The courtyard had not yet quieted from Haotian's return when the sound of rushing footsteps filled the air. From every hall, every walkway, disciples poured into the square, their voices overlapping in confusion.
"What's happening?"
"Why is everyone gathered?"
"Did something happen to the Sect Master?"
Then they broke through the crowd—hundreds of female disciples, sleeves fluttering as they pressed together. Their eyes darted about the courtyard… until they saw him.
"Senior Brother Haotian!"Their cries rang out in unison, voices raw with relief and joy.
But before they could rush forward, Yinxue's sharp voice cracked like a whip.
"Stand back!"
The entire courtyard stiffened. The disciples froze mid-step, looking like startled rabbits before a hawk.
"It is not your place to behave so recklessly. Compose yourselves."
The chastised disciples lowered their heads, murmuring, but Haotian stepped forward, blood still at the corner of his lips, his smile warm.
"Please, Sect Master, don't blame them. It's not their fault. They've endured days of misunderstanding and despair. What you see now is only chaos born of concern."
He turned to the new arrivals, his eyes softening as he lifted one hand in greeting. A subtle wink accompanied it.
The girls' stoicism crumbled instantly. They giggled, cheeks flushing as they whispered among themselves, their spirits lifted as if the gloom of days had melted.
Yinxue pinched her brow with two fingers, exhaling slowly. Her cold gaze lingered on Haotian before she finally asked, "If you claim to have slain the Frost Wolf, then prove it. What gains have you brought back?"
The courtyard held its breath.
Haotian's expression shifted—calm giving way to a mischievous curve of his lips. He tilted his head, eyes glittering.
"I was waiting for you to say that."
He turned, striding to the empty stretch of snowfield behind him. His sleeve flicked, his hand extending outward. A ripple of qi spread from his palm.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground shook as an enormous corpse materialized, crashing onto the snow with a thunderous impact that sent a wave of frost sweeping across the courtyard.
Gasps filled the air.
The corpse's fur was silver-white, its body enormous, its fangs like swords. Even in death, its aura was suffocating.
Haotian's voice rang clear.
"This is the Frost Wolf. Its cultivation was at the initial stage of Dao Comprehension Realm."
The courtyard erupted.
"Dao Comprehension?!"
"That's impossible!"
"He… he killed something like that?!"
Even the elders' faces drained of color, their lips trembling.
Haotian glanced at their stunned expressions, then gave a faint nod.
"Yes. And that was only the king."
Before anyone could speak, his qi surged again. The air split with one pulse after another as his rings opened, disgorging bodies like an unending tide. Wolves, apes, serpents, lizards, bears, hawks—every type of frost beast imaginable, all slain, their frozen corpses stacked in neat formations as though they had been felled for display.
One after another, the bodies piled high. The snowfield became a mountain of death, spreading outward until the courtyard could no longer contain the sight.
By the time Haotian's rings stilled, the field behind him was covered.
Twenty-five thousand corpses, frost-qi rising like mist into the cold sky.
The sect fell into silence. Not even a whisper remained.
Disciples clutched their robes, their eyes wide, tears pooling once again. Elders stiffened, their minds blank with shock. Even Yinxue, her face as still as ice, could not disguise the faint tremor in her hands as she looked upon the sea of corpses.
One man. Alone.
Haotian leaned on the Fenlong Spear casually, his robe torn, his chest still stained with blood, yet he smiled as if presenting a gift.
"I trust this is proof enough."
No one dared breathe.
The silence that followed was louder than thunder.
The courtyard was frozen in stunned silence. The towering pile of twenty-five thousand beast corpses loomed like a mountain of death, the frost-qi rising in ghostly plumes that chilled the very marrow.
Disciples clutched one another, their eyes darting between Haotian and the impossible battlefield trophies. Elders struggled to compose themselves, their thoughts in disarray.
But Haotian was not finished.
He straightened, brushing a streak of blood from his chin, and with a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, said lightly:"Of course, corpses aren't all I've brought back."
