The air shimmered with freezing mist as the ancient formation completed its work.
Asha opened her eyes... and her breath caught.
She stood on a massive floating platform of ice crystal, drifting above a chain of snow-covered peaks.
The sky above was endless blue, glowing with spiritual light. Below her, glaciers cracked with divine qi, and far in the distance, palaces made of white jade floated among clouds.
This was no ordinary place.
This was the Ice Moon Sect — one of the Ten Supreme Sects in all of Heavenly Place.
"Welcome to your true path," came a voice beside her.
Her new master — Yue Lian, the Eternal Ice Empress
- stood like a statue of divine frost, dressed in layered robes that sparkled like stars trapped in snow.
With a wave of her hand, the ice clouds below shifted.
A bridge formed of blue crystal, leading to the heart of the sect.
The Celestial Ice Mountains
Asha followed in silence, taking in the impossible beauty around her:
Frozen Waterfalls where qi condensed into solid form midair. Celestial Ice Birds gliding on silver winds, feathers shimmering with frost energy. Disciples in white robes meditating on floating snow lotus pads. Sky-spanning bridges carved from single shards of spiritual ice.
At the center of it all stood the Celestial Ice Temple, surrounded by an eternal snowstorm that never touched its surface.
And within it—
A giant formation of ancient phoenix runes pulsed gently.
A deep, melodic cry echoed across the mountains.
From within the mist rose the sacred beast of the Ice Moon Sect:
The Ice Phoenix - a majestic creature of white flames and glacial wings, thousands of years old.
Its feathers shimmered with runes of law and time.
Cold winds swirled behind it, and every beat of its wings made the world hold its breath.
Vy Chosen of the Phoenix
The Ice Phoenix opened its sapphire eyes and looked directly at Asha.
A long pause.
Then... it bowed its head.
Yue Lian smiled faintly. "It has accepted you."
Asha's eyes widened. "What does that mean?"
The sect master replied:
"It means your destiny is not small.
Your Ice Body is not only rare... it is blessed by something older than this world."
She placed her hand on Asha's back.
"From today, you will cultivate not as a student... but as an heir."