On the other side in the cave, Mike finally settled. He sat cross-legged, breath steady, aura restrained, patiently stabilizing his stage after the breakthrough and the long month of alchemy. Excess spiritual energy gradually sank back into order, no longer raging through his meridians. Only when everything was calm did he move.
From his storage ring, he took out a technique. It was a set of thin wooden plates, carved with symbols and joined together, forming pages like an ancient book. This was the technique Jian Dao had given him. Ice Tribulation technique.
Mike frowned slightly. What's so special about this?
The wooden pages looked ordinary. No radiance. No pressure. No visible seal.
He leaned closer and tried to read. Nothing made sense. The characters twisted, overlapped, broke apart, then rearranged themselves. Meaning slipped away the moment he focused. What a pain in the ass, Mike muttered. I can't even read this thing.
He paused, thinking. Activate it… but how?
Flame? No. Too risky. Spiritual energy? He tried. Nothing happened. Seriously?
Mike exhaled, then his eyes narrowed slightly. Consciousness. He didn't hesitate.
His consciousness struck forward and the moment it touched the wooden page, the world collapsed inward. Darkness. Pure, absolute black.
Mike found himself standing in a sealed void. No ground, no walls, only a single door ahead of him, glowing faintly, its outline carved by light alone.
Again with the black rooms, he muttered. He walked forward and pushed the door open. The instant it opened, darkness shattered.
Mike stood upon a vast circular platform, forged from thick, layered iron. The disc floated in endless space, engraved with patterns so precise they looked alive.
Cold wind swept across the platform. Where am I…? Mike murmured.
His gaze sharpened. This is inside the technique.
The detailing, the structure, the sense of scale, this wasn't a simple cultivation manual. This was a constructed inheritance space.
Then a voice broke the silence. This is the Ice Tribulation Technique. The voice was calm, ancient. It has only one stage. Its power grows with cultivation, but its tribulation grows even faster. Mike listened intently. Only those at Jing ying Star One may manifest Ice Tribulation. Using it twice at this stage will drain the cultivator completely.The voice continued. To truly learn it, one must understand its meaning. The space around Mike dimmed slightly.
Ice cannot destroy fate by force alone. But if heaven interferes then fate weakens. Understand this. You are ice. You are heaven. Force fate to bow before you with will and heaven.
The words struck Mike like a hammer. His body went cold. Not from temperature but from weight. These weren't instructions. They were principles.
Mike's breathing slowed. His eyes widened slightly. What was that? he whispered. Mike clenched his fist. No one can understand this without support, he said slowly. But I did. His heart thumped once, heavily. I Mike Yeager… son of Elden Yeager… am blessed.
The space trembled faintly. Hoo… Mike exhaled, then grinned slightly. Alright. Let's master it.
He raised his head and spoke not as a demand, but as a vow. Senior, these words hold countless meanings. But what I understand is this.
Ice to destroy both fate and heaven with the of will if they threaten what I protect. Ice to shield my blood. Ice to protect my family. Ice for my friends. Ice for everyone I care about. And ice… to stand with me forever.
Silence followed, then the voice answered softly. As you wish, young one.
A white light flashed. A straight stream of energy pierced forward and entered Mike's forehead. His consciousness trembled.
Then, everything settled.
Before the space faded, the voice spoke once more, lower this time. Young brat… this understanding is protective in nature, strong in spirit. But these words will make you an eternal enemy of heaven. Be careful.
The world dissolved.
Mike snapped back into his body. What… he muttered. How many enemies do I have now? Then he froze. The wooden technique was gone. Hey, what?! Mike panicked, searching his storage ring. Why did it disappear?! No trace. Tch. Fine. I'll ask Master later. He stood up, scanning the cave. Where's Jian Wu? he muttered. And how many days are left before the competition…?
After three days later, Mike lay sprawled on a flat, inclined stone, one arm behind his head, eyes fixed on the pale sky beyond the cave mouth.
This sky… he murmured lazily, exhaling. It's always beautiful. Then his expression dimmed. But the problem is, i have been lying here for three days. He turned his head slightly, gaze drifting toward the frozen lake hidden deeper within the cave. And Jian Wu is nowhere.
A flicker of unease stirred in his chest. Did something happen to her? Should I go down and check? He shook his head sharply. No. Don't spiral. That's just thinking negative.
Just as he relaxed again. A presence brushed against his senses. Not hostile. Not oppressive. But scent of roses spread through the cold cave air soft, unmistakable, completely out of place.
Mike frowned. Rose fragrance? Something light touched his face. Oof. He caught it instinctively. A pink rose petal. Mike stared at it, brow furrowing. This doesn't belong here. This cave doesn't grow anything like this.
His heartbeat quickened. And this feeling in my chest… he muttered. What is this? He stood up slowly. I think someone's here. Then, he saw her. At the far edge of his vision stood a woman, motionless, framed by pale light. Silver hair cascaded down her back, her presence serene yet overwhelmingly vast.
Mike's pupils shrank. Danger. Before he could even blink. She was in front of him.
