# Chapter 1046: The Time of Dragon Slaying
The scenery around him shifted rapidly. When his vision cleared, what greeted him was the pale white sky of the Binghuang Realm, and around him, the distinctive aura of the Sacred Hall region. Yun Che lay sprawled in the snow, letting out a long breath of relief.
As his mind relaxed, the severity of his injuries caused his consciousness to grow increasingly fuzzy and heavy, and his breathing became extremely weak. In a daze, he saw Mu Xuanyin arrive at his side, her eyes staring coldly at him.
"Mas...ter..." Yun Che opened his mouth, emitting a pained and hoarse voice.
"Hmph. To think you could emerge alive from Mist Death Valley — your life is certainly tenacious." Even facing Yun Che, who was covered in blood and gravely wounded to the point of near death, her gaze and expression remained ice-cold, utterly devoid of emotion.
"..." Yun Che's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out. His right arm stirred, then slowly, bit by bit, rose with agonizing slowness. Its violent trembling revealed not only extreme difficulty but also profound pain.
And in his raised palm lay a flower in full, gorgeous bloom, its petals like flawless feathers.
The Ice Feather Spirit Flower he had obtained at the cost of half his life.
Mu Xuanyin: "???"
"This is... your disciple... picked in Mist Death Valley... a gift for... Master..."
"..." Mu Xuanyin made no move to take it... nor did she show any reaction whatsoever.
The palm holding the Ice Feather Spirit Flower trembled even more violently, and Yun Che's consciousness rapidly scattered: "Your disciple... knows he committed a grave mistake... and does not seek Master's forgiveness... only begs Master... not to anger herself... because of your disciple..."
"The flower in your disciple's hand... is like Master in your disciple's heart... very beautiful... very cold... but... in truth..."
"..."
Yun Che's consciousness finally collapsed completely, and he fell unconscious. The hand holding the Ice Feather Spirit Flower also drooped weakly.
Mu Xuanyin moved with lightning speed. A wisp of light profound energy caught the falling Ice Feather Spirit Flower, lifting it gently and floating it into her open palm.
The world fell silent for a long time.
"Enough. I'll forgive you for now."
The Ice Feather Spirit Flower disappeared soundlessly in her hand. She turned around, a soft murmur that seemed like self-talk, very light, utterly devoid of authority.
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Unknown hours later, Yun Che finally awoke faintly.
As consciousness returned, the pain throughout his body was still intense, but no longer intense. Beyond the pain, what he felt more was an extremely cool and comfortable sensation, like being bathed in a gentle, cool breeze.
Yun Che opened his eyes and found himself immersed in the Minghan Heavenly Lake. Around him, tiny ice spirits danced lightly, otherwise the Minghan Heavenly Lake was as silent as usual, with no one else present. The barrier covering the lake area was also in a closed state.
Within his body, several strands of foreign spiritual energy existed — these were the essence of high-grade spiritual herbs. They had already dissolved, gently nourishing his injuries throughout. Combined with his extremely strong self-healing ability, even though he had just awakened from severe injury, nearly thirty percent of his wounds had already healed. As his consciousness cleared and his profound energy recovered, the speed of healing would only increase.
The only one who could have dissolved the spiritual herbs and placed him in the Minghan Heavenly Lake was Mu Xuanyin.
"Haah... It seems Master isn't as angry anymore." Yun Che let out a long breath, feeling much more relaxed. Compared to that, the injuries on his body were nothing.
Of course, he had absolutely no idea that his misfortune was entirely caused by Mu Xuanyin... to teach him a lesson he wouldn't forget.
Reassured, Yun Che closed his eyes. As the Great Dao Pagoda Art circulated, the spiritual energy of the Minghan Heavenly Lake surged into his body several times faster.
In just a few hours, his profound energy had mostly recovered, and his internal and external injuries were over sixty percent healed. Though still weak and soft, he could barely feel any pain.
Just then, his profound veins suddenly stirred. The four-colored profound energy nebula began to rotate spontaneously, faster and faster, and the profound energy throughout his body also flowed back to his profound veins at a considerable speed.
This was... a breakthrough!
His first breakthrough since stepping onto the Divine Dao — accomplished in just three and a half months!
Moreover, during this period, he had been cultivating Moon-Breaking Shadow Flick, the Ice Phoenix God-Sealing Canon, and the Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record, almost never deliberately cultivating his profound energy. The accumulation and improvement of his profound energy came entirely from his body's absorption of the Minghan Heavenly Lake's spiritual energy, yet in just three and a half months, he had completed a minor realm's leap on the Divine Dao!
Yun Che quickly gathered his focus, sank into internal awareness, and began to welcome the first Divine Dao breakthrough of his life.
