Feng Qi readily agreed to make the introduction, rushing back and forth several times to negotiate earnestly with the clan head.
As head of a clan, the man might not consider two Golden Core cultivators particularly impressive, but he would not casually offend them either. There was, however, an important matter that had to be handled first, so he asked Feng Qi to convey that he could not meet with the pair for several days.
Once Feng Qi delivered the message, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie remained temporarily at his residence. The clan head had also ordered that they be treated well, so apart from the matter weighing on their minds, their stay was quite comfortable.
The important matter the Feng clan head had mentioned was none other than the birthday of the Second Young Palace Master of the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace. Many small and medium-sized clans under his protection were required to present gifts.
Although the Feng clan had a late Nascent Soul expert to oversee it, this was the Qianyuan Great World, where even Soul Transformation experts were not uncommon. What significance could a mere Nascent Soul have here? On the icefield, the Feng clan stood only a little above the lowest-ranking clans. Having finally won the Second Young Palace Master’s patronage, they naturally spared no effort to curry favor with him.
Over the next two days, while Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie gave Feng Jun some instruction, Feng Qi told them a great deal about this young palace master.
The Second Young Palace Master was himself a formidable Soul Transformation cultivator, already at the peak of the late stage, needing only an opportunity to break through.
Yet he was only five or six hundred years old, a genius of the very highest order.
Someone whose status, potential, and cultivation were all so exceptional naturally inspired not only reverence but also a willingness to follow him.
There were also stories of how the Second Young Palace Master had roamed the icefield for years. Once, he stumbled into a demon-beast nest and was surrounded by several eighth-rank beasts, only to fight his way back, slaughter them, and destroy the nest. On several occasions he had fought his way onto the Wind and Cloud Rankings, attaining an honored position there and standing above countless outstanding talents.
There were more such accomplishments than anyone could recount.
Feng Qi grew increasingly excited as he spoke, and Xu Ziqing listened with considerable interest.
Take the Wind and Cloud Rankings, for example. Any cultivator under a thousand years of age with a cultivation at Nascent Soul or above could challenge them.
The list was originally called the Dragon and Tiger Rankings. Any cultivator who formed a Nascent Soul would have their aura merge with heaven and earth and be entered on the enormous black ranking, ordered by the time of their Nascent Soul formation. It contained countless millions of names. Every hundred years, a ranking competition was held, and the eight hundred who earned places on the golden ranking were separately listed on the Wind and Cloud Rankings.
All eight hundred on the Wind and Cloud Rankings held honored positions. Those who entered not only received gifts from an entire world, but attracted innumerable cultivators and clans eager to follow them. Even if a ranked cultivator refused such followers, the would-be patrons would still offer countless resources and tribute in hopes of gaining favor.
The more wholeheartedly a cultivator pursued immortality, the more resources they required. Searching for everything personally would consume far too much time. Once followers gathered around them, they needed only to give instructions and the necessary items would be delivered one by one. In exchange, those followers merely borrowed the cultivator’s reputation and received occasional protection, an extraordinarily profitable arrangement for the ranked cultivator.
The Second Young Palace Master was an example. Merely because he wanted a ten-thousand-year Snow-Silver Ginseng for his birthday, the Feng clan was willing to sacrifice several lives to obtain one for him.
The advantages were so extensive that even the most aloof and self-assured cultivator might find them tempting.
As Feng Qi continued, longing was plainly visible on his face.
Xu Ziqing listened with a smile, committing much of the information to memory.
He was thinking that the next ranking competition would take place in thirty years. His senior brother would certainly be able to enter, but he too would need to strive to form his Nascent Soul as soon as possible. Then he could accompany his senior brother to the Heavenly Abyss and meet the outstanding heroes of the world.
Two more days passed, and the Second Young Palace Master’s birthday arrived.
Since Feng Qi had personally acquired the ten-thousand-year Snow-Silver Ginseng and made such a substantial contribution, he naturally earned a place among those presenting the gifts.
Just before setting out, however, he turned toward Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie and hesitated.
Xu Ziqing smiled. “Fellow Daoist Feng?”
Gritting his teeth, Feng Qi said softly, “I can never repay the kindness you’ve shown me. Thanks to your help, I’ve been granted the honor of presenting gifts this time. I’m allowed to bring two trusted companions to meet the Second Young Palace Master. I… I…” He hesitated. “The Ice and Snow Immortal Palace is the greatest sect on the icefield, and the Second Young Palace Master holds an extraordinary position. If he were to look favorably upon someone, many things would become…”
He did not finish his sentence, but his meaning was perfectly clear.
When they had gone after the ten-thousand-year Snow-Silver Ginseng, the followers under Feng Qi’s command had proved thoroughly unreliable. Now that he had returned safely, he naturally had no intention of relying on them again.
This birthday celebration gave him an opportunity to meet the Second Young Palace Master. Why would he allow those useless people to profit from it? Besides, he still felt ashamed of failing to fulfill his promise to the two men, so he wanted Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie to accompany him.
In Feng Qi’s eyes, meeting someone as influential as the Second Young Palace Master was a priceless opportunity. But if the pair went with him, others would inevitably view them as members of the Feng clan. Although his intentions were good, he found it difficult to make the offer outright.
Xu Ziqing’s interest stirred when he heard this.
This was not the first birthday banquet he had attended, and he knew many guests would surely bring treasures as gifts. He did not wish to flatter the Second Young Palace Master, but perhaps he could learn something about the divine water from other people familiar with the icefield.
After thinking it over, he glanced at Yun Lie. Seeing his senior brother give a slight nod, he made his decision and smiled at Feng Qi. “In that case, might we accompany you?”
