"Brother Lin, have you awakened?"

"Yes, surprisingly I’ve been so sleepy lately. I couldn’t resist and ended up taking a long nap."

Lin Feng usually sleeps too, but not like today where he slept from dusk straight into the next morning.

Everyone was given dry rations, while the ladies from Phoenix Cliff simmered a pot of hot ginger soup next to their camp. Anyone who drank a bowl of it could ward off the cold.

The girls traveling with Lin Feng and the others served bowls of ginger soup, and they drank it up together.

Lin Feng, Qian Hua, and the two girls each had a bowl, sipping it on the carriage. By the afternoon, the ice around the steps was starting to melt, and only then did Lin Feng and the others begin their ascent.

It wasn’t until dusk that Lin Feng and his companions finished climbing all the steps.

The moment they reached the top, the scene before their eyes caused everyone present to be utterly astonished.

Lin Feng gazed at the view and fell into a state of confusion.

The famed and glorious Taoxuan Heavenly Sect was stunningly serene in this snow-blanketed world.

No disciples were on duty, and not a single person was to be seen outside. It felt eerily deserted.

"Where did everyone go?" Qian Hua asked.

Lin Feng looked at the two standing beside him, both wearing an indifferent expression.

Liu Qian also closed his fan, puzzled by this unsettling scene.

"How could such a large sect like Taoxuan Heavenly Sect not even have someone to clear the snow?"

A capable woman who accompanied her female disciples stood to the side, and watching these women climb the mountain path as well as the men, Lin Feng couldn’t help but admire them.

"Young Lord, is this the Taoxuan Heavenly Sect you praised so highly?" The capable woman’s voice was tinged with doubt, as if the sight before her was vastly different from the Taoxuan Heavenly Sect Liu Qian had been boasting about along the way.

Although the architecture remained grand, the snow-covered grounds and the empty plaza were far from the magnificent Taoxuan Heavenly Sect of the past.

Seeing this state of decline, Lin Feng couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity. Such a scene reminded Lin Feng of Tianxing Pavilion, once so glorious, with thriving incense and three thousand disciples. Yet now, apart from himself, there wasn’t a single person to inherit the sect.

Further in were the Hall of Three Pure Ones and the statue of the Supreme Taiyi. Legend has it that Supreme Taiyi was the foremost of the Three Pure Ones, with boundless power.

Yet in the vast Hall of Three Pure Ones, not a soul could be found. Leaving the hall and moving further in, Lin Feng arrived before a towering structure that stood on the path leading from the plaza.

Liu Qian surveyed the snowy landscape, casting his gaze around. In the distance, the view was of clear mountains and beautiful waters, an oddly lovely scene of melting snow.

In the distance, there was a deep gorge, like a straight plummet to the mountain base, once filled with rushing water. Over the years, the streams had ceased, forming a uniquely stunning view of a clear mountain scene and a hand holding up the moon.

"This Taoxuan Heavenly Sect is indeed a land of immortals," Qian Hua exclaimed repeatedly in admiration.

They arrived at the previous structure, which had an arched gateway. The main gate was in the center, flanked by smaller gates. Above the arch were two large characters, "Liangyi."

Qian Hua wanted to pass through the gate, but Lin Feng repeatedly stopped him.

"I believe there are hidden mysteries within this Liangyi Gate. We should proceed with caution."

The capable woman and the disciples from Phoenix Cliff also approached the Liangyi Gate.

Liu Qian, stepping forward, tapped his palm with his folding fan. He studied the "Liangyi Gate" for a long time.

He couldn’t help but say, "Boundless Tai Chi, formless Liangyi. Since it’s formless, where’s the gate? I believe this Liangyi Gate is merely an illusion."

So Liu Qian simply walked beside it, bypassing the arch and taking the side path.

Seeing Liu Qian successfully walk through, the others followed suit, bypassing the arch.

At that moment, suddenly a Fairy descended before them.

