… Why was I brought here?'
At that question, even the panel in front of him did not reply.
Was it unaware? Or did it just want to keep it from Yi Shuang?
Whatever the answer might have been, he was in no place to continue inquiring about it, after all, just behind the system, he could still see his frozen fingertips covered in a layer of black.
With the little energy he had regained, Yi Shuang got on his knees before standing up and limping toward the flames, he crouched just beside the fireplace, keeping his hands in front of him, trying to let them heat up as much as possible.
Honestly, he didn't even know whether doing something like that would have caused his fingers to snap off or heal, he just wanted his body to regain its usual heat, hoping something would have changed.
As he let his hands rest just a few centimeters from the flames, he turned his head around to look at the place.
Just as he had expected, Opposite the fire and behind his back, he could see the snow piled and the raging blizzard.
Strangely enough, no snowflake or icicle managed to pass by the entrance of the building, even if devoid of any door, and only the cold wind managed to bypass that place, reaching the young man and sending a chill down his spine.
Then, he switched his attention to his left.
While on his right was placed the table and the stools, on the other side was a normal bed, made out of bamboo and covered by layers of blankets, just one thing shocked him: the pillow was made out of bamboo.
'What kind of idiot would make their pillow out of bamboo?'
He thought to himself.
As he thought about it, he realized someone must've been home not too long ago, after all, the fire was still burning, and the floor didn't have a speck of dust on it.
Afraid of intruding into another man's home, Yi Shuang immediately called out his system:
'System'
As he said that, the blue panel appeared before him, this time, it was like a blank paper waiting to be written.
'You called this place… Founding Palace didn't you?'
[yes]
'In exactly what way does this look like a palace?'
As if loading, the screen displayed three dots, causing Yi Shuang to sigh aloud before asking:
'Whatever, that's not what's important, what is important is this: is there someone who lives here?'
[no, this 'palace' has been prepared by the system for the host, no other living being has approached this place in a long time]
Noticing how the system quoted 'palace', Yi Shuang's lips curled into a faint smile before continuing:
'So I won't disturb anyone staying here, will I?'
[that is right, this place is yours]
The faint smile slowly vanished as he thought:
'Well… that is indeed good, although, I'm not sure I'll able to stay here for much longer'
As he thought that, Yi Shuang watched his blackening fingertips with a bitter face.
'System, could you tell me what's my current condition?'
[yes host, please have a look]
After those words appeared, they were swapped with a more complicated and long screen, which stated a few things:
[Name: Yi Shuang
Cultivation: -
Cultivation techniques: -
Martial techniques: -
Sub occupation: -
Main weapon: -
Disciples: -
Pet: -
Current status: badly injured, possibly on the brink of death, various parts of your body have been inflicted with third-degree frostbite]
Flashing through the lots of empty categories, Yi Shuang watched his status, he wasn't surprised.
[Detected fatal danger!
Without immediate intervention, various parts of your hands will enter a state of necrosis]
'Necrosis huh?'
He sighed.
'No use beating around the bush, system… do you have a way to save me?'
[…]
Watching the three dots in front of him, Yi Shuang could already see his end approaching.
But in just a moment, another panel appeared:
[detected a feasible opportunity to survive: host has yet to claim the reward for completing his first mission!]
The young man was momentarily stunned…
Rewards? He couldn't even remember what it was.
Then, another panel appeared in place of the previous two, it read:
[Would you like to redeem the cultivation manual for the "pure frost technique"]
'System… what can cultivation help me with at the moment, the frost outside is so thick not even a grain of rice would grow'
The young man was clueless… as to what incredible world he had just ignored with such a remark.
However, the system deemed the explanation too long to sustain Yi Shuang's current state, so another screen appeared quickly:
[Host, it is better to try it rather than to hear it, please trust me, this cultivation technique has a high chance of saving your life]
'I see'
He said as he reopened his eyes.
'Well… which fool wouldn't catch a ladder sent from the heavens? If there is such an opportunity, then of course…
System, redeem the cultivation technique.'
As soon as he thought those words, something incredible happened:
His mind, as if it was suddenly poked with a needle, hurt beyond belief, and the young man convulsed before falling to the ground.
It ended after just an instant, but that pain remained in Yi Shuang's memory for a long time.
'System… you damn bastard'
He managed to curse as he tried to get back up.
[the procedure is complete.
Your reward has been redeemed, please, close your eyes and try to perceive the "pure frost technique"]
Dubious but devoid of any other options, Yi Shuang got back into place and sat on the floor before closing his eyes.
He then recalled what the system had suggested and thought about the "pure frost technique", and to his surprise, he managed to recall the first few lines, as if he had spent years memorizing and studying the said book.
'The pure frost technique is a cultivation art.
Its main focus is absorbing the yin qi from the surrounding frost and cold, processing it before transforming it into a pure form…'
There were no useless words, no hints, no explanation for things one did not know, just pure instructions.
As he continued reading the whole thing, Yi Shuang couldn't help but exclaim in his mind at the system's methods:
'This… is incredible'