Feng Qi was delighted that Xu Ziqing had understood. He smiled broadly. “Of course! Nothing would make me happier than having you both come along.”
Xu Ziqing put on his heavy cloak and rose together with his senior brother.
Feng Qi led the way outside.
An ice carriage was already waiting there. It was shaped like a house and harnessed to several handsome horse-like demon beasts with scales covering their bodies and hard hooves that rang against the ground.
Seven or eight Golden Core cultivators in splendid robes already stood before the carriage, all chosen to present gifts.
The clan head had issued instructions earlier and did not appear in person, but two Nascent Soul ancestors stood nearby. They were apparently responsible for escorting the party.
When Feng Qi arrived, the others turned to look at him.
One Nascent Soul cultivator spoke. “Feng Qi, we’ve all been waiting for you. Why are you late?”
Feng Qi answered respectfully, “Elder, this junior was discourteous. It won’t happen again.”
This was no time to make excuses. It was better to admit fault immediately.
Sure enough, the two Nascent Soul cultivators’ expressions softened somewhat, and their gazes settled on the two men behind Feng Qi.
The pair were unfamiliar, but there were countless younger clan members, so the elders did not scrutinize them. They merely noted their impressive bearing, then turned and boarded the ice carriage. Paying their birthday respects was more important for now.
After the others boarded, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie followed Feng Qi inside.
The carriage was remarkably spacious, considerably larger within than its exterior suggested. There was enough room for everyone to meditate separately, almost as though it contained a miniature world.
In the Qianyuan Great World, even a small clan like the Feng clan possessed a respectable foundation.
The Wind-Treading Horses pulling the carriage were extremely fast. In only half a day, they arrived at the Ice and Snow Immortal Palace.
The palace was a large third-grade sect, dominating the icefield with majestic authority.
Across a thousand li stood countless palaces of ice. The largest at the center was naturally the sect’s core, the residence of the Palace Master.
Surrounding it were eighteen slightly smaller ice palaces, residences of the eighteen Young Palace Masters.
The Second Young Palace Master held the second position, and since moving into the Second Ice Palace, he had never been displaced from it.
Of all the Young Palace Masters, only the eldest senior sister, who had reached the Out-of-Body stage, surpassed him in strength. None of the others could defeat him.
Since the Feng clan was under the Second Young Palace Master’s patronage and today was his birthday, the guards at the outer perimeter let the ice carriage through upon seeing the Feng clan token.
The Feng clan was not the only one attending. Many other guests bringing birthday gifts arrived in their own ice carriages.
The carriage continued unimpeded until it reached the Second Ice Palace.
Both Nascent Soul cultivators became solemn. They ordered everyone to straighten their clothing, inspected one another for any impropriety, and only then disembarked.
With the two Nascent Soul cultivators leading the procession, each carrying a jade box, the younger disciples lowered their heads and followed respectfully behind them, scarcely daring to breathe too loudly.
Xu Ziqing was rather surprised.
Were the rules here truly so strict?
But he preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble. He and his senior brother walked together at the very back of the procession.
Before long, it was the Feng clan’s turn.
The group quickly entered the ice palace, and its interior was indeed exceptionally spacious. Apart from a high, throne-like seat overlooking everything, innumerable seats of varying sizes had been arranged. Their distance and order reflected the status of each clan or the personal cultivation of its representatives.
The closer someone sat to the throne, the more favor they naturally enjoyed in the eyes of the Second Young Palace Master.
The Feng clan’s position was low, so their seats were quite far toward the rear.
The ice palace was just as cold within as it was outside. Unlike the Feng clan’s residence, no formation warded off the freezing air.
This was because its master cultivated an ice-attributed method and preferred the coldest possible surroundings. Thus, even his dwelling was a frozen world, chilling to the bone.
Nevertheless, none of the guests dared complain. Those with lower cultivation donned extra magical garments and thick cloaks against the cold, while the stronger ones simply endured it.
After sitting down, Xu Ziqing swept his spiritual sense over the surroundings.
The guests possessed widely varying levels of cultivation. His spiritual sense was repelled before it could even approach several people seated near the front.
When he asked his senior brother, he learned that they were Soul Transformation cultivators, and even several Out-of-Body experts were present. Was this Second Young Palace Master truly so capable that people stronger than himself would submit to him? Or was it because of the sect behind him, or their faith in his potential?
Xu Ziqing could not know the reasons, but the sight raised his estimation of the Second Young Palace Master still further.
As the auspicious hour approached, the murmurs of the assembled guests gradually died away.
The plainly dressed maidservants who had been standing around the edge of the palace began moving like white butterflies fluttering through flowers. They filled the long and short tables with exquisite delicacies to entertain the guests.
Musicians also began singing in melodious voices. Then numerous women in colorful clothing descended from the air and performed a graceful dance of boundless beauty.
The atmosphere grew lively at once.
Xu Ziqing’s six senses were keen, and he overheard some conversation.
One particular exchange caught his attention.
“The Second Young Palace Master has greatly favored someone in recent years. If you encounter that person, treat him with utmost respect.”
“Whatever you do, don’t show dissatisfaction, or the consequences will be dreadful.”
“Could the Second Young Palace Master perhaps be…”
“Whatever that person’s identity, it isn’t for the likes of us to speculate!”
Xu Ziqing wondered what sort of person could make so many clans so attentive.
The next moment, the dancers bowed gracefully and withdrew.
Two figures approached slowly from beside the throne.
One, dressed in purple, took the seat high on the throne.
The other, wearing blue, stood before it and appeared extraordinarily close to the purple-robed man.
At first sight of him, Xu Ziqing’s face abruptly filled with shock.
…How could it be him?