Zzzeok...
A sound only audible to Seol Lihyang—her blood pathways freezing over.
It was proof that the imnse cold energy contained within the Ice Essence was beginning to mix with her blood vessels.
Afraid she might let the energy leak out, or waste it in vain due to a lack of control, Seol Lihyang clamped her lips shut. A single bead of sweat trickled down her forehead.
“It’s alright. Just store it for now and move slowly.”
Originally, the Ice Essence was a sacred relic that only the Palace Lords of the North Sea Ice Palace could harness. And aside from the current generation, all previous palace lords had reached the Flowering Stage.
As much as it was a precious sacred relic, it was also an object that was difficult to utilize fully unless one had reached the Flowering Stage.
In the current era, the power of the Ice Essence had weakened significantly. Without a proper offering, it could even vanish completely.
Even so, the Ice Essence was still the Ice Essence. The pure cold energy it contained was more than enough to freeze a human body and shatter it entirely.
An ordinary person would have had their fingers frozen the mont they touched it. Even if they managed to swallow it, it would only beco a massive shard of ice and break apart.
But Seol Lihyang was different.
She had mastered the North Sea Ice Palace’s Yin-based energy arts, which were in no way inferior to the Ice Essence itself. Among them, the Glacial True Qi—a technique that prioritized control of cold energy above all else.
In addition, she possessed the Pure Yin Physique. A body constitution that made one innately capable of containing the purest yin energy. That alone was enough to endure the cold of the Ice Essence.
Just as cold energy was a branch of yin energy, the Ice Essence could freeze Seol Lihyang’s blood vessels, but it could not destroy them.
And her oldest mory—was of a distant, bone-chilling cold that made her feel as though she had beco ice itself.
Not due to the weather, but a phenonon caused by her inability to withstand her own yin energy. It had happened more often than she liked to admit.
Back then, Seol Lihyang believed she had been born with a congenital illness... but now, she understood.
It was rely that her entire bloodstream had frozen from the intensely refined yin energy of her Pure Yin Physique. Yet, because of that very physique, she had not died and had been able to survive.
And now was no different.
The imnse cold energy of the Ice Essence far exceeded the internal energy she had built up until now.
Any ordinary martial artist would have died the mont their blood vessels froze. But Seol Lihyang could endure it thanks to her unique body.
The process didn’t need to be clean or perfect. As long as she could endure it and contain the energy of the Ice Essence, then all that remained was—
—To move this imnse cold energy, just once, according to her will.
Seol Lihyang slowly opened her eyes.
Move.
She focused her entire concentration toward the cold energy locked tightly in her blood vessels.
You have to move!
In the past, when Cheon Hwi-da had personally taught Seol Lihyang martial arts, he once said:
It is willpower that makes the impossible possible—not rely physical movent or internal energy manipulation.
And willpower is made of intention and thought. What people commonly call “the heart.”
Moreover, since everyone has a heart, everyone is capable of using willpower. It's just that most people can’t consciously control it, and their thods are far too immature to be aningful.
Thus, the harmony of soul, qi, and body—not just how well one fights—is what determines the height of one’s martial prowess.
To most, it was a theoretical tale detached from reality. But not to Seol Lihyang.
For her, dismissing Cheon Hwi-da’s words had never been an option.
He was the one who shattered her dark and confined world, the one who held her hand and pulled her into the light. How could she ever doubt his words?
I can do it. I’m certain.
So she let go of everything unnecessary.
She discarded the thick pride she had built to protect herself.
She cast aside the self-doubt that clung to her ever since Cheon Hwi-da beca distant.
And finally, even the faint jealousy and obsession she had harbored in her heart—she let those go as well.
Once all her layered shells had peeled away, only pure intention remained.
A fierce, azure demonic aura began to ripple across Seol Lihyang’s eyes.
The people nearby, watching her from close by, all flinched at her terrifying gaze. But if Cheon Hwi-da had seen her now, he would have been awed instead.
