Chapter 968: Ice Phoenix Thirty-Sixth Palace

The Frozen Phoenix City Domain was exceptionally vast, its borders stretching beyond sight. Thirty-six Frozen Phoenix Palaces stood within it, each unique. The air here was remarkably still, and the icy spiritual pressure seemed to freeze everything between heaven and earth.

The Thirty-Sixth Palace was located in the central southern region of the Frozen Phoenix City Domain. Although a palace, its interior was as vast as a city from a lower realm.

Upon entering, Yun Che still felt the intense cold, spiritual pressure, and extreme stillness.

"This is the Thirty-Sixth Palace where you will reside," Mu Bingyun explained to Yun Che. "It stretches three hundred miles north to south and is seven thousand *zhang* high, but its internal space is far larger than what you see."

"Its internal space is far larger than what you see?" Yun Che was momentarily puzzled by this statement.

"Now that you are a disciple of the Frozen Phoenix Palace, you are free to enter and exit the Frozen Phoenix City Domain, the Cold Snow City Domain, and the Falling Snow City Domain, and use their teleportation arrays at will. However, each Frozen Phoenix Palace is relatively independent; you may not enter others without permission."

"Oh," Yun Che nodded.

"Hey! What kind of reaction is that?" Mu Xiaolan said, dissatisfied. "In our Snow Song Realm, entering the Frozen Phoenix Palace is something countless cultivators wouldn't even dare to dream of. Even those with exceptionally high talent who qualify must first pass a very strict assessment. Someone like you, directly granted special permission by the Frozen Phoenix Palace Master to become a disciple, is incredibly rare—a blessing that comes once in ten thousand lifetimes! Yet, you act as if... as if it's perfectly natural."

Yun Che glanced at her, then nodded again. "Oh, I see."

Mu Xiaolan was instantly speechless, her face flushed with anger.

Mu Bingyun, long accustomed to their bickering, simply ignored them and said, "Those who enter the Frozen Phoenix Palace are bestowed the surname 'Mu'. Since you are now a Frozen Phoenix Palace disciple, you naturally qualify for this. The surname 'Mu' is unique to our Frozen Phoenix Divine Sect. Bearing the 'Mu' surname will bring you great benefits and convenience in the Frozen Phoenix Realm, and even throughout the entire Snow Song Realm."

Mu Bingyun turned to them. "Xiaolan's original name was Situ Lanlan; Mu Xiaolan is the name I personally bestowed upon her. Therefore, I shall bestow upon you the name 'Mu Xiaoche'. What do you think?"

Mu... Xiao... Che...

Yun Che, despite his best efforts to endure, felt his temples throb, veins bulge, and the muscles around his mouth twitch uncontrollably. He lowered his head, maintaining a respectful posture, and stated with absolute resolve, "Thank you, Immortal Mu, for the bestowed name, but I quite like my current name, so... so..."

"Very well," Mu Bingyun said without pressing the matter, not seeming surprised at all, and nodded in agreement.

"An ungrateful fool," Mu Xiaolan muttered disdainfully. To be granted the surname 'Mu' was the highest honor in the Snow Song Realm. Even an emperor of a nation would be overwhelmed with gratitude if bestowed the 'Mu' surname. Yet Yun Che, a bumpkin from a lower realm... actually refused!

Yun Che shot Mu Xiaolan a sidelong glance and groaned internally. Mu Bingyun possesses beauty like a celestial maiden and elegance like an ice lotus, holding a high status and divine power in the God Realm, but her naming ability is truly... 'touching'...

Mu Xiaolan... Mu Xiaoche... they both sound like baby names!

Surely the names of other disciples here aren't all like this?

Hmm? Other disciples?

Yun Che carefully sensed the surrounding aura and asked doubtfully, "Immortal Mu, why is it so quiet here? Where are the other disciples?"

"What other disciples?" Mu Xiaolan pouted. "Before, it was just Master and me here. Now, there's also you, a big bad person."

