Chapter 124
Chapter 124: Entering Frostridge Peak
In the fourth year of secluded cultivation, Yun Xi felt a stirring restlessness. She was ready to leave her retreat.
By now, Yun Xi had matched her strength to her cultivation and, through the Interstellar Body Tempering Technique, refined her physique to rival that of a Golden Core Cultivator, thus capable of bearing her powerful divine sense.
Furthermore, thanks to her Body Refining Art, her growth didn’t halt after Foundation Establishment. She now stood at five feet eight inches tall, exactly her height from before crossing worlds, which pleased her greatly.
Her cultivation had gradually risen to the peak of Foundation Establishment late stage, but no matter how diligently she trained afterward, she made no further progress. Yun Xi guessed this might be due to her lacking a proper ice-element technique, prompting her decision to exit seclusion and move around.
Upon leaving her retreat, Yun Xi first sent communication talismans to inform her brothers and sisters of her movements, then carefully responded to messages from Qin Tong Shuang, Long Dao Yu, Mu Ning Zhu, and the others. Only afterward did she read Sheng Yu Hong’s message.
After reading Sheng Yu Hong’s talisman, Yun Xi curled her lip in disdain and sent back a polite but distant reply. She then deliberately adjusted her apparent cultivation down to the peak of Foundation Establishment mid-stage before heading to the Inner Sect’s Mission Hall. She intended to revisit Emerald Jade City.
However, just as she was about to leave the Inner Five Peaks area, Sheng Yu Hong appeared before her.
“Junior Sister Wei, you’re finally out of seclusion?” Sheng Yu Hong glanced at Yun Xi, immediately noticing her improved cultivation and how her face had shed its youthful softness, becoming even more exquisitely lovely.
Yun Xi maintained a polite, formal smile, clasped her hands courteously, and greeted him respectfully, “Senior Brother Sheng, junior sister has just come out. Is there something urgent that you seek me for?”
Sheng Yu Hong returned the greeting before explaining, “Junior Sister Wei, please follow me. The Sect Master wishes to speak with you.”
Yun Xi raised her delicate eyebrows, expressing genuine surprise, “Senior Brother Sheng, have I committed some mistake? If so, please inform me clearly so I might prepare.”
Sheng Yu Hong shook his head, reassuring her, “Junior sister misunderstands. You’ve made no error. The Sect Master merely wants to ask you about breaking the evil formation in Twin Peaks City.”
Yun Xi frowned slightly. She didn’t feel the matter required her to personally recount it. Besides, four years had passed—surely every detail had been thoroughly investigated. What more could she say?
Without giving Yun Xi any further chance to inquire, Sheng Yu Hong urged her onward to meet Sect Master Yu Geng.
Inwardly, Yun Xi cursed her luck bitterly, though outwardly she remained calm and composed as she accompanied Sheng Yu Hong to Grand Righteous Peak.
True Lord Yu Geng awaited them in a side hall. Upon seeing the Sect Master, who wore a dark green robe edged with purple, Yun Xi immediately performed a respectful salute.
“Inner Sect disciple Wei Yun Xi greets Sect Master,” she said respectfully.
True Lord Yu Geng gently waved his hand, and a soft force raised Yun Xi upright. He regarded her kindly, smiling warmly, “So, you are Wei Yun Xi?”
“Yes, disciple is,” Yun Xi replied politely.
“Yu Hong speaks highly of you, praising your courage and resourcefulness. He said you broke the evil formation by cleverly exploiting your spirit pet’s advancement, indirectly saving many cultivators.”
Yun Xi barely kept her expression neutral. She definitely didn’t want praise from Sheng Yu Hong, so she quickly lowered her head respectfully and said, “Sect Master True Lord flatters me. It wasn’t my effort alone that broke the formation. It was due to City Lord Li attacking from outside the space, creating an opportunity I merely seized, utilizing my spirit pet’s heavenly lightning tribulation.”
“But it still required your bravery and quick thinking,” True Lord Yu Geng said approvingly. He found himself quite satisfied with the little girl before him, thus he thought of taking her as his disciple. Smiling gently, he asked, “Wei Yun Xi, are you willing to become my disciple?”
