Iron Horses and Ice River

The mountains behind Icewave Academy were a world blanketed in ice and snow, where cold winds howled and snowflakes swirled. Ye Lingyun ventured alone onto the silent snowfield, his footsteps leaving deep impressions in the thick snow.

System, scan the surroundings, Ye Lingyun commanded silently.

Mission: Take a deep breath. Reward: Improved environmental adaptability.

The system's notification sounded in his mind.

Ye Lingyun drew a deep breath. His body began adapting to the surrounding cold, and the star power circulating within him gradually resonated with the ice element around him.

He took the Ice Attribute Star Marrow Dean Bing Xin had given him out of his Storage Ring. The star marrow gave off a faint blue glow and contained a rich concentration of ice-attribute star power.

Ye Lingyun sat cross-legged and placed the star marrow in his palm, beginning his attempt to condense an ice-attribute star core. As he cultivated, the surrounding ice element gathered toward him, forming a vast vortex.

"Ice and Snow Profound Heart Art, activate!" Ye Lingyun called sharply. The star power within him began circulating along the art's prescribed pathways, faster and faster.

The Ice Attribute Star Marrow slowly melted in his palm. He absorbed its star power, merging it with his own. At that moment, Ye Lingyun's aura grew immensely powerful. Behind him, the phantom of a Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox slowly emerged, its nine tails swaying gently and radiating an icy glow.

As time passed, the star power within Ye Lingyun began condensing into a brilliant star core. The core radiated an icy glow and held powerful ice-attribute energy.

"Star Spirit Stage, achieved!" A trace of excitement crept into Ye Lingyun's voice. He could feel his strength surging tremendously at that moment.

Suddenly, a strange rumbling echoed between heaven and earth, and an extraordinary vision appeared in the sky. Countless iron horses galloped overhead, their hoofbeats like thunder. Their bodies were formed from ice and snow, radiating a freezing aura.

"This is..." Surprise flashed in Ye Lingyun's eyes. He could feel this power resonating with his cultivation.

"Iron Horses and Ice River Enter My Dream!" A voice rang out in Ye Lingyun's mind. It was the system's notification.

Mission: Comprehend the heavenly phenomenon. Reward: Star core enhancement.

Ye Lingyun closed his eyes, and his mind began resonating with the heavenly phenomenon. He could sense the ancient will within its power-absolute mastery over ice and snow.

As Ye Lingyun deepened his understanding, the star core within him began changing, growing more brilliant and more powerful. His aura reached a new height at that moment.

When the phenomenon vanished, Ye Lingyun slowly opened his eyes, an icy light gleaming within them. "The Star Spirit Stage. I've finally reached it."

Ye Lingyun rose to his feet, his figure standing especially straight and tall amid the wind and snow.

In the mountains behind Icewave Academy, Ye Lingyun had just condensed his star core and attained the Star Spirit Stage, and the heavenly phenomenon, "Iron Horses and Ice River Enter My Dream," had yet to disperse completely. Suddenly, a small figure descended from the sky with a hint of curiosity and wariness, landing in the snow a short distance from him.

It was a young ice phoenix. Its feathers were crystalline and translucent, as though carved from the purest ice crystals, and its lively eyes studied Ye Lingyun curiously.

"Who are you? Why are you cultivating here?" The young ice phoenix's voice was clear and sweet, with a hint of childishness.

Ye Lingyun smiled faintly. He could sense the powerful ice attribute energy within the young ice phoenix, subtly resonating with his newly condensed star core.

"My name is Ye Lingyun. I'm a disciple of Icewave Academy." His voice was warm and friendly. "What about you? Why are you here?"

The young ice phoenix raised its little head proudly, a trace of satisfaction flashing in its eyes. "I'm Icewave Academy's guardian sacred beast, a fledgling of the Ice Phoenix Lineage. I sensed your power, so I came to take a look."

Ye Lingyun nodded, and an idea suddenly occurred to him. "In that case, why don't we have a spar?"

The young ice phoenix's eyes lit up. Powerful ice attribute energy suddenly burst from its body, and the surrounding snowflakes began swirling around it, forming icy-blue whirlwinds.

"Come on, let me see how strong you are!" A hint of challenge rang in the young ice phoenix's voice.

Ye Lingyun's gaze sharpened. Behind him, the phantom of a Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox slowly emerged, its nine tails swaying gently and radiating an icy glow. He drew a deep breath and began activating the combat technique he had just learned-Ice Seal for Ten Thousand Miles.

"Ice Seal for Ten Thousand Miles!" Ye Lingyun called sharply. His hands traced arcane paths through the air. The surrounding air froze solid in an instant, and a powerful wave of cold erupted from his palms, sweeping toward the young ice phoenix.

Surprise flashed in the young ice phoenix's eyes. It could sense the tremendous power within that wave of cold. It rapidly beat its wings, sending streams of icy-blue flames surging from them to collide with Ye Lingyun's cold wave in midair.

Boom!

The two powers collided in midair with a deafening crash. Ye Lingyun shifted back slightly, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. He could feel that this exchange had put his Ice Seal for Ten Thousand Miles combat technique perfectly into practice.

The young ice phoenix was also driven back several steps by the cold wave. Excitement flashed in its eyes. "Not bad. You're strong enough for me to take you seriously."

Ye Lingyun smiled faintly and raised his hands again, preparing another attack. His heart brimmed with the thrill of battle. He knew this fight would be a valuable experience on his path of cultivation.

As the battle continued, Ye Lingyun and the young ice phoenix darted past each other amid the ice and snow, every attack carrying tremendous power. Ye Lingyun's Ice Seal for Ten Thousand Miles combat technique was continually honed and improved through battle, while the young ice phoenix's ice attribute energy was drawn out again and again.

Finally, after a fierce exchange, Ye Lingyun lightly tapped his palm against the young ice phoenix's forehead, achieving perfect control over his power at that moment.

"I won." Ye Lingyun's voice was calm but firm.

Surprise flashed in the young ice phoenix's eyes, but it quickly gave him a look of admiration. "You really are strong. I lost."

Ye Lingyun withdrew his power, a warm smile appearing on his face. "You're pretty good yourself. Let's fight again next time."

The young ice phoenix nodded. Its body suddenly transformed into a streak of icy-blue light and vanished into the wind and snow.