“Miss Du, let me escort you back to the Seven-star Study Palace.”

Xu Yan spoke.

“Thank you, Young Master Xu!”

Du Yuying was overjoyed.

“I beg you, please spare my granddaughter!”

Suddenly, a voice pleading for mercy echoed from ahead.

Xu Yan frowned, and the two sped up their pace, quickly reaching the source of the voice.

In their sight were two women cloaked in sheer gauze, their delicate bodies faintly visible beneath the thin fabric.

And an old man was protecting a young girl behind him.

The young girl, around fifteen or sixteen, was petite and delicate. Her face, usually beautiful, now showed a look of bewilderment.

The old man was actually a Grandmaster martial artist.

But those two women in gauze, they were Great Grandmasters!

“It’s an honor for your granddaughter to be offered to our Mistress of Ice.

Given the desirable qualities of your granddaughter, the Mistress will likely enjoy her company for several days. For her sake, I will spare your life. Now get out!”

One of the women waved her hand, sending the old man flying away.

With a quick grab, she caught the young girl in her hand.

“Grandpa!”

The young girl turned ghostly white in fear.

The old man got up, glaring angrily at them, ready to fight the Great Grandmasters with his life.

Your Mistress of Ice has killed countless innocent girls. If my granddaughter falls into her hands, there’s no way she’ll survive. I’ll fight you to the death!”

The old man was filled with grief and anger.

The Mistress of the Ice Lake, every year, countless young girls were abducted and taken to her icy tower. None had ever survived.

She was a demon!

He never imagined that his own granddaughter would be targeted.

“If you wish to die, I shall oblige!”

The woman in gauze looked at the old man with contempt.

A mere Grandmaster martial artist was nothing to her, a Great Grandmaster. He was a simple flick of her wrist away from death!

She struck with palm, instantly releasing an ice-cold power that swept over everything.

The old man roared in anger. He knew he had no chance of surviving, but he didn’t hesitate, charging them despite the inevitable deadly outcome.

Xu Yan waved his hand and with a thump, he dissolved the woman’s attack. “Release her!”

He was not one to interfere in others’ affairs, but seeing the old man’s love for his granddaughter, and his willingness to give his life to protect her, touched him.

For a moment, he thought of his own mother.

She had indulged and loved him in the same way, allowing him to travel far and wide in search of mentors.

The two women in gauze looked surprised, and shifted their eyes to Xu Yan and Du Yuying, their faces lighting up.

Young man, if you wish to save her, you can come with us to meet the Mistress of Ice.”

This young man was handsome and powerful, exactly what the Mistress needed!

Recently, she had taken two handsome boys under her wing. Though they were Grandmasters, she wasn’t satisfied as they were not strong enough to withstand her torments, and besides, they weren’t particularly handsome.

But this young man right here, he was just perfect! She would be thrilled to have him.

“Okay!”

Xu Yan nodded.

The so-called Mistress of Ice seemed like a vile character. She was definitely causing harm. Might as well kill her while he’s at it.

The woman in gauze threw the young girl back to the old man coldly stating,

“You should thank this young man.”

The old man caught his granddaughter, tears of gratitude flowing down his cheeks. He kneeled with his granddaughter, asking “May I know the name of our savior?”

“Xu Yan.”

The old man stuttered, “Xu Yan?”

The God of Swords, Xu Yan?

He swallowed hard. At first, he thought the young man who was taken to meet the Mistress was as good as dead. Now, it was Xu Yan?

Young Master Xu, be careful of the Ice Mistress, she is extremely dangerous.”

The old man warned solemnly.

“Oh? How is she dangerous?”

Xu Yan was curious.

He had never heard of this powerful figure before, the Mistress of Ice.

He turned his questioning gaze towards Du Yuying.

But Du Yuying shook her head, she had no idea as well.

Just as the old man was about to say something, the two women in gauze shot him a cold glare. “Speak another word, and we’ll kill you!”

“Young Master Xu, please be careful.”

The old man didn’t dare to say more. He made his granddaughter bow a few times in thanks, then took her and left.

“Xu Yan, huh? Even if the Mistress of Ice is more powerful, she can’t be a match for him, can she?”

The old man pondered.

The two envoys of the Ice Mistress brought Xu Yan back with them. They must be stupidly sending the Mistress to her death.

“Fortunate that they are unaware of Xu Yan’s fame.”

A feeling of relief swept over the old man.

