Chapter 141: Spare Me, Master’s Wife! Master Awaits!
In the Qiongying Celestial Mansion…
Ye Xi followed Su Sha’s steps closely as they entered the grand palace doors. Inside, the palace was incredibly spacious, resembling a vast maze. The corridors and bridges were interconnected, and everywhere you looked, there were lifelike ice sculptures mimicking ancient mythical beasts.
“These are made from living beings…” Ye Xi’s heart sank. He was no longer in the mood to appreciate the art; the more he looked, the more terrified he felt. His face was etched with worry.
Those ice sculptures, sealed in their frozen state for who-knows-how-long, exuded an astonishing aura. This only hinted at the terrifying strength of the palace master.
“I wonder who’s stronger, Master or Chu Shanyue?” Ye Xi pondered, questioning the nature of his Master’s relationship with that daunting figure. “What if they’re not on friendly terms?”
He dared not show his fears on his face, but inside, he felt a rising tension. Yet, there was no choice but to adapt to whatever came next.
This was Ye Xi’s first time entering a celestial mansion. The spiritual energy here was rich and the ice laws far more refined and clear than those in the Nine States. It would definitely be more effective for cultivating and comprehending ice laws.
The deeper they ventured into the palace, the more breathtaking the scenery became. Eventually, they arrived before a massive hall. This hall was composed of countless glistening ice crystals, creating a dreamy spectacle that welcomed them.
Ye Xi couldn’t help but sigh at the opulence of the palace; it was unlike anything he’d seen in his life. Many of the things within were new to him, even.
Dressed in palace attire, Su Sha halted before the great hall, bowed seriously, and said, “Young Master Ye, the palace master is waiting for you inside. I cannot accompany you further, please.”
Ye Xi reciprocated the gesture. “Thank you, Miss Su Sha, for your guidance all the way here!”
He took a deep breath and confidently stepped into the grand hall.
I must hold it together; no matter what, I need to buy some time for Master, Ye Xi thought as he strolled into the Ice Palace of Regality. The hall was adorned with splendid murals, exquisite carvings, and sparkling gems embedded in the walls and ceiling.
However, what caught his attention was the figure seated high upon the cold throne.
Before him was a woman so breathtakingly beautiful that it could steal your very breath away. Her features were exquisite, radiating limitless charm, and her eyes sparkled like stars. The luxurious garments she wore radiated an intensity akin to fire.
Fiery and bewitching.
“This is nothing like what I imagined a cold palace master to be,” Ye Xi thought. Not in appearance, but in the very essence she exuded.
The celestial being before him emanated not a hint of icy coldness; instead, she felt incredibly warm, like a raging flame. It was hard to fathom that deep within this Extreme Ice Celestial Palace lived a woman with a temperament as hot as fire, so welcoming in demeanor.
This contrast left an odd feeling in the air.
Just as Ye Xi was trying to process this surprise, a melodious voice rang out from the hall, filled with gentle surprise and enchanting quality. “So, you’re Ye Xi? The disciple of the Desolate Heaven Emperor?”
“Very interesting!”
“Lift your head to see me!”
Han Xingmian said, narrowing her mesmerizing eyes as she assessed him, her expression momentarily thoughtful.
Her beauty was impossible to conceal, stunning anyone who laid eyes on her; it was breathtaking to the extreme.
“Indeed!”
Ye Xi adjusted his mood and raised his head, standing tall.
With a thought, “If she’s so warm in tone and seems pleasantly surprised to hear about Master, then maybe I’m in the clear!”
“Seems like another master’s wife has entered the game!”
As his mind entertained this idea, Ye Xi’s heart was filled with joy, especially in light of the tense circumstances with the other celestial mansions looming.
At this critical moment, with his master busy, he had to carry the weight, and if he could pull this off even against the Ice Palace, that would be perfect!
The situation would flip dramatically!
“Master is truly amazing, from the journal revelations to present: Yuan Ruoyu, Ye Qingge, Purple Paulownia Great Emperor… and now Chu Shanyue. Each one of them is stunningly talented and more than capable!”
Ye Xi’s thoughts whirled as he realized, “If this is just the tip of the iceberg, what else is waiting to be uncovered?”
“Could it be that this is all part of Master’s grand scheme?”
Just then, Han Xingmian’s voice broke through Ye Xi’s daydreaming.
“Tsk, tsk…”
“Not bad, you’re quite the handsome find, with the air of the Jade Tree flourishing in the breeze, reminiscent of your master’s aura back in the day.”
Han Xingmian’s eyes sparkled, and her smile grew brighter.
Ye Xi couldn’t help but smile at her praise; he’d always strived to catch up with Lin Feng. To hear such compliments was a source of immense happiness.
He lowered his head, “Thank you…”
“Such a waste to make you into an ice sculpture, but then again, in my palace, you might still look appealing.”
Han Xingmian said lightly, her tone remaining warm, as though she were talking about something trivial.
Ye Xi’s smile froze on his face, and he felt the temperature drop dramatically, like he had just fallen into an ice cellar.
A chill shot down his spine.
This sudden shift left him startled, and he hurriedly exclaimed, “Your Highness is joking; turning me into an ice sculpture is absolutely not an attractive idea!”
“Um, compared to those bizarre beasts outside, I’m clearly not in the same league. It definitely isn’t ideal!”
As Ye Xi spoke, his mind was racing with thoughts on how to counteract this dire situation.
Was his judgment wrong? Was Master truly on the outs with this woman? That would be a huge problem; confrontation was certainly not an option…
What was he to do?
Ye Xi felt suddenly that dealing with this Ice Palace Master was far more complex than when he had faced Ye Qingge.
Chuckle, chuckle… How delightful!
Han Xingmian suddenly appeared right before Ye Xi, her sultry smile radiating. “No wonder you’re his disciple; you manage to speak so similarly.”
As she smiled, her tone shifted, taking on a somber note filled with concern.
Han Xingmian sighed, softly asking, “Where is your master? Knowing that the other celestial mansions are returning, why hasn’t he come to see me?”
Upon finishing her words, she attentively watched Ye Xi, her smile lingering.
Yet, in the depths of her gaze, a fleeting flash of coldness glimmered.
Ye Xi felt a shiver run down his spine as an intense sense of danger washed over him. He could tell this feeling was genuine.
If his response was lacking, this woman truly would turn him into an ice sculpture.
After a moment of silence, Ye Xi took a deep breath, steeling himself to reply, “Master isn’t in the Nine States; even I don’t know why…”
Zzz—
Crack—
Before Ye Xi could finish his sentence, he felt an overwhelming force descend upon him, suppressing his aura.
Suddenly, he felt his body gradually turning into an ice sculpture…
“Stop!”
“Wait, I really don’t know!”
Ye Xi’s face changed as he shouted in desperation, but his pleas fell on deaf ears; his body was steadily morphing into ice.
Even his magical power got frozen, making it difficult to move.
Han Xingmian smiled sweetly at him. “Don’t worry, when your master comes looking for me, I’ll let you go.”
“…”
As Ye Xi saw his body turning into ice below the neck, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he hastily shouted in a loud voice: “Master’s Wife!”
“Spare me, Master’s Wife! Master awaits your presence!”
“Master left a message, instructing me to inform you…”
