Chapter 228: Silently Planted Crisis

Many people often lingered around the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace courtyard, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Ice Cloud Fairy. However, almost no one dared to approach or speak to her. No matter how powerful, influential, renowned, or promising a young profound practitioner might be in their own territory, they would become timid in front of an Ice Cloud Immortal Palace disciple, often feeling an uncontrollable sense of inadequacy.

As for anyone daring to directly request an audience with Chu Yuechan, there were absolutely none.

Ice spiritual energy drifted, and soon, a graceful, fairy-like figure appeared before him. It was Xia Qingyue. Her beautiful eyes rested quietly on Yun Che's face for a moment before she said, "Young Master Yun, if you wish to see Senior Aunt Bingchan, please return. Senior Aunt Bingchan has always preferred solitude and never interacts with people outside the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. Your intentions, I believe she has already heard."

Yun Che looked at her and said very seriously, "Qingyue, my wife, I'll give you two choices: either call me 'husband' or call me by my name. You are my lawfully wedded wife; what kind of wife calls her husband 'Young Master'?"

Xia Qingyue showed no anger at Yun Che's words. She nodded slightly and said, "Very well, then Qingyue will call you Yun Che from now on."

The left side of Yun Che's face twitched. He let out a faint breath and said helplessly, "I'd rather you be like you were before, always looking at me coldly, and even showing anger when I deliberately 'offended' you with words. The way you are now, you're always so calm, like you've become a completely different person."

Xia Qingyue's gaze shifted slightly. She softly said, "My Snow Phoenix Ice Heart Arts allows one to calm their mind, suppress desires, and be free from wants. Qingyue will take your words just now as a compliment."

"Free from wants... is that even human?" Yun Che shook his head and changed the subject. "Qingyue, my wife, congratulations on reaching the top four. After this ranking battle, you're about to become famous throughout the world."

"Such words should come from me to you instead." Xia Qingyue's gaze became slightly complex. "I never imagined you could reach such a realm in less than two short years. You've given a most powerful retort to those who mocked you, despised you, and drove you from your home."

"I want to see Fairy Bingchan, Qingyue, my wife. Please tell her for me; perhaps she'll be willing to see me," Yun Che said.

Xia Qingyue slowly shook her head. "Senior Aunt Bingchan won't possibly see you. Please return. Tomorrow's ranking battle..."

"Qingyue, let him come to my room."

At that moment, a voice as ethereal as smoke and as cold as profound ice came from an unknown place, slowly reaching both their ears. A deep astonishment flashed in Xia Qingyue's beautiful eyes. She then said, "Yes, Senior Aunt... Yun Che, follow me."

The layout of this courtyard was identical to Yun Che's, and coincidentally, the position of Chu Yuechan's chosen room was also the same as his. Led by Xia Qingyue, Yun Che stood at the slightly ajar door. After a moment's hesitation, he pushed the door open and entered.

A cool, clear aura washed over him. Before Yun Che stood a breathtakingly beautiful, fairy-like back. She was at the window, bathed in the pure moonlight streaming in from outside. Her white robe was tinged with a crescent moon hue, and the exposed skin of her neck glowed, surpassing even moonlight and snow in its radiance.

For a moment, Yun Che felt as if he had seen a celestial maiden descended from the Moon Palace. He couldn't help but stare blankly, momentarily forgetting what to say. Chu Yuechan did not turn around. Her cold voice came, "Do you know why I wanted to see you?"

"Yes," Yun Che replied faintly, regaining his composure. "Because you wanted to see me, just as I've longed to see you again ever since we parted."

"...Nonsense!" Chu Yuechan's voice carried deep anger. "The only reason I agreed to see you is to tell you face-to-face that any grievances between us were canceled the moment I left the Death Wasteland. We owe each other nothing; there are no longer any ties between us! You had best forget everything about our past completely. If we meet again in the future, we will be complete strangers!"

