Undercurrents Within the Sect

Morning light pierced through the thin mist, gilding the bamboo forest of Xuanyu Peak with a golden edge. Ning Xiaochuan sat cross-legged on a bluestone slab at the center of the training ground, fine beads of sweat dotting his forehead. His hands formed seals as a wisp of white source qi coiled around his fingertips, yet it refused to condense into form.

"Failed again..." Ning Xiaochuan lowered his arms dejectedly, and the source qi scattered. This was already his seventh attempt that morning at the first form of the Tianyuan Ice Condensation Art, "Condense Qi into Ice," but he still could not condense source qi into solid ice crystals as Su Linger had demonstrated.

"Your wrist angle is wrong." A cool voice came from behind him. Su Linger had somehow appeared at his back. Dressed in white that outshone snow, with her black hair tied high by a blue ribbon, she looked neat and capable.

She walked before Ning Xiaochuan and extended her right hand. "Watch closely."

Her slender fingers spread like an orchid, palm facing upward. A thread of icy-blue source qi flowed from her fingertips and traced a graceful arc through the air. In the blink of an eye, it condensed into a hexagonal ice crystal that sparkled beneath the sunlight.

"The Tianyuan Ice Condensation Art differs from the Ice Heart Art. It emphasizes 'form follows intent, intent follows qi.'" Su Linger placed the ice crystal in Ning Xiaochuan's palm. "Don't think about controlling the source qi. Guide it instead."

The ice crystal was cool against his skin, but not biting. Ning Xiaochuan studied it carefully and discovered that its internal structure was extraordinarily intricate. Countless tiny source qi channels branched out like tree limbs, forming a perfectly symmetrical pattern.

"This... is far too complicated." Ning Xiaochuan gave a wry smile.

Su Linger shook her head. "The appearance is complicated, but the essence is simple—source qi has a spirit. Go with its flow." She pointed at the Little Dragon source soul on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder. "Just like your relationship with it. You are companions, not master and servant."

The Little Dragon source soul seemed to understand. It let out a delighted "Goo Chu," flew into Ning Xiaochuan's palm, and curiously sniffed the ice crystal—then unexpectedly swallowed it in one bite!

"Little One!" Ning Xiaochuan cried in alarm.

Su Linger was stunned as well. But what was even more surprising was that after swallowing the ice crystal, faint icy-blue patterns emerged across the Little Dragon's scales, complementing its original milky white color beautifully.

"It... evolved?" Ning Xiaochuan asked cautiously.

Su Linger observed it closely for a moment. "Not evolution. It's an adaptive change. Sacred Spirit Young Dragons can absorb source qi of different attributes to strengthen themselves." She fell thoughtful. "It seems my Mysterious Ice Source Qi benefits it."

She suddenly sat cross-legged opposite Ning Xiaochuan. "Let's try again. This time, let your source soul take part."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded and formed his hand seals once more. The Little Dragon source soul flew over his head and breathed out a cloud of milky mist that enveloped him. Su Linger gently pressed both hands over the backs of his, guiding the flow of his source qi.

"Close your eyes and feel the flow of source qi." Her voice was close by his ear, carrying a softness Ning Xiaochuan had never heard from her before. "Don't force it into shape. Imagine it dancing joyfully..."

Ning Xiaochuan closed his eyes as instructed and tried to relax his mind. Strangely, under Su Linger's guidance, the source qi in his body truly became more active, flowing merrily like a stream. The milky mist from the Little Dragon source soul blended with Su Linger's icy source qi, creating a peculiar sensation that was both warm and cool.

"Now, imagine a snowflake..." Su Linger's voice seemed to come from very far away.

In Ning Xiaochuan's mind appeared the first snowflake of winter—clearly six-pointed, crystal-clear, refracting Colorful Light beneath the sun...

"It worked!" Su Linger's suddenly raised voice pulled him back to reality.

Ning Xiaochuan opened his eyes and saw, to his delight, a tiny ice crystal floating above his fingertips. Though far less exquisite than Su Linger's, it was indeed a physicalized ice crystal!

"I did it!" He nearly jumped up in excitement. The ice crystal fell with him and shattered into pieces on the bluestone slab.

