Chapter 1511: Xuan Yin
Upon entering the Ice Extreme Snow Domain, a cold wind carrying drifting snow greeted them. More than half of the time here was spent bathed in wind and snow. Years ago, the battle between Xiao Yaohou and Xuanyuan Wentian had destroyed the Bing Yun Fairy Palace and also the accumulated snow here. Yet in just a few short years, a thick layer had once again covered the ground.
In the distance, the Bing Yun Fairy Palace appeared like a true “fairy palace” in the snowy region. Just looking at it from afar evoked a sense of ethereal enchantment, making one dare not approach or desecrate it.
In fact, after being rebuilt, the Bing Yun Fairy Palace had become one of the Four Sacred Grounds because of Yun Che, and it ranked first among them. Countless profound practitioners came to the Ice Extreme Snow Domain to pay homage, but they all kept their distance in awe, with no one daring to approach even half a step.
Feng Xian’er’s eyes flickered with a red light, and a faint, almost imperceptible red glow enveloped Yun Che, shielding him from all the cold. Meanwhile, Yun Wuxin had already run like a bird toward the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, her voice lively as it mingled with the swirling snowflakes: “Mother, Little Aunt…”
The sky of the Ice Extreme Snow Domain was a pure, unblemished white. Above the snow clouds, a cold gaze pierced through the layers of falling snow, landing on Yun Che and the entire snowy expanse.
“So that’s the Bing Yun Fairy Palace…” Mu Xuanyin murmured softly. Long ago, she had known that Mu Bingyun had fallen here. During the years she had lost her memories and power, she had established the Bing Yun Fairy Palace in this world and left behind the Ice Phoenix God-Sealing Canon. Although she had since returned, she still thought of it often.
This was her first time seeing it in person.
She didn’t know why she had secretly come to this world again… She had sworn to herself and to Mu Bingyun that she would forever forget the existence of this world and never return.
But just a few months had passed…
“Every time I come here, it snows, as if welcoming me.” Yun Che reached out his hand to feel the wind and snow, speaking with great narcissism.
Feng Xian’er pursed her lips and smiled. “The whole world knows that the Bing Yun Fairy Palace became a sacred ground because of you, Young Master. Of course, it should welcome you.”
“Haha,” Yun Che laughed heartily. “Xian’er is getting better and better with her words… No wonder my mother keeps asking me when I’m going to take a concubine.”
Feng Xian’er instantly blushed crimson, her head drooping down to her chest.
“Palace Master!”
A woman’s voice, filled with excitement, came from the air. Yun Che looked up… Amidst the wind and snow, Murong Qianxue descended from the sky, holding the hand of a young girl.
The girl appeared to be about the same age as Yun Wuxin. Her clothes were shabby, and her hair was slightly messy, but her eyes were as pure as crystal. Murong Qianxue led her to land in front of Yun Che. As soon as they touched down, the girl immediately hid behind Murong Qianxue, her eyes full of fear.
“Senior Uncle Murong.” Yun Che nodded and took a few more glances at the little girl. “A new disciple?”
“Reporting to the Palace Master,” Murong Qianxue said respectfully, “This girl was found in the northern border. Both her parents died in a Mystic Beast uprising, leaving her orphaned and helpless. I saw that her bone structure was 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’m no longer your Palace Master. There’s no need to be so respectful to me… Ah, forget it. If I say it ten thousand times, you still won’t listen anyway.”
Murong Qianxue gave a very faint smile, then pulled the little girl out from behind her. “Xuanyin, 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 trembled in fright and quickly hid behind her again.
“Reporting to the Palace Master,” Murong Qianxue hastily said, “This girl was born in the Xuan Yue. The place where I found her happened to be the birthplace of the second-generation Palace Master, Qu Aiyin. So I named her ‘Qu Xuanyin’… Is there something inappropriate about this name?”
“…” Sensing his own loss of control, Yun Che took a light 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, helpless girl with unusual seriousness. His gaze and voice became incredibly gentle. “Little… Xuanyin, you must have had a hard time recently. But it’s okay. There are no bad people here. From now on, no one will bully you anymore. If they do… I’ll teach them a lesson for you! So, don’t be afraid.”
Murong Qianxue’s brows moved slightly, and a strange light flickered in her eyes.
The gentle voice and gaze silently dispelled the panic and fear in the little girl’s heart. She looked at Yun Che and nodded very lightly.
Yun Che stood up and said, “Senior Uncle Murong, she… doesn’t need to be handed over to Ling Yu and the others. How about you take her on personally?”
Murong Qianxue’s eyes shifted again, but she immediately replied, “Since it is the Palace Master’s order, I will take her as my personal disciple. Although she has no foundation, her talent is superior. Her future achievements will surely not disappoint.”
