Chapter 549: Giving You a Chance

The flying beast landed on the ground, and the four of them stepped down.

Snowflakes fell on the mountain. Among them, Zhao Ya, the weakest, had reached the Half-Step Mortal Transcendence realm. Though it was cold, it didn't affect them much.

Adjusting his clothes, Zhang Xuan looked toward the Ice Origin Palace before him.

From afar, the palace seemed majestic, but up close, he realized how enormous it was—spanning over a thousand meters and reaching dozens of meters in height, like a giant's mansion.

Before them stood a gate, over ten meters tall, made of some unknown material, giving a sense of weightiness.

“Kang Gan of Ten Thousand Kingdoms City has arrived as promised, and I request an audience with Palace Lord Wu!”

Approaching the gate, Hall Master Kang took a deep breath and spoke in a clear, resonant voice that carried inside.

After a moment, the gate creaked open, and several figures walked out, all women dressed in white robes. The foremost one approached and said, “Hall Master Kang, the Palace Lord has ordered that you be invited in.”

“Thank you!”

Nodding, Hall Master Kang led the group inside.

As they walked, Zhang Xuan observed the female disciples. They appeared young, only around twenty years old, but their cultivation was not weak—all were around the third level of Mortal Transcendence.

At such an age to have such cultivation, even in Ten Thousand Kingdoms City, they would be considered outstanding.

The woman who had spoken was at the peak of the third level of Mortal Transcendence. Her white robes stood out against the pure snow, giving her an air of aloofness.

Entering the Ice Origin Palace, as soon as they stepped through the gate, they immediately felt the spiritual energy become active, eager to seep into their pores, making cultivation easier.

“Such active spiritual energy!”

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Though the concentration of spiritual energy here was similar to the outside world, it was exceptionally active. Even without deliberate guidance, it could seep into the pores, temper the body, purify cultivation, and double the speed of training.

It was like comparing pressurized water to stagnant water—it flowed faster into the channels.

These girls, so young and yet so strong, seemed to benefit from cultivating in such a place. Even if it wasn't a formation-gathered area of abundant spiritual energy, it was definitely a cultivation treasure land.

The deeper they went, the more active the spiritual energy became, giving one an irresistible urge to sit down and cultivate.

Even before seeing the so-called Yin-Yang Pool, he felt this way. No wonder Hall Master Kang had paid a heavy price and traveled for days to get here—it was truly worth it.

Inside the palace, besides the women in white, there were also some in red robes, all women as well. Unlike the former, they were not cold but blazing with heat, giving a strong sense of explosive power.

“These are the practitioners of Yang and Yin techniques in the Ice Origin Palace, all taught the purest single-attribute techniques!”

Sensing his confusion, Hall Master Kang transmitted his voice as they walked.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

In fact, even without his explanation, he could see the clues with his Eye of Insight.

The women in fiery red robes cultivated fire-attribute or yang-attribute techniques, their true qi blazing like flames, giving a strong sense of explosive power. The women in white who led them cultivated yin-cold attribute power, unsmiling, giving an air of keeping others at a distance.

Different techniques gave entirely different impressions.

“The Yin-Yang Pool is divided into the Yang Pool, the Yin Pool, and a mixed area. Only by cultivating the corresponding technique can one manage it.”

Hall Master Kang continued.

Zhang Xuan was surprised.

Earlier, when he heard about the Yin-Yang Pool, he thought it was just the name of a treasure land. Now it seemed it wasn't that simple.

After walking for a while, the leading woman stopped: “The Palace Lord is inside. Please enter.”

Hall Master Kang and the others walked forward.

It was a spacious room, decorated not luxuriously but rather simply. A woman sat in the central seat, looking at them with a calm expression.

As she looked at them, Zhang Xuan also focused his gaze on her.

The woman appeared around thirty years old, but her features were beautiful, with few traces of time on her face. Her jet-black long hair, combined with her white clothes, made her look like a figure from a painting, very pleasing to the eye.

Of course, though beautiful, she was still slightly inferior to Zhao Ya. After a glance, Zhang Xuan observed her cultivation.

Her aura was hidden within her body, hard to detect, but she gave Zhang Xuan a sense of danger. Especially her soul, which carried a strong pressure, as if it could easily see through the spirit beast hidden within him.

“Could it be… the Harmonious Spirit realm?”

He thought to himself.

The woman before him gave him a feeling that was clearly stronger than Alliance Leader Zhao, Xue Yiyao, and Hall Master Kang, and the pressure was greater. The first three were all at the peak of the fourth level of Mortal Transcendence. If she was even stronger, she had likely broken through that barrier.

The fifth level of Mortal Transcendence, the Harmonious Spirit realm, greatly increased the soul and harmonized more with nature.

Such a strong person could move with greater power and had extraordinary combat ability.

“Eye of Insight!”

Activating his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan looked over. After just one glance, he couldn't help but frown.

As he was observing, Hall Master Kang stepped forward and cupped his fists with a smile.

“Palace Lord Wu, it's been a while!”

It seemed he knew her strength well. Even as a peak four-star master teacher, Hall Master Kang did not act arrogantly but respectfully.

