Adarsh felt a sudden stir within his chest—the symbol etched over his heart began absorbing his blood essence until it fully transformed into a Blood Seed. The moment the seed was complete, the terrifying Relam Tribulation erupted once more. Without wasting time on thought, Adarsh immediately surrounded the Blood Seed with a protective barrier formed from the Chaos Energy stored within the Chaos Blood Lotus.
Then, channeling his divine power, he guided the Chaos-infused seed through a narrow crack in the protective shield that surrounded the Ice Ruin. He expelled the seed outside the ruin, ensuring that the tribulation wouldn't target either himself or Iram Rai, who remained within.
Iram Rai observed this with a faint smile, pleased by the outcome—though she couldn't fully comprehend what had just transpired, she chose not to dwell on it. A moment later, the golden barrier that had held her and her child captive vanished without a trace. Surprised, she realized this might be her opportunity to teleport away from the Ice Ruin.
She immediately focused on activating the first skill of her World Holder Artifact and was relieved to sense a trace of spatial affinity within the ruin. That meant the artifact was functioning again. However, before leaving, she had one final task to complete.
"I cannot leave behind any trace," she thought. "Our aura remains scattered throughout this ruin—if someone were to track it, they might find us."
Determined, Iram Rai used several basic cleansing techniques to erase all lingering traces of her and her child's presence—every item, every fragment of energy. She systematically destroyed any material that could be used to track them via aura.
Unbeknownst to her, Adarsh was watching this entire process through his divine sense. Recognizing her intent, he lent his strength and used his divine power to deeply cleanse the surrounding space of any residual aura, making sure no one could trace them—not even the most skilled cultivators.
Finally, Iram Rai activated the teleportation skill of her artifact. In a shimmer of light, she and her child vanished from the Ice Ruin.
Moments later, she reappeared over a hundred thousand kilometers away in a modest little village—one nestled within the borders of the Nivaria Kingdom. This was a place she remembered from a past sect mission; its spatial coordinates had remained etched in her memory, making it the perfect destination for her escape.
Upon arrival, she quickly suppressed her cultivation stage—from Spirit Transformation down to the level of an ordinary mortal. Then she altered her appearance, adopting the humble guise of a simple mother. In this kingdom, where most humans were not cultivators but wielders of faint divine power granted by the gods, outsiders were treated with suspicion. She couldn't afford to attract unwanted attention.
Emerging from her hidden state, she gently cradled her child in her arms and walked down the dirt path between the scattered houses. After a short while, she spotted a small roadside tavern. Hunger gnawed at her, so she stepped inside and took a seat near the corner.
Raising her hand, she called for the waiter. The man glanced at her and her child but said nothing—mothers with children were a common sight here, and it was normal for travelers to seek a warm meal.
Soon, the waiter returned with a tray of steaming food and set it before her. Iram Rai began eating in silence, savoring the simple flavors. As she ate, she noticed several well-dressed men entering the tavern. Unlike the common villagers, their robes were finely tailored and their demeanor poised. She immediately recognized them—they were Faith Cultivators of the Nivaria Kingdom.
They gathered at a nearby table, speaking in hushed but urgent tones. Iram Rai kept her head low, ears tuned to their conversation.
"Did you hear?" one young man asked. "The border between our kingdom and the Blizzheart Empire is becoming increasingly unstable. Both sides have reinforced their patrols."
Another responded, "My father is close to one of the City Lords. He told me something… strange. Apparently, spiritual forces from both kingdoms have been converging around the Ice Ruin."
"You think something's there?"
"Maybe… It could be a divine treasure. That would explain the growing tension."
Iram Rai's hands paused mid-meal. So… word was already spreading. If rumors of a divine treasure forming inside the Ice Ruin were reaching kingdom cultivators, then it was only a matter of time before even more powerful forces arrived—from across the Realms.
She finished her meal quietly and called for the bill. Before paying, she asked the waiter, "Is there a place nearby where I can stay for a few days?"
The man nodded. "There's a market a short walk from here. At the end of the street, you'll find a traveler's inn. It's mostly used by merchants, though the price is a bit high."
"I understand," she replied, handing him a low-grade spirit stone as payment.
With her child still in her arms, she made her way to the market. Along the way, she stopped at a few stalls and purchased essentials—some spirit-rich rice and beast meat suitable for Core Formation cultivators. She stored everything neatly in her spatial pouch.
Finally, she arrived at the inn and approached the manager.
"I need a room," she said.
The manager nodded. "Ten low-grade spirit stones per night."
She paid without protest and accepted the key to her room. As soon as she entered, she cast a subtle illusion formation around the perimeter, concealing everything happening inside from prying eyes.
Only then did she lay her child down on the bed and sit cross-legged beside him. She took out a handful of high-quality spirit stones and began meditating, absorbing energy to restore her depleted spiritual strength.
Her thoughts, however, remained troubled.
"I cannot remain in this realm any longer. A treasure born amidst a Relam Tribulation will draw cultivators from every realm—including the Immortal Realm itself. When that happens, the Ice Realm will become a battlefield…"
Her expression turned grim.
"My current level of cultivation—Spirit Transformation—is no match for those from the Immortal Realm. If they descend upon this realm, they will find me easily. I won't be able to hide forever."
She clenched her fists as her spiritual power slowly replenished.
"I must recover fully… and find a way to leave this realm before they arrive."
But there lay another obstacle—the Sea of Chaos.
Crossing into another realm wasn't as simple as teleporting across land. The Sea of Chaos was treacherous, filled with wild, unstable energy that only high-level Immortal Realm cultivators could traverse. Even then, they could only travel through the spatial layers above the sea—and only with those from their own sects or bloodlines.
Outsiders like her were never given passage.
A heavy silence settled in the room.
"I'll need to find another way," she whispered to herself.
She glanced at her sleeping child. For his sake, she would survive. She would escape this realm… no matter what it cost her.