Journey to the head

"Lu Gan, something bad is going to happen! ∑(っ°Д°;)っ"

Hai Shuangyao wrote this line in the jade slip in a single breath, and then spent ten breaths scribbling after the sentence, adding an expression to represent shock.

Jiang Baitao taught her this skill years ago, and she treasured it so much that she would draw an emoticon after every sentence in her letters.

"With the Dragon Palace about to open, that vicious woman Mi Mengyin finally couldn't hide it any longer and admitted to the Mi family that she had lost the Dragon Palace Ascension Token. (д)b"

"I heard she was expelled from the main branch of the family and they're going to use her as a tool for a political marriage! I wonder which unlucky guy will marry her. Anyway, it's really gratifying, hahaha!"

Hai Shuangyao added a series of large "haha"s to the end of the sentence, along with a smug expression.

ヾ(≧O≦)〃嗷~
Hai Shuangyao tossed her long, light blue hair, which was as white as ice crystals, and blushed on her exquisitely beautiful face.

This wicked woman has fought me for so many years, and now she has been utterly defeated, becoming a breeding tool bearing the title of "Mi Family Noble Lady." I must find someone to draw "Mi Mengyin's Tragic Fate" and "Mi Family Noble Lady's Sorrowful Shame."
White peaches will definitely love it!

o (* //// ▽ //// *) q
But her face immediately fell, and she continued writing.

"But after the Mi family found out, they demanded this Ascension Certificate from my family. My family elders will be questioning me soon! o(╥﹏╥)o"

"Don't worry, I won't betray you. But if I don't say anything, I'll definitely be confined to my quarters, so you can't come directly to Ice Island to find me anymore, otherwise it will arouse suspicion. (T ^ T)"

"For now, you can only go to Jade Pot Island, Mirage Market, and stay at the largest inn there, the Giant Whale Inn. I'll find a way to come find you. Remember, our code is 'Ugly Dwarf on the Deserted Island' (crossed out), 'Beiluoshimen Meow Meow Meow'~\(≧▽≦)/~"

"The Dragon Palace opens on the second day of the second lunar month, so you should arrive at least ten days in advance!"

"I'll treat you all properly after our trip to the Dragon Palace is over. ヾ()"

Just as she was about to write a few more lines, someone outside the door suddenly reported: "Miss, the clan elders are urging you to hurry over."

Hai Shuangyao pouted and replied, "Okay, I'll go now. Has my father come out of seclusion yet?"

"Not yet, but I've already sent someone to invite them, Miss."

"Then you go first, I'll be right there." Hai Shuangyao held the jade slip, sensing with her divine sense that the person had gone far away.

Then she shouted, "Little Orchid! Little Orchid! Come out here!"

"Miss, what are your orders?"

Accompanied by a sweet, cloying voice, a burly woman suddenly appeared, with a broad face, wide mouth, thick back and strong waist, and two tufts of dark nose hairs that were barely noticeable.

"Little Orchid, the clan elders' council is no place to be trifled with. If I go there, I may not come back."

"Miss, waaaaaah!"

Hai Shuangyao held her hands to her chest, her crystal-clear eyes brimming with tears. Xiao Lanhua also sobbed, her lips trembling, and vigorously wiped her nose with a snow-white handkerchief.

"Before I go, there's one thing you absolutely must do, otherwise I won't be able to rest in peace." Hai Shuangyao tightly grasped Xiao Lanhua's large, fan-like hand.

"Miss, you saved my life. Just give the order, and I'll do anything, even go through fire and water!" Xiao Lanhua said with a passionate tone, her nose hairs twitching as if she were sacrificing herself for a cause.

Hai Shuangyao nodded emphatically. She was already slender and beautiful, but she looked even more petite and charming next to this little orchid that resembled a mother gorilla.

"Little Orchid, I have a secret letter here that concerns the life and death of the Immortal Fall Islands!" She held up the jade slip, her face flushed, and her tone extremely solemn.

"You should send this letter through Haiyuan Pavilion to Lu Qian, the head of the Yunshan Sect in Cangzhou, on Yuheng Continent as quickly as possible."

"This letter concerns the lives of hundreds of millions of people. It must be delivered safely, understand?!"

Xiao Lanhua knelt on one knee, presented the jade slip with both hands, and held it above her head with tears in her eyes: "Don't worry, Miss, even if I'm shattered to pieces, I will not let this letter fall into the hands of the enemy!"

"Little Orchid!"

"Miss!"

Waaaaaah (┳◇┳)
The two, mistress and servant, were putting on a touching drama when a servant outside urged them, "Young mistress, hurry up, the clan elders are waiting!"

So Hai Shuangyao reluctantly wiped away her tears, dejectedly walked out the door, and followed the person who came.

The forces in the Immortal Fall Islands are ranked by one sect, one palace, two families, and two factions, collectively known as the "Six Pillars of Immortal Fall." Their strength is also arranged in the order of one sect, one palace, two families, and two factions.

Both sects and palaces possess Dao-Merging Immortal Lords, making them exceptionally powerful and in a class of their own.

