Chapter 14 — Snow Blossom Sect

After the auction ended and the guests gradually left the pavilion, the once lively atmosphere turned quiet and serene. However, beneath this calmness, unfinished business remained.

Shen Yuxian sat leisurely in the VIP room, sipping his warm tea in silence when a soft knock echoed at the door.

"Come in," he said flatly, without shifting his gaze from his teacup.

The door slowly opened, and Xuan Yi—the beautiful woman in a red dress who had led the auction earlier—gracefully stepped inside. Her face maintained a professional composure, yet a slight smile lingered at the corner of her lips.

"Master Shen," she greeted softly, "by order of the Pavilion Master, I have been sent to escort you to his chamber. He wishes to meet you personally to finalize the auction matters."

Shen Yuxian placed his teacup down calmly, glancing at Xuan Yi for a moment before giving a slight nod.

"Very well. Lead the way."

Meeting the Pavilion Master

The Pavilion Master's chamber was vastly different from the grand auction hall. Here, the atmosphere was quieter, filled with an air of authority. Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with ancient scrolls and records, while a faint scent of incense drifted through the air.

The Pavilion Master, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard and sharp eyes, sat behind a large sandalwood desk. As Shen Yuxian entered, the man stood respectfully.

"Master Shen," the Pavilion Master greeted in a deep, authoritative voice. "Congratulations on your victory in today's auction. I trust the items will be of great use to you."

Shen Yuxian merely gave a slight nod, taking a seat without unnecessary conversation. He was more interested in concluding this matter swiftly.

The Pavilion Master then retrieved a storage ring from a drawer and placed it on the table before Yuxian. The ring shimmered faintly under the lantern's glow.

"This contains your auction winnings," the Pavilion Master explained. "Eleven million gold taels, with a twenty-five percent deduction for auction service fees. Additionally, the ancient sword you won is also stored within this ring. Please verify it."

Shen Yuxian picked up the ring and examined it briefly with his divine sense. Once he confirmed everything was in order, he gave a slight nod.

Before standing to leave, he looked at the Pavilion Master and casually asked, "Does this pavilion deal in real estate? I need a residence with a spacious courtyard."

The Pavilion Master seemed slightly surprised but quickly offered a polite smile. "Of course, Master Shen. Our pavilion also manages properties within the city. I am certain we can find something suitable for your needs."

He reached for a large ledger from the shelf behind him and opened it on the table. Inside were various sketches of houses, complete with descriptions and prices.

"Please take a look. We offer a range of properties, from modest homes to luxurious estates, located both in the city center and its outskirts."

Shen Yuxian flipped through the pages slowly, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. After a few minutes, his finger stopped on an illustration of a large residence, featuring an expansive courtyard surrounded by gardens and a small pond. It was close to the city center yet secluded enough to ensure tranquility.

"I want this one," he stated simply, pointing at the image.

The Pavilion Master nodded. "An excellent choice, Master Shen. We will begin the ownership transfer process immediately."

Before the Pavilion Master could say more, Shen Yuxian added calmly, "Use the remaining gold to purchase any resources that will aid my cultivation. I have no need for excessive wealth."

The Pavilion Master studied Yuxian for a moment, surprised by his request, but quickly nodded in respect.

"Understood, Master Shen. We will arrange everything as per your instructions. You may collect the resources in two days."

Shen Yuxian rose from his seat, the storage ring now secured on his finger. Without further words, he strode out of the chamber, leaving the Pavilion Master and Xuan Yi exchanging glances.

Xuan Yi watched his departing figure with a meaningful gaze. "That man… is not simple," she murmured.

The Pavilion Master gave a faint smile. "This world is always full of surprises. Let's see what he does next."

A Sudden Clash in the Forest

After settling his business at the pavilion, Shen Yuxian stepped outside and made his way toward his new home near the city center. The cool night breeze brushed against his face, carrying a sense of quiet solitude.

However, on the other side of the city, far from this peace, a fierce battle erupted—shaking the dense forest at the city's edge.

