Chapter 190: The Ice Mountain Beauty, Lu Yuanzhi (6k)

Thus, as Second Uncle gradually explained, the four of them set off toward the academy's location.

Second Uncle now goes by Si Yunya; due to his exceptional performance, he earned Lin Daochen's favor in just a few years and was taken in as an inner-court student, receiving meticulous instruction in array techniques.

Now, Second Uncle can condense thirty-seven spirit seals and is steadily advancing toward the rank of Level-Two Array Master.

Lin Daochen, meanwhile, is at the late stage of Soul Transformation; according to Second Uncle, he is not far from condensing three thousand spirit seals and becoming a Level-Three Array Master.

Should he succeed, he will become the third Array Master in the entire Level-Four Cultivation Nation to reach such a realm.

"The academy's enrollment period has already passed—you can only enter through internal recommendation, which means through me!"

Second Uncle said with obvious pride.

The three immediately showered him with flattery.

But inwardly, they couldn't help but mutter.

You're a legendary Zhan Ling cultivator—just reveal your cultivation base, and you could be on brotherly terms with the dean, enjoying endless respect and resources.

Yet you insist on becoming a disciple under a Soul Transformation cultivator, pretending to be young and naive every day, and you actually enjoy it—no one else has such a mindset.

Still, given Second Uncle's previously inexplicable behavior, they had gradually grown accustomed to it.

"No need to change your name—no one cares." Second Uncle added.

Even if Zhou Qing became famous throughout the Eastern Region, that fame won't reach Haomiao Prefecture—likely not even the other three regions of Lingyun Prefecture.

Everyone's too busy to care who you are.

The three nodded repeatedly, memorizing Second Uncle's words.

Soon after, at the end of a mist-shrouded valley, a massive structure loomed faintly into view.

Zhou Qing and the others felt a surge of excitement; as they drew closer, they saw a grand stone archway standing ahead, inscribed with five ancient, powerful characters: "Baiyu Tai Xu Academy."

Beyond the archway, a broad white jade staircase wound upward, vanishing into the distance.

Second Uncle then produced his academy token; as ripples spread, the group passed through.

When they reached halfway up the mountain, the academy's outline became clearer: magnificent palaces scattered among lush forests, inspiring awe and longing.

Mist curled through the mountains, spiritual energy thickened, and flashes of light flickered intermittently.

Those were academy disciples meditating in the mountains, drawing in celestial spiritual energy.

Hidden caves were also scattered throughout, barely visible.

These caves were exclusive cultivation sites reserved for students of exceptional strength and potential.

Like Second Uncle, he had his own private residence, ten li across, undisturbed by anyone, free to do as he pleased.

Shiiii!

At that moment, several streaks of light shot past; Zhou Qing immediately halted, eyes wide with disbelief.

Though he couldn't make out who they were, one of them bore a golden text tag above their head—but it flashed and vanished before he could focus.

"What's wrong?"

Yan Xiaohu and Lu Yaoyao noticed Zhou Qing's reaction and frowned in confusion.

Zhou Qing rapidly eliminated names from his 【Heart Mirror Vision】 bindings.

Several figures traced an arc through the air, then turned back.

"Little Liu, Brother Zhou, Brother Yan!" A delighted voice rang from above, followed by hearty laughter as they descended.

"Senior Brother!"

"Brother Li!"

The moment they recognized the newcomers' faces, the three rushed forward in excitement.

One of life's three great joys is meeting an old friend in a distant land—especially when that friend is a brother-like senior.

They never imagined they'd encounter Li Daoxuan here, so dramatically.

Last time they returned, they'd gathered briefly at Yushan Hall; Li Daoxuan had shared hard-won combat experience from his battles against Cangyan Dao Palace and Tianji Gate, then expressed sorrow over Luo Xue's demise.

Afterward, he left again to seek enlightenment in his own realm.

He likely didn't yet know that Zhou Qing had since slain Sima Yaoji, Yu Ziqi, and Li Hanshan.

The Five Sects War had long ended, and the entire Eastern Region's landscape had been utterly transformed.

"Senior Brother, why are you here?" Lu Yaoyao, unable to contain her excitement, asked first.

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiaohu also turned to look.

Seeing these familiar, beloved junior disciples, Li Daoxuan's smile never faded; he patiently explained.

Since leaving last time, he'd sensed a bottleneck—but too many ties remained in the Eastern Region.

After much thought, he decided to leave entirely, seeking a completely unfamiliar place to shed all distractions and rebuild his cultivation path from the ground up.

