# Chapter 949: Blizzard Realm
"This big idiot, this self-righteous troublemaking moron, I'm so furious, I'm so furious!" Watching Yun Che being assigned to the assessment group, Mu Xiaolan stomped her feet in anger.
"Xiaolan, did the Ice Cloud Palace Master really bring him back from the lower realm herself?" Mu Sushan walked over and asked with a frown.
"Yes, but..." Mu Xiaolan nearly blurted out that it wasn't because Yun Che had good talent but for another reason, but she managed to stop herself in time.
Mu Sushan shook his head in great disappointment: "It's rare for the Ice Cloud Palace Master to bring someone back from the lower realm, but she misjudged this time. Sigh."
In the assessment roster for Group One, Yun Che's name had been added. Mu Fengshu glanced sideways and lightly pushed Li Mingcheng: "Go prepare for the assessment. Although no one in this group should be able to defeat you, don't be careless or slack off. Hanfeng, begin the preparations."
"Yes, Hall Master." Ji Hanfeng replied respectfully.
Having given her instructions, Mu Fengshu didn't linger and strode away, not even deigning to cast another glance at Yun Che. She had probably already forgotten what someone as insignificant and "opportunistic" as Yun Che even looked like.
Li Mingcheng walked back to the group. Whether intentionally or not, he happened to stand right next to Yun Che. As soon as he stopped, he shot Yun Che a sidelong glance and said with a smirk, "Kid, I'm sure you heard just now that the head hall master of Cold Snow Hall is my own aunt. You have to admit, trying to curry favor with my aunt is a wise move. After all, even though Mu Bingyun is the Ice Phoenix Palace Master, everyone knows she might die any day. But unfortunately... someone as worthless as you, not even fit to be called trash, isn't qualified to grovel before my aunt. How about this: why don't you try licking my boots instead?"
As he spoke, Li Mingcheng tapped the ground with the toe of his right foot, his eyes fixed on Yun Che without the slightest hint of hiding the look of someone sizing up a clown. "Forget about Cold Snow Hall—that's just a pipe dream. But Luoxue Palace? Maybe in eight or ten years, you might have a shot. If you obediently listen to me from now on and become my loyal lackey, then when I'm eating meat in Cold Snow Hall, I might occasionally throw you a few bones. Do you think I'm insulting you? No, no, I'm genuinely pitying you. You've only just arrived in Yin Xue Realm, and you're about to become a big joke. If no one has your back, you'll always be just a joke... So, what do you say?"
"..." Yun Che stood with his arms crossed, eyes half-open, showing no reaction at all.
"What? Are you deaf?" Li Mingcheng sneered coldly.
"Tch." Yun Che let out a faint sigh and muttered, "Moron."
"What... did you say?!" Li Mingcheng's face changed drastically, his features twisting together. In front of Yun Che, a weakling whose profound strength was only at the mid-stage Sovereign Xuan Realm and who was desperately trying to suck up to Mu Fengshu, he felt like a lofty emperor. He could look down on him, mock him, decide his fate at will, and even kill him with a snap of his fingers. He even thought that taking the initiative to speak to Yun Che was a form of charity.
And given Yun Che's earlier sycophantic behavior and his insistence on joining the Cold Snow Hall assessment—both in action and intelligence—Li Mingcheng thought it would be a breeze to recruit him as a disposable lackey. After all, he himself was about to become a disciple of Cold Snow Hall and the nephew of the head hall master. At the very least, Yun Che should've been trembling and submissive, stammering in fear.
But he never dreamed that Yun Che's response would be an insult laced with contempt!
Li Mingcheng's entire body trembled, but this was Cold Snow Hall, so he couldn't lose his temper. Soon, his face gradually calmed down, but his eyes turned icy cold. He let out a low laugh and said, "Fine... very fine. You've got guts, kid. After today... just you wait..."
"..." Yun Che closed his eyes and ignored him completely, repeating silently in his mind: Low-key, low-key. Don't cause trouble, don't look for trouble, don't make trouble. Breathe...
Mu Fengshu left, and Ji Hanfeng, who was presiding over the assessment for Group One, immediately shifted from a respectful demeanor to one of arrogance and sharpness. He swept his gaze across the surroundings and said in a deep voice, "The profound formation for the second round of assessment has been fully prepared and can begin at any time. But before that, there's something I must remind you of. This group currently has a total of ten thousand three hundred and twenty-three people, but only one thousand will pass the second round! As for the rest... you'll have to wait another five years and try again."
On average, only one in ten would pass—and this was just the second round.
"Among the thousand who enter the third round, only a hundred will pass." Ji Hanfeng raised a finger and said flatly, "In other words, out of all of you, only one in a hundred will eventually enter Cold Snow Hall. This place isn't something any random cats and dogs can get into! Some of you might be called geniuses elsewhere in Yin Xue Realm, or rulers in some lower realms, but here, you need to reassess yourselves. If you don't want to lose too badly, put away all your past pride—because here, it's nothing but a joke!"
"Also, I have some good news for you." Ji Hanfeng unhurriedly took out a crystal bottle. "Every year during the assessment, the top performer receives a reward. After all, garbage should be thrown out, and geniuses deserve preferential treatment. And this year's reward... tsk tsk, it's arguably the best in nearly ten thousand years. Even I, just looking at it, am salivating with envy."
Ji Hanfeng held the jade bottle in his palm, his movements quite careful, and lowered his tone: "The... Jade... Fall... Ice... Soul... Pill!"
BOOM—
The moment the words "Jade Fall Ice Soul Pill" left his lips, the profound practitioners who had been holding their breath erupted in uncontrollable gasps of shock. Yun Che looked up and saw that everyone around him had bulging eyes, wide-open mouths, and the occasional sound of swallowing from their throats. Even Li Mingcheng beside him had his eyes wide, burning with intense light, his hands clenched tightly, trembling slightly with excitement.
