**Chapter 1377: Xuan Yin**
Upon entering the Ice Extreme Snow Domain, a cold wind carrying drifting snow greeted them. Most of the time here was immersed in wind and snow. Back then, the battle between Xiao Yaohou and Xuanyuan Wentian had destroyed the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, and also the accumulated snow here. In just a few short years, a thick layer had once again covered the ground.
In the distance, the Bing Yun Fairy Palace was like a true "fairy palace" in the snow domain. Just by looking at it from afar, one could feel an aura of supreme immortality and illusion, making people dare not approach or profane it.
And in fact, the rebuilt Bing Yun Fairy Palace, because of Yun Che, had become one of the Four Sacred Grounds, ranking first among them. Countless profound practitioners came to the Ice Extreme Snow Domain to pay homage, but all of them observed from afar in awe, and no one dared to rashly approach even half a step.
Feng Xian'er's eyes flashed with a red light, and a faint, almost imperceptible red glow enveloped Yun Che's body, shielding him from all the cold. Meanwhile, Yun Wuxin had already run towards the Bing Yun Fairy Palace like a bird, accompanied by her lively cries that seemed to animate the swirling snowflakes: "Mother, Little Aunt..."
The sky of the Ice Extreme Snow Domain was a pure white without any impurity. Above the snow clouds, a clear and cold gaze pierced through the layers of flying snow, landing on Yun Che, and upon this entire snow domain.
"So that is the Bing Yun Fairy Palace..." Mu Xuanyin murmured. A long time ago, she had known that Mu Bingyun fell here. During the years when she lost her memory and power, she built the Bing Yun Fairy Palace in this world and also left behind the Ice Phoenix God-Sealing Canon. Although she later returned, she still thought of it with deep longing.
This was the first time she had seen it with her own eyes.
She didn't know why she had quietly come to this world again... She had already sworn to herself and to Mu Bingyun to forever forget the existence of this world and never return.
But only a few short months had passed...
"Every time I come here, it snows. It's almost as if it's welcoming me," Yun Che said, lifting his hand to feel the wind and snow, rather narcissistically.
Feng Xian'er pursed her lips and smiled. "The whole world knows that the Bing Yun Fairy Palace became a sacred ground because of Young Master. Of course it must welcome Young Master's arrival."
"Haha," Yun Che laughed heartily. "Xian'er really knows how to talk more and more sweetly... No wonder my mother keeps asking me when I'm going to take a concubine."
Feng Xian'er instantly blushed crimson, lowering her head straight to her chest.
"Palace Master!"
A woman's excited voice came from the air. Yun Che looked up... Amidst the wind and snow, Murong Qianxue descended from the sky, holding the hand of a little girl still in her tender years.
The girl appeared to be about the same age as Yun Wuxin, dressed in worn clothes with slightly messy hair, but her eyes were as pure as crystal. Murong Qianxue landed with her in front of Yun Che. As soon as they landed, the little girl immediately hid behind Murong Qianxue, her eyes full of timidity.
"Senior Uncle Murong." Yun Che nodded, glancing a few more times at the little girl. "A new disciple you've taken in?"
"To answer the Palace Master," Murong Qianxue said respectfully, "This girl was found in the Northern Domain. Both her parents died in the chaos caused by profound beasts. She is now alone and helpless. I observed that her bone structure is excellent, so I brought her here, intending to hand her over to Ling Yu for training."
"Oh," Yun Che nodded, then said helplessly, "I've said it many times. I am no longer your Palace Master. You don't need to be so respectful to me... Ah, forget it, forget it. Do as you please. Even if I say it ten thousand times, you definitely won't listen anyway."
Murong Qianxue gave a faint smile, then pulled the little girl from behind her. "Xuan Yin, this is the Supreme Palace Master of our Bing Yun Fairy Palace..."
Murong Qianxue's words made Yun Che's entire body jolt violently. He blurted out, "You... what did you call her?!"
Yun Che's drastically changed expression and overly intense reaction startled Murong Qianxue. The little girl was even more frightened, her body trembling, and she hastily hid behind Murong Qianxue again.
"To answer the Palace Master," Murong Qianxue quickly said, "This girl was born in the Xuan Month. The place where I found her happened to be the birthplace of the second-generation Palace Master, Qu Aiyin. So I named her 'Qu Xuan Yin'... Is there any impropriety with this name?"
"..." Realizing that his emotions had gotten out of control, Yun Che took a slight breath and shook his head with a smile. "No, no. It's a very good... a very good name."
Murong Qianxue: "..."
Yun Che crouched down and looked at the timid, at a loss girl with extraordinary earnestness. His gaze and voice both became incomparably gentle. "Little... Xuan Yin, you must have had a very hard time during this period. But it's alright. There are no bad people here. From now on, no one will bully you again. If there is... I'll teach them a lesson for you! So, don't be afraid."
Murong Qianxue's moon-like brows moved slightly, and a strange color flickered in her eyes.
The gentle voice and gaze silently brushed away the panic and fear in the little girl's heart. She looked at Yun Che and nodded very lightly.
Yun Che rose and said, "Senior Uncle Murong, her... there's no need to hand her over to Ling Yu and the others. How about you take her on personally?"
Murong Qianxue's gaze flickered again, but she immediately said, "Since it is the Palace Master's command, I will take her as my personal disciple. Although she has no foundation at all, her talent is of the highest grade. Her future achievements will definitely not disappoint."
"Mm." Yun Che nodded. From that moment just now, his heart and soul had been completely filled by a certain emotion. He half-turned and said, "Take her back to the palace."