Seol Lihyang exuded the kind of chilling otherness unique to those who could throw away everything about themselves for a single purpose.
And now, the demonic aura blazing in her eyes surpassed even her pre-return self, who had never fully shed her armor.
Woooong—
The cold energy that had sealed her blood vessels responded to her transcendent will and began to stir—slowly but surely.
Simultaneously, from within the pure, nearly natural cold energy of the Ice Essence, a murky, blood-hued evil energy began to rise.
A corrupt energy born from the blood of countless Divine Maidens sacrificed to restore the Ice Essence’s power over the years.
How many of them had truly offered their lives willingly?
The resentnt of those who hadn’t must have gradually tainted the Ice Essence.
No—perhaps it had been corrupted from the start.
After all, wasn't the Ice Essence taken from the belly of the mother of the Azure Cold Serpent, slain by the North Sea Ice Palace’s founder?
But to Seol Lihyang, none of that mattered.
Neither the desperation of a spirit beast that died protecting its young and nest, nor the grudges of Divine Maidens forced to die.
Even when all of that was added up, Seol Lihyang’s intent did not fall behind.
Above all else, those were the lingering wills of the dead—each one rely a type of yin energy.
Seol Lihyang’s Pure Yin Physique wasn’t suited for handling just cold energy. It was ant to control all forms of yin.
Ududck...
The sound of ice cracking echoed all around.
The once-rigid cold energy of the Ice Essence began to circulate slowly yet distinctly through Seol Lihyang’s blood vessels.
A sensation like ice sliding along her ridians.
Coincidentally, the path followed by the frigid energy mirrored the chant formula for Glacial True Qi, as if to prove the legitimacy of that martial art.
And the mont she succeeded in making one full rotation with the Ice Essence’s energy—
—Seol Lihyang opened her mouth softly.
“Huu...?”
An overwhelming sense of omnipotence from controlling such unimaginable power. Exhaustion built from surpassing her limits. The achievent of enduring it all. And even the sudden impulse to run straight to Cheon Hwi-da—
A whirlwind of emotions filled her breath and scattered into the air.
Seol Lihyang’s gaze drifted out the window, away from her inner self.
Cheon Hwi-da and Seo Mun-Hwarin were still fighting the Azure Cold Serpent.
A deep sword wound had ford on its nape, and its tail had been crushed, but—
—It had co at a price. Both of them were not in good condition.
Seo Mun-Hwarin’s protective energy shield was visibly faint, and Cheon Hwi-da seed to be wielding his sword one-handed, his left arm limp as if struck wrong.
Seeing this, a faint smile ford on Seol Lihyang’s lips.
“Looks like I’m not too late.”
But she knew this wasn’t the ti for composure.
She took a deep breath—and released it, carrying all her swirling emotions.
A clear voice. No lyrics, only tones and lody. And yet, even in this dire situation, her song wrapped the hearts of those who heard it in warmth.
Though not sung loudly, her voice carried far and wide.
A song filled with nothing but pure affection and worry. Instead of spreading warmth, it absorbed the surrounding cold and swelled in power.
Not just the natural energy of the North Sea—but even the internal energy of the North Sea Ice Palace’s warriors.
“H-Huh?!”
“Wh-What is this...??”
Shock filled the eyes of the Ice Palace Lord and Bing Yerin.
Who wouldn’t be alard, watching their internal energy get drawn out against their will?
Of course, the pulling force of Seol Lihyang’s yin-based voice technique wasn’t that strong.
It wasn’t coercion—more like a gentle invitation. If they wanted to resist, they could. But—
“Warriors of the North Sea Ice Palace! Do not resist the feeling you sense now! Offer up your internal energy!”
The Ice Palace Lord knew well that Seol Lihyang’s martial arts, though rooted in the sa origin as the North Sea Ice Palace, had developed in a completely different direction.
