Emperor's Cold Heaven

Emperor's Cold Heaven: Snow Dance Shining Sun!

There was no earth-shaking omen, yet the entire valley seemed to have been instantly dragged into the heart of the far northern ice fields!

The temperature plummeted at an unnatural speed. The moisture in the air instantly condensed into countless fine, whirling ice crystals and snowflakes, as though a sudden blizzard had arisen from nowhere!

The light above the valley became hazy and distorted, as though obscured by an endless curtain of ice and snow.

The ground was instantly covered in a layer of ice several inches thick, hard as iron, while the surrounding rock walls became laden with savage icicles!

This was not merely a low-temperature environment, but a self-contained domain with the rudiments of its own laws!

Within this domain, Mo Lin's aura seemed to merge with the entire world of ice and snow. He was the center of this heaven and earth!

The instant the domain descended, the Mountain Splitting Seal Xiao Xun'er had been forcibly gathering was abruptly cut off as though seized by an invisible giant hand!

The phantom image of the mountain that was about to take shape trembled violently before collapsing with a crash!

She felt as though she had fallen into a swamp formed from ten-thousand-year-old mystical ice, her movements slowed by several times over!

The Golden Flame raging within her body and the heavy Earth Element Energy she had just mobilized seemed to have encountered their nemesis. Their radiance dimmed sharply, and they became incomparably sluggish, nearly coming to a halt!

Even more terrifyingly, the swirling snow not only severely obstructed her vision, but even the Spiritual Power she had released seemed to sink into a boundless snowfield, becoming blurred and impossible to use to lock onto her target!

"What... what combat skill is this?! Its range is so vast, and its effects are so bizarre?! It can forcibly alter the environment, suppress my Dou Qi and senses, and even interrupt the formation of the Emperor Seal Art?!" A storm surged within Xiao Xun'er's heart, and for the first time, inconceivable shock appeared on her beautiful face!

In her understanding, even Heavenly Tier Combat Skills were mostly explosions of energy. When had she ever seen such a terrifying method, one that directly created an absolute home ground and seemed capable of changing heaven and earth?

She could only attribute this incomprehensible phenomenon to some unheard-of, exceptionally unique top-tier ice-element secret technique!

She fully activated the Ancient Clan Secret Technique. Golden flames and earthen-yellow light intertwined and flickered across her body as she tried to dispel the bone-piercing cold and break free of this strange "secret technique."

But the ultimate cold originating from the Snow Emperor's Origin was suppression on the level of laws. How could it be resisted so easily?

Her efforts were like a campfire trying to ignite amid a blizzard, flickering unsteadily as though it could be extinguished at any moment.

Seizing this opportunity, Mo Lin moved!

Within his own domain, he moved as naturally as a fish in water. Not only was his speed unaffected, it was actually enhanced.

With a flicker, he appeared before the sluggish, disordered Xiao Xun'er as though he had teleported.

Ice Emperor's Claws covered his hands once more, but this time, he did not form an emperor sword. Instead, he pushed both palms forward, sending a vast yet gentle force of ultimate ice cold crashing toward Xiao Xun'er like an Ice River's Embankment Break.

Under the suppression of the domain, and with her blood and Qi in turmoil after the Mountain Splitting Seal had been forcibly interrupted, Xiao Xun'er had no time to mount an effective defense. She could only barely gather her remaining Dou Qi before herself.

Bang!

Her delicate body shuddered violently. The irresistible Ice Force pushed her backward for more than ten meters before she barely managed to steady herself. Yet her blood and Qi were churning, her aura was in chaos, and she had already lost the strength to continue fighting.

The bone-deep chill invaded her meridians, making her shiver uncontrollably. Her face turned pale as snow.

Mo Lin did not pursue. He dispersed the ice claws, and with a thought, the blizzard domain enveloping the valley vanished as well.

Sunlight poured down once more, and the frost covering the ground rapidly melted away. Only the wreckage and the lingering chill in the air remained, proving that the unbelievable scene from moments ago had not been an illusion.

