Ran Yunting looked the woman up and down and nodded with a trace of approval. "Not bad. Your Ice Jade Art has made further progress—you haven't wasted my efforts in guiding you, nor my willingness to break convention and pass this divine technique on to you."
The woman's expression was devoid of joy or sorrow. Since entering, not the slightest change had crossed her face; her entire being radiated a bone-piercing chill, as though she were truly a block of ice.
Hearing this, the woman replied, "Master has been too kind. Your disciple would not dare slack off."
"Good. Sit!" Ran Yunting gave a slight nod and pointed to an ice-jade meditation cushion before her.
Today was the monthly day for resolving doubts. On this day each month, the woman would visit Ran Yunting's quarters to pay her respects and have her explain any problems or questions encountered during Cultivation.
The two had clearly gone through this ritual countless times, so the woman showed no hesitation and obediently took her seat.
"Have you run into any difficulties in your Cultivation lately?" Ran Yunting asked warmly.
Although her own cultivation was two minor realms higher than her disciple's, at the young woman's speed, it would be only a few years before she could stand on equal footing with her. Given a few more years, she might even reach the height of the Supreme Elder. Ran Yunting had placed great expectations on her and felt not the slightest impatience.
The woman nodded lightly and was about to speak when the corner of her eye caught something on the ice wall behind Ran Yunting—a portrait hanging there.
The woman's slender frame shuddered violently. She, who had always maintained an expression as still as an ancient well, who would not have flinched even if the sky itself collapsed, now showed a look of utter shock. Brilliant light blazed in her beautiful eyes, fixed unblinkingly on the figure in the portrait.
Her expression was extraordinarily complex—joy, disbelief, bewilderment—shifting several times in the span of an instant.
But in a single blink, she had composed herself.
"You know this person?" The woman's rapid change of expression had not escaped Ran Yunting's observation. Seeing the strange look on her face, Ran Yunting asked in puzzlement.
The woman slowly shook her head. "I don't."
Ran Yunting's brow furrowed slightly, as if she didn't quite believe it.
The woman said, "Master's quarters have always been bare—nothing besides a bed and a chair. Seeing a portrait of a man here today was unexpected, so I was a bit surprised."
Hearing this explanation, Ran Yunting thought nothing more of it and nodded. "I've never met the person in this painting either. It's just that the Huoyao Sect has been searching for him recently, and the Valley Master has ordered the disciples to look for him as well. He may be the key to resolving Ice Heart Valley's crisis!"
"Is that so!" The woman struggled to control her emotions and gave a faint nod.
Ran Yunting observed her carefully but found nothing suspicious in her disciple's expression, so she believed the explanation about seventy or eighty percent. She smiled gently. "Let others handle that sort of thing. Your primary task right now is to focus on your Cultivation and strive to reach my realm as soon as possible. When that time comes, Ice Heart Valley will be yours to command—don't let me down."
"Your disciple will give it her all!" the woman said solemnly.
"Good. Now, tell me about the problems you've encountered in your Cultivation recently." Ran Yunting gestured warmly.
The woman immediately posed several questions that had been troubling her. Ran Yunting listened and offered detailed explanations. Teacher and student, question and answer—the time slipped away.
Before they knew it, dawn had broken. The woman rose and took her leave.
Stepping out of the ice chamber, the woman walked at an unhurried pace outward. Before long, she had left the inner island of Bingjue Island and arrived at the outer island.
Bingjue Island was divided into an inner and outer island. The inner island was heavily guarded; ordinary disciples could not enter without a summons. Only the Personal Disciples of the Elders and the core personnel of Ice Heart Valley were permitted inside.
The outer island was where ordinary disciples lived and cultivated.
The outer island was vast. The woman headed straight for an ice peak in the southeastern part.
At the base of that peak was a man-made ice dwelling. The entire peak held several hundred such dwellings, and the outer island boasted several hundred such peaks!
The ice dwellings were the caves where disciples resided and cultivated. Depending on one's cultivation level and contributions to Ice Heart Valley, the quality of the dwelling each disciple could obtain varied accordingly.
The woman stopped before a dwelling near the foot of the mountain, sent a pulse of Saint Yuan into the barrier before her, and waited quietly.
A long time passed with no response.
The woman frowned, produced a token from her spatial ring, and pressed it against the barrier. The next moment, the barrier parted of its own accord, opening a passage.
The woman darted inside, her pace quick.
Soon she reached the innermost chamber. Looking left and right, there was no sign of anyone in the dwelling—only on a desk lay a letter, addressed: "For Su Yan Only!"
Her hand trembling slightly, she picked up the letter, broke the wax seal, and drew out a sheet of paper, reading it carefully.
"Su Yan, by order of the Elder Council, I have departed with the other disciples on a mission. The order came urgently, and I had no chance to bid you farewell. If you come looking for me, you will surely find this letter. The mission is to locate a person—and that person turns out to be Yang Kai! He has arrived on Chilan Star, though for reasons unknown, both the Huoyao Sect and Ice Heart Valley are searching for him! Remember: do not act rashly. Wait for my return before doing anything!"
It was signed Qing Ya!
The former supreme powerhouse of the Profound Continent—the Ice Mistress, Qing Ya!
Su Yan read the brief letter over several times, her slender body trembling again and again, confirming that she had not misread a single word.
Yang Kai had truly come!