Chapter 1043: Fog Valley, Cloud Butterfly Blade

“Sister! Stop!!”

Perhaps in the next instant, the lethal ice crystal would pierce Yun Che’s body, reducing him to scattered ice powder. But at that moment, a hurried female voice drifted from afar, instantly freezing everything in place.

As an ice storm swept through, Mu Bingyun rushed forward like lightning, gripping Mu Xuanyin’s wrist tightly, and the ice crystal was simultaneously dissolved by her profound energy.

“Sister, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill him?”

She didn't need to ask; she already knew the answer. Even she had rarely seen Mu Xuanyin unleash such killing intent in thousands of years... With such lethal intent, she was clearly intent on killing Yun Che, wishing she could tear him to shreds.

“He—deserves—to—die!!”

With the same words, chilling to the bone, three ice crystals instantly appeared in her hand, each radiating an icy aura far more terrifying than before.

“Sister!!” Mu Bingyun extended both hands, firmly suppressing Mu Xuanyin's wrists: “Although I don't know what mistake he committed, I'm certain he isn't inherently evil or vile. You must agree with this, Sister, otherwise, you wouldn't have treated him so specially!”

“And even if he committed an enormous crime, he did save my life, after all. On that basis alone, he should at least... be given a chance to live and atone!”

Her words were urgent, and her icy eyes even showed a hint of pleading. Towards Yun Che, she felt curiosity and astonishment, but even more, profound gratitude. Not only did he save her life, but he also rescued the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, into which she had poured her heart, soul, and countless worries. Furthermore, she clearly understood that Yun Che had also indirectly saved countless beings in both the Snow Song Realm and the Flame God Realm.

Because if she had died from the Flood Dragon's poison, while Mu Xuanyin held the position of Realm King, she might have shown some restraint, but once she stepped down, with her temperament, she would inevitably unleash brutal and merciless revenge upon the Flame God Realm. And if the Flame God Realm then lost all reason, the catastrophe that would erupt between the two realms would be unimaginable.

...

Mu Xuanyin remained silent, her gaze as chilling as before.

“Sister!!” Mu Bingyun moved in front of Mu Xuanyin, blocking her gaze from Yun Che: “He is your personal disciple, and he has always been your favorite disciple. Otherwise, you wouldn't have treated him so specially. You once said he was the only disciple who might surpass you in the future. For this hope, you even bestowed upon him the Nine Profound Buddhist Heart Lotus, into which you poured nine thousand years of effort... Are you truly willing to simply discard this hope and nine thousand years of effort like this?”

Yun Che: "..."

Mu Xuanyin still said nothing, but the light of the ice crystals in her hand dimmed slightly.

“The Nine Profound Buddhist Heart Lotus was something your Master sacrificed her life for. It doesn't just contain your effort, Sister, but also the hope your Master exchanged her life for... Please, don't do something in a moment of impulse that you'll regret for the rest of your life!”

“Enough!”

The ice crystals in her hand slowly dissipated. Mu Xuanyin turned away and said coldly: “I don't want to see him right now. Bingyun, throw him into the Misty Cloud Valley for me!”

“The Misty Cloud Valley!?” Mu Bingyun exclaimed in shock: “Even Fei Xue would surely die if she went in there. How is this any different from killing him directly?”

“Three days. I'll give him three days. If he can survive in there for three days, I will spare his life!”

Mu Xuanyin's finger flashed backward, and with a glimmer of cold light, a tiny profound formation imprinted itself on Yun Che's chest, then vanished.

“This profound formation will activate in thirty-six hours, sending him out of the Misty Cloud Valley. As for whether he's sent out alive or as a corpse, hmph, that will depend on his own fate!”

Her words paused slightly, then Mu Xuanyin's voice suddenly turned frigid and severe: “Yun Che, listen! This chance to live is the greatest concession I will ever make in my life! Whether you live or die three days from now, your life-saving grace towards Bingyun will be repaid! I will no longer help you with the matter of going to the Eternal Heaven God Realm. And as for the Heaven and Earth Five-Jade Pellets, you can forget about them forever!”

Three days... it sounded short, but the shock on Mu Bingyun's face didn't lessen in the slightest. Given Yun Che's strength and the terrifying nature of the Misty Cloud Valley, it was an absolute death trap for him. Not to mention three days, even surviving for three hours would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

She parted her lips slightly, wanting to continue pleading for Yun Che, but remembering the killing intent that had previously filled even her with dread, she swallowed the words she was about to utter... Indeed, for Mu Xuanyin, this might already be the greatest concession she had ever made in her life. Forcing the issue further might only backfire.

What major mistake had Yun Che truly committed!?

Mu Bingyun walked up to Yun Che, reaching out to gently help him up: “Yun Che, get up.”

Yun Che got up: “Thank you, Palace Master Bingyun.”

Mu Bingyun shook her head: “Since you made a mistake, accept your atonement and punishment with peace of mind... I'll take you to the Misty Cloud Valley.”

Yun Che secretly glanced at Mu Xuanyin's back, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately dared not speak, his body already lifted by Mu Bingyun.

“Wait!” Mu Xuanyin suddenly spoke: “Bingyun, what did you need me for?”

Mu Bingyun turned around: “News just came from the Flame God Realm. Recently, the aura of the God Burying Fire Prison has become abnormal, and the Flood Dragon's shedding period is approaching. In five days, they will send someone to escort you, Sister, to the Flame God Realm. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be Yan Wancang or Yan Juehai personally coming to meet you.”

...

Mu Xuanyin did not respond. Although she had given Yun Che a chance to live, a frigid and overwhelming killing intent still emanated from her.

“Sister, when the time comes, I'll go with you,” Mu Bingyun said softly.

