Life in Cang Yue City continued as usual.
Merchants shouted across crowded streets.
Carriages rolled through bustling avenues.
Children laughed while running through marketplaces.
Cultivators entered and left the city gates without pause.
To the ordinary eye—
nothing had changed.
Yet at the very center of the city—
inside the Star River Inn—
an invisible storm was slowly gathering.
On the ninth floor of the inn, an entire corridor had been sealed.
Formation flags stood at every corner.
Layers of defensive arrays covered the walls.
Warning formations spread across the ceilings.
Concealment formations hid spiritual fluctuations.
At the very center of it all—
a single cultivation chamber remained completely closed.
And inside that chamber—
Han Qing Li sat motionless.
The Frost Heart Blossom floated before her.
Silver frost drifted from every petal.
Ancient Luo Essence filled the room.
Yet the true source of pressure was not the flower.
Behind Han Qing Li—
a gigantic silver moon had appeared.
The phantom moon floated high above her head.
Cold.
Ancient.
Eternal.
Countless frost runes revolved around it.
The room itself seemed submerged beneath moonlight.
Outside the chamber—
Lin Shuan slowly opened his eyes.
For fifteen days—
he had not truly relaxed.
Not once.
His spiritual sense continuously monitored the entire inn.
Every corridor.
Every room.
Every entrance.
Every window.
Even beyond the inn—
his consciousness extended throughout Cang Yue City.
Because his soul had already reached the Third Stage of Consciousness Realm—
his perception covered nearly the entire city.
He could hear merchants bargaining.
He could hear drunken cultivators boasting inside restaurants.
He could sense caravans entering the city gates.
Even the smallest fluctuations did not escape him.
Yet the more he observed—
the more uneasy he became.
"Master."
Inside the Dragon Pendant—
Tian Wuchen opened his eyes.
"What is it?"
Lin Shuan stared toward the cultivation chamber.
"If an Immortal Seed expert appears..."
"Warn me immediately."
Tian Wuchen chuckled.
"You've finally learned caution."
Lin Shuan remained silent.
Then Tian Wuchen continued.
"Your vigilance is not wrong."
"During the past fifteen days..."
"At least seven different Divine Senses have inspected this inn."
Lin Shuan's eyes narrowed instantly.
Seven?
His consciousness had been spread across the city continuously.
Yet he had discovered none of them.
"How?"
Tian Wuchen snorted.
"Because they are stronger than you."
"Your soul may have reached the Third Stage of Consciousness Realm..."
"But true Immortal Seed experts have mastered concealment."
"If they don't wish to be seen..."
"You won't find them."
Lin Shuan slowly exhaled.
The pressure inside his heart increased.
The auction's consequences had finally begun to surface.
Meanwhile—
life inside the inn continued.
Yan Feng Luo lay across a chair near the window.
His face looked lifeless.
"Fifteen days..."
"Fifteen whole days..."
"I'm dying."
Lei Hao Tian rolled his eyes.
"You've said that every day."
Yan Feng Luo immediately pointed at him.
"Because it's true every day!"
"I've eaten all the good food in this inn."
"I've seen every table."
"I've counted every lantern."
"If this continues, I'll break through boredom before cultivation."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Nearby—
Han Xue Long remained seated calmly.
Frost energy circulated around him.
He ignored the noise completely.
Lei Hao Tian, meanwhile, frequently left the inn to gather information.
Every evening he returned with reports.
"No suspicious movement today."
Or—
"Several cultivators are watching the inn."
Or—
"Merchant Organization scouts appeared again."
Tai Gu Chen listened carefully to every report.
As the oldest among them—
he had naturally become the group's strategist.
Escape routes.
Defensive positions.
Emergency plans.
He prepared everything.
Even Lin Shuan occasionally sought his advice.
Thousands of years of experience were not something young cultivators could easily replace.
Thus—
fifteen days passed.
Then—
everything changed.
At dawn on the fifteenth day—
snow began falling.
At first—
people rejoiced.
Children ran through the streets.
Young women gathered snowflakes in their hands.
Merchants laughed.
Many considered it a blessing.
A miracle during summer.
Yet not everyone smiled.
A mysterious cultivator walking through the city suddenly stopped.
A snowflake landed on his palm.
His expression changed instantly.
"This..."
His eyes widened.
"Frost Essence?"
The snowflake dissolved.
A trace of Luo Essence entered his meridians.
His breathing became heavy.
"This is no ordinary snow."
Soon—
more cultivators noticed.
And panic slowly began spreading.
Because every snowflake contained cultivation energy.
Inside the cultivation chamber—
the Frost Heart Blossom shone brighter than ever before.
Han Qing Li's breathing had become steady.
The silver moon behind her continued expanding.
Thirty meters.
Fifty meters.
One hundred meters.
Until it filled the entire chamber.
Then—
her eyelashes trembled.
Slowly—
her eyes opened.
At that moment—
the Frost Heart Blossom unfolded completely.
One petal.
Two petals.
Three petals.
Until the entire flower bloomed.
A silver world appeared at its center.