The Ice Tower Envoy, whenever she appears, is only to capture young girls. After seizing a human, she would return to the ice tower and remain indifferent to the issues of the martial arts world, never showing concern.

Because of this, Xu Yan had introduced himself, but the others didn’t realize they were in the presence of a killer.

“Sir, please.”

The two veiled women lead Xu Yan and Du Yuying, taking them somewhere.

Xu Yan remained unperturbed. With his current strength, even if he had to face the Little Celestial, he could kill him. The Sudden Wind Sword Intent was difficult to resist for a Little Celestial gathering the power of divine spirits.

How much stronger could the Ice Master be?

He was just a half-step Celestial after all.

Naturally, Du Yuying wasn’t afraid either. She had great confidence in Xu Yan’s ability.

The two veiled women, on the other hand, were overjoyed. If they were to bring back such a handsome Young Master, the Ice Master would surely be thrilled.

Moreover, not just a Young Master, but also a stunning beauty that incites jealousy just by looking at her. The Ice Master would also be very pleased.

What a pity, such a beauty would be played to death by the Ice Master.

Atop the lake stood an ice tower. The Ice Lady heaved a sigh, and kicked the shrivelled man who was lying on her, seemingly drained of his essence, flying away.

“Quite useless, and a little ugly too.”

The Ice Lady sighed.

“Ice Master, a handsome young man has arrived, along with a beauty.”

A joyful voice rang out.

The Ice Lady looked up, and her eyes lit up. What a handsome young man, what a striking woman.

A smile emerged in her eyes, revealing faint wrinkles at the comers of her eyes.

At the north of the wilderness, the door of ripples in front of a towering peak was gradually solidifying.

The outline of the door was becoming more and more distinct, as if it was about to open.

“The Gate of Lingyu is about to open.”

Several figures stood on the soaring peak where Tianbao Pavilion was located.

The man in the purple crown had a complicated look on his face.

“Pavilion Master, why is the Gate of Lingyu opening? Should we take this opportunity to enter?”

One, with fiery eyes, asked.

“If you want to seize the opportunity to enter, you can, but…”

The man in the purple crown paused, and then said, “You’d either obediently be

a slave, looked down on like a pig or dog, or you will die!”

The man looked somewhat solemn, saying, “Pavilion Master, is it really so?”

He was obviously somewhat skeptical of Pavilion Master’s words.

“When people from the Inner Domain enter the Lingyu, that’s what happens. I just hope that this time the Gate of Lingyu is not opening to find me.”

The man in the purple crown sighed.

“Why?”

The others looked at the Pavilion Master in confusion.

“Here, I am high and mighty, enjoying respect. But if they come for me, then I would become a slave, taking orders. If it’s a reward, then of course I should be happy, but if it’s a punishment…”

The man in the purple crown didn’t continue.

The others also fell silent.

Tianbao Pavilion and Lingyu have a certain origin, but the contact has not been frequent since the Devil’s Incident. Only the Pavilion Master knew the inside story.

Boom!

The Gate of Lingyu was fully revealed.

The giant gate stood tall, and the towering peak that used to be there seemed to have disappeared, as if it was taken into the Gate of Lingyu.

The door, rippling like water, was gradually opening to both sides.

Meng Chong stood up, his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking seriously at the huge gate in the distance.

“Meng Chong, or should we hide and watch?”

Zi Yun was a bit nervous.

Although they had the Yu Ling in hand, it wasn’t necessarily truly safe. What if the one who came was an enemy of the Yu Ling’s forces?

Would they kill them on the spot?

“Don’t panic!”

Meng Chong looked calm, saying, “We are just observing from here, having not provoked them. If they still want to kill, let’s see if they can withstand my God­killing Slash!”

Zi Yun thought it made sense. They were just observing from afar. Would they be killed just for that?

Aren’t they allowed even a glance?

Boom!

The Gate of Lingyu slowly opened, revealing a narrow gap.

Hum!

Ripples spread out like a spring breeze brushing over the earth. The heavy snow around the giant gate melted instantly, as if it had vanished into thin air.

The rich Spiritual Energy, and the vibrant Heavenly Earth Lingji, all gushed out from the gap in the door.

A figure stepped out from the Gate of Lingyu, something seemingly in his palm.

After stepping into the Inner Domain, a bead seemed to shoot from his hand, flying in a certain direction.

He took a step, his figure following immediately behind the bead, his speed so fast that he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

As of now, the opened Gate of Lingyu, slowly closed again, but did not disappear.