Outside the iceberg, Qing Ya, the master of the Ice Sect, appeared in a bizarre manner. Far from showing Yang Kai any displeasure or hostility, she was actually quite amiable, which left Yang Kai feeling somewhat awkward about making a scene.
He had already made up his mind to tear off the mask of civility with the Ice Sect, stir up a proper uproar, and carry Su Yan away.
But Qing Ya's attitude left him unable to summon the strength for any of his planned moves. When someone greeted you with a smile, acting up like before would have made nothing but trouble for the sake of it.
"You came looking for Su Yan, didn't you? Meng Wuya mentioned this before." Qing Ya's voice remained gentle as she asked.
Yang Kai gave a slight nod.
"I won't hide it from you — Su Yan has run into a bit of trouble."
Yang Kai's expression turned cold in an instant. Qing Ya hastily said, "But don't worry, her life isn't in danger. She simply froze herself."
"Froze herself?" Yang Kai frowned.
"Her current state is something she chose for herself. Of course, our Ice Sect bears some responsibility as well. Come with me — you'll understand when you see her. It's not something that can be explained in a sentence or two." Qing Ya beckoned to Yang Kai.
"Sect Master…" Qian Yue called out hurriedly, clearly trying to intervene, but Qing Ya shot her a glare and she promptly fell silent, looking abashed.
"Oh, before that — would you be willing to withdraw those little bugs from the consciousness seas of my Ice Sect disciples? Since you're the one who released them, you should be able to take them back, right?" Qing Ya looked at Yang Kai with a bright smile.
"Forgive me, but until I've confirmed my senior sister's condition, I have no intention of recalling those alien insects." Yang Kai shook his head slowly. This was his only trump card right now — by holding the lives of over two hundred Ice Sect disciples hostage, he could keep the sect at bay. Although Qing Ya struck him as a trustworthy person, one could never be too careful. If he recalled the Soul-Devouring Insects and the other side suddenly moved to kill him, Yang Kai had no way to survive three layers into the Transcendence Realm.
"You really are cautious." Qing Ya shook her head helplessly. "In that case, these disciples of ours won't come to any harm?"
"I said it before — within half an hour, their lives are not in danger." Yang Kai's expression was indifferent.
"Very well. Come with me first. Qian Yue, you come too. Qian Hao, you stay out here and look after the disciples."
"Yes." Everyone responded in unison, their attitudes respectful. Qian Hao shot Yang Kai a cold glare and threatened, "Boy, don't even think about pulling any tricks, or you'll regret it."
Yang Kai couldn't be bothered with him.
He flew forward with Qing Ya, and they stopped in front of the iceberg where he had previously sensed Su Yan's aura. Qing Ya waved her jade-like hand, and a large door appeared eerily on the mountainside of the iceberg.
The door, too, was carved from ice crystal, with mysterious energy flowing across its surface and faintly visible formation patterns etched into it — clearly designed to block probing with Divine Sense.
Once inside the iceberg, bone-piercing cold assailed them from every direction. Yang Kai's expression grew serious as he hurriedly circulated his Zhen Yuan to drive the chill away from his body.
Sensing the scorching energy within him, Qian Yue looked extremely displeased, a look of distaste appearing on her pretty face.
Every member of the Ice Sect cultivated ice-type techniques and martial arts, making them the most sensitive and repelled by this kind of opposing energy.
The interior of the iceberg was crystal clear and translucent. The paths within were laid out like crystal, stunningly beautiful, dotted everywhere with luminous strange stones that lit up the ice-crystal corridors in dazzling splendor.
As they descended, Yang Kai's breathing grew progressively heavier. He could clearly feel himself drawing closer and closer to Su Yan.
After roughly the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, the three arrived before a massive ice chamber. Qing Ya turned back and glanced at Yang Kai. "Su Yan is inside. But I need you to promise me — try not to get too worked up when you see her."
"I understand," Yang Kai replied flatly.
Qing Ya gave a slight nod and pushed open the door to the ice chamber. She was the first to enter, with Yang Kai and Qian Yue close behind.
The ice chamber was empty except for a single bed of ice. And on that ice bed lay Su Yan, eyes tightly shut, her entire body encased in ice, as though she had fallen into a deep slumber.
Yang Kai's eyes contracted, and a towering wave of fury surged in his heart. But he quickly suppressed it and slowly walked toward the ice bed.
Qing Ya and Qian Yue both watched him intently. To their surprise, the moment this wild young man, whose conduct had been aggressive and venomous, laid eyes on Su Yan, his fierce expression softened. His eyes filled with a deep, tender longing — so gentle it was nearly enough to drip like water.
His expression shifted continuously, a whole kaleidoscope of emotions playing across his face. There was fear, and there was hope, as he approached step by step.
As he walked, his expression gradually calmed.
He arrived at the ice bed and gazed at the jade-like figure upon it. The corner of Yang Kai's mouth curved into a small arc.
Su Yan lay on the bed, her life intact, but her entire body was encased in a strangely eerie ice, sealed within it as though frozen in place. She showed no reaction whatsoever to Yang Kai's arrival.
Yang Kai extended one hand, but he could not reach her.