Chapter 7: Frozen Cloud Asgard

“Destroyed by others?” Xiao Che’s eyebrows shot up sharply. From childhood to adulthood, whether from his grandfather’s tales or the rumors circulating outside, he had always been told that his meridian was congenitally defective. Even after his “rebirth,” carrying the legacy of the Medical Saint’s descendant, he had only just realized that his broken meridian was not innate.

But Summer Qingyue had spoken a single sentence that revealed the truth: his damaged meridian was not from birth, but had been injured by external forces after he was born.

This fact went unnoticed by everyone in the Xiao household. Yet Summer Qingyue discerned it in just a few breaths.

This woman…

“Exactly.” Summer Qingyue’s eyebrows dipped gently, her voice soft and certain: “Moreover, since the injury occurred in his early years, and his family had likely not noticed, no repair or treatment was ever attempted. As his body matured, the extent of the meridian’s defect became fully formed—irreparable beyond repair!”

Her final words were spoken with absolute confidence. For an adult, a damaged meridian could lead to uncontrolled qi leakage, but there were still methods to restore it. However, in infancy, during the formative years, if a meridian was defective, its growth would begin from that defect and become even more severely compromised by adulthood. By Xiao Che’s age, it was essentially set—no possibility of repair remained.

Yet Xiao Che’s expression remained unchanged, his tone calm: “That may not be the case.”

Summer Qingyue glanced at him lightly: “It seems you’ve been fixated on repairing your meridian all along.”

“I will restore it.” Xiao Che said flatly, his face expressionless.

Summer Qingyue studied him deeply, her eyes lingering in his gaze—not just seeing arrogance and confidence, but a profound, chilling resolve. She sighed softly in her heart, then spoke quietly: “…The vast lands of the Tianxuan Continent are home to countless gifted individuals. Perhaps there truly exists someone who can restore your meridian. My earlier assertion was unwarranted; take it as my ignorance alone.”

These words dramatically shifted Xiao Che’s impression of her. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked: “The cold qi you used earlier—what was it? I’ve never heard of anyone in Lingyun City wielding such qi. Your master, surely he isn’t from Lingyun City… though that may be your private matter, you need not answer.”

Summer Qingyue fell silent for a long time. When Xiao Che thought she would remain silent, she finally spoke calmly: “Ice Cloud Technique.”

“Ice Cloud Technique?” The name caused Xiao Che to pause, a vague familiarity stirring within him. When he recalled what the term represented, his face shifted abruptly, his voice breaking uncontrollably: “Ice Cloud Palace!?!!?”

Summer Qingyue’s eyes flickered with surprise as she looked at Xiao Che. Though his emotions were clearly out of control, she found him still remarkably calm. Even if the ruler of Lingyun City had heard the name, he would have frozen in shock, his legs trembling. She said lightly: “My master is indeed from Ice Cloud Palace. I’ve only recently become a disciple there. This matter is known only to my father and you—two people in all of Lingyun City. I will tell you… because, in name, you are my husband, and that is the most basic respect I owe you.”

“…” Xiao Che’s heart reeled, unable to steady itself. The four characters “Ice Cloud Palace” detonated within him like a colossal bomb. For it was one of the four most powerful sects in the Tianxuan Continent, a sacred ground that all cultivators yearned for, a pinnacle even the imperial family themselves offered tribute to annually!

Heavenly Sword Mountain, Ice Cloud Palace, Xiao Sect, Burning Heaven Gate.

The Tianxuan Continent’s smallest nation, yet never conquered by others, owed much of its survival to these four great sects. Other nations might not fear the imperial court’s power, but they dared not underestimate these sects.

Their strength was unquestionable. Their disciples were selected with extreme rigor, valuing talent over background. Almost every cultivator in the Xiao Empire dreamed of entering one of these sects. And to be accepted into any one of them, even as a lowly disciple, brought honor to one’s entire family—birds and dogs would sing in celebration, the court would treat you as an honored guest, and titles and ranks would be bestowed.

Yet this small Lingyun City had never heard of anyone entering these four sects, nor dared to imagine such a thing. For Xiao Che, these names were like thunderclaps, yet as lofty as celestial palaces—never dared to dream of touching them… until now, his newly wed wife turned out to be a disciple of Ice Cloud Palace, ranked just below Heavenly Sword Mountain!

Xiao Che quickly regained his composure and asked calmly: “Since you’re a disciple of Ice Cloud Palace, why hasn’t your family made this public? With your status, the Summer family could dominate Lingyun City. No wealthy family, not even the city lord, would dare oppose you. Their influence would skyrocket by countless times.”

“Because of you.” Summer Qingyue replied.