By chance, he arrived at Baiyu Tai Xu Academy, just as enrollment was opening; after passing the assessment, he was admitted.

Now he's an inner-court student—and he came to the right place. One of his instructors took strong interest in his still-unclear realm insight and guided him meticulously; he's gained much already.

Today, he was heading to a designated location for training, to deepen his understanding, as his instructor required.

The three finally understood.

"And you?" Li Daoxuan asked, eyes bright with anticipation.

Lu Yaoyao was about to speak when several figures descended from the air.

All exuded Mid-Nascent Soul cultivation; their gazes instantly locked onto the radiant Lu Yaoyao, eyes brightening, faces lighting up with eager smiles.

"Brother Li, is this immortal lady your junior sister?"

"Sister, I'm Geng You, an inner-court student—you may call me Brother Geng."

"I'm Tan Yan; everyone calls me Old Tan."

They were overly enthusiastic; out of politeness, Lu Yaoyao forced a smile and gave a slight nod.

Seeing this, Li Daoxuan felt displeased—he knew these men's nature well.

He immediately said: "Brothers, let's hurry—we have a time-limited task from our instructor, we can't delay."

Then he quickly whispered to them: "We'll talk later!"

Saying that, he pulled the reluctant trio away.

"Senior Brother Li has also concealed his cultivation at Mid-Nascent Soul—no wonder he called them senior brothers!" Zhou Qing mused.

Yan Xiaohu teased: "Do you think we three are his bad luck? He picks a completely unfamiliar place to start over, wanting no attachments—and suddenly here we are."

"Let's go!" Second Uncle's gaze lingered briefly on Li Daoxuan's retreating back, then he stepped forward to urge them on.

The three followed Second Uncle onward.

Yet the initial unease of arriving in a strange place faded upon seeing familiar faces, replaced by a sense of ease and anticipation.

At that moment, the figure ahead of them paused slightly, spiritual power subtly surging.

In an instant, his worn, old robes vanished, replaced by a brand-new red robe.

The three remembered Second Uncle's earlier mention of academy rules.

To better motivate students and clearly distinguish levels, Baiyu Tai Xu Academy mandated that inner-court students wear red robes, while outer-court students wore white.

As they continued climbing the winding mountain path, the scene ahead grew livelier.

Everywhere they looked were outer-court students in white robes; upon seeing Second Uncle's red robe, they bowed with deep respect.

Unlike sects, the academy values not cultivation level but excellence in a specific discipline—those who lead in their field are noticed by instructors and granted status and focused training.

Zhou Qing and the others gazed in awe at the vast square, ancient architecture, ornate eaves and bracket sets, carved beams and painted rafters.

"Remember what I told you? Suppress your cultivation to Mid-Nascent Soul. With your 【Void Realm Manifestation】, Lin Lao shouldn't see through it."

Second Uncle reminded again.

Zhou Qing nodded slightly, understanding.

"Also, when the time comes, show only one seal. You know your Four Flowers Gathering at the Crown—don't draw attention."

"If Lin Lao accepts you into the inner court, that status alone gives you powerful backing—your abilities will be more readily acknowledged. In this world, origin and background sometimes play unexpected roles."

This time, Second Uncle whispered the warning.

Then he turned to Lu Yaoyao and Yan Xiaohu, his expression softening: "I can only recommend one person—you two will have to stay in the outer court."

"But given your situation, inner or outer court makes little difference—you're only here briefly anyway. Think of it as accompanying the crown prince in his studies."

Hearing this, the two nodded vigorously.

In truth, they'd come here with Zhou Qing merely to see the world; whether inner or outer court didn't matter to them.

"Alright, you two wait on that bridge over there—I'll take Zhou Qing to the inner court!"

Second Uncle waved his hand and strode forward with Zhou Qing toward the academy's deeper reaches.

The two watched as a grand arched bridge stretched across a shimmering spirit lake, serene and elegant.

They exchanged glances, then walked toward the bridge.

But after only a few steps, a figure flew past overhead, then swiftly turned back, descending gracefully with a soft "Hm?"

The two halted, looking up—this woman wore a pale blue robe etched with ice patterns, like flowing glaciers, radiating a chill.

Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, loosely tied, with an ice-prism hairpin slanted through it, enhancing her icy elegance.

Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, yet her aura exuded an icy aloofness that deterred all approach.

She wore neither white nor red.

Moreover, her pressure dwarfed even Cao Zhengyang's—far more terrifying.

Their hearts tightened instantly—this was a Soul Transformation Peak instructor!

Without hesitation, they bowed deeply: "Greetings, Elder!"

