The Truth Behind Ice Maiden's Cultivation Deviation (Part One)

"Come, let me toast you with a bowl. Thank you for taking care of my daughter these past few days..." In the Flower Full Building, Qing Mingzi raised his wine cup and said to Zhuge Xiang.

The wine in the cup is the most famous Flower Before Moon Flower Full Building. Back then, Zhuge Xiang met Qing Ming Zi Qing Mingzi chance at Flower Full Building and invited him to drink this wine. Today, since Qing Mingzi said he was returning the favor by bringing Zhuge Xiang a fine wine, he naturally brought him here.

"Not at all, Miss Su takes care of herself all the time. I haven't done much for her," Zhuge Xiang said, raising his large bowl of wine and clinking it against hers. Zhuge Xiang continued drinking, but dared not claim credit for taking care of Su Huayu.

After downing a bowl of fine wine, a warm feeling welled up from his stomach, which felt wonderful. Under the Flower Before Moon, this familiar taste made Zhuge Xiang close his eyes slightly, indulging in the wine.

"Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I've had a drink under the Flower Before Moon."

After a long while, Zhuge Xiang opened his eyes, looked at the wine bowl in his hand with some emotion, then looked around Flower Full Building and said, "Ever since the day I fell out with the people of the Hundred Flowers Palace and took Qin Qing Zhuge Xiang from Flower Full Building, I have never been to Flower Full Building again."

"Regardless of the circumstances, because of your relationship with my daughter, and because of your presence, no one dares to bully her," Qing Mingzi replied, wiping the wine stains from his stubble and setting down the large bowl in his hand.

Inside the Flower Full Building, Lady Liu looked at Zhuge Xiang and Qing Mingzi with mixed feelings. As an owner of the Hundred Flowers Palace, Lady Liu should have taken action to capture Zhuge Xiang. However, given Zhuge Xiang's growing reputation and strength comparable to the Deity Transformation stage, Lady Liu truly didn't have the courage to make a move against him.

"Sigh?" Just as Lady Liu was feeling troubled and unsure how to face Zhuge Xiang, her eyes suddenly lit up slightly.

A group of people entered the Flower Full Building. Judging from their attire, they were none other than disciples of the Tiandao Sect. With a slight twitch of her eyes, Lady Liu warmly greeted them.

"Alright, Senior Brother Qing Mingzi. We've had our drinks. What's the matter? Speak frankly." After each of them had drunk three large bowls, Zhuge Xiang let out a satisfied burp and asked Qing Mingzi. Zhuge Xiang didn't believe that he had really come out to repay the favor of a good drink.

"Good, Junior Brother is indeed a straightforward person," Qing Mingzi nodded, looking at Zhuge Xiang with praise. Without any hesitation, he went straight to the point. "I'm here to ask you for a favor. If I don't contact you within a month, please take my daughter to Rakshasa City for me."

Zhuge Xiang raised an eyebrow slightly, understanding the implication in his words. He looked at Qing Mingzi seriously, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Originally, I shouldn't interfere in my senior brother's family affairs, but Su Huayu came here from Rakshasa City because of you, her father. That day, she even cried and begged me to find out what happened between you and City Lord Su Haitang. Although I don't know what you're going to do, it must be extremely dangerous. I think it's best if you go in person to say goodbye."

"...", Qing Mingzi's expression was very complicated. Upon hearing Zhuge Xiang's words, a complex mix of emotions flashed across his face, including Guilt, hatred, and sadness.

"This matter..." After a long silence, only drinking several bowls of wine, Qing Mingzi finally made a decision and began to speak. However, he was interrupted by a rude voice as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Are you Zhuge Xiang?" A young man carrying a huge Battleaxe on his back approached Zhuge Xiang arrogantly. His expression clearly indicated that he was up to no good. His shout interrupted Qing Mingzi's words.

His words were interrupted, and by someone who was merely a mere brat at the Innate Realm. Qing Mingzi frowned slightly, clearly displeased.

Zhuge Xiang glanced at the young man, who appeared to be a disciple of the Tiandao Sect, but whose cultivation level was only at the Innate Realm.

"Niu Dali, let's go back quickly, stop making trouble!" Not far away, several disciples of the Tiandao Sect, their faces filled with fear, hurriedly came over to pull back the man who had spoken, while constantly apologizing to Zhuge Xiang.

Zhuge Xiang's infamous reputation was known to everyone in Yanling Commandery. Although they hated Zhuge Xiang to the core, which of these disciples wasn't filled with fear of him?

"No, my Master, True Man Qing Feng, died because of him. As his disciple, how can I not avenge him? You few are afraid that Zhuge Xiang will leave, but I, Niu Dali, am not afraid." Niu Dali, who was carrying Niu Dali Battleaxe on his back, shook off the hands of his fellow disciples and stared at Zhuge Xiang without fear.

Several disciples of the Tiandao Sect exchanged glances at Niu Dali's savage appearance, then bid farewell to Zhuge Xiang with reverence and hurriedly left Flower Full Building, leaving Niu Dali behind, who held the large Battleaxe on his back and glared angrily at Zhuge Xiang.

