"Why have you returned so soon?"
Inside the quiet cave dwelling, an elderly woman asked.
Canglong stood poised and graceful before her, answering respectfully, "Having traveled far and determined my path, continuing to wander abroad would only be a waste of time."
"Oh?"
The former sect master of the Ice Fort raised an eyebrow and inquired about her travels.
Canglong recounted everything eloquently, speaking in great detail from the time she left Jade Cauldron to roam the Six Domains to the footsteps she had left across the Eastern Desolation.
"The unclaimed great domain was renamed the Tianji Chan Domain half a year after I departed. High Monk Huiping, who came from the Western Desert, swept away the filth and built the Tianji Chan Sect, erecting the Demon Subduing Pagoda to suppress countless demons from all directions."
"Even Ning Yuzhuo of the North Sea, a figure of great slaughter and formidable background whom I met, was suppressed within the Tianji Chan Sect."
"Only then did I understand that the Core Formation stage is merely the starting point of the Grand Dao."
The old sect master nodded, sharing the sentiment deeply. "I had feared that achieving Core Formation at such a young age would make you arrogant and conceited, but after this tempering, you have indeed gained much. Yes, at the Core Formation stage one might reign supreme over an acre of land, but calling the wind and summoning the rain across the cultivation world is completely impossible. Under the pressure of a single Nascent Soul powerhouse, one is as fragile as a speck of sand."
After her sigh of emotion, she asked further, "What is your assessment of that fellow Han Zhan?"
Canglong spoke without reservation. "Daoist Han is indeed a cultivation prodigy rare in this world. Not only that, he is utterly relentless in pursuing the Grand Dao. During our journey together, I never saw him slacken in his daily cultivation. Even in lands where spiritual qi was scarce, he would frequently manipulate puppets to hone his combat techniques."
"Is that all?" Although the old sect master was pleased with her assessment, she could hear an unspoken reservation behind the words.
Canglong hesitated for a moment before speaking her truest thoughts.
"This person can be a fellow daoist, but only a fellow daoist. It would be difficult to become Dao companions with him."
"He harbors too many thoughts and schemes too deeply. Even when traveling by his side, one must keep their guard up."
"This disciple agrees to ally with the Luoyun Sect, but I am unwilling to enter a political marriage!"
After hearing these words, the old sect master fell silent.
She fixed her gaze on this final disciple she had taken in, scrutinizing her over and over.
Finally, she let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
"Then we shall do as you wish!"
In truth, she too was reluctant to marry off a disciple of such exceptional talent to another sect.
Canglong beamed with delight. "Thank you, Master!"
"However!" The old sect master abruptly pivoted, presenting a demand that caught Canglong completely off guard. "You must immediately take over my position and become the master of the Ice Fort!"
Canglong had envisioned that such a day would come, but she never expected it to arrive so quickly.
She hesitated. "Master, you are still in your prime, the very time to display your prowess. Moreover, I have focused solely on cultivation over the years and am unfamiliar with sect affairs. Isn't this too rushed?"
The old sect master sighed and waved her hand dismissively.
"Not rushed, not rushed at all."
"Ever since my venture into the Lingkong Secret Realm, my severe injuries have been difficult to heal, and I have merely been holding on with great effort. Look at this head of graying hair—does it look like someone in her prime?"
"Besides, your fellow apprentice-sisters will assist you in handling the sect's worldly affairs, so there is no need to worry."
"And finally!"
She paused, offering a faint smile. "I also need an excuse to deal with the Luoyun Sect!"
Indeed, how could the sect master of a great Core Formation sect marry out?
That was the perfect pretext.
Even as allies, they could hardly place excessive blame.
Having heard this, Canglong no longer refused and knelt to the ground on the spot.
"This disciple obeys!"
……
A year later, witnessed by thousands of Ice Fort disciples, Canglong accepted the mantle of sect master from the hands of the old sect master.
Some of the Ice Fort's members were puzzled by this, yet few questioned it.
Whether it was the prestige of the old sect master, Canglong's outstanding performance during the beast tide, or her remarkable cultivation talent, everything proved that she was the most fitting person to helm the Ice Fort in these turbulent times.
After taking charge, Canglong continued to persist in her cultivation, but with the Ice Fort's shortage of manpower, she inevitably grew busy.
First, she submitted an application to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect declaring that the Ice Fort would no longer participate in matters regarding the Lingkong Secret Realm.
This served as a complete surrender of that share of benefits on behalf of the Ice Fort.
