Chapter 1002: Flame God's Three Sect Leaders

With less than half an hour remaining until the start of the Sect Assembly, Yun Che, accompanied by Mu Bingyun and Mu Xiaolan, had just departed from Ice Phoenix Palace.

As they flew straight north over the Ice Phoenix City Domain and approached the Sacred Hall area, a figure flew towards them from behind.

Upon seeing Yun Che, the figure paused for a moment, then accelerated, stopping in front of them.

Dressed in white, with a refined and handsome appearance, and exuding a distinguished aura of nobility, it was Mu Hanyi.

"Palace Master Bingyun, Junior Sister Xiaolan, and Junior Brother Yun Che... Oh, no," Mu Hanyi said, shaking his head with a smile. "After today, I should call you Senior Brother Yun Che."

Mu Bingyun nodded, and Mu Xiaolan returned the greeting. Yun Che smiled and said, "Senior Brother Hanyi, you're too kind. I am younger than you and joined the sect much later; I really don't dare to accept the title of 'Senior Brother.' Why are you alone today, Senior Brother Hanyi?"

"I was just consulting with my imperial brother about some trivial matters through spiritual transmission, which caused a slight delay," Mu Hanyi casually explained, then sincerely added, "I haven't yet congratulated Junior Brother Yun Che on becoming the Sect Master's direct disciple. To be honest, I was greatly shaken by my defeat at your hands that day, Junior Brother Yun Che, and I felt disoriented for several days until I finally accepted it the day before yesterday. Now that I think about it, even though your cultivation is still shallow, Junior Brother Yun Che, your talent—diving a thousand feet into the Divine Ice Lake—is probably unprecedented and unmatched. It's something I could never hope to compare to, so my defeat was only natural. It's just that I shamelessly boasted about giving you an 80% handicap that day, which must have made you laugh, Junior Brother Yun Che."

"Senior Brother Hanyi, not at all," Yun Che said with a slight smile. "In the future, I'll still need your guidance within the sect."

Mu Hanyi shook his head with a smile, then bowed with clasped hands, just about to bid farewell, when he suddenly remembered something and added, "Oh, right, in fifteen days, it will be my imperial father's millennium birthday. Junior Brother Yun Che, you will certainly be by the Sect Master's side often from now on. If you have a moment, please convey this to the Sect Master."

"Alright, I understand," Yun Che nodded. "I will inform the Sect Master at an appropriate time."

Judging by Mu Hanyi's demeanor, it was clear he didn't expect the dignified Snow Song Realm King to actually attend his imperial father's millennium birthday celebration. He was merely trying to convey the message out of respect and courtesy.

"Hanyi bids farewell. I look forward to witnessing Junior Brother Yun Che's impressive presence at the Sect Assembly."

Mu Hanyi gave a deep bow and flew towards the Sacred Hall.

The three of them also rose and flew towards the Sacred Hall. At this moment, Mu Bingyun suddenly asked, "Yun Che, what do you think of Hanyi?"

Yun Che tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said, "From what I know, he was extremely obsessed with becoming a direct disciple and quite confident. Seven days ago, he was just a hair's breadth away from success but lost because of me... Yet, in just seven days, he has not only calmly accepted it but also shown no hostility towards me and even greeted me proactively..."

"Frankly, if it were me, I wouldn't be able to do that."

"Yes, Senior Brother Hanyi is truly a very good person," Mu Xiaolan nodded.

Mu Bingyun glanced at Mu Xiaolan, then turned and said, "Actually, seven days ago at the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake, Mu Feixue should have won the ice spirit battle against Mu Hanyi."

"Ah?" Mu Xiaolan's mouth fell open in surprise.

"...So, was it the Sect Master secretly manipulating things?" Yun Che asked in surprise. Given the Sect Master's power, she could have manipulated it effortlessly and without a trace.

"Indeed, that is the truth," Mu Bingyun nodded. "In terms of talent, Mu Feixue is ultimately a step above Mu Hanyi. However, Mu Hanyi's character—regardless of whether it's good or bad—is certainly more suitable for a direct disciple."

Yun Che remained silent, but he wasn't surprised.

"But unexpectedly, by a twist of fate, you were chosen instead." Mu Bingyun's gaze was profound as she lightly sighed. "Although the Sect Master knew you had an unusual constitution, you are ultimately from the lower realms. In a few years, whether you achieve your goal or not, you will return and not stay in the Snow Song Realm indefinitely. Therefore, she never considered taking you as a direct disciple. Who would have thought... Perhaps this was destined by heaven."

"Moreover, I feel that the biggest reason she ultimately changed her mind and chose you, in response to this 'twist of fate,' wasn't your constitution, but rather the courage you showed that day, daring to face all the elders and palace masters, and even talking back to her."

"That... probably wasn't it?" Yun Che whispered, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "To call it courage... courage without sufficient strength is simply reckless stupidity, and the Sect Master thoroughly scolded me twice because of it."

Mu Bingyun, however, shook her head but offered no explanation. Instead, she said, "It seems I don't need to remind you much about Mu Hanyi. As for Feixue, she is the most suitable person for you."

"Huh? The most suitable person for me? What do you mean?" Yun Che asked, stunned.

"You should find out within a few days," Mu Bingyun revealed a faint smile.

Yun Che: "????"

"Master, after Yun Che becomes the Sect Master's direct disciple, will it be... hard to see him again?" Mu Xiaolan suddenly asked softly.

"Yes," Mu Bingyun gently nodded. "After today, Yun Che will reside with the Sect Master in the Sacred Hall, so it will likely be extremely difficult to see him again."

