Chapter 1010: Ice Phoenix God Blood
If before today, Mu Feixue being designated as Yun Che's dual cultivation partner had still left a slight knot in Mu Huanzhi's heart, then after witnessing Yun Che's performance with his own eyes today, his only feeling now was sheer ecstasy!
What status did Yun Che hold now… the personal disciple of the Sect Master! The noblest young man in all of Yin Xue Realm. His talent displayed today was there for all to see, and in terms of ice laws alone, he had likely already surpassed Mu Xuanyin in her younger days. As long as his life or talent did not meet an untimely end, becoming the next Realm King of Yin Xue Realm in the future was practically a foregone conclusion.
If his granddaughter Mu Feixue could marry Yun Che, it would truly be like a blessing.
If Yun Che were to become the Yin Xue Realm King in the future—and the first male Realm King in Yin Xue Realm's history—then Mu Feixue would become the Realm King's wife!
Although losing her primordial yin prematurely would cause irreversible hindrance to Mu Feixue's future cultivation—in name it was a dual cultivation partner, but in essence it was merely a cauldron that only benefited the male—but setting aside the fact that this was Mu Xuanyin's will, just Yun Che's identity and future alone were more than enough reason not to hesitate… let alone refuse.
"Feixue, why haven't you thanked the Sect Master yet?" Mu Huanzhi said urgently, unable to conceal the joy in his voice.
As for those elders, palace masters, and hall masters who had unmarried female juniors, they all showed expressions of envy and jealousy on their faces—Damn! Why didn't such a good thing fall upon my granddaughter's head!
But thinking of Mu Feixue's talent, bloodline, and beauty, they could only envy helplessly.
Mu Feixue stepped forward through the snow, kneeling down beside Mu Huanzhi.
"Feixue, do you have any objections to this matter?" Mu Xuanyin asked with authority.
"Everything is at the Sect Master's discretion," Mu Feixue replied. Her voice was as icy as before, showing neither joy nor sorrow, neither ripples nor waves.
From beginning to end, she did not even glance at Yun Che.
"Very well, then this matter is settled." Mu Xuanyin nodded in satisfaction. "Huanzhi, you shall inform Feixue's parents of this matter. As for the date, it will be decided later, but of course, the sooner the better."
"Yes, I will begin preparations from tomorrow onward." Mu Huanzhi nodded repeatedly.
Yun Che stood there like a wooden stake, completely dumbfounded… Huh? What the hell? What's this about a dual cultivation partner? Does Bing Huang God Sect even have such a concept? And… concerning me, such a major matter, why doesn't anyone ask for my opinion!?
I barely know Mu Feixue—I haven't even exchanged a single word with her!
Yun Che looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't. However, Mu Xuanyin showed no intention of asking for his opinion. At this moment, she slowly stood up, her icy gaze sweeping across the entire venue: "The apprenticeship ceremony is complete, and the matters to be decided have been decided. If there is nothing else, all of you may withdraw."
With a single command from Mu Xuanyin, everyone bowed in unison and then began to disperse quickly and orderly.
At the very end, many disciples of the Ice Phoenix Palace walked over to Mu Hanyi's side, seemingly trying to console him with words… After all, everyone in the sect knew that Mu Hanyi was deeply infatuated with Mu Feixue, and they had always believed the two were a perfectly matched golden couple. Even Mu Huanzhi had never shown any sign of objection.
But she had been granted to Yun Che by the Sect Master… and as a cauldron to enhance his bloodline and profound power.
In the past, he had worn the most dazzling halo in the entire sect. Today, however, because of Yun Che, he had become utterly lackluster. Even those who had earlier felt indignant that he hadn't become the personal disciple no longer believed he could compare to Yun Che.
Under Mu Xuanyin's direct order, Mu Hanyi's hopes for Mu Feixue were completely shattered, reduced to nothing but a fool's dream.
