Although the woman appeared beautiful, her flawless face appeared frigid. It seemed to have something to do with her cultivation art.
“Nothing much. I’ve only heard that Brother Han’s abilities are quite amazing, rivaling even late-stage grand cultivators. Furthermore, your purple apex flames are exceedingly profound. I wish to compare them with my own Ice Phoenix Flames. How about it?” The woman then extended her finger and lip up a white flame from it.
The flame was like a wisp of smoke. It spiralled in the air and didn’t appear to contain much strength.
But as one who cultivated an icy flame himself, Han Li had a deep sense of foreboding towards the white flame and his face grew heavy.
Han Li glanced at his surroundings and smiled. “Very well! I’ve long heard of your palace’s three great ice flames. Let’s test it, but how do you intend on comparing them?”
“I only intend on comparing the power of the flames. I don’t wish to truly fight you.” Bai Mengxin wryly smiled and exhaled a breath of icy Qi towards her fingertip.
The white flames increased several times in size upon contact and coiled in the air, turning into a small white flood dragon before charging towards Han Li.
Han Li frowned and swept his sleeves around him, producing several differing spell formations that disappeared into his surroundings.
He then opened his mouth and spat out a small ball of purple flames, turning into a small purple bird and met the incoming flame dragon.
Han Li and Bai Mengxin attentively watched as white and purple flames collided. Deep thunder rang as the flames weaved together.
In the blink of an eye, the purple flames engulfed the white flames and soon extinguished it entirely. The remaining light belonged to the purple firebird that circled in the air.
Bai Mengxin’s expression stirred upon seeing this.
Han Li calmly waved his hand, having the purple bird return to him in the form of a fireball, then disappearing into his sleeve.
Without further hesitation, Bai Mengxin said, “Your Purple Apex Flames are quite extraordinary. I am relieved. Please follow me. The two external holders of the icy flames have arrived at our palace. I’ll lead you to the Grand Elder’s residence where they are both waiting!”
“So it was like that! It seems Fairy Bai wasn’t too sure of me and had me take her test.” Han Li gave her a doubtful smile.
Bai Mengxin silently nodded and soon held her hands in an incantation gesture before flying out of the building window in a white streak.
When Han Li saw this, he stroked his nose with a helpless appearance.
His heart had jumped when the woman entered through the window as well.
But since she already left, Han Li could only follow after her and flew out from the building window.
After the time it took to finish a meal, the two arrived in Master Arctic Dragon’s main hall.
In addition to the huge cauldron burning with Celestial Ice Flames at the center of the hall, four cultivators were sitting on woven mats nearby.
Arctic Dragon was sitting next to an azure-robed middle-aged man. An old white-haired woman and a grey-robed monk were sitting farther away from them.
When Han Li and Bai Mengxin entered the hall, the four immediately turned their gaze towards them. Han Li sensed the old lady and monk swept their gaze past Bai Mengxin and focus on him.
In that case, Han Li didn’t hold back and used his spiritual sense to observe the other two as well.
The old woman possessed about the same level of cultivation as Han Li, but the monk was higher at the peak of mid-Nascent Soul stage.
Han Li slowly took a few steps forward and saluted the four, quietly taking a seat at an empty mat that was a close distance away from the four.
Bai Mengxin took a seat at the side of Arctic Dragon.
“Madam Long, Master Mo Jiu, this is Fellow Daoist Han,” Arctic Dragon said with a friendly face, “He is the fifth cultivator who cultivates a flame of extreme cold. With your assistance, I can put my hundred years of research into practice and attempt to break through the bottleneck to Deity Transformation-stage!” The excitement in his eyes was clear to see.
The old woman expressionlessly glanced at Han Li and remained silent, perhaps a result of her strange temperament. The monk on the other hand looked at Han Li with a kind gaze and gave him a warm smile.
The monk calmly asked, “I heard Fellow Daoist Arctic Dragon mention that Brother Han didn’t cultivate an ice-attributed cultivation technique, but you are still able to use flames of extreme cold. Is that true?”
