Word of the events at the Bingxuan Sect spread throughout the surrounding regions within a single day, reaching the ears of nearly every sect.
Some said that Leng Yanqiu had unlocked the mysteries of the Bing Xuan Heart, and that these mysteries were incredibly powerful and terrifying.
First, there were the legends from three thousand years ago about the sect's founding ancestor, Yun Nishang—the cold moon drifting through falling snow, ice sealing a thousand miles.
Then, there was Xu Xingchen, who, relying on the mysteries of Bing Xuan, had slain the genius Wu Yang—who possessed Four Bands of Purple Radiance—with a single sword strike.
All of this was enough to demonstrate the fearsomeness of the Bing Xuan Heart.
Some said that the two recent spiritual anomalies in nature were most likely caused by the Bing Xuan Heart.
It was precisely because of this that the Nine-Hua Alliance had treated the Bingxuan Sect with such courtesy.
This gave many people hope, feeling that the Bingxuan Sect had the qualifications and the ability to contend with the Nine-Hua Alliance.
Thus, any sect that received the news had been making its way to the Bingxuan territory over the past three days.
The sky was bitterly cold.
Frost and snow fell from the heavens.
The Bingxuan territory had long since frozen over.
The cold, frosty radiance emanating from the Bingxuan Sect had not faded since it erupted three days ago; instead, it had grown increasingly intense.
The radiance was a silvery-white light, burning like a cluster of flames.
Yet this light was exceptionally cold. As the radiance grew brighter, the frost falling from the sky grew heavier, and the temperature dropped even lower, nearly freezing the entire Bingxuan Sect into a massive iceberg.
Gathered around this iceberg were many people—disciples of the Bingxuan Sect, but even more were members of various sects from the surrounding regions who had come upon hearing the news. A glance revealed a dense, endless crowd; no one knew exactly how many had arrived.
They gathered in small groups, discussing animatedly.
"I heard long ago that the Bingxuan Sect was holding a ceremony today, where Heir Apparent Disciple Leng Yanqiu would succeed as the new sect head. Since it's a ceremony, shouldn't there be a grand feast to entertain guests and celebrate in style?"
"Exactly! Isn't that how ceremonies are supposed to be? What is the Bingxuan Sect doing? Forget a feast; the entire sect has turned into an iceberg, and its disciples are all guarding the foot of the mountain."
"You don't understand, do you? I just heard from some elders that this is called a Legacy. They say that in ancient times, many major sects had their own Legacy Hearts. For an heir apparent disciple to inherit the position of sect head, they first had to fuse with the Legacy Heart. Our minor sects don't bother with such formalities, but the major sects are very particular about it."
"The Bingxuan Sect might not be considered a major sect, but I've heard their founding ancestor was a mysterious, formidable figure. The Legacy they left behind is the Bing Xuan Heart. You've all heard about the Bing Xuan Heart, right?"
Many nodded, especially over the past few days, as tales of the Bingxuan Sect's Legacy, the Bing Xuan Heart, had spread like wildfire.
It was said that three thousand years ago, many experts tried to seize the Bing Xuan Heart, only to be turned into ice sculptures overnight.
They said the Bing Xuan Heart was an incredibly powerful treasure, containing immense power and profound mysteries within.
However, ever since the Bingxuan Sect's founding ancestor disappeared, none of the sect's subsequent heads had been able to unlock the mysteries of the Bing Xuan Heart.
Now, three thousand years later, the peerless genius Leng Yanqiu had emerged, unlocking the mysteries of the Bing Xuan Heart with her unparalleled aptitude.
"The Bing Xuan Heart is truly formidable. Three days ago, Xu Xingchen, one of the Bingxuan Sect's eighteen Chief Disciples, relying on the mysteries of Bing Xuan, slew the genius Wu Yang—who possessed Four Bands of Purple Radiance—with a single sword."
"I've also heard about the Bing Xuan Heart. They say the recent spiritual anomalies in nature were caused by it."
"Not just that. I heard the seven cave mansions that appeared earlier are also related to the Bing Xuan Heart."
"Really?"
"That's what I heard. They say each cave mansion contained a Taiyin Seed, and all seven Taiyin Seeds are closely connected to the Bing Xuan Heart."
"I wonder who has those seven Taiyin Seeds now."
"No one knows about the other six, but everyone knows one is in the hands of the Crimson Flame Young Master, Gu Qingfeng."
When someone mentioned the name Gu Qingfeng, the crowd's discussion grew even more fervent, for everyone knew that over the past three days, the Bingxuan Sect's eighteen Chief Disciples had been searching everywhere for Gu Qingfeng. Yet, despite searching for three full days, they had found no trace of him.
Some said Gu Qingfeng might be dead; otherwise, why would the Yunxia Sect vanish without a trace overnight? Others said that since Gu Qingfeng had killed so many people, even if the Bingxuan Sect didn't come after him, the Nine-Hua Alliance certainly would. He must have gone into hiding out of fear.
As for whether Gu Qingfeng was dead or in hiding, no one knew. Opinions varied widely.
The cold radiance from the Bingxuan Sect grew ever brighter.
The iceberg formed by the Bingxuan Sect grew ever larger.
The temperature dropped lower; the frost and snow fell heavier.
And the crowd grew ever larger.
Amidst the crowd, Wei Qing stood silently. He had been there for three days, standing and gazing at the cold radiance emanating from the Bingxuan Sect.
Others only knew this cold light was related to the Bing Xuan Heart; beyond that, they knew nothing.
Within the crowd, he was likely the only one who understood the Bingxuan Sect's true purpose.
He knew. He had known from the very beginning.
He knew that Leng Yanqiu had already fused with the Bing Xuan Heart but had not yet unlocked its mysteries. The final step remained: the seven soul fragments of Yun Nishang. Once Leng Yanqiu fused with Yun Nishang's seven soul fragments, it would mean she would replace the Empress, not only perfectly fusing with the Bing Xuan Heart but also unlocking its secrets.
"Young Master, we still don't know who holds some of the Empress's seven soul orbs," Elder Hui said, bowing slightly, his aged brows furrowed deeply. "What will Zhu Xia and the others do when the time comes?"
"That's not important to them," Wei Qing replied, his face also etched with worry as he watched the Bingxuan Sect's cold light. "The Bing Xuan Heart is connected to the Empress's seven soul orbs, and Leng Yanqiu has already fused with the Bing Xuan Heart. When the moment arrives, she will use the power of the Bing Xuan Heart to summon the Empress's soul orbs to her..."
"Ai!" Elder Hui sighed heavily, his expression filled with concern. "What are we to do..."
What were they to do?
Elder Hui didn't know.
Neither did Wei Qing.
Back when Yun Nishang vanished using the Blood Escape Technique, she had instructed him to watch and observe.
And that was what he had always done.
Even now, as he watched Leng Yanqiu on the verge of replacing the Empress, he was still watching and observing.
It wasn't that he wanted to; it was that he could only do this.
The course of events was no longer something he could influence. The existence of Leng Yanqiu, the powerful figures behind Zhu Xia, the experts of the Nine-Hua Alliance, and those Edict Envoys—almost every one of them was beyond his ability to contend with. He could only watch, observe, and pray—pray that the Empress would awaken.
"The Crimson Flame Young Master said he would help the Empress... but why has there been no news of him for so many days..."
Where had Gu Qingfeng gone? Would he come?
Elder Hui didn't know.
Neither did Wei Qing.