Amidst the thick and dark woods, thunderous explosions echoed, causing trees to tremble and leaves to rain down. Powerful spiritual auras clashed violently, sending wild beasts fleeing in terror.

Standing elegantly atop a massive tree branch was the Holy Maiden of the Snow Blossom Sect, her pristine white robe as pure as the season's first snowfall. Her icy gaze locked onto three figures dressed in black, who had surrounded her.

Flanking her on both sides stood two elders of the Snow Blossom Sect, their postures alert, hands poised to unleash their battle techniques.

The conflicting auras between both sides created an intense pressure, causing the ground beneath them to crack.

Cultivation Levels:

Holy Maiden: Nascent Soul - Late Stage – Her chilling aura froze the air around her.

First Elder: Core Formation - Late Stage – His energy was sharp as a blade, ready to slice through anything.

Second Elder: Core Formation - Early Stage – Though weaker, his steady aura revealed years of battle experience.

Opposing them were three elite envoys of the Third Prince:

Leader of the Envoys: Core Formation - Mid Stage – A towering man with a dense aura of darkness, his eyes glowed like embers.

Two Other Envoys: Core Formation - Early Stage – Their movements were swift, blending into the shadows.

Battle Begins

"Surrender the ancient scroll, or die where you stand!" the Envoy Leader roared, his voice reverberating through the forest. He brandished a massive black spear that crackled with dark energy, its lethal aura making the very air feel suffocating.

The Holy Maiden remained silent. Instead, she slowly raised her hand. Snowflakes began to drift down from the sky—despite there being no signs of winter. A freezing aura radiated from her, turning the air brittle.

"Do you truly think three men are enough to take something from the Snow Blossom Sect?" Her voice was cold as piercing ice.

In an instant, she dashed forward, a streak of white light. Her Crystal Snow Fan snapped open, releasing thousands of razor-sharp ice shards that shot toward the envoys.

CLANG!

The Envoy Leader spun his spear, shattering the incoming ice shards with sheer brute force. The ground quaked as he lunged at the Holy Maiden. "Your tricks won't work on me!" he bellowed, his spear tearing through the air, distorting space itself.

However, the Holy Maiden raised a hand, forming an enormous ice shield to intercept the attack. A deafening impact rang out, but the ice barely cracked before regenerating instantly.

Meanwhile, the First Elder clashed with one of the early-stage Core Formation envoys. Wielding a long, radiant blue sword, he moved like a shadow, his strikes precise and lethal.

"Snow Blade Technique – Thousand Freezing Cuts!"

A flurry of sword slashes erupted, forming a web of ice around his opponent. The envoy struggled to escape, but his feet were already frozen in place. With one swift motion, the First Elder's sword sliced across the envoy's neck—scarlet blood staining the falling snow.

One enemy down.

As the Second Elder engaged the other envoy, he swiftly evaded attacks, using his long spear to counter with pinpoint accuracy. Despite his opponent's aggressive assaults, he held his ground.

But before the envoy could press forward, deadly ice shards pierced through his back.

The Holy Maiden cast a fleeting glance. "Don't be careless."

Two enemies down.

Now, only the Holy Maiden and the Envoy Leader remained. The battlefield around them lay in ruins—trees shattered, the earth cracked.

"You're strong," the Envoy Leader admitted, lifting his spear high. "But not strong enough to defeat me!"

A shadowy dragon emerged from his spear, roaring as it lunged at her.

But the Holy Maiden remained unfazed. "Secret Art of the Snow Blossom Sect – Eternal Frozen World."

A colossal blizzard erupted, swallowing everything in its path. The shadow dragon slowed—then shattered into fragments of ice.

Before he could react, she appeared before him. "This is your end."

With a single fan strike, the Envoy Leader was frozen solid—then shattered into icy dust.

With their foes vanquished, the Holy Maiden turned to her elders. "We must return. The Third Prince won't stop here."

With that, they disappeared into the night, leaving behind a battlefield that bore witness to their overwhelming might.