Next, she dispersed large numbers of low-level Ice Fort disciples into various immortal cities throughout the Jade Cauldron Domain, both to handle mundane affairs and to temper themselves.
During this process, she also assigned the Ice Fort members an additional task.
Keep an eye out for mortals with spiritual roots and recruit them into the Ice Fort.
Whenever they encountered rogue cultivators of clean background who possessed certain craft skills, they could also invite them to become guest elders of the Ice Fort.
As for the Luoyun Sect, after negotiations between the two sides, a cooperative relationship was established as well.
This included, but was not limited to, periodic exchanges and sparring among disciples, resource trading, and standing united through thick and thin.
This was for external matters. Domestically, she took the resources freed up by the several Core Formation cultivators who had fallen or been crippled in the Lingkong Secret Realm and distributed them generously to gifted low-level disciples to aid their cultivation.
Not only that, through her meticulous combing, the backgrounds and affiliations of various personnel within the sect were gradually brought to light and purged.
Among these, the biggest matter concerned the Ice Fort's chief alchemist!
"Junior Sister Xiaorou, regarding your Dao companion, do you need my help?"
Under Canglong's diligent governance, in just a short century or two, signs of a resurgence had already appeared in the Ice Fort.
Its members numbered over ten thousand, and outstanding disciples emerged in an endless stream.
Even several Core Formation cultivators had sequentially stepped up to fill vacancies after the old sect master and the rest of the older generation passed away.
Gu Xiaorou was one of them.
At this moment, having reached early Core Formation, Gu Xiaorou bit her lip upon hearing Canglong's words.
After a long silence, she shook her head with difficulty.
"Since it is a family matter, let me settle it myself!"
Canglong looked at her intently, then gave a slight nod. "Then handle it personally!"
Not long after.
In the peripheral region of the Ice Fort known as the Dead Ice Sea, a pursuit—a battle where husband and wife turned against each other—broke out.
Under the repeated bombardment of a massive barrage of talismans, Shang Hu, who was adept at alchemy but poor at combat, finally suffered defeat.
With a face full of despair, he stared at Gu Xiaorou approaching with her sword, his eyes brimming with bewilderment.
"Why?"
Gu Xiaorou's face was cold. "Humans and demons tread different paths. That is all."
Shang Hu was unwilling to accept it. "Yet I have never done anything to harm the human race, nor have I ever hurt a single Ice Fort disciple."
Gu Xiaorou pressed her lips together and retorted, "Then why were you secretly contacting the demon beast clans in the Great Snow Mountain? And after you joined the Ice Fort, beast tides occurred repeatedly—how do you explain that?"
Shang Hu struggled as he spoke, "If I said those beast tides had nothing to do with me, would you believe me?"
"I would!" Gu Xiaorou nodded. Yet before Shang Hu could breathe a sigh of relief, she raised the tip of her sword. "But the rest of the sect will not."
Shang Hu opened his mouth, his expression turning bleak in the end.
"Xiaorou, must you truly be so heartless?"
"I am sorry!"
Gu Xiaorou thrust her sword forward. A spray of blood blossomed over the frozen lake, and a giant white fox fell prostrate on the ground, devoid of breath.
Having done all this, Gu Xiaorou seemed drained of all strength and stumbled several steps.
In the end, leaning on the tip of her sword planted into the ground, she managed to keep herself upright.
Amid the wind and snow, Canglong strolled over at a steady pace.
Glancing at the corpse of the white fox, she turned to Gu Xiaorou with a gentle smile.
"Xiaorou..."
Yet Gu Xiaorou did not spare her a glance. Carrying her sword, she brushed past her shoulder.
Only a chilling line drifted in the wind.
"From now on, do not call me by that name."
Canglong's lips twitched, but in the end, she could only let out a bitter smile.
For the sake of the sect, she had to play the good person and the villain alike; all fruits, sweet or bitter, were hers to swallow.
Yet to have a junior sister who once felt like flesh and blood grow this estranged was truly a bitter pill to swallow!
She personally dealt with Shang Hu's corpse and brought his relics back, having them delivered to Gu Xiaorou.
Among them was a damaged alchemy implement, the Shangshu Cauldron.
From then on, the sect became utterly united from top to bottom, both internally and externally.
The Ice Fort flourished day by day, and powerful figures emerged in succession. In the entire Jade Cauldron Domain, it became the third greatest sect, second only to the Sword Sect and the Luoyun Sect.