The crowd flinched. The weight in his voice promised something greater.
He stepped forward into the open field once more. His hand rose, sleeve fluttering as he swept it through the air. Space rippled.
BOOOOOOM.
The ground quaked as a colossal tree appeared, roots thick as mountains, branches heavy with crystalline lotus blooms that emitted pure frost-qi. Each petal shimmered with blue-white light, exuding serenity. The very air shifted, yin energy purifying, softening around the sacred presence.
Gasps filled the courtyard.
"A Frost Lotus Tree!""That's impossible—it's extinct!""No… it's real!"
The elders staggered back, their hearts trembling. Even Yinxue's expression cracked for a fraction of a second as she beheld the towering tree.
Haotian's lips curled into a small, knowing smile."Uprooted with roots intact. We'll replant it in the sect. Its frost aura will temper your qi, cleanse impurities, and refine your meridians. With this tree, the Moon Lotus Sect will flourish."
The disciples swayed where they stood, tears spilling as their knees weakened from reverence.
But Haotian raised his hand again. The tree vanished back into his ring. Another ripple split the air.
From within shimmered a crystal ginseng root, its body twisted and radiant, each segment glowing with icy runes. Its age radiated like pressure, its qi so thick the very snow around it crystallized into jade.
"This is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Frost Ginseng," Haotian said evenly. "Its medicinal power alone is enough to restore a failing sect, or advance one's cultivation by leaps."
Shouts and cries rang out. Elders' lips moved wordlessly, trying to comprehend the scale of what they were witnessing.
Haotian continued. His qi pulsed, and the ground rumbled again.
A basin of icy springwater shimmered into view, but at its center floated a glowing crystal, radiant with pure yin energy. The air shifted immediately, growing cold yet refined, nourishing rather than malignant.
"The Source Crystal of a Frost Spring," Haotian explained, voice steady, though his smile deepened. "A natural treasure condensed over millennia. Its energy will feed both cultivators and formations."
Before they could recover, another surge burst from his rings. A vein of glittering stone, crystalline in texture, rolled into view like a fragment of heaven itself, frost-light glimmering from within.
"A Frost Vein," Haotian said. "Every stone drawn from it holds three times the purity of ordinary spirit stones, infused with yin affinity."
The disciples staggered as though their hearts could not endure more. The elders gripped their robes, veins bulging on their foreheads as if their very lifetimes of effort had been outshone in a breath.
But Haotian's voice cut through again.
"And lastly—"
His sleeve flicked.
FWOOOOSH!
Three eggs appeared, each the size of a child's head, their shells gleaming silver with faint frost runes pulsing like heartbeats. The courtyard fell utterly silent.
"Unhatched Frost Falcons," Haotian said, eyes glinting. "Each one, when raised, can grow to become a beast of the Dao Realm. Their bloodlines are pure. Their loyalty, if bound early, is absolute."
The disciples collapsed where they stood, some sobbing openly. The elders stared blankly, unable to believe. Yinxue herself was silent, her frosty composure barely holding as her mind raced.
The treasures shimmered in the moonlight, their presence alone transforming the sect grounds into a realm of legends.
Haotian exhaled softly, sweeping his hand to withdraw them once more."That is all."
He turned, his princely smile returning as he rested the Fenlong Spear behind his back."Will this suffice as an explanation for my absence?"
No one spoke. No one dared.
Then, like a dam breaking, the sect erupted—cheers, cries, disbelief flooding the night.
But not one could look at Haotian the same way again.
The courtyard erupted into chaos once more, though not the despair of before—it was a storm of awe and disbelief.
Disciples clustered in circles, their voices trembling with excitement."Did you see? A Frost Lotus Tree!""No—no, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Frost Ginseng!""The Falcons… those eggs are worth entire sect legacies!"
Some wept openly, clutching their sleeves. Others laughed and spun in disbelief, as if they had slipped into a dream. The elders muttered furiously among themselves, their composure cracking as they argued in whispers about what this meant for the sect's future.
