Chapter 53: Wait for Me, I Will Fight for You

Three days passed, and in the secluded cavern of the Hero’s Pool, Lin Zhan not only fully healed his wounds but also replenished the spiritual energy within the stalactite pillars and the pool itself. In terms of cultivation, the foundation of his Human Rank had grown increasingly solid, awaiting the moment of explosive breakthrough. Now, his absorption rate was astonishing, nearly depleting the spiritual pillars in the cave. The first star within the Nine-Star Diagram was barely filled to capacity, while the second star remained empty.

On this day, as Lin Zhan was practicing his breathing exercises to stabilize his cultivation, the she-devil—no, the fairy sister—arrived. Lin Zhan leapt to his feet; at this moment, he desperately needed every opportunity to temper himself and advance his cultivation. The rigorous training the fairy sister brought was one such opportunity.

It was during this strengthening regimen that he comprehended the Blazing Flame move of his Fiery Fist technique, which had proved effective in his real combat with Cheng Zhi. For this, he owed her his gratitude.

A fragrant breeze heralded her arrival. In his field of vision floated the white-robed fairy, and Lin Zhan found himself momentarily dazed.

“Little one, you seem to be in good spirits,” Ning Wanqing drifted before him, her calm eyes resting on him for a while.

Under her gaze, Lin Zhan grew somewhat uneasy and quickly smiled, “Thanks to you, fairy sister, I’m doing well.”

“My, you do have a sweet tongue. But if you keep calling me ‘sister,’ someone’s heart will break.” With that, Ning Wanqing laughed musically.

Her expression and tone here were worlds apart from the icy Palace Mistress of Redflame Palace she showed before Han Yuntian. Even Ning Wanqing herself might struggle to explain this contrast—before Lin Zhan, she could relax and be herself, without having to keep a stern face at all times. Not even before her own disciple Shui Xinxin could she show such uninhibited ease.

Of course, Lin Zhan knew nothing of Ning Wanqing’s true nature. He only felt she was capricious, sometimes cold, sometimes warm—a temperament so changeable that a single misstep could spell disaster.

“Someone will be sad if I call you sister? What is that supposed to mean?” he wondered aloud.

“All right, enough teasing. As much as I like being called ‘sister,’ I must mind my seniority. I am Ning Wanqing, Palace Mistress of Redflame Palace, and Yun Yin’s own aunt. Now, what should you call me?” She seemed to make a great decision, letting out a long sigh. “That little Yun’er is bold in love and hate, so like I once was.”

Lin Zhan was stunned. “Palace Mistress Ning… Aunt Ning… No, just Aunt…” He tripped over his words.

The title of Redflame Palace Mistress was enough to terrify; even among the outer disciples of Flame Peak, her name was well known. To have her standing so close was overwhelming.

“From now on, I fear I won’t have time to give you further training. Trouble has come to Yun’er’s family—her father was wounded by enemies. She is now my final disciple, and her only goal will be to ascend the ranks as quickly as possible. Do you understand?” Ning Wanqing explained.

Lin Zhan felt a pang in his heart. Though nothing had been confirmed between him and Yun Yin, he could not help but like a girl such as her. Yet, given his current state, when he could not even protect himself, how could he think of caring for someone else’s family? That was why he had never dared be proactive.

At this moment, what he longed for most was to be a matchless hero, a peerless force, so that he could stand before the woman he cared for, shielding her from all harm, slaying her enemies without hesitation. Lin Zhan was not evil, but neither was he a pushover. For the sake of those close to him, he would exhaust all his strength, even at the cost of his life—just like those fellow disciples who would rather be beaten or killed themselves than let anyone harm their junior brothers.

“Yun Yin, wait for me—I will fight for you!” Lin Zhan’s heart surged with emotion and boundless fighting spirit.

Since fighting was the only way, let him grow strong as quickly as possible!

“Lin Zhan, this is from Yun’er. She wants you to stay alive, to wait for her!” Ning Wanqing produced a storage ring from thin air. “But you don’t look like someone whose life will be cut short. I look forward to seeing you strong enough, so this aunt can one day drink at your wedding feast!” She laughed melodiously as she drifted away, leaving Lin Zhan standing there in a daze.

He held the storage ring, his heart filled with melancholy.

The ring was nearly empty, containing just three items, but Lin Zhan knew each was a precious treasure from Yun Yin.