"No other disciples?" Yun Che froze for a moment. Then, recalling Mu Bingyun's state over the years, he slowly understood.

"In the past few years, the Thirty-Sixth Frozen Phoenix Palace has only had Xiaolan as a disciple; you are the second. For several centuries before that, there were even no disciples at all." Mu Bingyun sighed softly. "After I was poisoned, my condition worsened day by day for a millennium. There was a possibility of death every day, and I simply lacked the strength to sustain a Frozen Phoenix Palace. However, the Great Realm King did not wish for me to lose my status in the Frozen Phoenix Realm and forcibly preserved my position as Palace Master of the Thirty-Sixth Frozen Phoenix Palace. It was also after that time that the Thirty-Sixth Palace ceased to have new disciples. Consequently, over these years, although it still bore the name 'Thirty-Six Frozen Phoenix Palaces,' in reality, there were only thirty-five. Even taking Xiaolan as a disciple was merely an accident."

"The other Frozen Phoenix Palaces each have around three thousand disciples, as well as two vice-palace masters and over a dozen instructors. But I don't envy them at all," Mu Xiaolan's eyes sparkled. "Because I can be by Master's side all the time, having her all to myself. The Palace Masters of the other Frozen Phoenix Palaces are all icy and terrifying to look at, but Master is always so kind, so gentle... Hmph, Yun Che, let me warn you: you... you... you are not allowed to compete with me for Master! I've shared so many years of affection with Master; you won't be able to win her over from me!"

Yun Che: "..."

Mu Bingyun smiled faintly and shook her head.

"Immortal Mu, you have now been freed from the flame poison, and it won't be long until your profound energy and vital essence are fully restored. Will you then recruit new disciples and revitalize the Thirty-Sixth Palace?" Yun Che asked.

Mu Bingyun, however, shook her head. "I have no such plans for now. Over these years, my temperament has mellowed, and I've grown more accustomed to quiet. Let's discuss this again in a few years."

Yun Che had long sensed Mu Bingyun's unusually placid temperament. He possessed many strange, even incomprehensible, aspects: his profound arts, his dual ice-fire body, the Heaven Smiting Sword he revealed today, and even the origin of his Sky Poison Pearl. These would typically arouse an intense desire for inquiry in others. Yet, Mu Bingyun never questioned any of it. On the rare occasion she did ask something, if Yun Che showed even a hint of hesitation, she would never press further.

This was certainly not the disposition of an ordinary person.

Perhaps her experiences over the past millennium had made her indifferent and perceptive to many things.

"Yun Che, I have already explained your situation to the Great Realm King."

Hearing the mention of his purpose for coming to the God Realm, Yun Che's spirit immediately sharpened.

Mu Bingyun slowly continued. "The Great Realm King has agreed to bring you to the Profound God Convention's venue, but she also stated that bringing you into the venue is the limit. Whether you can meet the person you wish to see will depend entirely on your own fortune."

"Good," Yun Che nodded, a little excited. "My thanks to Immortal Mu and the Great Realm King for making this possible."

"No need to thank me," Mu Bingyun gently shook her head. "You saved my life, so the Great Realm King's approval is only natural. There are still thirty months until the Profound God Convention begins. What are your plans for this period? I took you into the Frozen Phoenix Palace primarily to facilitate helping you, not to overly restrict you."

Yun Che considered for a moment, then spoke frankly. "The spiritual energy in this world is far beyond what my previous world could compare to. During these thirty months leading up to the Profound God Convention, I will not waste the opportunity to cultivate here. After that, I will leave this place. Therefore, during my time here, I intend to focus on cultivation and try to avoid contact with the outside world, to prevent... any further incidents."

Mu Xiaolan opened her mouth, then hesitated, leaving her words unsaid.

"Very well," Mu Bingyun nodded. "There are five thousand cultivation chambers and five thousand living quarters here. All are empty except for Xiaolan's room; you may choose freely."

