Chapter 1136: Ice Phoenix Must Not Be Insulted

Mu Huanzhi had never directly faced Mu Xuanyin's wrath like this. His old face instantly turned pale, and he fell to his knees with a thud, trembling as he said, "S-Sect Master, please calm your anger. Huanzhi absolutely did not mean that. I... I know I was wrong. Sect Master, please forgive me!"

Mu Bingyun's lips parted slightly, but she held back her words. She sensed that Mu Xuanyin was truly enraged.

Regarding who should go first or second: given the strength, status, and seniority of the Burning Moon, no one would object if he went first. However, it was one thing for the Ice Phoenix to voluntarily yield, but the actions of Jun Xilei, the Burning Moon successor, clearly showed a disregard for the Ice Phoenix Sect. And Jun Wuming allowed it.

For any other sect from a mid-level star realm, there would be no dissatisfaction or resistance, let alone anger; at most, a slight discomfort. This was because that was the Burning Moon. Mu Huanzhi's actions, in the eyes of almost everyone, were perfectly normal.

But at this moment, Mu Xuanyin was present. Given her temperament, Mu Bingyun wasn't surprised she would get angry, but she never expected her to erupt on the spot in front of the Burning Moon.

Jun Wuming's brows were deeply furrowed. He glanced at Mu Xuanyin's icy, piercing eyes. "What is the meaning of this, Realm King Xuanyin?"

His calm tone carried a hint of coldness. Jun Xilei, beside him, also turned around, her face initially showing surprise, then a nonchalant indifference.

Mu Xuanyin replied coldly, "Your esteemed disciple disrespected and offended my Ice Phoenix. This is a grave offense, but out of respect for you, I will not pursue it. Please take your disciple back and allow my Ice Phoenix to proceed first!"

Jun Wuming, expressionless, looked directly at Mu Xuanyin and said indifferently, "If this old man does not retreat, what will you do?"

The moment these calm, indifferent words were spoken, everyone in the Ice Phoenix Sect felt a jolt in their hearts. No one dared to speak or even breathe deeply. A profound sense of unease filled their entire bodies.

The Burning Moon, Jun Wuming, was a legend throughout the God Realm, a truly god-like existence. Although their Sect Master, Mu Xuanyin, was powerful enough to look down upon all beings, her profound energy, reputation, and status were far inferior to the Burning Moon's. If he were to get angry, the consequences were simply unimaginable, unthinkable!

The already frigid snow plains instantly became even more biting. People from the Flame God Realm unconsciously took a few steps back, also silent as cicadas in winter. The four words "What will you do?" spoken by the Burning Moon were utterly flat, yet each word descended like the heavens, suffocating them.

Facing Jun Wuming at this moment, Mu Xuanyin's response shocked everyone to their core.

"Jun Wuming," Mu Xuanyin called him by his name directly. "You are an esteemed senior of the God Realm and a guest from afar. My Ice Phoenix should honor and respect you. I have traveled a great distance to meet you, showing you ample respect and deference. There is nothing we have done to offend you or your disciple. Yet, your disciple has insulted my Ice Phoenix, and as her master, you not only failed to stop her but showed not a shred of shame!

"My Ice Phoenix respects you and your disciple, but that does not mean you or your disciple have the right to look down on my Ice Phoenix!

"I will say this one last time: step aside! Do not take my politeness for weakness!"

Her tone was initially somewhat calm, but the last sentence was utterly cold and resolute.

It was as if a giant lid had descended from the sky, making the entire snowy region so oppressive that even the sound of falling snow was inaudible.

"S-Sect Master," Mu Tanzhi said, his voice trembling with fright. Mu Huanzhi, still kneeling, also abruptly looked up, his lips quivering as he wanted to speak but dared not.

"What in the hell? Is this woman crazy?!" Huo Rulie's eyes widened, and he bared his teeth.

Yan Juehai's brows furrowed deeply, and he whispered, "Mu Xuanyin's temperament has always been like this—domineering, autocratic, and extremely protective..."

