Chapter 964: Ice Phoenix, Thirty-Sixth Palace
The Ice Phoenix City Domain was exceptionally vast, stretching beyond the horizon. The Thirty-Six Ice Phoenix Palaces stood within it, each one distinct. The air here was extraordinarily still, the icy spiritual pressure nearly freezing everything between heaven and earth completely solid.
The Thirty-Sixth Palace was located in the central area of the southern part of the Ice Phoenix City Domain. Though it was a palace, its interior was as large as a city in the lower realms.
Entering it, Yun Che still felt the biting cold, the spiritual pressure, and an extreme sense of desolation.
"This is the Thirty-Sixth Palace, where you will be staying from now on." Mu Bingyun explained to Yun Che. "Three hundred li from north to south, seven thousand zhang in height. However, its internal space is far larger than what you see."
Its internal space is far larger than what you see? For a moment, Yun Che didn't understand this statement.
"Now that you are a disciple of the Ice Phoenix Palace, you may freely enter and exit the Ice Phoenix City Domain, the Cold Snow City Domain, and the Falling Snow City Domain, and you may use the teleportation arrays as you wish. However, each Ice Phoenix Palace is relatively independent. Unless permission is granted, you may not enter others at will."
"Oh." Yun Che nodded.
"Hey! What kind of reaction is that!" Mu Xiaolan said disapprovingly. "In our Yinxue Realm, being able to enter the Ice Phoenix Palace is something countless profound practitioners wouldn't even dare to dream of. Even if someone has extremely high talent and qualifies to enter, they still have to pass very strict examinations. For someone like you, who was directly granted permission to become an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple by the Ice Phoenix Palace Master herself, that's incredibly, incredibly rare. It's a blessing that wouldn't come even in ten thousand lifetimes, and you have the nerve to look like... like it's only right and proper."
Yun Che glanced at her and nodded again. "Oh, I see."
"..." Mu Xiaolan choked for a moment, her face flushing with anger.
Mu Bingyun was long accustomed to their sparring. She ignored it and continued, "Those who enter the Ice Phoenix Palace are granted the surname 'Mu.' Since you are now a disciple, you naturally qualify for this. The surname 'Mu' is unique to our Bing Huang God Sect. Taking it as your surname will bring you great benefits and convenience in the future, both in the Bing Huang Realm and throughout the Yinxue Realm."
Mu Bingyun turned around. "Xiaolan's original name was Situ Lanlan, and Mu Xiaolan was a name I personally bestowed upon her. Now, I shall bestow upon you the name 'Mu Xiaoche.' What do you think?"
Mu... Xiao... Che...
"~！#￥%" Although Yun Che tried his best to endure, the muscles at his temples, forehead, and the corners of his mouth still twitched uncontrollably. He lowered his head and said with utmost respect and unwavering determination, "Thank you, Fairy Mu, for bestowing a name upon me. However, I still rather like my current name, so... so..."
"That's fine." Mu Bingyun didn't insist, nor did she seem surprised. She nodded in agreement.
"An ungrateful big fool," Mu Xiaolan muttered disdainfully. Being granted the surname "Mu" was a supreme honor in the Yinxue Realm. Even a nation's emperor, upon being given the surname "Mu," would feel flattered and honored. And this bumpkin from the lower realm... actually refused!
Yun Che shot Mu Xiaolan a glare and groaned inwardly: Mu Bingyun has the beauty of a celestial maiden and the elegance of an ice lotus, holding a high status and divine power in the God Realm, but her ability to name things is truly... heart-wrenching...
Mu Xiaolan... Mu Xiaoche... They sound like baby names!
Are the names of the other disciples here all this dreadful?
Hmm? Other disciples?
Yun Che carefully sensed the surrounding aura and asked doubtfully, "Fairy Mu, why is it so quiet here? Where are the other disciples?"
"What other disciples?" Mu Xiaolan pouted. "Before this, there was only Master and me here. Now, there's another big bad guy like you."
"No other disciples?" Yun Che was taken aback. Then, thinking about Mu Bingyun's state over the past few years, he slowly began to understand.