Chu Yuechan's words, however, made Yun Che laugh. "If you genuinely want to sever all ties and grievances with me so decisively, then why did you personally come to Heavenly Sword Villa? Why did you immediately intervene and save me when I was in trouble today? This is something the legendary Fairy Bingchan, known for her indifferent nature, would absolutely never do."

"I came to Heavenly Sword Villa simply to represent the Palace Mistress. As for my intervention to save you, it was because I couldn't stand Fen Moli's shameless behavior; it has absolutely nothing to do with you," Chu Yuechan said coldly.

"You can deceive me, but can you deceive yourself?" Yun Che chuckled. "If your heart is truly that resolute, why bother explaining to me? Ask yourself, during this time, have you not constantly and uncontrollably thought of me, thought of the six months we spent together? Is the real reason you came to Heavenly Sword Villa truly not to see me? All other reasons are just excuses you've found for yourself..."

As Yun Che spoke, he walked towards Chu Yuechan. "I originally thought I wouldn't be able to see you again until I became strong enough. But when I learned that you also came to Heavenly Sword Villa, do you know how happy I was? Because I was absolutely certain that you came for me, knowing I would represent the Blue Wind Imperial Family in this ranking battle."

"Stop talking... Don't come closer!" Yun Che's words threw Chu Yuechan's heart into disarray. Feeling his footsteps approaching, a hint of panic actually flashed across the face of this supreme expert who had already entered the King Profound Realm. Just as she was about to turn around, a pair of arms gently yet firmly encircled her waist, embracing her from behind.

Chu Yuechan's mind instantly went blank, and her entire body stiffened. In her ear, Yun Che's soft voice came: "I know you can't betray the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, nor can you overcome this hurdle yourself. I have no right to force or coerce you. I only hope that, until I am capable of breaking through all obstacles with you, you don't forget that you are not just Chu Yuechan of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, but also a little fairy... my little fairy, belonging only to me... Even if you want to forget your identity as a little fairy, you took my virginity! You can't just take what you want and then not only refuse to take responsibility but also completely forget about it, can you...?"

Chu Yuechan's recent behavior was strange in many ways. Meeting an outer sect disciple at nightfall was something utterly impossible before. Xia Qingyue, who had led Yun Che to Chu Yuechan's room, looked at the faint flickering light inside and felt a great deal of confusion.

At that moment, the slightly ajar door suddenly opened... or rather, was burst open. Yun Che's body was sent flying backward by a strong surge of cold energy. Although he barely managed to land on his feet, he still looked very disheveled. The door, having been burst open, slammed shut with a "bang" as he landed.

"Did you make Senior Aunt angry?" Xia Qingyue's beautiful eyes turned, amused by his disheveled appearance.

"How could that be? Even if you gave me ten thousand more guts, I wouldn't dare to make her angry." Yun Che said solemnly, "Fairy Bingchan simply kindly saw me out after accepting my gratitude... Yes, that's all it was."

"Is that so..." Xia Qingyue's eyes lingered on his face for a moment, clearly not believing his words. She softly said, "Your goal has been achieved. If there's nothing else, please return. In tomorrow's ranking battle, you will face Ling Jie. My master said that although Ling Jie is young and seems naive, showing all his emotions, he is a peerless genius whose talent surpasses even Ling Yun. You must be careful in tomorrow's match."

"Alright, thank you for the reminder. In comparison, your opponent tomorrow is truly formidable." Yun Che paused, then suddenly asked, "Qingyue, my wife, have you heard of the 'Ice Snow Glazed Heart' and the 'Nine Profound Exquisite Body'?"

"'Ice Snow Glazed Heart'? 'Nine Profound Exquisite Body'?" Doubt furrowed Xia Qingyue's brow slightly, then she shook her head. "Qingyue has not heard of them."

Seeing Xia Qingyue's reaction, it was clear she didn't know about the Glazed Heart and Exquisite Body. Yun Che immediately said, "Oh, it's nothing. Farewell."

