His heart raced, and his breathing grew heavier. The yang essence had awakened a deep, raw energy within him. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced, a powerful blend of strength and desire that made him feel as though he could take on the world.

Determined, he steeled himself for the task ahead. His body was ready, his mind focused. He glanced towards the blizzard, where Amelia awaited. This was for her, to subdue her overwhelming yin and give her the chance she needed. He stepped forward, every fiber of his being brimming with newfound energy and resolve.

Amelia saw the bulge on Leon's robe and blushed, her heart beating fast. A mix of excitement and nervousness swirled within her. She felt a warm flush spread across her cheeks, contrasting with the icy cold surrounding her. Her breath quickened, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest, a flutter of anticipation mingling with a hint of anxiety.

After conversing with Seraphina moments earlier, Amelia felt light-hearted. The conversation had been unexpected but comforting. Seraphina had always been a pillar of strength and wisdom, her presence commanding and reassuring. Amelia was surprised when Seraphina's usually cold demeanor softened during their talk.

---

Moments ago...

Amelia stood with her head bowed before Seraphina. The sect leader was about two meters away, standing half within the safe space created by the blizzard's icicles and snow as they avoided Amelia. Seraphina's glacial ward barrier skill was still active, protecting her from any potential harm.

Amelia remained bowed, waiting for Seraphina to acknowledge her. As the leader of the Glacial Frost Lotus Sect, it was only natural for Amelia to show her respect and wait for permission to rise.

Seraphina's face softened with a warm smile as she observed Amelia's respectful stance. "Amelia, you may rise," she said, her voice gentle yet authoritative.

Amelia lifted her head, her eyes meeting Seraphina's with a grateful expression. "Thank you, Sect Leader, for coming," she said sincerely.

Seraphina nodded, her smile still present. "It is my duty to protect my sect members, Amelia. You have done well in managing the situation until now."

Amelia straightened up, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. She was immensely thankful to Leon for informing her father about the essence rage quickly. Without his intervention, she couldn't imagine what might have happened. What struck her now, though, was the difference in Seraphina's demeanor. The sect leader she knew was always cold, her face stoic and indifferent.

But today, Seraphina was smiling, and it transformed her face, making her appear even more beautiful, almost heavenly.

Amelia couldn't help but marvel at the sight. She realized that she might be one of the very few, if not the only one, to witness Seraphina's smile. If others in the sect were to see this, it would undoubtedly cause an uproar. The serene, almost divine smile on Seraphina's face was a stark contrast to her usual icy demeanor.

"I appreciate your quick action and composure," Seraphina continued. "Leon informed your father promptly, and that has made all the difference."

Amelia nodded, glancing briefly at Leon, who was now preparing himself to enter the heart of the blizzard. Her admiration for him grew even more. "I'm glad he was able to help," she said softly, her voice filled with emotion.

Seraphina followed her gaze and watched Leon as well. "He is quite remarkable," she said, more to herself than to Amelia, She didn't know why but the past scene of Leon standing cool and unperturbed as she flared her aura on him crept into her mind seaʀᴄh thё nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

A heavy silence then ensued between them, though the blizzard continued to howl around them.

Breaking the silence, Seraphina spoke softly, "You know of the secret, right?"

Amelia didn't need to think twice. She knew exactly what secret Seraphina was referring to—the one Leon had informed her of, as instructed by her father. She smiled and nodded, "Yes."

Seeing Amelia's smile, Seraphina sighed inwardly in relief, realizing that Amelia remained unaware of the darker truth—how Amelia had killed her own mother.

Stepping closer to Amelia and out of the half-danger zone, Seraphina continued, "Do you know why I helped you when your physique and essence raged last time? Why I told your father many things about your physique, so he could prepare for what was to come? All of which have come to pass, just like what's happening now? Do you know why I did all that without asking for anything in return?

Do you know why your father trusts me so much?"

Amelia meekly shook her head, her curiosity piqued.

Seraphina took a deep breath, her eyes softening. "Because, I'm your aunt."

"What?!" Amelia's shock was palpable. Of all the reasons she had imagined, this was something she had never even remotely considered. The idea that she was the niece of the renowned Ice Queen and leader of the Glacial Frost Lotus Sect was beyond her wildest imaginations. It was a revelation that left her reeling.

"I know it's a lot to take in," Seraphina said, placing a comforting hand on Amelia's shoulder. "But it's the truth. Your mother was my sister, and I have always looked out for you, even from a distance."

Amelia's mind raced, trying to process this information. 'Why didn't anyone tell me?'

"Your mother was my older sister and came from the same family as me—the Glacial Frost Lotus Family, the family in charge of the Glacial Frost Lotus Sect."

Though her earlier declaration had already established this connection, Seraphina's words now served to remove any lingering doubts Amelia might have had, ensuring that she hadn't misheard or misunderstood.

The Glacial Frost Lotus Sect was unique. The family was known for its members possessing only ice affinity. It was said that their ancestor founded the mountains upon which they and the sect resided. Over time, the sect expanded, acquiring more bases around the original Glacial mountain and the surrounding Glacial mountains, becoming what it was today.

The sect strictly accepted those with ice affinity. Amelia had always been puzzled by her acceptance into the sect despite her shadow affinity, but after Leon told her the secret, everything became clear.

"You're the spitting image of your mother," Seraphina said, her voice softening. "She was an extraordinarily strong woman, someone I saw as an idol and greatly admired. She was believed to have the greatest potential to become the sect leader.

She had the same physique as you, and apart from you two, the only person known to have this physique is our ancestor, Bane Frost, the founder of the Glacial Frost Lotus Family and the Glacial Frost Lotus Sect. Her physique made things easier for her. Unlike you, she broke her frost heart during a life-and-death situation when the sect was attacked by beast hordes.

Only after breaking her frost heart did she unbelievably fall in love with your father, a mortal."

"Your father was a good man," Seraphina continued, her voice tinged with emotion. "But he was a mortal, and at that time, when your mother proposed to marry him, the family objected due to his weakness. Despite all the pressure, her heart didn't waver.

Her resolve is one of the things I admired most about her." Seraphina's eyes were watery, her gaze on Amelia filled with intense emotions she found hard to contain.

"Despite the pressure, your mother didn't waver but broke free from the family and the sect, going out to live with your dad. The Frost family tried their best to get her to come back, but all their attempts ended in failure. It was during this time that your mother became pregnant with you."

Amelia sighed in relief, feeling a sense of clarity washing over her. Everything now made sense—the secrecy, the hidden truths, the connection between her father and Seraphina. She understood why they had kept everything from her.

Amelia didn't realize when her eyes became watery and tears began to trickle down her cheeks. The story was incredibly emotional, the way Seraphina recounted it made it even more painful. Amelia never got to see her own mother, so this made things even more emotional for her.

Amelia was also shocked to see Seraphina in such a vulnerable state. She wanted to say sorry, but the words got stuck in her throat. She couldn't bring herself to say anything.

Seeing Seraphina so heartbroken was surreal. She had always known her as the stoic, cold leader of the sect. But now, witnessing this raw emotion, she realized how much Seraphina had kept hidden.

Suddenly, Seraphina wiped her eyes and composed herself. Her face was a mixture of strength and sorrow. She had maintained her cold demeanor for so long to hide her emotions and any sign of weakness from everyone. But after meeting Leon and after he used his Divine Charm aura on her, this fragile defense had been broken, making her more prone to showing her emotions.

"The reason I'm telling you this is not to make you sad, but to help you understand why I've done all this," Seraphina said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "I don't want you to be suspicious of me. I want you to trust me completely."