"The Ice Phoenix Thirty-Sixth Palace has had only Xiaolan as a disciple for the past few years. You are the second. And for several hundred years before that, there were once no disciples at all." Mu Bingyun let out a soft sigh. "After I was struck with a severe poison a thousand years ago, my condition worsened with each passing day. I was at risk of dying at any moment, and I simply didn't have the strength to support this Ice Phoenix Palace any longer. However, the Great Realm King was unwilling for me to lose my status in the Bing Huang Realm and insisted on retaining my position as the Palace Master of the Thirty-Sixth Palace. After that, no new disciples joined the Thirty-Sixth Palace. So, over the years, although it's still called the 'Thirty-Six Palaces of the Ice Phoenix,' in reality, there are only thirty-five. Even taking Xiaolan as a disciple was merely an accident."
"The other Ice Phoenix Palaces each have about three thousand disciples, along with two Vice Palace Masters and over a dozen mentors. But I'm not envious of them at all." Mu Xiaolan's eyes sparkled. "Because I can be by Master's side every moment and have Master all to myself. The Palace Masters of the other Ice Phoenix Palaces are all cold and rigid, looking very intimidating. But Master is always so good, so gentle... Hmph, Yun Che, I'm warning you, you... you... you're not allowed to compete with me for Master! I've had so many years of bond with Master, you can't possibly beat me!"
Yun Che: "..."
Mu Bingyun smiled faintly and shook her head.
"Fairy Mu, now that you have been freed from the flame poison, your profound energy and vitality should fully recover before long. At that time, will you recruit new disciples and revive the Thirty-Sixth Palace?" Yun Che asked.
Mu Bingyun shook her head. "I have no such plans for now. Over these years, my temperament has also become somewhat indifferent. I am more accustomed to the quiet. We'll talk about this matter in a few more years."
Mu Bingyun's personality was remarkably placid, something Yun Che had already sensed. He possessed many peculiarities, even things that were hard to understand—like his profound art, his coexistence of ice and fire, the Heaven-Defying Sword he had revealed today, and especially the origin of the Heavenly Poison Pearl. These would normally arouse intense curiosity in ordinary people. Yet Mu Bingyun never asked about them. Occasionally, when she did ask something, as long as Yun Che showed the slightest hesitation, she would never press further.
This was definitely not a mindset an ordinary person could possess.
Perhaps her thousand years of experience had made her see through many things and become indifferent to them.
"Yun Che, I have already explained your situation to the Great Realm King."
The moment his purpose for coming to the God Realm was mentioned, Yun Che's attention sharpened instantly.
Mu Bingyun continued slowly, "The Great Realm King has agreed to bring you to the venue of the Xuan Shen Conference. However, she also made it clear that bringing you to the venue is the limit. Whether you can meet the person you wish to see will depend entirely on your own fortune."
"Good." Yun Che nodded with some excitement. "Thank you for your help, Fairy Mu, and for the Great Realm King's permission."
"There is no need for thanks." Mu Bingyun gently shook her head. "You saved my life. The Great Realm King's consent is only right and proper. There are still thirty months until the Xuan Shen Conference begins. During this time, what plans do you have? I accepted you into the Ice Phoenix Palace mainly to make it easier to assist you. I won't place too many restrictions on you."
Yun Che thought for a moment and said frankly, "The spiritual energy of this world is far beyond what my original world could compare with. During these thirty months of waiting for the Xuan Shen Conference, I don't want to waste the opportunity to cultivate here. After that, I will leave this place. So, during my time here, I should focus on cultivation and try to minimize contact with the outside world, so as... to avoid causing any more trouble."
Mu Xiaolan opened her mouth, as if to speak, but stopped.
"That's fine." Mu Bingyun nodded. "There are five thousand cultivation rooms and five thousand living quarters here. Except for Xiaolan's, all are vacant. You may choose any you like."
"What you did today will surely spread quickly. By then, many people will undoubtedly come looking for you to satisfy their curiosity. Since you don't wish to interact with outsiders, I will handle them for you. Just focus on your cultivation in peace."
