The Fiend of Ice and Fire

The architecture of Jingxiang Realm was mostly delicate and graceful; though not defined by grandeur or solemnity, the old established medical families still exuded a certain dignified air. Standing before the grand residence, gazing up at the inscribed plaque hanging high above, the young man waiting below wore a polite smile. As they paused, he strode forward, first exchanging formal greetings with the elder Nascent Soul cultivator, and then addressed Hansu, saying, “So you’re the daughter of Sister Tong—my father has been expecting you for quite some time. Please, come in.”

Someone of Hansu’s junior rank naturally did not require a personal welcome from the family head. In fact, aside from those with cultivation above Soul Transformation, who were greeted by the head himself, all other members of the Luoxing branch were received by Jiang Lu, the father of the young man Jiang Jiayan.

Hansu, accompanied by Rong Ling, bade farewell to the elder and followed Jiang Jiayan into the ancient mansion that had withstood winds and rains for tens of thousands of years. Over two millennia, the Jiang clan had flourished and multiplied. Despite hardship and the dispersal of kin to other realms, the old house had gradually grown cramped. Expansion and renovations had been frequent, but this ancestral ground was unlike any other—only the family head and the core branches were permitted to reside within its walls.

Passing through countless courtyards, they finally reached the small garden prepared for them, where Jiang Jiayan’s father was already waiting. He was a somewhat short and stout Nascent Soul cultivator, whose cultivation foundation was not particularly solid—clearly, he had relied on many medicinal aids, leading to some instability.

His face bore a kindly look, inspiring instant warmth from those who met him.

“So this is little Hansu? Even in distant Jingxiang Realm, I have long heard your name. Truly, a prodigy in your youth! And this must be your friend? Our home is humble and cramped—please forgive any inadequacies in our hospitality.”

“Not at all, it is we who are imposing,” Hansu replied.

“Oh, we’re all family, don’t speak so distantly. Now, your visit to Jingxiang Realm… is there anything you must bring to our attention? It would allow us to be of some humble assistance.”

“Well, in truth, I—” Hansu began, but Rong Ling interjected smoothly, “Actually, we are only here to travel and broaden our horizons. Hansu’s cultivation has advanced too swiftly, and her state of mind has struggled to keep pace. So, we decided to journey through various lands, letting her see the world—an experience that will temper her spirit. We never intended to trouble you.”

The appearance Rong Ling had taken on differed significantly from before, with rougher features and no resemblance to his prior self, yet his bearing remained strikingly distinguished—one could not help but be impressed. His voice was as clear and pure as a mountain spring, but with a magnetic undertone that drew the listener in, leaving their heart lightly stirred.

His words, both clear and gracious, radiated an easy warmth that immediately endeared him to Jiang Lu.

“It is no trouble at all! It’s admirable for a young person to understand the importance of cultivating one’s state of mind. Well then, I’ll have Jiayan accompany you both. Although he is much older, his cultivation is about the same as yours. Perhaps you’ll find common topics. Please, don’t hesitate to let him know if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Uncle Jiang,” they replied in unison, and Jiang Jiayan proceeded to show them around the residence.

“I must admit, it’s rather embarrassing,” said Jiang Jiayan, ever cheerful. “I’m over two hundred years your senior, yet my cultivation is about the same. Still, I don’t let it trouble me.”

Hansu shot a furtive glance at Rong Ling, which he caught with keen perception. She stuck out her tongue and said, “Please don’t say that, Cousin Jiayan. Actually… we’re not that young ourselves… and how quickly one advances isn’t what matters most. As long as you feel at ease, that’s what counts.”

Rong Ling, having caught her glance and words, realized she was calling him old, and couldn’t help but blush. Hadn’t he formed his core at a young age too? He’d been considered a prodigy in his day… So, strictly speaking, Jiang Jiayan’s words weren’t wrong after all…

Jiang Jiayan was quite the talker. “Exactly, comfort is what matters. I love traveling and exploring, but have always been confined to this house. Honestly, I’ve never even left Jingxiang Realm. Unlike you, who have traveled far at such a young age! So, if I get the chance to accompany you out and about, I’ll be delighted. It’s better than being forced by my father to make pills, cultivate, and meditate all day—I was never one for such a lifestyle.”

With this cousin as their guide, Hansu and Rong Ling saved quite a bit of trouble. Although he claimed never to have left the realm, his conversational skills were remarkable, and he knew every corner of King’s City. Wherever they went, he always had something to say. Though there was still no clue about what Rong Ling sought, Hansu had seen much by following him around and gained a great deal.

One day, while the three were visiting a teahouse, they overheard someone at a neighboring table mention a beast outside the city: the Frostfire Fiend, capable of both conjuring ice and breathing fire. Both Hansu and Rong Ling were startled. Hansu’s surprise was understandable, as she knew little of the world, but Rong Ling was truly perplexed.

As one with both ice and fire spiritual roots, Rong Ling had long searched for supporting resources—techniques, pills, spirit beasts, materials—anything that could be of use. Throughout his thousands of years of cultivation, from the Qi Refining stage to the Tribulation Crossing, he had studied countless works and traveled far, yet had never heard of a spirit beast that, like his own roots, harbored both ice and fire.

