Chapter 966: Ice Phoenix Palace Master

“Master!” Mu Xiaolan exclaimed with delight, watching the ethereal figure float down from the sky.

“Ice Cloud… Palace Mistress!” a disciple of the Snowfall Hall whispered.

Upon hearing the name “Ice Cloud Palace Mistress,” the surrounding new disciples’ eyes widened. For profound practitioners raised in the Snow Song Realm, the thirty-six Ice Phoenix Palace Mistresses of the Ice Phoenix Realm were legendary figures, like deities. They never imagined they would be so fortunate as to witness the celestial presence of an Ice Phoenix Palace Mistress on their very first day in the Snowfall Hall.

“Mu… Bing… Yun!?” Mu Fengshu looked up, her brows furrowed, her eyes filled with profound shock and disbelief.

A thousand years ago, her cultivation was far inferior to Mu Bingyun’s. However, over the past millennium, Mu Bingyun had been severely afflicted by poison, not only facing the constant threat of death but also having her profound strength weakened to less than ten percent. In contrast, Mu Fengshu’s cultivation had advanced day and night, and although still not comparable to Mu Bingyun’s a thousand years ago, it was more than enough to easily defeat the poisoned Mu Bingyun.

Yet, the azure light she had just witnessed, though completely non-aggressive, had entirely blocked all her power. To achieve that, one’s profound cultivation needed to be at least half a major realm higher than hers. Seeing that the person was actually Mu Bingyun, she simply couldn’t believe her eyes.

Mu Bingyun descended gently, as if carried by a soft breeze, landing beside Yun Che and Mu Xiaolan. Her appearance was like a gentle radiance shining down. The fear and trepidation everyone felt from Mu Fengshu’s anger and killing intent quietly vanished, replaced by an indescribable warmth and peace. Even the icy pressure emanating from Mu Fengshu seemed to be completely imperceptible.

Most of those remaining in the hall were new disciples who had just passed the assessment. For many, it was their first time seeing the General Hall Master of the Snowfall Hall, and certainly their first time seeing a legendary Ice Phoenix Palace Mistress. However, in that brief moment, they clearly sensed the vast difference between the Snowfall Hall Master and an Ice Phoenix Palace Mistress.

Mu Fengshu inspired awe in them… but mostly fear.

Mu Bingyun, descending from the heavens, made them feel as if they were gazing upon a supremely sacred goddess from the heavens, one to be worshipped from afar, not approached or defiled. Her beauty, aura, and celestial bearing utterly overshadowed Mu Fengshu, casting her into an immeasurable depth of ordinariness.

“Phew, that’s good.” Mu Sushan exhaled softly, sensing Mu Bingyun’s aura. His face revealed profound astonishment. Today, Mu Bingyun showed no trace of her usual frail sickliness. In a trance, he felt as if he were seeing the gentle yet majestic Ice Cloud Palace Mistress of a thousand years ago once more.

Mu Bingyun glanced at Yun Che, then turned her gaze and spoke softly, “Mu Fengshu, as the General Hall Master of Snowfall, aren’t you ashamed to lay hands on a junior?”

“Hmph!” Though startled, Mu Fengshu refused to lose her composure before Mu Bingyun. “Mu Bingyun, how dare you question me? This person you brought back first maliciously injured my nephew, then, right before my eyes, severely injured and crippled an excellent disciple of my First Snowfall Hall. He’s utterly reckless and his crimes are unforgivable! For so many years, no one has ever dared to act so wildly in my Snowfall Hall. He clearly shows no regard for my Snowfall Hall, and it’s no different from seeking death!”

“Today, not only must he pay with his life, but you must also give me an explanation!”

“No, that’s not it at all.” Mu Xiaolan urgently interjected, “It was clearly…”

“Xiaolan, no need to explain.” Mu Bingyun gently cut her off. “I arrived here before the Ice Profound Realm assessment ended. I saw everything that happened afterwards.”

“Ah??” Mu Xiaolan was dumbfounded, while Yun Che, leaning against her, quietly chuckled to himself.

