After receiving the voice transmission, Yun Xi didn't dare delay. She turned and left her newly built courtyard, heading straight for the main hall atop the peak.
"Master, may I ask why you summoned this disciple?"
Leng Ruohan gestured for Yun Xi to sit, then said calmly, "I see you've already chosen your residence."
"Yes, Master. I troubled Martial Uncle Han from the inner sect to help handle the arrangements."
Leng Ruohan gave a faint nod and continued, "I've sensed something. I may soon break through to the Divine Transformation stage. Three days from now, I will begin seclusion. Since you are my only disciple, there are some things I must tell you beforehand."
Yun Xi immediately composed herself, her expression turning solemn. "Please speak, Master. I will remember your words."
Leng Ruohan was quite satisfied with her attitude. He reached out and took the new identity jade token hanging from Yun Xi's waist, carved a formation pattern into it with a wave of his hand, then handed it back to her.
"I've placed a mark on your identity token. From now on, you may freely enter and leave Lingxue Peak. Without your permission, no one may set foot there."
"Thank you, Master."
Yun Xi understood. This was essentially a pass to Lingxue Peak. She would need to keep it well protected.
Then, Leng Ruohan flicked his fingers and released a glowing orb of light that flew directly into Yun Xi's forehead.
She instinctively wrapped it with her divine sense. At the same time, she heard Leng Ruohan's cool voice ring in her ears: "This is the ice-element technique I cultivate: Mingyue Frost Condensation Art. It draws upon the yin of the moon and the power of frost. Since you possess a water spiritual root, you can also cultivate this method.
The effects won't be as refined as someone with a pure ice root, but it still holds strong offensive potential. You may decide for yourself whether to practice it."
Yun Xi's eyes lit up. This was exactly the kind of ice-based technique she had been searching for. She quickly bowed with both hands.
"Thank you, Master, for granting me this cultivation method. I was just fretting about not being able to exchange for a suitable technique. This solves the urgent issue perfectly."
A subtle trace of a smile flickered in Leng Ruohan's eyes, though it was hard to notice. He continued, "If you ascend to the Spirit Realm and find a method better suited to you, feel free to discard Mingyue Frost Condensation Art. I have no attachment to such things."
Yun Xi immediately shook her head. "Please rest assured, Master. The technique you cultivate must be among the finest. How could I discard it so lightly?"
She truly meant it. Wasn't her master about to break through to Divine Transformation? If the technique were lacking, how could he advance so quickly?
Moreover, when Martial Uncle Han brought the inner sect disciples to help build her house, she didn't sit idle. She had used the opportunity to inquire about her master.
Leng Ruohan and the sect leader were fellow disciples. Leng Ruohan was the senior. Because of his ice spiritual root, he always seemed cold and aloof, like someone who held nothing close to heart. But his cultivation speed surpassed all his peers.
When Yu Geng Zhēnjūn succeeded the sect leader's position, Leng Ruohan had played a major role. With the full support of his senior brother, Yu Geng Zhēnjūn had been able to secure the seat—and hold it ever since.
Yun Xi could feel it. Yu Geng Zhēnjūn was still a long way from reaching Divine Transformation. But Leng Ruohan, his senior, seemed ready to break through at any moment.
And looking at them, Leng Ruohan appeared much younger than the sect leader. A cultivator's appearance often reflected their cultivation level. The earlier the breakthrough, the slower the aging. Leng Ruohan still looked like a young man, while the sect leader's appearance leaned more toward middle age.
Yun Xi, of course, wouldn't say any of this to her master, but her expression made her thoughts clear.
Leng Ruohan only nodded and said, "Since that's the case, take some time to study Mingyue Frost Condensation Art. Tomorrow morning, you may come to me with any questions about the cultivation process. Time is short, so make the most of it."
"Yes, Master."
"Have you refined the storage bracelet I gave you?"
Yun Xi blinked at the sudden question, then admitted sheepishly, "Not yet, Master. I've been busy switching my identity jade token and selecting a new residence. I haven't had time to refine the treasure you gave me."
