“Are we going to give chase?” one of the others asked.

The one who appeared to be in charge shook his head, “Whatever beasts they’re using are too far and too fast for us. Tracking is impossible at the moment. Nevertheless, I have heard rumors about this child that might be of some use to us. You’ll understand soon. Now let’s go.”

****

Whoosh!

Wintry gales bombarded the terrain of a snow-covered land. Trees teeming with rounded puffed-up leaves of white reminiscent of minute snowballs were scattered scarcely.

Normally, no vegetation would be able to survive in such harsh conditions, but these special trees could only be found here. Their barks were a slightly paler white, and they stood strong against the buffeting winds.

The entire place could only be described as a wintry wonderland. Any normal person that found themselves would be frozen within seconds, and then dead, not long after.

Chu, chu, chu…

Yet, the muffled sounds of snow being crushed underfoot could be heard. To this, a long figure traversed this beautiful yet unforgiving land with relative ease.

Upon closer inspection, one could make out a young girl who appeared to be around fifteen. Beauty did little to describe her. Cherry red lips upon a rounded face with eyes of cerulean blue that pierced the soul of any man adorned her.

The long white robes that trailed quietly behind her granted her a type of grace that words failed to chronicle. As it took momentary flight amongst the lift of the chilling winds, her picturesque features took an impossible leap forward that made this world unworthy of her presence.

A sea of ebon-hued hair fell fairly from her head save for a few strands that appeared ice-like, like the most precious of crystals.

Though it appeared as if she was taking a stroll to enjoy the scenery, the look on her face did nothing to support this. Her expression was cold and unfeeling, displaying neither happiness nor anger. Her status as the Divine Daughter of the Ice Phoenix Hall skyrocketed her status to a height others could only look up to.

Who else could it be but Qin Ling? The little girl that met Long Di in person once but was somehow able to acquire a cultivation technique from the latter that supported her until now.

Shu!

Another figure glided atop the snow that blanketed the grounds of the sect, en route towards her.

As soon as the figure came close enough, a knee met the ground in deference to her status.

“Greetings, Divine Daughter!”

When Qin Ling heard this, a touch of warmth appeared in her eyes before slight irritation took over. “Yun’er, you know you can call me by my name when we’re alone.”

“Hehehe…” the girl stuck out her tongue and giggled in retort.

Her full name was Wei Yun, a high-ranking disciple of the Ice Phoenix Hall, and Qin Ling’s best friend.

Because of Qin Ling’s status, normal disciples within the Ice Phoenix Hall weren’t allowed to approach her.

Even though Wei Yun’s position in the sect as a ‘halled disciple’, which was a term for a high ranking senior disciple in the sect, wasn’t low, one must consider that the Divine Daughter surpassed even the sect master in terms of prestige.

With this being the case, no one was allowed to get close to her. Wei Yun, however, was a mischievous spirit through and through and thus disregarded the rules of the sect to seek out Qin Ling’s company time and time again.

At first, the hall leader scolded her numerous times to keep her distance, but for some unknown reason, the scolding stopped one day. Wei Yun couldn’t care less and Qin Ling took it as the higher-ups’ tacit agreement to their friendship and no longer minded it.

Of course, Qin Ling welcomed her company since the isolation from the other disciples made her feel lonely.

“Are you leaving today, Yun’er?” Qin Ling asked her friend.

Wei Yun rose from the ground and flashed this ice beauty a teasing smile, “Hm? Curious that I’ll be going to see your boyfriend, aren’t we?”

Qin Ling’s face reddened all the way to her ears, the ice facade she wore shattered instantly, “Wei Yun, you’re teasing me again!”

“Oh? But you’re not denying it. I wonder who could pierce the heart of our Divine Daughter?”

“Wei Yun, if you say anymore, I won’t see you again!”

