Who was Leng Yanqiu?
What was her status, her background?
No one knew that either.
In the minds of many, she was an arrogant, conceited, willful, and domineering woman, possessing supreme natural talent and unparalleled comprehension.
Cultivation realms meant nothing in her eyes. It was said she had once broken through nine consecutive realms in a single day, advancing from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core within a year.
As for Great Dao immortal arts, they were even less significant to her. Rumor had it that any immortal art could be thoroughly comprehended by her in a short time if she so desired.
Such a person was a true, undisputed prodigy.
And all prodigies were invariably willful, arrogant, and proud.
Leng Yanqiu was no exception.
One could even say her arrogance, her conceit, her willfulness had reached a point where she looked down on everyone. The slightest act of defiance would provoke a massacre.
A few years ago, just because a young master from a certain family made some flirtatious remarks, she annihilated his entire clan.
A gang snatched something that didn't even belong to her, and as a result, the gang was wiped out.
It was heard that just a few days ago, when the first Ancient Cave Mansion appeared, in the struggle for the Taiyin Seed, she not only killed elders from many sects but also slew quite a few people from the Nine-Hua Alliance.
Even more terrifying, several elders of the Bingxuan Sect were beheaded by her with a single sword stroke simply for offering some advice.
Leng Yanqiu was arrogant due to her talent, unrivaled, cold-hearted, and merciless. She tolerated no questioning and certainly no defiance.
It was said that her current seclusion had two purposes: first, to fuse with the Bing Xuan Heart, and second, to unlock its mysteries.
What kind of existence was the Bing Xuan Heart? In the eyes of ordinary folk, it might just be a token of inheritance for the Bingxuan Sect.
But to a small minority, they knew the Bing Xuan Heart was extremely mysterious and powerful.
Three thousand years ago, when Empress Bingxuan, Yun Nishang, manifested the Bing Xuan Heart, it moved the Natural Order itself, triggering a spirit mutation. A great snowstorm fell, freezing the land for a thousand miles.
That year, many experts from various sects tried to claim the Bing Xuan Heart for themselves. The result was that they were completely annihilated that night. Every single expert who came to seize the Bing Xuan Heart, without exception, turned into an ice sculpture. Countless died.
This incident was deliberately suppressed by the major sects back then, so very few knew about it.
Of course, that didn't mean no one knew.
Some might not have experienced it personally, but they might have heard of it through word of mouth.
Even to this day, no one knew exactly what treasure the Bingxuan Sect's Bing Xuan Heart was, only that it was very mysterious and very powerful.
If Leng Yanqiu could unlock its mysteries, she would likely become a second Yun Nishang.
On this day.
The Bingxuan Sect suddenly erupted with radiant light. Many people from the surrounding regions rushed over at the first sign.
No one knew what kind of light this was.
It was extremely frigid.
When it bloomed, it made the already cold Bingxuan territory even more frozen. Layers of frost descended in an eerie manner.
As time passed, the radiance erupting from the Bingxuan Sect grew stronger and stronger. The frost falling from the sky became denser, and the temperature dropped lower and lower. People from the surrounding regions heard the news and came, unsure what exactly was happening at the Bingxuan Sect.
By the time Wei Qing and Elder Hui arrived, the area around the Bingxuan Sect was already packed tightly, three layers deep inside and out, completely surrounded. People were everywhere—many were disciples of the Bingxuan Sect, along with affiliated families and gangs, but even more were here just to watch the spectacle.
Elder Hui furrowed his brows, staring intently at the radiant light erupting from the Bingxuan Sect. He carefully sensed the spiritual aura contained within the light. The more he sensed, the more astonished his expression became. He said gravely, "It contains an incredibly pure Bingxuan aura. It seems Leng Yanqiu must have fused with the Bing Xuan Heart."
Upon hearing this, Wei Qing said, "It's not that simple."
Elder Hui was taken aback, seemingly puzzled. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master, are you saying that Leng Yanqiu not only perfectly fused with the Bing Xuan Heart but also unlocked its mysteries?"
"The mysteries of the Bing Xuan Heart, no one but the Empress herself could unlock them."
Wei Qing also frowned as he gazed at the Bingxuan Sect's radiance. "Leng Yanqiu seems to have used some method to gain control over the Bing Xuan Heart. Otherwise, the light couldn't possibly contain thousands of Bingxuan mysteries, and the Natural Order wouldn't be sending down this frost."
As the two were speculating, a commotion arose in the crowd. A group of several dozen people arrived in a grand procession.
These several dozen were led by seven or eight young people.
Behind each young person followed three to five elders.
Standing on both sides were guards like giants, each clad in armor, with broadswords hanging at their waists, looking fierce and menacing.
Everyone knew these were the Tiger Guard of the Nine-Hua Alliance.
And these newcomers were none other than members of the Nine-Hua Alliance's 'Thousand Campaigns Hall'.
The Nine-Hua Alliance had eighty-one halls.
The Thousand Campaigns Hall was just one of them.
It was said that within the Nine-Hua Alliance's eighty-one halls, every single member was a carefully selected genius and expert.
This was indeed true.
At least in everyone's impression, the members of the Nine-Hua Alliance's eighty-one halls were, without exception, famous genius experts. Most of them were among the first batch of geniuses after the Cataclysm, selected by the Nine-Hua Alliance to join the halls.
Since the Cataclysm, the Nine-Hua Alliance held a grand gathering every ten years with the purpose of selecting those with outstanding talent.
Once chosen by the Nine-Hua Alliance, one's future achievements would be immeasurable.
After all, the Nine-Hua Alliance possessed endless cultivation resources. It was filled with countless experts, hidden dragons and crouching tigers. With the aid of miraculous elixirs and medicines, plus personal guidance from Daozun-level figures, and if one had the fortuitous opportunity, one might even receive instruction from reincarnated great powers. The speed of cultivation would naturally be unparalleled.
The members of the Thousand Campaigns Hall who had arrived were also famously known genius experts.
The man who looked somewhat deep and somber was named Wei Hong. He was a genius who had opened four Color Spirits, all of which were Purple Radiance.
The others were also almost all four Purple Radiance, and their Golden Cores had undergone several revolutions.
Although geniuses with Color Spirits weren't numerous, there were quite a few.
However, geniuses with more Color Spirits were either in major sects or in the Nine-Hua Alliance.
Ordinary sects rarely saw Purple Radiance geniuses, let alone ones who had opened four Purple Radiance.
Color Spirits: the first level was ordinary, the second was gold, the third was purple.
Everyone knew that the power of the Natural Order's Color Spirits grew stronger and more profound with each level.
A genius with four Gold Radiance could easily annihilate several Golden Core experts.
It was truly unimaginable how formidable a genius with four Purple Radiance would be. Probably even a thousand-year-old Golden Core expert at the ninth revolution would be no match for them.
When Wei Hong appeared with his entourage, the surrounding crowd quickly made way.
Now that the hundred-year agreement was approaching, many hoped a sect would step forward to contend with the Nine-Hua Alliance.
The radiance erupting from the Bingxuan Sect now gave many a glimmer of hope.
But just at this moment, people from the Nine-Hua Alliance had arrived again. One didn't need to think hard to know it couldn't be for anything good.
Wei Hong was a tall, thin man with a somber expression. He walked at the front with his hands clasped behind his back, giving off a very oppressive feeling. As he walked, he gazed at the Bingxuan Sect's radiant light, seemingly filled with puzzlement.
"Halt!"
Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out.