Chapter 102: Temple inheritance, each gets an opportunity
The biting wind whipped up snow foam, lashing my face with a bone-piercing chill. The night in the Soul Burial Mountains was silent and vast, broken only by the crunch of packed snow underfoot and the occasional muffled groans of the wounded, breaking the dead silence of the icy plain.
The Xuanyun Sect and Bishui Pavilion teams, exhausted and weighed down by the weight of their surviving disaster, journeyed through the night, away from the crumbling ruins of the Bingpo Xuan Palace. Everyone's emotions were mixed: grief at the loss of a fellow disciple, joy at the opportunity, and, even more so, deep worry about the uncertainty of the future.
Ye Li followed beside Monk Mu Yun, silently reciting the "Emperor's Scripture of the Netherworld." Extremely cold spiritual energy slowly flowed through her body, repairing her injuries while also constantly adapting and consolidating her cultivation, which had just reached the peak of the mid-stage Spiritual Residence Realm. Within her sea of consciousness, the two fragments of the Samsara Mirror had already begun to fuse, transforming into a larger blue lens with a star-spangled edge, emitting an even more powerful and stable source of vibrations.
She was still digesting the memories and information brought by the new fragment. The fragmentary clues regarding the "Eclipse Realm" prophecy and the "Returning Land" weighed on her heart like a heavy rock. Behind Ling Hao and the others' betrayal, there was indeed a deeper darkness. She felt as if she was standing on the edge of a huge vortex, and if she wasn't careful, she would be sucked into an abyss of no return.
At the same time, the newly unlocked power of the Samsara Mirror also gave her greater confidence. While "Time and Space Stagnation" had serious side effects, it was a true lifesaver in crucial moments; "Mirror Projection" was extremely useful for investigation and deception; and her faint perception of "causal lines," though vague, gave her a profound grasp of her connections with the people and events around her. She could vaguely sense a clear causal line connecting herself to Qin Yixuan, who was not far away. This line seemed to have become even stronger and brighter after enduring the life-and-death trials within the Xuan Palace.
She tilted her head and looked at Qin Yixuan. She was walking forward, supported by a senior sister from the Bishui Pavilion. Her face remained pale, but her breathing had calmed down considerably. As if sensing Ye Li's gaze, Qin Yixuan also looked up. In the moonlight, her eyes were as clear as water. Though weary, they held an indescribable depth and...divinity. Their gazes met and then parted. Neither spoke, but a silent understanding flowed between them.
After nearly a night's trek, when the sky was turning pale, the team finally found a relatively sheltered valley and decided to rest temporarily, treat the wounded, deal with the prisoners, and also digest the gains from this trip to the ruins.
Master Muyun personally set up a concealment and protection formation, covering the entire valley. Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, exhaustion washing over them like a tide.
Ye Li found a clean snowy spot and sat down cross-legged, ready to continue consolidating his cultivation and carefully study the subsequent exercises of the newly acquired "Ice Emperor Sealing the Sky" - this was discovered in a secret compartment that quietly opened on the ice platform below the fragment when he obtained the fragment of the Samsara Mirror on the altar. It was a blue bone piece that was neither gold nor jade, and was cold to the touch. The complete "Ice Emperor Sealing the Sky" was imprinted on it with divine thoughts, the complete cultivation method from the Awakening Spirit Realm to the Immortal Realm, as well as several powerful supporting magical powers!
The Ice Emperor's Heaven Sealing Art and her main subject, the Netherworld Emperor's Scripture, surprisingly complement each other in many ways, seemingly emanating from the same source, yet each emphasizing its own unique focus. The Netherworld Emperor's Scripture emphasizes foundations and origins, its depth and vastness; while the Ice Emperor's Heaven Sealing Art focuses more on killing and sealing, its domineering power unparalleled. If she could integrate its essence into her own system, her combat power would surely reach a new level!
Just as her mind was immersed in the bone fragment and she began to comprehend the profound meaning within, a slight energy fluctuation suddenly came from the Bishui Pavilion camp where Qin Yixuan was not far away.
