Chapter 316

Outside the mountain gate of Ice Snow Pavilion.

A dense crowd of hopeful onlookers stood, each gazing at the gate of Ice Snow Pavilion with eager eyes.

Today is the day Ice Immortal Pavilion opens its gate once every ten years to accept disciples!

Nowadays Ice Immortal Pavilion's status in the Wu Kingdom has changed greatly, especially for the myriad cultivation families within several thousand li centered on it.

Now Ice Immortal Pavilion is a genuine Nascent Soul sect, almost on par with Snow Sword Sect in the whole Wu Kingdom.

Some families originally feared that Snow Sword Sect would react to Ice Snow Pavilion's rise.

At least they would not let Ice Immortal Pavilion live so comfortably.

After all, neighboring Yuan Kingdom, though the Beast Sect has only a Fourth Level inferior Hanhai Spirit Turtle, still counts as Nascent Soul combat power, and even more convincing than Yunhe's Nascent Soul corpse refinement back then, yet the relationship between Nine Dragon Gate and Beast Sect is far from harmonious.

But unexpectedly, Snow Sword Sect not only took no action adverse to Ice Snow Pavilion, but also strongly supported its development.

And it was this that made many still‑watching cultivation families react.

Ice Snow Pavilion's Bee Elder Demon has reached some tacit understanding or agreement with two True Lords of Snow Sword Sect, completely dispelling those families' concerns.

"Father, when will the gate open?"

In the crowd, a teenage girl of striking appearance and well‑dressed asked softly.

Standing beside her, a middle‑aged man in a splendid robe whose Cultivation Base had reached the middle of Foundation Establishment, looked toward the gate and said:

"Wan'er, remember, after entering Ice Snow Pavilion you must curb your spoiled‑princess temperament; Ice Snow Pavilion is not like home, you must behave everywhere."

"Father, Wan'er understands! I'm not a three‑year‑old child, it's just—why are there so many people?"

While the father and daughter were speaking, occasional chatter rose from the dense crowd, yet everyone remained restrained.

Even a few distinguished scions of great families standing at the crowd's edge, whom no one dared approach, did not dare to be flamboyant.

"Brother Wei, I didn't expect you to personally escort people this time!"

"Hehe, Brother Zhao, aren't you the same?"

The Wei and Zhao families are well‑known cultivation families within Wu Kingdom; each has a Jie Dan Patriarch, albeit only at the early Jie Dan stage, yet this elevates the two families above many others.

Even such families send their disciples to Ice Snow Pavilion to pay respects, showing the sect's current stature.

"The last time I met Brother Zhao was at Bee—cough cough—Bee Patriarch's Nascent Soul celebration, right?"

"Indeed! That day Zhao happened to see Bee True Lord at the celebration with the family ancestor; truly a three‑life blessing."

The Wei cultivator nodded, his face full of reverence, then lowered his voice as if recalling something:

"Brother Zhao, Wei heard that at this Ice Snow Pavilion opening ceremony, the Bee Patriarch will also appear for a viewing?"

"That is true!"

"Brother Zhao, don't tease Wei; if your Zhao family doesn't hear any rumors, how could so many graceful female disciples of the clan be sent to Ice Snow Pavilion?"

"Hahaha—Brother Wei, don't take it seriously; Zhao is just joking. However, Zhao's clan did receive rumors, but the details remain uncertain."

"A rumor is enough. If the clan has even one disciple chosen by the Bee Patriarch..."

"Sigh, hope so."

"Congratulations, Young Master, on achieving great success in refining your treasure!"

Seeing Yunhe, who bore a hint of fatigue yet an unmistakable joy, emerge from the refining chamber, Pearl hurried forward to bow and offer congratulations.

Yunhe smiled, shook his head, and said nothing more.

He simply walked slowly out of the cave dwelling and sat directly in the ice‑crystal pavilion by the cold pond.

Although Ice Snow Pavilion lies in a land of silver‑clad scenery, having not gone out for a long time, he noticed that beside the cold pond, under Pearl's arrangement, many snow‑white plants had sprouted, adding a touch of vitality.

Whirl—

Sensing Yunhe's exit, the Cold‑song Flood Dragon immediately darted out of the cold pond.

"Master!"

He gently patted its massive head, brushed aside the storage bag, and took out a large piece of beast‑spirit meat.

When it saw the beast‑spirit meat, the Cold‑song Flood Dragon's scales all bristled, emitting a "shasha" sound, and its expression turned extremely tense.

But it quickly recovered, realizing it only sensed a whiff of scent; before it lay merely a piece of beast‑spirit meat.

Yet because of that, it widened its eyes and stammered:

"F-Fourth Level beast‑spirit meat?!"

It looked at Yunhe with incredulous eyes and quietly swallowed.

This is Fourth Level beast‑spirit meat!

To obtain such meat, could the master have already slain a Fourth Level beast?

However, as the Cold‑song Flood Dragon knows, Yunhe hasn't left Ice Snow Pavilion since the last trip to Wind‑Rest Island; when did he hunt a Fourth Level beast?

Meanwhile, Pearl also recognized the meat's grade, her shock no less than the dragon's.

"If Young Master can slay a Fourth Level beast, then should grandpa have truly fought you back then, I'm afraid..."

Yunhe ignored the dragon's reaction and casually tossed the piece of Lu Shan turtle meat toward it.

The Cold‑song Flood Dragon dared not be so casual; it leapt up, snapped it, looked at Yunhe for instruction, and seeing none, obediently nudged against him, flicked its tail, and dove back into the cold pond.

At this moment Pearl finally recovered and heard Yunhe ask:

"Pearl, what happened today? Why is it so lively inside the pavilion?"

