Chapter 1039: Fog Death Valley, Cloud Butterfly Blade
"Sister! Stop!!"
Perhaps in the next moment, the life-taking ice crystal would pierce through Yun Che's body, turning him into scattered ice powder. But at that moment, a woman's urgent voice came from afar, causing everything to freeze instantly.
As an ice storm swept through, Mu Bingyun rushed over like lightning, tightly grasping Mu Xuanyin's wrist, and at the same time, the ice crystal in her hand was dissolved by her profound force.
"Sister, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill him?"
She didn't need to ask to know the answer. Even she, over these thousands of years, had only seen Mu Xuanyin release such killing intent a few times... Under such killing intent, she was absolutely set on killing Yun Che, and would have loved to cut him into a thousand pieces.
"He—deserves—death!!"
The same words, the same ice-cold soul-piercing intent. In her hand, three ice crystals instantly appeared, each one emitting a frozen aura far more terrifying than before.
"Sister!!" Mu Bingyun used both hands to firmly restrain Mu Xuanyin's wrist: "Although I don't know what great wrong he has committed, I am certain that he is by no means a person with an ugly and vile nature. You must agree with this, sister, or else you wouldn't have treated him so specially!"
"Moreover... even if he has committed a heaven-defying wrong, he did save my life. On that basis alone, he should at least be given a chance to live and atone!"
Her words were urgent, and her ice-blue eyes even carried a plea. She felt curiosity and astonishment toward Yun Che, but more than anything, deep gratitude. Not only had he saved her life, he had also rescued the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, to which she had devoted her heart and countless concerns. Besides that, she was also aware that Yun Che had, in an intangible way, saved countless lives in both Yin Xue Realm and Blaze God Realm.
Because if she had died from the Flood Dragon's venom, Mu Xuanyin, while still serving as Realm King, might have shown restraint. But once she stepped down from that position, given her temperament, she would inevitably launch a brutal revenge against Blaze God Realm. And if Blaze God Realm lost its senses in return, the calamity that could erupt between the two realms would be unimaginable.
"..." Mu Xuanyin said nothing, her gaze as icy and deep as before.
"Sister!!" Mu Bingyun moved in front of Mu Xuanyin, blocking her line of sight to Yun Che: "He is your personally accepted disciple, and also the disciple you have favored the most. Otherwise, you wouldn't have treated him so specially. You said he is the only disciple who might surpass you in the future. For that expectation, you even spared no cost to grant him the Nine Revolutions Buddha Heart Lotus, which you nurtured for nine thousand years... Are you really willing to bury that expectation and those nine thousand years of effort at once?"
Yun Che: "..."
Mu Xuanyin still said nothing, but the light of the ice crystals in her hand dimmed slightly.
"Nine Revolutions Buddha Heart Lotus was obtained by your master at the cost of her life. It carries not only your efforts but also the expectations your master bought with her life... Please don't act on impulse and do something you will regret for the rest of your life!"
"Enough!"
The ice crystals in her hand slowly dissipated. Mu Xuanyin turned around and said coldly: "I don't want to see him right now. Bingyun, help me throw him into Fog Death Valley!"
"Fog Death Valley!?" Mu Bingyun exclaimed in shock: "Even if Feixue went in there, she would surely die. How is that any different from killing him outright?"
"Three days. I'll give him three days. If he can survive inside for three days without dying, I'll spare his life!"
Mu Xuanyin's finger flicked backward like lightning. With a flash of cold light, a tiny profound array was imprinted on Yun Che's chest, then vanished.
"This profound array will activate after thirty-six hours and send him out of Fog Death Valley. Whether it sends out a living person or a corpse—hmph, that depends on his own fate!"
She paused for a moment, then her voice suddenly turned bitterly cold and harsh: "Yun Che, listen well! This chance to live is the greatest concession I have ever made in my life! Whether you live or die in three days, your life-saving grace toward Bingyun will be considered repaid! I will no longer help you with the matter of going to Zhou Tian God Realm, and as for the Qiankun Five Jade Pill, you can forget about it forever!"
Three days... It sounded short, but the shock on Mu Bingyun's face did not ease at all. Because given Yun Che's strength and the terror of Fog Death Valley, it was a place of absolute death for him. Forget three days—surviving even three hours would be nearly impossible.
She parted her lips, wanting to continue pleading for Yun Che. But recalling the murderous aura that had frightened even her earlier, she held back the words... Indeed, for Mu Xuanyin, this was likely the greatest concession of her life. Pressing further might only backfire.
What great wrong had Yun Che committed!?
Mu Bingyun walked over to Yun Che, reached out and gently helped him up: "Yun Che, stand up."
Yun Che rose: "Thank you, Palace Master Bingyun."
Mu Bingyun shook her head: "Since you have erred, accept the punishment and repent peacefully... I'll take you to Fog Death Valley."
Yun Che secretly glanced at Mu Xuanyin's back. He hesitated, but in the end, didn't dare to speak, and his body was already lifted by Mu Bingyun.
"Wait!" Mu Xuanyin suddenly spoke: "Bingyun, was there something you came to see me about?"
Mu Bingyun turned back: "A message just arrived from Blaze God Realm. Recently, the aura of the Burial God Fire Prison has become abnormal. The Flood Dragon's scale-shedding period is near. In five days, they will send someone to escort you to Blaze God Realm. Barring any surprises, it should be Yan Wancang or Yan Juehai coming in person."