“Mu Fengshu,” Mu Bingyun’s voice was soft as a willow, yet carried an involuntary air of authority that made people hold their breath, “You know full well who was in the right and who was in the wrong today. Even if Yun Che were at fault, it is no longer for your Snowfall Hall to punish him.”

“Yun Che, you no longer need to join the Snowfall Hall. Effective immediately, I accept you as an official disciple of the Ice Phoenix Palace. You will accompany me to the Thirty-Sixth Ice Phoenix Palace.”

As her voice fell, a flawless jade-like hand extended, gently stroking Yun Che’s shoulder. With a flash of blue light, a sky-blue jade token embedded itself on his shoulder.

Sky blue—this was the Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade, proof of an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple’s identity! Clearly etched upon it were the characters “Yun Che.”

The hall was so silent one could hear a pin drop, save for the constant gulping sounds from throats. Envious gazes were fixed intently on the Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade on Yun Che’s shoulder… To enter the Snowfall Hall was already incredibly difficult, a glory for one’s ancestors. But the Ice Phoenix Palace was a sacred sanctuary they barely dared to dream of!

To enter the Ice Phoenix Palace, one needed to achieve the Divine Soul Realm before the age of forty to even qualify for the assessment… and that was merely to qualify.

Those like Mu Xiaolan, who achieved the Divine Origin Realm in their teens and were thus specially admitted to the Ice Phoenix Palace, were extremely rare. As for someone entering the Ice Phoenix Palace at the Sovereign Profound Realm—that had never happened in the history of the Ice Phoenix Palace!

If this news were merely heard, anyone would dismiss it as a colossal joke. Yet, those present, though shocked, found it almost acceptable.

Because they had witnessed it with their own eyes: Yun Che, with the power of the Sovereign Profound Realm, had consecutively and severely injured Li Mingcheng of Divine Origin Realm Stage 3 and Ji Hanfeng of Divine Origin Realm Stage 6!

Although his profound strength was far from meeting the Ice Phoenix Palace’s standards, with his incredible talent, he was absolutely qualified! It was also because she had witnessed Yun Che’s performance today that Mu Bingyun felt no pressure in admitting him into the Ice Phoenix Palace.

“Yes.” Yun Che glanced at his own Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade and responded.

“Mu Bingyun, you… you actually…” Facing the Mu Bingyun who had been frail for a millennium but had suddenly become assertive today, Mu Fengshu was momentarily flustered.

“A thousand years,” Mu Bingyun sighed softly. No one could truly empathize with the vicissitudes of those thousand years. “Mu Fengshu, for this millennium, I was clearly aware of your thoughts, intentions, and actions. I always felt I owed you, and thus never exposed you, nor pursued the matter. Even when the Great Realm King intended to punish you, I blocked it for you.”

Mu Fengshu suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with shock.

“So many years have passed; my ‘debt’ to you has been repaid sufficiently. Henceforth, I owe you nothing more. The poison in my body—the Great Realm King long ago found a purification method for me. I am now fully recovered, and my profound strength has recovered by more than half. Next, I will revitalize the Thirty-Sixth Ice Phoenix Palace. If you want an ‘explanation,’ you may come to the Thirty-Sixth Ice Phoenix Palace to find me at any time.”

“Also, if you ever engage in such underhanded schemes again, I will no longer pretend not to know… I will certainly not forgive you!”

As Mu Bingyun’s voice fell, a deep blue light suddenly flashed in her icy gaze fixed on Mu Fengshu.

The moment this blue light appeared, Mu Fengshu staggered back as if struck by lightning, her face instantly turning ashen white. Her pupils dilated, her mouth agape, and for a long time, she couldn’t utter a word.

A millennium of silence, a millennium of frailty, had gradually made the people of the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect forget that she was once the Ice Phoenix Palace Mistress with the strongest profound strength, the greatest prestige, the most exalted status, and the most admired and respected by disciples among the thirty-six Palace Mistresses.

Back then, Mu Fengshu had always been respectful and dared not be presumptuous in front of her. Moreover, her respect was sincere, from the depths of her soul.

In her intensely shrinking pupils, she clearly saw that the Ice Cloud Palace Mistress, who had been silent for a millennium… had returned.

