Melting Snow

Deep within the Extreme North Ice Palace lay Snow Empress's private cultivation room.

This ice chamber was much smaller than the main hall. Its four walls were made of Ten Thousand Year Mysterious Ice, and the dome was only two zhang high, yet the concentration of ice elements was several times greater than outside.

With every breath, tiny ice crystals condensed and dispersed in the air, like countless little stars flickering in the darkness.

Snow Empress had set up three layers of Isolation Arrays in advance.

The outermost layer was Ice Empress's Extreme Ice defensive ring. Emerald green light patterns slowly flowed over the ice walls, sealing off every energy channel between the cultivation room and the outside world.

The middle layer was Snow Empress's own Ice Soul Spirit Locking Array. Ice-blue patterns spread densely like a spiderweb, locking the entire space into a state of stillness.

The innermost layer was Youyou's Fragrant Barrier. A pinkish-white glow softly spread across the ice, purifying every trace of impurity in the air.

With the three barriers overlapping, even the wind had been frozen still.

Xiao Bai lay outside the cultivation room's door, its huge head resting on the threshold, deep blue eyes fixed unblinkingly on the inside.

It did not know what was happening within, but Snow Empress had told it to stand guard outside and not allow anything near. It did not dare enter, nor did it dare wander off. It simply rested its chin on its forepaws, ears standing straight up.

Inside the cultivation room, Xue Lingyun sat cross-legged at the center of the Ice Platform.

Snow Fox Fur had been spread across the Ice Platform, long and soft, but he had no mind to notice its softness now.

His hands rested over his knees, palms facing downward, his eyes