Xuanbing Island was one of the most renowned isles in Jinhai. Its fame stemmed not only from its vast size—among thousands upon thousands of islands scattered across the sea, it ranked among the largest—but also because a city named Bingyan occupied this land, which belonged to the 108 cities under Huoyu Star.

Bingyan's current lord, Duke Tuke, was considered one of the strongest contenders for Jinhai's overall supremacy. With cultivation reaching the Divine Realm level, he had ruled Bingyan City for decades, transforming it into an entirely personal domain. Virtually every notable immortal scholar in the city bore his allegiance.

South of Bingyan City stood a modest mountain peak hundreds of zhang tall. No more than two or three ice-carved huts dotted its slopes.

Inside one such hut, Hannan's expression remained serene as she slowly absorbed the frigid air swirling around her. The icy aura coiling like serpents through her nostrils transformed into strange energies spreading along meridians and acupoints throughout her body.

After an indeterminate span of cultivation, Hannan rose to her feet. Exhaling a breath of stale air, she suddenly struck the prayer mat beneath her. A sharp "crack" echoed as a tunnel cracked open through the mountain's interior.

Hannan frowned slightly before gliding into the passage. Moments later, she entered an ice-walled chamber containing four massive blocks of solidified frost. Each block imprisoned a striking young woman—among them was Shang Bingjie, that very girl whose relentless pursuit by Ji Changkong had become legendary.

Though their bodies remained immobilized in ice, all four women retained sharp eyes and unimpaired consciousness.

One of the trapped girls regarded Hannan with pitiful eyes. "Auntie Han, how long must you keep us like this?"

"For the hundredth time, I'm no longer part of the Shang family," Hannan snapped coldly before shifting her gaze to Bingjie. "Until that man finally shows up, don't expect me to release any of you."

"Even though our clan cast you out years ago," another girl named Shang Lingyu murmured wistfully, "we've always considered you family..."

Hannan's face twisted in rage as she bit through her words. "When your father attacked me all those years ago, he showed no mercy whatsoever!" The mention of her past wound made Lingyu flinch into silence.

"Why must you two even question this?" Hannan sneered at the remaining pair of captives. "This is Xuanbing Island! Even if some stubborn fool from the Southern Heaven Shang clan tracks you here..." Her voice cut off as she gestured toward the ice-blocked girls, "Lord Tuke has already offered his two personal experts to take you as concubines. If you accept without resistance..."

"I am my lady's frostbound servant," one girl declared defiantly. The other nodded in agreement.

"Bingjie," Hannan turned back to her target, "Tuke also promised if you agree to become his seventeenth concubine, your freedom is immediate."

The trapped woman's expression darkened. "Just kill me then."

"Killing you?" Hannan laughed bitterly. "Your value is immense! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have traveled all this way to Huoyu Star..." Her voice grew venomous as she continued, "There are still those who obsessively search for you. When they find their beloved one arrives..."

The coveted 'Yuming Lianye' was a sacred fire source capable of propelling her from her current realm straight into the Realm of Wishes. With complete mastery over its power, she could even break through to the Divine Realm.

In that life vortex she had nearly secured it—until Ji Changkong snatched victory from her grasp. That moment marked him as an irredeemable enemy whose soul she burned with vengeance and relentless desire for retribution.

"Who exactly is this person?" Bingjie asked, genuinely puzzled.

Hannan had mentioned using her to deal with some unknown figure repeatedly. Yet Bingjie could recall no such individual matching this description in the hundreds of years since arriving at Death Star Domain. Though many admirers had pursued her during that time, none possessed power worthy of Hannan's concern.

"She'll know soon enough," Hannan said coldly.

Suddenly a shuffling noise erupted overhead. Moments later, a middle-aged scholar descended with an easy smile gracing his features. Dressed in tailored dark blue robes, he exuded peaceful eyes and perpetual warmth—though the moment he appeared, Hannan immediately knelt low to pay respects.

"Rise," Tuke waved dismissively while eyeing Bingjie and Lingyu approvingly. "Their icy bone-chilling aura is perfect for my cultivation purposes... These two will serve as my cauldrons."

Both girls' faces contorted in horror at the suggestion.

Tuke raised an eyebrow toward Hannan. "Still haven't convinced them?"

Hannan trembled slightly. "These young ladies are quite difficult to persuade, please forgive our failure..."

"I have no time for such delays," Tuke sighed heavily before making his decision. "I shall take these two back myself. If they prove uncooperative..." His smile remained but carried an unnatural chill in the girls' eyes as he continued, "...I'll hand them over to some of my less refined subordinates who could 'carefully nurture' such delicate flowers."

Hannan bit her lip but said nothing more.

Tuke chuckled at her deference. "Your breakthrough into Realm of Wishes is imminent. Keep pushing! When you achieve that milestone, I shall assign you a prestigious position—after all, true loyalty always receives proper rewards."

"Thank you, Lord Tuke," Hannan bowed deeply.

With a sweeping gesture, Tuke conjured two motes of light to ensnare Bingjie and Lingyu before carrying them away with the casual air of someone leading obedient pets. The girls' silent screams were abruptly silenced by some unseen force.

Ji Changkong and Huofeng had arrived at Xuanbing Island earlier that day, following Huofeng's suggestion to head directly toward Bingyan City. She claimed her long familiarity with Hannan would allow her to detect the woman's aura within certain ranges. The city itself offered additional opportunities for inquiry.

As expected, no objections came from Ji Changkong until they first entered Bingyan City. Before Huofeng could speak further, he suddenly froze in place.

Noticing his unease, she asked softly after a pause, "What troubles you?"

Inhaling deeply of the city's icy air, Ji Changkong replied gravely, "You needn't search for her—I already know exactly where to find my target!"

"Did you sense her?" Huofeng inquired urgently.

"A technique I've mastered allows me to recognize familiar souls with perfect clarity," he admitted. "My cultivation has sharpened this perception exponentially!" He turned sharply and began running through Bingyan's towering ice-structure buildings, Huofeng keeping pace behind him.

After three cycles of travel across the city from north to center, Ji Changkong abruptly halted before a skyscraper structure. "Gone," he muttered as if sensing something missing.

"What do you mean it's gone?" Huofeng asked in confusion.

Nodding, Ji explained, "The direction is definitely this way—but when her aura reached this area..." He hesitated dramatically, "...some inexplicable force suddenly obscured its presence entirely."

"Inexplicable forces...?" Huofeng pondered before suddenly lifting her gaze. With certainty in her voice she declared, "If your senses are correct, it must be inside there!" She pointed toward their destination just as recognition struck.

"City Lord's Mansion!" he realized aloud.

"Exactly," Huofeng affirmed. "This is Tuke's private cultivation ground. He must have set up specific restrictions to block prying eyes here—after all..." She gestured around, "there's nowhere else in this district worthy of concealing such a secret."

Ji Changkong nodded slowly before extending his consciousness toward the mansion. Initial progress was smooth until suddenly—he collided with an overwhelming wave of spiritual perception! A furious mental voice roared through his mind: "Who dares come seeking death?!"