Even Ji Hanfeng, who was holding the "Jade Fall Ice Soul Pill," clearly had a barely concealed fervor in his eyes.
Although Yun Che was hearing the name "Jade Fall Ice Soul Pill" for the first time, judging by the reactions of those around him... there was no doubt that even within the Bing Huang God Sect, it was a highly extraordinary pill. For these profound practitioners aiming for Cold Snow Hall, it was an immense temptation and shock.
"Ah? The Jade Fall Ice Soul Pill?!" Mu Xiaolan also let out a cry of surprise. "Why is this year's assessment reward for Cold Snow Hall so exaggerated?"
"About thirty months from now is the Xuan God Convention." Mu Sushan, who was standing next to Mu Xiaolan, clearly knew the inside story. He said meaningfully, "Anyone can see that this Xuan God Convention is highly unusual. The movements of the various king realms are also quite peculiar. Something major might be about to happen in the god realm. Therefore, the Great Realm King has personally ordered that the sect's resources should no longer be hoarded and that we should fully cultivate disciples of exceptional talent. Cold Snow Hall using the 'Jade Fall Ice Soul Pill' as this year's assessment reward is likely related to this."
"However," Ji Hanfeng put away the jade bottle and turned his gaze to Li Mingcheng, his expression softening. "In our group, unless there's a major surprise, this Jade Fall Ice Soul Pill should belong to Junior Brother Mingcheng."
Countless envious and jealous gazes immediately turned to Li Mingcheng, and at the same time, the light of desire in their eyes quickly dimmed... because they knew very well that Li Mingcheng was far too outstanding in this assessment group. No one could compete with him. What Ji Hanfeng said was blunt, but it was a fact everyone knew, not an exaggeration.
Li Mingcheng's spirit lifted, and he forcefully suppressed the joy and smugness on his face, quickly saying, "Senior Brother Hanfeng is too kind. Everyone standing here, aside from a few clowns, possesses extraordinary strength. The upcoming assessment will surely be a fierce battle. As for being first... I never belittle myself, but I dare not be complacent."
"Haha," Ji Hanfeng nodded approvingly. "As expected of the head hall master's nephew—not only exceptional talent but also such humility. After today, Junior Brother Mingcheng will surely add a touch of brilliance to Cold Snow Hall."
The reason Ji Hanfeng praised Li Mingcheng so much was not just that his strength was the highest among the examinees, but more importantly, of course, because he was the head hall master's nephew!
Ji Hanfeng then put on a stern face and waved his hand: "Alright! The second round of assessment begins now! If you want to enter Cold Snow Hall, you'd better get your spirits up!"
CLANG!!
As Ji Hanfeng's voice fell, a massive profound formation was activated. White profound light shone from below, and a formation a full thousand zhang wide materialized beneath the feet of all the examinees in this group. A somewhat cold light illuminated every single examinee.
"The second round of assessment is called the 'Blizzard Realm'!" Ji Hanfeng said expressionlessly. "When the profound formation beneath your feet activates, you will appear in a world of blizzards, one far colder than you can imagine. The storms there will sweep you in all directions except toward the destination."
"And the destination is only three hundred li straight ahead of you."
"All you have to do is withstand the cold and the storms and reach the destination. The moment you touch the destination, you will be brought out of the formation."
"The first thousand to be brought out will pass this assessment. As for the rest..." Ji Hanfeng sneered coldly. "You can all get the hell out."
As soon as Ji Hanfeng finished speaking, many people sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. At that moment, a young profound practitioner standing at the front weakly said, "But... but that's not fair... In that kind of environment, those who cultivate ice-type profound arts have a huge advantage. People from Yin Xue Realm almost all cultivate ice-type profound arts, but those of us from lower realms rarely cultivate ice profound force... This... this is too unfair to us."
"Fair?" Ji Hanfeng stared at the speaker and walked over step by step. As soon as he got close, he suddenly reached out and grabbed the young man by the collar. With a burst of blue light flashing across his body, a thick layer of ice instantly spread over the young profound practitioner's entire body.
Yun Che's brows twitched sharply... This person's profound energy aura clearly surpassed even Mu Xiaolan's!
"Ah..." The young profound practitioner's pupils dilated, and a terrified moan escaped his lips. He instinctively tried to struggle, but his profound force and movement were completely sealed off. He couldn't move an inch, and even his senses were rapidly fading.
"Only the strong have the right to talk about fairness." Ji Hanfeng squinted his eyes and said mockingly. "If you want fairness, you can go back to your lower realm and demand it from the trash living on those despicable planets. Here, you're not qualified!"
BANG!!
Ji Hanfeng threw the young profound practitioner heavily to the ground. Ice crystals shattered and flew everywhere. The surrounding profound practitioners quickly stepped back, and not a single one went forward to help him up. Ji Hanfeng turned around and said coldly, "All the profound arts of our Bing Huang God Sect are ice-type. Those with a foundation in ice-type profound arts are naturally more compatible. As for this round of assessment, I've said everything I need to say. Anyone who utters another word of nonsense will be thrown out directly!"
All the profound practitioners fell silent, too frightened to utter a single word. The young profound practitioner thrown to the ground seemed to have been scared senseless and didn't get up for a long time.
"I'll send you to the 'Blizzard Realm' now. Enjoy it!"
Ji Hanfeng snapped his fingers, and the profound formation beneath their feet began to spin rapidly. A surge of white light shot up into the sky, completely swallowing every figure.
"Ah... how am I supposed explain this to Master?" Mu Xiaolan's face was full of misery.
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