After everyone was reborn, I was strictly disciplined.

In the northern border of the Cangxuan Continent, the Linxue Mountain Range stretches for thousands of miles, and Cangfeng Valley is hidden deep within the most precipitous peaks of this snow mountain range.

This place is perpetually shrouded in bitter cold, with the north wind like a knife, relentlessly sweeping across the frozen cliffs day and night, whipping up snowflakes that envelop the entire valley in a pristine white expanse.

Within the valley, thousands of peaks cluster together, with icicles hanging down like swords. Even sunlight falling on the snow surface is refracted into a bone-chilling cold light. Ordinary cultivators, without tempering, can hardly withstand even the gale at the valley entrance, let alone venture deep into the valley.

It was in this extremely harsh environment that the most renowned sword-cultivation sect in the Cangxuan Continent was born.

The disciples of Cangfeng Valley all take the sword as their soul and ice as their bone. Their swordsmanship is as sharp as frost, and when combined with their unique ice magic, they can shatter the gale with a swing of their sword and freeze the spiritual veins with their ice.

They practiced swordsmanship in the wind and snow, tempered their hearts in the bitter cold. The swirling snow and ice wore away their impetuosity, leaving only their unyielding spirit and their almost obsessive dedication and pursuit of the way of the sword.

Throughout the thousand-year history of the Cangxuan Continent, whenever calamity struck, when evil spirits wreaked havoc and countless lives were lost, it was always the disciples of Cangfeng Valley who stepped forward.

Clad in white robes stained with frost, their swords pointed to the heavens. With their flesh and blood, they built a defensive line, keeping demons and evil spirits outside the valley and protecting the peace of the people on the continent.

Such integrity and character have inspired countless cultivators across the land, all hoping to enter Hidden Edge Valley, acquire skills, and become such a flesh-and-blood swordsman.

Therefore, when the once-every-six-years apprenticeship ceremony of Cangfeng Valley was held as scheduled, the once desolate and cold foot of the snow mountain became bustling and lively.

Cultivators from all over the continent, including children, young men just starting out, and even those over thirty, gathered densely outside Hidden Edge Valley, some riding swords through the air, others arriving by boat. Each of them had an eager expression and their eyes were fixed on the snow-covered valley entrance.

The spiritual energy surrounding the cultivators was like a rosy cloud or a mist, with various colors of spiritual light intertwining and colliding. The leaking spiritual power and the warmth emanating from the cultivators blended together, creating wisps of white mist rising from the more than ten feet thick snow at the valley entrance.

In less than half an hour, the snow on the path outside the valley had melted away, revealing the dark blue rocks below, which contrasted sharply with the surrounding snow and ice.

The ark landed slowly, and a slender, small figure stepped off first.

Xie Xingran wore a large white cloak, which was woven from extremely rare ice fox fur mixed with celestial silk. It was warm to the touch and not cold to the skin. The cloak was embroidered with intricate and exquisite dark ice lotus patterns. The ice lotus petals were layered, and the tips of the petals were adorned with fine silver threads. When the wind blew, it seemed as if there was a flowing icy light. It was noble but also had a touch of coldness.

A snow-white fox fur collar wrapped tightly around his neck, making his skin appear as white as fresh snow, almost translucent.

After three years of growth, Xie Xingran, now six years old, has lost the baby fat on her face. Her once chubby cheeks have become more defined, and while she still retains a childlike innocence in her eyes, she now exudes a refined and elegant air.

His eyebrows and eyes were exquisitely beautiful, with long and thick eyelashes. When he lowered his eyes, they cast a faint shadow under his eyelids. When he raised his eyes, they were clear and bright, without any impurities.

He seemed like the purest melting snow deep in the mountains, or the brightest moonlight in the night sky. He was like a little figure carefully sculpted from moonlight and snowflakes, and the delicate beauty in his eyes already hinted at his future extraordinary talent.

"call……"

Xie Xingran gently placed his feet on the still-wet snow, and a soft "sizzling" sound immediately came from under his feet as the fine ice particles melted and wetted the soles of his boots.

He tilted his head back slightly and exhaled a warm breath. White mist, carrying fine snowflakes, slowly spread from his lips and was instantly dispersed by the surrounding cold wind.

He subconsciously shrank his neck, his little brows furrowed tightly, and he pouted his pink lips. His voice was soft and carried a hint of barely perceptible grievance: "It's so cold here, I don't want to stay here."

Liu Qingwan, who was standing beside her, quickly bent down. She was dressed in a moon-white long robe, with only an ice jade hairpin in her hair. Her eyebrows and eyes were gentle, and she was surrounded by a faint warmth.

