Deep inside a hall within an ice chamber sat a figure that cultivated in solitude. Her expression was icy and yet at peace. Several strands of her hair were of a wintry hue that waved ever so gently.
Her features were soft, and her skin was like white jade. A small nose sat above cherry-red lips that created a striking contrast that was a sight to behold.
Her beauty was on the level of toppling nations. However, this beauty was too chilling, keeping everyone at a distance.
A mist-like frost pervaded the room she was in. It obscured her figure, adding an air of mysteriousness to her. She was like an immortal ice fairy captured in a painting that none was worthy to look upon.
If Long Di were here, he would recognise this icy beauty as none other than Qin Ling.
Nine cauldrons that looked to be completely constructed of ice rotated behind her. They released a terrifying chill that surpassed that of the ice chamber itself. One cauldron, in particular, didn't match up to the others, but this inferiority was apace approaching its end.
"How is her cultivation coming along?"
"It's coming along just fine. The problem is, she won't accept any of the cultivation techniques from the hall, and she won't tell me the name of her current cultivation technique either."
Outside the chamber, monitoring the ice beauty within, were two figures.
One was another kingdom-toppling vision who, unlike the ice fairy that was still young, was mature, like a ripe peach ready to be plucked.
Her figure was beyond tempting, whilst her face wore a pout that was more seductive than anything else.
Her hair was black, tied up in a high bun, which added a regal air. It was a curious thing for someone like to wear a pout but it worked for her.
"You're too soft on her. Still, it's hard to believe that this ingenious cultivation technique was found in that backwater city. However, it seems… incomplete."
The speaker was the other woman. This one was older than the first. However, even though her advanced age was apparent based on the few wrinkles that decked her face, it didn't hide the supreme beauty that she was in the least.
"I don't know why Ling'er won't tell me. This is the only thing that she has remained tight-lipped about. Doesn't she know that such actions will hurt the feelings of her teacher? Hmph!"
The mature beauty's pout deepened as she thought about this.
"Blame your own heart for being so light-handed, Hong Wei." The older beauty dismissed the mature beauty's—now known as Hong Wei—troubles with a wave of her hand, not paying attention to her and her 'woes.'
The older beauty then continued, "I've received word that the court's emissary will be here within a year."
"That fast!?" Hong Wei's saddened expression disappeared in an instant when she heard this. "I wanted her to enjoy her life here a bit longer."
"We're out of time, I'm afraid. Her physique had already decided her fate." the older beauty explained.
"Can't we just—"
"She's coming out of seclusion." The older beauty interrupted. "Do what you know to be right. Anything you choose, I will support."
The older beauty soon became covered in mist that hid her body from view. Eventually, the mist dissipated as quickly as it appeared, taking the figure of the older beauty away with it.
As soon as she disappeared, Qin Ling's lashes slightly shuddered before her eyes opened. A deep sapphire blue coloured her iris.
Her expression was one of neither joy nor sadness, but of one that lived in between. She quickly made her way out of the room before she was greeted by Hong Wei who was waiting for her.
"Master!" Qin Ling's expression changed for the first time in a while as she ran toward Hong Wei with a smile on her face.
"How many times must I tell you!? I am not your master, only a teacher. I am not worthy of this title. Why must you refuse me on this!?" Hong Wei said with a stern expression.
"I don't care!" The Qin Ling shook her head in refusal. "To me, teacher is Master. Plus, Master treats me really well and never gets angry at me whenever I fail. Master is Master!"
Hearing this, Hong Wei's expression softened, as she couldn't help herself. "Good child. Your cultivation has improved once again. Your last cauldron is almost completed" Hong Wei patted her on the head. She truly loved this pupil of hers and doted on her a lot. "Come with teacher, as we have something important to talk about."
Hong Wei led her pupil through winding stairs and numerous passages. Eventually, they emerged from the building they were in to arrive outside.
A frigid wind greeted them as soon as they exited. Snow crunched below their feet with every step.
