Chapter 991: Interrogation

Among the four original Creation Gods of the Ancient Gods, Mo E's power of creation was strength, Xi Ke's was order, Li Suo's was life, and the Heretic God's was elements – the ultimate power of elements!

The Vermilion Bird, Phoenix, and Golden Crow were the three supreme fire-element beings among the ancient gods, while the Azure Dragon, Ice Phoenix, and Ice Qilin were the three supreme water-element beings. However, in terms of the fundamental laws they embodied, all six of these supreme beings were far inferior to the Heretic God.

A Phoenix does not fear Phoenix Flames, yet it can still be injured by Golden Crow Flames and Vermilion Bird Flames. The Azure Dragon can control all the waters of the heavens, but it is certainly not completely immune to the ice of the Ice Phoenix and Ice Qilin. Yun Che, however, despite his power being infinitesimally small compared to theirs, fears no form of fire, ice, or lightning.

If he could find wind and earth elemental Heretic God seeds in the future, he would also be completely immune to the power of storms and earth.

This is why Yun Che's progress in the Great Way of the Buddha was slow, and his Star God Broken Shadow only reached the fifth level. Yet, high-level divine profound arts such as the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture, Golden Crow Record of the Burning World, and Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon could be comprehended without hindrance, quickly achieving mastery in a short period.

The Heretic God's elemental power was so profound that it might have transcended the perceived limits of laws, completely unbound by them, reaching an "anti-heaven" realm that even the gods could not comprehend or grasp.

Nevertheless, it was relatively easy for Yun Che to release ice aura to attract some ice spirits, but to attract all these ice spirits solely with profound energy was utterly impossible. This was because his elemental power, though high in terms of fundamental laws, was truly too low in terms of profound cultivation.

Yet, the timing was extraordinarily coincidental. Yun Che had just completed his breakthrough from the mortal to the divine path, and what he released was the first surge of profound energy, which had just undergone transformation and rebirth, utterly pristine and pure. This profoundly pure profound energy, originating from the Heretic God's power, was like smelling the primordial source of cold at the dawn of creation for these pure ice spirits. They instinctively swarmed towards him.

And this situation, with Yun Che's current profound energy, would be utterly impossible to replicate. Yet, it happened at this very moment…

Yun Che was completely oblivious to all this. He was merely excitedly releasing profound energy to experience his newfound power, not even knowing what was happening in the Netherfrost Divine Lake.

When he opened his eyes, he found the atmosphere seriously amiss. Everyone's gaze was focused on him, and the dancing ice spirits around him encircled him like stars orbiting the moon, making him, who was clearly the weakest, the sole focus of this world.

"This… this… this…" The usually high-ranking and dignified elders and palace masters showed no trace of solemnity or authority. Their expressions were distorted as if they had suddenly seen a ghost in broad daylight.

Even if they combined the ages and experiences of everyone present, they could not comprehend the scene before their eyes.

Mu Hanyi and Mu Feixue also rose from the Netherfrost Divine Lake, staring blankly at Yun Che, who was surrounded by three thousand ice spirits, unable to regain their composure for a long time.

"What happened?" Yun Che rose and asked Mu Bingyun.

If this had happened earlier, being suddenly stared at by these old masters of the Ice Phoenix Sect would have made him extremely anxious. But having just entered the divine path, he was in high spirits and full of vigor. Though surprised, he showed no sign of panic.

Mu Bingyun was also clearly still in a dazed state, and Mu Xiaolan behind her was utterly dumbfounded, her mouth wide open, probably large enough to fit her small fist. Mu Bingyun let out a slight breath and said relatively calmly, "The Sect Master set a limit of three hours. The person who attracts the most ice spirits to their side within three hours will be chosen as a direct disciple, and you..."

She had another surprising thought: Yun Che had actually completed his breakthrough from the mortal to the divine path in just one hour! Such a short time, and in a "highly dangerous" place like the Netherfrost Divine Lake, was simply unheard of for her.