Yin Xue raised her hand, her aura rippling through the courtyard. Instantly, silence fell.
Her voice was cold but steady."Enough. Excitement will not clean this battlefield. Disciples, begin clearing the corpses. Do not let them rot here. This is no treasure trove—it is blood and flesh, and it must be processed."
The disciples bowed in unison."Yes, Sect Master!"
Her eyes turned briefly to Haotian, still standing tall with the Fenlong Spear across his back."You. Take the treasures and follow me. The elders will join us."
Without another word, she turned, her robes trailing across the snow as she strode back toward the sect gates. The elders exchanged glances, their lips moving in hurried whispers.
"Three treasures of extinction-class rarity…""The balance of power across the Nine Sects will shift.""If this news spreads—"
Their words trailed off into silence as they followed her, heads bowed, still shaken.
The courtyard's mood lightened once they were gone. The female disciples hurried over to Haotian, their faces glowing with relief and joy.
"Welcome back, Senior Brother Haotian!""We missed you so much!""You've grown even more amazing…"
He smiled, his princely aura effortless as he clasped his hands in thanks."Thank you, all of you. But now… truly, you must begin processing the corpses. This will take effort and order. Do not let this gift turn into chaos."
The girls pouted playfully, reluctant to let him go so soon. One finally asked with wide eyes,"Will you really come back and help after the meeting?"
Haotian chuckled, a light warmth in his voice."Yes. It's a promise."
The words seemed to ripple through them like sunlight. The heaviness of days past melted, their spirits renewed.
"Then let's work hard! Senior Brother Haotian promised!""Yes! Let's not let him down!"
Energy surged through the courtyard. Disciples began moving with renewed vigor, forming squads to sort the beast corpses, their hearts strangely light despite the grim task.
One girl nudged another and whispered loudly,"Go fetch some of the male outer disciples to handle the heavier labor. Senior Brother Haotian shouldn't have to clean all this with us!"
Laughter broke out among them as they bustled to their tasks.
Haotian turned, his smile fading into a calmer expression as he stepped away from the crowd. He adjusted the Fenlong Spear on his back, his robes fluttering as he moved toward the sect gates. His pace was steady, but in his eyes lingered the glint of someone already planning for what came next.
The path before him led not to laughter, but to the hall where the Sect Master and elders awaited.
The Moon Lotus Sect's council hall glowed dimly under pale lantern light, shadows stretching across jade floors. The elders sat along the curved dais, their expressions a mixture of awe, greed, and unease. At the head, Sect Master Yinxue regarded Haotian with her usual icy composure, though her gaze carried a weight of expectation.
Haotian stood tall before them, Fenlong Spear resting on his back. Despite the dried blood on his robes and the exhaustion faintly shadowing his face, he looked composed, calm, even princely.
"The treasures," Yinxue said, her voice cool but sharp, "are no ordinary gains. If word spreads, the Nine Sects will act. We must decide carefully how they are used."
The elders erupted in arguments.
"Replant the Frost Lotus Tree within the sect's heart!""No! Conceal it, or spies will swarm us like vultures!""The Frost Vein must be secured with all wards we have!""Then what of the Source Crystal? Should we dare expose it at all?"
Their voices tangled until Haotian raised a hand lightly, silencing them with nothing but a faint smile.
"You are all partly correct," he said evenly. "But there is a better way."
The elders quieted, curious despite themselves.
Haotian stepped forward, his tone calm yet confident."The Frost Lotus Tree should indeed be planted at the center of the sect—but not as it is. I will set up formation arrays to protect and conceal it."
The words struck like thunder. Yinxue's brows lifted, her frosty mask cracking with the smallest flicker of surprise.
"You… can set up formation arrays?"
Haotian chuckled, his eyes glinting."Yes. As a matter of fact, I am quite accomplished with them. For the Frost Lotus Tree, I will establish an eleven-fold formation array."