The woman's gaze fixed intently on Lu Yaoyao, then sharpened—as if she'd discovered a rare treasure.

She narrowed her eyes slightly; spiritual power subtly surged, and a faint ice-blue light, like a thread, stretched toward Lu Yaoyao.

Lu Yaoyao felt a bone-chilling cold envelop her entire body, and soon, a translucent ice lotus phantom instinctively projected from within her.

The ice lotus petals were crystal-clear, each shimmering with a chilling light; they rapidly unfurled, directly opposing the icy blue radiance.

Seeing this, the beautiful woman instantly retracted the icy blue light from her body, her eyes glowing with even greater delight.

"What is your name?" the beautiful woman asked, her voice still cool, yet now laced with unmistakable excitement.

Lu Yaoyao hurriedly replied, "Your humble disciple, Lu Yaoyao."

"Lu Yaoyao? A fine name. You don't seem to be a student of the academy?"

The beautiful woman's gaze sharpened as she carefully examined Lu Yaoyao's attire.

Lu Yaoyao bowed respectfully. "Respected elder, I came here with my senior brother. I am not yet an academy student."

Lu Yuanzhi immediately turned her gaze toward Yan Xiaohu.

Yan Xiaohu blinked his small eyes and quickly said, "Not me—my junior brother. He's already been taken inside by an inner academy disciple to be introduced to Master Lin."

"Master Lin? Master Lin Daochen?" the beautiful woman asked.

Both nodded.

The beautiful woman did not dwell on it, but turned back to Lu Yaoyao. "Would you be interested in studying my ice cultivation technique?"

Lu Yaoyao froze, momentarily at a loss.

The beautiful woman said, "Forgive me—I am Lu Yuanzhi, an inner academy instructor. Your innate constitution is exceptional. If you study under me, I guarantee you'll break through to Nascent Soul mid-stage within half a year."

Lu Yaoyao's eyes instantly brightened, but after a moment's thought, she shook her head.

"I must wait. If my senior brother becomes an inner academy disciple, then I will gladly study under you," Lu Yaoyao said.

If Zhou Qing was not accepted, staying here would be pointless—she could not lightly commit to something uncertain.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Lu Yuanzhi's eyes flickered with surprise as she regarded her with renewed interest.

Countless others had desperately sought to join her sect and failed. Now, she had uncommonly extended an olive branch—and this girl had refused it.

Clearly, her senior brother meant a great deal to her.

For a moment, Lu Yuanzhi seemed to understand.

But if she let such raw jade slip through her fingers, she would surely regret it.

"Understood. Wait here for a moment—I'll go see Master Lin."

With that, Lu Yuanzhi's spiritual energy surged, forming a blue streak of light that vanished instantly.

After Lu Yuanzhi departed, the outer academy disciples, who had previously held their breath out of awe, erupted into exclamations.

"My god, what did I just see? Instructor Lu actually offered to take on a student? Unbelievable!"

"Yes! Instructor Lu is always as cold as ice. She never speaks to students, and barely acknowledges other instructors. What's going on today?"

"Instructor Lu's ice cultivation technique has reached divine mastery. I heard she once aided two legendary Zhan Ling cultivators."

"I also heard her status in the imperial capital is extraordinary—her origins are immense."

"That little girl's aura is remarkably similar to Instructor Lu's. But the man beside her—round face, small eyes, looks shifty."

…

The crowd chattered among themselves, their gazes fixed on Lu Yaoyao—filled with curiosity, envy, and awe.

Lu Yaoyao was stunned. She never imagined the elegant, icy beauty had such a formidable background.

Yet, on the other hand, she had always lived in Taiqingmen, where even her master had failed to detect her unique constitution.

It was Third Mama who first saw her uniqueness, and gifted her the advanced heart scripture, "Ice Purity Scripture," enabling her to break through to Nascent Soul in one push.

As her cultivation deepened, her mastery over the divine technique "Ice Lotus" grew increasingly effortless.

At this moment, Yan Xiaohu held his old hen, looking up and around.

"Senior Brother Yan, what's wrong?" Lu Yaoyao asked.

Yan Xiaohu said, "How come no instructor came to beg me, a dashing swordsman like me, to study under them?"

Lu Yaoyao: "..."

"Even if Brother Si closes his eyes, he'll make it into the inner academy. Don't leave me stranded out here—that'd be embarrassing," Yan Xiaohu chuckled bitterly.

…

Meanwhile, inside the inner academy!

Zhou Qing followed closely behind Second Uncle. Every red-robed disciple they passed greeted Second Uncle warmly.

