Ye Tinglan felt a chill, but instinctively chose to trust Lu Xingzhou’s judgment. She quickly closed her eyes and projected her divine sense outwards.

Earlier, the Listening Snow Pavilion members knew it was over when they saw the Heavenly Jade Saintess intervene. They sullenly left when Si Han and others entered the hall. They hadn’t flown too far, only about a hundred li away.

Suddenly, they felt they had intruded into a sword formation. Sword energy surged skyward, catching the powerful cultivators of Listening Snow Pavilion off guard and making them scatter to dodge.

Shadows flickered around them, and suddenly a group of black-clad figures surrounded them, saying, “Since you’ve discovered our secret, you won’t be leaving.”

The Listening Snow Pavilion members were speechless.

“We just stumbled into a sword formation; we haven’t discovered any of your secrets.”

However, these people were clearly demonic cultivators, engaged in some secret activity below. Triggering the sword formation was effectively spying on their secret, so it was natural for them to want to eliminate witnesses. That’s just how demonic cultivators are.

Wei Linfeng, the Pavilion Master of Listening Snow Pavilion, still tried to explain: “Gentlemen, it’s a misunderstanding; we’re just passing through. We are from the Listening Snow Pavilion. You should think carefully before making such a powerful enemy…”

But the black-clad figures ignored him completely. Thousands of swords launched with a whooshing sound, and all sorts of powerful techniques and magic artifacts were thrown at them.

Wei Linfeng’s words were cut short. He urgently parried a sword light, a chill running through him: “First Grade!”

Just stumbling upon a group of demonic cultivators and they’re First Grade?

With the added encirclement of the sword formation, was this not an accident, but a deliberate ambush?

Whether it was an accident or intentional, this battle would be difficult.

Wei Linfeng had been secretly brought into the Shadow Moon Sect’s internal conflict, so naturally, not many people could be brought in – only four in total, including himself. The opposing side had over ten people, all above Third Grade, with a First Grade leader, plus the pre-laid sword formation…

The Listening Snow Pavilion members fought back valiantly, but within a short time, all were wounded.

Wei Linfeng even recognized the identity of their attackers: “Ice Prison Sect…”

Due to different systems, the “demon suppression efforts” varied. The demonic cultivators in Heavenly Frost Nation were not suppressed and forced to hide like those in Great Qian. Instead, they openly had strongholds and significant power, and the orthodox sects had little recourse against them.

The Ice Prison Sect was one of the most renowned among them, with overall strength not much weaker than the Listening Snow Pavilion. If these few cultivators were eliminated here, the Ice Prison Sect’s overall strength would then surpass the Listening Snow Pavilion, and they wouldn’t fear retaliation.

If this continued, Wei Linfeng might still have a chance to escape the encirclement, but his immediate subordinates, his “left and right arms,” would certainly perish here.

Wei Linfeng’s heart bled. If only he had known not to get involved in the Shadow Moon Sect’s upheaval, he wouldn’t have suffered such a significant setback this time…

“Senior Brother, don’t worry about us; escape quickly! Avenge us later!” a loyal junior brother shouted from behind. “This matter might be Si Han colluding with demonic cultivators to retaliate against us! If you die here too, who will uncover the truth and bring us justice?”

Wei Linfeng gritted his teeth, about to make a desperate breakthrough, when suddenly a pressure descended from above.

A vast divine pressure enveloped the entire battlefield, and everyone heard a soft hum in their ears.

Though soft, the hum resonated in their hearts like the pealing of a great bell, causing their qi and blood to churn uncomfortably. The fighting involuntarily ceased.

An image arose in everyone’s minds, as if Ye Tinglan was floating before them, cross-legged and with closed eyes, then slowly opened them, filling the surroundings with radiance.

The pressure in that instant was mountainous; some even broke out in a cold sweat.

Ye Tinglan’s voice transmission sounded then: “What are you staring at? Go.”

Wei Linfeng awoke as if from a dream and quickly led his junior brothers away, saying, “Saintess, your great kindness, the Listening Snow Pavilion will never forget.”

By the time the Ice Prison Sect members reacted and wanted to pursue, it was clearly no longer worth it.

The leader of the Ice Prison Sect turned to look again; Ye Tinglan’s divine manifestation had already vanished.