Just as he turned to leave, Yun Che's steps suddenly halted. He looked back and said, "In your match against Ling Yun tomorrow, I hope the victor isn't Ling Yun, but you. If that happens, then in the final battle, your opponent... will be me!"

These few short words were filled with absolute arrogance and unquestionable confidence. It was as if the outcome of his match against Ling Jie tomorrow was already predetermined in his eyes. Watching Yun Che's departing back, Xia Qingyue remained silent for a moment, then softly muttered to herself, "What exactly has he experienced in these less than two years..."

At the same time, in another part of Heavenly Sword Villa.

Ling Kun, one of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion deacons of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region, held only a middle-to-lower tier status within his own domain. However, in the Blue Wind Empire, his identity and strength were enough to make all major sects look upon him with awe and dread, absolutely not daring to show the slightest disrespect or defiance.

In the eyes of the Four Great Sacred Grounds, these small nations were merely third-rate places, so insignificant that they wouldn't even deign to set foot in them.

The courtyard prepared by Heavenly Sword Villa for Ling Kun was extremely luxurious, with more than a dozen servants dedicated to him alone. At this moment, he had dismissed all of them. In the dimly lit room, he took out a blue-violet jade, an extremely rare and special sound-transmission jade.

As profound energy was infused, the blue-violet sound-transmission jade emitted a faint glow, and the sound-transmission formation within it rapidly began to rotate.

"Young Palace Master, I trust you've been well. Do you still remember this humble old man?" Ling Kun narrowed his eyes and spoke softly into the sound-transmission jade.

"Senior Ling Kun of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region? This is truly rare. It seems you have something interesting to discuss with this young master?"

"Indeed," Ling Kun slowly said. "This old man wishes to make a deal with the Young Palace Master. I believe the Young Palace Master will be very interested in this transaction."

"Oh? Tell me."

"Hehe, I heard that the Young Palace Master has been searching for a woman with the 'Nine Profound Exquisite Body' for years. This old man has encountered such an extraordinary woman. I wonder if the Young Palace Master is interested?"

"What?" The previously calm, ethereal voice suddenly became urgent, then fell silent. "This young master naturally won't doubt Senior Ling's discernment. But since it's a 'Nine Profound Exquisite Body,' a rarity seen once in ten thousand years, why doesn't Senior Ling enjoy it himself, or present it to your Mighty Heavenly Sword Region's Sacred Master?"

"This old man knows his place; I truly don't have the audacity to enjoy the Nine Profound Exquisite Body myself. Offering it to the Sacred Master would only earn me so-called 'great merit.' But offering it to the Young Palace Master... hehe, I believe with your courage and wisdom, this old man can gain greater benefits."

"Hahahaha! Senior Ling is truly a wise man. This young master enjoys speaking with wise people. It seems leaving Senior Ling that sound-transmission jade back then was truly this young master's wisest decision. Senior Ling, whatever benefits you desire, just name them. If it's truly the Nine Profound Exquisite Body, whatever benefits you want are not excessive."

"The Young Palace Master is indeed straightforward." Ling Kun laughed. "This old man only wants one thing... three catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals."

"...Three catties? Senior Ling, that's quite a large request."

"Hahahaha, for others, let alone three catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals, even obtaining three catties of Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals would be as hard as ascending to the heavens. But for the Young Palace Master, I believe acquiring three catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals is no difficult feat. Moreover, these three catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals are hardly worth mentioning when compared to the Nine Profound Exquisite Body."

"Good! Within two years, this young master will prepare three catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals. I hope that by then, Senior Ling will not disappoint this young master."

"Young Palace Master, rest assured. Unless this old man is tired of living, I absolutely would not dare to deceive you in the slightest. So, this old man will quietly await your good news..."

The light of the sound-transmission jade disappeared. Ling Kun raised his head, smiling silently, and whispered, "That girl's profound energy aura matches the description of the Nine Profound Exquisite Body in the secret records exactly... Heh, I never thought such a divine physique would be born in such a humble place. Heaven truly helps me!"