Ye Yunfei, with the Ice Demon in tow, landed on the ice-and-snow-covered continent and began a thorough search, hoping to find some clues.
"It really does look like this continent hasn't been subjected to any large-scale war or a major massacre," Ye Yunfei mused. "But then why are there no living creatures at all?"
After combing the entire continent, Ye Yunfei confirmed that there were indeed no signs of any life forms whatsoever.
"However, it's also clear that this continent was teeming with activity not long ago," Hun Lao interjected. "There are many traces left behind. Many of the cities contain a large number of items that were clearly in use until recently. Moreover, I can even sense traces of the Ice Demon Race left here on this continent. It's a presence similar to Da Bing's."
"That's right," Ye Yunfei agreed. "I also saw many traces of recent activity left by creatures, as well as traces of the Ice Demon Race. It seems the Ice Demon Race collectively relocated and left this world. But what could have happened to force the Ice Demon Race to abandon their world? In the entire Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, you probably couldn't find a world more suitable for the survival and habitation of the Ice Demon Race than this Ice Realm."
Just then, Da Bing's gaze suddenly shifted toward the west of the continent. "Let's go check over there!" He darted forward, moving at high speed.
Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao quickly followed him.
Moments later, they arrived at the far western edge of the continent, an ice plain covered in a thick layer of frost and snow. Aside from the solid, crystalline ice covering the ground, there seemed to be nothing else there.
The Ice Demon landed at the center of this ice plain. After searching the ice-covered surface for a short while, he suddenly threw a punch at a particular spot.
BOOM!
A loud rumble echoed as the punch created a massive hole in the ice. Beneath it lay a white door.
"Da Bing, wait!" Ye Yunfei called out, stopping him as the Ice Demon moved to break down the door. "This door is protected by a sophisticated Formation. Let me break it first."
As Da Bing neared the white door, a booming sound confirmed Ye Yunfei's words. A Formation materialized, covering and protecting the door. The ferocious energy from the Formation violently pushed Da Bing back several paces.
Ye Yunfei blurred into motion, arriving before the white door. He began to study the Formation. After a short while...
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Ye Yunfei threw a series of powerful punches, eventually succeeding in breaking the Formation.
Da Bing immediately rushed forward, opened the door, and charged inside. Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao followed behind him.
Soon, they arrived inside a vast underground palace complex.
"This must be the most central and core headquarters of the Ice Demon Race," Ye Yunfei remarked, surveying the underground palace group with some surprise.
The trio of Da Bing, Ye Yunfei, and Hun Lao searched through the sprawling complex of underground palaces. Finally, they arrived at an ancient-looking palace. Inside this palace stood an equally ancient-looking Teleportation Altar.
"Look!" Hun Lao called out, pointing at a raised platform on the Altar. "There's a jade slip on top of the altar!"
Ye Yunfei stretched out his hand, using his energy to draw the jade slip across the air towards him. He then directly activated it.
The jade slip vibrated as it activated, and a tall, imposing figure materialized from it—an Ice Demon!
This Ice Demon appeared to be very old. His body emitted waves of intense ice-and-snow energy, while illusory snowflakes swirled and whistled all around him.
"An elder from our race!" Da Bing's eyes lit up when he saw the Ice Demon. Feeling a profound sense of familiarity, he blurted out.
"Hmm?" The elderly Ice Demon was taken aback upon seeing Da Bing. "You… you're a member of our Ice Demon Race! Why are you still here? Our entire race collectively relocated and left the Ice Realm not long ago. Didn't you know? Did something cause you to miss the departure?"
Hearing the Ice Demon's words, understanding dawned on Ye Yunfei and Hun Lao. So the Ice Demon Race had indeed collectively relocated from the Ice Realm.
"Elder, I am indeed a member of the Ice Demon Race," Da Bing answered respectfully. "However, I was separated from the race at a young age and have been adrift elsewhere. This is my first time returning to the Ice Realm."
"So that's it!" the Ice Demon exclaimed, first taken aback, then showing a look of astonishment. "Could it be... you are the blood grandson of our race's Second Elder?"
"The Second Elder's blood grandson? What's going on? The Second Elder… is my grandfather?" Da Bing's expression became agitated. He immediately pressed for more. "Then what about my parents? Where are they?"
Since his youth, separated from his people, Da Bing had only known he belonged to the Ice Demon Race. He had no idea who his parents were, let alone who his grandfather might be. Hearing words like this now, he desperately wanted to know if this Ice Demon was telling the truth.
"Long ago," the Ice Demon elder explained, "our Ice Realm was suddenly invaded by powerful enemies. Back then, the clan chief and all the elders believed our race wouldn't be able to resist. Fearing a calamity that would wipe us out, the clan chief arranged for a portion of our young children—those with higher bloodline talent—to be secretly sent away from the Ice Realm, to other worlds for safety.
"Later, the clan chief led our Ice Demon Race forces and succeeded in repelling the invaders. We won that war. Afterward, the clan chief sent people out to bring back the young children who had been evacuated.
"Most of the children who were sent away were eventually found and brought home. However, a few remained scattered and their whereabouts were never discovered. Among those lost was the blood grandson of the Second Elder.
"Young man, I sense a bloodline presence on you that bears a striking resemblance to the Second Elder's. Now, please release a sample of your Bloodline Essence. Allow me to examine it more closely."
"Elder, please observe!" Upon hearing this, Da Bing grew even more excited. He immediately released several drops of his Bloodline Essence.
Drops of blood, shimmering with profound Ice-Snow Laws, floated before him. In the air around them, faint whispers of swirling snowflakes could be seen.
"Excellent!" the elderly Ice Demon declared, his eyes shining. "This is indeed the bloodline of the Second Elder's lineage! It seems you are indeed the blood grandson he lost all those years ago!"
"So my grandfather is the Second Elder of the Ice Demon Race!" Da Bing's voice trembled with emotion. "But... what about my parents? Are they... are they well?"
"Your parents are perfectly fine," the Ice Demon reassured him. "They are both powerful figures among our race. Your father holds the position of a Steward in our clan."
"Elder," Da Bing asked, changing the subject back to the major mystery, "why did our entire Ice Demon Race relocate and leave the Ice Realm? And where did they move to?"
"Ahhh..." A heavy sigh escaped the Ice Demon at Da Bing's question. The sigh was filled with deep sorrow and unwillingness.
"To think that after our Ice Demon Race lived in the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds for such an unimaginably long time… we were ultimately forced to leave them. Forced to leave the Ice Realm. Child, I shall tell you the reason now." The Ice Demon elder's voice carried a distinct tone of sorrow.