After having breakfast with Zhuqing and Zhuyun in that quiet hall filled with the warmth of family and the rich flavor of traditional dishes, Xichen sat for a moment, calmly sipping his tea—when a sound transmission reached him from his father, Emperor Hengkong.
The voice was serious, carrying that distinct weight reserved for matters beyond the ordinary:
"Xichen, the Phoenix God wishes to meet you personally… You are to head immediately to Phoenix Perching Valley—the Valley of the Phoenix Throne."
"What is it, Chen'er?" Zhuqing asked when she noticed Xichen had suddenly stopped drinking his tea.
"I received a sound transmission from that man. I need to go to Phoenix Perching Valley," Xichen said as he set down his teacup and rose to his feet, no longer bothering with false courtesy or referring to Hengkong as the imperial father.
Zhuqing pressed her lips together softly, a faint trace of worry flickering in her eyes as she spoke in a gentle voice:
"The Phoenix God himself wants to see you…? It must be something serious… or extraordinary."
"It's nothing important. I'll just go and have a little chat," Xichen replied with a faint smile, waving his hand dismissively as if there was truly no reason for concern.
"Don't worry, Zhuqing," Zhuyun said with a smile to her younger sister. "This brat is full of tricks—even a fragment of the Phoenix God's soul wouldn't be able to harm him."
Xichen chuckled lightly as he turned and walked toward the exit, leaving behind the lingering aroma of warm tea and the sisters' conflicted gazes—caught between worry and trust.
He left his mother's palace and began heading toward his own, where Chu Yuechan was staying. He intended to take her with him, as he needed to win Xue'er over to his side—her talent would be a tremendous asset. Even though her mental state was fragile, it wasn't an issue; he could help her develop over time.
But that wasn't all.
He also wanted to speak with Chu Yuechan about going to Frozen Cloud Asgard to discuss matters with the Palace Mistress. Since he had decided to participate in the battle for the throne, he needed followers to support him—and there was no better choice than Frozen Cloud Asgard. While their strength was somewhat lacking, that wasn't a problem. He had the means to strengthen them. What mattered most to him was that the other party was trustworthy.
In this world, there were no eternal enemies—only eternal interests. As long as he could offer real, tangible benefits, Frozen Cloud Asgard would not betray him. Moreover, he intended to take control of it before Yun Che could—especially since he knew Asgard's weakness: the thousand-year calamity.
From Ling Kun's reaction when he had seen him in the past, it was clear he had already discovered Xia Qingyue's talent and reported it to Ye Xinghan, who would never allow the Nine Profound Exquisite Body to slip through his fingers. He certainly wouldn't hesitate to enslave Frozen Cloud Asgard upon seeing the beautiful women within it.
Thus, Frozen Cloud Asgard would have no choice but to accept cooperation with Xichen—or face destruction. As for what would happen in the future, there was no need to elaborate. As long as they benefited from what he provided, Xichen was certain they would eventually be willing to hand Frozen Cloud Asgard over to him. After all, that was exactly what had happened with Yun Che in the original story—he had been granted leadership of Frozen Cloud Asgard and taken control of it simply because he could bring them greater benefits.
With Yun Che eventually becoming the strongest person on the planet, Frozen Cloud Asgard rose to become one of the Four Great Sacred Grounds—indeed, the strongest among them. And that trash like Yun Che hadn't hesitated to pour vast resources into Frozen Cloud Asgard, so long as he could freely toy with its disciples without anyone daring to object.
In Xichen's eyes, he would gain proper support—and beauty to serve him—which he didn't mind in the slightest.
It wasn't long before Xichen arrived at his palace, where he found Yuechan already waiting for him. She must have sensed his presence and come out to greet him.
"How is your stay, Fairy Chu?" Xichen smiled as he gazed at Yuechan's uncovered face. It was clear she felt the heat and had removed her veil, as the environment of the Divine Phoenix Empire was harsh for an ice practitioner like her. "Is there anything you lack? I can have the servants bring it to you."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but I am not someone who is difficult to please over small matters," Yuechan replied. Though her voice was calm and distant, it was not as cold as when she spoke to others. In her eyes, Xichen was a great benefactor who had given her a new life. "In fact, this is an excellent environment for cultivation. Fire and ice are opposites, and enduring this environment helps me deepen my understanding of the Law of Ice, making me stronger."
"I see. Fairy Chu is welcome to stay in my palace as long as she wishes," Xichen said indifferently before continuing, "I came to ask Fairy Chu to accompany me. I'm going to see my younger sister, and I'd like your help in creating snow for her to see."
"Leave it to me, Your Highness," Yuechan nodded without hesitation. After all, this was the reason she had come to the Divine Phoenix Empire—to create snow for Xue'er.
"Then I'll be counting on you, Fairy Chu," Xichen said as his body began to rise into the sky. "My younger sister resides in a forbidden region of the empire, so we'll be flying there."
"Understood," Yuechan nodded and ascended into the air, following behind Xichen. She did not find it strange that a fifteen-year-old girl lived within a forbidden land—the entire continent knew how much the emperor and the princes cherished Princess Xue'er, the most precious treasure of the Divine Phoenix Empire.
...
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