Chapter 135: A Strange Person

"This spirit creature is known as the Ice Nether. Born at the dawn of the primordial era, it enters a deep slumber every million years. Upon awakening, it reverts to its larval form to begin growing once more. It possesses an intense, bone-chilling cold; should an immortal cultivator with an Ice-attribute spiritual root form a pact with it, their cultivation speed would increase a hundredfold. Its own offensive power is also formidable—the two horns atop its head are arguably the hardest substances in existence. When it flies into a frenzy, it could likely freeze the entire Holy Realm in an instant."

While the Ice Nether had previously existed only in legends and books, this was the first time Sang Que had seen a living specimen with his own eyes.

Jiguang, meanwhile, completely ignored the gazes surrounding it, choosing to sleep as it pleased.

Upon hearing the explanation, Jun Yang was not as astonished as one might expect. A mere hundredfold increase in cultivation speed? Could that not also be achieved on Star-Wish Island? Perhaps even faster?

You Xiyue looked at the two horns on Jiguang’s head, which were on the verge of retracting. They were indeed hard; they had easily sliced through her own fingers. Pointing to the top of Jiguang’s head, she asked, "What is its current state? Those horns were quite long before, but now they seem to be retracting."

Sang Que leaned in to examine the creature closely. "As for that... this is my first time seeing an Ice Nether as well. I have only heard the elders speak of it and read the legends in books. I am not entirely certain why it is like this; perhaps it is simply a state it assumes while growing."

"I see." You Xiyue was not particularly concerned about anything else, though she wondered if the drop of blood that had once fallen onto Jiguang—which the creature seemed to have absorbed—might have some unusual side effects.

You Xiyue flicked her sleeve, sending Jiguang back into the room.

Sang Que cast a lingering, reluctant gaze toward You Xiyue’s room.

"Given Xue Chuyun's cultivation level, it would have been impossible for her to capture an Ice Nether. Even I was injured by it," You Xiyue remarked, drawing Sang Que’s attention back to her. She continued, "Yet, her master at the Boundless Abyss sent her to the Holy Realm to wait for the creature’s rebirth. I believe her master would not be indifferent to Xue Chuyun’s death. At the very least, they should have come to investigate the whereabouts of the Ice Nether they sought."

Sang Que nodded in agreement, habitually waving the Ice Domain Fan in his hand. The chill inadvertently stirred by the fan made both Yan Qingye and Yun Jianxin, waiting in the guest courtyard, feel as though the temperature had suddenly plummeted.

"You are right, Little Senior. Xue Chuyun’s master should not be ignoring this. They ought to have sent someone to investigate thoroughly. Perhaps I have overlooked something?" Sang Que cautiously recalled the recent events in the Snowy Region, yet he remained perplexed. Seeing the Ice Nether had left him feeling uneasy. "I will send more men to search the area inside and out."

Anxious, Sang Que stood up, bowed to You Xiyue, and hurried away.

Watching his retreating figure, Jun Yang was puzzled for a long moment before turning to You Xiyue. "Is he always this impatient?"

You Xiyue shook her head. "It may not be impatience; perhaps his intuition is simply sharp."

"You think so?" Jun Yang asked, half-convinced.

"Shouldn't you be heading to Star-Wish Island to cultivate?" You Xiyue suddenly asked.

Jun Yang was momentarily speechless. "I feel I need a break. Didn't I just undergo my tribulation recently?"

"I don't think you need a break," You Xiyue said, her tone brook no argument.

"Understood," Jun Yang replied dejectedly. He stood up, channeled his beast core, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

You Xiyue blinked, then walked toward Yan Qingye’s guest room.

Yun Jianxin was discussing matters concerning the Alchemist Association with Yan Qingye when You Xiyue pushed the door open and entered. Yan Qingye immediately prepared to stand.

"Return to the Alchemist Association."

With that single sentence, Yan Qingye, who was halfway up, slumped back down in a daze. "Why, Little Master? My injuries haven't healed yet."

"Jun Yang and Fan Lihua have both gone to cultivate. Do you intend to slack off here?" You Xiyue’s eyes were vacant, revealing no emotion.

"I..." The words left Yan Qingye speechless. He could not afford to be the one dragging everyone down.

"Very well, I shall return now." Yan Qingye rose obediently, head bowed, casting a quiet glance at You Xiyue, hoping she might soften upon seeing his pitiful state.

To his surprise, You Xiyue merely acknowledged him with a hum before turning and returning to her own room.

"What is going on?" Yun Jianxin stood awkwardly between them, not daring to breathe until You Xiyue had left. He exhaled and asked, "Why does it feel like your Little Master is chasing you away?"

Yan Qingye shot him a look of disdain. "Chasing me away is such a harsh way to put it. Little Master must have her reasons. I’ve been staying here for quite some time, so why would she suddenly kick me out today if not for a purpose?"

"That's true," Yun Jianxin agreed. "Let me help you back."

Yan Qingye waved him off. "These minor injuries don't require your help. I'm not that delicate."

With that, he dressed himself and walked out with Yun Jianxin. Before leaving, he went to You Xiyue’s door to bid her farewell.

"Little Master, your disciple is returning to the Alchemist Association."

"Mm."

There were no further words. Yan Qingye sighed and eventually departed.

The immortal residence was now occupied only by You Xiyue, Xue Yu, and Jiguang. You Xiyue approached Xue Yu and stroked its soft fur. "Shouldn't you go back and check on your original form as well?"

"Meow?" Xue Yu tilted its head in confusion, as if unable to understand why it should return when it was perfectly content staying here.

You Xiyue said nothing more, merely staring at Xue Yu with a solemn expression.

Feeling unnerved by the gaze, Xue Yu hopped out of the door, glancing back every few steps until it too had disappeared.

You Xiyue took out the Dream-Ghost Mushroom, lay upon it, and closed her eyes, murmuring, "They’re all gone. A relief."

Jiguang raised its head, looked at You Xiyue, and unexpectedly hopped onto the mushroom as well. The Dream-Ghost Mushroom was peculiar; it did not transform into an Ice-Dream Mushroom despite Jiguang’s presence, remaining exactly as it had been.

"If you are worried, you are free to leave," You Xiyue whispered, her voice so soft it sounded like a dream.

Jiguang knew she was speaking to it. Yet, it did not even lift its eyelids, nor did it move. What was there to be worried about?

After settling matters at Mount Bu-Chen, Lan Shi brought several medicinal pills and rushed toward the Immortal Realm. However, upon arriving, she could not find Lan Xing; instead, she encountered a strange person.

Not only was the person's cultivation level unfathomable, but their appearance was impossible to discern. It was not the kind of concealment that simply hid a face; it was as if her own vision had suddenly failed, leaving the figure blurry and indistinct.

Lan Shi rubbed her eyes, but when she looked again, the person had vanished. Her vision returned to normal, and the people around her were perfectly clear.

"How strange."

Curious, Lan Shi chased after the figure, but when she turned the corner, there was no trace left to be found.

"Could it be?"

A sense of foreboding washed over Lan Shi. As a high-level alchemist of the Alchemist Association, she was aware that above the Sacred Lands lay the Dao Realm and the Void-Mystic Realm. And the aura of that person had been far more dangerous than that of any lord within the Sacred Lands.