The corners of Su Linger's lips lifted slightly. "Barely passable. But..." She paused. "Being able to Condense Qi into Ice within three days, you are indeed much faster than ordinary disciples."

This was the second time she had offered him positive praise, and warmth surged through Ning Xiaochuan's heart. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between bamboo leaves and fell across Su Linger's face, casting a gentle glow over features that were usually cold as frost. Ning Xiaochuan suddenly noticed that when she smiled, a faint dimple appeared on her right cheek.

"What are you looking at?" Su Linger noticed his gaze and immediately returned to her cold expression.

"Nothing." Ning Xiaochuan hurriedly looked away, though the tips of his ears had grown a little hot. "What do we learn next?"

"Solidify your foundation." Su Linger stood up. "The Tianyuan Ice Condensation Art has nine forms, each more difficult than the last. You have not even mastered the first form yet. Trying to learn too much will only leave you unable to digest any of it."

She walked to the wooden rack at the edge of the training ground, took down a wooden sword, and tossed it to Ning Xiaochuan. "Practice the basics of swordsmanship this afternoon. The Tianyuan Sect is renowned for its sword arts. You can't keep relying on your source soul and brute strength in battle."

Ning Xiaochuan caught the wooden sword and casually flicked it through a flourish. He had learned some basic sword forms back in the Ning Clan, but they had all been superficial.

"Your stance is wrong." Su Linger frowned. "Your wrist is too stiff, and your footing lacks substance. A sword is an extension of the arm, not a separate tool."

She stepped behind Ning Xiaochuan, grasped his sword hand with her right hand, and supported his shoulder with her left. "Feel how the sword's weight is distributed. Let it become part of your body..."

The sudden intimate contact made Ning Xiaochuan's body stiffen. Su Linger carried a faint fragrance, like a pine forest after snow—cool, yet reassuring.

"Relax." Su Linger seemed not to notice anything unusual about him, focusing intently on correcting his posture. "Swordsmanship requires movements as smooth as flowing clouds and running water. Stiffness leads to sluggishness, and sluggishness leads to defeat."

Ning Xiaochuan forced himself to concentrate on learning. Under Su Linger's hands-on instruction, he quickly grasped the essentials of several basic sword techniques. Meanwhile, the Little Dragon source soul mimicked his movements nearby, awkwardly waving its tiny claws and making Ning Xiaochuan want to laugh.

"Focus!" Su Linger lightly tapped his calf with her wooden sword. "The path of the sword allows no distraction."

Thus, a full day of rigorous training finally ended as the sun set. Ning Xiaochuan ached all over, but his gains were considerable—he had not only initially mastered "Condense Qi into Ice," but also learned the opening stance of the Tianyuan Sect's basic swordsmanship.

For dinner, Su Linger brought back Spirit Rice and medicinal cuisine from the sect dining hall. They were said to help restore physical strength and source qi. Ning Xiaochuan wolfed it all down, licking even the bottom of the bowl clean.

"Eat slowly. No one is going to steal it from you." Su Linger sipped her tea in small mouthfuls, a trace of amusement flashing in her eyes.

Ning Xiaochuan wiped his mouth embarrassedly. "It's too delicious. I've never had food this good before."

"The Spirit Food from the dining hall is prepared by special methods. It contains gentle source qi and helps with cultivation." Su Linger set down her teacup. "Rest well tonight. We'll continue tomorrow."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, though he had other plans in mind. During the day's cultivation, the Little Dragon source soul's unusual reaction toward Xuantian Peak had lingered in his thoughts. He decided to investigate after night had fallen and all was quiet.

At midnight, Ning Xiaochuan confirmed that the lights in Su Linger's room had gone out before quietly getting up. The Little Dragon source soul seemed to sense his intentions and flew excitedly around him.

"Shh, keep it down," Ning Xiaochuan whispered. He climbed out through the window and made his way toward Xuantian Peak under the moonlight.

Xuantian Peak stood across a valley from Xuanyu Peak, connected by an iron chain bridge. Disciples were normally forbidden from crossing it, but at this late hour, the disciple guarding the bridge had also dozed off.

Holding his breath, Ning Xiaochuan quietly slipped past the sleeping bridge guard. The iron chain bridge swayed slightly in the night wind, giving off faint creaks that made his heart race.