Qin Yixuan held the Cang Hai Ming Yue Pearl in her hand. The pearl radiated a soft, pure blue light, faintly echoing the rising sun in the sky. She closed her eyes and concentrated, as if engaging in some deep communication with the pearl. Gradually, the blue light grew stronger, finally converging before her into a series of phantom scriptures composed of ancient water-wave symbols!
"That's... the lost chapter of the 'Nine Heavens Mysterious Water Scripture'?!" the elder leading the Bishui Pavilion exclaimed in shock, his face filled with excitement and disbelief. "The legendary long-lost upper half! It's actually... hidden within the Canghai Mingyue Pearl, requiring the purest Mysterious Woman essence to activate it?!"
The other disciples of the Bishui Pavilion also gathered around, watching the floating phantom of the scripture, their eyes filled with enthusiasm and awe. The "Nine Heavens Mysterious Water Scripture" was the Bishui Pavilion's core technique, but only the lower half had survived. The upper half had long been lost in the long river of history, significantly reducing its power and making it easy to encounter bottlenecks at advanced levels. Now that the upper half had been recovered, it was undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity for the entire Bishui Pavilion!
Qin Yixuan slowly opened her eyes, and upon the scripture before her, a flash of enlightenment flashed in her. So, when her master had bestowed upon her the Cang Hai Ming Yue Pearl, he had profoundly stated that it held a connection to her, a connection that would determine the future of the sect. Now, it seemed, that connection lay precisely here. The divine essence awakened within her was the very key to unlocking this lost legacy!
Unable to delay, she immediately focused her attention, memorizing and comprehending these ancient scriptures. The texts were profound and far surpassed the version she was currently studying, touching upon the deeper mysteries of the Great Way of Water and even touching upon a hint of the very essence of creation and life. As she read deeper, the dormant divine essence within her was reawakened, resonating with the text and accelerating her understanding of the practice at an astonishing rate.
In two different places in the valley, two girls were immersed in their respective opportunities.
For Ye Li, the profound meaning of the "Ice Emperor Sealing Heaven Art" flowed through her heart like a spring. She discovered that the several great supernatural powers described in this technique, such as "Ice Sealing Ten Thousand Miles," "Absolute Zero," and "Heaven Sealing Seal," were extremely powerful, but also required extremely high spiritual energy consumption and control. The final move, "Ice Emperor Coming to the World," was especially powerful. It was said that upon perfecting it, one could summon the phantom of the ancient Ice Emperor and freeze time and space, a truly forbidden technique.
She attempted to combine the techniques for controlling extreme cold from the Ice Emperor's Sealing Heaven Art with the primordial power of the Netherworld Emperor's Scripture. A tiny ice crystal quietly condensed from her fingertips. This ice crystal was no longer pure dark blue, but instead seemed to pulsate with galaxies within, while the outer layers swirled with strands of a sealing force. The surrounding air instantly froze, and even the light seemed to be subtly distorted.
"It's truly amazing..." Ye Li secretly praised. This was just the initial stage of integration. If she could fully master it, the power of her "Star Silence" sword move would increase dramatically.
Time slipped by quietly during his training. By the time Ye Li had mastered the first three levels of the "Ice Emperor Sealing Heaven Art" and comprehended the "Ice Emperor Guardian," an advanced version of the "Mysterious Ice Shield," as well as the instantaneous control power called "Frost Condensing Finger," it was already noon.
She exhaled a long, lingering breath, the divine light in her eyes becoming even more restrained and profound. After this trip to the ruins and this brief period of reflection, her strength had undergone a qualitative leap. Not only had her cultivation level improved, but more importantly, her combat skills and foundation had been greatly enhanced.
She stood up, stretched her muscles, and looked toward the Bishui Pavilion camp. Qin Yixuan had also just finished her contemplation. The blue light around her slowly receded into the Canghai Mingyue Pearl, and the shadowy image of the scripture vanished. Her complexion had noticeably improved, her aura more harmonious and transparent. She felt a subtle sense of being one with the surrounding water element, a sense of natural harmony. Clearly, the first half of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Water Scripture had brought her immense benefits.
