The Wish of the Dragon

Chapter 122:

(AN: Big Thanks to jonathan b and Rein for the donations! I hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Peace out girls scout!).

In another realm...

The surface of the ground was slightly golden in color and even the sky revealed a pure, light golden color. The elemental energy floating between heaven and earth was extremely pure and the degree of its density had far surpassed the Profound Sky Continent by several dozens of times. The height of the elemental law here had even surpassed the range of understanding of even the strongest "expert" in the Profound Sky Continent... The "expert" here obviously doesn't apply to Issei since he's already standing at the very top of the multiverse alongside Nyarlathotep...

An enormous palace stood in immediate sight and was towering like a mountain. Glistening with a golden glow, it exuded a formless pressure comparable to the might of heaven and earth. Even if peerless experts were here, their hearts would still palpitate deeply under this terrifying pressure, as though they were carrying fifteen tonnes.

Behind the divine palace was a garden as enormous as a country. In the garden, a fragrant aroma suffused the air and hundreds of flowers bloomed. Every single flower was twinkling with an unbelievably beautiful radiance as if each were the world's most exquisite gemstone.

Standing quietly at the very center of the garden was the elegant figure of a woman. Dressed in golden clothes, she had dazzling golden hair that extended down to her hips. Her golden clothes were slightly tight, which outlined the back of a bewitching figure that could drive one to insanity. She quietly stood under a glazed jade tree, seemingly enjoying the view or perhaps deep in thought. A natural and gentle layer of golden light was faintly flowing around her body.

Though it was just her figure from behind, the sea of flowers that extended tens of thousands of kilometers was entirely overshadowed by this peerlessly beautiful shape.

"Yue Ying, come out," the women with golden hair coldly said and she still did not turn around.

The moment her voice fell, the space five feet behind her suddenly shook. The graceful and delicate figure of a woman walked out of the spatial ripples and deeply bowed, the voluminous mounds on her chest, wrapped in silver cloth, slightly shook. "Servant Yue Ying, greets Lady Goddess."

"Why are you here?"

"To reply Lady, there has been a progress in the deciphering of the<World-Defying Heaven Manual>." Yue Ying respectfully replied.

"What?" The woman with golden hair, who had been as quiet as ice this entire time, instantly turned around when she heard these words, revealing a face that was half glowing gold.

Her dazzling long gold hair smoothly sprinkled onto her shoulders. An eye mask colored in gold that was comparable to the wings of a phoenix covered her mysterious eyes. Below her eye mask was a pair of glittering, polished lips. And from this pair of lips, that was even more delicate than the lily of the Nile, what came out was the coldest and the most heartless voice, "Speak now."

Though only the bottom half of her face was revealed, none would suspect that she was not a peerless beauty at first glance. Her lips and her lustrous jade-like neck alone were beautiful to the point of stifling. Yet, no matter how powerful one may be, under the ice-cold and heavy atmosphere from her body, one would still unconsciously bow his or her head and tremble in front of her.

Deciphering the<World-Defying Heaven Manual>was the biggest matter to this woman with golden hair and it could even be called the most important matter ever since she was born. Yue Ying hurriedly said in a respectful tone. "In reply to my lady, within the divine texts of the World-Defying Heaven Manual, there was a short verse which was similar to a diagram stated in ancient records. After repeated investigations, the meaning behind that verse of divine texts has been confirmed."

"<Nine Profound Exquisite Body>."

"<Nine Profound Exquisite Body>?" The golden brows hidden under the eye mask slightly twitched. "Could it be that one has to possess the Nine Profound Exquisite Body to cultivate the <World-Defying Heaven Manual>?"

"About this point, this servant is not sure. However, that verse of divine text is referring to the Nine Profound Exquisite Body, this point should not be wrong," Yue Ying respectfully said.

Actually, the correct words Nyarlathotep once wrote was <Nine Primordial Elemental Law>. Remember that there are nine basic elements in existence...

Nyarlathotep was referring to the Nine Basic Elemental which leads to the Law of Nothingness but because of the passing of time, the Manual translation started to become obscure hence creating a tiny misunderstanding... What's supposed to say <Nine Primordial Elemental Law> become <Nine Profound Exquisite Body>.

It's not that far off though since the owner of the <Nine Profound Exquisite Body> will be able to fully master the nine basic law... This is also why Xia Qingyue's future was filled with tragedy. Because it will ensure her to be able to master all elemental law...

Her Tragedy or the 'Heaven' to be more exact, will 'help' her gain mastery over the Life, Death, and Reincarnation law... but because of Issei's interference, she doesn't have to experience it any longer...

"Hmph, within a span of eight years, only four words have been deciphered. Truly a bunch of useless trash." The voice of the woman with golden hair suddenly turned cold.

Yue Ying's body shivered as she said with a trembling voice. "Lady, please cease your anger When it comes to divine texts of the absolute beginning, even in the Primordial Era, not many gods or devils recognized them either. Wanting to forcefully decipher them, is really really"

"Hmph, no need for an explanation," the woman with golden hair coldly said. "Deciphering the divine texts of the absolute beginning is indeed as difficult as ascending to the heavens. However, if a mortal can cultivate the <World-Defying Heaven Manual>, he or she will have the possibility of becoming a True God. This might sound absolutely astonishing and sound akin to myth but this was clearly engraved on the totem in the God Realm of Absolute Beginning. Since the <World-Defying Heaven Manual> is now in my hands, it must be an ancient opportunity bestowed on me by the Brahma Monarch God Realm. No matter what, it must be deciphered. If I can become a True God, hmph, the Primal Chaos Dimension, the millions of galaxies, will all serve under our Brahma Monarch God Realm."

"Yes," Yue Ying anxiously replied. "This servant shall continue to head to the various large galaxies and obtain even more intellectuals who are familiar with ancient texts."

"Remember, you must be the only one heading out. Not even the slightest of trace and rumor should be exposed, otherwise"

The words of the woman with golden hair stopped there. The killing intent at that moment had instantly frozen the world of countless flowers.

"This servant understands," Yue Ying said with a trembling voice. "If there are any anomalies, this servant will immediately cut off her own life vein so that not the slightest trace will be exposed."

"Very good, go on then."

"Yes."

"Wait a minute!"

Just as Yue Ying was about to leave, the woman with golden hair suddenly stopped her again and slowly said, "Send some subordinates to the lower realms and search for people who possess the Nine Profound Exquisite Body."

"Lower realms?" Yue Ying's face was filled with doubts.

"Possessors of the Nine Profound Exquisite Body are hard to search for even among a trillion people but the possessors would definitely be women. Since the <World-Defying Heaven Manual> brought up that cultivating it would require the Nine Profound Exquisite Body, then I naturally have to make early preparations."

"But, why do we have to look for one in the lower realms?" Yue Ying asked, unable to understand.

"When possessors of Nine Profound Exquisite Body have low profound cultivation, their profound energy will reveal a unique free-flowing state and it's easily discernable by people who are aware of this characteristic of the Nine Profound Exquisite Body. If their unleashed profound energy can break the laws of realm boundaries to a certain extent, then it's possible to ascertain that they undoubtedly possess the Nine Profound Exquisite Body. However, this profound energy characteristic weakens as their profound energy becomes richer and if they step into the divine way, this characteristic will completely disappear. Thus, locating one in the higher realms is difficult and hard to control as well."

One has to admit that this golden-haired woman intuition is truly fearsome... if it wasn't for Issei then she will be able to find the owner of the <Nine Profound Exquisite Body>, which is Xia Qingyue quite quickly...

"As for the rest, there's no need to ask further. After locating someone who possesses the Nine Profound Exquisite Body, I have my own plans."

"Yes."

"Also, inform royal father, that I'm prepared to step into the <God Realm of Absolute Beginning>." The woman with golden hair slightly raised her neck, which was whiter than pure white jade.

