Chapter 1030: Mad and Reckless

Upon entering the treasure vault, the stone door behind them did not close. Mu Hanyi led the way, his expression growing serious. "Brother Yun Che," he instructed, "follow in my footsteps, suppress your aura as much as possible, and be careful not to trigger any mechanisms or profound formations. The Kirin Horn is right in the center of the vault; we'll see it soon."

Yun Che suppressed his aura and slowly followed behind Mu Hanyi. Although he had mentally prepared himself, he was still deeply shocked. The vast treasure vault stretched endlessly before his eyes. Mountains of high-grade purple crystals and jade glowed with dazzling purple light. All sorts of profound armor and artifacts were displayed everywhere, and the scents of countless spirit medicines filled the air. Even though treasures with easily dispersed auras were sealed in fine ice-jade boxes, the overall atmosphere of the vault remained intensely concentrated, almost viscous.

"As expected of the Snow Song Realm's oldest empire," Yun Che marveled, "this single treasure vault alone shows how powerful the Ice Wind Empire is."

"Hehe, Brother Yun Che, you flatter us," Mu Hanyi chuckled. "No matter how strong Ice Wind may be, it is ultimately just a small nation. Even if it were ten times more prosperous, it would still be a humble existence before the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect. Compared to Brother Yun Che's status, what is a mere emperor of a single country?"

"Oh?" Yun Che showed a hint of surprise. "Brother Hanyi, your words seem a little extreme. I can't entirely agree with that."

"Hehe," Mu Hanyi gave a faint, meaningful smile and said nothing more. After leading Yun Che for a while longer, he stopped. Yun Che's steps halted almost simultaneously, and his gaze fixed on what lay ahead.

In front of them was a massive sealing profound formation. Within the formation lay a colossal horn, three zhang high. Its shape was half-deer, half-dragon, and its entire body was a deep blue. Crystalline light shimmered around it, yet it lacked the transparency of crystal. Though sealed by the profound formation, it still distinctly emitted an ancient, profound aura that Yun Che could feel.

"Is this... the Kirin Horn?" Yun Che looked up and asked.

"Indeed," Mu Hanyi replied, turning to look at Yun Che with an indifferent gaze. "This Kirin Horn came from an Ice Kirin. Its size far exceeds all recorded descriptions, so it likely did not come from an ordinary Ice Kirin, but rather a higher-grade Kirin, perhaps even a Kirin King."

"This Kirin Horn contains immensely powerful energy. However, over the years, our ancestors and emperors tried every method imaginable but were unable to draw out its power. Eventually, it was designated as the sacred national treasure and sealed here."

Yun Che nodded, his gaze fixed on the Kirin Horn within the profound formation.

Before him was the objective Mu Xuanyin had sent him for. But this profound formation sealing the Kirin Horn...

While Yun Che looked at the Kirin Horn, Mu Hanyi was watching him, a strange curve subtly forming on his lips. "Speaking of which," he began, "I once mentioned to my imperial father that if I were fortunate enough to become the Sect Master's direct disciple, I would offer this Kirin Horn to her."

"Oh?" Yun Che's eyes widened in surprise. "But it's your Ice Wind's sacred national treasure. Your imperial father wouldn't agree to that, would he?"

"No," Mu Hanyi said with a calm smile. "My imperial father immediately agreed. If I became the Sect Master's direct disciple, no one in the Snow Song Realm would dare defy my Ice Wind Empire. Our status would reach its pinnacle, and what need would there be for a 'sacred national treasure' then? Haha, truthfully, I've never believed in things like national destiny. Calling it a sacred national treasure, it's merely a useless, inanimate object meant to comfort people's hearts. We can't draw out its power, but the Sect Master certainly can. How worthwhile would it be to exchange such a useless object for the Sect Master's favor! Why wouldn't my imperial father agree?"

Yun Che's brows furrowed deeply. He clearly noticed the change in Mu Hanyi's tone and demeanor.

"I even deliberately revealed this matter to my master, hoping it might reach the Sect Master's ears and show her my sincerity. But in the end, the Sect Master chose you, so there was nothing I could do." Mu Hanyi tilted his head slightly. "It seems this Kirin Horn will just have to stay here then. Oh, no, no, no, it would still be better to offer it to the Sect Master, but..."

"Not by you, but by me!"

Mu Hanyi's lips suddenly twisted into a sinister smirk, and his eyes abruptly gleamed with a dark, eerie light.

Yun Che's eyes twitched, and he instinctively stepped back slightly. "Brother Hanyi, what do you mean by that?"

"What do I mean? Heh!" The perpetually gentle smile on his face suddenly became chillingly sinister. The respect in his gaze towards Yun Che vanished, replaced by undisguised mockery and resentment. "It's not impossible for you to offer it to the Sect Master yourself. All you have to do is kill me right here, then use my blood to unlock that profound formation, and your wish will come true."

He extended a finger and slowly beckoned Yun Che. "Come on, kill me, and then you can take the Kirin Horn back to the Sect and gain even more favor from the Sect Master. Come on!"

Yun Che's pupils contracted slightly, and he quietly moved his feet back. "Brother Hanyi, are you... kidding me?"

"What do you think?" Mu Hanyi's lips spread into a grin, revealing teeth that usually remained hidden when he smiled, now reflecting a chilling white light. He suddenly swung his arm, crushing a blue glowing object in his hand, which released a dazzling blue profound formation.