"..." Mu Xuanyin did not respond. Although she had given Yun Che a chance to live, the murderous aura around her still surged with icy ruthlessness.
"Sister, when the time comes, let me go with you." Mu Bingyun said softly.
"No need!"
With those cold words, Mu Xuanyin's figure gradually blurred, then disappeared from sight.
The wind and snow, which had been frozen still, began to fall again. The world that had been locked in ice cautiously thawed as she departed.
"Ah." Mu Bingyun sighed, tightened her grip on Yun Che's arm: "Let's go."
........................
Fog Death Valley. Months ago, Mu Xuanyin had brought him here... Impassable thick fog, piercing cold, savage profound beasts, and Ice Phoenix disciples who had committed great wrongs and were thrown in to fend for themselves.
Mu Xuanyin had said at the time that this would be a place for him to train in the future... He never expected to become the one thrown in for committing a grave mistake.
"Yun Che, what great wrong did you commit that made your master so furious?" When they arrived, Mu Bingyun finally asked the question on her mind. She hadn't dared to ask in front of Mu Xuanyin, because bringing up something that enraged her so much would only fuel her anger further.
"..." Yun Che lowered his head and said softly: "I didn't mean to."
Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to tell her. Otherwise, Mu Bingyun, who had just been trying to protect him, might slap him to death on the spot.
Though it was unintentional, it was still a grave mistake—an outright desecration... That he was still alive was already a miracle.
"I know you couldn't have done it on purpose." Seeing that he was unwilling, or perhaps afraid, to answer, Mu Bingyun looked away and didn't press further.
Could he have accidentally destroyed something important of her sister's? No... Her sister had even given him the Nine Revolutions Buddha Heart Lotus, which she valued more than life itself. She wouldn't want to kill him for such a reason.
No matter how hard she tried, Mu Bingyun could never imagine what great wrong Yun Che had committed. Even if he told her the truth, she might not believe it... Because with Yun Che's strength, even if he were a thousand times stronger, he couldn't even touch a corner of Mu Xuanyin's clothes, let alone...
"Yun Che, you may not know this, but your master has always treated you specially. During her years as Realm King, she has accepted several personal disciples, but none of them ever received such treatment. She not only cares about your growth but also your safety. A few months ago, when you went to Ice Wind Empire, she was worried about you the whole time, afraid that Mu Hanyi would plot against you."
"...I know. I've let my master down." Yun Che lowered his head, like a child who had done wrong.
"She has great expectations for you. She once told me she would do everything in her power to nurture you. The Nine Revolutions Buddha Heart Lotus was obtained by your master's master at the cost of her life. For a full nine thousand years, she personally nurtured it with Ice Phoenix profound energy and watered it with Heavenly Lake water... and in the end, she gave it all to you. That surprised even me."
"..." Yun Che's head sank even lower.
"In this world, I am your master's only family and the one who knows her best. Whenever she shows even a hint of killing intent, blood is sure to be spilled. But this time, the killing intent that even frightened me ultimately spared you. This is the best possible outcome."
"Palace Master Bingyun, thank you." Yun Che lifted his head slightly and said gratefully: "If it weren't for your plea, I would already be..."
Mu Bingyun slowly shook her head: "You don't need to thank me. After all, without you, I would have long since died, and I wouldn't even have had the chance to plead for you today."
She looked down at the valley below: "Once you enter Fog Death Valley, I cannot secretly help you. If your master finds out, she will only be angrier. You must rely on yourself. I've heard from your master that you have a profound art that can conceal your aura, one that even she praised. That should be your greatest asset for surviving three days in Fog Death Valley."
"Remember, in Fog Death Valley, hide if you can, avoid if you can. Unless absolutely necessary, even if you encounter the lowest-level Ice Chattering Wolf, try not to confront it head-on. The profound beasts in Fog Death Valley are extremely dense, each one savage and fierce. The slightest disturbance could easily attract a large group of beasts you cannot handle."
"Also, unless absolutely necessary, do not fly. Flying makes it easy to be detected. The spiritual senses of flying profound beasts are especially sharp. Once they notice you, you will have nowhere to hide."
"If you encounter other Ice Phoenix disciples, no matter how friendly they seem, never let down your guard... It's best to avoid them all, don't encounter any of them."
Yun Che nodded repeatedly, firmly remembering Mu Bingyun's instructions.
"Take this."
In Mu Bingyun's palm appeared a small, delicate short blade. The handle was about two inches long, shaped like a butterfly wing. The blade was only four inches, pure ice-white without blemish, shimmering with flowing light.
"This blade is called 'Cloud Butterfly.' Your master also has one, called 'Sound Butterfly.' It is a heirloom of our family and is quite famous in Yin Xue Realm. Your heavy sword is extremely powerful, but it also creates a great commotion. This blade can kill an enemy in silence. You will know its power once you use it... I hope you never have occasion to."
Yun Che reached out and took it. The moment it touched his hand, a sharp, cold aura pierced his soul. Though it was in his hand, it was as light as a falling snowflake, weightless.
An heirloom of Mu Xuanyin and Mu Bingyun's family. And since Mu Xuanyin also had one, the extraordinary nature of this short blade was self-evident.
"Thank you, Palace Master Bingyun." Carefully storing the Cloud Butterfly Blade, Yun Che expressed his gratitude again.
"Your master is angry now. Once she cools down a little, she might come to take you out early... Take care of yourself."
Mu Bingyun let out a soft sigh, gently pushed him down, and in an instant, Yun Che's figure disappeared into the vast, icy fog.
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