"Ah?" Yue Ying revealed an astonished look. "My lady, that place is truly too dangerous. Though you made use of the Heavenly Wolf Star God back then to obtain the <World-Defying Heaven Manual>, you you still suffered an injury that nearly cost you your life and you only managed to recover after several years of recuperation. If you forcefully enter it again, with my lady's temper, it's truly too dangerous. My lady, please think over this decision again."

"No need for further commentary," The woman with golden hair coldly said. "The <World-Defying Heaven Manual> that I obtained is evidently a mere fragment and at the very most, it's only a third of the entire manual. Looking from the residual marks, there's definitely at least another two <World-Defying Heaven Manuals> scattered in the world. If I can't locate the complete <World-Defying Heaven Manual> and hold only a fragment of it, even if it's completely deciphered, it's of no use either."

"The remaining two <World-Defying Heaven Manuals> are most likely scattered in the God Realm of Absolute Beginning as well."

"Even if that's the case" Yue Ying still wanted to comment further but when she spoke halfway, a chill ran down her spine and she hurriedly changed her words. "This servant This servant shall immediately relay my lady's words to my king. However excuse this servant for being blunt but my king will definitely oppose my lady's decision as well."

"He will naturally oppose it, which is also why I'm having you to relay my words to my royal father." The voice of the woman with golden hair was completely devoid of emotions. "Tomorrow, I shall break into the God Realm of Absolute Beginning and it shall only be me alone. Inform my royal father only the day after."

"Yes" Yue Ying had no choice but to helplessly respond in agreement. After taking two steps back, she lightly rose. The two voluminous peaks in front of her chest drew a beautiful arc in the sky as she quickly left the world of countless flowers.

"World-Defying Heaven Manual, divine practitioners shall defy the world, mortal practitioners shall attain godhood" Within the countless flowers, the woman with golden hair lightly whispered, "In this world where the gods have long since disappeared, it is time for the birth of a new divine being."

...

Su Ling'er and Feng Xue'er already informed their respective parents that they will be going with Issei.

Su Ling'er father readily agreed since he knows that being with Issei is the best course for his daughter and Feng Xue'er also had a similar case with her father.

Although Feng Hengkong was a bit reluctant parting with his daughter, he doesn't prevent her from going... not like he could prevent her in the first place anyway...

Feng Ximing can only grit his teeth bitterly since he knows that no matter what he says here, Feng Xue'er will still leave... And just the thought of offending Issei send a shiver down to his spine.

It's a well-known fact that Issei stood at the apex of the continent. Nobody knows just how powerful he is since he never really made any move on his own but someone that able to make the Phoenix and the Golden Crow be his servant is obviously not a normal person...

What makes Feng Ximing envious of Issei is not only his strength... but also because his beloved Feng Xue'er seems to idolize him a lot! And she's not the only one at that!

The number of women that tries to gain his attention is numerous... if they were to line up then those women could easily make two whole circles around their Divine Phoenix Empire! Which man won't be envious of that... But they can only silently grit their teeth since they know that they won't be his match... both in strength and looks...

...

The air was completely drained, the surroundings seemed to have disappeared into nothing. A sudden flow of light made the girls close their eyes. When they slowly opened their eyes, a world that they couldn't understand was before their eyes, sometimes dark and sometimes colorful.

Their own body was traveling through this world at an extremely fast speed.

"This is a crack in the dimension, you could understand it as the dimensional tunnel."

They heard Mu Bingyun's voice near their ears. There are around a hundred of them stood together, surrounding Mu Bingyun and Xiaolan was an ice-blue barrier in the shape of a ball and the pattern of the profound formation was flashing brightly on the outside of the barrier.

While in their surrounding was a crimson barrier which they recognize since it's the same color the barrier Issei used for their protective charm...

"We are now traveling through space. This must be everyone's first time. There are a lot more things in the future that will surprise all of you." Mu Xiaolan said a little excitedly.

Dimensional travel dimensional tunnel dimensional crack?

They have traveled through the spatial opening that Issei created but it's an instant trip. So this view is indeed quite new to them.

Issei put the <Primordial Profound Ark> inside the <GoB>.

They looked at the world around them. A few breaths later, their eyes were blinded by the white flowing light. They quickly shut their eyes and couldn't reopen them until a while later.

Feng Qianhui asked confusedly, "We are traveling through dimensions but how is it that we can still hear a sound? Also, I don't seem to feel anything too different."

"Because there is an isolation barrier," Mu Bingyun explained. "There is no danger in traveling through dimensions for a short amount of time but traveling through a long distance for a long period of time could very likely form a dangerous dimensional storm. Even though the dimensional stone I'm using is classified as an extremely rare dimensional profound stone, its powers are still limited and cannot be compared with those dimensional profound formations that are powered by a large amount of energy. Because of this, even though it can be carried around, it travels slower and is easier to be tracked. To travel a distance between the Profound Sky Continent and the Snow Song Realm, we must use this barrier that can isolate the dimensional storm."

So what Issei is doing right now shocked her to the very core... To think that he could bring all of them with him so easily...

Even her own elder sister couldn't do what he did right now... If it was only a trip within the same realm then it's nothing special but this is a journey across countless realms!

The girls' gaze becomes a little bit feverish after they heard Mu Bingyun's explanation... this is their sect elder! Only he is capable of doing something like this.

The adoration they had for him couldn't be any higher...

Issei calmly stood in their front while he observes the dimensional wall around them...

Esdeath, Altair, Sirius, Xiaotao, Lieyan, Naru, and Zin stood by his side. Not far behind, there's Feng Xue'er, Su Ling'er, and Huan Caiyi(The Little Demon Empress).

He wanted to see if he could create a dimensional opening to the Netherworld but sadly he couldn't...

Looks like he couldn't easily break the dimensional barrier in his current state... it is Nyarlathotep's homeworld after all...

For all he knows, she might be interfering with his spatial manipulation. And that irks him quite a bit since he doesn't have the full control of his strength...

Mu Bingyun couldn't tell or sense anything out of the ordinary from Issei nor the girls... She guesses that it must be caused by Issei.

Mu Bingyun's cultivation was already in the later stages of the Divine Sovereign Realm. Within the Snow Song Realm, she was only below her elder sister in terms of cultivation yet she still couldn't catch a glimpse of his 'true' strength...

She can't even see through the girls' physique... she could sense their profound strength but that's about it.

All of them are at the peak stage Sovereign Profound Realm... and Issei who's only at the peak level Emperor Profound Realm is the most suspicious of them all.

Who will believe that someone at the peak level throne can create their own dimensional opening? Only an idiot would believe that unless they see it with their own eyes...

"...As he requested, I will take all of you in and let you enter the Snowfall Palace." Mu Bingyun said.

"But Master, will it be okay? Their cultivation level is alright but in Divine Ice Phoenix Sect, joining the Snowfall Palace would be a bit hard since they still haven't reach the Divine Origin Realm yet..." Mu Xiaolan said worriedly.

"Oh? Is that one of the requirements to join your sect?" Issei who overheard their conversation asked lightly.

"Ah? Y-Yes... that is one of the sect requirements..." Mu Xiaolan said while fidgetting a little with her cheeks reddened.

"Then that's easy to achieve..." Issei waved his hand gently towards the girls' direction.

The girls felt something break within their body and soon they feel a surge of energies flooding them from within.

*Boom!*

All of them achieve a breakthrough and officially stepped into the Divine Origin Realm in one breath!

Some of them only reach the early to mid-stage Divine Origin Realm while the 'anomaly' within their group, which is Xia Qingyue and Chu Yuechan reach late-stage Divine Origin Realm straight away!

Mu Xiaolan jaws dropped wide open when she saw this. Even Mu Bingyun is stunned silly...

What?! Did all of them just achieve a breakthrough at the same time?! And some of them even already surpass Mu Xiaolan cultivation level!

What just happened?! Both Mu Bingyun and Mu Xiaolan thought shockingly inside their mind...