“It has been a while! Are these the ones you selected for the Yin-Yang Pool assessment?”

Palace Lord Wu replied, her eyes falling on the group. She frowned: “Why are there three?”

“It's like this. These three are the most outstanding talents among the younger generation. I found it hard to choose, so I brought them all, hoping that the Palace Lord might make an exception and let them all participate in the assessment to earn a chance to enter the Yin-Yang Pool!”

Hall Master Kang quickly explained.

“The rules of my Yin-Yang Pool, the Hall Master should understand. Two slots, that's it. No exceptions!”

Palace Lord Wu waved her hand, like a cold block of ice, indifferent to past friendships.

“This… very well!”

Seeing her firm attitude with no room for negotiation, Hall Master Kang knew further talk would be useless. He shook his head with a bitter smile and looked over again: “May I ask how the assessment works, so I can have them prepare?”

“Simple. If they can successfully walk out of my Ice Fire Room, they pass!” Palace Lord Wu said indifferently.

“Ice Fire Room?” Hall Master Kang frowned, as if even he wasn't clear about it.

“The Ice Fire Room is a unique trial item of the Ice Origin Palace. Like the Heart-Questioning Stone, you drip blood into it, and your spirit will be tormented by ice and fire. If you can endure it and find a way out within an hour, you pass. If not, you lose the qualification!”

Palace Lord Wu explained.

Everyone nodded.

They had thought the assessment would be something else, but it turned out to be a spiritual trial.

This kind of trial was related to willpower, not so much to cultivation level.

“Two out of three will be chosen. I hope you can decide quickly!” After explaining, Palace Lord Wu continued.

“No need to choose. Ruohuan, you won't participate!” Hall Master Kang turned and instructed.

“Yes…”

Young Master Ruohuan's face fell.

Though unwilling, since his teacher had decided, he could only nod in agreement.

As a master teacher, one must first respect the teacher and honor the way; the teacher's orders could not be disobeyed.

Just as he was feeling dejected, thinking he had lost an opportunity, he heard Teacher Zhang's voice ring out calmly: “Not so fast!”

After speaking, he looked up at the woman before him: “Palace Lord Wu, if we want all three to participate in the assessment, what would be required?”

Hearing the interruption, Palace Lord Wu frowned with displeasure: “Hall Master Kang, is this the junior you brought? When elders speak, when did a junior get to interrupt!”

“Teacher Zhang…”

Not expecting him to suddenly speak, Hall Master Kang looked over anxiously.

Though there were only two slots, there was still a chance. Once she was angered, that chance would be lost.

He held a high position in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance, but facing the only Ice Origin Palace in the entire Phantom Feather Empire, a hall master of a branch was insignificant before a strong cultivator at the fifth level of Mortal Transcendence.

“Achievement determines seniority. Being young doesn't necessarily make one a junior, and being old might mean one has lived in vain, wasting time… How about this, Palace Lord Wu, I'll give you a chance… I'll personally guide you once, in exchange for a slot in the assessment. How about it?”

Ignoring Hall Master Kang's tension, Zhang Xuan looked over calmly.

“What?”

Hall Master Kang and Young Master Ruohuan both staggered, nearly spitting blood.

On the way here, they had told him not to speak recklessly, that Palace Lord Wu was not easy to get along with…

Didn't he see that even the Hall Master himself was being cautious?

You guiding her, and calling it giving her a chance… Come on, forget that you just passed the assessment to become a four-star master teacher; even Hall Master Kang, a peak four-star, wasn't qualified for that!

After all, she was a solid cultivator at the fifth level of Mortal Transcendence, surpassing everyone in both cultivation and insight. You, who just broke through to the second level, saying that… aren't you afraid of being beaten to death?

“Guide me?”

Sure enough, hearing this, Palace Lord Wu's brows sank, and a powerful aura emanated from her, chilling to the bone: “You want to guide me? And call it giving me a chance?”

“That's right. There's only one chance, so be sure to seize it. Otherwise, later, even if you want my guidance, it won't be available!”

Ignoring the rising aura from the other party, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

“Zhao Ya, quickly persuade him…”

Seeing Teacher Zhang's words becoming more and more outrageous, Young Master Ruohuan's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but transmit a message to Zhao Ya beside him.

He knew Teacher Zhang valued this student highly, and her words might have an effect.

“Alright!”

Zhao Ya nodded and stepped forward: “Palace Lord Wu, our teacher is right. This is an opportunity. You must not miss it, or you will surely regret it!”

“I'm done…”

Young Master Ruohuan nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Big sister, I asked you to dissuade your teacher, to stop him from talking nonsense… What do you mean by seriously advising Palace Lord Wu?

And saying she must not miss it, will surely regret it…

You have too much faith in your teacher!

A four-star master teacher at the second level of Mortal Transcendence saying that to a cultivator at the fifth level, and with such confidence, without any embarrassment or shame…

Where do you two, master and student, get your confidence?

“You…”

Palace Lord Wu was also about to explode with anger. She flicked her sleeve: “Hall Master Kang, please take your people and leave. My Ice Origin Palace does not welcome such frivolous and arrogant individuals!”