“It is something that I managed to accomplish through luck,” Han Li replied.
“I also heard that the flames are your original creation. It has been tens of thousands of years since the appearance of a new ice flame. Do you think you could let me see it?” The old woman aloofly asked. Han Li couldn't help but be startled by her young voice.
Arctic Dragon then added, “Don’t be alarmed, Madam Long is the Grand Elder of the Green Willow Sect. Her cultivation art is rather peculiar, causing her voice to be youthful.”
A peculiar feeling lingered in Han Li’s mind upon hearing his explanation. He had seen many instances where women used techniques to preserve their appearance, but this was the first time he had heard of a technique to preserve the youth of one’s voice.
When she saw Han Li looked at her with an odd gaze, the old woman snorted, “What? Do you have any comments towards the techniques of my sect?”
At Han Li’s current cultivation, he didn’t have anything to fear from a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, but he also didn’t wish to make any unnecessary enemies. As such, he chuckled and tactfully replied, “Not at all! I was only curious for a time. My flames had yet to be refined. How could I dare to compare them to yours?”
The old woman didn’t pursue the matter and her eyes silently wandered.
Then, Bai Mengxin sent a voice transmission to Arctic Dragon.
Arctic Dragon broke into a smile upon hearing her and took a deep glance at Han Li. Then, he lightly coughed and said, “Madam Long and Master Mojiu have been good friends of mine for many years. Fellow Daoist Han also has a deep relationship with one of the elders of my sect. As such, I’ve brought the three of you here to assist me. Although I reckon that this will only have a thirty percent chance of success, I have no choice but to take the risk.”
The monk said with a concerned tone, “Fellow Daoist Shi, you may be reaching the end of your lifespan, but we’ve discovered many high-grade demon beasts on our way here and they’ve started to gather near North Night Island. Isn’t it too dangerous to test your technique now?”
Arctic Dragon confidently said, “Fellow Daoist Mojiu, don’t worry. It would be best for me to successfully breakthrough my bottleneck. Then I would have no fear of those demons. If that fails, the palace already arranged countermeasures. If I die, my sect will not follow me.”
“In that case, I am relieved,” the grey-robed monk smiled.
The old woman nodded, “I have no objections. I’ve been wanting to see the true mystery behind this technique.”
Master Arctic Dragon appeared satisfied by their replies. Then when his gaze turned to Han Li, Han Li calmly asked, “When will we start? I also have no objections. The sooner we start. The better!”
“Good, good! Since the three of you have no objections, please follow me. I’ve already made preparations.” Arctic Dragon clapped his hands together and happily stood up.
Chapter 1091: Spirit Void Hall
Han Li and company followed suit and stood up after Arctic Dragon. The old dwarf then took several steps forward and muttered an incantation before striking the cauldron with a blue spell seal.
The huge cauldron let out a series of hums and glowed brightly with blue light. Then it quickly shrank to the size in the fist as it floated in midair.
In the area beneath the cauldron, a black hole strangely appeared beneath it, revealing a stretch of crystalline stair
s heading below.
Arctic Dragon beckoned to the small cauldron and took it into his sleeve before leading the way down.
Bai Mengxin and the middle-aged man closely followed after him.
The old woman and the monk exchanged a glance before trailing after them as well.
Han Li looked at the hole with narrowed eyes for a moment before heading down with a mysterious smile.
Not long after, light began to shine within the dark passage.
Everyone could clearly see the profound ice that formed the passage all around them. The light originated from egg-sized moonlight stones embedded in the walls, making for fairytale-like appearance.
After climbing down for about three hundred meters, they had reached the end of the stairs and the passage began to even out.
Although this was the first time the three outside cultivators entered this passage, they didn’t appear particularly surprised by its appearance. Rather, they carried on with a rich familiarity.
After the time it took to finish a meal, they finally walked out from the passage and into an underground hall. It was created from ordinary jade and appeared ancient in style.
