Chapter 2165 — Shiva (1)

After leaving the White Hell Barbarian Tribe's settlement, Mu Hanyan brought Yuan and Mu Xuelian into the eighth region. Of course, Chief Mu followed behind.

"How are you feeling? Can you handle the cold here?" Mu Hanyan asked, her head turned toward Yuan.

"It's a bit chilly, but it feels good," he calmly nodded. After achieving True Cold Harmony, the seventh region's chill no longer fazed him. To Yuan, the once-lethal cold now felt like nothing more than a refreshing breeze against his skin. As for the eighth region, it felt no more than a morning chill at the end of summer.

"Good. Because we'll be heading to the core of White Hell-Shiva's Heart," said Mu Hanyan.

Hearing the name Shiva twice now, Yuan couldn't help but ask, "What's with this Shiva? This is the second time you've mentioned this name now."

"It's the name of our guardian spirit, or something along that line. They've been protecting our tribe ever since we moved into White Hell. No, you can even say that it's because of Shiva that we can live within White Hell," she explained.

"A guardian spirit? So it's a beast?" Yuan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know. That's just what our ancestors called them—though no one has ever actually seen them," Mu Hanyan admitted with a shake of her head.

"What? You've never even seen them? Then how do you communicate with them-or even know they exist?" Yuan pressed.

"Oh, we communicate," she said firmly. "Though we've never seen them, they speak with us through voice transmissions."

A doubtful look appeared on Yuan's face as he said, "Sorry if this offends you, but... are you sure it's not a scam?"

"H-How dare you insult our guardian spirit!" Chief Mu angrily shouted. "I'll rip your tongue out!"

Mu Hanyan burst into laughter. "I knew you'd say that. But they've been with us since ancient times, and in all that time, they've never asked for anything. On the contrary, they've granted us powerful cultivation techniques and unique physiques. Why would a deceiver give so much, and for so long?"

"I guess it doesn't make sense..." Yuan mumbled.

Some time later, they reached the end of the eighth region and stood before the entrance to the ninth. "What... is this place?" Yuan muttered, swallowing nervously. This was nothing like the snowy wasteland he expected of White Hell. Before him stretched not ice or snow, but a field of white and blue flowers, and the ninth region was so small that Yuan could see its far edge clearly with his divine sense.

"Are we still in White Hell?" Yuan had to ask.

Mu Hanyan smiled and said, "Don't let the peaceful and warm appearance fool you. If you don't have a special physique-my physique, not even a Cultivation God could linger in this place without being frozen."

"Don't tell me this is the training area?" Yuan remarked.

"No, this isn't the training ground. Do you see that glacial tree in the center?" Mu Hanyan asked, her gaze fixed on the massive, crystal-like tree that stood there, resembling a towering structure of pure ice.

Yuan nodded. "I do. It's impossible to miss."

"Your destination, Shiva's Hell, is there."

Yuan used his divine sense to look around the crystal tree, and sure enough, there was a sealed gate on the ground right before it that seemed to lead underground.

Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing this gate, almost as if he recognized it.

"So, how am I supposed to get there when even a Cultivation God isn't safe in there?" Yuan asked a moment later.

"That's why I brought my granddaughter here with you," said Mu Hanyan as she turned to look at Mu Xuelian, who was calmly standing beside her. "There's a reason why only the leader of the White Hell Barbarian Tribe is allowed entry-because only we have the physique capable of entering."

"That doesn't explain anything about my predicament," Yuan said.

"It's quite simple. You just need to enter while holding hands with my granddaughter."

Yuan became speechless. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "You serious?"

Mu Hanyan stared at his face for another moment before responding in a serious tone, "No, I am just joking." Before Yuan could even respond, she retrieved a necklace that was similar to the one she gave Yaoqin and said, "You can enter as long as you're wearing this."

"..." Yuan accepted the necklace in silence, but he couldn't help but wonder if she always had such a character.

"Alright, let's go." The next moment, Mu Hanyan led the way and entered the ninth region. Mu Xuelian and Chief Mu followed her without hesitation.

The moment Yuan stepped into the ninth region, a chilling sensation coursed through him, making his entire body tremble. 'What is this feeling...' He couldn't describe it. It was cold and hot at once, and the chill itself felt different-unnatural, otherworldly. On top of that, his instincts screamed danger, warning him not to take another step forward. However, Yuan gritted his teeth and endured the sensation as he forced himself to proceed.

When they reached the sealed gate, Mu Hanyan suddenly produced a dagger whose blade looked as though it had been forged from the same crystal as the tree. Without hesitation, she drove it into her palm, the blade piercing clean through her hand. She then scattered her blood across the sealed entrance. Moments later, the barrier shifted and parted, revealing a staircase descending into the abyss below.

"Go ahead. We won't follow you inside," Mu Hanyan said.

Mu Xuelian immediately began descending the staircase, and Yuan followed behind. Once their figures disappeared into the darkness, the entrance sealed itself again.

"Mother... can you tell me the real reason you allowed him to enter Shiva's Hell?" Chief Mu suddenly asked as she stared at Mu Hanyan. "Don't even bother lying to me. I know you better than anyone else in this world."

After a moment of silence, Mu Hanyan responded in a calm voice, "You're right. It wasn't our relationship that made me break our tradition. It was Shiva's instruction to bring him here."

"W-What did you say?!" Chief Mu exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. (More chapters in Buyers club for TMT)