“Because… me?” Xiao Che blinked, then fell silent. The three words struck him with certainty.

“The mere fact that a daughter of the Summer family married you had already sent shockwaves through Lingyun City. If she had also been a disciple of Ice Cloud Palace, the upheaval would not have been limited to this small city—it could have unleashed countless unforeseen consequences. After all, the gulf between us is too vast.” Summer Qingyue’s voice was faint, her gaze clear. Though she stood there quietly, she radiated ethereal beauty.

Xiao Che exhaled slowly: “Then why did you marry me?”

“The reason is clear in your heart… my life was saved by your patriarch. When he was assassinated, he could not defend himself, leading to the collapse of his faction. And on the day I was born, my father betrothed me to you, to repay your patriarch’s kindness and honor his promise. I had no reason not to marry you.”

Summer Qingyue lifted her gaze, her eyes as cold and clear as freshly fallen ice: “I told you because I wanted you to know, to master the Ice Cloud technique, one must first have an icy heart. The Ice Cloud Palace only accepts women and forbids them from entangling in worldly affairs or emotions. Even though I am married to you, I could never love another. This is something you must understand.”

“…Even if you weren’t from the Ice Cloud Palace, I doubt you’d ever love me.” Xiao Che chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Summer Qingyue shook her head gently: “Perhaps you misunderstand. I do not look down on you, nor have I ever done so… Masters often tell me that even the highest among us can only look down, never look upon with contempt. Moreover, I am merely at the beginning. The Tianxuan Continent, though it venerates cultivators, has countless physicians, alchemists, and artisans praised by the world. A congenital meridian defect does not mean a life of ruin.”

Xiao Che was moved. The Lingyun City legends spoke only of Summer Qingyue’s beauty and talent, never knowing the profound mindset beneath her beauty—something most middle-aged people could never attain.

She was only sixteen… in a few years, she would be even more breathtaking. No wonder the Ice Cloud Palace had taken notice!

And this woman, whose looks, talent, and temperament were nothing short of divine, had truly become his wife—it felt like a dream come true!

If he hadn’t possessed the experiences and memories of two lifetimes, he would have dared not even glance at her face.

“Thank you for sharing this with me…” Xiao Che sighed, then turned his gaze resolutely: “Then, tell me—what is your current cultivation level?”

At sixteen, reaching the Tenth Level of the Early Dao Realm was enough to shake the entire Lingyun City. But Xiao Che did not believe Summer Qingyue’s strength was limited to that. Such a talent, unmatched in Lingyun City, would not even qualify to be seen by the Ice Cloud Palace.

Xiao Che’s sudden question left Summer Qingyue momentarily speechless, yet her silence clearly indicated her strength exceeded the Early Dao Tenth Level.

“You should go offer incense to your wine now.” Summer Qingyue glanced sideways, then said calmly.

Her words had barely settled when footsteps approached the door. The familiar, calm voice of Xiao Hongcheng echoed in: “Young Master, it is time to offer incense to the wine.”

“Old Uncle Hongcheng, I’ll be right there.” Xiao Che nodded, gave her one last look, adjusted his attire, and exited the room.

As Xiao Che left, the room suddenly blazed with brilliant ice light. A figure of snow-white appeared before Summer Qingyue, as if in a dream. Summer Qingyue stepped forward, bowing gently: “Master.”

“Qingyue, you’ve achieved your wish. Come with me back to the Ice Cloud Palace.”

The voice was soft and beautiful, like clouds drifting, as light as wind, enough to melt even the coldest heart in the world.

Summer Qingyue shook her head gently: “Master, Qingyue wishes to stay a while longer. Since their wedding was just yesterday, he will inevitably face bitter mockery. Please grant me a month, and I will leave him in a way that causes him no harm, nor allows others to continue tormenting him.”

The robed woman’s gaze was calm and steady. After a moment, she nodded, smiling faintly: “Very well. Since you’ve broken tradition by becoming the first married disciple in a century of the Ice Cloud Palace, a little delay won’t hurt.”

“Thank you, Master.” Summer Qingyue bowed again, hesitating slightly, then whispered softly: “Master, is his meridian truly beyond repair?”

The robed woman shook her head almost instantly: “In this world, perhaps nothing is absolute… but at least in my view, it is impossible. Qingyue, you have a heart full of kindness, compassion, and gratitude—that is good. But this time, I truly cannot help you.”

[Because the previous few days in Wenzhou, the manuscript was tight, and the update frequency might not be consistent. Let me take a few days to adjust, and from then on, I’ll update daily at set times, so everyone doesn’t have to wait without rhythm anymore. Yes…]