"Qingyue, Yuechan. I still need to seal a part of your strength since reaching the next realm in this place is not convenient." Issei said lightly.

Both of them should've been able to reach the <Divine Soul Realm> straight away but Issei decided not to let them achieve a breakthrough in this dimensional space.

Divine Origin Realm lets your vital energy become divine. This realm is the first step in entering the divine way.

When cultivators enter the Divine Origin Realm, a qualitative change will happen to their life's vital energy. After entering the divine way, profound energy will once more temper their body, allowing them to separate from their mortal flesh and have a longer lifespan. It will give an even more tenacious vitality and an even more impregnable body.

The Divine Origin Realm was the first realm of the divine way, as well as an extremely important realm where practitioners laid the foundation for their future progress. In this realm, the body experiences a qualitative change from ordinary to divine, and the highest extent of the change was to awaken the "Sensation" of the body.

"Sensation" could be considered a mysterious and miraculous ability of the body which combined body and soul. It could not be cultivated or even explained and detailed. It could only be personally felt and comprehended.

There wasn't even one practitioner among ten thousand who would be able to accomplish such a thing. There were even a lot of profound practitioners of the Divine Tribulation Realm and Divine Spirit Realm who had never truly perceived sensation.

But if a practitioner could awaken "Sensation" when they were in the Divine Origin Realm, reaching the most perfect state in the Divine Origin Realm, they would be able to lay an incomparably perfect foundation for their future progress in the divine way.

What was "Sensation"?

If the extremity of spiritual sense was the ability to foresee and predict thoughts

Then the extremity of physical sensation was the ability to foresee and predict movements of the body. In other words, it is basically the same as <Observation Haki>.

Divine Soul Realm lets your soul become divine. It is in this realm where a profound practitioner's soul undergoes a transformation. Reaching the Divine Soul Realm will cause their soul to transcend the ordinary. They will possess even stronger willpower and mental power. Their comprehension toward profound arts and the laws of the world will also far surpass their former self.

"We understand." Both Qingyue and Yuechan said with a respectful bow.

Mu Bingyun and Mu Xiaolan who heard Issei's words attracted their gaze almost immediately.

He's the one responsible for their breakthrough?!

"Elder Ise. It seems that our <Observation Haki> had a breakthrough." Feng Qianhui suddenly said out of nowhere.

They managed to reach the Intermediate level of <Haki> for the last three years. Now today, after they had their seal lifted by Issei just now, their <Haki> attaintment had also achieved a breakthrough.

Now their <Haki> level is at the Expert level. They can freely coat a part of their body and their weapon with it... They could coat their entire body but only for a short time.

"Hm?" Issei raised his eyebrows at this.

Their speed is quite good considering that they don't have their physiques nor talent "boosted" by Issei like Ramius's group. Ramius's group only took them a few months before they reach the expert level in their <Haki>.

And another couple of months after that to reach the Master level.

They still had a little bit of distance before they could reach the Grandmaster level, but it shouldn't be too long considering their current <Tier> especially after their fight with Trihexa's army back then.

And after the Grandmaster level, it's the Transcendent level.

For an easy listing, it's like this:

-Basic

-Intermediate

-Expert

-Master

-Grandmaster

-Transcendent

When one reaches the Transcendent level in <Haki> skill, no divine weapon in existence is able to penetrate their <Haki> or defend themselves against their attack. They will be able to make their own physical body become the ultimate weapon...

Perhaps it's because the frozen cloud disciples are a profound practitioner... unlike Ramius's group who was a normal human.

"I see... Congratulations then." Issei said with a small smile.

The girls face lit up immediately when they're praised by him.

"...<Observation Haki>? What's that?" Mu Xiaolan muttered curiously.

But sadly for her, even if she's their sect ancestor direct disciple, they won't carelessly tell the art Issei taught them... Not even Mu Bingyun herself will be heard it from their mouth unless Issei allowed them to.

Feng Qianhui can only smile apologetically at Mu Xiaolan's direction.

Mu Xiaolan was about to say something but Mu Bingyun held her hand giving the former a signal to not ask further questions... The former pouted her mouth but nevertheless doesn't say anything else.

If only Mu Bingyun know what <Observation Haki> is... Perhaps she would be shocked to death... that's how rare someone who can comprehend "Sensation" is...

And right before her very eyes, there are hundreds of them that managed to comprehend it at the same time.

Feng Xue'er and the Huan Caiyi also had their seal released and their cultivation is on par with Chu Yuechan and Xia Qingyue.

Looks like Xia Qingyue special physique is equal to Chu Yuechan, Huan Caiyi, and Feng Xue'er legacy... Issei has to agree that Xia Qingyue is quite abnormal.

And according to his estimation, if by chance he were to "Transform" her into a Dragon then perhaps her strength growth will be much more terrifying... of course this is just a thought of his, he doesn't have any intention to "Transform" her into a Dragon.

'Hmm... It's kind of frustrating how I can't just shut down his 'love' completely... but nevermind, I can slowly take my time... Ufufufufu, how fun! You're truly the best toy that I ever had, Dragon King!' Nyarlathotep grinned widely inside Issei's shadow.

"...Xiaolan, remember what I've told you. You mustn't tell anyone what happened just now and also the fact that our honored guest cured my poison, not even your family!" Mu Bingyun's tone was especially cautious.

"I know Master, you've reminded me a hundred times already. You even told me not to tell anyone about them succeeded in cultivating the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon. If someone asks, I'll just say the Great Realm King found a way to cure you of the poison," Mu Xiaolan nodded a bunch of times in promise.

"And I couldn't be any happier that I will get so many Junior Sisters!" Mu Xiaolan said happily while looking at the group of Frozen Cloud disciples. Although some of them have already surpassed her cultivation realm, it doesn't matter.

"In Divine Ice Phoenix Sect, seniority is not based on age but rank. For example, all of the disciples in Snowfall Palace need to address the disciples of Freezing Snow Hall as senior brother or sister. It is the same for Freezing Snow Hall's disciples towards Ice Phoenix Palace's disciples. If it's within the same rank, we will go according to the time one has joined the sect. So, whether it's according to the level or the time you entered the sect, after you join our sect, all of you need to call Xiaolan senior sister," Mu Bingyun explained.

"Oh, we understand." Feng Qianhui and the others nodded lightly.

"And Xiaolan, If it wasn't for me burdening you... Your cultivation would definitely be even stronger by now..." Mu Bingyun sighed softly.

Mu Xiaolan started panicking and forcefully shook her head. "Master, please don't say something like that. Being able to accompany Master is the greatest fortune of my life. Even if it meant not being able to join Ice Phoenix Divine Hall, I would still be willing to accompany and serve Master!

"Also, Master is already cured, our Thirty-sixth Ice Phoenix Palace will definitely rise to prominence right away and our new sisters will also join into our palace! When the time comes, who would still dare to underestimate our Thirty-sixth Palace?"

Mu Bingyun reached her hand out to touch Mu Xiaolan's face softly with sympathy and affection. Even though she didn't say anything, deep down her ice-cold eyes revealed a sense of gentleness.

What a good Master and disciple relationship Issei silently thought to himself.

Mu Xiaolan was about to tell her junior sisters candidate about her idol, senior brother Hanyi but soon her words stuck at her throat when she caught a glimpse of Issei...

Now she felt like her idolized senior brother Hanyi is only... so-so...

Don't get her wrong, she still thought that senior brother Hanyi is still gentle and kind and also a genius but... if she has to compare their looks then... she can only say sorry for her senior brother Hanyi...

Mu Xiaolan started to sneak a glance at Issei's direction with a slightly reddened cheek when she thought until here...

Mu Bingyun who saw this can only sigh softly... It looks like with his arrival there will be some commotion amongst the female disciples... and even the female elders circle as well...

But... It might be not so bad if he were to marry into their sect. Let's put aside his mysterious capabilities for now, but just the fact that he possesses the <Sky Poison Pearl> is more than enough reason to keep him as their ally.