Hearing this, Pearl hurriedly replied:

"Young Master, today is the opening day of Ice Snow Pavilion. Ice Laurel Fairy visited you recently, asking if you would attend a viewing, but you were in seclusion then, so Pearl gave no answer."

Yunhe showed a look of realization.

Open the gate, broadly accept life, disperse immortal fates.

No wonder.

But Ice Snow Pavilion has opened its gate before; why is this time so much more bustling than before?

Little did they know, it was precisely because the Ice Osmanthus Fairy's question went unanswered that many speculated whether Yunhe would truly attend the grand ceremony, and so many racked their brains to participate in this mountain-opening ceremony.

"I'm feeling a bit weary, so I won't go. However, it's rare for the Ice Osmanthus Fairy to come inquire, so I cannot completely ignore it."

Yunhe rubbed his chin, looking at the obedient Pearl beside him.

"Forget it. When the ceremony is about to end, Pearl, you shall go and take a look for me."

"Me?" Pearl blinked, raising her hand to touch her ear, which was the symbol of her sea clan identity.

Having a sea clan member stand in for Yunhe to watch the Ice Snow Pavilion's mountain-opening disciple-acceptance ceremony—is that a bit...

It seemed he saw through her thought, Yunhe chuckled and said:

"How so? Afraid your identity being known will cause trouble? No worries, with me here, no one dares to ask more—just go."

Seeing Yunhe's calm composure, Pearl felt relieved and nodded vigorously.

"Yes, young master, Pearl understands."

Afterwards she saw Yunhe sweep his palm across his waist, and a strange piece of spirit paper appeared in his hand.

Then he raised his hand and waved it in the air a few times, quickly forming a golden voucher.

"Since you're going, you shouldn't go empty-handed."

He handed the golden voucher and a jade bottle taken from his storage bag to Pearl, then continued:

"Those who place in the top three will receive one Foundation Establishment Elixir; the champion will be granted this edict. Holders of this edict, as long as they cultivate to Foundation Establishment completion, I guarantee they can achieve elixir formation in their lifetime!"

Nascent Soul Edict?

Guarantee elixir formation?

Even Pearl was startled, but she quickly composed herself, after all she was a late-stage third-tier sea clan member.

Obediently receiving what Yunhe handed over, she let out a sigh.

"They, they are truly fortunate."

As for that, Yunhe merely smiled.

Guarantee elixir formation?

He never said he guaranteed achieving a golden core.

If it were merely an external elixir, he still had plenty of useless early third-tier demon beast inner elixirs at hand.

But while it's useless to him, to others it could be a priceless treasure.

Even the realm of external elixir is a state countless cultivators dream of but cannot attain.

Hearing her sigh, Yunhe was speechless, then laughed and took out a bottle of elixir.

"This is yours."

Seeing this, Pearl's eyes lit up, then she curved into a crescent shape, trotting to Yunhe's back and said:

"Young master, Pearl will massage your shoulders."

Nascent Soul Edict!

Guarantee elixir formation!

As Pearl appeared at the mountain-opening disciple-acceptance ceremony in the role of Yunhe's attendant, the entire Ice Snow Pavilion erupted in an uproar.

You must know.

Although the Ice Snow Pavilion now has a few early or mid-stage Golden Core loose cultivators who have joined and become elders, the vast majority of those serving as "teachers" in the pavilion are still merely Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But today's champion can actually receive the Nascent Soul Elder's edict, obtain a Foundation Establishment Elixir, and be guaranteed elixir formation!

Not to mention today's newcomers, even the Ice Snow Pavilion's original disciples are burning with envy.

No one would doubt a Nascent Soul Elder's promise, nor dare to underestimate this Nascent Soul Edict casually drawn by Yunhe.

They only know.

After today, that leading name will, in the future on the immortal path, likely be a smooth road!

At least, in the Golden Core realm, it will be a broad road.

Furthermore, some speculate that if a cultivator holding this "Nascent Soul Edict" later successfully forms a Golden Core, there might be a chance of being taken as a disciple by the elder.

Both being Golden Core cultivators, one is an ordinary Golden Core loose cultivator, the other a disciple of the Nascent Soul Elder—the difference in status is self-evident.

To Yunhe, it was merely an offhand remark of passing interest, a trivial item he no longer needed as a reward, enough to make those below fight tooth and nail for the top spot.

What is this?

This is the Nascent Soul!

And once this spread, it stirred up quite a commotion throughout the martial nation and even the surrounding countries' cultivation world.

For the vast majority of cultivators, let alone forming a Golden Core, even achieving Foundation Establishment could be a lifelong luxury.

But now, joining the Ice Snow Pavilion and securing the top rank guarantees elixir formation—what an extravagant matter!

Even though vying for the top rank is not something an ordinary cultivator can achieve, it does not hinder many cultivators flocking to the Ice Snow Pavilion.

This will inevitably allow the Ice Snow Pavilion to develop extremely rapidly over the next century.

But this obviously will not affect Yunhe in the slightest.

After finishing the refinement of the "Yao Armor," he began preparing another matter.

Once this is done, he will need to prepare to seek his subsequent cultivation method.

To this end, he has already ordered the Ice Osmanthus Fairy to send some Ice Snow Pavilion disciples out to gather information and understand the situation.

However, regarding this, he does not hold much hope.

Matters involving his level are likely accessible only to him; even Pearl cannot.

After resting a few days, once the Ice Snow Pavilion's mountain-opening disciple-acceptance ceremony had passed, Yunhe ordered Pearl to summon the disciple of the Ice Osmanthus Fairy, who is also the future head of the Ice Immortal Pavilion, Dong Ning Xuan.

He asked her a question that left Pearl, the Ice Osmanthus Fairy, and Dong Ning Xuan astonished.

"Fellow Daoist Dong, would you be willing to become my concubine?"

(End of chapter)