Secondly, the Hai family of Binglan Island has four True Monarchs of the Void Refinement Realm, and their strength is comparable to that of the Mi family of Polar Island, both belonging to the middle level.

The Hai family's ancestral lineage is located on the large island of Binglan Island, where the Void Spirit Cave Heaven is also situated. This is also where the Hai family's high-ranking cultivators gather. Other members of the family are widely distributed across the numerous small islands surrounding Binglan Island, covering a large area of ​​the sea.

The Immortal Fall Islands are rich in resources and prosperous in life. The cultivation world is thriving and powerful. In particular, the Hai family, one of the six pillars of the Immortal Fall Islands, is a place where Hai Shuangyao travels through the Hai family's territory. The houses, pavilions, and courtyards seem ordinary, but they actually contain profound secrets.

Even the seemingly insignificant pebble path underfoot is actually crafted from the marrow of deep-sea coral fossils, refined with seabed spiritual minerals, possessing the effect of calming the mind and purifying the spirit. Overseas, it would be a valuable stepping stone to the mountain gate of a Yuan Shen sect, but here it is merely one of the many intersecting paths within the Hai family's territory.

This is a truly magnificent and luxurious family!

Arriving at the ancestral hall, the entrance to the Hai family's grotto is located here. The place is heavily guarded and filled with experts, with guards every three steps and sentries every five steps. Two elders of the primordial spirit family are also guarding the entrance to the grotto, sitting cross-legged on a futon with whisks in their hands, seemingly half asleep and half awake.

Even Hai Shuangyao, who was always unconventional and had an unusual mindset, did not dare to be presumptuous and obediently bowed to the two elders to report.

Without opening their eyes, one of them flicked his whisk, and a clear spring suddenly rippled on the floor tiles in the center of the ancestral hall. Then, a pure white lotus flower rose from the spring, instantly opening its eighteen petals. However, the heart of the lotus was not a lotus seedpod, but a crystal-clear octagonal ice crystal.

The ice crystal flashed, and as it spun rapidly, a vortex-like icy blue portal opened up. Hai Shuangyao took a step forward, entering the cave, and instantly found herself in a state of complete openness.

Before me stretched a vast, boundless frozen lake, its surface crystal clear and as smooth as a mirror. In the very center of the lake stood a towering ancient castle, its twinkling lights gleaming brilliantly in the reflection of the ice.

Surrounding the glacial lake lies a vast expanse of frozen tundra, dotted with scattered villages that add a touch of life to this icy landscape.

The ice and snow world was magnificent and breathtaking, but Hai Shuangyao had grown up here and was already tired of it. She made her way to the castle with ease, drawing graceful arcs on the ice.

Many Hai family cultivators were also gliding on the ice, and they all came up to pay their respects when they saw Hai Shuangyao. This was because although she was petite and not very old, she held a high seniority in the Hai family, which was somewhat similar to her junior uncle Jiang Baitao.

Standing before the towering gates of the ancient castle, Hai Shuangyao appeared even smaller. Two frost giants stretched out their arms and pushed open the gates for her. Instantly, a lively wave of sound surged out from inside. Compared to the cold and quiet outside, the Hai family members were gathered here, creating a bustling atmosphere.

Soon, Hai Shuangyao was taken to the main hall on the thirty-third floor of the ancient castle.

"Hai Shuangyao greets all the ancestors and elders." Hai Shuangyao appeared exceptionally well-behaved upon entering the main hall, her large eyes blinking like a pure white flower untouched by the world.

In reality, she had already glanced around quickly out of the corner of her eye.

The bad news is that two of the four True Monarchs of the Hai family have arrived, and about 80% of the clan elders have also arrived. Even the most hated Hai Mocheng is here!

The good news is that Great-Grandfather has arrived!
"Yaoyao, stop kneeling, my little grandson, come here and let your great-grandfather take a look." The elderly man with a ruddy face, one of the two main figures in the center, said affectionately.

Some elders shook their heads helplessly, thinking to themselves that this was indeed the case.

Hai Shuangyao responded sweetly and was about to step forward when a young-looking True Monarch of the Refining Void coughed beside her Great Ancestor.

"Fourth Uncle, this is the clan elders' meeting for questioning. Let's be serious for now. We can talk about trivial matters later."

Hai Shuangyao puffed out her chubby cheeks in dissatisfaction, but her great-great-grandfather nodded and waved to her: "Yaoyao, just answer whatever they ask you later. Don't be afraid, your great-great-grandfather is here to support you. No one will dare to bully you."

The youngest of the new clan elders present, the newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator Hai Mocheng, narrowed his eyes.

Hai Shuangyao disliked him, and he disliked Hai Shuangyao.

This girl's brain must be filled with seawater. She's hundreds of years old and already in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, but she acts like a teenager, no, a little kid. It's so pretentious it's disgusting.

If I had her illustrious background, if I were as favored as she is, I would probably have reached the Nascent Soul stage a hundred years ago and joined the clan elders' council long ago!
This time, no matter what, we cannot let her go. We must make her hand over that Ascension Token!
The young Refinement Void True Monarch spoke: "Let's begin."

