A group of cultivators garbed in the icy blue robes of the Bing Clan was stationed at one of the pivotal private usage Void Gates, located at the center of an expansive field of short grass and flowers. Only by using this Void Gate could experts bypass the Spatial Restriction Formation surrounding the Bing Clan's territory.
Most of the cultivators present were wearing respectful expressions filled with reverence, each with cultivation bases at the Mystic Ascendant Realm, with most of them possessing cultivations at the Mystic Star Phase, while others had thoughtful expressions.
Leading this party was a middle-aged woman with astonishing mature allure, enchanting beauty, and an exceptional bearing befitting a leader of one of the Eight Noble Clans. She was dressed in a white robe with a pale, pure, teal aqua-green belt wrapped around her slender waist. With her thin eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, sky-blue irises, and proud features, beautiful was the only word needed to describe her.
She was the Matriarch of the Bing Clan! Her aura fluctuated quietly, exerting a terrifying invisible force unconsciously, revealing her cultivation base at the Demi-Mortal Lord Phase. She went by the Daoist title of Everfrost in her younger years, but those who were her relatives and close friends knew her as Bing Jingru.
Bing Tian had sent over her request to use this Void Gate to swiftly arrive in the Bing Clan, avoiding traversing foreign Domains, and they were alerted. As a show of respect, Bing Jingru decided to personally greet Bing Tian after not seeing her for so long. Shortly after the incident with Wu Yu, Bing Tian was captured by the He Clan, and the Bing Clan could only frustratingly accept the situation given how Bing Tian recklessly invaded and exerted her strength in a foreign domain.
Not even the Imperial Clan could infringe on the He Clan's right to deal with perceived invaders. At most, they could prevent He Bojing, the He Clan's Earthly Saint, from crippling her or forcing her to accede to his desire for her to become his concubine. However, shortly after her release, she was involved in the Chaosnova incident.
She hadn't seen Bing Tian for nearly two decades, only receiving brief spiritual transmissions, and many kept inquiring about her presence, seeking an explanation. The Imperial Clan wasn't any different in this goal, yet Bing Tian had vanished without a trace. If it wasn't for her life talisman…
Fortunately, Bing Tian was returning today. How could she not come personally? Not only was she here for their familial ties, but she was deeply concerned about the developments of the world and the future of the Bing Clan. She, too, had been feeling as if the world was changing too fast, and there was a looming scent of turbidity in the air. While Ice Jade was gorgeous as a planet, instilling a sense of calm and peace amidst its natural beauty, there was an invisible tension accumulating that could barely be felt.
"Grandmother!" A lively voice resounded from afar, and the welcoming party all turned to see a trio of figures approaching. Some of those amongst them had a change in expression, and they mostly involved a look of exasperation and conflicted emotions.
These elders were all prestigious figures with authority and power, and they all knew about Xiao Bing's situation. However, the reputation of her so-called lover—Wei Wuyin—had overturned her fate as a Yin Cauldron, and transformed her into a person of astonishing status and pampered treatment. Despite being a Core Disciple, she received far greater benefits than other Core Disciples.
For example, she had unlimited access to many Secret Realms that greatly increased the efficiency of cultivating Ice Intent, Ice-Attributed Arts, Spells, and Cultivation Methods. While most Core Disciples had to display astonishing talent and earn through missions and trials, she was simply given it.
This obviously gave birth to some animosity and jealousy, especially amongst the junior generation. The senior generation, however, felt enraged not just by Xiao Bing but Bing Liya's presence. The Bing Clan always had set rules of fairness and equality, and only those with astonishing talent, regardless of their status, would be bestowed with great resources.
But the Matriarch had slyly saddled her granddaughter to Xiao Bing, not only using their relationship as a way to stall her marriage with an Imperial Prince but to also give her equal access to these precious Secret Realms as she 'accompanied' Xiao Bing as the key to ease relations and lessen animosity. It was certainly an intelligent move, especially given their close proximity of age, and it seemed they'd developed a friendship, but this still frustrated these elders.
Unfortunately, the one who typically upheld fairness, Highlord Frostwind, among the two, had vanished. So these elders were here to remedy the issue, bringing back fairness to the clan's rules, or at least to seek out compensation for the lopsided treatment of their juniors, descendants, and disciples. All of these elders were here after keeping their network to the ground regarding any of Bing Tian's news.
