Chapter 1693 - 1007: Another Ritual Master

It seems she also won’t share some of her matters with others.

"If one isn’t loved, how can one be hated..." the Ice Venerable said coolly, his gaze sweeping across Sui Yi’s ordinary face, which he’d seen many times, "The Ice Emperor is no simple person; don’t be deceived by his appearances..."

Sui Yi lifted her gaze: "If we must be wary of the Ice Emperor again, Your Excellency’s position in the Ice Gleam District might be quite dangerous."

She had previously sensed that the Ice Venerable and the Ice Emperor were not aligned.

"The Ice Emperor isn’t just one person; it’s a title. Those who bear this title have always been at the center of attention. He and I aren’t on the same path, just like with Monkey—also not on the same path."

Who among the four sovereigns desires the position of Ice Emperor?

Aside from Xue Piao Ling, who is confined to the Wooden Baby Tower, the other three likely all have intentions.

At the moment, Sui Yi also saw unabashed ambition in the eyes of the Ice Venerable.

What a peculiar person—lawful, restrained, domineering, lazy, ambitious—all concentrated in one individual.

She shifts at times, like ice, yet also like snow.

"Then, if it truly comes to a fight, doesn’t Your Excellency need help?"

The Ice Venerable’s answer was: "In the Ice Gleam District, I never need help for fights; it’s only for maneuvering forces."

Sui Yi remained silent, lowering her head to sip tea.

"So, Your Excellency, how much do you really know about the Ice Gleam Festival and the White Tower?"

"And what do you know?"

Both were questioning each other.

The atmosphere was somewhat tense.

After a moment, the Ice Venerable spoke first: "The rescue operation is during the Ice Gleam Festival."

Sui Yi glanced at her, speaking blandly: "Teleportation Array."

The Ice Venerable narrowed her eyes, rose, and left without saying a word.

Sui Yi knew the other party had already obtained the answer she wanted.

But she vaguely sensed that this person’s situation might be even more perilous than it appeared now.

The Polar Ice Burst should be with her, which means she must not only deal with the alliance of two Ice Palace sovereigns and the balance of the Ice Emperor but also fend off assassination attempts from Thousand Buddha and others.

Dancing on a tightrope.

Sui Yi put down the teacup, pushed open the window, and saw the looming White Tower, rotated the Witch Feather Disk, locking onto the White Tower’s direction.

She sighed softly, indeed at the White Tower.

Quite a predicament.

She would rather the Witch Feather Disk be with the Ice Emperor.

————————

Yi’s training location was very secretive, and Sui Yi did not investigate it. The next day, an Ice Palace Servant suddenly invited her to the main hall.

As soon as she entered, she saw the Ice Emperor seated in the upper position, the Ice Venerable on the lower left side, and Bai Ze and the Blazing Flame King on the right side.

Bai Ze was a tall man with snow-white skin and long white hair, with a lengthy beard.

This person was not of the Human Race.

Just like the Blazing Ape King.

Both the Golden Ape and Bai Ze were not of the Human Race.

Yet they were fiercer toward Exotic Beasts than the Human Race.

Sui Yi sighed inwardly.

The ground of the great hall was frozen, deadly ice flows streamed along the walls and the air; the Ice Emperor smiled gently, the Ice Venerable was stunningly cold, and there were other key figures from departments affiliated with the Levitating Ice Palace on both sides below.

Sui Yi walked inside, drawing the eyes of many.

She walked slowly to the front.

The Ice Emperor smiled: "This is Mr. Sui, and the sacrificial text I showed you was written by her. What do you all think?"

The people around the Ice Venerable praised it, while those around the Blazing Flame King remained silent, only the Blazing Flame King sneered: "It’s too verbose, weak, not imposing at all."

The people on that side originally thought this Female Teacher would react like many pedantic scholars, getting angry and losing face, giving them the chance to dismiss her, but she was very calm, not saying a word, just standing by and looking at the mural...

With no support for the Blazing Flame King, he appeared quite lacking in demeanor. He looked sternly at Sui Yi and grinned.

Bai Ze glanced at Sui Yi and said, "The Ice Emperor may as well wait until another sacrificial text arrives."

The Ice Emperor was accommodating and smiled, "Alright, let’s wait..."

But there’s no need to wait.

It has already arrived.

When Sui Yi heard the sound of bells, she paused, turning her head slowly to see the tall and graceful young man approaching, bathed in the bright sunshine pouring in from the outside of the hall.

Sui Yi paused for a good while, turned her face, her brows slightly furrowed, paying no attention to the Ice Venerable’s seemingly perceptive gaze.

This person...

The sacrificial text in his hand was opened by the attendant.

If Sui Yi’s sacrificial text flowed smoothly like the deep green mountains and waters.

Then this person’s sacrificial text was like the domineering sharpness of military might.

The two were entirely different, yet both were outstanding.

The people on both sides could not agree, so finally, the Ice Emperor settled it: "Both are talents, and since our Ice Palace Sacrificial Altar is quite large, the two shall collaborate."

Both sides compromised.

Throughout it all, the Ice Venerable remained silent.

Before the end, in front of many people, the Jade-faced Gentleman stepped forward.

He came before Sui Yi.

"I am Yan, pleased to meet Mr. Sui."

