After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 95

The sect’s warship tore through the clouds, traversing the boundless wind and snow. After several days of rapid travel, it finally reached its destination—the Tomb Soul Mountain Range, located in the deepest part of the Northern Territory’s extreme cold ice plain.

Before even getting close, a vast, ancient aura, mixed with extreme frigidity and a faint oppressive might, washed over them. The protective light shield on the warship rippled constantly, warding off an external cold capable of freezing even a Pulse Condensation Realm cultivator.

Ye Li stood by the porthole, gazing into the distance. Where the barren ice plain ended, the massive glacier cluster known as the Tomb Soul Mountain Range was now shrouded in a peculiar phenomenon. At the center of the mountain range, the sky twisted, forming an eerie ice-blue vortex. Beneath the vortex, a colossal, thousand-zhang-tall phantom gate, seemingly condensed from ten thousand years of profound ice, flickered in and out of sight! Inscribed on the gate were countless complex and ancient runes. Although most were dimmed, they still emitted chilling energy fluctuations.

That was the entrance to the Ice Soul Mysterious Palace ruins!

Even more striking was the vast ice plain in front of the entrance, which was already crowded with densely packed cultivators. Banners fluttered, and a mix of auras suggested a temporary grand gathering of the cultivation world. Various flying artifacts and spirit beast mounts were parked all around, demarcating different areas.

The Mysterious Cloud Sect’s warship slowly descended into its designated area, instantly drawing countless gazes. As one of the Northern Territory’s main powers and a co-discoverer, the Mysterious Cloud Sect was naturally a significant force in this exploration.

Resident Mu Yun was the first to disembark, followed by fifty exploration disciples, led by the five core disciples: Ye Li, Leng Ning, and Xuan Tianzi. All were clad in the Mysterious Cloud Sect’s uniform, their auras condensed and their discipline strict, exhibiting the demeanor of disciples from a major sect. Ye Li, in particular, having recently achieved fame across the Northern Territory, became the focal point of attention for the entire crowd.

“Look! It’s the Mysterious Cloud Sect people!”

“Is that Ye Li? What an extraordinary presence!”

“Is the icy one next to her Leng Ning from Sword Peak? And Xuan Tianzi, the Sect Master’s direct disciple…”

“The Mysterious Cloud Sect’s lineup is very strong this time!”

Discussions erupted, filled with admiration, apprehension, and even ill-intentioned scrutiny.

Ye Li remained calm, her gaze sweeping the scene, quickly taking in the various factions.

Closest to the Mysterious Cloud Sect was the formation of the Azure Water Pavilion. Dozens of female cultivators in watery blue dresses clustered around a white-clad woman with a cool, immortal-like demeanor—it was Qin Yixuan. She also noticed the Mysterious Cloud Sect group. Her eyes briefly met Ye Li’s in the air, and she gave a slight nod, a form of greeting. Both understood that the current setting was not suitable for extended conversation, but that momentary exchange of glances conveyed a tacit understanding only they shared. The Azure Water Pavilion disciples’ overall aura was gentle and profound, subtly harmonious with the frigid environment.

On the other side was the camp of the Heavenly Blade Gate. The blade cultivators all had sharp, murderous auras. The leader was an old man embracing a long blade, eyes closed in meditation, his profound aura indicating he was the Elder leading the group. Standing behind him was Li Juetian, his injuries not fully healed, his face still pale! When Li Juetian saw Ye Li, his eyes instantly flared with intense fighting spirit and a hint of unconcealed humiliation, but he quickly suppressed his emotions, let out a cold snort, and turned his head away. A defeated general, he had no face to provoke her now.

Besides the three major Northern Territory sects, there were many other forces. There were ascetics from the Western Domain, clad in kasayas with faint Buddhist light; savage warriors and demon cultivators from the Southern Wilderness, scantily dressed and possessing wild auras; cultivators from the Eastern Continent overseas, piloting strange sea beasts; and numerous rogue cultivators and disciples from small sects who had heard the news and formed temporary alliances, a truly mixed bag.

Ye Li even spotted a few figures wearing clothes similar to the rogue cultivators from the Black Water City incident, hiding among the rogue cultivators with sinister looks. Clearly, as Qin Yixuan had suspected, the Demonic Path forces had also infiltrated.

Among these forces, the one that raised the most alarm for Ye Li was a small group of individuals, all wearing unified black combat suits without any sect insignia, whose auras were highly contained. They occupied a small area alone, distinct from the others, silent and reserved. However, the occasional glances they cast carried a cold, predatory scrutiny. Ye Li sensed a dangerous aura from them, similar to that of the “Shadow Demon” forces.