After crossing the bridge, the scenery on Xuantian Peak was utterly different from Xuanyu Peak—there were no bamboo forests or clear springs here, only jagged rocks and twisted pines and cypresses that resembled ghostly shadows. The mountain path was steep and difficult, forcing Ning Xiaochuan to use both hands and feet.

"Strange. Why would the Grand Elder choose a place like this for secluded cultivation..." Ning Xiaochuan muttered to himself.

The Little Dragon source soul suddenly grew tense, and the icy-blue patterns on its scales glowed faintly. Ning Xiaochuan immediately stopped and looked in the direction it indicated.

On a platform not far ahead, two figures were speaking in low voices. One wore the robes of a Tianyuan Sect elder. Though his hair was completely white, his posture remained straight—he was likely the First Elder of Xuantian Peak. The other was shrouded entirely in a black robe, his face hidden behind a familiar golden mask—it was the Golden-masked Soul Hunter who had let them go that day!

Ning Xiaochuan's heart tightened. He quickly hid behind a Giant Rock and strained his ears to listen.

"...The plan must be moved up." The Golden Masked Man's voice was hoarse and grating. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon has drawn too much attention. The Hall Master is very displeased."

The First Elder snorted coldly. "What's the rush? That boy has only just joined the sect and hasn't fully earned their trust. Acting rashly will only alert them."

"At most, another seven days." The Golden Masked Man's voice turned sinister. "The sacrifice must be completed before Twin Moons in the Sky, or we'll have to wait another thirty years."

"Seven days is too tight." The First Elder shook his head. "That old bastard Xuanyu has already grown suspicious. He's been frequently sending people to watch Xuantian Peak lately."

The Golden Masked Man suddenly lowered his voice. "Then deal with Xuanyu as well. The Hall Master promised that as long as you obtain the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, he'll help you break through the Source Venerable bottleneck."

The First Elder fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Fine. But you must keep your promise."

"Of course." The Golden Masked Man gave a sinister laugh. "At midnight seven days from now, open the seal of the Frozen Abyss. Leave the rest to us."

With that, he turned into a cloud of black mist and vanished into the night. The First Elder stood where he was for a moment before turning and leaving as well.

Ning Xiaochuan held his breath and did not dare move until he was certain both men had gone far away. His back was already soaked in cold sweat—the First Elder was actually colluding with the Dark Source Soul Hall, planning to use him and Little Dragon's source soul in some kind of sacrifice!

I have to tell Su Linger and True Man Xuanyu immediately... Ning Xiaochuan was just about to stand when a piercing chill suddenly struck from behind.

"Eavesdropping on other people's conversation is very rude, little friend." The First Elder's cold voice sounded beside his ear.

Every hair on Ning Xiaochuan's body stood on end. Before he could think about why the First Elder had returned, he instinctively threw himself forward. A streak of Ice Blue Sword Qi grazed his back and cleaved the Giant Rock he had been hiding behind in two!

"Not bad reflexes." The First Elder held a completely ice-blue longsword as he slowly approached. "Unfortunately, this is as far as you go."

Ning Xiaochuan staggered backward while summoning Little Dragon's source soul. The moment Little One appeared, he sensed the danger and immediately unleashed a milky-white beam of light. The First Elder merely waved his sword lightly, and the beam was split apart!

"A mere Source Warrior dares act so presumptuously before a Source Sect?" The First Elder sneered, his sword tip aimed at Ning Xiaochuan. "Hand over the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon obediently, and I can let you die a little more comfortably."

Gritting his teeth, Ning Xiaochuan suddenly remembered the Condense Qi into Ice technique Su Linger had taught him. His hands swiftly formed seals. This time, under the pressure of life and death, he exceeded his limits and instantly condensed dozens of ice crystals, shooting them at the First Elder like a torrential downpour!

"A paltry trick." The First Elder swept his sleeve, and every ice crystal turned to dust in midair. Just as he was about to strike again, a streak of White Light shot at him from the side, forcing him back several steps.

"Ning Xiaochuan! Run!" Su Linger's voice rang out. She had arrived at some unknown time, holding a snow-white longsword wrapped in biting cold air.

