Chapter 11: The Dragon's Memory
**Azure Dragon Academy – Supreme Prodigy Residence (Night)**
The sun had long set, but the floating island belonging to Chen Feng was brighter than ever. Piles of spirit stones, rare herbs, spiritual weapons, and boxes of high-grade elixirs were stacked neatly in the courtyard. These were the "war reparations" from the Golden Lion Clan, delivered exactly at sunset as promised.
Lin Yue sat on a stone bench, staring at the mountain of treasures with wide eyes. "This... this is enough resources to sustain a small sect for ten years. And he just gave it all to you because he lost a bet."
Chen Feng ignored the treasure for now. He sat cross-legged in the center of the courtyard, his eyes closed, deep in meditation. But he wasn't cultivating. He was diving into the depths of his own soul, specifically into the fragment of the **Azure Dragon Spirit** he had devoured during the duel.
Inside his consciousness, a chaotic storm raged. Fragments of blue scales, lightning, and ancient memories swirled in a vortex of black fire.
*"Find it,"* Chen Feng commanded mentally. *"Show me what you know."*
The Void Flame roared, burning away the resistance of the dragon spirit. Slowly, the chaos coalesced into a single, coherent image. A map. Not of the continent, but of a specific location marked with a sinister red rune.
And then, a voice echoed in his mind. It wasn't the dragon's voice; it was older, colder. A voice that belonged to one of the **Six Sovereigns**.
*"The Dragon Scale Pearl... hidden in the Ruins of Eternal Frost... contains the key to the Northern Gate... Guard it well, my pawn..."*
Chen Feng's eyes snapped open. They glowed with a faint purple light.
"Northern Gate?" he whispered. "And 'my pawn'? Was Long Ao's ancestor working for them?"
He stood up, brushing dust off his robes. The pieces were starting to fit together. The Six Sovereigns hadn't just ruled the world; they had planted seeds everywhere. Clans, sects, academies—all were unknowingly serving their interests, guarding fragments of power or secrets that could lead to their return.
"What did you see?" Lin Yue asked, noticing his intense expression.
"A lead," Chen Feng said, turning to her. "The dragon spirit held a memory. There's an artifact called the 'Dragon Scale Pearl' hidden in the **Ruins of Eternal Frost**. It's linked to the Northern Gate. If my hypothesis is correct, this 'gate' might be related to the seal holding back one of the Six Sovereigns... or perhaps a weapon capable of killing them."
Lin Yue's eyes widened. "The Ruins of Eternal Frost? That's in the Frozen Wasteland, thousands of miles north! It's a death zone. Even *Nascent Soul* cultivators hesitate to go there."
"Perfect," Chen Feng smiled dangerously. "That means no one will expect us."
"But my curse..." Lin Yue touched her necklace. "The Star Heart stabilized me, but I still need the other fragments. Do you think the Ruins have one?"
"The memory mentioned a 'key'," Chen Feng mused. "Keys often open locks that hold treasures. It's worth the risk. We leave tonight."
"Tonight?" Lin Yue jumped up. "But you just won the duel! The academy will throw a banquet in your honor tomorrow. The Headmaster himself requested an audience!"
Chen Feng waved his hand dismissively. "Banquets are for politicians. I have a war to win. Let them eat their fancy food while we hunt for power."
Suddenly, a heavy pressure descended upon the island. It wasn't hostile, but it was immense—far heavier than Elder Liu's. The air solidified, and the wind stopped blowing.
A figure materialized out of thin air in front of them.
He was an old man with silver hair tied in a simple knot, wearing plain grey robes. He held a wooden staff, but his presence made the entire floating island tremble slightly. His eyes were sharp, like eagles, seeing through every secret.
**Academy Headmaster, Cang Lan.** A *Spirit King* level cultivator. The strongest person in the Eastern Continent.
"Leaving so soon, Junior Brother Chen?" the Headmaster asked, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority. "I came to congratulate you on your victory. And perhaps... to ask a few questions about your unique technique."