However, others clearly had no mind to focus on this point. The confrontation, which was about to be revealed—or had already produced a result—had unexpectedly undergone such an earth-shattering change in the final few breaths, stunning all the elders, palace masters, and disciples into a stupor.

Mu Huanzhi, who had already been ready to announce the results, moved his lips up and down more than a dozen times before finally speaking, "This… what is going on? What happened to this boy?"

A single thought flashed through everyone's minds: Who the hell knows what happened! All the ice spirits in the Netherfrost Divine Lake were attracted in just ten breaths. Not to mention the Divine Hall disciples, even the elders and palace masters themselves could never achieve this.

Yet such a thing was actually happening right before their eyes… It happened to a newly promoted disciple who had just stepped into the divine path, whose cultivation was so low they usually wouldn't even bother to glance at him.

If Yun Che had attracted these ice spirits with his own ice aura, they would absolutely not believe it. Even with the Sect Master's power, it would be almost impossible to achieve. Furthermore, the profound energy Yun Che suddenly released just now was merely initial profound energy, not ice profound energy at all.

High in the sky, upon the colossal ice dragon, the Snow Song Realm King remained utterly silent… Even she could not comprehend what was happening to Yun Che.

Among these people, Mu Hanyi and Mu Yunzhi were undoubtedly the most emotionally turbulent. Mu Yunzhi had already seen Mu Hanyi's victory, feeling immense joy in her heart, but then this sudden turn of events occurred. After her shock, her face suddenly clouded over, then returned to normal, and she loudly declared, "Great Elder, it's time to announce the results. My disciple Hanyi has already won; everyone here is a witness to that."

"But, this..." "What 'buts' are there?" Mu Yunzhi glanced at Yun Che. "Didn't you see? That boy just happened to complete his breakthrough. He just entered the divine path, so the profound energy he released is naturally newly born, the most primordial divine profound energy. And these ice spirits, of course, prefer the most original and pure things, which is why they all gathered around him. There's nothing strange about it! Thankfully, the final result is out, and he didn't ruin everything."

Mu Yunzhi's words stunned everyone. After a while, many people began to nod, "So that's it, no wonder..."

The ice spirits were indeed attracted to Yun Che because of the supremely pure initial profound energy released after his breakthrough. However, not just anyone's initial cold energy could achieve this… In fact, no one other than Yun Che could reach this level.

But what happened to Yun Che was something their understanding simply could not grasp. Therefore, Mu Yunzhi's explanation, which sounded only barely plausible, immediately provided a seemingly plausible reason for everyone who was completely shocked and bewildered—including the elders and palace masters, who instantly latched onto it. One after another, they began to nod in agreement, because, aside from this, they could not think of any other reason.

It couldn't possibly be Yun Che attracting these ice spirits with his own cold energy mastery!

"Indeed, it makes sense." Mu Huanzhi also nodded slowly. When no other possibilities could be conceived, even the most tenuous one would be magnified several times over. After all, it was true that the first surge of primordial profound energy after entering the divine path was the purest. Perhaps it truly was the aura most favored by ice spirits…

Yun Che was the first person in history to enter the divine path while in the Netherfrost Divine Lake. There had been no precedent for this, as those below the divine path would not even be allowed into the Netherfrost Divine Lake.

"It shouldn't be that simple," Mu Sushan mused. As soon as he finished speaking, he slowly shook his head, "But, this truly is the only explanation we can think of."

After finding a possible explanation, everyone's astonishment naturally began to dissipate. In the Netherfrost Divine Lake, a smile reappeared on Mu Hanyi's face. He turned his gaze to Mu Feixue, but Mu Feixue remained as serene as ever, like eternal, unmelting ice and snow, silent, still, and unperturbed.

As Yun Che retracted his profound energy, the ice spirits swirling around him began to disperse rapidly. By this time, he had learned everything that happened in the Netherfrost Divine Lake through Mu Bingyun's mental transmission. His heart trembled violently, and an unusual light, exceptionally intense, flickered deep within his pupils.

