Chapter 422: Commitment

The falling snow brought Yun Che and Feng Xue'er significantly closer. Feng Xue'er's mood became exceptionally joyful, as the falling snow had always been her most cherished and beautiful dream.

"Big Brother Yun, the snow you made fall, is it a water-element profound art?" Feng Xue'er asked, cupping her fragrant cheeks, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. This pure spirit displayed all her emotions openly on her snowy face; her question also revealed her curiosity and longing for this profound art.

"Yes, it's called 'Ice Cloud Art,' or more precisely, an ice-element profound art," Yun Che replied without hesitation. He was sure Feng Xue'er hadn't heard of it, but he still casually added, "Xue'er, have you heard of this profound art before?"

"No," Feng Xue'er replied, gently shaking her head. "But why do you cultivate an ice-element profound art? Our Phoenix bloodline can ignite the most powerful Phoenix Flames, but don't fire and ice-element profound arts conflict? I've never heard of anyone in the sect cultivating water-element profound arts. Father Emperor even mentioned that there isn't anyone like that in the entire Divine Phoenix City."

Water and fire are opposing elements and cannot be cultivated in conjunction. Even if one attempts to do so, when activating one type of profound energy, the other must be suppressed to its utmost; otherwise, both energies will cancel each other out or become chaotic within the profound veins. This is fundamental common sense in the profound way, rendering the cultivation of a profound art contrary to one's own attribute nothing but a waste of effort. Divine Phoenix City's abundant fire elemental energy makes it an ideal location for cultivating fire-element profound arts. Consequently, most profound practitioners here focus on fire-element techniques. Aside from occasional visitors, it's impossible to find anyone cultivating water-element profound arts. Even for outsiders, the active fire element means that specializing in water-element profound arts will cause varying degrees of discomfort to their bodies and profound veins.

Therefore, Feng Xue'er's questions were entirely natural.

Yun Che calmly said, "Xue'er, did you know that our Divine Phoenix Sect's influence extends beyond just the Divine Phoenix Empire? Many of our clansmen are sent to other countries from a young age. They conceal their Phoenix bloodline and join powerful local sects or forces to gather intelligence, forming our sect's information network."

Feng Xue'er's fragrant lips parted slightly, then she gently nodded. "Yes, I know about that. Father Emperor once mentioned it to me... Big Brother Yun, were you also one of those who were dispatched outside from a young age?"

Feng Xue'er naturally didn't doubt Yun Che's words. Establishing an intelligence network is a fundamental practice for any powerful sect, serving as one of its lifelines. Heavenly Sword Villa, Xiao Sect, and even Cangfeng Profound Palace all have disciples placed in other major sects, so it was only natural for the vast Divine Phoenix Sect to do the same.

"Yes, the place I was sent to is called Cangfeng Nation. I only returned to the sect this year," Yun Che nodded. He answered with remarkable calm, without a hint of emotion. Even the most astute observer would find it almost impossible to detect any trace of a lie in his eyes or expression. Yet, as the words left his mouth, his heart gave a sharp pang.

Throughout his two lives, whether to achieve a goal or simply to survive, he had countless times uttered words designed to conceal, fabricate, or mislead. He had long mastered the art of maintaining an impassive expression and an untroubled mind. Yet this time, he faced a maiden purer than snow, one who had saved his life. He told this lie solely to conceal his true identity and achieve his objectives, with not the slightest intention of harming her. Still, the guilt and remorse he felt were more intense than ever before.

"Cangfeng Nation..." Feng Xue'er knew the country and that it was the smallest on the continent. She blinked her beautiful eyes and pressed, "So, Big Brother Yun, did you learn the Ice Cloud Art there? Since they have ice-element profound arts, does that mean there's a lot of snow?"

"Yes," Yun Che nodded. "It's a place called the Frozen Cloud Asgard, and it's a thousand *li* of pure white snow."

"A thousand *li*... of white snow?" Feng Xue'er's cherry lips parted in astonishment. She couldn't imagine what kind of wondrous sight that would be.

"Over a thousand *li* entirely covered in white snow, and it's incredibly thick," Yun Che said with a smile. "Even if you shatter the snow layer by several *zhang*, what's beneath is still snow." He believed that for Feng Xue'er, who loved snow, the Frozen Cloud Asgard would be a paradise. He earnestly described it: "It's so cold there that the ice and snow never melt, not even after ten thousand years. Look, the mountains around here are made of earth and rock, but in the Frozen Cloud Asgard, even the peaks are covered by layers of snow and ice. Our sky here is blue, but there, the sky is reflected pure white by the thousand *li* of snow. The entire world is an endless expanse of white, blurring the distinction between sky and earth. It's so pure and quiet that you can hear the sound of your own heart beating."

"Oh..." Feng Xue'er's hands unconsciously covered her lips, her eyes misty like fog. "Is there really... such a place? Frozen Cloud Asgard... Frozen Cloud Asgard..."

"Not only that, even though it's all ice and snow, there are many flowers and plants," Yun Che continued. "The flowers are like crystal ice flowers, and the plants glitter with icy light. There are also beautiful ice corals and natural ice sculptures of various shapes. These are things you can't see anywhere else because they quickly melt once they leave the Frozen Cloud Asgard. Also..." Yun Che pointed to the Snow Phoenix Beast, "Little Chan was also conceived in the Frozen Cloud Asgard, which is why its feathers are as white as snow. Throughout the entire Profound Sky Continent, Snow Phoenix Beasts only exist there. It's truly been hard on Little Chan, leaving that place with me."

