"Let your heart be as clear as ice; though the heavens collapse, remain unshaken. Amid ten thousand changes, stay steadfast; let your spirit be at ease and your breath tranquil..."
Zhang Tie sat cross-legged in the center of the secret chamber, quietly reciting the mnemonic chant of the Ice God Art.
With every word he uttered, the Calming Stone in his hand brightened a little. Ice Crystals seemed to flow slowly within the stone, emitting a faint blue glow. The temperature around him plummeted, and fine frost flowers condensed in the air. Floating dust froze in the cold, as though held motionless by an invisible force.
When the final line of the incantation fell, the Calming Stone suddenly trembled violently. A concentrated blue radiance, almost tangible, flashed out. It circled once in the air as if alive, then abruptly sank into Zhang Tie's brow.
Zhang Tie only felt a bone-piercing chill rush straight into his sea of consciousness, and the scene before his eyes instantly blurred.
When his vision focused again, he discovered that he was already standing in a world constructed entirely of ice and snow.
There was only pure white between heaven and earth. Beneath his feet stretched a crystal-clear ice field, while endless ice mountains rose in the distance. Snowflakes that never ceased drifted through the sky. More strangely, every snowflake in this space emitted faint Law fluctuations.
"Young friend, I never expected us to meet again."
A familiar voice came from behind him.
Zhang Tie whirled around and saw the white-bearded elder he had met once in the illusion realm standing there with a smile. The elder wore a plain white Daoist robe, its hem utterly unmoving amid the wind and snow. Dao Rhyme that blended seamlessly with this icy world emanated from his body.
Zhang