When Rena Luo spoke, her eyes were filled with determination.
Back at Changbai Mountain, Master Lin from Seacrest got there first, leaving Rena Luo deeply frustrated.
And the Deep-Frost Iceflame means everything to the Locke Family.
"Master Lin from Seacrest has already entered Heavenly Lake, so he won't be showing up again anytime soon."
The Locke Old Ancestor shook his head. "You three failed your mission. Normally, you'd be punished."
As soon as he said that, Rena Luo and the other two turned pale.
"But with the Dao-Trial Gathering coming up, and the He Family watching us closely, your punishment will be postponed. For the next few days, you're not to leave—you'll stay in seclusion and cultivate."
Hearing this, Rena Luo and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"All these years, the only thing our Locke Family has relied on is that half-blossom Deep-Frost Iceflame. With it, our people can cultivate much faster."
"Originally, just keeping things as they are would be enough. We wouldn't rule the world, but we'd have our place. But you've probably heard: the He Family produced a monstrous water cultivator—at eighteen, he's already Second-Grade Vajra! And that was two years ago."
At this point, the Locke Old Ancestor's face grew serious. "The key thing is, last year that guy managed to fuse with the He Family's Boundless Water. His power now is unfathomable."
"Boundless Water! Isn't that the water that's supposed to be rootless—touch it and you're dead!"
"How could anyone possibly fuse with Boundless Water? It's the same level as our Deep-Frost Iceflame. We can't even fully refine the Iceflame—how could the He Family manage it?"
Everyone below changed color at that.
"Both Boundless Water and Deep-Frost Iceflame are divine objects. Just one is enough to make someone insanely strong. If we want to go head-to-head with the He Family, someone in our clan must fully refine that half-blossom Deep-Frost Iceflame!"
"That's why I sent out hero invitations—to find someone in the world who can handle the Deep-Frost Iceflame. That's the whole point of this Dao-Trial Gathering!"
The Locke Old Ancestor's face turned solemn, his gaze drifting toward Yvette Locke, who was fiddling with an empty yogurt cup nearby.
Not long ago, Yvette Locke snuck out to play and ended up getting captured by the He Family.
The He Family's demand was simple: trade the Deep-Frost Iceflame for her.
Today's council was supposed to be about rescuing Yvette Locke, but out of nowhere, word came that she'd made it back safe and sound.
That was what got everyone talking about something else.
"I've heard that He Family prodigy is planning to refine the Deep-Frost Iceflame too. If he actually pulls it off, it'll be the end of our Locke Family!"
"We don't even know what he looks like. For all we know, he could be hiding somewhere on the mountain right now."
The Locke Old Ancestor took a deep breath. "Years ago, I broke into the Pointing-to-Mystery Realm, but I've been stuck ever since. I can feel my power slipping away. Ever since I killed the He Family patriarch more than twenty years ago, our Locke Family and the He Family have been mortal enemies!"
"You all need to be ready to face our enemies. Over the next few days, get your bodies in shape. Then, through the Dao-Trial Gathering, try to refine that half-blossom Deep-Frost Iceflame!"
"Whoever manages to refine the Deep-Frost Iceflame will become the next head of the Locke Family!"
The Locke Old Ancestor's words sent a wave of excitement through the crowd.
"What if an outsider refines it?"
Someone spoke up and asked.
"We make them ours."
After finishing his speech, the Locke Old Ancestor waved his hand, dismissing everyone except Yvette Locke, who was still lost in thought.
Once the others had left, the Locke Old Ancestor looked at Yvette, his expression softening.
"Yvette, if no one else in the family can stand up to him, then the Locke Family might have to rely on you."
"For the next few days, stay here, don't go out, and don't get into trouble. I promised I'd let you go down the mountain once you turned twenty, and since you've already done it, it's time to settle down."
After he finished, Yvette didn't respond. She just lowered her head, fiddling with the yogurt cup in her hands, looking a little lost.
"But I still want to go out and play..."
After a long while, once the Locke Old Ancestor had left, Yvette mumbled to herself.
She turned to look outside the cabin, clearly tempted to leave and find that boy she met on the road.
"This is your place. Remember, don't wander around!"
The man known as Miss Stitch led Evan Lin to a cabin. "Every day at mealtime, someone will bring you food."
"And let me make this clear—don't even think about our young miss. She's way out of your league!"
"Also, if you ever can't handle it here, then get off the mountain before you lose your life!"
As he said this, Evan Lin could clearly see the hostile look in Miss Stitch's eyes.
But Evan didn't bother arguing and just turned to leave.
Evan Lin glanced around.
There were fifty identical cabins all around.
Every cabin looked pretty much the same, and the place was centered around a small plaza paved with white stone bricks. Right now, plenty of people were practicing on wooden stakes in the plaza.
"Hey, are you here for the Dao-Trial Gathering too?"
Someone called out to Evan Lin.
Evan gave him a look. "Dao-Trial Gathering?"
"You don't know?"
The guy looked surprised, then sized Evan Lin up from head to toe.
His gaze landed on Evan's fists, then after a few glances, he turned away with obvious disdain.
"What is up with these weirdos? And this Dao-Trial Gathering—what even is that?"
Evan frowned slightly, thinking back to the look Miss Stitch gave him earlier. Something definitely felt off.
But Evan didn't dwell on it and just went back to his room.
Whatever comes, I'll face it head-on.
The real reason Evan came to the Locke Family was for that half-blossom Deep-Frost Iceflame.
While Evan was cultivating inside the cabin, he heard fighting outside. When he opened the door, he saw one guy knock another down cleanly and take over his cabin.
The loser tried to challenge someone else, but got beaten even worse—his hands and feet were broken, and he screamed in agony.
No one around seemed bothered at all.
A few people even glanced playfully at Evan's cabin, their eyes full of meaning.