"Su Linger! The First Elder—"

"I know, I heard everything!" Su Linger cut him off, pointing her sword at the First Elder. "Master will be here soon. You won't hold out for long!"

The First Elder laughed wildly. "Xuanyu? He's probably busy dealing with the 'urgent matter' I arranged for him right now!" His sword stance shifted, and sword qi poured down like a rainstorm. "You two juniors, I'll send you on your way today!"

Su Linger raised her sword to block, but the gap in their strength was too great. After merely three exchanges, she was sent flying and coughed up blood. Ning Xiaochuan tried to help her up, but a streak of sword qi swept across his thigh, and blood immediately poured from the wound.

"One last chance. Hand over the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon." The First Elder pressed closer step by step.

Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger exchanged a glance. At the same time, they nodded. Ning Xiaochuan scooped Su Linger into his arms and rushed toward the cliff!

"You want to jump into the Frozen Abyss? You're courting death!" The First Elder's sword qi surged forth, but he was a step too late.

Holding Su Linger, Ning Xiaochuan leaped off the cliff. The wind howled past his ears. The First Elder's furious roar gradually faded, replaced by an icy chill that grew ever closer.

"Have you gone mad?" Su Linger said weakly in his arms. "The Frozen Abyss is a forbidden ground of the sect. No one has ever survived it!"

"We'll die either way. We might as well gamble!" Ning Xiaochuan held her tightly while releasing Little Dragon's source soul. "Little One, think of something!"

Little Dragon's source soul and Su Linger's weakened Mysterious Ice Phoenix flew out at the same time. As they plummeted at high speed, they unexpectedly resonated with each other again! The two source souls intertwined and spun, forming a blue-and-white Cocoon of Light that wrapped around them.

"This is... source soul fusion?" Su Linger stared in astonishment at the inner wall of the Cocoon of Light. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon is sharing source qi with my Mysterious Ice Phoenix!"

Ning Xiaochuan also felt a warm current spreading from his chest—it was the Dragon Soul Jade glowing! The dragon pattern on the jade pendant's surface moved more actively, as if guiding them toward something.

The Cocoon of Light crashed heavily onto the thick Ice Layer at the bottom of the abyss, yet it miraculously did not shatter. Instead, it bounced several times like a ball before finally stopping. When the Cocoon of Light dispersed, Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger tumbled miserably onto the ice. Though their entire bodies ached, they had somehow avoided serious injury.

"We... we're alive?" Ning Xiaochuan looked around in disbelief.

The bottom of the Frozen Abyss was an enormous ice cavern. Its surrounding walls were formed from Mysterious Ice that had not melted for ten thousand years, radiating a dim blue glow. The ceiling rose so high that it could not be seen, and the place where they had fallen was merely one corner of the cavern.

"Only for now." Su Linger struggled into a sitting position. "Even Source Sect experts find the chill of the Frozen Abyss hard to withstand. We..."

Her words suddenly stopped as her gaze was drawn to the scene at the center of the ice cavern—there stood a massive ice sculpture depicting a coiling giant dragon. Its head was raised high, lifelike in every detail. Even more shocking, the cavern walls were covered in ancient murals depicting all kinds of scenes of humans living alongside dragons.

"This is..." Ning Xiaochuan limped toward the murals while Little Dragon's source soul flew excitedly ahead of him.

Though the murals were extremely old, they had been perfectly preserved. The first showed a group of people dressed in white kneeling before a white giant dragon; the second showed the giant dragon breathing Dragon Breath to baptize those people; the third...

"That's my mother?!" Ning Xiaochuan suddenly cried out, pointing at one of the murals. In it, a woman in white stood atop the dragon's head, her face identical to the portrait True Man Xuanyu had shown him!

Su Linger was equally stunned. "These murals are at least a thousand years old... How could your mother...?"

The two looked at each other, both seeing the same disbelief in the other's eyes. Ning Xiaochuan's mother had appeared in a mural from a thousand years ago—what did that mean?

Just then, the Dragon Soul Jade suddenly flew up on its own and hovered before the ice dragon sculpture, radiating a dazzling White Light. The ice dragon's eyes lit up as well, and an ancient voice echoed throughout the entire ice cavern:

"Sacred Source Bloodline... at last, you have come..."