33: The Ice Soul Saintess? She seems... a little hot?

Deep in the endless Void Realm, the traveling palace of the Ice Soul Divine Palace.

The Ten-thousand-year Mysterious Ice Jade Platform emitted a bone-chilling cold. Ning Yudie sat cross-legged upon it, the ice soul divine talisman hovering above her head. Wisps of pure Ice Soul Origin descended, repairing her Origin which had been injured by Jiang Linfeng's punch.

Deep within her ice-blue pupils, the image projected by the divine talisman was slowly dissipating—Jiang Linfeng's palm was pressed against Su Ningxue's back. The girl's cheeks were flushed, her deer-like eyes filled with shyness and timidity, overflowing with inseparable dependence and admiration.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort exploded in the deathly silent ice palace, like an icicle shattering!

Ning Yudie flicked her jade-like finger, and the image before her instantly shattered into countless ice crystals, reflecting a ghostly cold light.

"Lowly creature... not worthy..." Her red lips moved slightly, her voice bone-chillingly cold, every word wrapped in the frost of ten-thousand-year mysterious ice.

But in her mind, another image involuntarily flashed—the dim woodshed, the flickering lamplight, that domineering aura enveloping her, the scorching palm pressed against her smooth waist, nearly melting her, this ten-thousand-year-old ice, completely... that panting... that trembling... that soft moan nearly breaking through her throat... "Jiang Linfeng!" Ning Yudie suddenly clenched her jade-like hand! Her sharp nails instantly pierced her palm! A trace of ice-blue divine blood seeped out, but the moment it left her body, it was frozen by the extreme cold into a brilliant ice bead, rolling onto the Ten-thousand-year Mysterious Ice Jade Platform with a crisp tinkling sound.

Her peerless face was a sheet of ice, like an eternal glacier. But in the deepest depths of those ice-blue pupils, an indescribable heat, like a frozen volcano... was quietly brewing and churning! It was the anger of being offended, the humiliation of being slighted, and even a trace of... a heartbeat ignited by that domineering power that even she herself hadn't noticed!

(Ning Yudie's internal monologue)

"How can this Seat's things... be touched by others?!"

"Star Dao Body... Chaos Source Spirit... medicine king token... and... that power..."

"When this Seat recovers... I will definitely bring you... along with that block of ice... back to the Divine Palace! Forever suppressed at the bottom of the Mysterious Ice Prison! I'll let you know... the consequences of coveting what this Seat has set her eyes on!"

The ruins of the Qingyun Sect, the core Thatched Cottage of the Jiang Clan Territory.

In the side room, Su Ningxue stood uneasily in the corner, her hands nervously wringing the corner of her clothes.

She had just moved in. Although this side room wasn't large, it was exceptionally tidy. The air was filled with a faint aura of starlight and the fragrance of plants, making it a hundred times more comfortable and warm than her simple thatched shack. More importantly... it was so close to the Sect Master... "Young Sect Master... it's... it's time to change the diaper..." She blushed, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz as she carefully picked up Jiang Xingyu, who was waving his small hands and giggling in the cradle.

The little fellow seemed to really like the cool aura on her body. His small hands curiously grabbed a strand of her jet-black hair, his pure star-like eyes blinking at her without pause.

"Mhm." Luo Yan sat to the side, watching Su Ningxue's clumsy yet exceptionally gentle movements, a hint of a warm smile in her beautiful eyes.

Her body was still very weak and needed rest. Having Su Ningxue help take care of Star Universe indeed made things much easier for her.

Furthermore, she could feel that this girl seemed to have some unusual feelings for her husband.

However... as long as she treated Star Universe and the Qingyun Sect sincerely, Luo Yan didn't mind.

Jiang Linfeng sat cross-legged on a prayer mat in the main room, his mind focused. In his Sea of Consciousness, the Star Origin seed slowly rotated, reflecting the Chaos Dao Rhyme emitted by the source spirit medicine canon (fragment).

He was organizing his surging power, comprehending the newly acquired Ice Soul comprehension fragments, and attempting to integrate them into his Source Spirit Body to enhance his control over the power of ice and cold.

At the same time, he was also calculating the possible retaliatory measures from the Medicine King Valley, as well as... the movements of the water-mist woman and Ning Yudie.

