"I don't know! When I arrived, my disciple was already clinging to yours! Care to explain, Daoyuan?"
Elder Wuyun's response was sharp as she addressed the Water Lineage Master by his Dao name. Luckily, their exchange was through divine sense; otherwise, Luo Lingmiao overhearing it might have shattered her focus entirely.
"Ahem… I didn't know either!" Daoyuan coughed, his tone betraying a hint of guilt.
"I looked into it just now," Daoyuan continued. "After leaving his pavilion, he went straight to Qixia Island, bought a… uh, wait, a bathtub?"
"A bathtub?!" Wuyun exclaimed, her brows furrowing. "What could he possibly need that for?"
"I have no idea. But after that, he searched for information on the Xuanming Dao Body, then made his way directly to your island."
This made Wuyun pause. Her cultivation was at the profound level of the Nirvana Realm, and she quickly pieced together what she believed to be the truth.
"So your disciple already knew about his impending Dao Body awakening and planned for it by suppressing it in order to induce a variant spiritual root," Wuyun hypothesized.
In the records of Changsheng Dao Sect, it was noted that during the awakening of the Xuanming Dao Body, extreme cold could facilitate the transformation of Water Roots into variant Ice Roots. However, this information wasn't readily available in the sect's library.
Both elders now assumed Lu Bingxuan had intentionally orchestrated these events. Wuyun's imagination filled in the blanks as she continued.
"So, he deliberately sought out my disciple, the only Superior Water Root this year, but couldn't contain his awakening and had to break into her bath. No wonder Lingmiao's robes were in disarray and her expression was flustered afterward. This was clearly a case of forced proximity!"
She added dryly, "I just hope your disciple at least had the decency to avert his eyes. Otherwise, he owes my disciple an explanation."
"Uh… he's just a little too straightforward," Daoyuan muttered defensively, quickly shifting the focus. "And if you're worried about propriety, why not bring up the Fire Lineage's Xiao Yi? He's technically engaged to your disciple."
Wuyun scoffed. "That so-called engagement? Both of them detest it. It's nothing more than a hollow arrangement."
She continued with conviction. "With a Heavenly Root and a Dao Body, your disciple's potential is unprecedented. Surpassing us elders is only a matter of time. Besides, the engagement was purely transactional. Now that a better candidate has appeared, the choice is obvious."
Her words carried weight. While Heavenly Roots were rare and valuable, Dao Bodies were on an entirely different level.
A Brief Explanation of Dao Bodies
The hierarchy of physiques in the cultivation world ranged from Mortal Bodies to Spirit Bodies, Saintly Bodies, Immortal Bodies, and finally Dao Bodies.
Mortal Bodies lacked any mystical properties.
Spirit Bodies possessed minor affinities with specific laws of the Dao.
Saintly Bodies embodied fragments of Dao principles.
Immortal Bodies carried complete Dao principles, allowing smooth progress to the Nirvana Realm.
Dao Bodies were unparalleled, serving as direct vessels of the Dao itself.
While Heavenly Roots were unparalleled up to the Divine Transformation Realm, a Dao Body represented infinite potential beyond that, and pairing a Dao Body with a variant Ice Root was a match made in heaven.
"Besides," Wuyun added, "if both the Xuanming Dao Body and a variant Ice Root appear simultaneously, who wouldn't assume they're connected?"
Variant spiritual roots, particularly those born of opportunities, were exceedingly rare. Even in the sect's long history, there were only a handful of examples. In contrast, there had been hundreds of Heavenly Roots.
Back in the Icebound Pavilion
As the two elders discussed, changes were taking place in the frozen bathing chamber. Luo Lingmiao's dark hair had begun to turn snowy white, starting from the roots and gradually spreading downward. Only the tips of her hair retained their original black hue—an indication of the spiritual root transformation being roughly 70% complete.
The transformation affected her appearance but didn't alarm Wuyun and Daoyuan, who recognized it as a natural side effect of the process.
Meanwhile, Lu Bingxuan completed his Dao Body awakening.
His eyes opened, momentarily gleaming with divine light before returning to normal. He exuded an aura of supreme mastery over frost, as though the heavens themselves had entrusted him with dominion over ice and snow.
With a mere thought, the overwhelming chill withdrew into his body, leaving the room's surfaces frost-free once more.
However, as the cold dissipated, Luo Lingmiao, who had been painstakingly enduring the transformation, lost her strength and collapsed against Lu Bingxuan.
Lu Bingxuan gently supported her, ensuring she rested against the side of the now-thawed tub before standing and addressing the elders. "Greetings, Master. Greetings, Elder Wuyun."
Though internally rattled, Lu Bingxuan maintained a calm demeanor, masking his turmoil and mentally offloading his panic onto the system.
"Impressive. The divine radiance you exude suggests a successful awakening," Wuyun remarked, nodding approvingly. "However, Lingmiao's Ice Root transformation isn't complete. If she consents, you two should cultivate together in the future."
"Excuse me?" Lu Bingxuan's mind blanked. Unsure what to say, he simply nodded and bowed in agreement.
Daoyuan, observing his disciple's composed reaction, concluded that Lu Bingxuan must have anticipated these events. "If you already have a plan, I won't interfere. Return to your cultivation," he said with finality.
A Moment of Reflection
Before Lu Bingxuan knew it, he was back at his pavilion. The familiar signboard of the Seventh Pavilion greeted him, and he stood motionless for a long moment.
"What the hell just happened?"
He pieced together that his master and Elder Wuyun must have "rationalized" his actions to explain his inexplicable presence in Luo Lingmiao's bathtub. This misunderstanding conveniently smoothed over the situation, but the nature of their assumptions remained a mystery.
Shaking off his confusion, Lu Bingxuan redirected his attention to the changes brought about by his newly awakened Dao Body.
The Aftermath of the Xuanming Dao Body Awakening
The physical transformation was immediately apparent. After five years of hardship, Lu Bingxuan's previously malnourished frame had been thoroughly rebuilt.
Height: He had grown noticeably taller, now towering over Luo Lingmiao.
Build: His physique was lean and muscular, exuding strength without bulk.
Features: His face had sharpened into refined handsomeness. Even among the noble heirs of royal dynasties, he would now stand out as otherworldly.
Beyond his appearance, his inner constitution had undergone an even greater metamorphosis.
Foundation: His Dao Body had naturally forged a solid foundation, bypassing many of the challenges typically faced during cultivation.
Qi Circulation: His ability to absorb and process spiritual energy had increased exponentially, accelerating his progress.
Standing by the Moon Sea, Lu Bingxuan extended his hand. A single thought sent an icy wave rippling outward. The sea froze solid, its surface rapidly transforming into an unbroken expanse of frost that extended far into the distance.
This was Frost Dominion, a manifestation of the Xuanming Dao Body's powers. It didn't drain his spiritual energy but instead consumed his reservoir of Xuanming Frost Energy, akin to stamina.
To his relief, even this massive display barely dented his reserves, demonstrating the sheer potency of his newfound abilities.