But when Han Li and company looked at the end of the hall, they found a huge white stone gate that reached over a hundred meters tall. There were unknown ancient patterns, layers of talisman characters, and spell formation on top of it, causing it to flicker in light.
But what startled Han Li was the group of seven cultivators standing in front of it. All of them possessed Nascent Soul cultivation, most of them at early-stage.
Bai Yaoyi stood among them at the very front.
Han Li blinked and unconsciously glanced at the others in his group.
The three belonging to the sect appeared calm, but the monk and the old woman unconsciously frowned, surprised betrayed from their eyes.
“Fellow Daoist Arctic Dragon, these are...?” The monk asked.
Arctic Dragon turned around and smiled, “Please don’t be alarmed. They are the palace elders. Their assistance will be required to enter the Profound Jade Cave in Spirit Void Hall! The extremely cold Qi in this hall is required to increase my odds of success.”
“Spirit Void Hall?” The monk asked in alarm.
The old man’s eyes lit up, even Han Li’s face stirred.
The azure-robed middle-aged man smiled and said, “What you saw outside was the three Spirit Void Halls. Although their names are all identical, they all have their own mysteries. The Profound Jade Cave is one of them, and it is the true entrance to Spirit Void Hall. Furthermore, each of the three halls all lead to an underground passage.”
Han Li had already taken notice of this man. Although Master Arctic Dragon hadn’t introduced him, he knew that the azure-robed man was the other North Night Palace Elder that cultivated an ice flame. He had a common appearance, but his face appeared sullen as he observed the others.
At that moment, Bai Yaoyi and the others welcomed them.
A grey-haired old man stepped forward from the crowd of elders and saluted Arctic Dragon, “Grand Elder, you’ve truly decided to open Spirit Void Hall? Isn’t this breaking our laws? Although past generations have opened it, it was only on the verge of catastrophe.
Furthermore, you even brought along foreign cultivators to enter the Profound Jade Cave, something without any precedent.”
Han Li was stunned, ‘A Mid-nascent Soul cultivator dared to be so rude to Arctic Dragon despite their vast difference in cultivation?’
Not only Han Li, but the old lady and monk also wore odd expressions.
As if having already expected this, Arctic Dragon slowly said, “Elder Ye, think it over. Although Spirit Void Hall is something to only be opened during a crisis, past generations never mentioned that it couldn't be opened during a time of peace. Not to mention that many disciples have already reported information that groups of demons are gathering near the island. It is a suitable occasion to open the hall. Moreover, the three halls aren’t being opened all at once. Are you telling me that my position as the Grand Elder isn’t enough?”
The grey-haired old man swept his gaze past Han Li and company and unyieldingly said, “Even so, Spirit Void Hall is a restricted area of our sect. I feel ill at ease with three outsiders entering it! As the palace’s overseer elder, I disagree with this matter.”
When the three heard this, they couldn't help but inwardly frown. The old woman even snorted and wore a displeased expression.
Arctic Dragon calmly replied, “With Junior Martial Brother Ye’s overseer treasure, you do have the ability to deny my decision. But if I can win over two-thirds of the sect elders, your objection will be overruled.”
Han Li raised his brow at the mention of the overseer treasure. Even Arctic Dragon seemed to hold it in some fear, much to Han Li’s surprise.
Could it be the overseer treasure was a Divine Spirit Treasure or a replica? In that case, even a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator could fight against a late-Nascent Soul cultivator.
Furthermore, the old man had ties to another faction of the palace that allowed him to contend against Arctic Dragon.
The grey-haired old man’s heart sank. He grimaced, but he still maintained his calm. “I was wondering why Junior Martial Brother Jin and the others had been deployed to the outside. You’ve been planning this from the beginning! In that case, I won’t be a bother. I hope you will truly be able to break through your bottleneck! I will go patrol up above and make sure no demons catch us unaware.” The old man then took large strides to the passage above.