She reached out her warm fingertips and gently pulled Xie Xingran's fox fur collar up again, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles at the collar, and gently rubbed her fingertips against his slightly chilly earlobe.

She then erected a spiritual energy shield, enveloping her son within it.

"Ranran, be good. Just bear with it a little longer. It will be warm when we get to the Lin family's house."

Speak of the devil, and he appears. No sooner had Liu Qingwan finished speaking than a swan-like figure swept through the snow like a startled swan, a sword humming softly, and in an instant landed before the two.

That was Lin Feng, the head of the Lin family and an elder of Cangfeng Valley.

Three years have passed, but time has not left any trace on this powerful swordsman. He still wears a dark blue sword robe, with his natal sword hanging at his waist. His face is handsome, and his eyes and brows carry the sharpness and composure unique to swordsmen.

But when his gaze fell on Xie Xingran, the sharpness around him instantly faded, replaced by an undisguised gentleness and eagerness.

"Ranran!"

Lin Feng called out softly as he strode toward the two of them, his steps hurried yet cautious, as if afraid of upsetting Xie Xingran.

He gazed intently at Xie Xingran, his eyes filled with joy and appreciation, his voice brimming with excitement, "You've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you here for so long!"

No one knows how Raymond Lam survived those three years.

Three years ago, he accidentally glimpsed Xie Xingran's innate sword bone and chaotic spiritual root hidden within him. That astonishing talent was like a seed that grew wildly in his heart, tugging at his mind day and night.

He knew better than anyone that if such talent could be tempered in the Hidden Edge Valley, he would surely become a sword cultivator who would shake the ages.

But he understood even better that Xie Xingran had a special identity. He was the sole inheritor of the Fire Marrow Pill Holy Land, born with a pill body and immersed in the Dao of Pills since childhood. Senior Liu Xuan cherished him so much, so how could he easily agree to let his heir abandon pills and cultivate swordsmanship?

He knew that Liu Xuan was proud and aloof and disliked currying favor with others, but he still put aside his pride as a sword cultivator and wrote to Liu Xuan again and again for three years without interruption. There was no demand in his words, but he sincerely told Liu Xuan about the sword tradition of Cangfeng Valley and expressed his unwillingness to bury his unparalleled talent.

Besides letters, he went to great lengths to collect all sorts of rare treasures and sent them to the sacred land of the Fire Marrow Elixir time and time again.

There is the thousand-year-old spiritual fat that can nourish the body of the pill, the icy ice crystals that can stabilize the fire when refining pills, and the ice soul grass that is unique to Hidden Edge Valley. Each of these items is a rare treasure, all of which he obtained by traversing the Frosty Snow Mountain Range and overcoming numerous hardships.

He didn't expect Liu Xuan to agree immediately; he only hoped to get a little closer to her and let her see his sincerity and how much Cangfeng Valley valued Xie Xingran.

This careful maintenance finally yielded a response.

A few days ago, when the messenger from the Lin family delivered Liu Xuan's reply, the handwriting on the letter was concise, containing only a few words, yet it filled him with immense joy.

Although Liu Xuan's tone was cold and his words still carried a hint of detachment, he clearly stated that Xie Xingran would arrive in the Northern Territory in three days and that he must come to meet him.

That day, Lin Feng searched through his entire wardrobe and found his most formal dark blue brocade robe, with dark sword shadows embroidered on the hem and delicate ice jade buttons on the collar. He usually only wore it when attending important ceremonies in Cangfeng Valley.

The next day, before dawn, he dressed in a brocade robe and arrived early at the port where the ark was docked to wait.

Seeing Lin Feng walking quickly towards her, Liu Qingwan immediately curtsied and said respectfully, "Greetings, Senior Lin."

"Oh, no need for all this formality!"

Before Liu Qingwan could finish her greeting, Lin Feng quickly waved his hand and gently picked up Xie Xingran, his palms warming the child's slightly cool body.

With his other hand, he gently supported Liu Qingwan's arm, helping her to her feet steadily. His face was full of hearty smiles. "Come on, come on, I'll take you back to the Lin family. It's too cold in the Northern Territory; we don't want our Ranran to get cold!"

The three figures disappeared into the snowstorm.

"Brother, what are you looking at?"

A six or seven-year-old girl was tugging at her brother's clothes.

Li Hanjiang withdrew his gaze, looked down at his younger sister, a hint of warmth flashing across his cold face. He patted his sister's head and said, "It's nothing, let's go."