“Damn it, we were tricked by that woman. She manifested remotely and couldn’t exert much power. We could have completely disregarded the pressure and killed those Listening Snow Pavilion members…”

“Never mind. It’s best to maintain a good relationship with Heavenly Jade Holy Land. Offending the Listening Snow Pavilion is not the same as offending Heavenly Jade Holy Land. Let’s go; this matter isn’t over yet…”

Over there, Ye Tinglan opened her eyes and looked at Lu Xingzhou before her, her expression extremely complex: “You…”

Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly: “No need for compliments. How about a reward?”

Ye Tinglan feigned a swat: “I’ll reward you with a head full of bumps!”

Lu Xingzhou grasped her hand.

Ye Tinglan actually forgot to pull her hand away. She tilted her head and said, “The Listening Snow Pavilion was indeed ambushed by the Ice Prison Sect. If I had arrived a little later, I’m afraid only the Pavilion Master would have escaped, losing his key subordinates, and the Listening Snow Pavilion would have declined significantly from then on.”

“What is the nature of the Ice Prison Sect?”

“Demonic path,” Ye Tinglan replied, her expression complex. “You guessed correctly. Si Han is indeed colluding with demonic cultivators, and this collusion is hidden, leaving no overt evidence. It was set up to appear as if Listening Snow Pavilion accidentally stumbled into the Ice Prison Sect’s sword formation and was then eliminated as witnesses… Si Han’s method is no different in essence from Gu Zhanting’s.”

“So, there’s a price for emphasizing heroes… The kind of hero you desire seems not to exist.”

Ye Tinglan stared at him fixedly: “What about you?”

“Me? I’m a demonic cultivator; I’ve never wanted to be a hero. However…”

“What?”

“Do you want me to be one?”

Ye Tinglan looked into his eyes: “What if I said yes?”

Lu Xingzhou smiled: “What’s in it for me?”

That single question extinguished any heroic image. Ye Tinglan angrily pulled her hand away: “We still have to enter the hall and meet people. What kind of decorum is this!”

With that, she flicked her sleeve, turned, and walked towards the Shadow Moon Sect’s main hall.

Lu Xingzhou then followed her, smiling.

Inside the hall, Si Han and others were restless. The Heavenly Jade Saintess was, after all, the Grand Tutor of Great Qian, naturally allied with Great Qian. They wondered if Gu Shaoli’s words might have swayed her.

Gu Shaoli alone made the Shadow Moon Sect extremely uncomfortable. If Ye Tinglan also stood against them, the Shadow Moon Sect could be wiped out directly.

Seeing Ye Tinglan enter the hall with Lu Xingzhou, but without Gu Shaoli, Si Han let out a long breath. He rose and bowed deeply: “Saintess, your virtue in lending aid today, your life-saving grace, Si Han will never forget. Should the Saintess ever have a command in the future, through mountains of swords or seas of flames, I, Si, will not hesitate.”

Ye Tinglan pointed to Lu Xingzhou: “Thank him. If it weren’t for his suggestion, I wouldn’t have come here.”

Lu Xingzhou whispered into her ear: “Are you pretending to be your Senior Sister again to scam people?”

Ye Tinglan hadn’t expected such a sudden remark. Her slight annoyance instantly vanished, and she almost burst out laughing, her eyes curving slightly.

The Shadow Moon Sect members exchanged awkward glances.

They had heard that after the Glacier Battle yesterday, the Heavenly Jade Saintess and her ‘little puppy’ had disappeared together. Now it seemed this ‘little puppy’ was truly favored by the Saintess; not only did she overtly elevate him in front of so many people, but they were also openly flirting.

“Um…” Si Han cleared his throat twice and gestured towards the main seat: “Please, Saintess, take the honored seat.”

Ye Tinglan didn’t stand on ceremony. She truly took the main seat, then turned to Lu Xingzhou and said, “Come sit beside me.”

Silence fell in the hall.

This so-called main seat was, in fact, a throne.

It was just that the Heavenly Frost Nation’s etiquette was less refined, so the throne didn’t have such an obvious appearance, but its significance should have been easily understood.

Ye Tinglan’s casual seating was a clear hint of her intentions in coming here.

She wasn’t simply being kind and doing a good deed before leaving. Saving their entire sect had a political agenda behind it.

Si Han had already understood. He quickly said, “May I ask what instructions the Saintess has? The Heavenly Frost Nation will do its utmost to fulfill them.”