"It's fine if she's imperious in the Snow Song Realm or in front of us, but that's the Burning Moon!" Huo Rulie almost couldn't stop himself from yelling.

"Sigh," Yan Juehai sighed softly. "Mu Xuanyin has indeed gone a bit too far this time... This situation will be hard to resolve."

"Master..." Jun Xilei's delicate brows furrowed. Just as she was about to speak, Jun Wuming raised a hand. Her foot, which had just lifted, retracted, and her beautiful face remained cold.

Jun Wuming showed no anger whatsoever; even the faint hint of fury he had earlier completely vanished. He looked up and let out a long sigh, full of compassion. "Sect Master Xuanyin, your talent is extraordinarily high. To cultivate to a Divine Master in this barren land, this old man was truly impressed and admired you. I even believed that in another twenty or thirty thousand years, you might reach this old man's current height.

"Now, it seems your age is, after all, too young, and your perspective is, after all, too shallow."

Jun Wuming's voice slowly drifted, carried by the swirling wind and snow for a hundred miles, each word ethereal as a heavenly maxim. "What is dignity? In this world, strength is the only dignity. In this old man's eyes, everyone in the Snow Song Realm, save for you, Realm King Xuanyin, are mere ants. This old man's disciple may look down on them. And even if this old man were to insult your Ice Phoenix, what could you do?"

He was the Burning Moon; how could he show weakness to a mere Snow Song? Mu Xuanyin's words and actions, in his view, were nothing but childish and ridiculous.

"Jun Wuming, since you reject my courtesy, then I no longer need to show you any respect or politeness." Mu Xuanyin's voice also faded, and no anger could be detected in it. She glanced at Yun Che and said, "Che'er, come here."

Yun Che was startled but walked over as instructed, standing beside Mu Xuanyin.

Mu Xuanyin reached out and took Yun Che's wrist. Across the back of his hand were several shallow wounds, accompanied by faint traces of blood. These were injuries from the projectiles Jun Xilei had shot earlier. If Yun Che's body hadn't been so resilient, he would never have sustained such minor injuries.

Of course, for a Divine Profound practitioner, even injuries ten times worse than these would be considered nothing, not even truly "wounds."

Mu Xuanyin swept her hand. With a gentle flick of her snow-white jade fingers, the sword marks and bloodstains on Yun Che's hand vanished without a trace.

"Offending my sect and injuring my disciple—let's settle this debt properly." Mu Xuanyin's eyes turned chillingly dark. "Jun Wuming, have your disciple Jun Xilei kneel and apologize to my disciple, then you two masters and disciples immediately get out of Snow Song. Without my permission, do not take another step into Snow Song!"

From the Ice Phoenix Sect to the Three Flame God Sects, all disciples and elders were petrified. Huo Rulie's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he incessantly muttered, "It's over, it's over. This woman is truly insane. Don't drag Yun Che into this!"

Jun Xilei's beautiful eyes briefly glanced at Yun Che, then immediately looked away. She remained as indifferent as before, showing no anger, as if she had only heard meaningless words. Instead, a hint of mockery appeared in her pupils.

"Sigh," Jun Wuming sighed again. This time, his sigh seemed to carry deep disappointment, followed by a faint smile. "For all these years, this old man has been wandering through various realms, seeking only a successor. It seems that the Unnamed Sword, having not appeared for ten thousand years, has caused some ignorant juniors to forget this old man's prestige."

His voice suddenly turned cold. Between heaven and earth, the wind and snow abruptly ceased, and space itself layered and solidified. A vast sound, as if from beyond the heavens, rang out: "What if they are looked down upon? What if they are trampled upon? A mere Snow Song Ice Phoenix, that's all. But the Burning Moon cannot be insulted, nor can the Burning Moon's successor!"

Above Jun Wuming, within the sealed space, three pale projections suddenly appeared.

The three projections were only about half a *zhang* long and two fingers in thickness.

The moment the three projections appeared, Yun Che's heart jolted. As a swordsman himself, he couldn't feel the slightest aura from these three projections—neither his body nor his spiritual senses could detect any sharpness or oppressive force. In fact, the entire world seemed to lose all its energy, as if everything in existence had fallen into a deathly silence under that invisible sword might.