The Snow Phoenix Beast gave a soft cry.

Feng Xue'er stood there in a daze, feeling as if she had fallen into a fantastical world that had never even appeared in her dreams. Its beauty surpassed the most magnificent paradise she had ever imagined. In fact, she couldn't even use her entire imagination to paint a clear picture of such beauty in her mind: a thousand *li* of white snow, snow-white peaks, a snow-white sky, glistening trees, sparkling flowers, and birds as beautiful as Little White soaring through the air...

"Frozen Cloud Asgard... Frozen Cloud Asgard..." she murmured the name as if in a dream, feeling as if her very soul was melting.

"Would you like to go there, Xue'er?" Yun Che asked, a question whose answer was already evident from her expression.

"Yes!" Feng Xue'er nodded vigorously, a faint blush of excitement appearing on her soft, snowy face. "So there really is such a wonderful place in this world! I really want to go. If I could reach such a world and live there... oh, how happy I would be!"

"But..." Feng Xue'er's eyes dimmed slightly. "Father Emperor said I'm not allowed to leave Divine Phoenix City before I turn twenty. He's always so busy and hasn't left Divine Phoenix City for many, many years. Even if I turn twenty, he might not have time to take me..."

"Then I'll take you," Yun Che said without thinking, blurting it out involuntarily.

"Ah..." Feng Xue'er gasped softly, her expression revealing a deep, unexpected surprise. "Is that true? Are you really willing to take me?"

She trusted his words implicitly and was so unguarded around him. Moreover, the snow he summoned and the scene he described had sparked a subtle, girlish admiration within her. A complex yet warm emotion surged in Yun Che's heart. He nodded vigorously. "Of course, I'm willing. When you are able to leave Divine Phoenix City, if you still wish to recognize me as your 'Big Brother Yun,' then as long as you want to go, I will definitely take you to the Frozen Cloud Asgard. I came to the Divine Phoenix Empire from there, so I know exactly how to get back. From Divine Phoenix City, if we travel quickly, we can reach it in half a month."

"That's wonderful!" the girl exclaimed joyfully, all her previous disappointment vanishing. She looked at Yun Che, smiling like the most exquisite and pure doll. "Big Brother Yun, thank you, you're so kind... I'm truly happy to have met you."

"I am the luckiest one, to be able to watch the snow with a beautiful girl like Xue'er," Yun Che said sincerely. He just didn't know if that promise would ever be fulfilled. Yet, if she was still willing when the time came, then even with numerous obstacles, he would do everything in his power to make it happen for her—whether it was to atone for the guilt in his heart, or perhaps, because deep down, he yearned to be by her side.

"Hehe, then it's a promise, okay?" Feng Xue'er said with a joyful smile. "After I turn twenty, Big Brother Yun will take me to the Frozen Cloud Asgard to see the thousand *li* of falling snow... You definitely can't lie or go back on your word."

"Yes!" Yun Che nodded, extending his pinky finger towards Feng Xue'er. "Let's pinky swear."

"Huh?" Feng Xue'er looked at Yun Che's extended pinky, then at her own fingers, her face showing confusion. "Pinky swear... what does that mean?"

Yun Che lightly wiggled his finger and said, "It means whatever we've said must count, and it can't change, no matter how many years pass."

"Uh..." Feng Xue'er timidly extended her slender, jade-like finger. "A promise is a promise, but... but..."

However, her body, even her pinky finger, had never been touched by a man. In Feng Hengkong's eyes, every inch of her skin was the most precious treasure of the Divine Phoenix Sect. Any touch was an unforgivable defilement, even for him, her own father. Indeed, if he had to choose between the Divine Phoenix Sect and Feng Xue'er, he would unhesitatingly choose Feng Xue'er.

The reason for this protectiveness was not merely a father's extreme devotion to his only daughter. A more crucial reason, known only to a select few in the Divine Phoenix Sect, was that the Four Sacred Grounds, through unknown means, had also obtained information and had long taken notice of Feng Xue'er. This compelled Feng Hengkong to protect her with an almost incomprehensible level of caution.

If he knew that a man was sitting so close to Feng Xue'er, laughing and talking with her—and that this 'mongrel,' whom he was destined to eliminate, even intended to touch her—he would, even if it were his own son, unhesitatingly blast him into a pulp in a furious rage.

"Oh, I see," Yun Che said, as if just realizing. "Your Father Emperor doesn't allow anyone to touch you, and you're afraid he'll blame you, right?"

"Yes..." Feng Xue'er nodded gently. "I cannot disobey Father Emperor. What I fear more... is that Father Emperor will be angry with you if he finds out. Just last year, Twelfth Brother accidentally touched my shoulder, and Father Emperor saw it. He was so furious that he immediately broke Twelfth Brother's wrist and even threatened to cripple him. I pleaded for Twelfth Brother; Father Emperor usually always listens to me, but he was truly enraged and still confined Twelfth Brother for a full half year. It was all my fault for harming Twelfth Brother. I don't want Big Brother Yun to be harmed because of me too."