Time flew by as the comforting heat from the fire melted the eroding frost on Yi Shuang's body.
It took a few hours before the young man could come back to his senses, and as he did, he slowly opened his eyes,
'Is this… heaven? No, if I think about it, I should be in hell… so… is this it?'
The young man was certain he had died, but even then, he couldn't help but wonder why the flames of hell felt so warm and gentle instead of being aggressive and devastating.
Slowly, his vision came back, and he could finally recognize what stood in front of him.
Beneath him, the elegant and neatly cut wooden planks felt cold at the touch, while in front of him, a flame, dancing in a little stone fireplace connected to a chimney, caressed his frozen body, gifting him some of the heat he had lost.
Beside the fireplace stood a little wooden table, it was peculiar because it looked as smooth as marble and as white as fresh snow.
Its elegant round shape blended nicely with the somewhat strange building and the three little stools made out of the same material surrounding it.
Other than that, Yi Shuang couldn't see anything else, but judging by the cold breeze that was still hitting his back, the entrance must've been behind him.
The sound of the crackling fire relaxed him, but he knew there was no time for him to lay down in such conditions.
His fingertips had already taken a dark color, and he had completely lost the ability to feel them.
He couldn't even move his tip-joins anymore.
There was no need for anyone to tell him… he was suffering from severe frostbite, and if it continued any longer, he might have to cut off his fingers to survive.
His chaotic thoughts came to a halt when he finally regained enough focus to read what was written on the two blue panels in front of him:
[Congratulations to the host for passing the first mission issued by the Divine Frost Palace system, you will be rewarded with the ice-element cultivation technique: pure frost technique!]
[you are now recognized as the Palace Master of the Divine Frost Palace]
"Divine Frost Palace system?"
Yi Shuang muttered in disbelief.
'Ah… it must be that thing'
He then recalled his first arrival in that hellish place.
As soon as he found himself in the freezing jaws of the frost planes, Yi Shuang was confused and shocked, the only greetings he received were from the little panel in front of him:
[Compatible host found, system binding complete…]
[Yi Shuang.
Welcome to the Xiang Tian realm!]
The still baffled and already freezing Yi Shuang thought he was hallucinating.
Then, the panel changed once again.
[First mission detected:
Please host, make your way towards the Founding Palace of the Divine Frost Palace, your efforts will be rewarded greatly]
As he finished reading, the few lines were replaced with an arrow pointing forward, no matter how much he moved around, the arrow continued pointing in the same direction, and with no better option, he decided to follow it…
'What's the meaning of this? I'm sure I gave up, my body certainly collapsed at the time'
Yi Shuang was still confused, so many strange things had happened to him, yet he couldn't motivate any of them.
Speaking with the little strength he had left in his body, he decided to ask a question to none other than the panel, hoping someone on the other side would reply, even out of pity.
"Where am I?"
As soon as his words came out of his mouth, the panel was swapped with a new one, on which different words were written.
[host, you are currently situated on the Xiang Tian continent, which, being the largest continent, gives the name to the Xiang Tian realm.]
'And what should I understand from that?'
Yi Shuang retorted in his heart.
[More specifically, you are located in the northernmost part of the Bei province of the northern kingdom of the north region of the Xiang Tiang continent]
Even more annoyed by the reply, or maybe by the fact that he still couldn't figure out anything, he cursed to himself:
'Agh great! Maybe if you add another 'north' in the phrase I'll figure out why it's so freaking cold here!'
However, unexpectedly, the panel changed again.
[I'm sorry host, I do not have any more specifics I can provide at the moment]
Stunned, Yi Shuang tried to figure out how the panel could give him such a reply, and the first thing that came to his mind was:
'It… it can read my thoughts?'
[yes I can]
At that moment, he couldn't help but think about the most embarrassing moments of his life as he tried not to think about it.
'Can you… stop reading my mind?'
He asked, not expecting a positive answer, but to his surprise, the system decided to cooperate,
[of course, from now on, I'll pay attention only when addressed]
'Oh… thanks I guess?'
'I mean… system, thank you'
The screen changed again:
[no trouble, it is my pleasure to be of help]
Strangely, the attitude of the system wasn't that of a god, or an evil scientist of sorts who had brought him there, but more like that of a being created to assist him.
With that in mind, as his body was still taking in as much heat as possible, Yi Shuang decided to dig out as much information as he could.
'System'
He called out inwardly.
[yes host?]
The panel appeared shortly after.
'If I managed to comprehend everything you previously said then… this isn't my home planet, is it?'
[that is right host]
'Then… is there a way to go back where I came from?'
[if there was a way forward, there is a high chance there might be a way back]
Even though that phrase should have instilled a spark of hope in the man's heart, he could feel that even the so-called system was not sure.
If he were to ask how to do it, he would be met with an awkward silence.
'I see, then, system…
Why was I brought here?'