The cold wind grew sharper as Tian and his companions crested the final ridge of the northern range. Ahead lay the city of Baekcheon, a fortress of stone and snow nestled against a glacier-fed river. It was the final threshold before reaching the Ice Palace — a place of legend, secrecy, and martial honor.
Snowflakes drifted like ash, carried on the wind as the five warriors gazed down upon the city. Their cloaks snapped in the icy breeze, but none shivered.
"Baekcheon," Seo Junrok murmured. "The City of Frozen Lanterns. I read about it once. No carriages are allowed within its walls — only those who walk may approach the palace."
Yeon Soheon squinted down at the frost-covered gates. "Even the architecture reflects discipline. Cold, precise. Like their martial arts."
Yu Gwanjeong's breath fogged the air. "Do they have a place to fight?"
"You mean a place to spar," Ok Seryeon corrected him, brushing snow from her shoulder. "This isn't a battlefield, Gwanjeong."
"They'll have trials," Tian said quietly, his heterochromatic eyes focused forward. "And they won't let us pass without proving ourselves."
Their white tiger cub, trotting loyally beside Tian, gave a soft growl — alert and wary of the scent in the wind.
"I feel something strange," Seryeon said. "The city's aura… it's not just the cold. Something's watching."
"Something… old," Tian added.
As they made their descent toward Baekcheon, the snow grew heavier, the path narrower. Guards clad in pale blue armor stood at the gate, spears crossed.
"Halt," one of them called. "State your purpose in the City of Frozen Lanterns."
Tian stepped forward. "We are disciples of the Ancient Sects. We seek the Ice Palace."
The guards exchanged glances. Then, wordlessly, they parted.
"The trials begin at moonrise," one of them said. "You may enter. But know this — none have passed the trials without shedding blood. Yours, or another's."
With that grim welcome, the group passed beneath the archway into Baekcheon.
As they walked the silent streets, snowflakes coating their shoulders like ghostly feathers, none spoke — for ahead lay not only the Ice Palace, but the weight of their masters' hopes… and perhaps the first step toward uncovering the truth buried within Tian's blood.
The night had fallen quiet over Baekcheon. The stars glittered above like cold needles, and the wind carried the scent of frost and stillness. The following morning, the disciples of the Ancient Sects stood before the icy gates of the Snow-Heart Arena, the proving grounds of the Ice Palace.
Rows of disciples and masters of the Ice Palace stood in formation, clad in robes of pale blue and white, faces like carved jade—serene and unreadable.
At the highest balcony, the Maitresse of the Ice Palace, Lady Hanyue Qingzhao, watched with eyes of glacial silver. Beside her stood her younger sister, Hanyue Lianhua, whose gaze lingered on Tian.
Lady Qingzhao raised her hand. "Let the trials begin."
The Trials
First stepped Yu Gwanjeong. He faced a spearman nearly equal in size—Yi Zhen, known for his rapid frost stabs. Their spears clashed with blinding speed, frost and flame whirling with each strike.
"Crimson Gash! Sundering Fang!"
"Glacier Bloom Technique!"
The battle ended with Yu staggering forward, bruised, grinning. Yi Zhen collapsed unconscious.
Next came Seo Junrok, dueling Master Yun Biya, the Ice Palace's lightning-fast swordmistress.
Their blades met in silence, snow fluttering like petals between each flash of steel. Junrok's calm countered Biya's speed.
"Your technique… it's like flowing water," she said between breaths.
"And yours, a storm frozen in place," he answered, pressing her back until she yielded with grace.
Ok Seryeon matched blades with Elder Disciple Wulan, master of ice formations. Traps bloomed beneath Seryeon's feet, yet her strikes flowed like ripples on a moonlit lake.
"The petals don't freeze," she murmured.
Her Petal Whisper blade sang, and the match ended with Wulan frozen mid-step, a hair's breadth from victory—outwitted.
Yeon Soheon's opponent was an archer cloaked in silence, but Heaven's Fang and Ghost Wings danced through every arrow.
"You fight like a storm dressed in silk," her opponent gasped.
"And you die like a whisper in the wind," she replied softly, catching the final arrow and sending it back—embedding it neatly at the girl's feet.
