The two girls spotted Tianlang, pouted playfully and giggled before plopping down on the ground. They exchanged glances then each turned to gaze out their respective windows.

Zhou Huan led his apprentices up the northern mountain range. As soon as they ascended, several of them began searching for suitable spots to cultivate qi energy. It was strange - immediately after Zhou Huan reached this mountain, he suddenly felt an inexplicable chill. The cold air pressed against him fiercely. Going deeper into the mountains only intensified the sensation; it became truly bone-piercing, making his very bones feel as if they were melting.

"Master, what kind of birds are these on this mountain? How come it's so cold up here? It feels like two different seasons between the foot and summit!" Tian Xiong was already fuming with irritation. He dramatically raised both feet to stomp them against the ground in frustration.

Shi Bingyuan, being somewhat older, at least maintained a degree of composure. Wrapping his coat tighter around himself until he resembled a tightly packed snowball, he shivered as he spoke: "Master, there's something very wrong here. What kind of weather is this for this time of year? Even if it gets cold at night, we shouldn't be completely numb!"

Zhou Huan rubbed his hands together and took a deep breath: "Disciples, we must accept the circumstances. Since we've already arrived, this harsh environment isn't bad in itself. If we can reawaken our true energy in such conditions, it could be a good thing!"

"But that's just theory," Shi Bingyuan argued. However, Zhou Huan had other thoughts entirely. He believed only one thing: the human body naturally possessed both yin and yang energies. This extremely cold location was rich in yin qi. If they could cultivate their yang energy here, it would surely trigger a remarkable breakthrough. Even if they couldn't open this yang channel, cultivating their yin energy through such conditions should at least allow them to open their third eye or connect with spirit energy. After all, his two apprentices' skills hadn't improved much. The knowledge they brought had already become useless without cultivation power - they were practically worthless.

"Enough talking," Zhou Huan said firmly. "We'll begin here. Do you remember how we practiced before? Recite the mantra and sit cross-legged on the ground. When we can no longer feel cold, our task will be complete!" For ordinary people to understand this would sound like madness - sitting barefoot in such frigid conditions without food or water for several days? Pure nonsense!

Tian Xiong voiced his doubts: "Master, are we going to freeze to death?"

"Not if you remember the mantra. Just protect your true energy inside and you'll be fine," Zhou Huan assured them confidently. He was certain because he himself had devised that mantra. This time up the mountain, he knew it would still work since they were all from the Shou Sect. Their meridian pathways and qi foundations followed unchangeable patterns. With such fundamentals, even if anything went wrong, holding onto this mantra would prevent disaster.

Persuaded by his master's words, Tian Xiong said: "I believe in your foundation - you're modern descendants. However, we'll have to rebuild all our cultivation power from scratch. No problem - let's begin!"

Indeed, Zhou Huan's plan meant three consecutive days without food. During this time, the master-apprentice trio experienced mental fluctuations - moments when they lost focus on the mantra due to stray thoughts or physical discomforts that couldn't withstand prolonged meditation and stillness. Severe cases could lead to spiritual deviation or cultivation accidents.

On the fourth day, a layer of rime formed across all three bodies. Each dewdrop appeared like crystalline flowers, snapping onto their feet. Yet they weren't disturbed by these phenomena - instead, they enjoyed the process of nourishing their spirits through stillness.

By the fifth day, ice had accumulated beneath them. In this hot summer with lush green forests around, a peculiar cold air swirled upward from their circle. Massive ice blocks now encased the three men in an otherworldly scene: the sky was warm, their inner energies were warm, but these solid ice formations remained stubbornly around them. The crystal-clear ice refracted prismatic hues under the sunlight.

On the sixth day, the ice crystallized even tighter around their bodies. At this point, no outward signs of life were visible from any of them - yet all three faces bore healthy crimson hues with boundless vitality. Their cultivation plan was progressing step by step. That evening, as the three innermost layers of ice began slowly melting from within...

Just then, a group of beggar-like figures gradually climbed up from the mountain base. Unbeknownst to these men, their entire six-day process had been one cycle of freezing and thawing entirely powered by their internal qi energy - not external forces. This thawing phase was crucial; any disruption would surely their internal energies. Ironically enough, this is exactly when those beggars arrived.

One of them exclaimed: "Hey brothers, look at these strange guys! They're practically covered in ice even though it's so hot!"

"Never seen anything like this before," another laughed. "Could they be immortal beings?"

"Pfft, immortals? I bet they're mummies dug up from tombs. Otherwise, how could these ice blocks exist on such a warm day?"

After some whispered discussion, one man declared: "Let's carry them down the mountain to show Old Qin. At least he'll give us something for the trouble!"

With surprising strength, each beggar lifted one of the three men and began carrying them toward the mountain base when disaster struck - their surrounding ice shattered entirely. The three figures suddenly radiated intense heat like blazing furnaces, scorching whoever dared touch them.

"Spit!" Tian Xiong expelled a jet-black blood streak from his mouth that scorched everything it touched.

Shi Bingyuan took three deep breaths to stabilize himself before unleashing his power. Seeing the beggars in front of him, his anger flared - perhaps this meditation had truly awakened dormant memories. With several swift moves, he knocked out all those strongmen. "Listen up!" Shi Bingyuan barked at them. "None of you move an inch until I tell you to! Put that person down immediately!"

Interestingly, though Zhou Huan's surrounding ice had shattered, the fragments still adhered together in strange patterns. As his body temperature rose, these icy shards gradually melted away. When the beggar carrying him finally released him, Zhou Huan could already control his internal qi energy freely. Opening his eyes with a warm gaze, he said: "Bingyuan, don't be too harsh on them. Both of you have been injured now - they can't do anything to harm us. Here, I trust you both. Go down the mountain and fetch some food and water for me."

Saying this, Zhou Huan pulled out some silver coins from his pocket to hand over.

"This should cover your expenses plus theirs," he said. But Shi Bingyuan was horrified:

"Master! This money is for our hotel stays!"

"Stop worrying," Zhou Huan chuckled. "Do you really think we'll use that much for lodging?"

As Zhou Huan dismissed the beggars, they all stared in stunned bewilderment at this sudden turn of events - one moment they were up the mountain, next they received money for dinner that night! Thinking about it, these beggars bowed and danced wildly down the mountainside.

Turning back to examine Tian Xiong immediately, Zhou Huan found his apprentice already weakened with chills and cold sweat pouring from him.

"What should we do? My junior brother's condition seems critical!"

"Try helping me lift him," Zhou Huan instructed. "I'll see if I can assist."

Shi Bingyuan lifted Tian Xion into a seated position while Zhou Huan himself sat in meditation, preparing to re-open his disciple's meridian points with his own energy - when suddenly...

From the forest emerged another figure wearing monk's robes who looked surprisingly young. Upon seeing Zhou Huan, he grinned broadly: "Master Zhou! We've finally met again after so many years!"

Zhou Huan froze in astonishment. This couldn't be anyone else but his old friend - and Rian Xiong's original master. But how could he possibly meet him here in the Qing Dynasty?

"Old friend, what brings you here?"

"If I didn't come now," the monk said solemnly, "such a fine disciple would have been ruined forever! Take him with me. You shouldn't have brought him up here. I'll return him once your cultivation is complete. Come!"