The council chamber erupted in gasps. Elders leaned forward, their robes rustling, voices trembling.
"An eleven-fold formation?""Impossible—only grandmasters of ancient sects could weave so many layers!""Even the greatest array masters rarely manage beyond seven!"
Haotian's smile widened faintly."Impossible? Not at all."
He lifted his hand, sketching invisible lines into the air as he explained."The first array will be a Chi Gathering Formation, devoted to nurturing the Frost Lotus Tree directly. The second, another Chi Gathering Formation, will exist solely to power the others. The third, a Concealing Formation, will project the Frost Lotus Tree as nothing more than a mundane tree in the courtyard."
The elders listened, stunned, as he continued without pause.
"The fourth and fifth layers will be Defensive Formations, able to hold off Soul Transformation realm attacks for a day."
A murmur swept through the chamber—an array like that was already beyond priceless.
Haotian's voice grew sharper, the rhythm of a master teaching disciples."The sixth, eighth, and tenth layers will be Killing Arrays, each designed to destroy intruders of ascending strength. The seventh and ninth will be Illusion Arrays, to bewilder and trap spies or attackers."
Finally, his hand lowered, and his voice dropped slightly."The eleventh array is special. It will be inscribed upon the center formation itself. Its purpose is not defense, but cultivation—it will disperse the yin qi of the Frost Lotus Tree evenly throughout the entire sect. The ambient qi will temper the disciples' bodies, cleanse impurities, and refine their meridians. Every cultivator in Moon Lotus Sect will grow as if they were seated beneath the tree itself."
The chamber was deathly silent.
Elders stared at him with wide eyes, hands trembling against the arms of their seats. Yin Xue's lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze locked onto Haotian with unmasked intensity.
An eleven-fold array.
Not even their ancestors had wielded such mastery.
Finally, one elder whispered hoarsely, breaking the silence."…this alone could change the destiny of our sect."
Haotian inclined his head slightly, a faint smile curling his lips."That is precisely the point."
The council chamber was still reeling from Haotian's eleven-fold formation plan for the Frost Lotus Tree when his voice once again cut through the silence. Calm. Steady. Almost playful.
"As for the Frost Vein and the Source Crystal," he said, his eyes glinting, "I would like to design… a bath house."
A ripple of confusion and scandalized gasps swept through the chamber. Several elders blushed furiously, and even Sect Master Yin Xue's composure wavered for a heartbeat.
"A… bath house?" an elder sputtered, her cheeks flushed."This—this is highly improper!" another stammered, fanning herself with her sleeve.
Murmurs broke out across the hall, and a few disciples standing as attendants turned bright red, lowering their eyes.
Haotian raised his hand with a soft chuckle."Please, do not mistake my intent. This will not be an ordinary bath house. It will be a sacred ground of cultivation."
The whispers stilled. The elders leaned in, wary but curious.
Haotian's voice deepened, each word deliberate."The Frost Vein will form the foundation of the bath house itself. Its energy will circulate naturally through the walls and water. At its heart, I will embed the Source Crystal. Its yin qi will suffuse the waters, tempering the bodies of those who bathe within. Every disciple and elder who enters will have their physiques refined, their yin affinities sharpened to a higher level."
The elders shifted uncomfortably, but their eyes glimmered as his explanation unfolded.
He continued, "And more—when they cultivate within those waters, they will also draw upon the essence of the Frost Vein. The vein will not deplete, for it will continually replenish itself by absorbing frost qi channeled from the Frost Lotus Tree's formations. This creates a cycle: the tree nurtures the vein, the vein strengthens the waters, and the waters empower the disciples."
His tone warmed, almost amused."In short, the bath house will not merely be a place of rest. It will be a crucible—an ever-renewing chamber where hundreds may strengthen themselves at once."
The elders exchanged glances, their earlier shock giving way to astonishment.