Even Azure Pill Valley, which boasted a substantial number of Core Formation cultivators, lagged far behind the Ice Fort in sheer prestige.
Yet as the Ice Fort grew stronger, internal conflicts began to erupt constantly.
Foundation Establishment disciples numbered in the hundreds and thousands, and Core Formation cultivators were nearly ten in count, but their territory had never expanded, leaving resources increasingly insufficient for distribution.
Those disciples who had once held great affection and respect for her now aligned themselves under various Core Formation elders, splitting into several factions and constantly engaging in overt and covert struggles.
Toward all this, Canglong gradually grew weary.
Especially when news arrived that Han Zhan had persisted in his travels and ultimately achieved the Nascent Soul stage, she was jolted awake as if from a dream.
"I clearly understood sooner than him that failing to reach Nascent Soul makes one nothing more than an ant, yet why did I lose myself in the sect's mundane affairs?"
She knew it was partly due to her master, but it was also linked to her own distracted mind.
If this continued, the once dazzling Fairy Canglong would merely be reduced to one of the most ordinary Core Formation cultivators among the multitude of living beings.
From that point on, Canglong completely set aside worldly affairs, letting those below vie for power and gain as she devoted herself entirely to cultivation.
As long as she could achieve the Nascent Soul stage, whatever grievances or turmoil arose within the sect, she could suppress them all by her own strength!
Mount Tian was sealed off from then on, and no one ever saw the snow lotus in full bloom again.
Canglong's cultivation progress advanced faster and faster. From the middle Core Formation stage to the late stage, she made a natural breakthrough in one fell swoop.
The three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit merged with increasing speed.
In particular, her immense divine soul, without her realizing it, had already surpassed the limits of Core Formation and brushed against the threshold of the Nascent Soul realm.
It was during this process that Canglong gradually became aware of certain things.
Had all these past events felt as though they had been experienced many times before?
Retreading the path by which she came, the state of mind was no longer the same.
Sinking into it time and again, struggling with all her might time and again—when would it ever end?
And how was this mortal karma to be severed?
In a daze, she saw a large crimson dog walking alone across the stark white ice.
"It's Big Dog!"
The red dog that had disappeared for many years reappeared, staring at her coldly across the frozen lake.
Then, the red dog turned and walked away.
This time, Canglong did not let it escape, but followed after it without hesitation.
……
"It is time!"
Three years after Luo Chen comprehended the Fire Origin, he rose to his feet on this day.
Transforming into a streak of brilliant light, he sped toward Mount Tian.
Amid the astonishment of the Mount Tian disciples and Fairy Jueqing, an ice coffin wrapped in red light slowly floated up into the sky.
"Supreme Elder?" Fairy Jueqing cried out.
Luo Chen smiled faintly. Fastening the ice coffin to his back, he looked up at the sky, then glanced down at the crowd below.
"Before long, you shall see your senior sister return safe and sound."
With that, he carried the ice coffin on his back and departed the Alchemy Saint Blessed Land without hesitation.
Along the way, a black light burst forth from the ground and merged into his shoulder.
Standing before a towering, majestic palace, Li Yingzhang watched Luo Chen's receding figure with a complex expression.
With the Supreme Elder departing like this, there was no telling when he would return.
He could offer no help; the only thing he could do was watch over the Luotian Sect on his behalf.
"Rest assured, Yingzhang will certainly not disappoint you."
"By the time of your return, the Luotian Sect will be a worthy Nascent Soul upper sect!"
Facing that distant silhouette, he bowed deeply from afar.
……
Upon emerging from the Alchemy Saint Blessed Land, Luo Chen instantly sensed an anomaly.
An invisible suppressive force bore down from above.
Its target was not him, but the ice coffin on his back.
"As expected!"
"The Alchemy Saint Blessed Land is isolated from the outside world and holds the wondrous property of shielding against heavenly tribulations and earthly disasters."
"To allow Canglong to awaken and cross her Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation, she must be brought to the outside world!"
Luo Chen took a deep breath. Using his vast magic power to forcibly mask the lingering ripples of another wave of magic power emanating from the ice coffin, he swam toward the outside world.
The black turtle had long been waiting and picked him up.
Midway through their journey, Bai Meiling, who had been cultivating outside all these years, caught up with them.
She looked curiously at the ice coffin behind Luo Chen. "Is the one undergoing the tribulation... her?"
Luo Chen nodded. "The spiritual ground for tribulation transcendence I asked you to find earlier—has it been arranged?"