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Outside the Binghuang Realm, a massive mysterious ark with spread crimson long wings slowly came to a halt. Its presence was extremely conspicuous against the ice-white world.
Before the Sacred Hall, Mu Bingyun's figure materialized in a flash of ice light. With graceful steps, she entered the Sacred Hall and immediately saw Mu Xuanyin's back facing her. Perhaps coincidentally, like the previous times, she was standing beside the pool that once bloomed with the Nine-Turn Buddha Heart Lotus.
"The mysterious ark from the Flame God Realm has arrived?" Mu Xuanyin said coldly.
"It's Yan Wancang and Yan Juehai." Mu Bingyun came to Mu Xuanyin's side: "Sister, are you going to follow them to the Flame God Realm now?"
As she spoke, she noticed that in the pool that had nurtured the Nine-Turn Buddha Heart Lotus, a flawless white flower was floating, its petals like swan feathers, releasing an exceptionally gentle spiritual energy.
"An Ice Feather Spirit Flower?" Mu Bingyun showed surprise, looking at Mu Xuanyin with deep doubt.
This pool was set up nine thousand years ago by Mu Xuanyin to nurture the Nine-Turn Buddha Heart Lotus. It was filled with water from the Heavenly Lake, with three drops of Ice Phoenix Origin Blood added, and infused with Ice Phoenix spiritual energy at intervals. Even its location was at the very center of the core Sacred Hall. Normally, an invisible barrier surrounded the pool — not even a speck of dust could approach, let alone be touched by outsiders.
For these nine thousand years, this spiritual pool had contained only the Nine-Turn Buddha Heart Lotus.
Today, there was an additional Ice Feather Spirit Flower!
If it were any other extremely high-grade spiritual herb, Mu Bingyun wouldn't be too surprised. After all, the petals of the Nine-Turn Buddha Heart Lotus had been fully harvested, so before its next bloom, such strong spiritual energy wasn't needed. But while the Ice Feather Spirit Flower was an extremely rare and valuable spiritual flower in the Yin Xue Realm, it was by no means rare to them. Any flower around the Minghan Heavenly Lake, in terms of spiritual energy, far surpassed the Ice Feather Spirit Flower.
Moreover, this was merely a single fully bloomed flower, not an entire plant — yet it was placed into this spiritual pool filled with Heavenly Lake spiritual energy and Ice Phoenix spiritual energy!?
"It was empty anyway, so I just tossed in a flower that looked somewhat pleasing to the eye." Mu Xuanyin turned her face away: "Since the people from the Flame God Realm have arrived, it means the time is about right. I happen to have no pressing matters now, so let's do it today."
Mu Xuanyin's demeanor seemed deliberately evasive. Mu Bingyun took another deep look at the Ice Feather Spirit Flower but didn't press further. Worriedly, she said: "Are you still determined to go alone?"
"No," Mu Xuanyin's gaze shifted slightly: "I plan to bring one more person."
"The Grand Elder?"
"Yun Che."
"Yun Che?" Mu Bingyun was slightly startled.
"His understanding of the Divine Realm is currently limited to the Yin Xue Realm. It's time to take him out to broaden his horizons." Mu Xuanyin said icily indifferently: "Since he is my disciple, how can he remain ignorant while sitting in a well?"
"..." Mu Bingyun revealed a faint smile: "It seems Sister has forgiven him."
Mu Xuanyin let out a disdainful cold snort: "Hmph! Since he was lucky enough to come back alive, I can't be bothered to be angry at a brat forever."
Mu Bingyun's lips tilted slightly, a silent smile: "Yun Che's flame power surpasses his ice power, so taking him to the Flame God Realm is indeed an excellent decision. Just be very careful, Sister."
"Rest assured." Mu Xuanyin showed no sign of worry: "Last time, the part of that flood dragon I severely wounded was none other than its 'Dragon Gate'. With the Dragon Gate injured, it absolutely cannot heal in just a thousand years. Its threat is greatly diminished. This time, before it completes its scale shedding, I have at least eighty percent certainty of slaying it!"
Mu Bingyun slowly nodded.
"Tell Mu Huanzhi that during my absence, if any major matters arise in the sect, he has full authority. Unless there is an unsolvable crisis, do not send me any sound transmissions."
Mu Xuanyin finished speaking, turned around, and walked out of the hall. Just as she reached the entrance, she suddenly thought of something, stopped, flipped her palm, and pushed a streak of white light toward Mu Bingyun.
Mu Bingyun reached out and caught the white light — it was precisely her Cloud Butterfly Blade.
"Sister..."