“No need!”

With her cold words, Mu Xuanyin's figure gradually blurred, then vanished from the spot.

The snow that had been suspended for a long time began to fall again at that moment, and the frozen world cautiously began to thaw with her departure.

“Sigh.” Mu Bingyun sighed, tightening her grip on Yun Che's arm: “Let's go.”

The Misty Cloud Valley. Just a few months ago, Mu Xuanyin had brought him to this place... A place of demonic thick fog, bone-chilling cold, ferocious profound beasts, and Ice Phoenix disciples who had committed grave errors and were abandoned there to fend for themselves.

Mu Xuanyin had told him then that this was a place he would come to train in the future... He never expected that he would become the one thrown in after committing a grave mistake.

“Yun Che, what major mistake did you commit to make your Master so furious?” Here, Mu Bingyun finally voiced the question in her heart. She hadn't dared to ask in Mu Xuanyin's presence, as bringing up something that provoked such anger would only intensify it.

...

Yun Che lowered his head and murmured: “I didn't mean to.”

Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare say it. Otherwise, Mu Bingyun, who had just desperately protected him, might have simply slapped him dead.

Though it was absolutely unintentional, it was ultimately a grave error, a true blasphemy... The fact that he was still alive was already a miracle.

“I know you couldn't have done it intentionally.” Seeing that he was unwilling or dared not answer, Mu Bingyun looked away, not pressing him further.

Had he accidentally destroyed something important belonging to her sister? No... Sister had even given him the Nine Profound Buddhist Heart Lotus, which she treasured as much as her own life. She wouldn't try to kill him for such a reason.

No matter how hard Mu Bingyun tried, she couldn't fathom what grave error Yun Che had committed. Even if Yun Che had told her the truth, she might not have believed it... Because with Yun Che's strength, even if he were a thousand times stronger, he wouldn't be able to touch even a corner of Mu Xuanyin's robe, let alone...

“Yun Che, perhaps you don't know this, but your Master has always treated you very specially. In all the years she's been Realm King, she's taken on several personal disciples, but none have ever been treated like you. She not only cares about your growth but also your safety. A few months ago, even during the days you went to the Ice Wind Empire... she was constantly worried about you, fearing you might be ambushed by Mu Hanyi.”

“...I know. I'm sorry, Master.” Yun Che lowered his head, like a child who had done wrong.

“She has great expectations for you and once told me she would spare no effort to cultivate you. The Nine Profound Buddhist Heart Lotus was something your Master's master sacrificed her life for. For nine thousand years, she personally cultivated it with Ice Phoenix profound energy and watered it with the water from the Heavenly Pond... Yet she ultimately gave it all to you. This fact truly astounded me.”

...

Yun Che lowered his head even further.

“In this world, I am your Master's only close relative and the person who understands her best. Even a hint of killing intent from her means certain bloodshed. But this time, despite the killing intent that frightened even me, she ultimately spared you. This is already the best possible outcome.”

“Palace Master Bingyun, thank you.” Yun Che slightly raised his head and said gratefully: “If it weren't for your pleading, I would have already...”

Mu Bingyun slowly shook her head: “You don't need to thank me. After all, if not for you, I would have long perished, and wouldn't even have had the chance to plead for you today.”

She looked down at the Misty Cloud Valley: “Once you enter the Misty Cloud Valley, I cannot secretly help you. If your Master were to find out, she would only become angrier. You can only rely on yourself. I've heard your Master mention that you possess a profound art capable of concealing your aura, which even she highly praised. I'm sure it's extraordinary, and this will be your greatest reliance for surviving three days in the Misty Cloud Valley.”

“Remember, in the Misty Cloud Valley, hide when you can, avoid when you can. Unless absolutely necessary, even if you encounter only the lowest-level Frosty Howling Wolves, try your best to avoid direct confrontation. This is because the profound beasts in the Misty Cloud Valley are extremely dense and all ferocious. Even a slight disturbance can very likely attract a large pack of beasts you cannot handle.”

“Also, do not fly in the air unless absolutely necessary. Flying makes you extremely easy to detect, especially since flying profound beasts have extremely keen senses. Once detected, you'll have nowhere to hide.”

“If you encounter other Ice Phoenix disciples, no matter how kind they seem, never let down your guard... It's best to avoid all of them and not meet a single one.”

Yun Che nodded repeatedly, firmly committing Mu Bingyun's instructions to memory.

“Take this.”

In Mu Bingyun's palm appeared a small short blade. Its hilt was two inches long, shaped like a butterfly's wing, and its blade only four inches. The entire blade was pure ice-white, flawless, with a subtle shimmering glow.

“This blade is named ‘Cloud Butterfly’. Your Master also has one, named ‘Sound Butterfly’. These are ancestral treasures of our family, renowned in the Snow Song Realm. While your heavy sword is extremely powerful, it also creates a lot of commotion. This blade, however, can kill enemies silently. Its power, you'll know once you use it... I hope you won't have to use it.”

Yun Che reached out and took it. The moment it touched his hand, a chilling sharp sensation pierced straight to his soul. Though clearly in his grasp, it felt as light as falling snow, as if it weighed nothing.

Being an ancestral treasure of Mu Xuanyin's and Mu Bingyun's family, and with Mu Xuanyin possessing one herself, the extraordinary nature of this short blade was self-evident.

“Thank you, Palace Master Bingyun.” Carefully putting away the Cloud Butterfly blade, Yun Che expressed his gratitude once more.

“Your Master is furious right now. When she calms down a bit, she might come to take you out early... Take care of yourself.”

Mu Bingyun sighed softly and gently pushed Yun Che down. In an instant, Yun Che's figure vanished into the vast icy mist.