Bai Meiling answered without hesitation, "There is a ready-made one right now: Shangyou Waste City. The fourth-tier spirit vein there was repaired by a group of Core Formation experts working together, so it should be usable for tribulation transcendence."
Shangyou Waste City?
Luo Chen's eyes flickered. That place was indeed a fine choice.
Although there were many treasure hunters, most possessed low cultivation.
Even with a few Core Formation cultivators around, they would not hinder Canglong's tribulation.
As they passed Mount Yanfu, Luo Chen inquired about the current situation there.
Bai Meiling recounted everything in great detail.
With the assistance of experts from the Luotian Sect, she had established the Bailing Dao Sanctuary in the Nether Abyss as her cultivation site.
Over these years, many low-level ghosts had gradually attached themselves to her.
Relying on these low-level ghosts, Bai Meiling could glean the general situation inside Mount Yanfu without exploring it personally.
At present, at least a dozen fourth-tier ghost souls lingered reluctantly in Mount Yanfu, doing everything they could to crack the formations within.
Yet their results were negligible!
Leave aside entering the cultivation palaces of the three patriarchs; even the lingering cave dwellings of a few Nascent Soul powerhouses halfway up the mountain had barely been opened.
It was not that their cultivation fell short, but rather that the formations on Mount Yanfu were simply too formidable.
Even though Monarch Qixia had destroyed the most critical portion, what remained was still not something these ghosts lurking in the Nether Abyss for hundreds or thousands of years could crack quickly.
"In my view, without eighty or a hundred years of effort, no one can ascend to the Yanfu Heavenly Palace!"
The Yanfu Heavenly Palace comprised the Tianming Palace, Tianyuan Palace, and Tianze Palace, corresponding precisely to the last three Transformation stage patriarchs of the Mingyuan Sect.
Inside, the most critical inheritances of the Mingyuan Sect were bound to remain preserved!
At the very least, Luo Chen knew that the Ming Water springhead was undoubtedly located inside the main hall of the Tianming Palace.
"Very well. Continue monitoring that place for me. The moment anyone ascends the Heavenly Palace, crush the jade talisman to notify me," Luo Chen instructed.
Bai Meiling acknowledged the command; this was the most she could do for Luo Chen.
"By the way?" Luo Chen spoke as if suddenly recalling something—or rather, a question that had weighed on his mind for a very long time. "Do you know where those ghost deities went?"
So-called ghost deities were Transformation stage ghost creatures!
As far as Luo Chen knew, the number of ghost deities in this Nether Abyss was by no means small.
Could they truly not covet the treasures on Mount Yanfu?
This was the most crucial reason Luo Chen did not dare to set his sights on Mount Yanfu for the time being.
Bai Meiling hesitated before saying, "A few ghost deities do still survive, but I heard that they dare not show themselves at all. The Nirvana Holy Fire lingering above the Nether Abyss was left specifically for them. If any dare raise their heads, they will suffer a devastating blow."
Luo Chen frowned slightly, but soon understood the reason.
Back then, Monarch Qixia was besieged by numerous ghost deities; to break free and depart, how could she have done so easily without setting up targeted countermeasures?
As he grew more familiar with the Nirvana Holy Fire, Luo Chen had also discovered the uniqueness of this formidable flame.
Just like the Nine Tribulations and Three Nirvanas of the cultivation process, each time one crossed a Nirvana, an additional wondrous effect was unlocked.
After the Nirvana of Magic Power, the holy fire could incinerate an enemy's protective barrier and melt away spiritual qi or even origin qi.
After the Nirvana of the Physique, the moment the holy fire grazed a foe in the slightest, it could reduce their physical body to ash.
And after the Nirvana of the Divine Soul, the holy fire could even strike directly at an enemy's soul.
The countless wisps of Nirvana Holy Fire left by Monarch Qixia above the Nether Abyss were tailored precisely to combat those formidable ghost deities.
Luo Chen had not yet crossed the third Nirvana, so he could not grasp its secrets; he was only able to pass through with difficulty by relying on his Nirvana Holy Fire of identical origin.
"That is good news!"
Luo Chen nodded, no longer lingering over trivial matters here.
Everything that needed arranging had been arranged over the past three years, and everything that needed explaining had been explained.
Once he stepped outside this time, those matters that had weighed on his mind for so long should be resolved as well!
Not long after.
As the black turtle surfaced above the water,
Through the boundless mist, Shangyou Waste City was right before his eyes!
Chapter 925