At best, he had encountered fire-aligned beasts who tolerated ice, or vice versa, but never a true dual-element creature.

Thus, all three were intrigued. Jiayan, playing to his strengths, gathered information on the beast’s whereabouts, and the three decided to investigate.

“Cousin Jiayan, when did the Frostfire Fiend appear?” To save their strength (and enjoy a leisurely journey), the three took Hansu’s puppet-driven spirit boat after leaving the city, sipping wine as they traveled. Jiayan, having only just gathered the latest news, began to recount as they drifted along.

“Apparently, shortly after you arrived, someone saw golden light blazing from Lotus Pond Mountain outside the city. Many thought a rare treasure had appeared, but those who went to investigate found a massive fissure had split the mountain. When they tried to enter, they were driven back.”

“Was it the Frostfire Fiend who drove them off?” Hansu asked.

“Yes. Those rebuffed were unwilling to give up and are now organizing a group to kill the beast and search for treasure.”

“So there must be a crowd there by now?”

“Most likely. It’s been days, so I’m sure many have gathered. Anyway, we’re just going to watch the excitement. Hansu, since you have both ice and fire roots, are you hoping to tame the Frostfire Fiend as a spirit beast?”

“Ah? I’m not sure—of course, that would be ideal! My current spirit beast, honestly, has no integrity at all—just wants to cling to powerful people, and has long forgotten how I painstakingly cared for it when it hatched. I’d really like a loyal companion for once.” As she spoke, she shot a secret glance at Rong Ling and sent a mental message to Xueling, who was waiting in the Immortal Palace.

Rong Ling chuckled at her. The girl, who had once treated him with such reverence, was now far more at ease. But he liked it that way—it had been too long since he’d experienced life as a low-level cultivator. This sense of simply being alive was wonderful.

Lotus Pond Mountain was not far. Even without pushing the puppet boat to its limits, they arrived within a quarter of an hour. As Jiayan had said, the mountain was bustling with cultivators. The closer to the fissure, the higher the rank of those present. By the time they reached the legendary rift, the area was surrounded by Soul Transformation cultivators.

Clearly, the Frostfire Fiend was no ordinary beast.

When Jiayan and the others arrived, the Soul Transformation cultivators paid them no mind. At such a level, who cared if juniors risked their lives? If a group of Soul Transformation cultivators let a junior in the Golden Core stage snatch the prize, it would only mean their luck had run out—nothing more to say.

Jiayan, seeing the formidable crowd, pulled at Hansu’s sleeve. “Hansu, look, these are all Soul Transformation cultivators. Even with your spiritual root advantage… maybe we should stay in the outer circle and watch from afar?”

But Hansu was already drawn by a familiar aura emanating from the rift. That presence… she knew it. What was it?

She was not the only one affected; within the Immortal Palace, Xueling felt it too.

Xueling, having heard Hansu’s earlier words, was feeling a mixture of guilt and anxiety. Yet as they neared the rift, an uncontrollable force surged within it—a powerful, invisible cord seemed to tug it toward the opening. Even inside the Immortal Palace, the compulsion was irresistible.

At last, Xueling could bear it no longer and leapt out like a mass of snow, plunging straight into the fissure.

“Hey! Xueling, what are you doing? There’s a beast in there that will eat you!” Hansu, connected to Xueling by their shared spirit, could feel some of the same pull. Though the force was not directed at her, she could still control herself, but to her shock, Xueling had jumped in.

Although, ever since Rong Ling appeared, Xueling had shamelessly switched allegiances and lost all sense of loyalty, it was still Hansu’s first—and only—spirit beast. She had hatched it herself, nurturing it with her blood and spiritual energy. They had cultivated and fought side by side; it had once been her closest companion.

Now, seeing it leap into the rift, its fate unknown, what else could she do?

Her body moved faster than her mind. Without pausing to consider Xueling’s “betrayal,” or whether she should risk her life for a spirit beast, she simply leaped after it.

“Hey! Hansu, what are you doing? There’s a monster in there!” Jiayan had just been trying to pull Hansu away when, to his astonishment, her snowy spirit beast flew from her arms into the fissure, and she dove in right after it. “Oh no, what now!”

Jiayan spun in place, grabbing Rong Ling. “What do we do? She just jumped in! That’s a great beast even Soul Transformation cultivators hesitate to confront—surely this is a death sentence!”

“Wait for us here. We’ll be fine. Whatever you do, don’t come down,” Rong Ling said simply, then leapt in as well.

“What…?” Jiayan was dumbfounded. He’d brought two guests here, and both had leaped into the rift without hesitation—had they lost their minds over trying to catch a spirit beast? He glanced around; none of the Soul Transformation cultivators nearby even looked up. Clearly, they had no sympathy for hot-headed juniors rushing to their doom. With no other choice, he retreated a little, holding onto the faint hope that Rong Ling’s words would prove true.

Author’s note: The story is progressing bit by bit. Though there are times I struggle or get busy, I’ve never thought of giving up. All I hope is to write a little better, to be liked by more readers. Keep going!