Chapter 1520: Let the Icefield Palace Disappear Forever

"You took her out? That's impossible! The Qingfan Hall is surrounded by a peak-level tier-nine formation, meticulously arranged by the Ice Palace's ancestors over generations. Without a token, even the president of the Formation Master Guild couldn't silently take someone away..."

Hearing the middle-aged man's words, the Second Elder was startled. She couldn't believe it, nor did she dare to believe it.

Qingfan Hall was where the palace's criminals were imprisoned throughout history. Its defenses were impregnable, and its folded space was so secretive that no one could possibly enter unnoticed without their knowledge! Not to mention the president of the Formation Master Guild, even the Luo family head, who specialized in spatial manipulation, couldn't achieve such a feat.

Yet... it had just happened. Zhao Ya was gone, and this person claimed he had taken her. Who exactly was this person? And what was the extent of his power?

"This..." Although equally disbelieving, You Ruoxin managed to steady herself and quickly cupped her fists. "Master Yang, I wasn't aware Zhao Ya was your grand-disciple... Please forgive my rashness, but... I didn't intend to make things difficult when I bound her with the Heaven-Binding Lock!"

Although Zhao Ya was the young palace mistress of their Ice Palace, it was different if Master Yang was involved. According to the traditions of master-disciple lineage, if a student was humiliated, the teacher had every right to intervene on their behalf. If this were to be investigated, the Master Teacher Pavilion would find no fault and would instead strongly support the teacher.

"The Heaven-Binding Lock, which seals meridians and causes immense pain... and you say it wasn't intentional?" Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed, and his tone grew cold.

"This..." You Ruoxin gritted her teeth. "I'll be honest with you, Master Yang. Zhao Ya's Pure Yin Physique must be activated as soon as possible. It's related to a major affair involving the Master Teacher Pavilion, so... I had no choice!"

"Involving the Master Teacher Pavilion?" Zhang Xuan looked puzzled.

"That's right, this matter indeed involves the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters. You don't know? You... aren't from the headquarters?" Elder Qu frowned, his eyes filled with wariness.

Although he still felt the other party wasn't a Supreme Elder, the ability to treat his injuries and immediately pinpoint the problem suggested he must be someone from the headquarters. Perhaps an reclusive old master he had never met. Therefore, he hadn't interrupted the man, wanting to see what he was here for. After all, the other party hadn't been disrespectful or unreasonable. Hearing that he came to rescue his grand-disciple, there was even less reason to interrupt.

But... now that a major affair of the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters was involved, this person was completely ignorant. Could it be that he wasn't from the headquarters? If he wasn't a Master Teacher, yet possessed such abilities and could silently rescue someone from the Ice Palace, then things were far from simple!

"Of course I am, I just happen to be unclear on a few things..." Although startled internally, Zhang Xuan showed no outward reaction, casually waving his hand.

Zhao Ya's physique activation, linked to the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters—what exactly was going on? The Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters, a paragon for the world, would never do anything evil or morally questionable. Yet, connecting it with forcing Zhao Ya to use a cultivation method for activation was still hard to believe.

"Unclear? That's impossible! This matter was personally decided by Master Yang and executed by the acting guild master... Every nine-star Master Teacher at the headquarters knows about it. How could you not? Who... exactly are you?" Elder Qu took a step forward.

If the other party wasn't from the Master Teacher Pavilion, then even if he could heal him, he would have to apprehend him. Master Teachers had their own principles and convictions; they would never compromise for personal gain.

"Not Master Yang? Then who are you? What is your intention, coming to our Ice Palace and taking someone away?" Seeing Elder Qu's sudden change in demeanor, You Ruoxin was stunned for a moment, then narrowed her eyes as well.

The combined aura of the two grandmasters pressed down like an invisible wall, making it difficult to breathe.

"Elder Qu, we'll discuss this in detail later. For now, don't speak..." Unexpectedly, this matter had exposed a weakness. Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow and flicked his finger lightly.

A sudden jolt! Just as Elder Qu was about to speak, he suddenly felt the *zhenqi* that had entered his body moments ago begin to boil, piercing into the deepest fibers of his being, tearing viciously.

"Ah..." Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his body went limp, and he almost collapsed. His heart was filled with horror. He wanted to speak but couldn't utter a single word.

In an instant, he understood: he had fallen victim to the other party's move.

"Could he be... the new Palace Master of the Poison Hall?" His body tensed up. He wanted to make a move, but he couldn't stir, as if sealed.

The Master Teacher Pavilion had received news that the Poison Hall, hidden deep within the mountains, had welcomed a new Palace Master. Rumor had it that he was the reincarnation of the Poison Hall's grand patriarch. Despite his young age, his mastery of poison arts was unfathomable and irresistible. The headquarters had specifically dispatched a nine-star Master Teacher skilled in stealth to investigate. However, before he even entered the Palace Master's residence, he was poisoned and nearly died. Nonetheless, this Palace Master not only detoxified him but also told him that his own teacher was a Master Teacher and that he had no desire to be an enemy of the Master Teacher Pavilion, asking them not to be nervous. Later, further investigation confirmed that the Poison Hall had indeed reined in its members since this Palace Master took over, which finally put their minds at ease.

Could it be... that everything this guy said was false, and he had actually sneaked into the Ice Palace to strike against them? Otherwise, how could he administer poison so silently and without being detected? He hadn't even known he was poisoned... If this guy really intended to poison everyone in the Ice Palace, wouldn't it be incredibly simple?

His heart filled with urgency, he quickly circulated his *zhenqi*. However, the more he circulated, the stiffer his body became, and the intense pain felt as if it would tear him into countless fragments.

"It's... those few strands of *zhenqi* he infused into me earlier!" He quickly realized. The areas of pain in his body were precisely where the other party's *zhenqi* had flowed. In other words, the other party hadn't poisoned him silently, but rather he had fallen for a trick due to a momentary lapse in vigilance after checking and finding no issues!

"Damn it!" Now knowing what was happening, he was no longer nervous. Taking a deep breath, he stopped speaking and hastened to circulate his power, striving to suppress these strands of *zhenqi*. While he couldn't detoxify himself, with his strength, suppressing them for a short time shouldn't be an issue.

"Elder Qu..." As he fell silent, You Ruoxin at his side was startled. She knew exactly how powerful the person before them was. A single command from him had made Elder Qu shut up, unable to move, and he even seemed to have fallen victim to some secret technique... Was this person... truly that strong?

"No need to look, Qu Buping is locked by my will and cannot help himself! To be frank, I am indeed not Master Yang, but my strength... is only stronger than his, not weaker!" Zhang Xuan lifted his eyelids, took a step forward, and emanated an irresistible aura. Every move he made seemed to represent heaven, doling out divine punishment upon the world.

"I don't wish to act, but that doesn't mean I won't. Tell me how to remove the Heaven-Binding Lock, and I'll spare you... Otherwise, I won't mind letting the Ice Palace..."

"Vanish forever!"