Yun Che steadied his mind. The Breath-Concealing Art flowed naturally, suppressing his aura in an instant. His cultivation dropped back to Qi Condensation, Third Layer, no different from his usual state.

  Almost at the same moment, the courtyard gate was shoved open without courtesy.

  Yun Han stepped in first, followed by Sun Li and another unfamiliar inner disciple. All three wore grave expressions, with a hint of barely concealed impatience.

  “Yun Che.”

  Yun Han’s gaze swept across the shabby dwelling before settling on him, his tone carrying its habitual condescension.

  “Where is Martial Uncle Zhang Mingyuan? The Sect Master has issued an order—all disciples below Foundation Establishment are to gather at the Ice Soul Hall immediately. An important matter will be announced.”

  Yun Che rose and lowered his head.

  “Master left the courtyard in haste about half an hour ago and did not say where he was going. This disciple has been meditating inside the room and knows nothing else.”

  Sun Li eyed the surroundings suspiciously and suddenly said,

  “Junior Brother Yun, this place of yours… is rather quiet. Just now, I vaguely sensed a fluctuation of spiritual energy here. Could it be that you were practicing some secret technique?”

  A trace of alertness flashed through Yun Che’s heart, yet his face showed just the right amount of panic.

  “Senior Brother Sun jests. This disciple’s cultivation is shallow. I was merely circulating my meridians earlier—perhaps my control was poor and disturbed the spiritual flow, making a fool of myself before Senior Brother.”

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  Yun Han snorted, clearly uninterested in the cultivation of such a “waste.” He turned to leave, then paused and looked back coldly.

  “Go to the Ice Soul Hall at once. The Sect Master has decreed—anyone who delays or fails to appear will be treated as a traitor to the sect!”

  With that, the three departed in haste.

  Yun Che stood at the doorway, watching their figures vanish into the wind and snow. His eyes slowly darkened.

  A gathering at the Ice Soul Hall…

  It seemed the threat from the Snowbound Alliance had truly reached their doorstep.

  He made a few quick preparations, storing all important items into his storage pouch. Then he slung the sword wrapped in brocade—Frostglory Prosperity—across his back. Though flashy, it served well enough as cover.

  Stepping out of the dwelling, snow and wind rushed toward him.

  The atmosphere within the Profound Frost Sect was unmistakably different from before. Along the way, disciples hurried past with anxious faces. When they spoke, their voices were kept unnaturally low.

  “Have you heard? That Divine Transformation ancestor of the Snowbound Alliance… arrives tomorrow!”

  “The Sect Master summoned everyone—he’s probably arranging an evacuation…”

  “Evacuate to where? The Northern Domain is vast, but everywhere is ruled by the law of the jungle. Without the sect’s protection, low-level disciples like us…”

  Their whispers were swallowed by the wind and snow.

  Yun Che walked on in silence. Inside his robes, the feather gifted by the Snowcloud Crane suddenly grew warm, as if issuing a warning.

  His pace did not change, but his divine sense quietly expanded.

  Within a hundred zhang, every subtle movement was laid bare.

  Halfway along the path, he abruptly changed direction and slipped into a secluded ice corridor. At its end stood an abandoned stargazing platform, sealed long ago after the ice layers collapsed.

  After confirming no one was nearby, Yun Che leapt onto the ruined platform and cast his gaze toward the direction of the Cold Abyss Secret Realm.

  The warning from the crane feather…

  Was growing clearer.

  Do you think Yun Han’s visit was merely routine,

  or has someone already begun to suspect Yun Che?