Then—
Han Qing Li felt something impossible.
Her consciousness detached from her body.
Not violently.
Not forcibly.
It felt as though she had awakened from a dream.
Her awareness transformed into a stream of silver light.
And entered the Frost Heart Blossom.
Everything became silent.
When she opened her eyes again—
she stood within another world.
Endless glaciers stretched toward the horizon.
Frozen rivers crossed the land like silver dragons.
Gigantic ice mountains pierced the heavens.
Countless snowstorms roared across the sky.
It was a world of absolute frost.
A world untouched by time.
Then—
she saw it.
Far away—
standing atop a mountain of eternal ice—
was a Frost Phoenix.
Its wings covered the heavens.
Its eyes resembled frozen moons.
Its feathers radiated ancient majesty.
Han Qing Li felt as small as dust before it.
Then—
the Frost Phoenix opened its eyes.
The entire frozen world trembled.
"If you wish to expand your consciousness..."
"You must first understand your own heart."
The world instantly shattered.
Memories appeared.
Wanling Empire.
Palace gardens.
Bright laughter.
Her friends.
The carefree days of her childhood.
Then—
her father appeared.
The Emperor of Wanling.
A gentle smile rested upon his face.
"Li'er."
"You shouldn't wander outside too often."
"There are dangers beyond the palace."
Han Qing Li stared silently.
Warmth filled her heart.
The scene changed again.
Void Chaos.
Fear.
Pain.
Despair.
The corruption slowly consuming her body.
Then—
Lin Shuan appeared.
The young man who refused to abandon them.
The young man who removed the Void Chaos.
The young man who brought them safely to Da Cang Empire.
Without realizing it—
a smile appeared on her face.
The Frost Phoenix watched quietly.
Then—
the frozen world shattered once more.
Her consciousness expanded.
Beyond the chamber.
Beyond the inn.
Beyond Cang Yue City.
She saw every street.
Every market.
Every living creature.
Everything seemed strangely slow.
As though time itself had paused.
Her consciousness continued expanding.
Across Da Cang Empire.
Across mountains and rivers.
Across ancient forests.
Across some parts of the continent.
Until finally—
The endless sea of flames stretched beyond the horizon.
Red fire filled heaven and earth.
Yet strangely—
Han Qing Li felt no heat.
Only an indescribable sense of majesty.
At the center of that inferno—
a woman stood quietly.
Crimson robes fluttered.
Her long hair danced amidst the flames.
Every strand of fire seemed to obey her will, like she was the Fire Empress.
Protector Yi.
The moment Han Qing Li saw her—
her consciousness trembled.
The distance between them was immeasurable.
Yet it felt as though Protector Yi had been waiting for her arrival.
For a long time—
neither of them spoke.
Only the endless flames burned silently.
Then—
Protector Yi smiled.
A gentle smile.
A smile that seemed capable of seeing through countless secrets.
"So..."
"You've reached this far."
Han Qing Li's heart shook.
She wanted to ask countless questions.
Who exactly was Protector Yi?
Why did she appear here?
How had she discovered her?
Yet before any words could leave her mouth—
Protector Yi slowly raised her eyes.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through time itself.
Then she spoke once more.
"Your consciousness has expanded."
"You have seen distant lands."
"You have seen the empire."
"You have seen the ancient forests."
"You have even touched the edge of truths beyond your understanding."
Han Qing Li remained silent.
Protector Yi continued.
"But there is one thing you still do not understand."
The sea of flames suddenly became still.
Even space itself seemed frozen.
Protector Yi looked directly into Han Qing Li's eyes.
Then—
word by word—
she said,
"You possess a timeline of the future."
"But you are still living in the present."
BOOOOOOM!
Han Qing Li felt as though a heavenly thunderbolt had exploded inside her soul.
The words echoed endlessly within her consciousness.
A timeline of the future...
Living in the present...
What did it mean?
Before she could understand—
the sea of flames began collapsing.
Protector Yi's figure gradually faded.
Her smile remained unchanged.
"Do not chase shadows that have not yet arrived."
"Focus on the road beneath your feet."
"The future is important."
"But the present is what shapes it."
The next moment—
everything shattered.
The sea of flames disappeared.
Protector Yi vanished.
Only those mysterious words remained.
"You possess a timeline of the future..."
"But you are still living in the present..."
Those words continuously echoed throughout Han Qing Li's soul.
And at that exact moment—
the final barrier of the Third Stage Consciousness Realm cracked.
Then shattered completely.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A silver storm erupted throughout her consciousness world.
The instant Han Qing Li entered the Fourth Stage of Consciousness Realm—
the heavens above Cang Yue City changed completely.
A gigantic Frozen Moon appeared in the sky.
Its silver radiance illuminated the entire city.
Clouds froze.
Winds became still.
Countless streams of Frost Qi descended from heaven.
Then—
snow lotus flowers began falling.
One.
Ten.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
The entire city became a world of white.
People stopped walking.
Merchants stopped shouting.
Even cultivators forgot to breathe.
Everyone looked toward the heavens.
"What is happening?"
"A heavenly phenomenon?"