If Yun Che had never come to Yin Xue Realm, then Mu Hanyi would have naturally become the Sect Master's personal disciple in the Tianchi Battle, and Mu Feixue would very likely have been granted to Mu Hanyi by the Sect Master, just as today. At that time, his life would have reached the perfection he had always dreamed of.
Yun Che's appearance had completely shattered all of this. Everything that should have been his had fallen onto Yun Che… while he was reduced to nothing but a tragic foil.
No one could truly empathize with Mu Hanyi's state of mind at this moment.
Perhaps this was the cruelty of fate. Born with exceptional talent, noble status, and a perfect demeanor and appearance, he was ten times more diligent than ordinary people… yet more than twenty years of his hard work could not compare to Yun Che, who had only arrived three months ago and hadn't even found his footing.
Soon, everyone had dispersed, leaving only Mu Xuanyin and Yun Che, who had just become the Sect Master's disciple on his first day.
Alone with Mu Xuanyin, Yun Che stood rooted to the spot, not daring to take a single step or say a single word… He certainly hadn't forgotten how he had teased his "big-breasted senior sister."
Ah, he only hoped he wouldn't die too miserably.
The world fell into complete silence, with only the snowflakes dancing in the cold wind. Mu Xuanyin stood quietly amidst the wind and snow, not speaking for a long time, as if lost in thought. Yun Che occasionally stole a glance at her silhouette, naturally not daring to speak first… When he first arrived in Yin Xue Realm, he had never imagined that one day he would be alone with such a terrifying figure.
"No wonder you inherited the ancient Evil God's legacy. The Element Creation God lives up to its reputation, able to reach such a level." Mu Xuanyin suddenly spoke, her voice as cold and heartless as ever. "That Huo Poyun's talent was abnormally exceptional. For a few moments there, even I thought you were certain to lose."
Since Mu Xuanyin had spoken, and with a hint of praise, Yun Che breathed a sigh of relief and finally dared to speak, directly voicing the question in his mind: "Master, I would like to ask… Did you deliberately provoke Huo Rulie into proposing the contest between disciples?"
"…" Mu Xuanyin slowly turned around. Her face, which seemed to embody all the beauty of ice and snow in Yin Xue Realm, made Yun Che hold his breath instantly. Then, the extreme icy authority that matched her beauty made him involuntarily lower his head, not daring to meet her gaze.
"What do you think of Huo Rulie as a person?" Mu Xuanyin asked instead.
Yun Che thought for a moment, then said, "Disciple feels that Sect Master Huo seems somewhat irritable and quick-tempered, which likely has something to do with his Golden Crow bloodline. Additionally, it's clear that he is an upright man who means what he says."
"Irritable and quick-tempered? Hmph." Mu Xuanyin let out a light snort. "As the Sect Master of Golden Crow Sect in Yan Shen Realm, Huo Rulie's status is no less than that of a realm's king. If he were truly a reckless and foolish man, how could he have become the Sect Master of Golden Crow Sect?"
Yun Che: "…"
"On the surface, Huo Rulie seems irritable and reckless, but in reality, he is very shrewd and extremely difficult to anger. However, he has a major flaw in his character: once he becomes truly enraged, he easily loses control of his emotions and acts impulsively, to the point that even Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai find it hard to stop him. While it's extremely difficult for others to provoke his anger, for me to anger him is effortless!"
Yun Che lifted his head slightly: "So, Master deliberately provoked Sect Master Huo?"
Mu Xuanyin did not answer but instead asked coldly again: "Let me ask you this: the three sect masters of Yan Shen Realm came in person. Although it was to show sincerity, it was also a risk. Since it was a risk, why did they bring three juniors with them?"
"…" Yun Che opened his mouth but did not reply.
"It appears that Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai each brought their own juniors, and Huo Rulie couldn't come alone, so he brought his personal disciple. But in truth, it's the opposite." Mu Xuanyin's eyes were like the cold pool of Tianchi, reflecting the coldest and purest light in the world. "It was clearly Huo Rulie who insisted on bringing his personal disciple. Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai had no choice but to bring their own juniors as well, otherwise, it would have been too blatant a provocation."