If one took an off-hand look, they would see that there was a blanket of snow that covered the land for as far as the eye could see, stretching all the way into the horizon. Not even the peaks and valleys near this region were spared this fate.
Not to mention mortals, the level of cold here was not something that not even ordinary cultivators could handle. The only ones who resided here were the disciples that were a part of this sect.
One could see several temples, pavilions, and other buildings throughout the land. Many were on the peaks, whilst others rested simply on the plain.
There was one in particular that overshadowed them all. It was an enormous building that was tens of thousands of feet wide and hundreds of feet high.
It had an air of grandiose about it that commanded respect from any that stared in its direction.
This was where Hong Wei was leading Qin Ling.
"Greetings, Hall leader. H-Hello Divine Daughter."
"Ah, g-greetings Hall Leader, and Divine Daughter!"
As they made their way to the building, several disciples along the way who saw them bowed to the woman that was apparently the hall leader of this sect and Qin Ling who became the Divine Daughter of Ice Phoenix Hall.
Among the many disciples here, there was a similar characteristic that all of them possessed. That was, they were all females.
Of the tens of thousands of disciples that were currently a part of this sect, not a single one was male.
Hong Wei smiled and nodded at her disciples as they greeted her and the Divine Daughter.
It didn't take long before Hong Wei and Divine Daughter Qin Ling arrived at the main building.
Stepping inside, they quickly made their way to a transportation formation. Hong Wei fished a jade token from her robe and fitted it into the groove on top of a pedestal by the transportation formation.
Shortly after, the jade token glowed a soft blue as the formation array lit up around them. She removed the token before the formation engulfed the duo in a blinding flash of light.
The two reappeared in a large room within the building. The room was complete with a desk and a couch.
The only difference between this room and a normal room was that the desk and couch of this room were in the middle of a field of grass.
There was a babbling brook not far away with koi fishes of different colours swimming around lively here and there.
Hong Wei made her way to the desk at an unhurried pace, with Qin Ling in tow.
When she arrived, she sank into the chair with a relaxed expression.
"Haaa, that's much better."
"Master, what is so important that we had to come all the way to your place of seclusion?" Divine Daughter Qin Ling asked after she took a seat.
"Ghostfire Woods is going to be opening soon and I want you to take a few of the core and halled disciples with you for experiential training when that happens," said the hall leader, still slumped in her chair.
"I thought that Ghostfire Woods didn't have a set time for it to be opened. How come we're able to predict it all of a sudden?"
Hong Wei closed her eyes for a moment as a warm smile made its way across her face.
"Master?"
"You're going to be the death of me with that master habit of yours," Hong Wei chuckled after a while. "As for Ghostfire Woods, for the first time in several thousand years, there is activity within the forest. Something big is brewing in this generation, as the Forbidden Zones are starting to act up. Even some old monsters are waking up. I need you to take advantage of every opportunity there is to get stronger, and Ghostfire woods is a good place to start."
"To get stronger?"
"That's right," Hong Wei answered, her eyes still closed. "On that note, I would like for you to switch your current cultivation technique. It's ingenious, but it seems to be lacking in some way. It seems incomplete."
Divine Daughter Qin Ling went silent after this. The only sounds were that of the babbling brook and the leaves and grass being ruffled by a gentle breeze. It was exceptionally peaceful here.
"I won't change my cultivation technique."
When this was what broke the silence, Hong Wei sighed exasperatedly. "Child why don't you understand that—"
"So I will get it completed."
Hong Wei's eyes snapped open when she heard this. "Excuse me? You said you will get it completed?"
Divine Daughter Qin Ling nodded her head in response. Hong Wei was shocked out of her mind. Was there some kind of unfathomable existence within that backwater place capable of creating cultivation techniques!?
The skill to create cultivation techniques, especially powerful ones, was something reserved solely for the sages of old. Could some old monster truly be lurking in that place?
"Something happened, and he is no longer there, but I know he's still alive," she admitted.
"What is the question to be asked here, young one?" Hong Wei asked with a serious expression.
She finally decided to open up about it at this moment. "The question to be asked is… where is Long Di?"