"Cough," Mu Huanzhi turned around, gave Mu Feixue a deep look, sighed inwardly, and announced in a long voice, "The three hours set by the Sect Master have elapsed. Although there was a small ripple at the end, the very last ice spirit was indeed attracted by Hanyi; everyone present witnessed it. Therefore, the ultimate victor of this contest for the Sect Master's direct disciple is—Mu Hanyi!"

As soon as Mu Huanzhi's voice fell, deafening cheers erupted among the disciples of the Divine Hall and the Ice Phoenix Palace. These excited shouts also demonstrated Mu Hanyi's high prestige among these disciples.

"Hahahahaha," Mu Yunzhi burst into laughter, her features completely radiant. She extended her hand towards Mu Hanyi from afar: "Hanyi, well done! You truly did not disappoint your master. I am proud of you. Come up and re-bow to the Sect Master. Once the master-disciple ceremony is complete, you will be the Sect Master's direct disciple!"

"I heard that in less than a month, it will be Hanyi's imperial father's millennium birthday; this will certainly be the best gift," another Divine Hall elder said with a smile.

"More than just the best gift, I fear the scene at this birthday celebration will be extraordinary," said the First Palace Master.

Mu Hanyi becoming the Realm King's direct disciple not only filled Mu Yunzhi with uncontrollable joy but was also considered a well-deserved outcome for the entire sect.

"Yes!" Mu Hanyi responded, then soared into the air, his white robes fluttering, landing beside Mu Yunzhi without disturbing a single drop of the lake water.

"Wait!!"

Just then, a heavily ill-timed voice rang out, strikingly harsh and jarring in the now fervent atmosphere.

Everyone's gaze immediately shifted, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

Mu Bingyun made a move, but then hesitated, not attempting to stop him.

Yun Che stepped forward: "This disciple has a few questions for the Great Elder."

As a disciple of the Ice Phoenix Palace, speaking out so forcefully to the elders was extremely disrespectful and offensive. Mu Yunzhi had been greatly pleased, but Yun Che's abrupt interruption was a terrible buzzkill, secretly infuriating her. Coupled with her existing displeasure over him almost ruining things earlier, she immediately roared, "What are you? You have no place to speak here, get lost!"

Mu Bingyun's gaze shifted, fixing on Mu Yunzhi, and she said with extreme calmness, "He is a disciple of my palace."

That stare from Mu Bingyun made Mu Yunzhi's pupils abruptly contract, and her imposing aura immediately weakened by several points.

Mu Sushan stepped forward and said with a chuckle, "It's perfectly normal for a disciple to have questions to ask. Yun Che, what do you wish to ask the Great Elder?"

"Speak," Mu Huanzhi nodded slightly. He had clearly seen the stare Mu Bingyun gave Mu Yunzhi just now… It was very clear that Mu Bingyun was extremely protective of this new disciple.

"The first question this disciple wishes to ask," Yun Che said, his expression unchanged and neither humble nor arrogant, "The Sect Master set the Ice Spirit Battle to select a direct disciple, stating that within three hours, whoever attracts the most ice spirits to their side wins. So, did the Sect Master specify that only Divine Hall disciples could participate, and Ice Phoenix Palace disciples were not qualified?"

"This… the Sect Master did not specify that," Mu Huanzhi shook his head.

"My second question," Yun Che continued, "Before this disciple attracted all the ice spirits to his side, had the Celestial Pool water set by the Sect Master completely receded?"

"...No, it hadn't." Mu Huanzhi's expression drastically changed. He finally realized what Yun Che was trying to "ask." Everyone else also realized it. Mu Yunzhi's face sank, and she sneered, "What? Are you implying that you..."

"Yes! That's exactly what I'm asking!" Yun Che's voice suddenly rose. "At the end of the three hours set by the Sect Master, this disciple had three thousand ice spirits by his side, while Mu Hanyi had none. Anyone with eyes can see this clearly! Yet you announced that Mu Hanyi was the victor… This disciple wishes to know, what logic is this!?"