What a coincidence... This is exactly what Feng Qianhui had in mind when she first met Issei. To think that their palace Ancestor also shares the same thought... will history repeat itself? Only the future can tell...

After a while, they finally arrived at their destination...

...

The first breath that the girls took in this world stunned them. The air here was icy cold but it was so unbelievably pure. The breaths that they took actually made their five senses feel clearer.

Even though they were already mentally prepared, the elemental aura in the air and in the entire dimension was still so strong that it shocked them a bit. This was not simply just a few times stronger than the Blue Pole Star, it was at least a few dozen stronger or even more.

The speed in which the energy of heaven and earth flowed into their body was also multiplied by several times. In this kind of environment, there was no question that their profound strength and the speed of their recovery would all increase greatly.

They feel like if they were to cultivate in this kind of environment then they will surely able to increase their strength by quite a lot.

"This is the God Realm?" Huan Caiyi couldn't help but mumble softly. The creatures here were actually all surviving and cultivating in this kind of environment. Compared to the thickness and purity of the aura here, the aura in the Blue Pole Star was almost as turbid and dirty as swamp mud.

Mu Bingyun spoke calmly, "The level of aura and law in the God Realm cannot be compared with the Blue Pole Star that you lived in. This is the first time you have been here, you will be uncomfortable for a very long time because of the aura here. Dizziness, weakness, and difficulty breathing will be pretty common. You will be able to get completely used to it in about a month. After that, you will discover that the cultivation speed in this world is far superior to the world that you were at."

"Uncomfortable?" Feng Qianhui and the rest stared blankly, "Not at all, we actually feel incredibly comfortable."

"Oh?" Mu Bingyun looked at them and noticed that the color of their face was normal. Not only were their eyes not cloudy, they were very clear and the rate of their breathing was very stable. She was a little surprised but she did not take it to heart since the amount of surprise she just saw already surpasses this little incident.

She nodded and said, "Maybe it's because we just arrived, there hasn't been time for you to develop discomfort. If you feel something unusual later on, there's no need to be concerned. I will take you back to the Ice Phoenix Realm now."

Mu Bingyun reached out and pointed with her hand lightly. A light flashed by and a very thin ice crystal in a standard diamond-square shape about seven meters long appeared ahead of them. As soon as it appeared, it instantly derived a few dozen glittering ice spirits in flowing lights, flickering and dancing while surrounding the ice crystal.

"Let's go."

Mu Bingyun said something softly. At that instant, the icicle ripped open space and took the three of them flying toward the white, endless world.

Snow mountains, ice rivers, glaciers This was totally a world of snow and the ice element was also the dominant force in this world.

The plane here was extremely high and the incredibly thick aura had not yet caused them the discomfort that Mu Bingyun had mentioned. Instead, they felt more and more comfortable, as if they were in a dreamy fairytale land.

Even Feng Xue'er and Huan Caiyi who have a fire-based profound art don't feel any discomfort at all.

Esdeath, Altair, and Sirius felt more powerful than ever since they're basically an ice spirit... this realm is perfect for them.

Issei wasn't so surprised by the pure energy this realm is emitting. But he does feel a bit happy that with this amount of energy, he could recover even faster... it shouldn't be long now... if nothing happens then he will be able to return to his wives' side soon enough.

"Senior Ancestor, I have a question that I wanted to ask..." Feng Qianhui said: "When you founded the <Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace> and taught us the frozen cloud art, we are not allowed to carelessly have a relationship with the opposite gender in fear of leaking the art to the outside world. Does the Divine Ice Phoenix Sect share the same problem?"

Mu Bingyun explained the sect briefly before but it seems that the sect doesn't share the same nature as the Frozen Cloud Palace nature...

"This is not something that can be described in merely a sentence or two." Mu Bingyun hesitated a little bit but still decided to explain it to them: "A long time ago, the Divine Ice Phoenix Sect was a force where half of it was family. Even though they also took disciples from the outside, there were very few of them. It was controlled very harshly and they basically only took in female disciples. But, because the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon was a divine art of the ice element, on top of the environment of the Snow Song Realm, it was extremely difficult for males who cultivate the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon to conceive and females to become pregnant."

"Reproduction was always the weakest spot of the Snow Song Realm. It is even more so in Divine Ice Phoenix Sect. The most direct consequence is the rapid decrease in every generation in the numbers of Divine Ice Phoenix Sect's disciples."

The girls who heard this subconsciously glanced at Issei... They also share the same problem before but he easily erased it...

"The Divine Ice Phoenix Sect holds a very high position in the Snow Song Realm, so high that it is indispensable. In other star realms, great forces usually stand in great numbers. Several or even sometimes dozens of sects would rule and lead a star realm altogether. But the Snow Song Realm is ruled by only our Divine Ice Phoenix Sect and there is no one who can match us. If Divine Ice Phoenix Sect decays just like this, then the position of the Snow Song Realm in the God Realm will also decrease rapidly. Perhaps one day, it would become a lower star realm."

"Because of this, Divine Ice Phoenix Sect was forced to loosen their sect rules and absorb a large number of gifted disciples. Later on, even those from the lower realms, if they are qualified and pass the examinations, can also join the sect."

"Then what about bloodline?" Gong Yuxian asked in curiosity.

"Not everyone who enters the sect can receive the Ice Phoenix bloodline," Mu Bingyun said. "Such as the disciples of Snowfall Palace. They can only cultivate the other ice element profound arts of Divine Ice Phoenix Sect, they are not qualified to touch the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon. It is the same even if you enter Freezing Snow Hall. It's just that the ice profound arts they can choose are higher in level."

"And if one can enter Ice Phoenix Palace, they can receive a drop of Ice Phoenix's blood that is diluted ten thousand times, allowing them to officially cultivate the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon. However, with such a thin Ice Phoenix bloodline, it is bound to not be able to pass on to the next generation, so there is no need to worry about the divine blood leaking to outsiders."

Diluted ten thousand times

They all become speechless hearing her words...

Isn't this a bit stingy? And this was the treatment for high-level disciples!

"If one can enter Divine Ice Phoenix Hall, they can then receive a drop of the Ice Phoenix's blood that is diluted a thousand times. If they can receive the appreciation of an elder, they might even be bestowed with blood essence that can thicken their divine blood even more." Mu Bingyun continued her explanation.

"And if one could become the direct disciple of the Realm King, then they could receive a whole drop of the Ice Phoenix's origin blood. This is probably the thing that all profound practitioners in the Snow Song Realm desperately desire," Mu Bingyun said softly.

"Ah," Mu Bingyun sighed softly. "The divine blood of the ice phoenix is extremely precious and it cannot regenerate. Using a drop means one less drop of blood, so most of the bloodline given to the disciples of Ice Phoenix Palace are not origin blood. Instead they choose the blood essence from a direct inheritor and dilute it. Unless there is someone extremely gifted and talented, then they will be given a whole drop of origin blood and be taught directly by the Realm King"

"This was also the most helpless thing of my Divine Ice Phoenix Sect. The divine power of divine bloodline of the other forces can be inherited by generations through reproduction and expand their forces. Even if they don't accept disciples from the outside, they would still be stronger generation after generation. As for our Ice Phoenix clan, the higher we cultivate the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon, the harder it is for us to reproduce. If we only relied on passing down our bloodline, the sect would only be weaker generation after generation. Because of this, we need to rely on accepting a large number of disciples from other clans to continue our prosperity. However, the amount of Ice Phoenix blood is already extremely scarce, there will come a time when it finally runs out. The future of Divine Ice Phoenix Sect is indeed very worrying."

After speaking, Mu Bingyun sighed once again.

"I can give a drop of my blood essences to you, but it will only enough for six people... Do any of you willing to take it? It will help you to cultivate the real Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon, and it is enough for you to pass it down five or so generations as well." Mu Bingyun looks at them in askance.