Yun Xi was genuinely stunned this time. She looked up at the Sect Master in astonishment, her mind suddenly in turmoil—how could fate insist upon making her Sheng Yu Hong’s junior sister?
Seeing Yun Xi’s shocked expression, True Lord Yu Geng found it amusing and teased, “What’s wrong? Are you unwilling?”
Yun Xi quickly pretended to be overwhelmed by honor and modestly replied, “Yun Xi is just startled. I have an ordinary three-element spiritual root. I don’t feel qualified to become Sect Master’s disciple.”
“With your bone age at fifteen and your cultivation at the peak of Foundation Establishment mid-stage, you already qualify as a genius disciple and are certainly worthy of being my disciple,” True Lord Yu Geng replied encouragingly.
Yun Xi felt anxious, frantically trying to figure out a polite way to refuse without offending the Sect Master. She definitely didn’t want to become True Lord Yu Geng’s disciple.
Beside them, Sheng Yu Hong grew impatient and interjected, “Junior Sister Wei, Sect Master only has three disciples currently—myself and two younger brothers. If you join, you’ll become our only junior sister.”
His meaning was clear: as the youngest junior sister, she would surely receive exceptional favor.
Yun Xi shot Sheng Yu Hong a quick glance, inwardly cursing him vehemently. Just then, a sudden gust of icy wind blew into the hall. Snowflakes drifted gently down as a figure in white appeared before Yun Xi.
This abrupt arrival interrupted the Sect Master’s offer, prompting True Lord Yu Geng to sigh and address the cold, aloof-looking man in white, “Senior Brother, why have you left Frostridge Peak? Aren’t you preparing to break through to Divine Transformation?”
The man wore a pristine white robe with subtle patterns, utterly spotless. His silver-white hair was half-gathered and secured only with a simple wooden hairpin, with no adornments besides a black bracelet on his wrist. His ethereal, otherworldly beauty and cold temperament were unmatched.
With a cold voice, the man glanced briefly at Yun Xi before replying, “I sensed the appearance of my destined disciple.”
True Lord Yu Geng immediately straightened up, glancing again at Yun Xi before transmitting privately, “Senior Brother, you’ve also set your eyes on this girl?”
“Yes.”
“Can you choose another?”
“No, it can only be her.”
“Is she the one…”
“Yes, and no. You will understand later.”
Leng Ruo Han then swept his sleeve, swiftly whisking Yun Xi away from Grand Righteous Peak’s side hall.
Sheng Yu Hong blinked, stunned to find Yun Xi suddenly gone, while the Sect Master wore a thoughtful expression. He quickly asked, “Master, what happened?”
True Lord Yu Geng sighed in resignation, “That girl’s heart never wished to become my disciple. Your Senior Uncle Leng has already claimed her.”
Sheng Yu Hong’s heart sank, and he spoke with difficulty, “How could this be? Clearly junior sister—”
True Lord Yu Geng waved him off gently, “Yu Hong, perhaps four years ago when you brought that little girl here, I had already missed my best chance to accept her as my disciple.”
Sheng Yu Hong made a final attempt, “Master, Senior Uncle Leng is about to attempt breaking into Divine Transformation. Where would he find the time to guide disciples?”
“That’s no longer your concern. You will still have chances to interact in the future.”
True Lord Yu Geng dismissed his Chief Disciple without further explanation. Sheng Yu Hong reluctantly accepted this, looking toward Frostridge Peak with longing.
Leng Ruo Han placed Yun Xi down in his main hall atop Frostridge Peak before calmly introducing himself, “I am Leng Ruo Han, Peak Master of Frostridge Peak, Ice single-element spiritual root, at the peak of Nascent Soul late stage. Will you become my disciple?”
Yun Xi knelt instantly, fearful she might miss this perfect chance to avoid becoming Yu Geng’s disciple. Besides, given Leng True Lord’s breathtaking appearance and ice-element cultivation, she felt it was well worth it.
“Master, please accept disciple Wei Yun Xi’s greeting!”
“Rise.”
With a gentle wave from Leng Ruo Han’s sleeve, Yun Xi rose involuntarily to her feet.
Wei Yun Xi smiled with sincere joy, convinced that finally her luck had truly arrived.