"Yes." Yun Che agreed immediately.
Mu Xiaolan stared at Mu Bingyun with wide eyes, completely dumbfounded.
"In the main halls at the center of the city domain, the Sacred Canon Hall offers profound arts for comprehension, but they are all ice-based, so you probably won't be interested. The Sacred Artifact Hall allows you to select a weapon. As for the Sacred Jade Hall, you can go there every month with your Ice Phoenix Token to collect a monthly allowance of five thousand Purple Stones and other resources."
"Purple Stones? What are those?" Yun Che asked.
"Energy profound stones," Mu Bingyun explained. "From low-grade to high-grade, based on energy intensity and purity, they are graded as Purple Stones, Purple Crystals, and Purple Jades. These energy profound stones can be absorbed to aid cultivation, but the conversion rate is very low and they are of no help in breaking through bottlenecks. Therefore, they are mostly used as energy sources for profound formations, talismans, arks, ships, and so on. They also serve as the common currency in the God Realm."
Common currency! Yun Che immediately understood.
"These energy profound stones are measured in units of one tael. One thousand Purple Stones can be exchanged for one Purple Crystal, and one thousand Purple Crystals can be exchanged for one Purple Jade." Mu Bingyun glanced at Yun Che. "You may not be familiar with Purple Jades, but you have certainly seen Purple Stones and Purple Crystals before."
"Huh?"
"Purple Stones are what are called Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals in the Tian Xuan Continent, and Purple Crystals are Purple Vein Divine Crystals."
Yun Che was shocked.
The Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals, which were practically divine objects in the Tian Xuan Continent, were merely the lowest-grade energy profound stones in the God Realm!!
An ordinary disciple of the Ice Phoenix Palace could receive a direct monthly allowance of five thousand Purple Stones... that is, five thousand taels... five hundred jin of Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals!
In one year, that would be six thousand jin of Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals... equivalent to a full six jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystals.
If the top sects of the Tian Xuan Continent heard this, their jaws would likely drop all the way to the Southern Sea.
Observing Yun Che's condition, Mu Bingyun said, "You've expended a great deal today, and it seems your vitality has been injured. Choose a living quarters first, and immediately rest and recuperate. If anything comes up, you can use your token to send me or Xiaolan a sound transmission."
"Alright." The enormous strain from forcibly activating "Heaven-Shaking" had left his entire body in severe pain. Moreover, with his strength depleted, even standing here for a short while had begun to make him unsteady.
"Also, since you are now a member of the Ice Phoenix Palace, you should address me as 'Palace Master' from now on. As for Xiaolan, you must call her 'Senior Sister' and not be overly rude."
"Yes, Palace Master... Senior Sister Xiaolan."
If it's senior sister, then so be it. It's not like calling her that will cost me a piece of meat!
"Hmph, that's more like it." Mu Xiaolan finally had a small moment of triumph.
Mu Bingyun nodded gently, her immortal-like figure turning. "Xiaolan, accompany Master to the First Palace."
Just as she was about to leave, Mu Bingyun suddenly stopped and turned her head slightly. "Yun Che, the Star-Picking Stone you obtained today is a divine stone formed by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. Cultivating or healing on the Star-Picking Stone brings great benefits, and even if you train for twelve hours a day, it can last for ten years. However, that 'Jade Falling Ice Soul Pill'—its medicinal power is far too intense for you and is absolutely beyond what you can currently withstand. Once you have achieved the Divine Way and your divine power is stable, I will help you refine it."
"Yes, I understand." Yun Che replied respectfully.
————————————
Leaving the Thirty-Sixth Palace, Mu Bingyun walked through the drifting snow, leading Mu Xiaolan toward the First Palace. Finally unable to hold back, Mu Xiaolan said, "Master, why... why are you being so good to him? Going along with everything he wants, and even personally stepping in to deal with all those troublesome matters caused by the Cold Snow Hall."
"And look at him! He only wants to cultivate here, do nothing, go nowhere, see no one. That's not like a disciple at all. It's more like... like he's just here to retire!"