Before the old man could speak, HuLü Yan suddenly raised his hand and threw something toward him.

The old man instinctively sidestepped, but the moment that object formed an arc in the air, he caught sight of its shape. His eyes widened, and he quickly used his spiritual energy to summon a gust of wind.

The wind caught the object just before it hit the ground, gently guiding it into the old man’s hand.

With a solemn expression, the old man observed the item for a moment, his face changing dramatically as he lifted his eyes sharply toward HuLü Yan. “Where did you get this Corpse Transformation Pearl?!”

That’s right!

This was none other than Ming De Yi’s Corpse Transformation Pearl, his life-bound magical artifact.

Ming De Yi’s cultivation had long since surpassed the Golden Core stage, and he was known to be extremely cautious. How could he possibly allow his most important life-bound magical artifact to fall into the hands of a young boy with no cultivation?

And where was Ming De Yi?

Could it be that Ming De Yi’s disappearance was connected to these two boys standing in front of him?

No.

Impossible.

The old man, Miao Yin, had joined the Medical Hall long ago when the previous Hall Master was still in charge. Though he was already old at the time, he held no significant status and was always doing menial tasks within the sect. Later, he joined Ming De Yi’s faction, helping him rise to power, and once Ming De Yi became Hall Master, Miao Yin naturally became his right-hand man.

With the assistance of the Cold Pool and the countless heavenly treasures provided by Ming De Yi, Miao Yin’s cultivation had skyrocketed over the past ten years. Now, not only was he a respected elder within the Medical Hall, but he was also one of the few Golden Core stage cultivators.

Even Miao Yin had never laid a finger on Ming De Yi’s Corpse Transformation Pearl, nor would he dare to cross Ming De Yi.

After all, besides Ming De Yi’s Golden Core-level cultivation, his mastery over controlling corpse puppets alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of many.

And Miao Yin was certainly one of those people.

He also believed that these two boys, whose combined cultivation was no more than the Qi Refining stage, were among those who should fear Ming De Yi.

Countless thoughts exploded in Miao Yin’s mind. It only took him a moment to grasp the key points from the tangled mess of thoughts swirling in his head.

With a sinister smile, Miao Yin clasped the Corpse Transformation Pearl in his hand and asked with a more menacing tone, “Where did you find this pearl?”

Mi Lu had no idea what HuLü Yan’s plan was, so he pressed his lips together and remained silent, doing his best to minimize his presence in the crowd.

HuLü Yan frowned slightly, seemingly unwilling to drag the conversation out any further. His voice grew impatient, “Take me to the Cold Pool, and I’ll let you see Ming De Yi.”

“Heh.” Miao Yin chuckled coldly, “Even our own disciples rarely have the privilege of going to the Cold Pool. What makes you think you’re qualified?”

“You can trade the chance to visit the Cold Pool for the return of your Hall Master. Isn’t that a fair deal?” HuLü Yan replied flatly.

At this point, he paused before continuing with undisguised sarcasm, “Or do you believe that Ming De Yi is worth less than a mere object?”

“You…” Miao Yin glanced at the others around him, gritting his teeth as he reluctantly explained, “You’re spouting nonsense!”

HuLü Yan’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “If Ming De Yi knew you were stalling so much in the effort to save him, what do you think he’d think of you?”

Miao Yin: “…”

As much as he hated to admit it, the young man’s words struck a nerve, shattering his most fragile insecurities.

Miao Yin wasn’t the type to be overly cautious. Normally, if someone dared to provoke him like this, he would have snapped their neck without a second thought. But with Ming De Yi missing for days and this boy casually tossing out his life-bound magical artifact, Miao Yin couldn’t afford to act rashly.

However, there was still something nagging at his mind—

“Or could it be—” HuLü Yan’s tone turned deliberately slow and suspicious, as if mocking, “That a mighty Golden Core cultivator like you is afraid of an ordinary person like me?”

Yes.

That was it!

Miao Yin suddenly realized.

How did this boy know he was at the Golden Core stage?

Had they known each other all along?

It felt as though the boy knew far more about him than Miao Yin was comfortable with. And yet, Miao Yin couldn’t recall ever meeting this stranger.

Perhaps the boy had used a high-level elixir or magical artifact to alter his appearance, and whatever he used was of such a high grade that even Miao Yin’s eyes couldn’t detect it.

As Miao Yin hesitated, Ping Rong, standing nearby, stammered nervously, “Elder Miao… Should we…”

Miao Yin quickly made his decision. “Fine. I’ll take you to the Cold Pool.”

Ping Rong, who had been considering locking up Mi Lu and HuLü Yan, was both shocked and confused. He blurted out, “Elder Miao!”

Miao Yin waved off Ping Rong’s protests, his eyes fixed on HuLü Yan, his voice laced with threat and malice. “I’ll see what game you’re playing. But mark my words—if we reach the Cold Pool and I don’t see our Hall Master, you should know what fate awaits you and your companion.”

Ping Rong clenched his fist in the air, the sound of his knuckles cracking as he grinned menacingly. “We have countless ways to make you suffer here in the Medical Hall.”

HuLü Yan remained unfazed, his expression unchanged. “Lead the way.”

Miao Yin: “…”

Ping Rong: “…”

The feeling of striking a pillow of cotton made their faces twitch for a moment.

But arguing further would be pointless. No matter how frustrated they felt, they could only suppress their anger and turn to lead the way.

Miao Yin signaled for the other disciples to return to their tasks, selecting only Ping Rong and five others to accompany him.