The matter of the Dragon Palace Ascension Certificate was of great importance, so two True Monarchs of the Void Refinement Realm were present to listen, but the specific questions were left to the elders of the family.

An elder asked, "Shuangyao, is it true that the Mi family accuses you of taking Mi Mengyin's Dragon Palace Ascension Token from her?"

"Second Uncle, Mi Mengyin is slandering me!" Hai Shuangyao shook her head like a rattle drum. "What Ascension Token? I've never seen it before!"

She immediately denied it, leaving all the elders bewildered. Hai Shuangyao continued talking to herself, "What? Mi Mengyin's Dragon Palace Ascension Token is lost? That's wonderful—I mean, it's such a pity."

"But no matter what, she can't just bite people when she's cornered and blame it all on me, right? That's just outrageous."

Second Uncle remained patient: "Shuangyao, this is a serious matter, don't act recklessly. Mi Mengyin has explained everything. You two fought on Lanshan Island in Yuheng Continent and stole each other's storage bags. She still has your things there!"

"Second Uncle, elders of the family, Great-Grandfather, you must stand up for me!" He should have said it, because Hai Shuangyao's eyes were filled with tears. "I went to Yuheng Continent to play by myself, and Mi Mengyin chased after me like a dog looking for shit to eat."

"Not only did she pick a fight with me, but she also stole my storage bag. If I hadn't used the Extreme Cold Ice Coffin Talisman in time, I probably would have died in Yuheng."

"Outrageous! The brat from the Mi family is going too far! I will—" The great-grandfather was furious, but was persuaded to stop by the young cultivator.

He stared at Hai Shuangyao, who looked completely innocent, with a headache in his eyes. He thought to himself that the affection between grandparents and grandchildren was terrible, but the affection between grandparents and grandchildren who were separated by several generations was even more unreasonable.

The Hai family is divided into seven branches, whose generational order is determined by the twenty-four characters: "昭朗崇奕，霜华映渊，文韬墨鉴，德润泽庭，秉正修齐，晟嘉延旷".

However, cultivation families have existed for tens of thousands of years, and the Hai family has hundreds of millions of mortal relatives. If they were to be ranked according to bloodline, starting at birth, it would have become a chaotic mess. In addition, cultivators rarely have offspring, and their offspring rarely possess spiritual roots. They actually take spiritual seedlings from their mortal relatives and cultivate them, so they cannot be ranked according to seniority like mortal families.

Aside from the spiritual offspring born to cultivators, whose generational names can be directly assigned, the Hai family uses a century-long system for the spiritual offspring gathered from mortal relatives. Only those born in the first century who possess spiritual roots are given the character "Zhao," while cultivators born in the second century are given the character "Lang." Those with the character "Zhao" are addressed as uncles or elders.

Then, according to their bloodline origins, they are divided into seven lineages.

This cycle repeats every 2,400 years, and the Hai family is now in its fifth cycle.

For a cultivator to emerge from a direct bloodline is already an extremely rare occurrence, and this is especially true for Hai Shuangyao. Her father, Hai Yiwei, is a core figure in the third branch of the Hai family, possessing immense prestige. And the great-great-grandfather present here, Hai Jiaming, is the patriarch of the third branch, Hai Shuangyao's thirty-first generation ancestor—a direct descendant!

She possessed excellent spiritual roots and extraordinary talent in ice magic, thus being spoiled by her father and grandfather from a young age. Fortunately, she was never arrogant, but rather developed a strange personality that was extremely unconventional and quirky.

In comparison, although Hai Mocheng is a rising star among the younger generation, he is ultimately a spiritual seedling selected from the offspring of mortal relatives, and is not as favored as Hai Shuangyao.

However, the Dragon Palace Ascension Token is too important, and everyone is envious of it. Even among the twenty-odd elders present, who wouldn't want to get one? Therefore, this time, Hai Shuangyao is destined not to pass easily.

Moreover, the loopholes in Hai Shuangyao's statement are quite obvious.

Although the Hai family and the Mi family are secretly vying for power, on the surface, as the ruling class of the Immortal Fall Islands, they still need to maintain unity and harmony.

Hai Shuangyao and Mi Mengyin are about the same age and have known each other since childhood. Although they have countless entanglements, with Mi Mengyin constantly pestering Hai Shuangyao, causing chaos and even serious injuries, Mi Mengyin has absolutely no intention of killing Hai Shuangyao, nor would she dare to truly harbor any murderous intent towards her.

If Mi Mengyin really wins, she'll swagger around and leave; she'll never actually kill anyone.

Hai Shuangyao used the Extreme Cold Ice Coffin not to save her own life, but to protect something else!
So another elder interrupted Hai Shuangyao's sobbing: "Shuangyao, if you really used the Extreme Cold Coffin, it couldn't possibly be to save your life, right? Besides, the Extreme Cold Coffin takes thirty years to melt, which doesn't match the time you returned to the family."

"Who helped you break through the ice?" (End of Chapter)