"Senior Burning Moon, please calm your anger, and listen to this junior for a moment—"

Huo Rulie urgently cried out but was restrained by Yan Juehai, who pulled him back forcefully. Huo Rulie gritted his teeth, his gaze meeting Huo Poyun and the surrounding Golden Crow disciples. He finally held back and said nothing more.

"Sect Master!" Everyone in the Ice Phoenix Sect turned deathly pale. Yun Che instinctively stepped half a pace forward, intending to shield Mu Xuanyin, but she grabbed him with her snow-white hand and pushed him behind her.

"You? You're not worthy!?"

Facing the three pale projections, Mu Xuanyin slowly stepped forward, as everyone's pupils constricted in horror.

With her first step, a faint 'ding' sound, almost imperceptible, seemed to echo in the air.

With her second step, Jun Wuming's pupils imperceptibly contracted.

With her third step, Mu Xuanyin stopped. The wind and snow, which had completely stilled, began to flutter again. Flakes of snow settled on her icy hair and ethereal body, seemingly mesmerized by her elegance and unwilling to disperse or melt away for a long time.

Yun Che stared blankly at her back, so close to him, gradually becoming somewhat entranced. For a moment, he almost forgot the existence of those three terrifying projections.

"You..."

Jun Wuming seemed to want to speak, but after uttering one syllable, he couldn't make another sound. His raised arm slowly lowered. If anyone had been looking directly at him then, they would have noticed his lips trembling slightly—though only for an instant.

As Jun Wuming's arm fully dropped, the three projections also completely vanished.

"Enough," he sighed, the same sigh as before, but the tone was distinctly different. He cast a deep glance at Mu Xuanyin, then turned his back, gently pulling Jun Xilei with his profound energy. "Lei'er, let's go."

"Master?" Jun Xilei's face showed confusion, but she immediately obeyed. "Yes!"

This unexpected turn of events surprised everyone in the Ice Phoenix Sect, yet they all let out a huge sigh of relief. Especially the Palace Masters and elders, whose bodies were drenched in sweat once the tension eased.

Jun Wuming and his disciple Jun Xilei turned and left. The three pale projections demonstrated Jun Wuming's anger, and the five words "Burning Moon cannot be insulted" were his own spoken judgment. Yet, he suddenly withdrew the projections and his anger just like that, turning to leave...

Amidst their internal turmoil, everyone felt a sense of bewilderment.

"Phew!" Huo Rulie let out a long breath of relief. "As expected of Senior Burning Moon, his temperament and self-restraint are truly admirable. Or perhaps he disdained to act against a junior woman?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Yan Juehai said slowly, his voice somewhat ethereal.

"What do you mean?" Huo Rulie asked, puzzled.

Yan Juehai said nothing. He wasn't looking at Jun Wuming and his disciple; instead, his flaming eyes were fixed on Mu Xuanyin, his gaze flickering between light and shadow.

"Stop!"

Just as the Ice Phoenix members had exhaled a sigh of relief, a cold voice pierced directly towards Jun Wuming and his disciple, who were about to leave, making everyone's hearts leap again. This voice, surprisingly, came from Mu Xuanyin.

"You first committed an offense, then acted so brazenly, and now you intend to swagger away?" Mu Xuanyin said coldly. "Where in this world is there such an easy way out? Do you think my Ice Phoenix can be bullied at will?!"

Jun Wuming's figure paused. Before he could speak, Jun Xilei angrily turned around. "Mu Xuanyin! What is my Master's status? He disdained to argue with you, and yet you—"

"Presumptuous!"

With a cold rebuke, Mu Xuanyin made no discernible movement, yet suddenly, the wind and snow swirled everywhere. Jun Xilei shrieked, was sent flying, and crashed hard into the snow. Before she could even get up, she had already vomited several mouthfuls of blood.

Five crimson, blood-like finger marks were clearly visible on her cheek.