"No need to explain." Mu Xuanyin said coldly: "This is the most important heirloom left by Mother. It must never be given to outsiders... absolutely no one! I'll let it slide this time, but don't let it happen again!"
"Yes." Mu Bingyun put away the Cloud Butterfly Blade, feeling guilty in her heart.
Mu Xuanyin waved her hand, and space instantly split. In an instant, her figure disappeared from her original position and reappeared before the Minghan Heavenly Lake.
Yun Che, who was consolidating his profound energy in the Heavenly Lake, suddenly sensed the barrier opening. He quickly rose from the lake, and just as he reached the shore, Mu Xuanyin's figure appeared before him.
Facing Mu Xuanyin, Yun Che's heart was still filled with trepidation. He quickly bowed: "Your disciple pays respects to Master."
Previously, after bowing, he would look up at Mu Xuanyin. But this time, he obediently lowered his head, not daring to lift it even for half a moment... afraid that his gaze might accidentally brush against her chest.
"Follow me." Mu Xuanyin said coldly. But in her eyes, there was a flicker of surprise... His injuries had healed so quickly, and he had even broken through!
"Ah? Where to?" Yun Che asked subconsciously.
"The Flame God Realm!"
Before Yun Che could react, his body suddenly felt light, and the scenery around him rapidly shifted. They were now above the Binghuang Realm.
It was then that Yun Che suddenly remembered that before he entered Mist Death Valley, Mu Bingyun had mentioned that in a few days, people from the Flame God Realm would arrive... which meant it was time for the ancient flood dragon in the Burial God Fire Prison to shed its scales — also the time to slay the dragon!
And Mu Xuanyin was taking him along!
The ancient Burial God Fire Prison — Yun Che had long harbored a longing for it. If he could witness the legendary ancient flood dragon from afar, that would be an extremely rare experience.
For Yun Che, this was certainly a good thing.
Mu Xuanyin carried Yun Che, moving rapidly through the cold mist, quickly approaching the red mysterious ark outside the Binghuang Realm. Yun Che stole a few glances at Mu Xuanyin's back and weakly asked: "Master, is it... just the two of us? Won't Elder Mu Huanzhi and Palace Master Mu Bingyun come along?"
He already knew that aside from Mu Xuanyin, the strongest profound practitioners in the sect were Mu Huanzhi and Mu Bingyun.
Mentioning Mu Bingyun, Yun Che's expression suddenly changed. He exclaimed in panic: "Oh no!"
Mu Xuanyin: "??"
"Master!" Yun Che said with alarm: "Your disciple suddenly remembered that an item entrusted by Palace Master Mu Bingyun was accidentally lost in Mist Death Valley. Your disciple must immediately inform Palace Master Mu Bingyun, otherwise..."
That day in Mist Death Valley, Yun Che had successfully used the flood dragon venom-coated Cloud Butterfly Blade to stab into the Ice Armored Giant Ape's eye, but was immediately swept away by the ape's arm, severely injured. The Cloud Butterfly Blade naturally flew out of his hand, lost without a trace.
And Mu Bingyun had personally said that the Cloud Butterfly Blade was a family heirloom — undoubtedly extremely important.
"You mean the Cloud Butterfly Blade?" Mu Xuanyin said coldly.
"Ah..." Yun Che's mouth fell wide open: "Yes..."
"No need. I've already returned it to her."
"Uh..." Yun Che's throat let out a heavy "gulp." Nervously, he said: "Thank you, Master."
Mu Xuanyin's beautiful eyes shifted. Suddenly, she flipped her palm, and a streak of ice light flew toward Yun Che, who caught it instinctively.
What fell into his hand was a short blade gleaming with cold light. The hilt was shaped like butterfly wings, the blade was ice-white, and it seemed light as nothing... Its shape, its aura, its sharpness — all were identical to the Cloud Butterfly Blade Mu Bingyun had given him.
The only difference was the direction of the butterfly wings.
"This is..."
"This blade is named 'Sound Butterfly.' Since you seemed to handle it fairly well, I'll lend it to you for now." Mu Xuanyin turned her gaze away, her voice utterly emotionless: "But if you dare lose it, I'll kill you!"
Yun Che was stunned for a long moment before hurriedly replying: "Thank you for your gift, Master. Your disciple will treasure it dearly."
Yun Che carefully put away the Sound Butterfly Blade, his mind struggling to process things.
Wait... How does Master know I handled it well? Could it be...?
Under the cold wind, the two had already left the Binghuang Realm's boundaries. Ahead, an abnormal heat was faintly detectable. The flame mysterious ark from the Flame God Realm had also come into view.
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[This Mars author's WeChat public account: huoxingyinli99, or search for Mars Gravity directly. Warm reminder: following won't make you gain an ounce of fat!]
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