Chapter 391: Cold Moon Cold Snow

The fourth stage of the Ice Soul Divine Art, "Ice Soul Tree," encompasses a vast array of transformations. It can be used for offense, defense, blockade, or restraint, making it incredibly versatile. Even with Yun Che's exceptional comprehension and the Evil God's seed, achieving complete mastery would be far from an overnight feat.

"Why are you interested in this Ice Soul Divine Art? In terms of power, it doesn't compare to Phoenix Flame, let alone a heavy sword. It will only consume a lot of your attention and time," Jasmine suddenly remarked in a cool tone as Yun Che studied the Ice Soul Divine Art's profound formula.

"It's different," Yun Che replied casually. "The Phoenix Sect became the foremost sect in the Azure Cloud Continent precisely because of Phoenix Flame. Yet, the Ice Soul Divine Art, at a comparable level, can even freeze Phoenix Flame. This shows it's undoubtedly one of the top profound arts on the Azure Cloud Continent, and that's indeed the case. While its destructive power might not match Phoenix Flame, ice profound arts focus their power on defense and containment—abilities that neither Phoenix power nor heavy sword power possess. This will undoubtedly prove hugely effective in many situations."

Yun Che's eyes narrowed slightly. "I have only four months before I must travel to the Divine Phoenix Empire. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I'll probably end up fighting some members of the Phoenix Sect. And ice, coincidentally, is the bane of fire! I don't fear flames, and my profound energy attribute provides a natural counter... so my chances of returning alive will be significantly higher."

"Hmph, it seems you're well aware of how dangerous it is to confront the Phoenix Sect now!"

"There's nothing I can do," Yun Che said, sighing helplessly. "Though I knew this was inevitable, I didn't expect the Phoenix Sect to act so quickly. If it weren't for the opportune appearance of the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament and the Primordial Profound Ark, I wouldn't even have these few months for preparation and a buffer period. For now, I can only try to secure as many advantages as possible for myself. Once I reach the Divine Phoenix Empire, I'll just have to take things as they come."

"...Someone's coming."

Just as Jasmine's voice faded, a soft sound echoed from behind them. The doors of the Ice Soul Divine Hall silently swung open, revealing two exquisitely beautiful maidens, as if they had stepped out of a painting. They stood there gracefully, their identical young faces alight with anticipation and excitement, mixed with a hint of nervousness.

They were Feng Hanyue and Feng Hanxue, the twin sisters ranked sixth and seventh among the Seven Fairies of Ice Cloud. Aside from Xia Qingyue, they were also the youngest of the Seven Fairies. Their true age was unknown, but they appeared to be merely seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls.

Most of the Seven Fairies of Ice Cloud were as cold and proud as lotuses, with Chu Yuechan being almost glacially aloof. However, these twin sisters were a clear exception. When Yun Che first saw them, he didn't perceive cold beauty but rather sweetness. Unlike other Ice Cloud disciples, whose faces were often veiled in frost, their jade-like lips frequently curved upwards, their crescent eyebrows spontaneously danced, and their eyes sparkled with playful expressiveness. They seemed less like ice immortals and more like spirits born of ice and snow, untouched by the mortal realm.

In a place as perpetually cold and desolate as the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, the presence of these two anomalies was not without reason. Most Ice Cloud disciples resided alone in their respective ice pavilions and chambers, dedicating themselves to solitary cultivation. Yet, these twin sisters shared a single pavilion and were utterly inseparable, like two pieces of sticky candy. They went everywhere and did everything together, ensuring they never felt lonely and always had someone to talk to. This made them far happier and more cheerful than the other Ice Cloud disciples, which in turn made their personalities and temperaments somewhat distinct from the rest.

Facing Mu Rong Qianxue, Jun Lianqie, Mu Lanyi, and the others, Yun Che still felt an invisible pressure. While he openly took advantage of them, he absolutely dared not make any further moves until, well, the time was right. However, when confronted by the sisters Feng Hanyue and Feng Hanxue, Yun Che felt no pressure at all. He turned around and smiled at the two spirited maidens. "Senior Sisters, I've been waiting for you for quite a while. Please come in."

"Huh? Senior Sisters?" Feng Hanyue blinked, looking puzzled.

"No, it's Master Aunts!" Feng Hanxue quickly corrected him. "You shouldn't call us Senior Sisters; we're your Master Aunts!"

"Huh? Master Aunts?" Yun Che's face registered surprise. "You both look clearly younger than me. Calling you Senior Sisters already feels strange... How could you possibly be Master Aunts?"

"Even though we look younger, we are much, much older than you!" Feng Hanyue declared, pouting her lips. While most women prefer to downplay their age, Feng Hanyue's cheeks flushed with triumph as she spoke of being significantly older than Yun Che.

"Qingyue calls us Master Aunts, and since you're Qingyue's husband, you should naturally address us as Master Aunts, just like her," Feng Hanxue explained very earnestly.

"However, my wife, Qingyue, is now counted among the Seven Fairies of Ice Cloud, and she's even the head of them," Yun Che said unhurriedly. "In that sense, Qingyue is actually your peer, so it should be correct for me to call you Senior Sisters."

"Hmm... what you said seems to make sense... Ah! No, wait! Regardless, Qingyue still calls us Master Aunts, and you're just a newly initiated disciple, so you absolutely should call us Master Aunts!"

