I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 679 - 500: Life-Bound Mirror Demon, Demon Finger (Part 2)

Qin Tian could distinctly feel the spirit patterns within the Mirror Artifact undergoing a transformation. The once faint markings were being illuminated by a Golden Light, becoming clearer and even extending new, minuscule runes based on the original foundation, perfectly synchronizing with the Empire’s energy flow.

This enhancement of the Mirror Artifact acted like a potent stimulant for the Mirror Demon.

Within the Mirror World, the Mirror Demon, previously ethereal and in constant motion, suddenly ceased its cries. A glow, both golden and silver, emanating from the same source as the ancient mirror, began to envelop its form.

It contorted its translucent body with palpable excitement, its illusory limbs flailing as waves of joyful energy surged towards the source of the Golden Light hanging in the Mirror World’s sky. Its sense of spiritual connection and dependence intensified.

As the Golden Light continued to pour in, the little demon’s silhouette visibly gained substance. Though its original facial features remained indistinct, the contours of its eyebrows could now be discerned, and its abyssal eyes shimmered with a more vibrant Golden Light.

No longer in its nascent, immature state, the spiritual energy radiating from its body was several times more potent than at birth.

Concurrently, the Mirror World itself was undergoing dramatic alterations. The expansive silver-white terrain began to stretch outwards, the luminous dust at the periphery receding like an ebbing tide, exposing more smooth, mirrored surfaces. The sky’s azure hue deepened, and the dispersed light dust coalesced into tiny, star-like particles.

Externally, the patterns etched onto the mirror’s surface grew increasingly intricate. The mirror's original markings intertwined with the newly formed runes, resembling a miniature celestial map. Each subtle shift sent ripples through the surrounding spiritual energy.

Qin Tian slowly retracted the power of the Divine Weapon Emperor, the Golden Light in his palm gradually fading.

He gazed at the ancient mirror in his hand, its luminescence subsiding. A smile touched the corners of his lips. The Mirror Artifact’s grade had ascended significantly, and the little demon's growth rate far surpassed his expectations. At this pace, within half a month, this Mirror Demon would rival Beitiao Hezi's level, and with the Emperor’s power nurturing it, its future potential was boundless.

"Little demon, let me see your capabilities now."

Qin Tian placed the ancient mirror flat on his palm. With a mere thought, the Mirror Demon transformed into a streak of silver light and emerged from the mirror, alighting gently on its edge.

Its form remained spectral, its facial features obscured as if veiled by a fine mist. Yet, Qin Tian could clearly perceive its spiritual excitement—an eagerness to demonstrate its skills, as if conveying, "Watch me."

"First, assist me in scouting this ice cave. Seek out any treasures or potential dangers."

The moment Qin Tian finished speaking, the Mirror Demon gave a slight nod before leaping, seamlessly merging into the cave’s ice walls as fluidly as a fish entering water.

This was the Mirror Demon's primary advantage: its intangible nature allowed it to traverse any reflective surface unimpeded.

The ice cave’s walls, smooth as polished mirrors, served as the perfect conduit for its exploration.

Through his spiritual link with the Mirror Demon, Qin Tian shared its senses, his perception instantly expanding. The little demon darted through the ice wall like a silver thread, splitting off tendrils of light to investigate diverging paths simultaneously, its speed truly astonishing.

Mere minutes passed before an urgent spiritual call resonated within Qin Tian’s mind.

"Could it be I’ve actually found something significant?" he mused, eyebrows slightly raised. His gaze immediately shifted back to the bronze ancient mirror, where the lights and shadows flickered rapidly before settling on the image of a hidden cavern.

It was a naturally formed ice cave. Translucent ice stalactites adorned the walls, and ice crystals dripped from the ceiling, emitting delicate sounds as they struck the ground.

At the cave's center stood an ice platform, roughly a person's height, hewn from a single block of Thousand-Year-Old Profound Ice. Four thick ice chains descended from the cave's roof, securely binding the platform's four corners. These chains were etched with frost runes resembling a spiderweb, emitting a faint blue luminescence and circulating slowly, appearing almost alive. They clearly served as a powerful sealing mechanism.

Resting precisely in the middle of the ice platform was a lone finger. This finger was entirely black, its skin coarse like tree bark, with thick, prominent joints—several times larger than an ordinary person’s finger. Its surface was densely covered in intricate patterns.