Bing Jingru slightly frowned as she regarded the incoming trio.
Elder Jialun…
She didn't expect to see him with Bing Liya, especially given how little he cared about the official affairs of the clan, mostly staying outside the Aeternal Sky Starfield for the sake of exploration and cultivation due to his divergent cultivation method. While she had learned of his return a few weeks ago, it was a little strange to her upon further thought. After all, his residence was located on Ice Sky, not Ice Jade.
However, Bing Jingru changed her frown into an amicable smile as Bing Liya and Xiao Bing arrived, especially given the latter's importance to maintaining relations with Wei Wuyin. While her beginnings had been shaky, Bing Jingru intended to use her authority to make the rest of her stay in the Bing Clan the greatest experience possible.
She greeted them amicably.
Just as Bing Liya was about to deviously spill out Bing Jialun's marriage proposal, the Void Gate droned with spatial activity, and everyone's bodies perked up as they focused on the Void Gate. Soon, a slender figure walked out.
Bing Tian!
When Bing Tian arrived, she was inwardly taken aback by the welcome party, especially her sister's presence. She frowned slightly, and the sensation of unease began to uncontrollably grow in intensity.
"Welcome back, Grand Elder Frostwind." Despite being her sister, Bing Jingru still formally greeted Bing Tian. The latter's eyes swept those present, and she stopped at Xiao Bing. She was slightly stunned. Xiao Bing had the uniquely-formed and distinct pale white hair that denoted her cultivation of the prodigious Ice-Attributed Cultivation Method of the Bing Clan, the Truefrost Ice Qi Method. It heavily resembled the Imperial Heaven Qi Method, and while it wasn't as profound, it was by no means weaker.
Unfortunately, it had issues with cultivating beyond the Demi-Mortal Lord Phase, similar to the Tang Clan's Cultivation Method. Yet it granted the strongest form of Ice Energy through exquisite refinement. It carried heavy similarities to a Level Three Nascent Soul's Profound Meridian.
Xiao Bing, whom she found in a silver-rank organization, was meant to be a present to her grandnephew. Her first instincts were to attempt to remedy the situation with an apology, adding onto the obvious efforts the clan took to reconcile, but just as she was about to open her mouth, just as the elders were thinking of how to bring up their dissatisfaction with Bing Liya's unfairly given benefits, or for Bing Liya's mischievous smile filled with delight about ridding herself of the fly named Bing Jialun, Bing Tian's Spatial Ring unleashed a brilliantly colorful outburst of raging radiance.
"...!" The scene caught those at the scene off-guard.
Bing Tian's spiritual sense hurriedly inspected her Spatial Ring, but before she could react, her Spatial Ring quivered slightly before fracturing as the specially-prepared container for the Heavenly World Core abruptly exploded! Her Spatial Ring was not a Saint Ring forged by an Internal World, so it was unable to withstand its presence.
BOOM!
Her ring exploded!
Her left-handed ring finger was eviscerated. But that aside, the contents of her ring had collapsed in an instant! The only thing that survived the turmoil of space was the Heavenly World Core! It floated calmly amidst the chaotic bellowing of fixed space that sent Xiao Bing and Bing Liya back. The others were Ascended beings, be it false or genuine, so they easily resisted the explosive force with their refined bodies.
Bing Tian was stunned; she was about to make a move, but a heavy, despotic, and incredibly familiar presence erupted that caused her to become distracted, questions erupted in her mind, but this delay caused her scalp to become numb!
PSSSSH!
The sound of metal viciously slicing into flesh resounded!
"Grgh!" Bing Tian's eyes widened to their limits. Before her eyes, a blade that resembled a lump of iron was embedded into her chest and stomach, while her legs were taken off the ground, and her body was lifted until her back faced the sky alongside the tip of the blade. Her icy blood dripped alongside the blade's length, and she clutched at it with seven fingers and two thumbs, unable to pull it out or muster any form of strength!
Her Mystic Core and Mystic Soul were obliterated!
A hand reached out to grab the Heavenly World Core that was surrounded by a shadowy mist. "Only one?"