“Mm.” Yun Che nodded. From that moment on, his heart and soul had been completely filled with a certain emotion. He half-turned and said, “Take her back to the Fairy Palace.”
“Palace Master, and you…”
“I have some things to think about. I’ll return later,” Yun Che said.
“…Understood.” Murong Qianxue complied, then sent a voice transmission to Feng Xian’er: “Miss Xian’er, please take good care of the Palace Master’s safety.”
Murong Qianxue left with the girl, but her heart was filled with many questions.
“Palace Master…” the girl asked softly and cautiously, “Who is he?”
Murong Qianxue replied, “Have you heard the name Yun Che?”
The girl’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. “Yes. My parents often said he was the greatest person in the world. He saved our country.”
“Yes.” Murong Qianxue nodded lightly. “Your parents were right. Even if he loses his power, he is still the greatest person in the world.”
“From now on, you don’t need to call me Palace Master. Just call me Master.”
“Mas… ter?”
“Do you know?” Murong Qianxue turned her gaze and said softly, “With those few words he just said, no one will dare to bully you for the rest of your life.”
The little girl’s lips parted, bewildered and at a loss.
Qu Xuanyin… Murong Qianxue pondered silently: Why did that name cause such a strong reaction in him?
Yun Che plopped down on the snowy ground, staring at the endless white world, motionless 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, will I truly never see her again…?
“Mas… ter?” Feng Xian’er’s eyes grew even more puzzled. In her memory, there was no one matching that title.
Above the snow clouds, a figure in icy blue turned away. Her shoulders trembled slightly, unable to stop for a long time… As the wind and snow gradually grew fiercer, she finally left without a sound.
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Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another few months had passed.
Western Divine Region, Dragon God Realm, Reincarnation Forbidden Land.
“So, there has been no progress during this time?”
Shen Xi’s lips parted gently; even the most ordinary words were the most intoxicating and soul-stirring divine sound in the world.
Beside her, the Dragon Emperor stood tall and imposing, his dragon brows tightly furrowed. Although the Calamity of the Evil Infant had erupted in the Eastern Divine Region, it was too terrifying for any star region to stand aloof. Now that he had stepped forward, it was impossible for anyone else to take the lead.
“No matter how perfect the concealment, it leaves some traces,” the Dragon Emperor said. “But after several searches during this short period, not only has her figure never appeared in the Tai Chu Divine Realm, there has not even been a trace of her presence or aura. When it comes to sensing Dark Profound Force, those ancient ferocious beasts are even more sensitive, yet there has been no sign of disturbance.”
“…” Shen Xi said 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 likely just a false trail to mislead us.”
Shen Xi: “…”
“All three divine regions have issued orders,” the Dragon Emperor’s gaze was calm but deep. “They have called upon all star realms to search for traces of Dark Profound Force, and not limited to the Eastern Divine Region, but also the Western and Southern Divine Regions, [and the most numerous lower star realms will extend their search to the lower realms]. Anyone who discovers traces of Dark Profound Force will be heavily rewarded.”
“Are you suspecting that the Evil Infant might be hiding in the lower realms?” Shen Xi asked.
“It has been nearly a year since the Evil Infant fled, yet there is no trace at all,” 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. At this point, no possibility can be overlooked.”
“Has the Tianji Realm of the Eastern Divine Region found any leads?”
The Dragon Emperor shook his head. “Even if the Evil Infant’s power has only recovered a shred, its level is still above the Heavenly Dao. Even if the Three Elders of Tianji exhaust their lifespans, they can never find her.”
“I understand.” Shen Xi nodded. She had lived in the Reincarnation Forbidden Land for years, and most of her knowledge of the outside world came from the Dragon Emperor. “It seems that until the Evil Infant is destroyed, you will never be at ease… Go on.”
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 destined to undergo another cleansing?”
“Mother, Mother,” a childish voice came from Shen Xi’s ear and heart, “Is he a bad person?”
Shen Xi smiled. “Of course not. He is our clansman, and the most outstanding clansman of our time. His heart holds righteousness, he has always respected mother, and would never harm her. 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 harbors an inappropriate obsession toward mother. Although he knows it can never be and never dares to hope for it, he also refuses to let it go.”
“Huh?”
“In the past, mother didn’t care about such things at all. But ever since I met your father… mother had to consider this matter.”
“…Why?”
“Because the human heart and human nature are unpredictable,” she said softly.
“…Human nature? The human heart? I don’t understand.”
“You’re still young, so of course you don’t understand.” Shen Xi’s gaze lowered, the gentleness and affection in her beautiful eyes enough to make everything in the world willingly sink into eternal oblivion. “In another eight years, mother will be free, and you can be born. Then, mother will give you every beautiful thing in the world. Can you wait another eight years?”
“Mm! I will listen to mother. Before I am born, I will obediently learn all the ‘knowledge’ that mother gives me.”