Arctic Dragon didn’t block him and simply glanced at him as he disappeared alone.
“Junior Martial Brothers, prepare to open the seal!” The azure-robed middle-aged man commanded.
The North Night Palace Elders each took out identical jade pendants and sent them into the sky,
Han Li was startled when he saw the jade pendant, but he maintained an indifferent face. The magic tool appeared exactly the same as the pendant that he returned to Arctic Dragon when his ten days at the Hidden Scripture Pavilion were over. He glanced at the old dwarf, but he had yet to take out the pendant.
Under the lead of the azure-robed middle-aged man, the elders began to utter incantations and soon the pendants began to brightly shine, turning into pulsing balls of light. Under the control of the incantations, the light flew into the air and soon condensed into a rainbow-colored phantom.
The phantom was a slender woman with a vague face, but her shining eyes were like stars against the night sky.
As soon as the phantom appeared, the North Night Palace cultivators bowed to it with the utmost respect, Arctic Dragon included.
When the three outsiders saw this, they realized that the woman was most likely the ancient cultivator who established the sect. Otherwise, they couldn't possibly be so respectful of the phantom.
But the appearance of the phantom came as a shock to Han Li. He couldn't help but think she was somehow related to the Heavenvoid Hall in the Scattered Star Seas. He had no doubt they had something to do with one another. Besides, there was also the appearance of the Celestial Ice Flames in both locations. It was a likely possibility.
Just as Han Li thought this, the palace cultivators willed the woman to slowly floated towards the stone gate.
The phantom touched the gate, only for her to rupture, scattering rainbow light that disappeared a moment later.
Light and talisman characters on the huge stone gate soon disappeared and became dim and absent of Qi.
Then, a violent tremor shook the ground, followed by the appearance of many jade pendants appearing at the top of the gate only for them to lifelessly fall to the ground. The North Night Palace cultivators waved their arms to hastily beckon the jade pendant into their grasp.
Arctic Dragon smiled when he saw this. He took several steps forward and brushed his sleeves towards the stone gate.
A blue mist swept past them and an azure wind struck the gate, silently opening it with ease.
Before the interior of the gate could be seen, Arctic Dragon withdrew from his original position and sternly shouted, “Everyone, be careful!”
Suddenly, a deafening rumble came from the interior, and countless beast howls roared. A gust of ice swept out, covering every surface it touched with a sparkling frost. Thunder seemed to sound from the icy Qi itself.
The weaker cultivators were knocked a meter back. Those stronger were able to hold their ground with either barriers of treasures.
White icy winds filled the entire hall.
Chapter 1092: Frigid Soulfreeze Formation
A layer of purple flames lit up from Han Li’s body, blocking the icy winds from approaching him.
The winds seemed to melt away as soon as they touched him.
At that same moment, Han Li glanced to the side. The entire hall was covered in ice, but the users of the ice flames were completely unharmed.
Bai Mengxin protected herself with white flames while Arctic Dragon emitted a cloud of Celestial Ice Flames from the small cauldron in front of him.
As for the middle-aged azure-robed man, a black flame enveloped his as he held his hands behind his back.
The old woman produced a yellow walking cane at an unknown time, creating clouds of yellow flame in front of her.
The grey-robed monk slapped his hands together, producing a green flame that coiled around his body, flickering as it blocked the icy winds.
As for the other cultivators, they were able to block the icy winds, but their barriers and treasures flickered in their struggle against the winds.
In the blink of an eye, the howling came to a sudden stop and winds gradually dispersed, filling the entire hall with silence.
As Han Li’s eyes wandered, he formed a hand incantation and his purple flames were absorbed back into his body.
He looked at the stone gate and found countless giant pillars of ice erected there almost like a maze.
His heart stirred and he released his spiritual sense forward. Not long after, he felt his spiritual sense become sluggish and heavy, a sign that peculiar spirit restrictions laid within.
A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality c1-2248 Page 588