Chapter 6026
The carriage sped along, piercing through clouds and mist.
Kai sat upright inside, eyes closed in repose, but in reality, he was rapidly digesting and consolidating the information extracted from Yun Ting’s memories, adjusting his aura and demeanor to ensure a flawless performance.
The journey from Jade Immortal Mansion to Xuanbing Valley wasn’t far.
In just over half a day, the chill ahead intensified, and the outline of a vast valley covered in snow and millennia-old ice appeared on the horizon. At
the valley’s entrance, a large contingent was already standing respectfully waiting.
Led by Xuanbing Valley Master Hanming, several elders and core disciples, dressed in their finest attire, eagerly awaited their arrival in the biting wind.
When they saw the familiar jade carriage and silver-armored guards on the horizon, everyone’s spirits lifted, and their faces immediately beamed with the most respectful and eager smiles.
The carriage slowly descended, and Master Hanming immediately led everyone forward, bowing deeply. His voice was loud and respectful: “The entire Xuanbing Valley warmly welcomes Envoy Yunting! You must be tired from your journey!”
Kai imitated Yunting’s arrogant and indifferent demeanor, nodding slightly, not even bothering to look at Master Hanming.
He merely gave a soft “hmm” and, led by Master Hanming, walked towards the most magnificent main hall in the valley, carved from a single block of Xuanbing ice.
Along the way, all the Xuanbing Valley disciples stood with their heads bowed, not daring to even breathe, their eyes filled with awe for the divine envoy and a hint of barely concealed fear.
Upon entering the main hall, the temperature dropped sharply, yet the atmosphere became even more solemn and luxurious.
The finest ice marrow jade table had already been prepared inside, upon which were placed crystal-clear spiritual fruits and fragrant ice-attribute immortal wine.
“Envoy, please take a seat!”
Venerable Hanming personally pulled out the main seat, an ice chair, for Kai, his attitude extremely humble.
Kai sat down without any ceremony, his gaze sweeping over the slightly tense crowd in the hall. He cut to the chase, his tone carrying the unquestionable authority unique to the divine race: “Valley Master Hanming, my time is limited. Are the offerings and soul crystals ready?”
“Ready! Ready long ago!”
Venerable Hanming hurriedly replied, waving his hand to indicate. Immediately, disciples brought in several jade boxes exuding icy aura and a specially made cold jade box engraved with sealing runes.
The jade boxes were opened, revealing neatly arranged, high-quality ice-attribute elemental crystals, as well as many rare spiritual herbs and minerals that grew in extremely cold places, their spiritual energy overwhelming.
In the cold jade box lay a soul crystal, numbered Yi Hai 18, emitting a faint blue light, its interior seemingly containing icy, flocculent fluids.
Kai scanned the area with his divine sense, confirming the quantity and quality were correct. He was particularly struck by the Soul Crystal; the icy soul power and resentment it contained chilled him slightly, though he showed no sign of it on his face.
He lightly tapped the ice table with his fingers and said calmly, “Counted correctly. Offering, I will take the Soul Crystal with me.”
His tone was flat, yet carried an invisible pressure.
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Master Hanming, as if granted a pardon, quickly ordered his men to put away the jade box and personally presented the sealed Frost Jade Box to Kai.
Kai casually put it away, not giving it much of a look. This was merely a formality.
However, the main event was just beginning.
Seeing that the envoy had accepted the item and his expression seemed acceptable, Master Hanming immediately gave a signal.
An elder understood and presented a more exquisite and smaller Frost Jade Box.
Bowing, he said, “The envoy has traveled a long way and must be very tired. This is a Mind-Clearing and Spirit-Concentrating Pill, refined from the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Heart Lotus, a specialty of my Xuanbing Valley. It is highly beneficial for cultivation. I offer it to the envoy as a token of my gratitude, and hope the envoy will accept it.”
Kai raised an eyebrow, took the ice jade box, and opened it. A refreshing chill and medicinal fragrance wafted out. Inside were three pills, each the size of a longan, ice-blue in color, with clear pill patterns.
They were indeed good items, with miraculous effects on stabilizing the mind and aiding in the cultivation of ice-attribute techniques.
In the outside world, they would be highly sought after.
“Valley Master Hanming is very kind.”
Kai finally managed a very faint smile as he put away the ice jade box.
This was a private tribute.
Seeing that the envoy had accepted the gift, Hanming Shangren felt relieved, his smile widening. He pressed his advantage, saying, “The envoy must be weary from his journey. Why not rest in the valley for a couple of days?”
“I have already ordered the most secluded Ice Soul Cave to be prepared, and selected several female disciples skilled in ice dance, knowledgeable in music, and whose primordial yin is intact, to attend to the envoy’s needs and relieve his fatigue…”
he said, clapping his hands lightly.
The beaded curtain beside the hall fluttered, and four beautiful young women, dressed in light, flowing ice silk, with exquisitely beautiful features and a cold yet alluring demeanor, gracefully entered. They bowed gracefully to Kai, their voices soft and sweet: “Greetings, Your Excellency the Envoy.”
These young women were all at the fourth rank of the Upper Immortal level, clearly carefully cultivated by Xuanbing Valley to curry favor with important figures.
If it were the real Yun Ting, he might gladly accept their gifts.
Kai sneered inwardly, but his face betrayed a hint of impatience: “I have important matters to attend to; how can I indulge in pleasure? The cave dwelling is ready; all irrelevant personnel, please leave.”
Kai was afraid that being with these female cultivators would expose his identity.
Hanming Shangren’s heart tightened, and he quickly waved for the girls to leave, inwardly cursing himself for perhaps flattering the wrong person; the envoy seemed to be in a bad mood today.
He quickly tried to salvage the situation: “Yes, yes, yes, the envoy’s diligence in his duties is admirable. The cave dwelling is ready; it will be absolutely quiet, and no one will disturb the envoy’s cultivation!”
He wanted absolute quiet and undisturbed peace!
Kai’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded: “Lead the way.”
Deep within the Xuanbing Valley, a cave dwelling located at the core of a giant ice marrow mine, where the spiritual energy was so dense it manifested as tangible ice mist, and which was protected by multiple layers of isolation arrays, was respectfully offered to Kai.
Kai entered the cave dwelling, carefully scanning it with his divine sense. After confirming there were no surveillance or spying arrangements, he immediately activated the cave dwelling’s own and his own added concealment and protection arrays.
Then, with a thought, the ancient Demon-Suppressing Tower appeared in his palm, quickly enlarging to a suitable size.
The tower door opened, and Kai slipped inside.
Inside the Demon-Suppressing Tower,
Kai carefully sealed the Soul-Refining Crystal, numbered Yi Hai 18, in a specially made jade box and affixed a talisman.
He couldn’t save the soul inside now, but he had to at least keep it safe for now.
Then, he took out the Mind-Clearing and Spirit-Concentrating Pill that Hanming Shangren had offered as a token of his respect, as well as some cultivation resources that originally belonged to the Divine Punishment Hall and had been plundered from Yun Ting.