Chapter 429 - 234: Profound Ice Pavilion

Chapter 429: Chapter 234: Profound Ice Pavilion

Xuzhuang naturally lacked the ability to see the past and future, but he was indeed only a single step away from the Primordial Spirit realm. His spiritual intuition had grown so powerful that it reached a level unimaginable to ordinary cultivators, giving him moments of sudden insight and flashes of inspiration akin to those of a Primordial Spirit True Man.

After gifting a Thunder Pearl forged from Yin Yang Essence, Xuzhuang gave the matter no further thought. He crossed the Heaven-Reaching River without delay and headed into the Beiming Continent.

He was met by a vast, desolate landscape stretching for thousands of miles, where goose-down snowflakes endlessly blanketed silver mountains.

The bitter cold of North Ming was truly no exaggeration. When he had first crossed the Heaven-Reaching River, the opposite bank, though barren, still had visible signs of life and even exotic kingdoms with their own unique charm.

But as Xuzhuang ventured deeper into the lands of North Ming, he gradually began to see nothing but snow-capped mountains and glaciers. Wind and snow raged day and night, signs of life grew scarce, and the journey became a tedious affair.

So Xuzhuang stopped dallying and focused solely on his journey. As the sky grew dim and night completely shrouded the Celestial Vault, he saw a splendid aurora appear in the darkness ahead, a truly magnificent sight.

Xuzhuang knew he had arrived at his destination. He descended from the clouds and scanned the surroundings, but all he could see was a stretch of white, snow-covered mountains. Despite a careful search, he saw no sign of any Immortal Blessed Land.

’No wonder Su Xinghe said the Profound Ice Pavilion was hard to find. It must be hidden within a Grotto Heaven or some minor realm.’

Xuzhuang pondered for a moment and came to a conclusion. ’It’s not that a grand Array concealing the sect entrance is impossible. But for one, there aren’t many Arrays that could hide from my Dharma Eye. For another, if that were the case, since I’m wandering about openly, I should have already been discovered by the disciples of the Profound Ice Pavilion.’

Since that was the case, Xuzhuang couldn’t be bothered to waste any more effort. He took out the Spirit Beast Pouch that Su Xinghe had given him and opened it. A White-Feathered Spiritual Sparrow shot out. It moved with incredible speed, transforming into a streak of light as it flew straight toward a distant snow mountain.

Xuzhuang followed the Spiritual Sparrow at an unhurried pace to the mountain’s peak. After waiting for a few moments, he saw a point of white light suddenly appear in mid-air. It gradually expanded to the size of a doorway, and a young girl in a Snow-White Flowing Immortal Skirt, looking to be in the bloom of her youth, abruptly emerged.

The girl was startled upon seeing Xuzhuang and shrank halfway back into the portal. Seeing his transcendent aura and realizing he didn’t seem like a wicked person, she relaxed a little. For some reason, however, her face flushed slightly as she asked, "Who are you? Why did you trigger our sect’s restrictive ward?"

Xuzhuang smiled and replied, "I am Xuzhuang of Tai Su, also known by the Daoist name Daomiao. I have come to seek an audience with your honored Master."

"Daomiao?" Given Xuzhuang’s current renown, it was almost unheard of for any cultivator to react with such a blank look upon hearing his name. Fortunately, she had at least heard of Tai Su. After muttering his name to herself a couple of times, she said, "Alright, please wait here a moment. I will go and announce your arrival."

Seeing her innocent and guileless demeanor, Xuzhuang wasn’t offended in the slightest. He clasped his hands and said with a smile, "My thanks, young friend."

The girl suddenly seemed to grow shy and hastily disappeared back through the portal.

She did not return. A quarter of an hour passed before a woman suddenly burst out from the portal. She was a Kun Dao with white hair styled in a Spiritual Snake bun, her larger-than-average frame draped in a loose Daoist Robe. It was a familiar face—Lan Su Nu, the core disciple of the Profound Ice Pavilion whom Xuzhuang had met beyond the heavens.

The moment Lan Su Nu saw Xuzhuang, her eyes lit up with a crystalline brilliance. "Senior Brother Xu!" she called out.

The Profound Ice Pavilion was secluded from the rest of the world and had very little interaction with Tai Su. But ever since the Immoral Taoist’s banquet, Lan Su Nu had begun addressing him this way. Xuzhuang didn’t mind it and returned the greeting, "Junior Sister Lan, it’s been a while."

"I’ve kept you waiting, Senior Brother." Though she seemed quite delighted, Lan Su Nu maintained a prim and proper expression as she explained, "As soon as the news of your visit was passed up, several of my senior sisters began frantically discussing the proper etiquette with which to receive you. I argued that leaving you waiting outside would be far more discourteous, so I came to greet you first."

Xuzhuang replied, "I’m hardly some great and famous personage. There’s no need to go to all that trouble."

"But you are now the foremost Venerable of the Daoist Sect, Senior Brother," Lan Su Nu said, but then added, "However, I also know you are a true seeker of the Dao and don’t care for worldly formalities. Please, follow me."

Without standing on ceremony, Xuzhuang followed Lan Su Nu through the portal. The world before him brightened. Though it was still night under the shimmering aurora, the scenery had completely transformed. Pavilions and waterside gazebos were sculpted from ice and snow; carved balustrades and hall pillars were all made of glazed crystal. A breathtaking vista of palaces and towers unfolded before his eyes.

This was it—the home of the Profound Ice Pavilion, the most mysterious Daoist Sect in the Profound Yellow Realm!

Whether it was due to the scarcity of its disciples or the dreamlike atmosphere of this crystalline Immortal Realm, the Profound Ice Pavilion felt remarkably quiet. Xuzhuang followed Lan Su Nu’s lead, but before they had gotten far, he suddenly raised his head.

On a floating pavilion of glazed crystal, several Kun Dao appeared to be spying on them. When they saw Xuzhuang look their way, they all whipped their heads around at once, feigning a deep discussion about the Dao.

Little did they know, with Xuzhuang’s abilities, the flimsy ward on the floating pavilion was completely incapable of blocking their voices:

"So that’s the foremost Venerable of the Daoist Sect?"

"It must be him. I’d long heard that he possessed an otherworldly grace and extraordinary looks..."

Seeing Xuzhuang glance aside, Lan Su Nu said with a beaming smile, "The Profound Ice Pavilion has always been a tranquil place. Only a reputation as great as yours, Senior Brother, could reach this secluded land, so many of our disciples are quite curious about you."

Xuzhuang replied, "It’s just a bit of a reputation, merely undeserved praise from the world."

He wasn’t being falsely modest; he truly paid it no mind. If he couldn’t attain the Great Dao, then even the greatest fame would turn to dust after a millennium.

Lan Su Nu just smiled, pressing her lips together. "May I ask why you are seeking an audience with our Sect Leader, Senior Brother?"

Xuzhuang replied humbly, "While my purpose isn’t top secret, it is a mission for my sect. I will tell you about it when the opportunity arises, Junior Sister."

Lan Su Nu didn’t press the matter, instead making small talk as they walked. Her pace never slackened, and soon she had led Xuzhuang before a grand Ice and Snow Hall, into which she strode without hesitation.