Even viewed through the mirror, a peculiar and profound aura emanated from it.

Qin Tian instantly teleported, recognizing the substantial difference between observing from afar and experiencing the presence up close.

In the subsequent moment, he materialized at the precise location.

A distance of thirty meters separated him from the ice platform. The moment he regained his balance, an aura, ten times more potent than it had appeared through the mirror, surged like a tidal wave, engulfing him instantly.

This aura was both chilling and sharp, yet possessed an indescribable majesty that caused his spiritual energy to falter momentarily.

Qin Tian narrowed his eyes, observing more closely, and finally noticed a previously overlooked detail: the surfaced of the pitch-black finger was adorned with dense, ice-blue patterns that shifted like living serpents beneath its rough exterior.

As if detecting a living presence, the black finger upon the ice platform suddenly quivered violently. The resulting vibrations resonated with the runes of restraint on the platform, causing the surrounding chains to emit a high-pitched, grating sound.

In the next second, Demonic Qi, black as ink, seeped from the joints, entwining with the icy-blue cold air to form a swirling mist, within which a faint, bone-grinding sound could be discerned.

"Help me... help me..."

Two indistinct thoughts breached Qin Tian’s mind without warning. The voice was raspy, like grinding metal, laden with immense suffering and desperate longing.

This mental intrusion possessed a profound penetrating power, striking directly at his soul. Qin Tian felt his temples throb, a peculiar irritation clouding his thoughts, even causing him to tighten his grip on the Black Frost Long Saber slightly.

"Something is wrong!" Qin Tian sharply bit his tongue, the sudden sting instantly clearing his muddled consciousness.

He swiftly channeled his spiritual energy, constructing a mental barrier to ward off the intrusive thoughts.

Turning his gaze back to the finger, Qin Tian’s eyes were now filled solely with composure and apprehension. Cold sweat beaded on his back. This was merely a segment of a finger, not even a complete one, yet it could actively emit a spiritual shock, subtly manipulating human emotions. Even he, typically stoic, had been affected.

"This must be the root cause of the Ice God Race's demise,"

Qin Tian mused internally, his gaze fixed upon the finger.

Within the Ice God Race's most sacred vault, a finger segment had been sealed, a testament to its terrifying nature for the race itself.

And its complete form represented an existence beyond comprehension.

"Destroy it, and I shall grant you a worthy reward."

A deep, resonant voice suddenly echoed in his mind, possessing the piercing clarity of an ancient bell.

Qin Tian's eyes narrowed. As anticipated, the true master resided deep within this icy mountain vault. They, the talents of the Empire, were merely pawns, strategically placed—scattered across the landscape, yet effectively utilized by the Empire's might to eradicate these lurking "demons."

"Alright!" Qin Tian agreed without hesitation, his decision swift and decisive.

His prompt agreement was not solely to aid Lan in avenging the Ice God Race's blood sea feud, but also stemmed from his realization: without eradicating this peculiar finger segment, his escape from this ice cave seemed impossible, let alone any prospect of reuniting with Zhuge Yu and the others.

Having spoken, Qin Tian advanced towards the ice platform.

With each step, the ice beneath his feet trembled slightly, as if he were treading upon tightly drawn bowstrings.

As the distance diminished, the black finger on the ice platform thrashed with increasing violence. What was a mere tremor before now became a vigorous twitching, akin to a beached fish. The black skin at the joints split open, unleashing a torrent of thick, ink-like Demonic Qi that mingled with the icy-blue cold air, forming a chaotic vortex that battered against the containment light shield.

The avarice and hunger emanating from the aura were nearly breaking free, lunging towards Qin Tian.

Like a savage beast confined and starved for days, suddenly catching sight of live prey just beyond its reach, all its ferocity and desire became concentrated on this small finger segment.

Qin Tian clutched his Black Frost tightly, advancing steadily, prepared to sever the finger. If one strike proved insufficient, he would employ multiple, reducing it to fragments.

However, before he could make his move, an abrupt change occurred.

The black finger segment on the ice platform let out a piercing shriek. With a thunderous "boom," the segment seemed to transform into a wellspring of Demonic Qi, the previously dense, ink-like substance surging outwards.

A hazy silhouette slowly materialized within the Demonic Qi.