Exquisitely beautiful, she seemed like a celestial maiden descended to earth, her white robes fluttering, her colorful garments flowing.

"Congratulations on passing the test," she said.

In a blink of an eye, they found themselves in a grand hall.

In the hall were a hundred disciples of Taoxuan Heavenly Sect, standing below, with the acting Sect Leader on the stage.

Their arrival surprised everyone there. They thought Taoxuan Heavenly Sect had been closed to guests in winter, protected by an Illusion Technique Barrier with layers of tests. Those who failed to pass were safely sent back down the mountain by an array.

For ten years, Taoxuan Heavenly Sect had not received guests in winter. Seeing someone abruptly appear was shocking to everyone.

The acting Sect Leader was also a little taken aback but quickly recovered from his surprise.

After Lin Feng and the others explained the whole situation to the acting Sect Leader, they were led to a lounge.

"Our Taoxuan Heavenly Sect faced such disasters, and our disciples are dispirited. That’s why I set up illusions at the mountain base to protect the peace of our sect," the acting Sect Leader explained.

After passing the test, Lin Feng and the others returned to the real world and were brought into the main hall of Taoxuan Heavenly Sect.

Lin Feng responded, "No problem, acting Sect Leader. We understand your considerations."

"Bring tea," the acting Sect Leader ordered, and several disciples brought tea.

As the tea was served, Lin Feng and the others inquired about the whereabouts of Su Liqian.

The acting Sect Leader said, "Two days ago, indeed a woman visited, but after explaining her matters, she left."

Lin Feng asked, "Did she come with anyone else?"

"She was accompanied by a man, though he seemed to be in his middle years with bright eyes and an energetic demeanor. It looked as if he held immense power, hidden within. I doubt he is ordinary."

Could Su Liqian have been coerced by this person or was there another reason... Lin Feng pondered the acting Sect Leader’s words, trying to piece everything together, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t make sense of it. It appeared he would need to uncover the mysterious figure’s background first.

Liu Qian also had many discussions with the acting Sect Leader, and the capable woman responded eloquently.

When Liu Qian mentioned the Cangqiong Ding of Taoxuan Heavenly Sect, the atmosphere turned quiet.

"Rest assured, friend; the Cangqiong Ding will be impossible for them to find."

Lin Feng glanced at the self-assured acting Sect Leader, seemingly having guessed where he had hidden the Soul Device.

It was most likely stored within the Ruins Tripod inside his body.

The Ruins Tripod, developed through personal cultivation, was an independent space within the body to store mana. The higher the cultivation, the larger this independent space within the Ruins Tripod, similar to the principles of a Space Treasure.

Taoxuan Heavenly Sect smiled and said, "I must admit, I anticipated that someone would covet the Soul Device. I just didn’t expect them to come so soon."

"Since that’s the case, we’re relieved. Do you know where Su Liqian has gone?"

The question came from the capable woman, who was the instructor from Phoenix Cliff, where Su Liqian was a disciple. Thus, her inquiry was only natural.

"She went down the mountain yesterday."

Lin Feng was puzzled, wondering why they hadn’t encountered her at the base. Lin Feng had a sense that Su Liqian and the mysterious man were still on the mountain.

Then, the Sect Leader arranged rooms for Lin Feng and the others, placing Lin Feng and Qian Hua in the same room. The accommodations were simple, akin to a disciple’s quarters.

Lin Feng entered the room, telling Qian Hua to get a good night’s sleep and promised that the next day they would explore the area further. Qian Hua nodded in agreement, consenting to Lin Feng’s plan.

Though Taoxuan Heavenly Sect was on the mountain, the terrain at the summit had been cleared and leveled, resembling a town atop the mountain. The roads were broad; due to persistent snow, there were few flowers and plants. Only among the mountain forests did vegetation grow, while elsewhere, the landscape was of hard rock and snow-blanketed scenery.