"What? Aren't you afraid of death?" After those few cowardly members of the Tiandao Sect left, Zhuge Xiang ignored them, put down his wine bowl, turned his head, and asked Niu Dali indifferently.

"So what if I'm afraid of death? How can I not avenge my master?" Niu Dali shouted in a deep voice, staring intently into Zhuge Xiang's eyes.

"Your Master was a figure of great importance," Zhuge Xiang said, raising his eyes to look at Niu Dali before him, recalling the death of True Man Qing Feng. "You are also a figure of great importance, but your current strength is too weak. You are no match for me. Come find me again when you are strong enough."

"Some things, even if you know you can't do them, you still have to do them." Niu Dali raised his great Battleaxe high, his cultivation at the Innate Realm fully unleashed. With a powerful Force Splitting Mount Hua, he perfectly displayed the heavy, mountain-like aura of the great Battleaxe. The great Battleaxe transformed into a streak of lightning, slashing down towards Zhuge Xiang's head.

Without moving his hands, Zhuge Xiang stared at the falling Battleaxe and shook his head. "Since you insist on making a move, I'll show you the difference between us."

As he spoke, a faint layer of silver Ice Shards appeared in Zhuge Xiang's eyes. The silver Ice Shards added a touch of coldness to Zhuge Xiang's eyes, and two beams of silver light filled with a chilling aura shot out from Zhuge Xiang's eyes.

The massive Battleaxe struck the two beams of silver light, and visibly, ice began to form from the Battleaxe itself. In an instant, a layer of Ice Shards covered Niu Dali's entire body, sending him Knockback. The terrifying cold made Niu Dali feel as if his blood had frozen, and he couldn't even move his fingers.

"Ding! You have defeated Cultivator at the Innate Realm Seventh Layer and gained 820 experience points."

The system notification made Zhuge Xiang secretly grimac. Killing monsters above one's level would grant Experience Points, but against opponents whose cultivation was far inferior to his own, the Experience Points were truly negligible. However, it was still Experience Points, and even a small amount was still something.

"Is this Zhuge Xiang? A dignified Innate Realm cultivator, he didn't even lift a hand, instantly killing..."

Niu Dali shouts had already attracted Flower Full Building's attention. Coupled with Zhuge Xiang's great reputation, everyone in Flower Full Building was more or less focused on this side. Although they knew that Niu Dali could not be Zhuge Xiang's opponent, they did not expect that Niu Dali, who had the cultivation of the Innate Realm, would lose so decisively.

"Ice Eye (Perfection Level): Concentrate your Qi Energy and gaze to attack the target with both eyes. Attack power +50%, while reducing the target's Movement Speed and Attack Speed by 20%. Consumes 350 MP, 1-second cooldown".

"Ice Eye!? Where did you learn this Ice Eye?" Against a guy in the Innate Realm, Zhuge Xiang easily killed Niu Dali with just the attack power of the Ice Eye. However, Qing Mingzi, who was standing next to him, widened his eyes and exclaimed in surprise as he watched the layer of silver Ice Shards around Zhuge Xiang's eyes dissipate.

"What's wrong, Senior Brother Qing Mingzi? Is there something wrong with this Ice Eye?" The Ice Eye was something Zhuge Xiang deliberately used in front of Qing Mingzi. Zhuge Xiang was prepared for his reaction, but he pretended not to understand.

"Tell me first, where did you learn this ability?" Qing Mingzi was very excited, gripping the table with both hands, even pressing deep palm prints into it, yet unconsciously, he just asked Zhuge Xiang urgently.

"Back when I was at headquarters, I encountered the Winged Human Race by chance. The elders of the Winged Human Race taught me this. In exchange for the Ice Eye, they asked me to investigate the Truth behind Senior Sister Ice Maiden's Qi Deviation in the Asura Sect," Zhuge Xiang gave Qing Mingzi a half-truth and half-lies.

"Winged Human Race? It's no wonder they would ask you for a favor," Zhuge Xiang's reply filled Qing Mingzi's eyes with disappointment, but also with a look of sudden realization. He nodded and said.

"I've heard a little about Senior Sister Ice Maiden's matter. I wonder if Senior Brother Qing Mingzi knows any clues?" Zhuge Xiang asked curiously, staring at Qing Mingzi. He was secretly nervous, but on the surface, he pretended that he had asked the question on a whim.

From Qing Mingzi's words and actions, Zhuge Xiang had long guessed that his relationship with Senior Sister Ice Maiden was unusual. However, Lu Yuling said that the reason for her Qi Deviation could be found in Qing Mingzi's remaining Memory.

Zhuge Xiang's question left Qing Mingzi silent. However, after only a few breaths, Qing Mingzi sighed and said, "Very well, since you bear the commission of the Winged Human Race, then I will tell you everything I know."

As he spoke, Qing Mingzi's eyes were filled with a dazed look, clearly lost in memories. He said, "Speaking of Senior Sister Ice Maiden, the first time I met her was twenty years ago. At that time, I had just passed through the Heavenly Tribulation and reached the Deity Transformation stage..."

Each word was uttered by Qing Mingzi, and through him, Zhuge Xiang gradually learned some things about Senior Sister Ice Maiden and Qing Mingzi from back then. (To be continued...)