On the distant high peaks, all was a vast expanse of white snow. Endless white ranges stretched across the entire Northern Frontier Ice Field.

In this strangely exotic environment, He Yiming had already witnessed this scene countless times; it no longer held the initial thrill or shock for him. Yet, at this moment, a knot of apprehension tightened in his chest.

For ahead lay the location of the Ice Palace, the most vital place in the entire Northern Frontier Ice Field, and the very place where Yuan Lixun practiced her cultivation in solitude. If he had arrived here just a few years prior, He Yiming would surely have approached with the reverence of a pilgrim. But now, with the shift in his power and status, it was difficult for him to recapture that same sentiment.

“Senior, we have arrived,” Xu Jun exclaimed excitedly.

As a patrol envoy of the Ice Palace, Xu Jun had made the journey to and from the Ice Palace countless times. However, this return felt decidedly different. Back in Peng City, they had encountered Saint Beasts traveling alongside the beast hordes. Had it not been for He Yiming’s timely aid, they might never have returned. Moreover, this time he was bringing back a genuinely formidable, top-tier master, which would be a monumental event for the entire Ice Palace.

He Yiming nodded slightly, a tide of emotion washing over him. When Yuan Lixun left the main peak of Tianchi years ago, had anyone told him he would arrive at the Ice Palace today in this capacity, he would never have believed it. But the dizzying changes over these past few years made him feel as though he were living in a dream. Sometimes he still worried, afraid that upon waking, all of it would vanish.

This was the lingering effect of a three-level leap in strength. Although He Yiming now possessed power nearing that of the world’s foremost expert, the firmness in his heart paled in comparison to those who had taken hundreds of years, step by deliberate step, to reach such heights.

As they drew closer, several figures could finally be discerned on the distant mountain. Upon nearing the entrance, they could even see several individuals guarding the path leading up the mountain.

He Yiming glanced over and immediately recognized them as disciples of the Ice Palace, though their cultivation levels peaked around the Eighth Layer of Inner Strength. Yet, even beneath this ice and snow, they wore minimal clothing. Furthermore, they stood with ramrod straight backs, heads held high, their eyes sharp and bright, completely unmoved by the biting cold around them. Seeing their posture, He Yiming inwardly praised them.

These disciples, despite being at the Eighth Layer of Inner Strength and possessing some measure of inner strength, were far from reaching the stage of being impervious to cold and heat. Maintaining such excellent morale in this environment was truly commendable. He couldn't help but reflect on the cowering demeanor of the guards back at the He Family Village when he had last returned home, which only deepened his sense of awe. The Ice Palace, an established, ancient lineage spanning millennia, was clearly beyond comparison to the He Family Village, which had only risen in the last few years.

Xu Jun offered a quick apology to He Yiming and rushed ahead, shouting loudly, “Patrol Envoy Xu Jun returning to the Palace! Grant passage!” Under normal circumstances, the disciples at the Eighth Layer of Inner Strength would never dare obstruct a Xiantian Patrol Envoy. But today was an exception.

One man stepped forward quickly, bowing deeply to Xu Jun. “Patrol Envoy Xu, the Sect Master has commanded that the Ice Palace remain under strict quarantine during the beast tide. All personnel entering or exiting must be recorded. We ask for your understanding.”

Xu Jun’s expression flickered. Though displeased, upon hearing the Sect Master’s decree, he dared not defy it further. While his own status was highly respected on the Ice Field, compared to the Palace’s foremost expert, the difference was like a firefly beside the bright moon—immeasurable. Although the guarding disciple was unwilling to let He Yiming proceed easily, he dared not offend him either. This young man before him, who appeared even younger than himself, was addressed as ‘Senior’ by the Patrol Envoy. This clearly indicated that this person was absolutely not someone he could afford to antagonize. Though he was currently acting under the Sect Master’s orders and Xu Jun would not press him now, if he found a pretext for retribution later, no amount of pleading would save him.

Thus, the guard bowed respectfully to He Yiming, a courtesy so thorough it nearly touched his forehead to the ground. “May I ask the Senior’s esteemed name so I may announce your arrival?”

As the saying goes, one cannot strike a smiling face. Seeing such humble deference, He Yiming found it impossible to meet him with sternness. He smiled faintly and replied, “I am He Yiming.”

The guarding disciple showed no particular reaction; his limited cultivation meant he knew little of outside affairs. But Xu Jun’s brow furrowed. Although the Northern Frontier was tens of thousands of li from the Great Shen of the East, and He Yiming’s feats had not yet arrived, Xu Jun seemed to recall the name vaguely—he thought he had heard it mentioned by someone before.

