Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: North Sea Ice Palace
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-Swooooosh
The land in the north of the Central Plains, where winter reigned eternal year-round, was home to a palace that stood firm no matter how fiercely the cold winds blew.
Blanketed in deep snow and littered with ice everywhere, it was a place that made one wonder if humans could truly survive there. Yet people had adapted, endured, and over time even developed their unique martial arts. Now, they had risen as a mighty sect recognized across the Central Plains.
Known as the North Sea Ice Palace, they boasted unmatched pride in their field—anyone who spoke of masters of yin energy thought first of the Ice Palace.
But its Palace Lord couldn't help frowning at the woman who had shown up unannounced.
-Slurp
"This booze has a pretty decent taste. It's got a different flavor from what we drink back at the cult."
"...If you want, I can have a few bottles packed for you to take when you leave."
"I'd appreciate that."
-Crack
Does this woman not know the meaning of refusal?
Showing up without warning was rude enough, but she wouldn't even touch the tea prepared for her and demanded liquor instead. Anyone with a shred of conscience would at least politely decline once, but not her.
For this proud woman, such behavior from anyone else would have prompted her to flip the table and storm out. But the visitor's status kept her in check.
The Demonic Cult's Leader.
-Rustle
'She doesn't seem all that impressive.'
No matter how isolated in the frigid north she was, rumors of the one tacitly regarded as the world's strongest in the Central Plains would have reached her.
They said she'd single-handedly annihilated the Blood Cult—a force on the verge of crushing the Central Plains—in less than an instant.
Considering that the Central Plains' top masters had gathered there en masse, the tales painted her as a truly unfathomable powerhouse.
It meant she'd taken down even the Blood Cult Leader and her rabble, whom those elites couldn't defeat.
The Ice Palace warriors acknowledged her as a great master, but had no real gauge of her strength.
The Ice Palace had barely faced any Blood Cult attacks back then.
Even if she crushed the Blood Cult alone, without experiencing them firsthand, her power remained abstract.
Thus, the Ice Palace assessed the Heavenly Demon like this:
'She's strong enough for the Ten Great Masters, but wiping out the Blood Cult solo is exaggeration.'
Logically, no matter how mighty the Blood Cult, it was hard to buy that they'd leisurely crushed all those assembled elites. A lone woman finishing them off? Even less believable.
So they figured the Blood Cult must have been weakened battling the Central Plains masters, allowing the Heavenly Demon to swoop in for the kill.
The orthodox sects spread that narrative to deny any Demonic Cult aid, and lacking details, the Ice Palace bought it.
Besides, the Heavenly Demon's demeanor before her eyes hardly screamed ultimate master.
'A true warrior should carry the dignity befitting their realm.'
No basic courtesy, demanding booze over tea like some shameless drunkard.
Hard to see her as the world's best.
Her outfit was an eyesore too.
Thin fabric revealing her curves, exposing plenty of skin.
Nothing modest about it.
Might pass for loungewear alone indoors, but showing up like this for a tête-à-tête between sect leaders?
Accustomed to thick, bundled garb suited to their harsh clime, the Palace Lord found the Heavenly Demon's attire grating.
Sure, rumors weren't everything, but someone of her caliber must have reached at least the Fire Immunity stage, so wandering unscathed in such skimpy clothes here wasn't shocking. Still irked her.
"So. What brings you here? The Heavenly Demon Cult hasn't sent anyone to the North Sea Ice Palace in at least a century, as far as I know. And the Leader coming in person? That's a first."
She spoke bluntly to the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader, but didn't see it as an issue.
The Heavenly Demon had started the informality, and alone in Ice Palace territory, even she couldn't act recklessly—or so she believed.
She wouldn't yield momentum either.
Few reasons for the Demonic Cult to visit the Ice Palace.
Trade ties, or an alliance offer for their Central Plains conquest dreams. Nothing else came to mind.
But the Leader herself, not some envoy or elder?
Had to be the latter.
'No special grudge against the Central Plains, but if the odds and rewards are right, why not?'
They didn't want to eke out forever on this barren, farming-hostile frozen waste.
Adapted or not, it wasn't life-friendly—people still died from the cold daily.
They'd never refuse expanding into the Central Plains.
'Even the Demonic Cult can't conquer it alone. This Heavenly Demon must have learned that over centuries. Fine by me.'
Imagining the pitch and pondering demands, she was thrown when the Heavenly Demon spoke.
"I'm here to find a husband."
"...?"
"Tall with long white hair, and handsome. Isn't that the Ice Palace specialty?"
"..."
For a split second, she nearly asked what nonsense that was, but quick on the uptake, she grasped the intent.
'So the Heavenly Demon's type is men with those traits?'
Here to scout husbands matching that?
'Heh.'
A chuckle escaped despite herself, but it wasn't all bad.
Overlooking the matchmaker vibe, the Ice Palace did abound in beauties of both sexes, and leveraging looks for ties with masters was a longstanding expansion tactic.
If they could marry one off to the Heavenly Demon?
'A golden opportunity.'
The gains would be immense.
Well worth swallowing her annoyance.
Besides, two decades after halting the Blood Cult raid, she was no spring chicken. Even with reversal of aging, few men would wed such an old monster.
Maybe she had one who died.
Her looks screamed "man-eater" anyway.
Lonely after holding out solo, seeking here now.
"I'll select some prime candidates. Might take time—is that alright?"
"Prepare drinks for while I wait, then."
"...Understood. Consider it done."
Here for a husband, yet fixated on booze.
The Palace Lord's view of the Heavenly Demon sank further.
"...And wear this."
"...What's this?"
"My outer robe. Your attire's your business, but it's bothering me."
"...Hm."
The Heavenly Demon glanced down at herself, nodded slightly, and slipped on the offered robe.
Seemed oblivious to her own immodesty till now.
"Then I'm off for real. Need anything else?"
"It's a bit tight across the chest. Got anything larger?"
-Crack
"None. So be it."
Forced a sour smile at the provocative jab and shut the door behind her.
Personally distasteful, but potentially hugely beneficial for the Ice Palace.
As Palace Lord, she couldn't let feelings sabotage that.
'If only I had a son.'
A son would allow a proper marriage alliance. Regrettable.
Selling him to an old hag, but sects demanded such sacrifices.
She was alluring in a different way from Ice Palace women; a man sent to her might even thank them.
'Pick from the higher ranks anyway.'
Her described traits fit any random Ice Palace man, so easy to match.
Better to offer someone prominent for bragging rights.
Young preferred.
'Wonder if she'll demand a dowry.'
With that, she bustled off to find husband candidates as requested by the Heavenly Demon.
No telling what would happen next.