Finally, Tian stepped forward.
His opponent: Leng Tianyu, the strongest disciple of the Ice Palace.
"You won't find warmth in this ring, outsider," Leng said coldly.
"I walk all paths," Tian replied.
As Leng unleashed an avalanche of cold qi, Tian raised his palm. The air rippled.
Frost bloomed at his feet.
Ice techniques—elegant and ancient—flowed from Tian as if born from snow itself.
The entire arena gasped.
On the balcony, Maitresse Qingzhao's eyes widened. "That eye… that blue… It must be cold qi affinity of the highest order…"
Tian's frost struck like winter rain, silent and graceful, ending the duel with a crown of ice blooming around his opponent.
The Maitresse rose from her seat.
"Follow me, Tian Xuanzi," she said. "There is… something you must see."
The Hidden Trial
In the depths of the Ice Palace, Tian followed her to the sealed Cave of Silent Mirrors, guarded for centuries.
"It's said that the spirit of the Ice Palace's guardian slumbers here," she explained. "Only one with pure cold qi may pass."
She placed her hand on the door. The seal broke.
Inside, glacial walls pulsed with a strange, living light. At the center—an ancient, coiled beast, larger than an ox, its body of translucent scales.
A serpent-dragon. The Icebound Drake.
Its eyes snapped open. It rose.
The Maitresse stepped back in awe. "Impossible… it's alive?"
The creature turned to Tian. Its voice entered his mind.
"I have not seen one of your kind in a thousand years… Descendant of dragon blood…"
Tian's eyes narrowed. "You know my father?"
"No. But I know the scent of the First Flame that clings to your soul. You carry a legacy even you do not understand."
The Maitresse watched in awe as the beast coiled low and bowed.
"I am yours, chosen of the old blood. And this—" the beast raised its tail to reveal a floating artifact, encased in ice, "—this belongs to you."
The artifact pulsed. It was a crystal lotus, its petals shaped of frozen starlight.
"Frostheart Bloom," the Maitresse whispered. "It's… the sacred relic of our founder."
The Betrayal
That night, Tian and his companions gathered for a ceremonial meeting.
The Maitresse stood before them. Her voice calm, yet calculating.
"Now that we know the truth of Tian's power, we believe it best the artifact remain here. With us."
From the shadows, elders and Ice Palace masters emerged—encircling them.
Yeon Soheon stepped forward. "So this was a trap."
Tian did not move. His eyes, red and blue, burned calmly.
"I didn't want it," he said. "But now you force my hand."
The group drew weapons. The frost cracked.
Suddenly—the cavern roof burst apart.
The Icebound Drake descended, its voice thunderous.
"You dishonor your oaths, children of the frost!"
The elders knelt immediately, their faces pale.
"Forgive us!" one cried. "We thought the guardian long dead!"
"Fools," the serpent snarled. "This one carries a destiny that eclipses your walls of snow. You would throw it away for fear?"
The Maitresse collapsed to her knees. "I… I did not mean…"
"You meant only to serve yourself."
The creature turned to Tian.
"They shall remember this shame."
Tian said nothing. His gaze met hers—calm, unreadable.
New Leadership
Later, as dawn broke over Baekcheon, the Maitresse was stripped of her title.
Her younger sister, Hanyue Lianhua, stood before Tian and the disciples.
"I ask forgiveness for my sister's disgrace," she said, voice trembling. "I have… admired your path, Tian Xuanzi, since the moment you stepped into our gates."
Her eyes met his, sincere and bright.
"My father was slain by assassins of the Murim Alliance. I now pledge the Ice Palace to your cause."
Aftermath
In the great halls, Tian met privately with the Icebound Drake.
"None of your companions heard. And none shall know," the beast said.
Tian nodded. "Thank you."
"You walk the line between man and myth. Choose your steps wisely, young dragon."
Before they departed, Tian instructed the Ice Palace to send a trusted elder, several disciples, and a formal letter of allegiance to Longdian, to meet the masters of the Ancient Sects.
As they left Baekcheon behind, none spoke for a long while. The wind was cold, but the fire in their chests had only grown.