"Provocation?" Yun Che had already understood something.
"The matter of taking you as a personal disciple seven days ago was not publicized, but Yan Shen Realm has many informants in Bing Huang Realm. It's only natural they would know. They must have also known about Ice Cloud poison healing long ago. Huo Rulie has been holding a grudge ever since I severely injured his son. Upon learning of this, his resentment would have multiplied tenfold. After finding out I had gained a personal disciple, how could he resist bringing his exceptionally talented personal disciple to wound my pride!"
"… Master seems to have an extraordinary understanding of Sect Master Huo," Yun Che remarked.
"Hmph, the look in his eyes when he arrived, and the clearly abnormal bloodline aura of that Huo Poyun—I could see his purpose at a glance." Mu Xuanyin said coldly. "Unfortunately for him, he's far too inexperienced to play mind games with me!"
"…" Yun Che's heart trembled, his scalp tingling.
Huo Rulie had first been easily provoked to fury by Mu Xuanyin, then injured by her palm strike. Enraged and wounded, Huo Rulie had lost all reason, transforming from the Golden Crow Sect Master into an out-of-control brute. Everything that followed could practically be described as proceeding smoothly.
The esteemed Sect Master of Golden Crow Sect had been led around by the nose the entire time, toyed with like a little mouse… Yun Che increasingly felt that staying by her side would be an absolutely terrifying experience.
"Master, I would like to ask, was your scheme… I mean, was the purpose of guiding Sect Master Huo to obtain the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record?"
Mu Xuanyin had actually demanded from Huo Rulie the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record, a technique that was fundamentally impossible to cultivate. Everyone was astonished, and Yun Che was no exception.
Mu Xuanyin said indifferently: "Making Huo Rulie hand over the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record was merely a last-minute change of mind on my part."
Yun Che: ???
Mu Xuanyin flipped her palm, and a jade slip emitting a red-gold light appeared, which she directly tossed toward Yun Che.
Yun Che instinctively reached out and caught it… He recognized it at a glance—it was clearly the same jade slip that Huo Rulie had handed to Mu Xuanyin earlier, inscribed with the complete Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record!
"This copy of the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record is engraved with a soul imprint and can only be consulted once. After that, it will disappear directly. How much you can cultivate and comprehend will be up to you!" Mu Xuanyin said coldly.
"…" Holding the red-gold jade slip, Yun Che was stunned for a long moment before he said blankly, "You did this for me…"
"Sit down!" Mu Xuanyin ordered coldly.
Yun Che put away the red-gold jade slip and sat down as instructed, his expression complicated.
Mu Xuanyin moved, bringing an icy wind to a stand before Yun Che, just one step away from him.
"Close your eyes. Calm your soul and guard your mind. Do not allow any distracting thoughts."
"Yes," Yun Che replied.
As Yun Che's eyes closed, his breathing gradually stabilized. In the end, the falling snowflakes landed on his outer robe and did not scatter for a long time.
Mu Xuanyin extended her finger. A blood bead gleaming with icy blue light condensed at her fingertip, then she pressed it directly against Yun Che's brow.
Yun Che's body trembled slightly. A pure cold energy spread through the air. Blue light flickered, and the strange-colored blood bead slowly merged into Yun Che's brow. Then, a dreamlike icy blue radiance floated across the surface of his body.
Ice Phoenix God Blood!
And it was the purest Ancestral Source Blood!
Mu Xuanyin withdrew her finger. Her palm gathered cold light, and she was about to press it against Yun Che's brow again. But just as she touched him, both her hand and expression paused for a moment. Then she slowly withdrew her hand, silently watching Yun Che, who had already begun to refine the blood on his own, requiring no assistance from her power at all.
These past few days, Yun Che had been wondering whether taking her as his master was right or wrong, a blessing or a curse.
But as for Mu Xuanyin, did she not harbor the same doubts about him?