"What you did today will undoubtedly spread quickly. Many people will surely come looking for you to find out more. Since you prefer not to interact with outsiders, I will personally fend them off for you. You can simply cultivate in peace."

"Yes," Yun Che immediately replied.

Mu Xiaolan stared at Mu Bingyun, her mouth agape, a bewildered expression on her face.

"Among the great halls in the center of the City Domain, the Sacred Canon Palace offers profound arts for comprehension, all of which are ice-attribute. You likely won't be interested in those. At the Sacred Artifact Palace, you may choose a weapon, and at the Sacred Jade Palace, you can collect a monthly stipend of five thousand Violet Stones and resources using your Frozen Phoenix Engraved Jade."

"Violet Stones? What are those?" Yun Che asked.

"Energy profound stones," Mu Bingyun explained. "Based on energy intensity and purity, they are classified from low to high as Violet Stones, Violet Crystals, and Violet Jades. These energy profound stones can be absorbed to aid cultivation, but their conversion rate is very low, and they offer no help in breaking through bottlenecks. Therefore, they are mostly used as energy for profound formations, profound talismans, profound boats, profound warships, and other similar items. At the same time, they serve as the common currency of the God Realm."

Common currency! Yun Che immediately understood.

"These energy profound stones are measured by the *liang*. One thousand Violet Stones can be exchanged for one Violet Crystal, and one thousand Violet Crystals can be exchanged for one Violet Jade." Mu Bingyun glanced at Yun Che. "You might not be familiar with Violet Jades, but you have surely seen Violet Stones and Violet Crystals."

"Huh?"

"Violet Stones are what the Profound Sky Continent calls Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals, and Violet Crystals are Purple Vein Divine Crystals."

Yun Che was immediately stunned.

Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals, which were practically divine artifacts on the Profound Sky Continent, were merely the lowest-grade energy profound stones in the God Realm!

An ordinary Frozen Phoenix Palace disciple could directly receive five thousand Violet Stones a month... which was five thousand *liang*... five hundred *jin* of Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals!

Over a year, that amounted to six thousand *jin* of Purple Vein Heavenly Crystals... which converted to a full six *jin* of Purple Vein Divine Crystals.

If the top sects of the Profound Sky Continent were to hear this, their jaws would probably drop all the way to the South Sea.

Glancing at Yun Che's condition, Mu Bingyun said, "You expended too much today and seem to have injured your vital essence. Please choose a living quarter and immediately rest and recuperate. If anything comes up, you can send me or Xiaolan a sound transmission through your Engraved Jade."

"Okay." The immense burden from forcibly activating "Heaven Smiting" had left him in severe pain all over his body until now. And from exhaustion, he was starting to sway even after standing for only a short while.

"Furthermore, now that you have entered the Frozen Phoenix Palace, you shall address me as 'Palace Master' from now on. As for Xiaolan, you must address her as 'Senior Sister'; do not be overly disrespectful."

"Yes, Palace Master... Senior Sister Xiaolan."

Senior Sister is Senior Sister, it's not like he'll lose a piece of flesh by calling her that!

"Hmph, that's more like it." Mu Xiaolan finally felt a small surge of triumph.

Mu Bingyun nodded gently, then turned. "Xiaolan, accompany me to the First Palace."

Just as she was about to leave, Mu Bingyun suddenly paused, turning her head. "Yun Che, the Star-Picking Stone you obtained today is a divine stone formed by bathing in the essence of the sun and moon. Cultivating and healing on it will bring immense benefits, and even if you cultivate for twelve *shichen* every day, it can last for ten years. However, the 'Jadefall Ice Soul Pellet' you received has medicinal properties that are too potent for you right now; you absolutely cannot withstand them. Once you achieve the Divine Path and your divine power stabilizes, I will personally help you refine it."

"Yes, I understand," Yun Che respectfully replied.