"Oh, alright," Yun Che nodded obediently. "Before I help you two Senior Sisters open your profound openings, please close the stone door. It's best not to be disturbed by outsiders during the process."

"Got it... And you called us wrong again! It's Master Aunts! You can't call us Senior Sisters anymore!"

"Ah? Yes, yes, I accidentally called you wrong just now... Er, which of the two Senior Sisters would like to go first?" Yun Che asked, widening his pure, innocent eyes.

"It's Master Aunts! Master Aunts! Master Aunts! Master Aunts! Master Aunts!!" The Xueyue sisters shrieked in exasperation.

"Yes, yes... So, Senior Sister Hanyue, would you like to go first?"

Feng Hanyue sat before Yun Che, her snow-white robes slipping to reveal her bare, jade-like back. Her eyes were tightly shut, her eyelashes fluttering nervously. Beside her, Feng Hanxue continuously blinked her beautiful eyes, watching Yun Che's every movement and her sister's reactions with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. She would occasionally furrow her brow, purse her lips, or tilt her head—like an inquisitive child exploring something new.

Yun Che seemed completely focused. As his palm stroked Feng Hanyue's back, over twenty profound openings successively appeared. At this point, Feng Hanyue, who had been trying hard to remain quiet, suddenly shivered and burst into a giggle.

"Ah? Sister, what's wrong?" Feng Hanxue quickly asked.

"He... he's tickling me."

"You can't make a sound, and you certainly can't move around," Feng Hanxue cautioned worriedly. "Otherwise... if something goes wrong, it would be terrible."

"I know," Feng Hanyue said, sticking out her pink tongue, a look of nonchalance on her face. "But it doesn't matter anymore. Fifty-three of my profound openings are already clear, and just two more to go until they're all open, so this situation is definitely fine now."

"Oh, is that so? Good, good," Feng Hanxue said, visibly relieved.

Yun Che's eyebrow twitched, and an almost imperceptible smile touched the corner of his lips. His hand, poised to open Feng Hanyue's final profound opening, suddenly moved away from her back and slowly lowered. The expression on his face grew solemn and serious.

"Huh?" Feng Hanyue, thrilled and excited, was anticipating the activation of her Heavenly Spirit Divine Veins. Yet, she suddenly felt Yun Che's hand withdraw. His hand had never suddenly moved away when he worked on Senior Sisters like Mu Rong Qianxue or Jun Lianqie. She quickly interjected, "Wait... only fifty-three are open; the Jade Pool Opening hasn't been cleared yet. Did you... did you forget?"

"I know, it's just... it's just..." Yun Che's face was etched with conflict. He hesitated for a moment before stammering, "Senior Sister Hanyue, your Jade Pool Opening... it seems... it seems there's a slight issue."

"Ah!!"

Yun Che's words made both Feng Hanyue and Feng Hanxue exclaim in unison. In her nervous surprise, Feng Hanyue nearly spun around completely. She tightened her snow-white robe to cover her chest and turned her head, utterly disregarding whether Yun Che had called her "Senior Sister" or "Master Ancestor." With extreme nervousness, she asked, "Is... is that true? What's wrong with my Jade Pool Opening? Is it serious... Does this mean it can't be cleared anymore?"

"Yes, yes, what exactly is the problem? Why is there a problem? Will it be very serious?" Feng Hanxue, her thoughts connected to her sister Feng Hanyue, barraged him with several questions, appearing even more anxious than Feng Hanyue.

"Well..." Yun Che exhaled softly and finally spoke. "You two Senior Sisters don't need to be overly nervous. Senior Sister Hanyue's Jade Pool Opening isn't damaged by external or internal forces; it's a congenital 'inverse concealment'."

"'Inverse concealment'?" Both Feng Hanyue and Feng Hanxue simultaneously parted their lips, a look of bewilderment on their faces. It was the first time they had ever heard that term—and understandably so, as Yun Che had completely fabricated it on the spot.

"Ahem, 'inverse concealment' is a term in our medical discipline, so it's perfectly normal for you two Senior Sisters not to be familiar with it," Yun Che said, his expression unchanged. "A profound opening with 'inverse concealment' is quite common. It means a specific profound opening seals itself within the profound veins and grows in a reversed position. Strictly speaking, it's not a flaw in the profound opening itself, as it doesn't affect one's cultivation and can still be opened from within through diligent practice, just like normal profound openings. However, opening an 'inverse concealed' profound opening with external force, while using the same method, is significantly more difficult and cannot be done from the back."

Upon hearing Yun Che's explanation, the two sisters visibly relaxed. He had mentioned greater difficulty but not impossibility. Feng Hanxue carefully inquired, "If it can't be opened from the back... then, how should it be done?"

"Well..." Yun Che looked a little troubled. He hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice. "I'm going to say this, and you two Senior Sisters must promise not to get angry... You should both know the location of the Jade Pool Opening. It corresponds precisely to... the right chest. If this profound opening were in its normal state, it would be accessed from the right side of the back. However, due to its 'inverse concealment,' it can only be opened from the opposite front, which is... Senior Sister Hanyue's right chest area. This... this... I know Senior Sister will surely be unwilling, so... this is merely a temporary solution."