“Xiaolan, Yun Che, let’s go.” Mu Bingyun turned around.

“Yes, Master.” Mu Xiaolan responded joyfully, tears welling in her excited eyes.

“Ah… wait, wait, wait.” Yun Che, however, grabbed Mu Xiaolan’s small hand, not forgetting to subtly feel the soft, smooth skin of the young girl. He said very seriously, “Even though I don’t need to join the Snowfall Hall anymore, I still need to take the rewards that belong to me, don’t I? I worked hard to get them.”

“That… Jade Dew Ice Soul Pellet, and the Star Picking Stone…”

Mu Bingyun’s ethereal figure paused, speechless.

Mu Xiaolan slapped his clearly mischievous hand away.

“Hahahaha,” Mu Sushan burst into laughter, seemingly in excellent spirits. “You’re right, the rewards that belong to you naturally cannot be left behind.”

Mu Sushan reached out and grasped, and the Jade Dew Ice Soul Pellet immediately floated up from Ji Hanfeng’s body, then flew into his hand. He then pushed it, along with the Star Picking Stone, towards Yun Che.

When the Jade Dew Ice Soul Pellet and the Star Picking Stone arrived in front of Yun Che, they seemed to be gently held by an invisible force, stopping directly there. Feeling their presence up close, Yun Che was filled with amazement and excitement… Their light and aura were absolutely beyond anything the Profound Sky Continent and Illusory Demon Realm could possess. Yun Che carefully took them and placed them into the Sky Poison Pearl, then respectfully said, “Thank you, Senior Sushan.”

“No need to thank me, these are what you deserve.” Mu Sushan said with a chuckle, then cast a meaningful glance at Mu Bingyun. “Ice Cloud Palace Mistress, congratulations. It seems the revitalization of the Thirty-Sixth Ice Phoenix Palace is now just a matter of time.”

Mu Bingyun nodded slightly, then floated into the air, taking Mu Xiaolan and Yun Che with her as they departed.

“Feng Mo, this is my sound transmission imprint. If you encounter any insoluble problems in the Snowfall Hall in the future, you can try sending a sound transmission to me.”

As Feng Mo watched Yun Che leave with complex feelings, Yun Che’s sound transmission suddenly echoed in his ears. He trembled all over, his eyes turbulent for a long time.

Yun Che was completely exhausted and unable to fly on his own. But a gentle breeze from Mu Bingyun carried him softly, making him feel extremely comfortable.

After leaving the main Snowfall Hall, Mu Xiaolan still hadn’t quite recovered. She stared straight at Yun Che. “So you’re actually… actually that strong.”

“Of course.” Yun Che’s face was filled with pride. “Now you know how dangerous it was when you kidnapped my Senior Uncle Murong that day, right? It’s a good thing you were still relatively obedient back then and released him immediately. If you hadn’t, I would have stripped you naked and thrown you into the snow.”

“You, you, you, you…” Mu Xiaolan’s small face instantly turned beet red, and the admiration she had just developed for Yun Che vanished in an instant. “Master, look at him! He really is a lewd bad guy… he hasn’t changed at all.”

Mu Bingyun shook her head helplessly and gently admonished, “Yun Che, Xiaolan is still young and innocent. Don’t say such explicit things to her.”

“Oh.” Yun Che responded.

“Grrr!” Mu Xiaolan glared at Yun Che, then painstakingly tried to distance herself from him. She continued, still pouting, “Even though you’re stronger than I thought, you’re too foolish and too impulsive! You knew who Li Mingcheng was; you should have just defeated him, why wound him so severely? And Ji Hanfeng too! If Master hadn’t arrived in time, you would have surely lost your life.”

“He wasn’t overly impulsive.” Before Yun Che could reply, Mu Bingyun gently spoke. “Although Yun Che was furious, he never lost his rationality. He never displayed his best-known flames from beginning to end. And the reason he dared to severely injure Li Mingcheng and Ji Hanfeng is because he had already detected my arrival.”

“Ah?” Mu Xiaolan’s face was full of confusion. “How… how could that be? How could Yun Che possibly detect Master’s aura, when even Hall Master Fengshu and Senior Sushan didn’t notice you?”