"Ah? N-No, we couldn't accept it, senior Ancestor. We already owe you enough... Just allowing us to join your divine sect is already more than enough." Feng Qianhui hastily refuses Mu Bingyun's offer.

The other girls also nodded along with Feng Qianhui's statement.

They really don't need it because of a certain person among their midst... And as for Xia Qingyue and Chu Yuechan, they don't need it even more!

The first one has a very special physique while the other one inherited the full legacy of the Primordial Azure Dragon God!

"There's no need for you girls to take in the Ice Phoenix's blood. I can 'erase' the limitation for you to be able to learn the <Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon>. You just need to know the art and you will be able to learn it without any difficulties." Issei said calmly.

Feng Qianhui and the others who heard Issei's words smiled sweetly before they bowed in unison towards his direction: "We are grateful for Elder benevolence."

Mu Bingyun and Mu Xiaolan's eyes went wide when they heard Issei's words. But then they remembered that the frozen cloud girls are already able to learn the incomplete version of the <Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon> even without the blood essence of the ice phoenix...

Even though it's only an incomplete version, it is still a divine art nonetheless.

So it indeed has something to do with him... How is he able to 'erase' the limitation for it?

"You don't need to ask how Master is able to do it, just think of it as his innate talent... The things that he's capable of is beyond your comprehension." Xiaotao said softly to the stupefied duo.

The frozen cloud girls have already known of this fact so they're not surprised any longer.

Mu Bingyun and Mu Xiaolan can only nod numbly at Xiaotao's statement...

The group then had unwittingly flown through a few thousand kilometers of the snow region. Snow Song Realm did not have an ocean of water, only a boundless ocean of ice.

Aside from the god realm aura that was completely different than that of the Blue Pole Star, there was a stifling empty silence.

The Snow Song Region was much more vast than the Blue Pole Star but whether it be the number of people or profound beasts, those were incomparably sparse here.

"We've arrived," Mu Bingyun stated.

The direction of the flight suddenly shifted downward. The sea of clouds scattered and an enormous world shrouded in illusory icy mist instantly appeared before them.

The temperature had suddenly dropped and the originally extremely dense energy of heaven and earth quickly became even richer. Even though they were high in up in the skies, the enormous world didn't seem to have a limit. Within the icy mist, glaciers, cities of ice and ice origins were scattered across the area.

Scree~

A long cry pierced through the high skies. A huge bird that was at least a few kilometers wide in body length alone flew over from the icy mist. Its approach brought along an oppressive feeling that would've made any normal person stiffen with fear.

But the girls of the frozen cloud palace don't feel fear in the slightest, they are a little surprised but that's about it. They could already guess to a certain extent that this beast will surely bow its head to their sect elder just like previous profound beasts they have met before... and their guess is right.

The bird shifted the trajectory of its flight and actively made way for them. It seemed as though that long cry was its greeting call. The bird swooped down almost immediately and the next sight makes Mu Bingyun and Xiaolan a little taken aback...

Because the huge bird bowed deeply towards their direction...

In the next instant, the Mu duo was further stunned silly since they see countless shadows within the icy mist that filled the air. There were huge blue birds, white single-horned beasts and all kinds of oddly shaped ice beasts there were even several kilometer long ice dragons!

The profound beasts which flew through the skies of this world were all, without exception, went to their direction only to bow deeply just like the first one did!

While the girls had an "as to be expected" expression on their faces, the Mu duo is utterly shocked to their very core. Why did all these profound beasts suddenly... bow their head deeply towards their direction?! This never happens before nor have they seen such sight...

"Don't make any commotion... All of you are dismissed." They heard Issei calm voice.

Reacting to his words, the line up of the huge profound beast let out a soft chirp, pur, or growl before they took off from their previous position and went back to doing their previous activities...

The Mu duo dazedly looks at Issei and Xiaotao gives them the same look as before when she advised them just a while ago...

Even though they feel curious they decided not to ask...

Mu Bingyun collected her thoughts back and started to calm herself down... It looks like she really needs to inform her elder sister about the whole situation... presumably, it's probably best if they don't try anything that could offend him...

"...This is the Ice Phoenix Realm, where Divine Ice Phoenix Sect is located," Mu Bingyun narrated with a soft voice: "Our Divine Ice Phoenix Sect should not be the same as the sects you know of. Ice Phoenix Realm is around the same size as the Profound Sky Continent but there are not more than two hundred million people here."

The icy mist grew more and more faint as they were gradually able to see what was below them. A blue, indistinct silhouette appeared.

Feng Xue'er was able to recognize the tail of a phoenix at first glance. However, completely different from the fire phoenix, this phoenix tail was a flowing cold, icy blue color. There was either a city or a huge palace on top of each phoenix feather.

The shape of the Divine Ice Phoenix Sect was precisely a reclining ice phoenix more than fifty thousand kilometers long from north to south.

They then landed on the incomparably hard ice crystal floor.

Before them are numerous unusually tall structures, palaces, and buildings. The tall ones were at most three kilometers tall and the shortest was close to three hundred meters. They were all built with ice crystals and reflected ice-cold light. In this area, the element of ice was so rich and active that it had reached its pinnacle. If they looked into the distance, they would see fast moving white or blue robed silhouettes and the silhouettes of kinds of ice profound beasts and profound arks from time to time.

At the extreme limits of his line of sight was a three-kilometer tall palace bigger than the entire Blue Wind Imperial City. Beside the palace was an ice crystal phoenix with its wings spread, as though it was in flight. The might it released was so thick that it nearly enveloped the entire world.

Everything seemed as though they had arrived in a wonderland of ice and snow.

The Snow Region of Extreme Ice could be said to be the Profound Sky Continent's coldest, purest region where the ice element was the most concentrated and active. However, if it were to be compared to this place, it would be as insignificant as dust.

"Phew! We're finally back. This is the first time I've left for this long after entering Divine Phoenix Sect." Mu Xiaolan closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the pure cold air in this place. Even though she had only stayed for a month, the Profound Sky Continent's aura was still turbid to the point where she couldn't endure it.

"This is the Ice Phoenix Realm." Mi Bingyun looked at the group and said, "Up ahead is Freezing Snow City, the place where Freezing Snow Hall is located. Unofficial disciples are not allowed to enter and exit at will. If they encounter a disciple of the sect, they would be sure to be interrogated. However, since all of you were brought here by me, you do not have to worry."

"Elder Sister already knows that I've returned. I must see to her immediately, lest she gets too worried. I will also tell her of your situation in passing." Mu Bingyun stated... 'Especially this man... I need to inform elder sister about him.' She silently added inside her mind.

It's very good news that they will gain a large batch of talented disciples as well though.

"All of you do not need to be too nervous here and just treat this place as an ordinary cultivation ground."

"We understand."

Profound practitioners, even those from the Snow Song Realm that had come to the Divine Ice Phoenix Sect for the first time, would all tremble in fear. Those ascenders from lower realms would be even more nervous, such that they would shrink to their smallest. However, what Mu Bingyun saw from the girls is a calm and collected expression... there's a little bit of curiosity and excitement mixed here and there but that's about it.

"Xiaolan, go bring them to the Freezing Snow Main Hall. Use my name to directly take an Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade for them so they could become a disciple of Freezing Snow Hall. Afterwards, go take them on a stroll in Freezing Snow City." Mu Bingyun instructed.

"Sure thing, Master." Mu Xiaolan nodded eagerly.

"In addition, let me say this again. You mustn't tell anyone that benefactor Ise cured my poison and the girls being able to learn the Ice Phoenix God Investiture Canon!"

"Don't worry Master, I definitely won't let out a single word."

"And benefactor Ise, do you want to come along with me right away?"

"No. I will accompany them on their registration." Issei responded.

Mu Bingyun slightly nodded. She quickly rose, turned into a streak of blue and completely disappeared from their line of sight.

"Then, let's go, everyone!" Mu Xiaolan turned around and said a giddily. She can't wait to show her junior sisters around the city and sect.

