【It's all because of her!】

Only a few minutes had passed since Nie Kong left Jiyang City. He sat cross-legged on the back of Youhun Yingwang, speeding northward once more. Before leaving, he briefly communicated with his master Lian Tianxin via spiritual awareness and informed him of his destination to have him deliver the message to the Spirit Manor.

Though Nie Kong urged the Youhun to hurry when departing from the Spirit Manor, a sense of unease had begun to gnaw at him. The words Sutuo spoke in the Hall of Life and Death confirmed Nie Kong's suspicions during the journey.

It was indeed Bai Yuqing who encountered trouble far north in the Celestial Spirit Continent - a severe one at that. Last night, Bai Yuqing sent an urgent message through her spirit tablet to Sutuo, just four characters: "Frostbound Snowland." After that, contact with Bai Yuqing became impossible.

Fortunately, the spiritual imprint left by Bai Yuqing in the spirit tablet still remained intact - meaning she hadn't suffered mortal injury yet. Now, Sutuo's spirit tablet rested in Nie Kong's bosom.

Though he couldn't communicate with Bai Yuqing through this spirit tablet or access her transmitted message, he could sense the spiritual imprint within it. This allowed him to always be aware of Bai Yuqing's condition.

The "Frostbound Snowland" where Bai Yuqing was located was a place Nie Kong had heard about before - an icy realm so perilous that it resembled a colossal ice-woven cocoon with only a narrow passageway leading in. Earlier, Mu Qingyi had reached there to find the snow spirit, enabling the ancient Mu clan to gather their three "Dark Blood Spirit Worms." Nie Kong knew Bai Yuqing trained in northern glacial regions, but hadn't expected this obsessed woman to have ventured into the Frostbound Snowland.

"I hope she's all right," Nie Kong muttered to himself as he took a deep breath.

Though they had known each other for some time, their actual interactions were limited: first days spent together during the Life and Death Illusion Realm, then in the inner city of Lingyu City, followed by their parting after Nie Kong left early at the "Juyehuo Yyouquan" spatial domain. Yet between them existed an unspoken understanding, a bond that deepened with time rather than fading - like water as pure as jade.

Originally, he had planned to proceed with his next scheme during the peak sales of Bencao Gangmu. But now with Bai Yuqing in such peril, he couldn't let anything else take priority.

"Brother, have you ever fought with Sister Yuqing?" Taizan suddenly teased by gently tickling Nie Kong's chest with her blooming petals.

"Fought," Nie Kong replied absentmindedly, "but she's even younger than you. When we meet again, you should call her Younger Sister Yuqing."

"Of course! I knew she was your adopted sister - how could you not fight?" Taizan giggled mischievously. "Brother, which is more fun: fighting with me or fighting with her?"

"Huh?" Nie Kong snapped out of his thoughts in alarm. "Taizan, you've got it all wrong! Our sparring was about exchanging cultivation techniques, not the kind of fights you're imagining."

"Ah, but we exchange strength too when we fight," she countered.

Nie Kong, Taizan, let's spar some time!"

"Hu Lu, shut up!"

"..."

The banter with Taizan and Hu Lu eased Nie Kong's troubled mind. Subconsciously he realized his little sister was deliberately diverting his anxiety. Though everyone saw her as an innocent girl, she also possessed remarkable emotional intelligence.

A warm feeling spread through Nie Kong's chest as he no longer dwelled on distant matters. He gave the Youhun a command before immersing himself in cultivation practice on its back. Even if he was anxious, rushing wouldn't help him reach Frostbound Snowland faster. Better to solidify his cultivation breakthrough from last night.

That way he could better prepare for any dangers that might arise when he finally arrived.

Days passed...

Half a month later in the northernmost void of Celestial Spirit Continent, Youhun Yingwang still soared through space at its usual speed. Nie Kong sat silently on the beast's back while little Hu Lu's round body peeked out from his chest with high-pitched exclamations that echoed loudly.

Nie Kong had entered this icy world two days ago. Initially there were occasional patches of green vegetation, but now everything was pure white without even a hint of other colors.

He exhaled in relief when the spirit tablet showed no signs of receiving new messages yet - at least Bai Yuqing's spiritual imprint remained intact. Now his spiritual awareness merged completely with the spirit tablet to closely track that faint thread connecting him to her.

Spiritual imprints were deeply tied to one's core!

An invisible strand seemed to link them, and Nie Kong tracked this tenuous connection to pinpoint Bai Yuqing's location. Though he could have found someone else to guide him to Frostbound Snowland, it would be a waste of precious time.

"Senior Brother, please stop for rest - my wings are about to break!" After another flight, Youhun Yingwang groaned weakly.

"Alright," Nie Kong felt a pang of guilt. These past two weeks, the beast had spent almost nonstop in the air. Even at peak nine-grade divine beast level, such sustained effort was unbearable.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Youhun Yingwang relaxed instantly, folding its wings as it descended to ground level.

Nie Kong separated its soul from body and stored them in his soul space and pet bag respectively before accelerating into the void with a black figure flashing rapidly across the snowscape. This method of travel was definitely faster than Youhun Yingwang for short distances, though it consumed vast amounts of primal energy.

After another half day, the spiritual link between the spirit tablet's imprint and Bai Yuqing grew stronger. Nie Kong could now more easily determine his direction.

After a brief rest, he continued his journey.

Not long after nightfall arrived, but the ground's icy radiance illuminated the world in ghostly white light.

The following night passed quickly. Just as dawn broke across the horizon, the black figure emerging from a snow ravine suddenly halted. Nie Kong's eyes narrowed - an immense oval sphere lay ahead on the endless snowy plain, stretching far beyond sight.

That was "Frostbound Snowland!"