"One… hundred disciples at once?""Not just disciples—the elders themselves could benefit!""A cultivation treasure that does not deplete… that renews itself endlessly…"
Even Yin Xue, usually cold as winter steel, lowered her gaze briefly to conceal her flicker of surprise.
Haotian let the silence grow heavy before finishing."Resources and treasures like these are not meant to be hoarded. Nor should they be wasted on single-use indulgences. If they are to serve the Moon Lotus Sect, they must lift the entire sect as one."
For a long moment, no one spoke. The council chamber was filled only with the soft crackle of lanterns.
Finally, an elder broke the silence with a trembling laugh."Ha… Haotian. You would turn treasures that could buy entire kingdoms into… communal foundations. Into blessings shared by all."
Another elder shook her head in disbelief."This boy is too dangerous. Not for his power—but for his vision. With such designs, the Moon Lotus Sect will ascend beyond the Nine."
The hall fell quiet again. All eyes shifted to Sect Master Yin Xue. Her gaze lingered on Haotian, unreadable, her fingers tapping softly against the armrest of her throne.
She finally spoke, her voice calm but carrying the weight of finality."Very well. The Frost Lotus Tree shall be replanted with the eleven-fold array. The Frost Vein and Source Crystal will form this… Frost Bath House you propose. But Haotian—"
Her gaze sharpened, her eyes locking onto his with icy precision."—you will personally oversee these works. If you falter, if you mislead, it will be your responsibility. The sect cannot afford even a shadow of error."
Haotian bowed slightly, a faint smile still on his lips."Of course, Sect Master. I would expect nothing less."
The council chamber was still vibrating with whispers after Haotian proposed turning the Frost Vein and Source Crystal into the foundation for a cultivation bath house. Some elders still flushed at the word, others leaned forward, captivated by the idea of hundreds training together in such a holy place.
But Haotian, as though remembering an afterthought, raised a finger lightly."Oh, I nearly forgot—there is one more component."
Every elder froze, eyes darting to him.
He smiled faintly, voice calm yet brimming with quiet confidence."The bath house will not rely solely on qi and water. I will also create a bath solution—an elixir to infuse into the waters. This solution will allow disciples to temper their yin physiques by absorbing yin qi directly through the skin. Their meridians and bodies will be nourished in ways cultivation alone cannot achieve."
Gasps swept through the chamber.
"A… solution infused into the waters?""That would mean…""They could cultivate even in stillness, their very bodies refined by soaking!"
Haotian continued, his tone steady, unshaken by their astonishment."And when paired with the Frost Crystal Vein Pill I will refine, the bath house will temper both body and spirit together. The waters will purify their yin physiques, while the pills sharpen their spiritual essence. Body and soul, rising as one."
The elders' faces shifted between disbelief and awe, their mouths opening and closing without words.
Haotian folded his hands behind his back, his princely bearing unshaken."I already have a theory for the solution. With the herbs I gathered during this trip—thousands of rare strains, some unseen for centuries—I believe I can produce enough to sustain the bath house for fifty years."
The chamber erupted in uproar.
"Fifty years!?""Impossible!""With enough for fifty years, even disciples not yet born will benefit!"
Sect Master Yinxue's usually frosty mask finally cracked. Her eyes sharpened with something caught between awe and suspicion, staring hard into Haotian as though searching for deception.
An elder finally breathed out, her voice trembling."If such a place exists… every disciple who steps into it would rise like bamboo after spring rain. Within one generation, the Moon Lotus Sect could surpass all Nine Sects."
Another whispered, almost afraid of her own words."He speaks as though reshaping destiny itself."
Yinxue raised her hand, silencing them all. Her gaze did not leave Haotian."You will not only design these things," she said slowly, her tone iron, "you will create them. With your own hands. The Frost Lotus Array, the Frost Bath House, and this solution of yours. If you succeed, you will lift this sect beyond its dreams. If you fail…"
Her eyes narrowed."…you will answer for it."
Haotian only inclined his head, the faintest trace of a smirk curving his lips."I understand, Sect Master. Then allow me to reshape destiny."