The Cold Pool was located high in the mountains behind the Medical Hall. Due to the steep terrain and the fact that it was winter, the path up the mountain was difficult to traverse. Miao Yin could have used a flying artifact, but thinking of the two troublesome youngsters he had to bring along, he dismissed the idea.

After all, they had plenty of time. Walking up slowly wouldn’t hurt.

The only one struggling was Mi Lu, who was soon out of breath, while HuLü Yan seemed completely unaffected, even having the energy to ask Miao Yin other questions.

“Do you remember HuLü Yan?”

“HuLü Yan?” Miao Yin frowned, puzzled by the black-robed boy suddenly mentioning this name. His clouded eyes fixed on him. “Do you know him?”

HuLü Yan answered calmly, “Ming Sui mentioned him.”

Though Miao Yin was old, his cultivation gave him strength. The uphill path was nothing to him. Each of his steps was solid, allowing him to focus entirely on HuLü Yan. “Oh? What did the Young Lord say?”

“He said—” HuLü Yan paused deliberately before continuing, “The Medical Hall once captured a rare medicinal ingredient and placed it in the Cold Pool. Every day, they used its blood to dye the pool, enhancing their cultivation. Eating its flesh and drinking its blood would yield even greater results.”

The words were spoken plainly, with a detached tone, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

But to Mi Lu, the statement was like a thunderclap, his ears ringing, leaving him momentarily deaf to everything around him.

He whipped his head toward HuLü Yan, a thought slowly forming in his mind.

Could it be—

Was this HuLü Yan’s past with the Medical Hall?

That medicinal ingredient was a person.

And that person’s name was HuLü Yan.

Miao Yin hadn’t expected HuLü Yan to know such a secret, and his vigilance toward the boy lessened slightly.

He glanced at Ping Rong beside him and saw the same confusion reflected on his face.

Was this person truly a friend of the Young Lord?

If not, how would the Young Lord have told him something like this?

After a brief silence, Miao Yin nodded. “Indeed. Unfortunately, that medicinal ingredient’s blood and flesh aren’t suitable for just anyone. We’ve had no choice but to keep him confined in the Cold Pool, cutting him fifty times each day. Young friend, did the Young Lord tell you anything else?”

“He said that medicinal ingredient is still soaking in your Cold Pool. If I bring him back, he’ll give that ingredient to me as a reward.”

Miao Yin: “…”

That did sound like something the Young Lord would boast about.

For a moment, Miao Yin’s caution further eased. Speaking of HuLü Yan, he sighed regretfully. “Truth be told, HuLü Yan was indeed in our Medical Hall two years ago, but he managed to escape.”

HuLü Yan’s lips twitched downward, clearly displeased.

Seeing this, Miao Yin quickly added, “But don’t worry. He’s now been abandoned by the HuLü family. Crippled and barely surviving, our people are closing in on him. It won’t be long before we capture him again. You’ve saved our Young Lord’s life, and if you help us find our Hall Master, we won’t forget your great deeds to the Medical Hall.”

Miao Yin then cursed bitterly, “It’s all that brat from the Mi family’s fault! He snatched HuLü Yan from Han Tu Abyss before we could get him. If it weren’t for that, our Medical Hall wouldn’t be in this state!”

Mi Lu felt a chill run through his heart.

So it was true.

If his guess was correct, in the previous ten cycles, HuLü Yan had been picked up by the Medical Hall after being thrown into Han Tu Abyss.

And what happened next? That was easy to guess.

That’s why the Medical Hall became the first sect HuLü Yan annihilated.

But Mi Lu couldn’t even begin to imagine the kind of torment the barely-teenaged HuLü Yan must have endured during those two years.

To reach the Cold Pool, they had to continue climbing up the mountain.

After passing through the barrier set at the base, they entered a world of pure white ice and snow. Large snowflakes fell from the sky, and the snow beneath their feet was as thick as an adult’s forearm, crunching underfoot with the sound of breaking ice.

Snowflakes landed on HuLü Yan’s hair and eyelashes. Though his appearance and physique had been altered by an elixir, the small details like his lashes remained unchanged.

His long, thick lashes were now coated with tiny ice crystals. Each blink sent a few falling, and the sight was unexpectedly beautiful.

However, his eyes, transformed by the elixir, were dull and lifeless, as if they were fake eyes carelessly placed by a busy craftsman.

At this moment, HuLü Yan fixed those dull eyes on Miao Yin and asked, “Do you think he felt pain?”

Miao Yin, who had already reached the entrance of the Cold Pool cave, was caught off guard by the sudden question. “Who are you talking about?”

HuLü Yan didn’t answer, continuing in a soft, almost detached voice, “Being cut fifty times a day, with his blood soaking the Cold Pool… Do you think he felt pain?”

Miao Yin, utterly baffled, replied, “What does his pain have to do with me?”

HuLü Yan said, “It hurts a lot.”

He slowly crossed his arms, his body trembling in the swirling snowflakes, as if he were lost in an unescapable nightmare.

“So much pain.” His voice trembled as well. “It hurts so much. And it’s so cold. Do you know what it feels like to be submerged in the Cold Pool day and night?”

In that moment, Miao Yin finally sensed that something was wrong.

As he locked eyes with those lifeless brown eyes, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Whether it was psychological or due to the heavy snowstorm, a bone-piercing cold seemed to rise from the ground.

“No… Something’s not right…” Miao Yin took a few quick steps back, putting distance between himself and HuLü Yan. “Who are you?”