“It seems this water is much murkier than expected,” Ye Li thought privately.

Just then, the Raging War Peak team also caught her attention. Shi Long led nine Raging War Peak disciples, standing at the edge of the Mysterious Cloud Sect’s formation. Unlike the others, who were either nervous or expectant, Shi Long and his team’s eyes flickered, occasionally exchanging covert glances with certain figures among the rogue cultivators. When Shi Long’s eyes met Ye Li’s, he didn’t flinch. Instead, he flashed a vicious and sinister smile, full of provocation and calculation.

Gao Sheng was not in the team, reportedly still recovering from his injuries, but Ye Li believed that Situ Kuang’s arrangements would not be limited to just the visible Shi Long.

“Hmph, a mere clown,” Ye Li sneered inwardly, not giving Shi Long’s provocation any heed. In the face of absolute power, these schemes were nothing but fragile distractions.

Time passed slowly in the wait. All factions were secretly observing and weighing their options. The air was thick with the oppressive tension preceding a storm.

Suddenly, the ice-blue vortex in the sky accelerated its rotation violently, and the thousand-zhang phantom ice gate suddenly solidified! The ancient runes on the gate lit up one after another, emitting dazzling light! A more majestic, ancient oppressive might emanated from the gate, sweeping across the entire ice plain!

“The entrance is about to open!”

Someone shouted, and everyone’s spirits lifted, their eyes burning with anticipation as they stared at the massive ice gate.

Buzz—!

Accompanied by a humming sound that seemed to originate from primordial times, the colossal ice gate slowly cracked open inwards! A pure, yet bone-chilling coldness, like a surging flood, erupted instantly, plunging the ice plain’s temperature even further! Beyond the gate was a deep, dark passage, seemingly made of endless ice and snow, whose end was obscured from view.

“Mysterious Cloud Sect disciples, listen up! Form ranks, prepare to enter!” Resident Mu Yun commanded in a deep voice, the words clearly reaching every disciple’s ears.

Simultaneously, the Azure Water Pavilion, Heavenly Blade Gate, and all the other major forces sprang into action. Powerful auras burst forth as they formed their battle formations, like armies ready to charge.

“Junior Sister Ye, be careful after you enter,” Leng Ning uncharacteristically spoke to Ye Li, and while her tone remained cold, the underlying warning was clear. Xuan Tianzi also cast a calm glance toward Ye Li.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Leng, Senior Brother Xuan,” Ye Li nodded in response. Although there was internal contention within the sect, basic unity was maintained when dealing with outsiders.

Her gaze once again sought the direction of the Azure Water Pavilion, just as Qin Yixuan looked over. Their eyes met, and both saw the solemnity and determination in the other’s gaze. The next moment, both turned almost simultaneously to face their respective sect teams.

“Enter!”

Following the simultaneous commands from Resident Mu Yun and the Azure Water Pavilion’s leading Elder, the teams of the Mysterious Cloud Sect and the Azure Water Pavilion, like two sharp swords, took the lead, rushing toward the newly opened entrance of the Ice Soul Mysterious Palace!

Heavenly Blade Gate, Western Domain Buddhist cultivators, Southern Wilderness savage tribes… all forces followed closely, surging toward the unknown world filled with opportunity and danger, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!

Shouts, whistles, the flash of artifacts, the roar of spirit beasts… instantly shattered the silence of the ice plain!

The Ice Soul Mysterious Palace, this ancient ruin sealed for ten thousand years, had finally opened its doors to the world. And a bloody curtain-raiser for a fierce struggle, one that would sweep across the Northern Territory and even have wider ramifications, was formally raised!

Ye Li was at the forefront of the Mysterious Cloud Sect’s team, the Profound Ice Sword already in hand, the extreme cold spiritual power circulating around her body, subtly resonating with the frigidity of the Mysterious Palace entrance. Her eyes sharp, she was the first to step into the ice and snow passage.

The cold was biting, the light dim, and spiritual sense was greatly suppressed. Behind her was a surging crowd; ahead were unknown perils.

But she felt no fear, only a soaring fighting spirit.

Inside this Mysterious Palace, she not only had to seek opportunities and improve her strength but also to find the fragments of the Reincarnation Mirror and uncover the truth behind her parents’ disappearance! Anything that blocked her path, be it the ruins’ restrictions, the geniuses of various factions, or the hidden dark forces, would be shattered by the sword in her hand!

Her figure was instantly swallowed by the darkness and cold of the passage.