"Um." Feng Qianhui nodded wryly at Mu Xiaolan.

"Master, I think it's better if you wear your mask." Lieyan said briefly.

She doesn't need her Master to attract unnecessary attention to himself especially if they are from the Ice Phoenix inheritor. If there are too many competitors then her own inheritor will have her chance reduced as well...

"We agree." The girls nodded along with Lieyan's statement.

"Oh? Alright." Issei nodded slightly before he took out his mask and wear it on his head.

Mu Xiaolan who saw this feel slightly disappointed but then she also has to agree since if he were to stroll along the city without wearing a mask then it will be truly catastrophic...

The girls also wear their veil one by one... Only Esdeath's group doesn't wear anything to cover their gorgeous faces.

"Ah? Why all of you wearing a veil? There's no need for that you know?" Mu Xiaolan said.

"It's just a habit of ours, senior sister. Don't mind us." Feng Qianhui answered.

"Oh..." Then, she flew up, "Follow me."

Under Mu Xiaolan's guidance, They entered the Freezing Snow City where the Freezing Snow Hall was located. The three-kilometer tall palace hall they first saw upon their arrival was precisely the Freezing Snow Main Hall.

North of the Freezing Snow Main Hall were also exactly one hundred and eight Freezing Snow Halls and they were all around the size of a city in the lower realms.

After entering Freezing Snow City, the surrounding aura changed once more. An extremely dense ice aura assaulted their faces as human figures also increased within their line of sight.

Mu Xialon suddenly pointed at the sparking stone around her left collarbone which was releasing an illusory blue light. "Look, everyone. This is the nameplate that says that you are a disciple of Divine Ice Phoenix Sect, the <Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade> Master mentioned before."

"The deeper the color, the higher your rank. It is your proof of identity and it can also be used to store items, transmit sound or even absorb cold energy to assist you in your cultivation. The teleportation formations of various sizes within the sect also require the Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade to activate. Different engraved jades also activate different teleportation formations. For example, once you obtain the Freezing Snow Hall's engraved jade, you are only able to activate the teleportation formations of Freezing Snow Hall and Snowfall Palace."

"I see." The girls nodded at her statement.

At this moment, two especially pretty white-robed Freezing Snow Hall disciples came over. When they saw Mu Xiaolan, they hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, "Senior Sister Xiaolan."

"Strange, why are there so few people here today? Did something happen today?" Mu Xiaolan asked.

The girl on the right side answered, "In reply to Senior Sister, today's the final day of this year's new disciple examination for Freezing Snow Hall. The Main Hall Master has ordered all disciples without an assignment to stay in their respective halls. If they don't have any special matters, no one is allowed to casually walk around."

"Oh, right!" Mu Xiaolan came to a realization. "It really is around these days, I actually forgot about it."

"Senior Sister Xiaolan, this is?" The girl on the right noticed the large group.

Almost all of their profound strength aura was at the Divine Origin Realm and they didn't have an Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade so they are quite an eye-catching group.

Even though they wear a veil on their faces, they should be a splendid beauty...

The two new girls blushed slightly when they saw Issei... They can't see his face but for some reason, they feel their heart flutter on their own just from gazing at his figure... but then they feel a little disappointed that his cultivation seems to be only at the peak level throne...

Mu Xiaolan who saw this scrunched her nose slightly: "They are brought by Master from a lower realm. From now on, they will be your junior sisters." She said curtly.

Astonishment flashed past the two Freezing Snow Hall's females when they heard Mu Xiaolan words. Mu Xiaolan's Master who was also a grand Ice Phoenix Palace Master, brought back a large group of disciples candidates? Is the 36th palace about to rise up?

"Alright, let's go already. I forgot that these days are Freezing Snow Hall's new disciple examination days. We should hurry up and go get an Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade. We can't disturb the busy hall masters." Then they started to move once again...

With her status as an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple in addition to Palace Master Bingyun's name, Mu Xiaolan brought the group to the Freezing Snow Main Hall unhindered.

Even though it was a great hall, it was a completely different concept than the "great halls" they recognized.

The hall was three kilometers tall and its boundary couldn't be seen with a mere glance. Different from the silent Freezing Snow City, this place was brimming with innumerable strong auras. At a glance, neatly arranged waves of people were everywhere within the great hall, spreading all the way until the end of one's line of sight.

The auras of each and every person here were incomparably strong, definitely auras that surpassed the Sovereign Profound Realm, without a single exception!

Though there were so many people here, the great hall was still particularly quiet and solemn. Those lower realm powerhouses who could cover their worlds with one hand all wore nervous and serious expressions. They were arranged in teams, every one of their expressions and movements extremely cautious. They didn't even dare to whisper to one another.

Each team had around ten thousand members.

"These few days just happen to be Freezing Snow Hall's new disciple recruitment examination days. That's why there are so many people here..." Mu Xiaolan pursed her lips and explained, "This kind of assessment happens once every year and it lasts for around seven days. Today should be the last day. Yes, look, they split everyone into groups of ten thousand and they go through one hundred and eight groups every day, which perfectly fits Freezing Snow Hall's one hundred and eight halls. Each group would be evaluated by a Freezing Snow Hall's Vice Hall Master or disciple and sometimes the Hall Master might even personally come to participate."

"Aside from successors of the Ice Phoenix bloodline, disciples that come from the outside, especially those from the lower realm, have to be evaluated before they are allowed to join Freezing Snow Hall. The base requirement for being able to participate in the exam is to have reached the Divine Origin Realm. If they fail the examination, they have to wait five more years to take part in it again. But since all of you are brought by Master, then there's no need for you to go through all this." Mu Xiaolan said with a smile.

A team of ten thousand people, one hundred and eight teams, with the Divine Origin Realm being merely the threshold In other words, these people who were carefully participating in the examination might not even pass. There were over a million people here and they were all at the Divine Origin Realm!

And this was only one of the many examination days.

At first, the girls feel a little surprised at this sight, but soon they calmed themselves down...

When Mu Xiaolan and the group entered, they immediately attracted the notice of a few profound practitioners waiting to be evaluated. When they sensed the girls profound aura, they feel a little amazed since some of them are already at the peak of Divine Origin Realm while the rest is at the middle stage of Divine Origin Realm.

The males are feeling attracted by their beautiful visage and the aura they're emitting...

There are a lot of beautiful girls here but Xia Qingyue's group is like a phoenix amongst chicken.

As for the female onlookers, at first, they feel attracted to Issei but soon feel disappointed when they sensed that his cultivation is only at the peak level throne...

The male onlookers' flashed a look of contempt and disdain seeing that Issei is being surrounded by so many heavenly beauties.

"Master, permission to discipline those mongrels."

"No need. Just ignore them."

Esdeath's group frowned deeply seeing the look of contempt they had. But seeing that their Master doesn't seem to be bothered by this, they decided to hold it in... although... Esdeath started to memorize the faces of those who dare to look down on her Master inside her mind...

Her eyes glimmered slightly when she's looking at them... 'So many rats to experiment on...'

Then they saw Mu Xiaolan, who sported the engraved jade which signified her status as a disciple of Ice Phoenix Palace next to him, their pupils contracted as their gazes changed to one of envy and yearning. They also subconsciously lowered their heads, not daring to look a second time.

"Senior Sister Xiaolan." A few disciples that were on guard welcomed over and said rather respectfully, "May we ask what you're here for?"

"On behalf of my Master, I am here to get them a Freezing Snow Engraved Jade." Mu Xiaolan hinted at the group behind her.

One of them promptly answered, "Please come over here. However, since it is an examination day, the attendant of general affairs is not at the Phoenix Jade Palace but here, supervising the examination with our Main Hall Master. I will bring you to them."

"Main Hall Master?" Mu Xiaolan's brows twitched, as though she had some issue with this "Main Hall Master." She waved a hand and said, "No need, I've already found his aura. Go take care of your own mission. Everyone, let's go."