She was aware that by using a yin-based voice technique to spread Glacial True Qi, Seol Lihyang could temporarily amplify its power through resonance with nearby cold energy.
But as for how it resonated with the North Sea Ice Palace’s internal energy—that remained a mystery.
Perhaps, in learning the palace’s martial arts, Seol Lihyang had unconsciously expanded her influence.
Or perhaps this ability had always been hidden deep within the Glacial True Qi that none had practiced for so long.
What was certain was that with each portion of internal energy consud, the power contained in her song grew stronger.
Each fragnt of energy might have seed insignificant, but together they beca a force not inferior to the cold energy enveloping the Azure Cold Serpent.
Of course, Seol Lihyang wasn’t controlling it directly. Just channeling the Ice Essence’s energy into her voice was already pushing her limits.
She lacked the strength to command it all.
Instead, she simply offered direction for the cold energy to move. That alone was enough.
Watching all this unfold beside her, Bing Yerin’s eyes widened.
Glacial True Qi.
Though recognized for its legitimacy due to its origin with the palace’s founder, it had been deed impractical and left unlearned.
Eventually, it beca a secret art that no one could master—even with the manual.
It was believed to offer no ability beyond manipulating large amounts of cold energy. But now—
Now she understood why the North Sea Ice Palace’s founder had treasured and preserved the Glacial True Qi.
In its early days, the North Sea Ice Palace had not been as strong as it was now. Even after finding a new sanctuary, they had still struggled daily in the frigid environnt.
They had taught martial arts to as many as possible, hoping that one day, they might gather the surrounding cold and create a habitable land. That was likely why they passed down the Glacial True Qi.
At so point, drunk on power, the palace neglected the technique ant for the future—and instead chased only the Ice White Divine Art, which could freeze enemies before them.
The weakening of the present-day palace may have been inevitable.
If so, then the current Seol Lihyang...
As Bing Yerin’s thoughts reached that point, the song—now containing the energy of the Ice Essence and the internal energy of the Ice Palace warriors—reached the Azure Cold Serpent.
Originally, Seol Lihyang’s plan was rely to disrupt the flood dragon’s energy control and create an opening.
But now, the energy her voice drew had far exceeded her expectations.
Zzzeok.
The blizzard summoned by the Azure Cold Serpent dissipated as though it had never existed.
The additional layer of scales that covered its body cracked and shattered of its own accord.
The beast, stunned by its own suddenly hardened, immobile energy, beca nothing more than a massive snake with no ans to fight back.
Toward the gaping weakness, crimson and white aura crashed down from above and rose from below.
Kwaaang!
Seo Mun-Hwarin’s fist smashed down on the flood dragon’s crown.
Scales shattered. Part of the skull caved in. The head slamd violently into the ground—
—and upward ca Cheon Hwi-da’s reverse-gripped sword.
Ssskuk.
The Azure Cold Serpent’s head was severed, its own neck thrown into the blade’s path.
Kuuung!
Due to its sheer size, its body hit the ground with a resounding crash.
Like the tenacious creature it was, the headless body thrashed briefly, but—
—A body without a head could never move for long.
Cheers erupted from all directions the mont the dragon’s death was confird.
But to Seol Lihyang, they rang only as noisy tinnitus. She had overdrawn her spiritual energy, and clearly surpassed the limits of what her body could handle.
Even with a Pure Yin Physique, enduring this level of strain would leave her far from unscathed.
“Ah...”
Perhaps sensing as much, Cheon Hwi-da ran toward her in a panic. A bright smile blood on Seol Lihyang’s bloodied lips.
“So troubleso. I’m going to get scolded by Cheon Hwi again, huh.”
Her tone betrayed no real distress or regret—of course it didn’t.
So saw a demonic aura in her that no human should possess. Others saw the past and future of the North Sea Ice Palace.
But from the beginning, Seol Lihyang had eyes only for one person.
Cheon Hwi-da.
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