The guard continued respectfully, “May I ask the Senior’s purpose for visiting our sect?” “I have come to find someone,” He Yiming said slowly. “I am looking for Yuan Lixun.”

“Ah…” Xu Jun’s face transformed completely. At that moment, he finally recalled exactly who this person before him was. Hearing the name Yuan Lixun jolted his memory concerning He Yiming. Several years ago, a highly sensational event had occurred within the Ice Palace. Elder Bing Xiaotian, who had long since ceased involvement in the Ice Palace's daily affairs, suddenly announced he would personally mentor a new initiate of the sect. This news immediately sent the entire Ice Palace into a frenzy, with everyone speculating about the relationship between this newcomer and Elder Bing Xiaotian. If not for the vast difference in their ages and backgrounds, some even wondered if the initiate was a descendant of the Old Ancestor living outside the sect. However, the Palace Elders remained silent on the matter. Only years later did people begin to understand: the initiate named Yuan Lixun was the one the Sect Master had sought for over a century—a person possessing the peerless innate talent of the Profound Cold Body Constitution. Various tales about Yuan Lixun circulated, the most recent and significant rumor coming from Elder Li Mingxuan and the One Line Sky expert Zhuo Wanlian, who had returned from the Tianchi lineage. The news they brought astonished everyone: Yuan Lixun’s husband was named He Yiming, and this man had, even more unbelievably, already advanced to the Venerable realm. This matter caused a great stir in the Ice Palace at the time, though the arrival of several of the world's strongest pinnacle Human Dao experts eventually diluted the sensation.

Initially, Xu Jun had not connected this Mr. He with that He Yiming, but upon hearing Yuan Lixun’s name, his identity became clear. However, he inwardly grumbled; Elder Li Mingxuan and Zhuo Wanlian had truly misjudged the situation. This youth before him was no mere Venerable who had just ascended; he was clearly a Five Qi Great Venerable who could slaughter Saint Beasts as easily as chickens.

The gatekeeper frowned slightly. “Senior, Great Venerable Yuan Lixun is one of our sect’s Great Elders and does not typically receive outside visitors.” He phrased this very diplomatically; it was only because he couldn't ascertain He Yiming's identity that he spoke so gently. In another context, if someone had suddenly appeared demanding an audience with a newly ascended Great Elder, he would have already seized and interrogated the intruder.

He Yiming paused, then let out a dry laugh. Though slightly annoyed, he knew better than to vent his frustration on this guard. His gaze swept over and landed on the little Piggy sleeping atop the White Lightning steed. A sudden idea struck him—if Lixun saw the little Piggy, it might bring a small, pleasant surprise.

He deftly pulled the Piggy up and whispered a few words. His voice was not overtly loud, but compressed by his True Qi, every syllable reached the sleep-dazed Piggy without a single character leaking to anyone else. The sleepiness instantly vanished from the Piggy’s eyes. It split its mouth open in what seemed like a foolish grin, and then, with a slick movement of its tiny hooves, it tumbled out of He Yiming’s grasp.

The Piggy was pure white and wore an appearance of utmost simplemindedness, so the guards hadn't prepared for such a small creature. Seeing it fall, the nearest guard instinctively reached out to catch it. However, before the guard could fully extend his arm, the Piggy had landed safely on the ground. Its four hooves seemed fitted with springs; it lightly bounded upward, leaping high into the air, soaring right over the head of one of the guarding disciples.

By the time the guards reacted, they were dismayed to find that the cute little Piggy had already vanished somewhere unknown. Behind them, Xu Jun’s eyes widened as he stared in the direction the Piggy had gone, his heart filled with shock. This little pig, which was somewhat prettily featured, was actually a Spirit Beast? This thought nearly caused his brain to crash. It was extremely difficult for humans to befriend Spirit Beasts; simply having one nearby already marked a person as remarkable. Yet, this He Yiming possessed two Spirit Beasts by his side—it was too envy-inducing.

The expressions of the guards turned grim, but they dared not cry out. Instead, they tried their best to rush up the mountain. Yet, after just a few steps, they were forced to retreat. The speed of the little creature was too great; even they could not track where the little thing had gone. For a moment, everyone seemed quite perplexed. The Elder had explicitly instructed them during their watch that if anyone dared to rush the mountain, they must sound the alarm horn. But the one breaching the line now was not a person, but a strange little white pig. This unprecedented event left them exchanging worried glances, none daring to make a decision.

Xu Jun looked at them, torn between laughter and tears. “Just report it up the mountain. Tell them exactly what happened, hide nothing.” The leading disciple offered him a grateful look. “As you command.” He shot a knowing look at someone, who immediately exerted all his effort and sprinted up the mountain trail.