Mu Xiaolan said rather majestically before bringing them directly toward the inner part of the main hall.

It was extremely obvious that the hierarchy within the disciples of Divine Ice Phoenix Sect was quite evident. In front of an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple, Freezing Snow Hall disciples were all as deferential as servants.

After walking for a long while through the solemn great hall, they finally stopped near a group of profound practitioners who were waiting to be evaluated. Mu Xiaolan walked toward a middle-aged man in a long, dark blue robe. The moment she came near, that blue-robed middle-aged man instantly sensed her, turned around and smiled. "Oh? Isn't this Xiaolan? Why are you here?"

Mu Xiaolan answered respectfully, "Xiaolan greets Senior Su Shan. I am here on behalf of my Master to get these girls a Freezing Snow Hall engraved jade Everyone, this is Freezing Snow Hall's attendant of general affairs, Senior Sushan. Hurry up and go greet him."

The girls walked forward and copied Mu Xiaolan's salutation. "Junior greets Senior Sushan."

"Oh? Your Master's order?" As Mu Sushan sized the girls up with a glance, deep astonishment flashed through the depths of his eyes. He then asked, "It seems that Palace Master Bingyun has not been in the sect for a period of time. Could it be that Palace Master Bingyn has brought these girls over from a different star realm?"

"Yes," Mu Xiaolan answered honestly, "Master brought them from a lower realm called the Blue Pole Star."

"Lower realm?" Mu Sushan was even more shocked. He had never heard of the"Blue Pole Star" before but he did not inquire any further. He only nodded slowly, "If I recall correctly, Palace Master Bingyun had never brought back a lower realm's profound practitioner yet she made a surprising exception this time... And I have to say that these girls are indeed very good seedlings. Hoho, it looks like our sect will receive a good batch of new disciples."

Mu Sushan nodded again and again when he saw the talent the girls showcased. Although he's also a bit curious about Issei's small group, he won't ask for now... but they're quite standing out with their cultivation... A peak level throne and a peak level Monarch? Hmm... There must be some secret involved Mu Sushan pondered inside his mind.

"Then follow me. Oh right, how is Palace Master's health faring lately?"

Just as Mu Xiaolan was about to answer him, a shrill female voice came from behind. "Hmph, isn't this Thirty-six Palace's Mu Xiaolan? Today is Freezing Snow Hall's great recruitment day, what are you here for?"

Issei noticed Mu Xiaolan's body suddenly stiffen beneath this voice and even her expression had become a bit unsightly. She paused for a little while before finally turning around. She lowered her head and said, "Xiaolan greets Hall Master Fengshu I am here on my Master's orders."

The approaching female was dressed in blue, her long hair was tied, her phoenix eyes were slightly slanted. Within her beautiful eyes was a cold intent that made one not dare to look straight at her and this cold intent seemed to be targeted at Mu Xiaolan.

And based on Mu Xiaolan's appearance, she was clearly afraid and also seemed to not like this person.

"Mu Bingyun?" When she said the name Mu Bingyun, the corner of Mu Fengshu's lips clearly sneered with a trace of hostility. "What does she want you to do?"

"Hoho, a small matter," Mu Sushan said with a smile. He looked at the girls: "This group of junior is a profound practitioner Palace Master Bingyun has brought over from a lower realm. Palace Master Bingyun wishes for them to enter Freezing Snow Hall. I was just about to take them with me to obtain an Ice Phoenix Engraved Jade. As for which hall they will join, since Palace Master Bingyun has not specified that in her request, how about I leave that for Main Hall Master to decide?"

Mu Fengshu, Freezing Snow Hall's Main Hall Master, leader of one hundred and eight Freezing Snow Halls, several hundred hall masters and vice hall masters and more than two million Freezing Snow Hall disciples!

This was a considerably high person of standing in the entire Divine Ice Phoenix Sect.

"Lower realm? Them? Join Freezing Snow Hall?" Mu Fengshu obviously had noticed the girls from the very beginning.

But she had only given Issei a single glance because he didn't have an aura that touched even the fringes of the divine way. His figure might be quite nice to look at but he was not qualified enough for her to give him a second glance.

"How about them? Are they joining as well?" She pointed at Issei's small group.

"No, they're Master's guests." Mu Xiaolan answered.

"Heh, guests? As expected of her, bringing a group of trashes as guests." Mu Fengshu sneered at Issei.

There's no reaction coming from Issei but those who are around him glowered fiercely.

When they're about to do something, Issei waved his hand calmly to calm them down.

The girls reluctantly reeled in their killing intent when they saw this...

Mu Fengshu only scoffed at their killing intent and doesn't take it seriously at all.

"As for the rest of you... Our Divine Ice Phoenix Sect is the number one holy ground of the Snow Song Realm. The reason why we have reached this day is because of our strict ranking and impartial system! First-rate disciples are our sect's future but trash who wishes to receive preferential treatment should go where trashes ought to go! No one is allowed to selfishly overstep their bounds and waste our resources. Even if all of you have good cultivation, that doesn't give you an excuse to just enter our sect as you wish."

Mu Fengshu then hollered in a deep voice, "Mingcheng, come over here!"

Beneath her yell, a lone person quickly walked out of the profound practitioners waiting to be evaluated. After arriving before Mu Fengshu, he asked respectfully, "At your command, Main Hall Master."

"He is Li Mingcheng," Mu Fengshu raised her phoenix brows, "my biological nephew!"

Once those words came out, low shouts immediately rang out from the surroundings and the eyes of the profound practitioners who had been standing alongside him widened to become circular. Li Mingcheng smiled, perfectly concealing his satisfaction while not forgetting to flashed a 'gentlemanly' smile at the girls but his presence doesn't even enter their eyes.

"His innate talent is impressive. His profound strength is currently now at the third level of the Divine Origin Realm and there is only a thin line between him breaking through to the fourth level. In this group, he can be considered unequal! However, he is still going to honestly receive this evaluation and can only enter once he passes! As Freezing Snow Hall's Main Hall Master, I was still not swayed into selfishness because he is my nephew, nor did I allow him to be exempt from the examination because of his innate talent... What qualifications do they have? Just because they have decent cultivation? Just because your Master said so?"

"You can go back to your master, just because she's a palace master, that doesn't mean that she can brazenly trampling all over our Divine Ice Phoenix Sect's dignity and even deliberately humiliating my Freezing Snow Hall!"

Mu Fengshu's sharp shout and sudden name shaming frightened Mu Xiaolan so badly that she took two steps back. The different gazes around her also caused her mind great turmoil. She stammered, "I I... Master she she's not"

"Sigh." As the atmosphere became even worse, Mu Sushan, who had been standing to the side all this time sighed. In fact, hall masters and palace masters arranging for people to directly enter Snowfall Palace, Freezing Snow Hall and even Ice Phoenix Palace was a common occurrence and wasn't really considered a big deal. However, he was fully aware of the grievances between Mu Fengshu and Mu Bingyun. What Mu Fengshu was targeting was not today's matter but Mu Bingyun.

She had a thousand years of accumulated resentment toward Mu Bingyun.

He spoke up to resolve the dispute, "Xiaolan, go leave for now and ask your master about her intentions. Main Hall Master, this is after all, Palace Master Bingyun's intentions. It is not good to let this get too out of hand, how about"

"Then there will be no problem if we take proper procedure of registration right?" Chu Yuechan's voice suddenly resounded.

"Hmph, of course..." Mu Fengshu snorted lightly. "Mu Bingyun is Thirty-sixth Ice Phoenix Palace's Palace Master and is also the Great Realm King's close relative. Even though I cannot allow this selfishness to happen as Freezing Snow Hall's Main Hall Master, how could I dare to not give a little face?"

