An hour later, Li Xuan departed from the Star Radiance Auction House.
After all, only one day remained until Bing Ling'er's birthday.
"Grand Steward, what is the background of this person?" An Ruohao watched Li Xuan leave, then couldn't help but approach Ma Bai and ask.
Ma Bai smiled upon hearing this. "Steward An, do you know why you've been in the auction house for so many years without being promoted to manager?"
An Ruohao was startled, then respectfully bowed and said earnestly, "Please enlighten me, Grand Steward."
"Your curiosity is too great, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. However, some things are best left to a certain extent; too much can be counterproductive. Ask what you should ask, and keep what you shouldn't ask buried forever." Ma Bai said, shaking his head and turning to leave.
An Ruohao fell silent. After standing in place for a long time, he slowly turned and left.
Ice Snow City was not far from the Ice Palace. After Li Xuan flew rapidly for an hour and a half, his figure slowly stopped.
Before him was the Ice Palace. To call it an Ice Palace would be more accurate to describe it as a massive snow mountain. Numerous small palaces were built on the snow mountain, and a grand palace stood at the peak.
These palaces blended with the ice and snow, appearing like embellishments, quite pleasing to the eye. A cool breeze drifted through the air, offering a unique sensation.
Of course, this slight chill had no effect on Li Xuan. Moreover, the Ice Palace was bustling with activity at the moment, and various forces from nearby had also arrived in the past two days.
After all, the Ice Palace was a top force in the Southern Region, and many were coming to offer their congratulations.
"Are you also here to celebrate the birthday?" Li Xuan stated his purpose, and a woman curiously sized him up. It was understandable, as Li Xuan was alone. Other well-wishers had arrived in groups.
"Indeed. Also, my sister is at the Ice Palace, so this is an opportunity to visit her as well." Although the woman before him only had a cultivation at the early stage of the Imperial Path Realm, Li Xuan spoke with sincerity.
"Your sister is at the Ice Palace? What is your sister's name?" The woman asked with sudden curiosity.
Li Xuan forced a wry smile. "My name is Li Xuan, and my sister's name is Li Yao. By my reckoning, she joined the Ice Palace about a year ago."
"Saintess Li Yao?! You are the Saintess's brother?" Bing Ruotong was greatly startled and looked at Li Xuan again with disbelief.
"Saintess?" Li Xuan frowned slightly. Yao'er had only joined the Ice Palace a little over a year ago, and she was already a Saintess?
"The Saintess was only enthroned half a year ago, so it's normal you wouldn't know. Since you are the Saintess's brother, please follow me." Bing Ruotong smiled and nodded, then turned and walked towards the palace behind her.
Li Xuan quickly followed, as this was the territory of the Ice Palace.
Soon, led by Bing Ruotong, Li Xuan arrived before a magnificent palace and stopped.
"Please wait here for a moment. I will go and inform them." Bing Ruotong turned to Li Xuan and said, then her figure moved and she entered the palace.
Li Xuan chuckled wryly. If there was one thing the Ice Palace lacked, it was the hospitality. Leaving guests to wait outside the palace was indeed somewhat ungraceful.
However, Li Xuan did not dwell on it, and the surroundings were adorned with many vibrant flowers, their fragrances filling the air, offering a unique scenery.
Boom!
At that moment, a deafening roar echoed. The entire Ice Palace trembled.
"What a powerful aura!" Li Xuan's heart stirred, and surprise flickered across his face. With Bing Ling'er's birthday celebration approaching, was someone causing trouble?
"Who dares trespass upon the Ice Palace!"
A stern shout resonated through the heavens, and immediately, several figures flew from the peak of the Ice Palace, hovering around.
Li Xuan's heart stirred. He glanced at the palace, where no movement had yet occurred, then immediately vanished from his spot.
Li Xuan's figure slowly appeared atop the high walls of the Ice Palace. The lords of various forces who had already arrived were all floating in mid-air, looking towards the sky above the Ice Palace.
It was then Li Xuan saw that a man in black robes was facing the six figures who had just appeared.
