The cabin of Master So Yun was a sanctuary of ice and serenity, its walls shimmering with translucent frost that pulsed faintly with spiritual energy. Runes etched into the ceiling glowed softly, casting a pale blue light that danced across the room. Kai stood before her, his heart a tangle of hope and caution. The spatial portal he had discovered loomed in his mind, its mysteries both a promise and a threat. He hadn't rushed to activate it, despite the system's prompt, a decision born of Aina's recent words echoing in his head. Recklessness had nearly cost him everything before. He wouldn't make the same mistake again.
So Yun's piercing blue eyes studied him, her expression unyielding as she shook her head. "No."
Kai frowned, his voice tinged with confusion. "But why? This portal could elevate the Eternal Ice Fort, couldn't it?"
So Yun sighed heavily, her delicate fingers tracing the rim of a crystal goblet. "No, Kai. It could bring disaster upon us all. The path of Heaven guides cultivators, but too many in the immortal world chase ambition over wisdom. That portal could lead to a fiery abyss or a demonic sect's lair. Even if it doesn't, its discovery would draw the eyes of powerful sects. The Fort is already a thorn in the side of the Tiger and Dragon Clans. An uncharted portal would be a spark in a powder keg."
Kai nodded, her logic sinking in. "I understand. I promise I won't tell anyone else about it."
His thoughts raced. If the Shen Clan learned of a second portal, they'd wage war to claim it. The Fort, a quiet prison for fire cultivators like him, would crumble. He recalled a night in the Shen Clan, ambushed by shadowy figures, their blades glinting with killing intent. His cultivation had been burned away then, leaving him broken but alive. The memory sent a chill down his spine, sharper than the cabin's icy air.
So Yun's voice softened. "Besides, activating a portal requires immense Qi and a teleportation key—a physical construct woven by a formation master to prevent unauthorized access. Without it, even a Shen Clan elder would struggle."
"A teleportation key?" Kai echoed, his curiosity piqued.
"Yes," she said, leaning back. "A safeguard, like a lock on a door. Only someone of immense power could force it open, and I doubt such a master would bother with this place."
Kai's mind whirred. The system had offered to open the portal with ten million Qi—no key required. The number was staggering, enough to make his head spin. Yet So Yun's words rang true, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the portal held secrets beyond his grasp.
"I'm surprised you sensed it at all," So Yun continued, her tone shifting to curiosity. "That arch has been studied by masters, myself included, and none of us uncovered its purpose. Your spiritual sense is remarkable, Kai."
He averted his gaze, a pang of guilt twisting in his chest. "You said my spiritual sense was flawless, Sister So."
Lying to her felt wrong, but revealing the system was too risky. Its existence was a secret he guarded fiercely, a lifeline in a world that had tried to break him.
So Yun's eyes narrowed slightly. "If you could activate it, theoretically, you could escape the Frost Ridge. But without natural fire Qi, you'd never reach the Core Formation stage here. Even with my help, Meridian is your limit. I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to apologize for, Sister So," Kai said, his voice steady. "You've done more for me than I deserve."
She smiled, a rare warmth in her icy demeanor. "Modesty doesn't suit you, young Kai. But I'm pleased to see you tempering your fire Qi's influence. It's a start."
Kai's eyes widened. "What? Fire Qi can affect a cultivator's behavior?"
So Yun massaged her temples, her expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief. She waved her hand, and icy runes spread across the cabin's walls, sealing their conversation from prying ears. Her gaze bore into him, filled with a bitter resolve.
"Kai Shen, be honest," she said. "What happened to you? I could overlook your lack of etiquette or alchemy basics, but not knowing something so fundamental? No Shen Clan heir would be taught so poorly."
Silence hung heavy. Kai's heart pounded, his mind racing. She knew something was off. He couldn't lie forever, not to someone who had shown him nothing but kindness. Taking a deep breath, he made a choice.
"They burned out my cultivation," he blurted, his voice trembling. "In the Shen Clan. I survived, but I lost my memories."
So Yun's eyes widened, and she rose, crossing the room in an instant. She enveloped him in a tight embrace, her voice thick with emotion. "How? Kai, how did you survive?"
"I don't know," he mumbled, embarrassed by her warmth. "Just lost my memories."
She pulled back, her eyes glistening. "It's a miracle, Kai. The Phoenix Sect's cultivation burning is a brutal execution. Most lose their mind, their soul, becoming husks. You must have done something extraordinary to warrant such a punishment."
"I stole a technique, they said," Kai replied, his voice bitter. "But they never told me the real reason."
So Yun snorted, settling back into her chair. "Nonsense. As a Shen heir, their secrets are yours by right. Unless you somehow mastered one of the three divine techniques…"
She froze, her expression shifting to fear. Another wave of her hand wove a second layer of icy runes around the room. "Kai, after the burning, did they try to kill you?"
"Yes," he said, grimacing. "Many times. I found documents ordering Master Lu to kill me. I burned them."
"Good," she said, her voice firm. "You did the right thing. Your survival is a heavenly miracle, Kai. The Shen Clan should have spared you the moment you retained your mind. To defy that is to defy Heaven itself."
Kai smirked, his tone dry. "So, Heaven's wrath will strike them down?"
So Yun's expression darkened. "I thought you were safe here, a dead man in the eyes of the cultivation world. But if the elders are defying Heaven, I can't be certain of anything anymore. And one more thing—you don't have ten years."
Kai tensed. "Can someone bypass the portal?"
"No," she said, shaking her head. "The portal fully activates once a decade, when Yin energy thins the Frost Ridge's barrier. But every three years, after the Moon Festival, there's enough energy for a small message to pass through. And I suspect it will concern you."
"Master Lu?" Kai asked, recalling the fire cultivator's venomous glares.
"Exactly," So Yun said. "He's exiled here, desperate to leave. He'd do anything to curry favor with the Shen Clan. I can handle him, but others may follow. Tell me, Kai—your question about the portal. Can you really open it?"
"In theory," Kai nodded. "If I had enough Qi."
So Yun's lips curved into a cryptic smile. "That won't be a problem. The portal doesn't care about the type of Qi. The eternal ice here, the old veins saturated with spiritual energy—they're as potent as spirit stones. You could gather enough in three years."
Kai's eyes widened. Aina had mentioned the ice, a task for novices that paid poorly. Yet it could be his salvation. But at what cost? The forest's secrets seemed to whisper of hidden dangers, waiting to be unearthed.