Why did you provoke her? Even Heaven itself is afraid of her.

The Styx Ancestor stood in the Hall of Human Ancestors, his expression solemn.

He slowly began to speak: "Ancestor Lingyun, both the Boundless Heavenly Venerable and the Heavenly Dao told me that the Creator is hidden in the Nine Heavens Milky Way outside the Thirty-Six Heavens. That Nine Heavens Milky Way is vast and mysterious, containing endless unknowns and dangers. Even ordinary gods who approach it will be instantly shredded by the terrifying cosmic turbulence."

Ling Yun nodded slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

She knew that if she rashly went to fight the Creator, the outcome would be uncertain.

And if they fail, the entire primordial world will be plunged into utter destruction.

Therefore, Ling Yun decided to first collect all the divine artifacts to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Ling Yun knew that the Chaos Shield, this divine artifact, was a crucial element.

This shield possesses the power to withstand all attacks; if one could obtain it, one would have a greater chance of victory in the battle against the Creator.

Therefore, Ling Yun immediately summoned his capable subordinates and ordered them to disperse to various parts of the prehistoric world to search for the whereabouts of the Chaos Shield.

While everyone was busy, the Styx Ancestor was not idle either.

Although he claimed to be neutral, he was also deeply concerned about the impending crisis.

He returned to his residence in the southernmost holy city and began to seclude himself to comprehend the Great Dao of the Laws of Space and Time.

We hope to make a breakthrough at this critical moment and contribute to the fight against the crisis.

Meanwhile, Ling Yun was in the Ancestral Hall, working day and night to deduce the possible locations of the Chaos Shield.

She recalled ancient records that the Chaos Shield was a divine artifact born from the primordial chaos at the time of creation.

It once sheltered countless lives during the ancient great war.

But after that great battle, the Chaos Shield vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed in the world.

Time flies, and several days have passed. The people sent out to find the Shield of Chaos returned one after another, but all of them found nothing.

Ling Yun couldn't help but feel anxious, but she knew that she needed to stay calm, especially in situations like this.

Just as Ling Yun was lost in thought, a young celestial soldier hurriedly ran into the Ancestral Hall of Humanity.

He was excited and panting as he said, "Ancestor of Humanity, I... I have a clue about the Shield of Chaos!"

Ling Yun suddenly stood up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Tell me quickly, what clue is it?"

The divine soldier calmed his breathing and said, "When I was traveling to the shores of the North Sea, I met a reclusive old man. He told me that he had heard that the Shield of Chaos was sealed in a mysterious valley in ancient times. That valley is located in the far north of the primordial world and is shrouded in thick fog, making it difficult for ordinary people to approach."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yun immediately decided to personally travel to the far north to explore.

She specifically sought out the Lord of Mount Tai to explain the situation, hoping that he could accompany her on a trip to the far north.

The Lord of Mount Tai refused.

"Ancestor Lingyun, I once had an irreconcilable feud with the Xuanming God-King of the Far North Holy City. You should take Lady Houtu with you; she once shared a deeply unforgettable love with the Xuanming God-King, but..."

Lord Taishan paused slightly at this point.

A complex look flashed in his eyes, as if he were recalling that distant past, or perhaps he was considering how to recount this entanglement.

"But later, something happened that caused them to become enemies. The Xuanming God King's personality changed drastically, and the Earth Goddess also shut herself off from then on, rarely concerning herself with outside affairs."

Lord Taishan sighed softly.

“But I think that if it’s for the sake of the primordial world, Houtu will definitely put aside the past and go with you. Moreover, perhaps only she has the chance to break through Xuanming’s defenses and obtain the Chaos Shield.”

After hearing this, Ling Yun pondered to himself.

She knew this was no small matter; the past between Houtu and Xuanming would surely add many variables to this journey.

But the Chaos Shield is of paramount importance now, and this may be the only solution.

After bidding farewell to the Lord of Mount Tai, Lingyun went straight to the Houtu Palace.

Upon entering the palace gate, one sees heavy frost covering the glazed tiles, and the surroundings are so quiet that time seems to have stood still.

Houtu was in the palace, gazing at an ancient scroll. Mountains and rivers were faintly visible on the scroll, as if it were a microcosm of the land and its people.

"Empress Houtu," Ling Yun said softly, breaking the silence.

Houtu slowly turned around, her gaze falling on Lingyun.

His expression was calm, but he couldn't hide the desolation in his eyes: "Ancestor Lingyun, I already know why you've come."

Ling Yun nodded slightly and explained the ins and outs of the matter in detail once again.

Finally, she earnestly said, "Houtu, the primordial world is now in imminent danger. The Chaos Shield is the key for us to fight against the Creator. I hope you can think of the common people and come with me to the far north."

Houtu remained silent for a long time before her gaze returned to the scroll, as if she could see her former self and Xuanming through the mottled image.

After a long while, she gently raised her hand, smoothed the hair at her temples, and slowly said, "Fine, since it's for the sake of all living beings in the primordial world, I will go with you on this journey."

After making some preparations, the two embarked on their journey to the far north.

As soon as we stepped into the far north, a biting wind howled in, carrying blizzards, as if to freeze everything in the world.

Houtu lightly waved her sleeve, and Xuanhuang Qi surged out, forming a warm barrier around the two of them to resist the biting cold.

As they ventured deeper, the fog ahead grew thicker, with glints of cold light faintly visible.

Suddenly, an ice shard shot out like lightning. Houtu Niangniang reacted quickly, manipulating Xuanhuang Qi to knock it away.

"Be careful, Xuanming has set up many traps here," Houtu warned solemnly.

Ling Yun gripped the divine weapon in his hand, vigilantly observing his surroundings, ready to deal with any unknown dangers at any moment.

Just then, a melodious yet chilling zither tune drifted from the mist.

Every note seemed to carry icy spikes, piercing their souls.

"It's Xuanming; he's trying to disrupt our minds."

Houtu's expression hardened, and she quickly formed hand seals. A peaceful power spread from her palms, resisting the erosion of the music.

The two continued on their way, and finally, a magnificent ice palace came into view.

The ice palace emitted a cold, eerie light, surrounded by massive ice pillars, resembling a lurking beast.

"This is the Ice Soul Divine Palace; the Chaos Shield must be located within it."

Ling Yun gazed at the Ice Palace, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

As they approached the Ice Palace, a figure flashed out from within—it was none other than the Xuanming God King.

His silver hair flew wildly, and he exuded a powerful chill. The Ice Soul Divine Bow in his hand gleamed with a cold light, and the arrow tip was pointed directly at the two of them.

"Houtu, how dare you come here?" Xuanming's voice was icy cold, carrying a hint of barely concealed anger and complexity.

Houtu looked at Xuanming, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

“Xuanming, we have come here today only for the Chaos Shield. The primordial world is facing annihilation. We hope you can put the greater good first.”

Xuanming sneered: "Prioritize the greater good? When did you ever care about me back then? This Chaos Shield is my reliance for protecting the Holy City of the Far North, and no one can take it away."