"A thousand years of grudges, it is time to settle them today."
A trace of ferocity flashed across the face of the black-robed man. He then reached down, and a spiritual sword, entirely black, flew from the Ice Palace's plaque and landed in his hand.
Clearly, the commotion just now had been caused by this black-robed man.
"Young Master, this fellow is very strong. That black sword is likely of Saint Sword level," the voice of the Heavenly Dao Brush sounded in Li Xuan's mind.
Li Xuan was somewhat speechless. How did this fellow know what was happening outside while he was in the Prison of Exiles? Li Xuan pondered carefully, it seemed that every time something happened, the Heavenly Dao Brush knew about it.
He would have to find time to question this fellow properly. Li Xuan made up his mind and continued to watch.
"Who are you?" A woman asked, frowning.
"Bing Ling Shuang, why don't you come out?" The black-robed man ignored the woman, his gaze shifted slightly as he directly looked towards the high reaches of the Ice Palace.
"Ying Ye, after a thousand years, you have finally appeared." As the black-robed man finished speaking, Bing Ling'er and a middle-aged woman slowly appeared before everyone's eyes.
"I said, as long as I am alive, I will uproot the Ice Palace one day. Today, it will be the day your Ice Palace is destroyed!" Ying Ye was filled with murderous intent, his terrifying aura even causing space to buckle and crack.
"Regarding what happened back then, it is true that the Ice Palace was in the wrong. But Xiao Qian was still thinking of you before she died. If not for that, how would you have survived back then? Ying Ye, I advise you, the sea of suffering has no bounds; turn back and find the shore." Bing Ling Shuang said with a complex expression.
"Turn back and find the shore? Bing Ling Shuang, do you take me for a three-year-old child? After today, there will be no Ice Palace in this world!" Ying Ye sneered upon hearing this, then his black sword trembled and he unleashed a sword strike towards the Ice Palace.
Boom!
Terrifying sword intent surged, instantly engulfing the entire Ice Palace.
"What powerful sword intent. This sword intent has likely reached the eighth level of the Sword Domain," Li Xuan muttered, his pupils slightly contracting as he felt the sword intent in the air.
"Activate the formation!"
Bing Ling Shuang's expression changed upon seeing this, and she shouted loudly.
As Bing Ling Shuang's voice fell, countless figures flew out from within the vast Ice Palace. They rapidly formed seals, and a massive barrier instantly connected.
"A mere mountain protection formation, what can it do to me!" Ying Ye acted as if he didn't take the mountain protection formation seriously, and unleashed another sword strike.
Crack!
Accompanied by a sword's hum, the Ice Palace's mountain protection formation was instantly shattered.
Pfft!
Countless figures spat out a mouthful of blood, and then their bodies plummeted down. Fortunately, other disciples flew up to catch them, otherwise, they would have been killed by the impact.
"You... you have reached the peak of the Divine End Realm?!" Bing Ling Shuang's pupils suddenly constricted, and she looked at Ying Ye with an incredulous expression.
"Today, no one can save your Ice Palace!" Ying Ye did not deny it, and his aura grew stronger and stronger. Some spirit masters who were closer were also pushed back hundreds of meters.
Li Xuan was also stunned. Peak Divine End Realm? This fellow was as powerful as the Southern Region Lord who was killed by the Night Emperor.
Li Xuan muttered, "This guy, he didn't get that 'fortune,' did he?"
Li Xuan clearly remembered the Night Emperor saying that the Southern Region Lord would have a successor, and the fortune belonging to that Lord would be re-chosen. This black-robed man undoubtedly resembled such a figure.
"Xiao Qian, today I will avenge you!" A tear rolled down Ying Ye's face, then his expression hardened, and he unleashed another sword strike towards the Ice Palace.
Boom!
Terrifying sword energy surged, and Bing Ling Shuang and Bing Ling'er, who were at the forefront, were immediately sent flying. The magnificent palace and mountain rocks were instantly cleaved in half.
With the might of one sword strike, everyone present at the Ice Palace was gravely injured!