme changes.

After all, they were just made to temper their wills and comprehended the intent of icy indifference and an icy determination to survive, but as though to go against, the third level contained the essence of refusal to submit to fate.

Slightly having comprehended the essence, even though she had unleashed a powerful attack that killed hundreds of those Immortal King Savage Beasts, there were many that were able to survive. The horde was endless, and the only end result was death, but even then, she chose not to forsake these people.

Just as she was about to be overwhelmed as numerous claws and rabid maws plunged down on her, she raised her head and moved her lips.

"Frostcloud Sword Empress, I would like to exit."

*Whooosh!~*

Natalya disappeared from the place she stood, leaving behind hundreds of savage beasts crashing into each other and making a bloody mess before the space froze.

At that moment, a dark blue-robed figure appeared near the palace overlooking the village, her frosty eyes gleaming.

"My sword intent lies in the essence that a layer of warmth is hidden behind the frostiness. It is like the warmth of spring enveloping oneself when they are suffering from the freezing breeze of cold winter, allowing them to attack with both indifferent and encompassing yin nature of ice."

"This is a sword intent that the likes of Forsaken Yin Lotus Disciples would never be able to comprehend, but I saw some potential in Natalya, knowing if it was her who was full of cheerfulness that she might be able to comprehend it…. but to think she would really keep her words and exit upon gaining a bit of insight..."

Humans were naturally greedy creatures by nature. For them to share treasures is already a step taken to stab themselves in the leg but to completely give it to someone else…

The Frostcloud Sword Empress couldn't help but wonder how strong their bond was. That spirit called Iesha had also exited the third level upon reaching it.

She disappeared from the palace but reappeared in the same place. However, different than the last time, a horde of savage beasts was pouncing on a white-robed man. Their claws slashed at him, and flames burst from their mouths, trying to incinerate him, but despite all odds, his sword slashed the space and made an icy dent that manifested from thin air, traversing all the way from the tip of his sword to the distance as they froze hundreds of savage beasts and saved many people.

However, as soon as he was overwhelmed, he retreated into the distance, causing the space to reset.

"This… how many times have I retreated…?"

Niel Bladeheart's heart trembled, his sharp eyes flashing with anger, one that was directed at himself.

The Frostcloud Sword Empress saw his progress but didn't say anything. She reappeared in another space and saw Yuren, the true Forsaken Yin Lotus Sect's disciple, watch the slaughter go on with indifference in her eyes.

After a few tries, it seemed like she completely gave up on saving the people, causing the Frostcloud Sword Empress to shake her head.

"Now that they have comprehended icy indifference, they're really finding it difficult to see the value of other life and hence, wait until there is a significant amount of losses to save them or even forsake them all together as they retreat. This is a subconscious bias self-imposed upon by their own icy will tempered in this place."

The Frostcloud Sword Empress shook her head. The more they tempered themselves in the first two trials, the further they strayed away from passing the third trial. However, this extremity was what caused her to perfect her sword art.

Understanding it was one thing but comprehending it was another thing altogether.

But most importantly, she couldn't help but find a pleasant surprise as she reappeared in another space and glanced at an icy-white-robed woman.

"My eyes were blinded by little Natalya's kind nature that I failed to see the icy sword gem reaping my sword essence like it is made for her..."

In the village, an icy blur repeatedly flashed through the area, and wherever it went, the surrounding savage beasts would be severed apart into many pieces. Not even a single hint of blood splashed as all the savage beasts were frozen, and even the fire-breathing savage beasts were unable to melt the ice.

*Puchi!~*

The village was engulfed in countless layers of icy swords spinning like a storm and stabbing into the hearts of many savage beasts, but despite the array of swords floating around the icy-white-robed woman, her head was severed by a wing of a hawk cutting through her neck.

The space reset and the icy-white-robed woman appeared again, this time, her eyes flashing with even more of a resolute yet cold gaze as she manifested an icy sword and swung at the savage beasts besieging the village.

"… Good~"

Looking at Tanya slaughtering her way through thousands of savage beasts and repeatedly dying without a care for her life, the Frostcloud Sword Empress was thoroughly forced to take a huge interest in her. She watched Tanya steadily and steadfastly gain comprehension of the third essence she wanted her inheritor to comprehend, even slightly becoming excited as she felt like she was finally going to have a suitable inheritor.