[Ding! Su Ningxue is taking care of Jiang Xingyu!]

[Jiang Xingyu has developed a sense of closeness toward Su Ningxue! 'Child of Nature' talent slightly increased!]

[The resonance between Su Ningxue's Ice Soul Origin and the Star Dao Rhyme has deepened! Ice Soul Origin purity slightly increased!]

[Feedback obtained: Origin Spirit Power (Ice Attribute) affinity slightly increased! Star comprehension fragment x1!]

A gentle wave of ice-cold power was fed back through the Bloodline link, flowing like a clear spring. Not only was there no discomfort, but it also made his Origin Spirit Power circulate more smoothly, and his comprehension of the power of stars deepened slightly.

Jiang Linfeng's heart stirred slightly; this girl... was truly a treasure.

Just then—

"Sect Master! Madam!" reporting to the Sect Master's voice rang out from outside the door with a hint of excitement, "Outside the mountain gate... there are guests visiting!"

Jiang Linfeng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze deep: "Who is it?"

"It's... it's the Xiyun Sword Sect! And... an envoy from the Fentian Valley!" reporting to the Sect Master's voice was a bit nervous, "They... they said they heard of the Young Sect Master's birth and have come specifically to... congratulate us!"

Congratulate?

The corner of Jiang Linfeng's mouth curled into a cold arc. They didn't come earlier or later, but chose to come right after Mo Yanqi was frozen as a show of force? They were likely here to test the waters, or even... to take advantage of the situation, weren't they?

"Let them wait outside the mountain gate." Jiang Linfeng's voice was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty. "This Seat will arrive shortly."

"Yes!" reporting to the Sect Master took the order and withdrew.

Jiang Linfeng stood up and walked to the door of the side room. Su Ningxue was clumsily changing Star Universe's diaper. The little fellow seemed to find it very interesting, giggling non-stop, his small hands waving and bringing up dots of starlight.

The girl's cheeks were flushed, and fine beads of sweat seeped from the tip of her nose, but her expression was exceptionally focused and serious.

"Ningxue."

"Ah!" Su Ningxue was startled, her hand trembling, nearly dropping the diaper on the floor. She hurriedly turned around and saw Jiang Linfeng at the door. Her deer-like eyes instantly widened, her cheeks turning even redder as she stammered, "Sect... Sect Master! I... I'll be ready right away!"

"No matter." Jiang Linfeng's gaze swept over her flushed cheeks and the sweat on the tip of her nose, then looked at his happily laughing son in the cradle, his gaze softening slightly. "Come out with me for a bit to meet the guests."

"Meet... meet the guests?" Su Ningxue was stunned, then a flash of panic appeared in her eyes. "I... my Disciple status is lowly... I'm afraid... afraid of offending the distinguished guests..."

"You are Star Universe's personal maidservant and also a member of the Jiang Clan." Jiang Linfeng's voice was calm, yet it carried a strange soothing power. "Your status is not low."

Su Ningxue trembled all over, and a layer of water mist instantly welled up in her deer-like eyes! A... a member of the Jiang Clan?! The Sect Master... the Sect Master actually said she was... a member of the Jiang Clan?! The immense joy and strong sense of belonging were like a warm current, instantly washing away all her self-doubt and insecurity!

"Yes! Sect Master!" She nodded vigorously, her voice carrying a hint of a sob, yet it was incomparably firm.

She carefully picked up Star Universe, who was still giggling after having his diaper changed, and straightened her slender back. Like a loyal little beast protecting a treasure, she followed closely behind Jiang Linfeng.

Luo Yan watched the backs of the two people and the infant as they left, the smile in her beautiful eyes deepening.

Her husband... seems to have started accepting this girl? That's good.

Outside the shattered mountain gate of the Qingyun Sect.

The massive Ice Lotus that froze Mo Yanqi reflected a strange and bone-chilling light under the sun, like a silent and terrifying monument.

In front of the Ice Lotus, two groups of people stood clearly separated, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.

On the left, a group of people dressed in green martial attire with long swords on their backs, their auras as sharp as unsheathed blades.

Leading them was a middle-aged man with a cold face and eyes as sharp as a hawk's (Elder of Xiyun Sword Sect, Elder of Xiyun Sword Sect), he stared fixedly at the Ice Lotus, his pupils hiding an irrepressible shock and wariness.