"Since it's an order from Palace Master Bingyun, I will give all of you a chance. Those who wish to enter my Freezing Snow Hall must pass three tests. Everyone standing here today has passed the first test, which is a profound strength assessment. With your cultivation realm then we can directly exempt you from the first test. I will allow you to be together with everyone here who will be participating in the second and third tests. If you pass, you will obviously be able to honorably enter Freezing Snow Hall and I won't say a word against it." Even though she hated Mu Bingyun, she won't make things too difficult since she indeed values a good talent such as Chu Yuechan's group.

She just wanted to take a jab at Mu Bingyun's reputation... If the girls weren't brought here by Mu Bingyun and then perhaps she would even go on her way to welcome them personally... It's not every day that they can receive such talented individuals...

Most of them are quite young, such as Xia Qingyue who's only at 20 years old of age but she already at the peak of Divine Origin Realm. This can be considered a monstrous genius even in this realm.

If it were Issei then she won't be this lenient... but just like how she views Issei as insignificant, he also sees her the same way...

"Then we will do so." Chu Yuechan nodded calmly: "Senior sister Xiaolan, please take us to the designated location for the second test."

Mu Xiaolan took a deep breath, turned around, and said: "Um! Let's go!"

She brought the group towards the designated place...

When they're further away from their previous location, Mu Xiaolan's hands tightened into a fist as her face alternated between red and white. "She's gone too far gone too far!"

She yelled furiously as glistening tears revolved in her eyes.

"Indeed... Master, why won't you let us deal with her?" Esdeath said with a low growl.

"Even if I let you, can you deal with her?" Issei asked them.

"We... We can't, but we can't just let her badmouth you like that!" Esdeath said with a spat. She hates to admit it but they're still not powerful enough to take on someone at the Divine Sovereign Realm.

But that doesn't mean that they're afraid to fight them!

Xiaotao and Lieyan also not powerful enough yet to deal with someone at the Divine Sovereign Realm.

"*Sigh* No need to be too concerned about it. What she said does make sense a little bit." Issei gave Esdeath's head a pat. They indeed shouldn't have used a backdoor connection like that... And in their eyes, his 'cultivation' is indeed very weak.

Esdeath who felt his touch shuddered slightly... Her face is hidden under her hat but one can see an unhealthy blush started to appear on both of her ears.

Altair and Sirius who saw this started to feel a bit envious...

"And this is nothing but a small hurdle that she sets up for you girls. I believe with your strength, you can easily pass the tests with flying colors." Issei said with a soft smile under his mask.

"Yes! We surely won't disappoint you, Elder Ise!" The girls shouted in unison.

Mu Xiaolan who saw this had her eyes glimmered slightly: "...By the way, why are your cultivation is only at the peak level throne?" She asked Issei curiously: "That couldn't be your real strength, right?"

"Hmm, perhaps I need to 'adjust' my cultivation realm slightly..." Issei muttered.

He channeled a bit of energy to his profound veins and in the next moment, his cultivation started to increase at an alarming rate.

Emperor Profound Realm... Tyrant Profound Realm... Sovereign Profound Realm... Divine Origin Realm... Divine Soul Realm... Divine Tribulation Realm... Divine Spirit Realm...

And finally, Divine King Realm!

His cultivation only stops increasing when it reaches the peak of the Divine King Realm!

Thankfully there's no one nearby to notice his little 'trick' or they would've start to question their existence after seeing how easily someone who was at the peak level throne suddenly had his cultivation risen to the Divine King Realm in one go...

Even Mu Xiaolan had her jaws wide open and her eyes bulged when she saw this... What the hell?!

There are no apparent surprises coming from the girls since they are already numb of his capabilities...

"Wonderful, Elder Ise." They do clap their hands lightly though while saying a small congratulatory word.

"Wh-Wh-What?!" Mu Xiaolan stammered.

"Y-Y-Your true cultivation realm is at the peak of <Divine King Realm>?!" She shakily pointed at Issei with a flabbergasted expression.

"Hmm, maybe?" Issei smirked slightly at her.

Mu Xiaolan felt like she can somehow tell that Issei is making fun of her even though he's wearing a mask. She started to stomp her feet feeling indignant.

"D-Don't make fun of me!"

"I'm not making fun of you though?"

"B-But you hid your cultivation from me!"

"I didn't hide my cultivation though? My 'cultivation' was indeed only at the Emperor Profound Realm. You can ask them about it." Issei shrugged at Feng Qianhui's direction.

They can only giggle at their elder mischievousness... His 'cultivation' is indeed only at the Emperor Profound Realm before but as for his real strength... Even they don't know for sure...

"Hehehe, elder brother you're so bad." Su Ling'er giggled at Issei. Feng Xue'er also nodded along with Su Ling'er statement. Her Grandmaster is indeed really bad... Even Huan Caiyi chuckled slightly...

"You're obviously lying! Look! They're clearly laughing at you!" Mu Xiaolan fumed at Issei.

"Nevermind that... That Main Hall Master from earlier, she had some animosity at your Master?" Issei waved his hand to dismiss their little banter.

"What animosity!?" Mu Xiaolan gritted her teeth: "Isn't it only because she wants to take Master's place to become an Ice Phoenix Palace Master!?"

"Master was infected by the flame poison more than one thousand years ago and because she lost her powers, the flame poison invaded her soul. When she returned to the Snow Song Realm, it was no longer curable and she was doomed to die. If Master died, then she, as Freezing Snow Hall's Main Hall Master, would easily inherit Master's Palace Master position."

"A Palace Master is at a higher rank than a Main Hall Master. Thus, from a thousand years ago, she has long since made preparations to become an Ice Phoenix Palace Master. Everyone in Divine Ice Phoenix Sect knows this. But in the end, because of the close sister relationship between the Master and Great Realm King, the Great Realm King didn't hesitate to pay any cost in order to prolong Master's life. Any item in the entire sect that was able to prolong a life was taken by the Great Realm King in order to save Master. As a result, every year that Master stays safe causes Mu Fengshu, who had long ago declared that she will become Palace Master, to lose face. It seems that she has received quite a bit of ridicule."

"I've also heard that Mu Fengshu obtained a rare <Primordial Duskcold Soaring Blossom> in the training grounds. It would help her profound strength make a breakthrough, but after the Great Realm King heard about it, she took it away to replenish Master's life All these things caused her to have a really deep grudge against Master. She doesn't dare to do anything to Master in public but a majority of the malicious rumors about Master come from her! Master is just too kind. Master thinks she owes her, so she never struck back, causing her to become even more aggravating."

"...I see." Issei's mouth started to twitch a little after hearing Mu Xiaolan's story.

Of course she would resent your Master for that... Her elder sister took her treasure just so she can prolong your Master's life...

Don't get him wrong, he can understand the standpoint of the Realm King since he would've done the same if one of his loved ones were to suffer the same fate as Mu Bingyun but still...

After a few minutes, they finally reach the testing ground...

...

At the same time, Mu Bingyun also arrived at her destination...

She entered a room where a goddess-like woman is residing. She's currently inclined beside a window.

"You're back." The woman said softly to Mu Bingyun.

"Um... I'm back, elder sister." Mu Bingyun nodded with a small smile on her face.

The woman Mu Bingyun called elder sister is named Mu Xuanyin. She's the <Snow Song Realm> Realm King!

She has long hair that stretches all the way to her waist and it has a special kind of icy color. It isn't pure white but a lustrous white that is freckled with icy crystals and gleaming with a bit of light blue. Her hair is dazzlingly beautiful beneath the sunlight. Her beautiful face, slightly slanted crescent brows, misty eyes, and gentle light pink colored lips could bewitch the soul and contained an indescribable charm.

Her figure is alluring to the extreme. A snow colored ribbon is tied around her willow-thin waist and the snow robes covering her chest look so round and full it is as if something would burst out of its trappings at any moment. The buttocks beneath her slim waist are also rounder and firmer. Her entire body was dripping with a kind of allure and charm that ate away at both bones and souls.

"Elder sister, there's something I need to tell you..." Mu Bingyun then said seriously.