"No..."
"This is caused by a cultivator!"
"This Frost Qi..."
"What terrifying consciousness!"
Shock spread throughout the city.
Meanwhile—
inside Star River Inn—
Lin Shuan suddenly opened his eyes.
His expression became serious.
The moment Han Qing Li broke through—
he felt it.
The Fourth Stage Consciousness Realm.
The pressure was completely different.
The room behind him trembled continuously.
The Frost Heart Blossom had fully awakened.
Yet Lin Shuan's expression did not relax.
Instead—
it became more vigilant.
Because he could feel it.
Countless Divine Senses.
One after another.
Sweeping across the city.
Watching.
Observing.
Waiting.
Inside the Dragon Pendant—
Tian Wuchen suddenly spoke.
"Trouble."
Lin Shuan slowly stood up.
"I know."
Tian Wuchen's voice became solemn.
"There are already more than a hundred Divine Senses watching this area."
Lin Shuan's pupils narrowed.
More than a hundred?
Even he could only detect a small portion of them.
The rest remained hidden.
Like predators lurking in darkness.
Waiting for an opportunity.
Then—
Lin Shuan stepped out onto the balcony.
The cold wind blew against his robes.
Below—
countless people had already gathered.
Many cultivators stared directly toward the ninth floor.
Some were curious.
Some were shocked.
And some—
were greedy.
Lin Shuan's eyes became cold.
He could immediately distinguish them.
The greedy ones.
Those people were the most dangerous.
Because they cared neither for friendship nor morality.
Only benefits.
Then—
a powerful aura descended from the sky.
BOOM!
The clouds parted.
A figure appeared above Star River Inn.
The moment he arrived—
many cultivators immediately lowered their heads.
Some even bowed respectfully.
Lin Shuan looked upward.
Xuan Ling.
Leader of Xuan Yun Sect.
His white robes fluttered in the wind.
His expression remained calm.
Yet his pressure covered the entire district.
Three-Star Immortal Seed.
The pressure alone was enough to suppress countless experts.
Immediately—
many hidden cultivators withdrew their Divine Senses.
No one wished to provoke him.
Xuan Ling glanced at the cultivation chamber.
Then at Lin Shuan.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You've caused quite a disturbance."
Lin Shuan helplessly laughed.
"It wasn't intentional."
Xuan Ling snorted.
"I know."
Then—
he remained standing in the sky.
His arrival alone became a warning.
Anyone wishing to cause trouble—
would have to consider the consequences first.
Yet—
the matter did not end there.
Moments later—
another aura appeared.
SHING!
A sharp sword cry echoed throughout the city.
Every sword cultivator froze.
Their swords began trembling.
Countless blades resonated simultaneously.
The air itself filled with Sword Qi.
Everyone looked upward.
A white-haired elder descended slowly.
Lin Mo.
Sect Leader of LinJian Sect.
The moment he landed—
many experts became serious.
Because unlike Xuan Ling—
Lin Mo did not represent authority.
He represented pure combat power.
A true sword cultivator.
A genuine expert.
Lin Mo stood beside Lin Shuan.
His gaze slowly swept across the crowd.
No words were spoken.
Yet countless people instinctively lowered their heads.
The pressure of his Sword Intent alone was enough.
Then—
Lin Mo smiled slightly.
"Young Master."
Lin Shuan's heart shook.
Even now—
he still wasn't completely accustomed to being called that.
Lin Mo's voice became softer.
"Leave the outside matters to us."
"You focus on protecting her breakthrough."
Lin Shuan slowly nodded.
At that moment—
he truly felt it.
For four years—
he had been alone.
Four years of hiding.
Four years of surviving.
Four years of carrying hatred by himself.
But now—
things were changing.
The surviving members of Lin Clan had returned.
They were standing beside him.
Supporting him.
Trusting him.
For the first time in many years—
Lin Shuan no longer felt completely alone.
Yet—
before he could think further—
Tian Wuchen's voice suddenly echoed.
"Don't relax."
Lin Shuan immediately became serious.
"What happened?"
Tian Wuchen looked toward the distant horizon.
His expression darkened.
"The strongest person here..."
"Has finally arrived."
Lin Shuan's pupils contracted.
The strongest?
Even stronger than Xuan Ling?
Even stronger than Lin Mo?
Then—
far away—
within the crowd—
an old man slowly opened his eyes.
No aura.
No pressure.
Nothing unusual.
He looked completely ordinary.
Yet—
the moment his eyes opened—
Tian Wuchen became silent.
For several breaths—
even he said nothing.
Then—
he slowly spoke.
"Peak Immortal Seed."
Lin Shuan's heart trembled.
A Peak Immortal Seed expert.
Such a person could easily shake an entire region.
Yet now—
he had appeared in Cang Yue City.
And his gaze—
was fixed directly upon Star River Inn.
Upon Han Qing Li.
Upon the Frost Heart Blossom.
And perhaps—
upon Lin Shuan himself.
The storm had only begun.
And everyone understood—
once Han Qing Li emerged from that chamber—
the situation would become far more complicated than before.