Their eyes met again.
Qin Yixuan took the initiative to walk over, with a faint, genuine smile on her cold face: "Congratulations to Junior Sister Ye on your great progress in cultivation. It seems that you have gained a lot."
Ye Li could also feel the purer and more vast water spirit power fluctuations from Qin Yixuan and nodded: "Senior Sister Qin feels the same way. Congratulations on obtaining the complete inheritance."
After sharing life and death, and each receiving a significant opportunity that suited their own destiny, the relationship between the two people has become much closer. There is less formality and more natural familiarity.
"This is all thanks to Junior Sister Ye," Qin Yixuan said softly, her tone sincere. "If it weren't for the Xuan Palace... I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to unleash the power hidden within me, let alone obtain this lost inheritance."
"It's a matter of chance, but also of Senior Sister's profound background," Ye Li responded calmly. She paused, looking toward the vast snow-capped mountains beyond the valley, her tone becoming grave. "After this incident, the Shadow Demon forces have surfaced, and their plans are far greater. The incidents with Gao Sheng and Shi Long also reveal the deep hidden dangers within the sect. I'm afraid things won't be peaceful from now on."
Qin Yixuan's smile faded, her brows furrowed slightly. "Indeed. The Shadow Demon Emissary's escape will surely attract even more powerful enemies. Furthermore, I'm afraid the news of my obtaining the complete Nine Heavens Mysterious Water Scripture won't be concealed for much longer, and the Bishui Pavilion might become a target of public criticism." She looked at Ye Li, "Junior Sister Ye, perhaps our two sects need to work more closely together to deal with this."
This was exactly what Ye Li had in mind. Relying solely on her or the Xuanyun Sect's strength, it would undoubtedly be extremely difficult to combat the shadowy forces and internal traitors lurking in the shadows. Forming an alliance with the Bishui Pavilion, and especially maintaining a good relationship with Qin Yixuan, who possessed the divine essence and possessed unlimited potential, was crucial.
"Senior Sister, what you said is absolutely right." Ye Li nodded, "After returning to the sect, I will report the situation and then discuss the alliance in detail."
The two exchanged a few words about their experiences in cultivation, mainly some complementary confirmations of their understanding of the water (ice) laws, and both felt that they benefited greatly.
At this time, Mr. Muyun finished his discussion with the elders of Bishui Pavilion and called everyone together.
"Everyone," said Mu Yun Jushi with a serious expression, "Although a formation has been set up here, this is not a place to stay for long. The Shadow Demon's power is secretive and unpredictable, and there is no guarantee that they don't have a way to track us. We need to leave immediately and return to our respective sects. The wounded will be cared for by us, and the captives must be strictly guarded, especially Shi Long, who must be brought back to the sect for strict interrogation!"
"On the way back, you must be extra vigilant to prevent sneak attacks. Ye Li, Junior-Martial-Nephew Qin, you two must stay close to us and not act on your own."
"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.
Soon, the team set off again. This time, the pace was faster, and the atmosphere was more tense. Everyone understood that although the exploration of the Ice Soul Profound Palace was over, the storm it triggered was just beginning.
Ye Li and Qin Yixuan walked side by side, following behind the Muyun Lay Buddhist and the elders of the Bishui Pavilion. The two of them said no more, but an invisible trust and tacit understanding had already been established between them.
Ye Li stroked the bone fragment in the storage ring that contained the "Ice Emperor Sealing Heaven Art", and sensed the more complete fragments of the Samsara Mirror in his sea of consciousness. His gaze became sharp as he looked in the direction of Xuanyun Sect.
"Situ Kuang... Shadow Demon... and Ling Hao... no matter what schemes you have, I will eradicate you completely! The hatred of the past life will be avenged in this life!"
The wind and snow continued, but the young girl's heart of Taoism was more steadfast than the ten thousand years of profound ice. The temple's inheritance, each of them receiving an opportunity, foreshadowed that the situation in the Northern Territory and even the entire spiritual world would be further turbulent due to the rise of these two girls.
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