Ye Tinglan looked at Lu Xingzhou.

Lu Xingzhou cleared his throat twice and asked on behalf of Ye Tinglan: “Although the Heavenly Frost Nation operates on a sect alliance system, there should at least be dedicated positions responsible for the connections and resource circulation among the various sects, roles that belong to the royal court, not the Shadow Moon Sect, correct?”

Si Han replied, “That is correct. In fact, our alliance is not as unstructured as outsiders might imagine. Over the years, many specialized roles have been gradually established. Many of these roles are managed by people from other sects, not under the jurisdiction of our Shadow Moon Sect.”

Lu Xingzhou said, “If Heavenly Jade Holy Land were to request positions for Heavenly Jade disciples in such areas, and also establish a Heavenly Jade Temple in Shadow Moon City, would Master Si agree?”

Si Han didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he said, “Given the strength and sect model of our Heavenly Frost Nation, Heavenly Jade Holy Land could actually directly unify Heavenly Frost. I, Si, would be willing to follow.”

Lu Xingzhou said, “Heavenly Jade Holy Land does not interfere with secular political power. Instead, if any young talents from Heavenly Frost Nation wish to join Heavenly Jade Holy Land and can pass the assessment, the Holy Land would be pleased to accept them as disciples. Please inform the Heavenly Frost Nation of this.”

Si Han was startled, his expression subtly changing: “Can the young master’s words represent the Saintess?”

Ye Tinglan replied expressionlessly, “I am sitting right here. Do you think they can?”

Si Han pursed his lips.

Many of the Shadow Moon Sect’s high-ranking members present didn’t immediately grasp the full implications, and most showed signs of joy.

Heavenly Jade Holy Land was a true Holy Land; there was no telling how many Supreme Grade cultivation methods it possessed, and Ye Tinglan was certainly not its only Supreme Grade cultivator. High-Grade cultivators were countless, and compared to other so-called First Grade powerful sects, it was completely on a different scale.

Cultivation was difficult. Besides talent, fortune, and so on, the most crucial factors were the monopoly and scarcity of cultivation methods and high-end resources. For a newly established First Grade powerful sect like the Yama Hall, as long as Yuan Muyu dared not leak the Heavenly Jade Holy Land’s cultivation methods, she couldn’t even give her ‘little man’ high-grade techniques, which illustrated the point.

Although their Shadow Moon Sect was also a First Grade powerful sect, if they were given the opportunity to cultivate Supreme Grade techniques, it was likely that the entire sect would eagerly flock to it.

Of course, Heavenly Jade Holy Land would absolutely not accept adult cultivators whose worldview was already formed and who had significant political leanings. They would only select minors as disciples. And the threshold for this first batch of disciples from Heavenly Frost Nation would certainly not be too strict, leading many high-ranking Shadow Moon Sect members to already be internally selecting which of their own young ones would be suitable.

Only Si Han considered that Heavenly Jade Holy Land already had disciples from Heavenly Frost Nation; it was just that the distinction hadn’t been so clear before. Now, with the establishment of the Heavenly Jade Temple, and the original Heavenly Jade disciples from Heavenly Frost Nation placed in positions, spreading their network of relatives and friends, Heavenly Jade Holy Land could already exert significant influence over the entire Heavenly Frost Nation.

And what would the situation be a few years from now, when a large number of Heavenly Frost Nation disciples who graduated from the Holy Land take up important positions throughout the Heavenly Frost Nation?

This was an attempt to transform Heavenly Jade Holy Land into Heavenly Frost Nation’s own Holy Land. It wouldn’t take many years; in fact, they would have direct influence starting now.

His own secret arrangements seemed like a joke under the overwhelming momentum of Heavenly Jade Holy Land.

But the allure of the Holy Land was undeniable. Si Han knew he couldn’t refuse; if he did, even his previously loyal elders wouldn’t stand by him this time.

He could only agree… In truth, agreeing wasn’t so bad. At the very least, Heavenly Jade Holy Land’s non-interference in secular political power had been proven in Great Qian. With the Holy Land’s backing, why couldn’t Heavenly Frost Nation become another Great Qian, or even surpass it?

But what the hell? Heavenly Jade Holy Land had always only interacted with Great Qian to this extent. When did it start extending its reach to other nations?

Si Han’s gaze fell upon Lu Xingzhou.

Because of a ‘little puppy’?