Mike jumped back. O–oh! Oh my goodness, miss, what are you—?!
His instincts screamed. Strong. Terrifyingly strong. Stronger than Master. Stronger than dean Jing Xu. This isn't even comparable. Is she… an ancestor?
The woman tilted her head slightly, eyes calm, ancient.
It can't be, she said softly. You shouldn't be young again.
Mike blinked. What? Miss, he said carefully, forcing calm, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm a disciple of Azure Sky Academy. If you're here, then… you must be an academy ancestor, right?
The woman smiled faintly and said Azure Sky Academy. She stepped closer. Mike stepped back instinctively. Huh? she said mildly. You think I belong to this place?
Then her smile faded. But I am not from here.
Mike's expression hardened instantly. Not from here? His voice sharpened. Then that means, you're an intruder. His heart raced. I need to inform Master. Without hesitation, Mike turned and shot toward the cave exit. He didn't summon his wings. Too slow. If I fly, she can intercept. He moved purely on spiritual propulsion.
Behind him, the woman laughed softly.Fool. The world shifted. Chairs appeared in midair. A table manifested between them.
Mike reappeared seated forcefully on one chair. What—?! He shot to his feet. How am I back here?! Who are you?!
She was already seated opposite him, legs crossed casually.
Mike acknowledged situation and said calmly this is not something i can escape easily.
She gestured. Sit.
Mike sat. Not by choice. His eyes widened. You tell me to sit and I sit?
Now he was certain. You're no ordinary cultivator.
One teacups appeared on the table in front of mike. Drink sip by sip, she said.
Mike stared at the tea. Polite. Calm. Still terrifying. Who are you? he asked. Where are you from?
She smiled faintly. I already told you. I am not from this world.
The words struck like lightning. Not from this world? Shock ripped through Mike. He swallowed the tea in one gulp.
Didn't I say slowly? she sighed.
His heart began pounding violently. Before it could spiral. Her presence pressed lightly against his chest. Instant calm.
She frowned. Her body flickered a little bit. I'm fading. Her voice sharpened. Listen carefully, you are not ordinary. If Heaven notices you, crush this jade. She created a jade with a thought and through it towards Mike. Her gaze hardened. Your cultivation is negligible. This tea will push your growth but remember this. Find your past. Not your present. Everything you are… lies behind you.
She paused. Hmm, looks like your partner is back. Then she vanished. The table. The chairs. Gone.
The cave returned to stillness. At that moment. Water surged. Jian Wu emerged from the lake, breath steady, aura powerful. Brother Mike! she called, rushing toward him. You're here!
Mike turned and froze. That same presence. His legs buckled. He stumbled back. You!
Brother Mike? Jian Wu reached him quickly. Are you okay?
He blinked hard. Jian Wu? The presence faded. It's you… He exhaled. You came back.
She smiled. Yes. And I reached Jing Ying, third star.
Mike forced a smile. That's… great. Really great.
She tilted her head. Your aura is strange. Strongerbut unstable.
He stiffened. That tea. I, uh… Dou Ba, fifth star, he said quickly.
Jian Wu didn't press. Brother Mike, she said slowly, you told me to go deeper into the lake.
Mike nodded. I felt something unusual.
I went, she said. And I obtained an inheritance a cat.
His breath caught.
And I heard a name, she continued. Lingyuan Baihe.
The moment she spoke it. Something stirred violently in Mike's heart.
Then she hesitated. There was another name. Faint. Almost lost.
Mike swallowed. What name?
Ye Mingke, she spoke.
Pain exploded. Aaah! Mike clutched his head, screaming. Voices echoed. Ye Mingke. Ye Mingke. A blurred figure appeared before him a man, indistinct, familiar. How… is this possible…? Darkness swallowed everything.
Brother Mike! Jian Wu cried, catching him as he collapsed.
Panicked, she summons jade and crushed it with hand.
Far away, at Jian Dao's residence, silence. Jian Dao stood on the balcony, hands resting behind his back, gazing toward the distant mountain ranges layered like sleeping beasts beneath the dusk sky. The wind tugged gently at his robes, but his posture did not waver.
Outwardly, he was calm.
Internally, concern brewed.
I hope you're both doing well… he murmured.
The words lingered in the air, unfinished. Then his voice dropped, quieter almost afraid of being heard.
But can I really tell you that truth, Mike?
The wind brushed past his face, cold and fleeting, as if carrying the question away.
Suddenly, Jian Dao stiffened. His body reacted before his mind could catch up.
The jade on Jian Wu's side shattered and at the same instant, the jade bound to Jian Dao fractured as well.
Crack.
The sound rang like a death knell. Jian Wu was in danger.
Jian Dao's eyes flew open. What?
Something had gone terribly wrong.
Outside, the wind howled, a sudden violent gust snapping the banners in the courtyard below.
Jian Dao did not waste another second. His figure blurred space folding as he disappeared, leaving behind only the fading echo of disrupted qi and a balcony suddenly too empty.