One had to admit: no matter how much he altered his appearance, Second Uncle's charm seemed innate.

As they walked, Second Uncle continued educating Zhou Qing about the academy.

The academy was divided into three tiers.

First: the dean, whose whereabouts were unknown—no one knew what he did or when he appeared.

Even Second Uncle had only glimpsed him from afar two years ago, confirming he was Zhan Ling.

If anyone had known that the dean of Baiyu Taixu Academy was such a terrifying powerhouse, countless sects across Longyuan Prefecture would have flooded in.

His concealment of cultivation likely stemmed from a desire to avoid disturbance.

Second tier: eight instructors. Aside from Lin Daochen, the other seven were all Soul Transformation peak, masters in their respective fields.

Though Lin Daochen was only Soul Transformation late-stage, the moment he condensed three thousand spiritual seals and became a Level Three Array Master, he would break through.

Third tier: enforcement officers and service staff—mostly from nearby major sects of Haomiao Prefecture, all Nascent Soul cultivators.

These officers maintained order and handled daily affairs. Though their cultivation fell short of the first two tiers, they were indispensable to the academy's functioning.

After hearing this, Zhou Qing had a rough outline of the academy in his mind.

As they followed the winding path, the scenery grew increasingly serene—flowers, trees, and plants arranged artfully, until a bamboo grove came into view.

"Does Master Lin live so secluded?" Zhou Qing asked, eyes wide with curiosity and awe.

Second Uncle nodded. "Of course. A true master deserves a master's demeanor. Master Lin holds students to extreme standards. To him, array arts are a rigorous discipline—no room for carelessness or laziness."

"Now that he's pushing toward Level Three Array Master, he's immersed entirely in array research. Living here helps him focus."

They say one learns until death. Though he is Zhan Ling, he deeply respects those who truly dedicate themselves to study—even those he once learned from secretly.

"Master Lin only occasionally gives lectures. Most inner academy students just want to curry favor, get to know him."

"But array arts demand talent. You can't succeed with tricks alone. Take me, for instance—I'm naturally gifted in this."

Second Uncle puffed out his chest, smug.

Zhou Qing nodded vigorously, full of admiration.

Second Uncle suddenly smiled, pulling Zhou Qing close. "Of course, your talent may not match mine, but among all I've ever met, you're among the top."

Zhou Qing smiled but said nothing.

He owed it all to you. Once, I was ordinary. Had you not unknowingly passed on that mutated Dao-energy, how could I have been reborn and gained this opportunity?

As they walked and chatted, they unknowingly reached the heart of the bamboo grove, where a simple, ancient courtyard stood quietly, surrounded by emerald bamboo—like a paradise beyond the world.

The gate stood half-open. Inside stood only a modest stone house, built with large blue stone slabs and a thick thatched roof, exuding ancient simplicity.

In the courtyard's center sat a stone table and several stone stools. A slender old man sat on one, utterly absorbed in deciphering the array diagram etched upon the table.

The old man exuded celestial grace. His hair was neatly tied at the back; his wrinkles were deep as if carved by a chisel, yet his eyes burned with sharp vitality.

Though his expression was serious and focused, his face radiated kindness, drawing one instinctively toward him.

"Student Si Yunya bows before Master!" Second Uncle bowed respectfully from beyond the gate.

But Lin Daochen, utterly immersed in the array diagram, paid no heed to the outside world—offering no response.

Second Uncle did not speak again. He merely waved gently, signaling Zhou Qing to wait quietly outside.

His expression remained calm as still water, showing no impatience—as if accustomed to such waits.

At that moment, Zhou Qing's gaze fixed on Second Uncle, and he gained a new understanding of him.

In truth, he knew little about Second Uncle.

Past tales of Second Uncle came mostly from elders.

Though Zhou Qing had interacted with him many times, he'd always thought him a mischievous old child—unpredictable, whimsical, always doing the unexpected.

But now, seeing him—calm-faced, eyes filled with reverence for the man within—

Who could imagine the man standing outside was a Zhan Ling powerhouse, so humble, so utterly unlike his usual self?

Time passed slowly. The sun sank westward. After roughly two hours, a long sigh came from the quiet courtyard.

Lin Daochen gathered the array diagram, its intricate lines fading. The exertion had drained him—he looked weary.

Only then did he notice the two waiting outside. He raised his head, gazing through the half-open gate, and said gently, "You're Yunya, aren't you? Come in."

Second Uncle immediately bowed respectfully and entered the courtyard with Zhou Qing.

(End of Chapter)