653: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (32)

Tianya Peak, one of the seven main peaks of the Qingyun Sect, was once the dojo of the former Senior Sister Tianya. After Tianya disappeared, the Sect Master personally ordered the peak sealed, allowing only a few Elders access.

Now, with the Spirit Nurturing Pool at the summit reopened, the entire mountain was once again enveloped by a vast and icy Star Power. Looking from afar, the peak was shrouded in swirling mist, with faint blue light seeping through, resembling an immortal realm.

Su Han arrived at the foot of Tianya Peak and immediately felt a familiar chill originating from the depths of his Soul. He took a deep breath, and the wisp of icy Star Power within his body spontaneously began to circulate, echoing the aura emanating from the mountain. This made him feel not cold, but rather a sense of comfort, as if a fish had returned to water.

"Is the visitor Su Han?"

A cold, clear voice sounded. A middle-aged woman dressed in white with a stern face emerged from the mist. She was one of the Inner Sect Elders responsible for guarding Tianya Peak.

"Disciple Su Han, I have come to pay my respects by order of the Sect Master." Su Han bowed respectfully.

The Elder swept her gaze over Su Han, especially after sensing the icy aura on him that shared the same Origin as Tianya Peak. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she nodded slightly: "Hmm, the Sect Master has given instructions. Follow me."

With that, she turned and led the way. Su Han quickly followed, and the two ascended the winding mountain path one after the other. The higher they climbed, the heavier the cold became, and the Star Power permeating the air grew purer. It even condensed into faint blue light spots visible to the naked eye, floating in the air like ice crystals and snowflakes.

"Such dense Star Power..." Su Han thought in shock. The Spirit Nurturing Pool truly lived up to its reputation as a vital location of the Sect, surpassing all expectations.

Before long, the two arrived at the summit. The peak was a vast, open flat area. In the center was a massive pool, crystal clear like a sapphire. The water was not ordinary water but composed of the purest liquid Star Power, emitting a heart-palpitating cold. This was the Spirit Nurturing Pool!

Currently, several Elders with profound auras were seated cross-legged around the Spirit Nurturing Pool, forming a Formation and continuously channeling their Star Power into the pool. In the very center of the pool, an ice crystal the size of a fist was suspended—it was the Tianya Ice Crystal that Su Han had brought back!

However, the ice crystal now was vastly different from before. It radiated a brilliant blue light all over, sparkling and translucent, resembling a perfect work of art. Within the ice crystal, the phantom image of the woman had become much more substantial, with clear features and snow-white robes. Although her eyes were still closed, the aura of cold aloofness and pride already washed over them. It was Senior Sister Tianya!

Su Han's gaze was instantly captured, and his heart pounded uncontrollably. He could feel an incomparably clear, Bloodline-like intimate connection existing between himself and the ice crystal.

"Su Han, you have arrived."

A majestic voice sounded. Su Han turned his head and saw the Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect standing by the edge of the Spirit Nurturing Pool, looking at him intently. The Sect Master's aura was deeper than before, indicating that presiding over the Spirit Nurturing Pool for the past month had also consumed a great deal of his energy.

"Disciple Su Han pays respects to the Sect Master!" Su Han quickly bowed.

"No need for formalities." The Sect Master waved his hand, his gaze falling on Su Han. After sensing him carefully, he nodded with satisfaction. "Hmm, your recovery is quite good. Your Foundation is solid, your Star Power is pure, and you even benefited from misfortune, gaining a wisp of Tianya's Origin cold Qi. Very good."

Then, the Sect Master's gaze shifted to the ice crystal in the Spirit Nurturing Pool, and his expression became solemn: "Tianya's spiritual energy is recovering much faster than we anticipated. Her sword body has initially been reshaped, but this Dao Body... has encountered a problem."

"What problem?" Su Han's heart tightened.

The Sect Master was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Tianya's spiritual essence seems to be rejecting all the plans we prepared for reshaping her Dao Body. Her spiritual essence Origin seems to be yearning for... another form."

"Another form?"

"Precisely." The Sect Master looked at Su Han with profound eyes. "A form related to you. Su Han, move closer, extend your hand into the Spirit Nurturing Pool, and try to sense Tianya's spiritual essence."

Su Han obeyed and stepped forward. He took a deep breath and slowly extended his hand into the bone-chilling pool water. The water was extremely cold, but the icy Star Power within Su Han circulated automatically, causing him to feel no coldness at all; instead, he felt a sense of closeness.

The moment his fingertips touched the Tianya Ice Crystal—

"Buzz!"

A roar echoed in Su Han's mind, and his consciousness felt instantly pulled into a boundless, ice-blue world! In this world, there was only endless ice and snow and cold, and at the center of the world, the figure of a peerlessly beautiful woman in white stood silently with her back to him.

It was Senior Sister Tianya!

Su Han was profoundly shaken and wanted to shout but could not utter a sound. Just then, the woman slowly turned around, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty, yet utterly devoid of expression, as cold as ice. Her gaze fell upon Su Han, and deep within her originally cold eyes, there seemed to be... a fleeting, extremely subtle fluctuation.

Immediately afterward, a cold, clear voice resonated directly in the depths of Su Han's Soul:

"You... have come."

...

Su Han suddenly snapped out of that mysterious state, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, gasping heavily. That moment of contact felt like it had lasted a long time, yet also like it was just an instant.

"How was it?" The Sect Master immediately asked.

Su Han calmed his mind, an expression of disbelief in his eyes. "Sect Master, I... I think I heard Senior Sister speak to me. She said... 'You have come'."

The surrounding Elders all showed looks of astonishment upon hearing this. The spiritual phantom was able to directly communicate with Su Han on a conscious level? This was unheard of!

The Sect Master's eyes shot out brilliant light, and he said in a deep voice, "It is just as I thought! Tianya's spiritual essence has an extremely high degree of recognition for you! Su Han, step back. We are going to try the final plan!"

Su Han retreated to the side as instructed, his heart tense to the extreme.

The Sect Master exchanged a look with the surrounding Elders, then simultaneously formed hand seals. Vast, sea-like Star Power surged wildly into the Spirit Nurturing Pool. The pool water began to boil violently, and the Tianya Ice Crystal in the center shone brilliantly. The solidified sword spirit phantom actually began to slowly melt, merging with the main body of the ice crystal!

"Use spirit to sculpt the body, use will to condense the form! Tianya, return!"

The Sect Master roared, his voice shaking the nine heavens! The entire Tianya Peak trembled because of it!

In the Spirit Nurturing Pool, brilliant blue light shot up to the sky, dyeing the entire firmament an ice-blue color! Within that endless light, the ice crystal completely disappeared, replaced by the phantom of an ice-blue long sword—crystal clear, slender in body, and radiating peerless sharpness!

The tianya sword! The sword body was formed!

However, just as everyone thought success was imminent, a sudden change occurred!

The newly reshaped tianya sword phantom did not absorb Star Power to condense a human-form Dao Body as expected. Instead, it vibrated violently and transformed into a streak of light, shooting directly toward Su Han, who stood to the side, under everyone's horrified gaze!

"Not good!" The Sect Master's face changed drastically. He wanted to intercept, but it was too late! (End of Chapter)