"Oh," Mu Xiaolan responded, lowering her head slightly.

"Hmm? Junior Sister Xiaolan, you're not... going to miss me, are you?" Yun Che leaned his face closer, smiling teasingly.

"Who... who would miss you!" Mu Xiaolan hastily took a small step back and said anxiously, "If you leave, I can spend time alone with Master. I'll be too happy to miss you, hmph!"

"Oh..." Yun Che exhaled with a mournful expression. "Alright, alright. I had originally planned to visit Ice Phoenix Palace often, but since you dislike me so much, I guess I shouldn't bother returning and presuming my welcome."

"You... you should come back to see Master. I... can't stop you," Mu Xiaolan's voice suddenly softened.

At 10 AM in the Ice Phoenix Sacred Hall, with a proud roar from an ice giant dragon echoing through the sky, the Snow Song Realm King descended from the heavens and took her seat on the sacred throne. The Sect Assembly officially began.

All the high-ranking officials were present, nearly half of the middle-ranking ones, and millions of disciples. The entire Sacred Hall Plaza was permeated with an immense, ocean-like aura of ice. However, the most attention-grabbing figure at this Sect Assembly was not the Snow Song Realm King, but Yun Che.

After Mu Huanzhi personally announced the selection results from seven days prior and the regulations for direct disciples, Yun Che slowly walked forward, approached the Snow Song Realm King's seat, and solemnly knelt in prostration, under the varied gazes of everyone present.

Today, the Snow Song Realm King was not shrouded in mist. As Yun Che walked towards her, his heart rate and emotions were in complete disarray.

Her countenance was sculpted from ice jade, as beautiful as an illusion, but under her gaze, every pore on Yun Che's body radiated an icy chill.

In the Snow Song Realm, she could determine anyone's life or death. Now, she had become his master... But before, he had been so close to her, behaving disgracefully and disrespectfully, and had even called her "Big-Chested Senior Sister" several times—especially the last time, which was blatant teasing.

Even now, Yun Che still couldn't fully accept that she was actually the Snow Song Realm King. The most "powerful" evidence was that he had verbally teased the Snow Song Realm King—who was now his master—and was still alive and well!

"Yun Che, though your time in the sect is short and your cultivation shallow, you possess an extraordinary physique and ice talent, indicating a boundless future."

The Snow Song Realm King spoke calmly, and everyone in the Sacred Hall Plaza listened intently. "Today, this King will accept you as a direct disciple and bestow upon you the Ice Phoenix bloodline. You must strictly adhere to the rules, diligently cultivate my Ice Phoenix Profound Arts, and not show the slightest negligence. Otherwise, this King will personally punish you."

"Yes!" Yun Che said with a solemn expression, reciting the words Mu Bingyun had taught him. "Disciple Yun Che will not fail this heavenly bestowed honor and will not disappoint Master or the sect."

"Perform the bowing ritual!" Mu Huanzhi announced loudly. He looked at Yun Che, his gaze quite complex.

Many gazes fixed on Yun Che, watching him perform the apprenticeship ritual to Mu Xuanyin. Envy, jealousy, surprise, and disbelief filled the air. It had always been widely believed that only Mu Hanyi or Mu Feixue could become the Sect Master's direct disciple. Who would have thought it would be a disciple who had just joined the sect and whose profound energy had only recently entered the Divine Origin Realm?

Not only was he from the lower realms, but he had also only been in the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect for a mere three months. Yet, in these brief three months, he had surpassed Mu Hanyi and Mu Feixue, all the disciples in the entire sect, reaching the very pinnacle of the sect.

After Yun Che completed the ritual, his heart remained turbulent and unsettled. He still dared not look directly at Mu Xuanyin, and even when offering tea, he wished he could bow his head lower than his backside... He was filled with deep apprehension and worry about his future.

At this moment, a sudden gust of cold wind howled. A hall attendant swiftly arrived, knelt, and quickly reported, "Reporting to the Sect Master, guests from the Flame God Realm request an audience... they have already arrived outside the Sacred Hall."

"What? Outside the Sacred Hall?" Mu Huanzhi's expression changed instantly. All the elders on both sides also rose one after another.

"Hmph!" Mu Xuanyin let out a cold snort. "To intrude here without a sound, it seems those three old geezers have come in person."

"Yes, Sect Master. The three leading individuals are indeed the three great Sect Masters of the Flame God Realm," the hall attendant said solemnly.

All three great Sect Masters of the Flame God Realm personally present!?

Shock and an unusual atmosphere instantly spread through the cold air.

"How many people did they bring?" Mu Huanzhi asked gravely.

"The three Sect Masters brought only three individuals... and they were three individuals with very young auras."

"Six people? It seems those three old immortals have grown bolder."

Mu Xuanyin did not rise. Her icy voice directly shook the sky, saying, "Let them in!"

"Che'er, come to your master's side."

The cold voice carried an irresistible majesty, but her address to Yun Che had changed. Yun Che was momentarily stunned, then stood up and cautiously walked towards Mu Xuanyin, positioning himself to her right.

Watching Yun Che stand beside the Snow Song Realm King... all the other disciples were consumed with envy, and even the highest-ranking elders and palace masters clearly showed envy in the depths of their eyes.

The cold wind paused slightly, suddenly mixing with several unusually scorching air currents. Below the currents, six figures descended from the sky. Three walked in front, three behind, slowing their steps as they advanced along the central ice path towards Mu Xuanyin.

Wherever they walked, the airflow instantly became turbulent, and scorching aura surged upwards.