————————

Under the night sky, Sui Yi leaned against The Gate, gazing at the night sky above, recalling the clarity of bygone days.

There was once a person from Jinling, with jade belts and floating hair, orchid clasps, red lips, and fair face, a graceful young lad.

This young lad used to be classmates for many years with another young lad, from childish babbling to the imperial court with crowns of jade. They roamed countless azure hills and green waters together, drank many times, and later, one became the Princely Heir and entered his country’s imperial court but disliked politics, living lazily, while the other, a hostage from Foreign Land, eventually used the identity of the princely heir to escape and return home to massacre his brothers, inheriting the throne amidst the chaos, and then... the two countries went to war, and they met on the battlefield.

Arrows pierced... the father of the princely heir remained there forever, clutching the arrows bleeding constantly from his father’s chest, the princely heir glanced back, the king from Foreign Lands held the bow, brows deep as the sea.

From the very beginning... it was all a setup.

He wanted his world.

Later, nations fought over the Central Plains, the Princely Heir became the greatest power of the time, using the young emperor to command the surrounding vassals, the two countries continuously annexed nearby nations... eventually stood at the original plain, contending.

Their encounter meant either one would live and one would die, or both would perish.

The Princely Heir’s sword pierced the king’s chest.

Withdraw.

Blood poured forth, the king laughed.

"We are destined to be enemies."

With the last bit of strength, he inserted the small sword once gifted by the princely heir into the Princely Heir’s abdomen.

The Princely Heir returned to his country with severe injuries, supporting the young emperor’s hand, helping him sit on the unified throne, in the face of vassals worldwide, commanded his men to kneel to the emperor, then handed over the seal of authority, and then...

Falling.

This was her seventh life.

The Hostage Banquet was also the King’s Banquet, had he returned?

——————

In the following days, Banquet did not show any signs of anomaly, Sui Yi almost thought it was just an illusion, was it merely similarity in appearance?

Their collaboration was smooth, with no issues, yet neither interfered with the other’s responsibilities, such a state inevitably frustrated the people on both sides of the Ice Venerable, but they couldn’t force them. Fortunately, the Ice Venerable’s side seemed to completely disregard this issue, absent for days, seemingly busy with their own matters, so was the Blazing Flame King.

Days passed as such.

The day of sacrifice.

These people temporarily left training to attend the Ice Gleam Festival, and Sui Yi also saw many teachers from Ice Gleam Academy invited to participate. She initially thought it was a small internal festival of the Ice Gleam District, but seeing the Levitating Ice Palace Sacrificial Altar crowded with people, she realized she underestimated the festival’s significance. Starshine, Golden Shine, and other administrative regions’ government district experts all came, among them were the rulers of various regions. Of course, these rulers were a tier lower compared to the Ice Venerable and the Blazing Flame King, because the Four Major Administrative Regions were too powerful, completely realizing a monopoly in terms of power, all five kings were Starfall Level, whereas none of the other administrative region chiefs reached Starfall Level, only showing half-step Starfall. Sui Yi figured she could currently handle these chiefs, but against Starfall Level it was still defensive, not offensive. Given this...

Sui Yi’s gaze swept across, noticed quite a few with ulterior motives, then retracted her gaze, heading to a nearby small garden.

Yi disliked crowds, merely went through the motions, quickly reaching Sui Yi’s side.

She saw Sui Yi fiddling with a bamboo leaf in her hand, watching the lively festival ahead.

"Will something happen?" Yi was sharp, with an innate sense.

"During the sacrifice, no matter what happens, just retreat as a student and stay out of it."

Yi frowned: "What if nothing happens?"

She thought there were too many masters here, if anyone had plans, it shouldn’t target such a time...

Sui Yi raised an eyebrow: "Then it’s even more troublesome."

Yi quickly left, because as the Chief Student, their group had to perform part of the sacrifice as a collective.

Sui Yi watched as Xie Han and Du Zhi led the sacrifice, both of them impeccable from every angle, making Sui Yi marvel at the high standards of the Dragon Ape World.

Chief Student sacrifice marked the beginning.

At the start, the Sacrificial Text was activated.

Sui Yi noticed many were highly alert...

"Teacher stealing half a day of leisure, not afraid of issues?"

A chilly yet gentle voice came from behind, Sui Yi turned and saw Banquet.

"It’s my own Sacrificial Text, so I naturally know."

Sui Yi withdrew her gaze, said faintly,

This part of the Sacrificial Text was hers.

No hindrance.

The people by the Ice Venerable’s side looked calm, while the Blazing Flame King on the opposing side seemed mocking.

It was Banquet’s turn for the Sacrificial Text.

Banquet approached her.

Sui Yi smelled a faint orchid fragrance on this person.

It’s rare for such scent on men.

But not effeminate or powdery.

Sacrificial Text initiated.

No hindrance.

Both sides showed strange expressions.

Most were engrossed in the ceremony...

"Pleasure working with you," Banquet suddenly chuckled.

Sui Yi glanced at him.

"Hope so."

She turned to leave, yet felt Banquet constantly watching her, smiling, a smile that was elusive.

————————

Later part of the ceremony, it proceeded as smoothly as could be, concluded successfully, Ice Emperor was very pleased.

Sui Yi no longer concerned herself with the matters of the sacrifice, even sent Yi another notice, advising her not to go out alone tonight and refrain from wandering.