A blue barrier instantly formed. Before Yun Che could react, he and Mu Hanyi were both enveloped within the barrier.

The barrier was only ten zhang wide—a mere arm's length for a Divine Path profound practitioner. The aura emanating from the barrier caused Yun Che's expression to change dramatically.

This barrier was not only incredibly tough, far beyond his ability to break, but it also isolated everything except light: space, sound, and even spiritual transmissions were completely cut off!

"This barrier requires at least the power of a Divine Tribulation Realm peak practitioner to shatter," Mu Hanyi said, lowering his arm and sneering darkly. "Even I wouldn't dream of forcefully escaping it." Ensnared within the barrier, Yun Che had become a fish in a barrel.

Yun Che quickly retreated until his back was against the edge of the barrier. "Mu Hanyi, what... what are you doing?"

"Why don't you tell me first what you came to the Ice Wind Empire for?" Mu Hanyi said with a faint smile. If any Ice Phoenix disciples had seen his face at that moment, they would never have believed he was the universally respected Senior Brother Hanyi. "A birthday celebration? Heh, do you take me for a fool?"

Yun Che's expression changed again.

"On my way back, I kept wondering why the Sect Master would send you to Ice Wind. With her abilities, what could our Ice Wind possibly have that would interest her? Then, at one point, I suddenly remembered mentioning the Kirin Horn to my master, and it hit me immediately—yes, it could only be the Kirin Horn!"

"Something significant is about to happen in the God Realm, so the Sect Master is eager to make a breakthrough. Her demanding that Huo Rulie hand over the Golden Crow Burning World Record for her perusal at the Sect Assembly proves this. The Sect Master must have learned about the Kirin Horn from my master and thought that the power within it might aid her breakthrough. However, since she didn't choose me as her direct disciple, and the Kirin Horn is our Ice Wind's sacred national treasure, she found it inconvenient to directly ask for it... After all, even the Sect Master cares about her reputation! That's why she sent you to gather information! Once you found the Kirin Horn's location, the Sect Master could retrieve it silently at any time!"

"Later, when I heard from my imperial sister, Hanjin, that you had asked her about national destiny, my last shred of doubt vanished."

"You..." With each additional word from Mu Hanyi, Yun Che's surprise intensified. "How do you know all of th—"

But then, as if realizing something, his surprise and fear rapidly vanished. Instead, he took a step forward, his eyes turning menacing. "Since you already know, it makes things much simpler. Hand over the Kirin Horn willingly, or... do you intend to defy my master's wishes?"

"Heh heh, how could I, Mu Hanyi, dare to defy the Sect Master's will? Didn't I just say that I would personally offer the Kirin Horn to my master? As for you, you won't live to see that moment, because you..." Mu Hanyi's tone suddenly shifted, "are about to die right here!"

Yun Che's pupils constricted. "What did you say? You... you're going to kill me? You dare to kill me!?"

"No, no, no, I wouldn't dare. Brother Yun Che is the Sect Master's direct disciple. Even if Hanyi had the audacity of heaven, I wouldn't touch a single hair on your head." Mu Hanyi's eyes narrowed into thin slits. "Of course, you won't be killed by me. Instead... you will unfortunately die from triggering a mechanism here while attempting to steal the Kirin Horn!"

Yun Che paused, then finally understood, his face suddenly contorting in horror. "You..."

"No need to be nervous, Brother Yun Che," Mu Hanyi said, reveling in Yun Che's current terror, his smile utterly sinister and gleeful. "I'll make sure it's perfectly concealed. Even if the Sect Master came herself, she wouldn't find any flaws. You can rest assured of that."

"After all, you've personally stepped into... the most perfect, flawless tomb!!"

"You... you're insane!" Yun Che roared. "This... this is your Ice Wind Empire! If I die here, even if my master truly believes I died from a mechanism, with her temperament... you will all be buried alongside me in her rage!"

"Oh! You're absolutely right, spot on." Far from being afraid, Mu Hanyi nodded in profound agreement. "Even if you 'died trying to steal our Ice Wind Empire's sacred national treasure,' it would be perfectly normal for the Sect Master to flatten the entire Imperial City in her fury... But even if all of Ice Wind is destroyed, the Sect Master will absolutely not kill me!!"

Yun Che stared, utterly perplexed.

"Because you're dead, and Feixue..." At the mention of Mu Feixue's name, Mu Hanyi's body trembled uncontrollably for a moment, and his voice suddenly filled with gnashing hatred. "Her pristine yin energy was defiled by you! She no longer possesses her former talent! And the Sect Master will have to choose another direct disciple... which can only be me!!"

"No one else is qualified besides me! If she kills me, the Sect Master can forget about finding another suitable direct disciple!!"

"At that time, I will humble myself and beg for forgiveness from the Sect Master, explaining that I failed to protect the esteemed Brother Yun Che. The Sect Master will know perfectly well why you died from the mechanism before the Kirin Horn, and she'll know that our Ice Wind is innocent. If she destroys Ice Wind, she'll only feel guilty towards me. After that, I will personally present the Kirin Horn... Everything will fall perfectly into place! Everything I lost, everything that was taken from me, will return!"

"You... for this purpose, you're not only going to kill me but also put the entire Ice Wind Empire in grave danger!?" Yun Che gasped.

Mu Hanyi spread his hands, saying serenely, "If it means my personal advancement, what does it matter if all of Ice Wind is annihilated?"

Yun Che's brows furrowed deeply. "You're truly deranged."