Frozen Maiden

A day had passed.

Though Ye Chen had been expelled, the Ye Clan didn't dare to drive him out of his home. After all, he was still the son-in-law of the Frozen Palace in name.

At this moment, he was soundly asleep in his courtyard.

Even though no one liked him, his treatment wasn't all that bad—food and necessities were still provided.

Given that he was once a genius, aside from their mocking gazes, the servants didn't dare to do anything extreme.

Suddenly, the sky shook, jolting him awake.

The sky over Xianglan City was lit up by a massive blue boat, drawn by a graceful ice phoenix.

Its wings glowed like frost, casting a chilly light over everything below.

"Heavens! Is that... an ice phoenix? How could such a divine creature appear here?"

"This is no ordinary sight. Why would a sacred beast descend on a mere city like ours?"

"It must be the work of one of the top-tier sects! Someone here has surely angered a  immortal power"

"The Frozen Palace... it must be them! Only their sect commands such a beast!"

"Who could have dared provoke them? In this small city, no less!"

"It is said that the so-called waste of the Ye family was engaged to Maiden Zhao Yumu."

"Haha! So that's the story. Hurry up, let's go before we miss the show!"

Many people flocked to the Ye Clan, eager to witness the spectacle.

Most didn't fully understand why, but they harbored hatred and ridicule for Ye Chen.

Despite him having done nothing directly to them and lacking any personal grudge, their dislike was evident.

Even though he had done nothing to them and they had no real reason to dislike him, their hatred was clear.

At this time.

The flying boat hovered just outside the city's protective formation.

If it collided with the barrier, it would be destroyed, and the people would surely resent them.

It wasn't that the Frozen Palace was afraid; as a righteous force, they were simply mindful of their reputation.

Meanwhile...

At the Ye family estate, a sudden commotion erupted as the elders gathered in the courtyard, faces pale, hearts pounding.

"We knew this day was coming," Elder Ye Bai muttered under his breath, "It must be the Frozen Maiden... Zhao Yumu."

The other elders exchanged grim looks.

They had all anticipated this moment.

Ever since Ye Chen's cultivation had been crippled, they knew it was only a matter of time before the marriage contract would be broken.

Yet knowing it was coming didn't make it any easier to face.

Of course, no one liked Ye Chen or felt any sympathy for him.

However, with the support of the Frozen Palace in recent years, the Ye family had grown arrogant, almost ruling over Xianglan City.

But now, their good times were about to come to an end, and all the forces they had offended would surely seek their vengeance.

"We need to move fast. This is no small affair. Wake up the trash immediately and get him ready for the Frozen Maiden!"

Elder Ye's face turned black with frustration. He didn't know what to say; the situation was quickly spiraling out of control.

His resentment toward Ye Chen grew even stronger.

"Do it now!" Elder Ye Bai barked at one of the servants.

The young servant, flustered, nodded and ran toward Ye Chen's quarters.

There was no time for hesitation. The entire Ye family felt the weight of what was to come.

Outside the city, the blue boat hovered gracefully as two figures descended from it.

Zhao Yumu was the first to appear. Her frosty aura radiated from her like a tangible force, commanding attention even from afar.

She was beautiful, but not in a delicate manner—her beauty was sharp, like the edge of a sword.

Her cold eyes seemed to pierce through everything they touched.

Dressed in the pale blue robes of the Frozen Palace, her silver hair cascaded down her back like frozen silk, and every movement exuded effortless grace.

Her cultivation level was profound , at the late-stage Golden Core realm, this was the strength achieved only through years of dedication and exceptional talent, yet she was only nineteen.

At this moment Her expression remained as cold and indifferent as frost.

But the real shock came from the figure following her: a tall, elegant woman whose presence was even more fearsome.

This was Zhao Yumu's guardian, a powerful cultivator at the Void Refinement stage.

Her cold, emotionless eyes scanned the Ye family estate as though all within were mere ants.

Her name was Xue Lian.

She was dressed in white robes, her hair tied in a high bun with a phoenix pin securing it, giving her an ethereal yet dangerous appearance.

In Xianglan City, cultivators of such a high level were rare, and most could not sense her cultivation.

There are many levels of cultivation:

Qi Condensing Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Profound Gold Core Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, Soul Formation Realm, Spirit Severing-Venerable Realm, Divine Transformation Realm, Void Refinement Realm, Body Integration Realm, Saint Realm, Saint King Realm, Sage Realm, Emperor Realm, Great Ascension Realm, Immortal Ascension Realm, and True Immortal Realm.

As a Void Refinement expert, she was not someone who usually descended upon small, barren cities like this without reason.

The Ye family members could only stare in awe, feeling like insects beneath her feet.

At this time...

Zhao Yumu and her guardian, Xue Lian, descended from the vessel.

"Do you really think this is the right course of action, Elder Xue? Ending the engagement with Ye Chen… you know it's what has been decided, but this feels wrong."

"He may hate me for this, and I don't care about his hatred, but this engagement was arranged by our ancestors.

"Discarding it so easily goes against everything I've been taught. Even if there's nothing between us, do we simply throw away their will?"

To be honest, zhoa Yumu still wasn't certain about ending the engagement. As someone who had always upheld tradition, severing a bond arranged by their ancestors didn't sit well with her.

Even though there was nothing between her and Ye Chen, the idea of disobeying their command felt like a breach of honor. It wasn't a matter of feelings, it was about duty.

Xue Lian, her guardian, stood behind her with a stern expression.

Though her face was void of emotion, like a being untouched by mortal concerns, she could not ignore the slight hesitation in her saintess.

Seeing Zhao Yumu in such a dilemma, Xue Lian decided to step in.

"Your Highness, the Frozen Palace's rules are clear. As the future Divine Saintess, you cannot be tied to a man who has become a mere cripple."

"Keeping this engagement would bring dishonor not only to you but to the Frozen Palace itself."

"Believe me, even your ancestors would not wish for their future bloodline to come from a waste."

"And don't forget, what you value most is the Dao. When the Immortal Road opens, how do you expect to seize that chance if you're tied down by worldly matters?"

"If this engagement holds you back, how will you ever focus on your path to greatness?"

Zhao Yumu sighed deeply, her internal conflict visible. After a moment of contemplation, she nodded reluctantly.

"Very well. We will proceed with the termination and offer him the compensation."

Within just a few breaths, Zhao Yumu and Xue Lian arrived at the Ye family estate, where a group of anxious elders hurried to meet them. Elder Ye Bai, his face pale and tense, stepped forward in a hurry.

The patriarch of the Ye family was absent, which could be seen as an insult to the Immortal Sect, but given the situation, no one commented on it.

"Welcome, Maiden Zhao! We are truly honored by your presence,"

Elder Ye Bai said, forcing a strained smile.

"Please, let us make your visit as comfortable as possible."

Zhao Yumu barely glanced at him, her eyes cold as they swept over the estate.

"We don't need pleasantries. Summon Ye Chen. We came here with a purpose."