Chen Feng didn't bow. He didn't flinch. He simply looked at the Headmaster, his *Void Sense* analyzing the man's energy. *Strong. Very strong. But not invincible.*
"Headmaster," Chen Feng nodded politely but firmly. "Congratulations can wait. I have urgent business in the North. As for my technique..." He paused, a hint of warning in his tone. "...some secrets are best left buried. For everyone's safety."
Headmaster Cang Lan's eyes narrowed slightly. He sensed the threat hidden in those polite words. This boy wasn't just talented; he was dangerous. A tiger cub that would soon devour the whole forest.
"The North?" Cang Lan repeated, stroking his beard. "The Frozen Wasteland is no place for a Qi Gathering cultivator, even one with your... peculiarities. You will die before you reach the border."
"I've died before," Chen Feng said cryptically. "It didn't stick."
Cang Lan stared at him for a long moment. Then, he laughed. A hearty, booming laugh that shook the clouds away.
"Hah! Good answer! I like your style, boy. Arrogant, but backed by substance."
He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small, jade token carved with the image of a soaring crane.
"Very well. I won't stop you. In fact, I'll help you. This is a **Spatial Transmission Token**. It can teleport you instantly to the **Ice Phoenix City**, the last settlement before the Frozen Wasteland. It has enough energy for one use."
Chen Feng accepted the token, surprised but cautious. "Why help me? You don't even know my goals."
"Because the Azure Dragon Academy needs change," Cang Lan said, his expression turning serious. "We've become complacent. Rotten from within, thanks to clans like the Golden Lions. Your victory shook things up. It woke people up. If you can survive the Wasteland and return stronger, maybe you can help me clean house when you come back."
He looked at Lin Yue. "And take care of her. She carries a heavy destiny. The stars told me so."
Lin Yue bowed deeply. "Thank you, Headmaster."
"Go," Cang Lan said, stepping back. "Before I change my mind or the elders convince me to lock you up for 'study'."
Chen Feng pocketed the token. He looked at the pile of treasures.
"Lin Yue, take what you need. Leave the rest. We travel light."
She quickly gathered a few essential pills and a change of clothes, storing them in her spatial ring. Chen Feng didn't take anything. He didn't need material wealth; he had the Void.
"Ready?" Chen Feng asked.
"Ready," Lin Yue confirmed.
Chen Feng activated the token. A swirling blue portal opened in front of them, emitting a blast of freezing wind. Through the portal, they could see a snowy landscape and the distant lights of a city built on ice.
"One last thing," Headmaster Cang Lan called out as they stepped toward the portal. "Be careful in the Frost. Rumor has it that the **Frozen Sect**, a remnant of an ancient order, guards something there. They don't take kindly to intruders."
"Frozen Sect?" Chen Feng smirked. "Let them try to stop us."
He grabbed Lin Yue's hand.
"Next stop: The Frozen Wasteland."
They jumped into the portal.
In a flash of blue light, they vanished.
Headmaster Cang Lan stood alone on the quiet island, watching the spot where they disappeared.
"The Void Flame has returned," he whispered to the wind. "The prophecy is unfolding. May the heavens have mercy on us all."
---
**Ice Phoenix City – Northern Borders**
The cold was biting. Even with spiritual energy protecting them, the air felt like needles piercing the skin. The city was magnificent, carved entirely out of translucent blue ice, glowing with internal formations that kept the blizzards at bay.
Chen Feng and Lin Yue stumbled out of the transmission array in the city square. People dressed in thick fur coats stared at them. Two strangers appearing out of thin air in the middle of a secure formation? That was unheard of.
"Where are we?" Lin Yue shivered, pulling her cloak tighter.
"Ice Phoenix City," Chen Feng said, looking around. His eyes scanned the crowd, the buildings, and the distant horizon where endless white wastes stretched into eternity. "And somewhere out there... lies the Ruins of Eternal Frost."
He took a deep breath, the freezing air filling his lungs.
"Let's find an inn. Tomorrow, we hunt."
But as they walked through the icy streets, Chen Feng couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. From the shadows of an alleyway, a pair of yellow eyes glowed briefly before disappearing.
The Frozen Sect was already aware of their arrival.
---
**To be continued...**