"I concede, Miss Xun'er." Mo Lin steadied his breathing slightly and cupped his hands.

He knew that if he had not used a power of the domain she could not comprehend to forcibly interrupt her secret technique, it would have been impossible to end the battle so cleanly.

Xiao Xun'er stood where she was, breathing lightly. The shock in her beautiful eyes had yet to fade, replaced by deep astonishment, confusion, and a trace of indescribable complexity.

She looked at Mo Lin as though she were looking at a monster completely beyond her understanding.

That strange "secret technique" that had altered the battlefield environment and even interrupted the Emperor Seal Art she had forcibly unleashed had thoroughly overturned everything she knew.

"You... what exactly was that just now?" she could not help asking, her voice carrying a trace of dryness and weakness she herself had not noticed.

The backlash from forcibly using the Emperor Seal Art, combined with the impact of the domain, had left her in rather poor condition.

Mo Lin naturally would not explain the mysteries of the domain. He merely said calmly, "Just a minor trick, nothing worth mentioning. Miss Xun'er's Heavenly Flames are the ones with truly limitless power."

His gaze swept over Xiao Xun'er's pale face as he added, "Forcibly using a combat skill beyond one's realm can easily damage one's foundation. Miss, you should take care of yourself."

Xiao Xun'er gave him a deep look, knowing he would not speak plainly.

She suppressed the turbulence in her heart and the discomfort in her body, adjusted her slightly disheveled clothing, and tried to regain her aloof, ethereal bearing. Yet her gaze was completely different from before, filled with scrutiny and wariness.

"Young Master Mo Lin's cultivation is unfathomable. Xun'er... accepts her defeat wholeheartedly. I have learned much today." She paused and gave a slight bow. "Thank you for the reminder, Young Master. Xun'er knows her limits."

The sparring match came to an end.

For a time, the valley fell silent, with only the sound of the breeze passing over the ruined ground.

The two of them each adjusted their breathing for a moment, calming the aftereffects of their fierce battle.

Xiao Xun'er was the first to break the silence. Looking at Mo Lin, sharp light flashed in her autumn-water eyes. "Young Master Mo Lin, forgive Xun'er for speaking frankly. The purity and dominance of the ice-element Dou Qi you wield are not something the Jia Ma Empire, or even the neighboring empires, could possibly nurture. And that final... 'secret technique' that altered the environment is even more unheard of. Young Master, where exactly do you come from? And what purpose brings you to Wutan City?"

Her tone carried an inescapable scrutiny. Clearly, the strength and mystery Mo Lin had displayed had made it impossible for her to regard him as an ordinary young genius any longer.

Mo Lin had long been prepared for this. He knew that displaying such strength would inevitably arouse Xiao Xun'er's deep suspicions.

He met Xiao Xun'er's scrutinizing gaze, the corner of his lips lifting into an imperceptible curve. "Miss Xun'er truly has discerning eyes."

He nodded slightly, as though lost in some distant memory. "I am not from the northwestern region. I come from... the Central Continent."

"The Central Continent?" Xiao Xun'er suddenly understood.

The Central Continent was the heart of the Dou Qi Continent, where experts gathered like clouds and powers were intricately entangled. It was far beyond the remote northwestern region.

Being from the Central Continent explained why he possessed such profound techniques and knowledge.

Mo Lin continued weaving his lie, his tone calm yet revealing key information. "That is right, the Central Continent. I am merely an unaffiliated cultivator, without sect or school. I only achieved my modest accomplishments today because I happened upon the legacy left behind by a predecessor. As for why I know of the Ancient Clan, of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, and even..."

He paused, his gaze seeming to sweep carelessly over Xiao Xun'er. "Why I know that Miss Xun'er... displayed peerless talent from a young age and became renowned throughout the Ancient Realm."

Xiao Xun'er's heart jolted! He even knew about her childhood in the Ancient Realm?!