"There's a set of formation pillars inside. Together with the formation disk, you can create a defensive array around your residence. You may also enclose the pool of Snowbell Flowers within it. They will aid your cultivation."
"Thank you for the guidance, Master. I'll go set it up right away."
A pair of dimples appeared as Yun Xi smiled brightly. She had only intended to soak up the dense ice spiritual energy from the pool, but her master had considered everything and practically gifted her the entire patch of Snowbell Flowers.
After bidding her master farewell, Yun Xi cheerfully returned to her residence. The first thing she did was refine the storage bracelet. It was carved from white jade—very much in line with her master's flawless aesthetic.
After recognizing it with a drop of blood and sending her divine sense inside, Yun Xi was stunned.
There were piles of spirit stones. One stack of low-grade, three stacks of mid-grade, and even a small pile of high-grade stones. Dozens of jade boxes were neatly stacked, each clearly labeled with their contents.
There was a large collection of ice-element spiritual plants, ranging from first to third rank, and even three fourth-rank ones. Her master clearly didn't want her to run short.
There was also a small mountain of pill bottles, with a wide variety of effects: healing, spirit recovery, soul restoration, Golden Core forming, and even some rare ones like disguise pills, bone renewal pills, and body fragrance pellets. It was an absolute treasure trove.
Yun Xi couldn't help thinking, maybe her master had a mischievous streak in his youth. After all, this was a pretty wild collection.
Standing upright in the bracelet was also a human-sized block of thousand-year ice, emanating waves of cold energy. Sealed inside it was a sky-blue ice needle—clearly something extraordinary.
As for the formation pillars and their corresponding formation disk, they were placed in a wooden box, accompanied by a jade slip detailing the instructions.
"This is great. Even comes with a manual. Perfect for a formation newbie like me."
Yun Xi quickly scanned the instructions with her divine sense, then retrieved the box and began her work. After carefully studying the manual, she left her courtyard and placed the nine formation pillars in their proper positions.
Then she embedded nine high-grade spirit stones into the formation disk and pressed it into the center of her courtyard. When activated, an icy blue light shield rose up, enveloping her courtyard and the pool of Snowbell Flowers beside it. Moments later, the barrier faded from sight.
Yun Xi set the formation to concealment mode. Her courtyard and the flower pool vanished from view, hidden from the naked eye.
She played with the formation disk a bit longer to familiarize herself with its functions, then activated the isolation array. Returning to her cultivation chamber, she released Dian Dian, then sat down cross-legged to begin studying the sealed Mingyue Frost Condensation Art within her sea of consciousness.
She focused mainly on the sections covering the Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core stages. The Nascent Soul stage was still a ways off.
The night passed without sleep. As the first light of dawn broke, Yun Xi opened her eyes. In one night, she had already grasped the threshold of the ice-element technique. The next step was formal cultivation—but before that, she needed to see her master.
She changed into the Haoran Sect's personal disciple robes. It was still a cyan robe, but this one had gold cloud patterns along the collar and sleeves, giving it a more dignified appearance.
This time, Dian Dian took the initiative to stay behind and cultivate. It was still a bit afraid of Leng Zhēnjūn.
===
So, now Yun Xi have 3 technique:
"明月凝霜诀"
Literal meaning: "Bright Moon Condensing Frost Art"
明月 (míng yuè): bright moon
凝霜 (níng shuāng): condense frost
诀 (jué): a secret method or art
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无双剑雷诀
Wushuang Sword Lightning Art
无双 (wúshuāng):
Literally "without equal" or "peerless"
Implies something unmatched, unrivaled, one-of-a-kind
Often used to describe exceptional skills or people
剑 (jiàn):
Sword
雷 (léi):
Thunder or lightning
-
千影扶风
Thousand Shadows Riding the Wind
千 (qiān):
Thousand
Represents a vast number, overwhelming or countless
影 (yǐng):
Shadow
Could imply speed, illusion, stealth, or agility
扶 (fú):
To support, lift, or help
In poetic usage, often implies riding or being carried along by (like floating with the wind)
风 (fēng):
Wind
Symbolizes speed, elegance, freedom, or natural flow