The first was a cultivation manual entitled “Disarray of Form and Mind,” a technique for disguise. Opening its first page, Lin Zhan imagined a certain graceful, clear-eyed girl, sitting in a courtyard and smiling as she leafed through this very same book.

“Disarray of Form and Mind” was created by Yun Mobei. When mastered, it allowed one to alter their physical form at will, assuming any appearance, regardless of age or gender. Moreover, it could conceal one’s true cultivation, catching enemies off guard.

“Excellent! This is just what I need. Yun Yin, thank you!” Lin Zhan knew that a unique technique created by Yun Mobei was a family heirloom of the Yun clan, yet Yun Yin had given it to him so generously. Her intention meant more than words could say.

The second item was a simple, inconspicuous stone pendant.

“Wait, isn’t this what Yun Yin always wore around her neck?” Lin Zhan’s throat felt dry.

Clasping the pendant in his palm, he felt a chill seep into his meridians, soothing the little golden dragons swirling in his dantian, and washing away all his negative, dispirited thoughts.

“This is a legendary Enlightenment Stone!”

The Enlightenment Stone was said to be a rare treasure in the cultivation world, enhancing one’s insight and understanding, deepening realizations during training, and guarding against deviation or madness.

“Yun Yin… Yun Yin…” Lin Zhan murmured, hanging the Enlightenment Stone solemnly around his own neck.

Such a personal token was no doubt a love token from Yun Yin to him—how could he not cherish it?

The third item was another book—“The Blue Ice World.”

This book was an encyclopedia, an invaluable resource for Lin Zhan! After all, he had come to this unfamiliar Blue Ice World utterly confused, knowing nothing of its nature or customs. Even his path of cultivation had been a matter of blind fumbling. In short, he had been wandering in darkness.

Now, with “The Blue Ice World” in hand, many of his mysteries would be answered.

He first turned to the section on Flame Peak, reading with utmost care.

Since he was currently in the Flame Peak region and would not be leaving soon, it made sense to familiarize himself with his surroundings.

The Flame Peak Mountains comprised several peaks, with the main peak, Flame Peak, dominating the northern pass. To the south stretched Westward Peak, Sword-Burial Peak, Celestial Firmament Peak, and Shadow Drift Peak—five peaks in all, rising side by side into the clouds.

Each peak was governed by its own master, under whom various halls and palaces operated independently, fostering both inner and outer disciples, who competed fiercely. Their main purpose was to train candidates for the major sects of Blue Ice Royal City.

Seeing this, Lin Zhan finally understood: the disciples of Flame Peak were only at the initial stage of cultivation. The outstanding young talents trained here would eventually be sent to the city and absorbed into the great sects.

“So the sects in the royal city must be unimaginably powerful,” Lin Zhan thought in awe.

No wonder so many fought for a chance to enter, even to the extent of sacrificing everything—the way Senior Sister Qin Qingxuan’s family had given up their lives for a place.

Lin Zhan focused, letting the cool energy from the Enlightenment Stone at his neck calm his mind. In the past, reading had always given him a headache, but now he found it thoroughly enjoyable.

“The Hall of Discipline was established by Blue Ice Royal City…” Lin Zhan frowned. His fellow disciples had been held there precisely because of this connection. “Just you wait, Blue Ice Royal City. I’ll turn your world upside down!”

Besides the Flame Peak Mountains, he also read about the Northern Forest.

The Northern Forest bordered the Demonic Sect and Monster Gate, forming a buffer zone between human territory and those domains. The human race and the two evil factions had fought countless wars, the last great one a thousand years ago. That war ended in the defeat of the Monster Gate and the Demonic Sect, bringing millennia of peace to mankind.

Lin Zhan remembered the beast claw marks he had once seen atop Blue Ice Royal City. Such a war must have been beyond imagining.

The book offered little detail about the forest itself, merely marking the locations of the ten great abysses and warning human cultivators not to enter.

“A pity—there’s not enough detail. I was just planning on heading to the Northern Forest,” he mused.

However, what came next was of greatest importance to his current cultivation: a detailed introduction to the ranks and stages of human cultivators, along with insights and experiences from predecessors.

Lin Zhan had never quite understood the ranking system here. He knew he was at the peak of Human Rank, but only vaguely understood what that meant. How to break through to Yellow Rank, what would happen after—these were all matters of rumor and guesswork.

He had always been too embarrassed to ask Yun Yin about such things. Now, the explanations within “The Blue Ice World” were truly a timely gift.