On the right was a group of Cultivators dressed in crimson robes, their bodies emitting a scorching heat.

The leader was an enchanting woman with a fiery figure and golden-red curly hair like a burning flame (Elder of Fentian Valley, Elder of Fentian Valley), her phoenix eyes flickered, and her red lips were as plump as fire. At this moment, she was observing the Ice Lotus with great interest, but a hint of gravity was hidden deep within her eyes.

"Elder of Xiyun Sword Sect Elder of Xiyun Sword Sect, Elder of Fentian Valley Elder of Fentian Valley, by order of the Sect Master (Valley Master), have come specifically to congratulate the Qingyun Sect on the birth of a Star Dao Body gifted child!"

Elder of Xiyun Sword Sect spoke first, his voice like the clashing of metal, carrying an aggressive sharpness. "I wonder where Sect Master Jiang is? Such a way of treating guests is... somewhat lacking in etiquette, isn't it?"

His gaze swept over the closed, damaged mountain gate and the ice sculpture emitting a terrifying cold aura, his meaning self-evident.

"Hehehe..." Elder of Fentian Valley covered her lips and chuckled, her laughter like jumping flames, carrying a seductive charm. "Why is Elder Zhao in such a hurry?

Sect Master Jiang has just been blessed with a son and is also rebuilding the Sect; it's only natural for him to be busy.

However..." Her tone shifted, her phoenix eyes sweeping over the Ice Lotus, a hint of deep meaning showing through her charm. "This 'congratulatory gift'... is quite unique. Elder Mo of the Medicine King Valley... tsk tsk, Sect Master Jiang's methods truly... open my eyes."

The two of them played off each other, seemingly congratulating him but actually applying pressure and testing him!

Just then—

Buzz!

A vast and majestic pressure, carrying the movement of stars and Chaos Dao Rhyme, swept out from within the mountain gate like an invisible tsunami!

Immediately after, three figures slowly stepped out of the shattered mountain gate.

Leading them was a man in a black robe fluttering in the wind, his posture as upright as a solitary Peak, his eyes as deep as a starry abyss. It was none other than Jiang Linfeng! In his arms, he held a baby as exquisite as carved jade, with shimmering starlight flowing around his body. It was Jiang Xingyu!

Half a step behind Jiang Linfeng, a clear and pretty young girl with snow-white skin and jet-black hair followed closely. Her deer-like eyes were timid, yet her back was straight, and she carefully held a bundle in her arms! It was Su Ningxue!

Sunlight fell, and starlight flowed.

Jiang Linfeng held the Star Dao Body in his arms, looking like a God King in charge of the stars descending!

Su Ningxue held the bundle and stood by his side, like an Ice Soul maidservant guarding a divine child!

That terrifying Ice Lotus that froze a Peak Void Tribulation expert stood behind them like the most loyal guard, emitting a silent threat of death!

This scene instantly shocked everyone outside the mountain gate!

Elder of Xiyun Sword Sect's pupils shrank, and his sharp gaze instantly froze! He felt a terrifying pressure originating from the level of life itself! That man holding the baby... his aura was several times stronger than what the intelligence described?!

And that seemingly weak young girl beside him... that pure Ice Soul aura... actually caused the spiritual sword on his back to emit an uneasy hum!

The seductive smile on Elder of Fentian Valley's face instantly froze, and an unbelievable light erupted from her phoenix eyes! She stared fixedly at the infant in Jiang Linfeng's arms, then looked at Su Ningxue beside him, and finally landed on that Ice Lotus... a chill uncontrollably rose from the bottom of her heart!

This Jiang Linfeng... not only is he unfathomable himself, but even the maidservant by his side... is so extraordinary?! The Golden-Patterned Elder of the Medicine King Valley... was truly frozen here by him?! logic

"Congratulate?" Jiang Linfeng's gaze calmly swept over Elder of Xiyun Sword Sect and Elder of Fentian Valley. His voice wasn't high, yet it exploded like thunder in everyone's hearts. "Where is the congratulatory gift?"

He raised his hand and pointed to the terrifying Ice Lotus emitting a bone-chilling cold behind him, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold arc:

"This Seat's mountain gate... does not accept empty words."