It was rare for Qin Ling to have any emotional outbursts. She was taught to shield herself from any and all emotions by the elders of the sect. Even her master, as reluctant as she was, enforced this teaching. In fact, the core techniques of the Ice Phoenix Hall could achieve the effect of sealing away her emotions and bolstering her physique in the process, but Qin Ling refused to change over her cultivation technique.

If it was seen that her current cultivation method was insufficient and didn’t suit her, they would forcefully enact a change. After all, they would never put their pride before her cultivational future.

The problem was that this cultivation technique was leagues ahead of what they had, yet it was obviously incomplete!

This realization shocked not only the sect master but even the reclusive elders. When questioning began at first, Qin Ling didn’t wish to disclose who it was that gave her the technique or even the name of it.

It was only through the effort of the hall leader that some headway was made when they learned that the name of the person who created this technique was Long Di.

The Cold Heart True Ice Physique was an ancient physique that appeared a handful of times across the eons. Its power at full eruption was calamitous and the only sect that was able to properly cultivate and nurture it were those belonging to the Ice Phoenix group.

Yet, this sect that had thousands of years of history behind them found themselves dumbfounded when there arrived someone with a Cold Heart True Ice Physique that possessed a cultivation technique that was even more of a match than what they had.

The more incredulous aspect of all this was that the cultivation technique didn’t support her physique. It was more accurate to say that it supported her specifically, Qin Ling. It wouldn’t work as well for anyone but her, even if they did have the same physique.

When Qin Ling revealed the name of its creator, it wasn’t long before every information that was known about Long Di was uncovered.

When the hall leader and the others went through their findings, they couldn’t stop their expressions from changing.

Nothing about this Long Di was normal, and even his family didn’t appear to be normal, considering their last known fate.

“The elders and the hall leader chose for you to go meet him, right? To see what type of person he is?” she asked.

“Correct,” Wei Yun nodded.

Qin Ling wore a complicated expression before she advised, “D-Don’t hurt him. You can tell him to come to Ghostfire Woods. I’ll be heading there myself within the year.”

Wei Yun smiled and refrained from teasing her, “Don’t worry. We’ll get that technique completed for you.”

“Wei Yun, it’s time…” a mature voice interrupted the duo.

The two looked over to see a beautiful woman who arrived some time ago unbeknownst to them.

Seeing the hall leader and knowing what this meant Wei Yun walked over to her, “You’ve prepared fully for this trip right?”

“Yes master,” Wei Yun nodded.

“Then off we go,” the hall leader raised her hand to summon a gust of wind that caused the surrounding snow to whirl around them.

Wei Yun then looked back to her friend, “Wish me luck”

Qin Ling nodded with a gentle smile.

The hall leader saw all this and a look of heartbreak came and went before anyone could see it. The snow then spirited the two away. The only sound left was the unforgiving winds.

“Take care of yourself,” Qin Ling whispered.

…

The sun’s ray beat gently upon the plain. A lush grassland that stretched far into the horizon would greet the eyes of any who ventured here.

Oddly, the wind that blew through here was a bit chilling. There were no trees for miles around. The only discernible landmark was a white mountain range in the far distance where a perpetual blizzard reigned.

It was a stark contrast from these grasslands, but there it was. Its own existence banished the thought of an illusion.

Whoosh!

The sound of whipping winds kicked up out of nowhere before snow particles flew about in a maddening disorder.

Before long, two figures appeared amidst the chaos. One was mature and shapely and the other young and spritely.

It was the hall leader and Wei Yun.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been outside the sect,” remarked Wei Yun as she looked in wonder.

“You are aware of the goal this time around, right?” the hall leader asked.

Wei Yun nodded as she stated the mission goal, “Find this Long Di, and acquire the cultivation technique from him.”

The hall leader stared in the distance before she asked, “And if he refuses?”

“Then I am authorized to use any means to overturn said refusal,” Wei Yun’s smile never faded, but there was a faint bloodlust that writhed beneath the surface.

“And… when he gives it to you?” the hall leader’s gaze landed on her this time around.

With a smile that made the following statement even more chilling, she responded, “Kill without mercy.”