This was absolutely not a secret an ordinary unaffiliated cultivator could know! Her gaze toward Mo Lin became even more solemn.

Mo Lin revealed a trace of emotion at just the right moment. "By a fortunate coincidence, I once came into contact with some scattered records concerning the Eight Ancient Clans. Then I was lucky enough to learn that the daughter of the current Ancient Clan patriarch possessed a Divine Grade Bloodline, displayed unparalleled talent from childhood, and was regarded as the future hope of the Ancient Clan."

He looked at Xiao Xun'er, his tone carrying a fitting note of admiration. "Only upon seeing you today do I know those records were true. Miss Xun'er's bearing surpasses even the rumors."

These half-true, half-false words explained why he knew of the Ancient Clan and Xiao Xun'er's identity, while also establishing his background as an unaffiliated cultivator who had encountered a fortuitous opportunity.

The shock in Xiao Xun'er's heart eased slightly, replaced by deep contemplation.

An unaffiliated cultivator from the Central Continent who had stumbled upon ancient secrets... Though this explanation still contained many doubts, it at least provided a seemingly reasonable framework.

The Central Continent was incomparably vast. No one could say how many secrets it hid.

It was not impossible for an extremely fortunate unaffiliated cultivator to obtain some lost inheritance.

The wariness on her face diminished somewhat, though her desire to probe remained. "So Young Master comes from the Central Continent. No wonder you possess such knowledge and strength. May I ask what business brings you to such a remote place as Wutan City? If you require anything, Xun'er may be able to offer a little assistance."

Mo Lin shook his head, his tone carrying the ease and detachment unique to an unaffiliated cultivator. "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Xun'er. I travel the continent only to temper myself and pursue higher realms. Wutan City is merely one stop on my journey."

Hearing this, disappointment flashed through Xiao Xun'er's eyes, but there was even more understanding, as though this was exactly what she had expected.

She did not press further and merely smiled. "In that case, Xun'er will say no more. To have sparred with Young Master today has benefited me greatly. Should Young Master have the time in the future, you are welcome to visit the Ancient Clan."

"If fate allows, we will meet again." Mo Lin smiled noncommittally and cupped his hands. "Today's sparring has ended, so I shall take my leave. Miss Xun'er, take care."

With that, he did not linger. He turned and left, disappearing into the forest after only a few flickers.

Xiao Xun'er remained where she was and did not leave at once. She gazed in the direction Mo Lin had vanished, light flickering in her beautiful eyes with unfathomable complexity.

Today's battle had shaken her too deeply. His unheard-of strange "secret technique," his incomparably pure ice-element Dou Qi, and his background as someone from the Central Continent who knew the Ancient Clan's secrets... all of it draped the youth named Mo Lin in an exceptionally mysterious veil.

"An unaffiliated cultivator from the Central Continent... was he really only an unaffiliated cultivator?" she murmured softly.

She could not understand the principles behind that environment-altering "secret technique" at all. It had already surpassed the scope of her understanding of combat skills.

At the same time, an unprecedented sense of urgency rose in her heart.

Mo Lin's appearance was like a mirror, allowing her to see more clearly that among her peers, there could actually be such a terrifying existence! It stirred an even stronger fighting spirit deep within her heart.

"It seems my cultivation must become even more diligent... Beyond the Eight Ancient Clans, there are crouching tigers and hidden dragons as well." She lightly clenched her fist, and her gaze became even more resolute.

Mo Lin's departure did not relax her. Instead, it gave her a clear target she wanted to catch up to and understand.

She gave the valley entrance another deep look, as though wanting to carve that mysterious figure into her mind. Only then did she turn, transforming into a faint green shadow as she swept toward the Xiao Family.

The valley returned to silence, with only the wreckage across the ground silently recounting the earth-shaking clash that had just taken place.

And the name Mo Lin had already left a deep mark in Xiao Xun'er's heart.