"Palace Master, then you..."
"I have some things to think about. I'll return later," Yun Che said.
"...Yes." Murong Qianxue obeyed the order, then transmitted a sound to Feng Xian'er: "Miss Xian'er, please make sure to protect the Palace Master's safety."
Murong Qianxue left with the girl, but in her heart, there were too many doubts.
"Palace Master..." the girl asked softly and cautiously, "Who is he?"
Murong Qianxue said, "Have you heard the name Yun Che?"
The girl's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. "I've heard it. Before, my parents often said that he is the greatest person in the world, and he saved our country."
"Yes." Murong Qianxue lightly nodded. "What your parents said is not wrong. Even if he has lost his power, he is still the greatest person in the world."
"From now on, you don't need to call me Palace Master anymore. Just call me Master."
"Mas...ter?"
"Do you know?" Murong Qianxue turned her gaze and said softly, "With those few words from him just now, in this life, no one will dare to bully you."
The little girl's lips parted, dazed and at a loss.
Qu Xuan Yin... Murong Qianxue silently thought: Why did this name cause such a big reaction in him?
Yun Che plopped down onto the snow-covered ground and stared at the endless pale world, not moving for a long time.
"Young Master, what's wrong?" Feng Xian'er asked softly.
"..." Yun Che's gaze was dazed, and he murmured absentmindedly, "I miss... Master..."
In this life, can we really never see each other again...
"Mas...ter?" A deeper confusion appeared in Feng Xian'er's eyes. In her memory, there was no one matching this form of address.
Above the snow clouds, an ice-blue immortal silhouette turned around. Her shoulders were trembling slightly, unable to stop for a long time... As the wind and snow grew fiercer, she finally left without a sound.
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Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several more months had passed.
Western Divine Region, Dragon God Realm, Reincarnation Forbidden Land.
"So, there has been no progress during this time?"
Shen Xi gently parted her lips. Even the most ordinary of words were the most enchanting and soul-stirring celestial sound in this world.
Beside her, the Dragon Emperor stood tall, his dragon brows tightly furrowed. Although the Evil Infant calamity had erupted in the Eastern Divine Region, it was too terrifying; no star region could afford to stay out of it. Since he had stepped forward, the leader could no longer be anyone else.
"No matter how perfect the concealment, it will leave some traces," said the Dragon Emperor. "But during this short period of multiple searches, not only has her figure never appeared in the Tai Chu Divine Realm, there is not even a trace of her tracks or aura. When it comes to sensing dark profound energy, those ancient savage beasts are even more sensitive, yet there has never been any sign of disturbance."
"..." Shen Xi spoke softly, "What do you mean?"
"I suspect she never entered the Tai Chu Divine Realm at all," the Dragon Emperor continued. "The traces she left back then were very likely just illusions she used to mislead us."
Shen Xi: "..."
"All three Divine Regions have already issued orders," the Dragon Emperor said, his gaze calm and dark. "They call upon all star realms to search for traces of dark profound energy, and not only in the Eastern Divine Region, but also including the Western and Southern Divine Regions. [And the most numerous lower star realms will extend their search scope to the lower realms.] Once any trace of dark profound energy is discovered, a heavy reward will be given."
"You suspect that the Evil Infant might be hiding in the lower realms?" Shen Xi said.
"It has been nearly a year since the Evil Infant fled, yet there is no trace," the Dragon Emperor said with a grave expression. "One year is enough for her to recover to a considerable degree, and the danger is growing. In the current situation, no possibility can be overlooked."
"Has the Heavenly Mechanism Realm of the Eastern Divine Region found any clues?"
The Dragon Emperor shook his head. "Even if the Evil Infant's power recovers only a trace, its level is still above the Heavenly Dao. Even if the Three Elders of Heavenly Mechanism exhaust their lifespans, they simply cannot find it."
"I understand." Shen Xi nodded. She had lived in the Reincarnation Forbidden Land for years, and her understanding of the outside world mostly came from the Dragon Emperor. "It seems that until the Evil Infant is destroyed, you will not have peace... You may go."
The Dragon Emperor left. Shen Xi looked into the distance and murmured to herself, "The Crimson Rift, the Evil Infant appearing in the world, and the appearance of 'him'... Is the fate of this world going to undergo another cleansing?"
"Mother, mother," a childish voice came to Shen Xi's ears and heart. "Is he a bad person?"
Shen Xi smiled. "Of course not. He is our clansman, and moreover, the most outstanding clansman of this era. His heart holds the righteous path. He has always respected mother and would never harm mother. How could he be a bad person?"
"Then, why does mother tell me not to make a sound every time he comes?"
Shen Xi still smiled and answered softly, "Because he has an inappropriate obsession towards mother. Although he knows it will never be possible and never hopes for it, he still refuses to let go."
"Huh?"
"Once, this was something mother didn't care about at all. But since meeting your father... mother has to think about this matter."
"...Why?"
"Because, human hearts and human nature are unpredictable," she said softly.
"...Human nature? Human hearts? I don't understand."
"You are still young, so of course you don't understand." Shen Xi's gaze lowered. The tenderness and love in her beautiful eyes were enough to make everything in the world willingly sink into eternal damnation for her. "In another eight years, mother will be free, and you can be born. By then, mother will make up for all the beauty in the world to you. Wait another eight years, okay?"
"Mm! I will listen to mother well. Before I am born, I will obediently learn all the 'knowledge' that mother gives me."