Chapter 1353 - 1353: Ascension Yuan Commander

"Supreme Palace Master, I was wrong."

"To recognize one's mistakes and correct them is of great virtue."

"Supreme Palace Master, I was wrong."

"Good, seeing how sweetly you call out, I might consider forgiving you."

"Supreme Palace Master, I was wrong."

"Come one by one, line up properly..."

Brother Cheng beamed with delight, completely unfazed by their frantic expressions.

Under Gong Qing's supervision, none dared to breach the agreement.

The female Immortals initially planned to shout collectively, but Jiang Taishang steadfastly refused, insisting on individual apologies.

It turned into something resembling a queue for a medical check-up.

Twelve hundred and more, he was not annoyed at all, but rather enjoyed it thoroughly.

As the number dwindled down, it finally came to the most reluctant, Venerable Linjing.

"Supreme Palace Master, I was wrong."

Her usually crisp voice was now like that of a mosquito.

As soon as she finished, she hurried away as if she'd touched something unlucky.

Brother Cheng just couldn't tolerate it.

"I didn't quite hear, you were way too perfunctory, do it again!"

"Why should I?"

Already embarrassed, Venerable Linjing shouted in anger when stopped by him.

"I clearly have shouted, don't be too excessive!"

Jiang Cheng's lips slightly curved: "See, your current voice sounds quite spirited, just keep this volume."

I won't believe I can't handle a small Supreme.

"You!"

Venerable Linjing nearly cursed out loud, yet Gong Qing's calm gaze exerted profound pressure on her.

Ultimately, she could only shout loudly: "Supreme Elder, I was wrong!"

Brother Cheng smiled contentedly and patted her head, expressing approval.

"Keep working hard in the future, okay?"

Venerable Linjing thought to bite off his hand when presented with the opportunity but eventually abandoned this tempting notion.

And so, all the ladies completed one round of shouting.

However, this is only the beginning; according to the agreement, every time they encountered Jiang Taishang, they'd have to shout once.

With Brother Cheng's mischievous taste, their future journey will be long.

"Next up is the relocation of the Ice Palace."

Jiang Cheng glanced at the female Immortals present.

"Now Cyan Bear Valley is destroyed, and Mo Yuan Valley won't act against you, there's nothing to be afraid of, right?"

The ladies thought to themselves the dangers here far exceeded Cyan Bear Valley and Mo Yuan Valley.

However, with Gong Qing calling the shots, they had nothing further to say.

Relocating the Ice Palace from the Micro Dust Secret Realm isn't difficult; any Venerable could manage it.

The only place requiring Gong Qing to preside personally was an Ice Tower.

At the tower's pinnacle, a condensed red cloud hovered.

Jiang Cheng took a glance; the cloud was small, merely the size of an umbrella.

It possessed no attack power whatsoever, appearing just as an ordinary red cloud.

But upon careful perception, one could sense a trace of mysterious, unique power emanating from deep within the red cloud.

Unsurprisingly, it was likely the Power of Heaven and Earth Rules within Yunmi Dao.

Due to the existence of these rules, this place became an extraordinary domain with power in numbers.

"Every sizable force here has a similar red cloud."

Being an old acquaintance, Gong Qing knew Brother Cheng's style.

Surely, he was newly arrived and unaware of the situation.

Thus, she patiently gave an explanation.

"Newcomers only need to actively place a trace of their consciousness into the cloud to be considered a member of the Ice Palace and also gain its mark."

"When fighting together in the future, they'll receive boosts from Shengyuan Red Cloud."

Brother Cheng thought this was far more complex.

"Turns out it's this simple and casual?"

"Then couldn't people just leave whenever they wish?"

Gong Qing nodded: "That's right, just severing that trace of consciousness allows one to leave the Ice Palace."

Severing a trace of consciousness poses no harm to an Immortal.

However, Gong Qing quickly added.

"Some clans and forces, to strengthen control over their subordinates and prevent Elders and Disciples from leaving, will force them to place a trace of Split Soul within."

"Doing so makes it extremely hard for their personnel to escape."

Severing a trace of Split Soul comes at a hefty cost.

At best, it damages their state, requiring secluded recovery over billions of years; at worst, it permanently harms their talents and foundations, hindering any progress.

The Ice Palace uses consciousness, allowing freedom.

But outside, some sects aren't the same.

With each additional person, Yunmi Dao gains more power; every sect here wants to recruit more.

Here, living people are mobile treasures subject to competition.

And some extreme sects and powerful clans, to bolster their own power, opt for annexation and 'hunting' from various places.

Caught and forcibly joined by them, don't expect to only place consciousness; one will be compelled to place Split Soul.

It's equivalent to losing autonomy, becoming a tool enslaved by opponents.

Linjing and Lan Miao certainly didn't wish to fall into such a situation.

Understanding the circumstances, Jiang Cheng proceeded to split a trace of consciousness, intending to merge with Shengyuan Red Cloud.

Gong Qing promptly used her voice transmission to intervene.

"You shouldn't do this right now."

She then ordered the ladies away and explained to Brother Cheng.

"Each sect's Shengyuan Red Cloud contains a Shengyuan Crystal Core, communicable only by one person."

"The one who communicates with Shengyuan Crystal Core is called the Commander."

"The Commander can use the cloud to command others; they cannot defy the Commander's orders unless they've exited the sect."

"I'm the Commander of the Ice Palace."

She gazed steadily into Jiang Cheng's eyes, lightly speaking, "If you add consciousness to the cloud now, you become one of my subordinates."

"Normally, you won't perceive anything."

"But at critical moments, even if I ask you to act against your own will, you would comply."

That's why Tansha and others severed the consciousness link immediately upon exiting.

Brother Cheng was slightly stunned.

If Gong Qing hadn't explained beforehand, he'd certainly fall into this pit unknowingly.

"Are you planning to give me the position of Ice Palace Commander?"

Gong Qing nodded, speaking matter-of-factly: "Indeed, you're the Supreme Palace Master, of course, this place should be under your control."

Brother Cheng opened his mouth, paused for a moment, and finally chuckled bitterly.

"Alright, then, where's the Shengyuan Crystal Core?"

He found himself uncertain of this girl's mindset.

With his carefree, thoughtless, and lacking knowledge style, if Gong Qing hadn't voluntarily explained, he might never discover this pitfall until it was too late.

She was that loyal to him?

The two soon entered the central Ice Crystal Hall of the Ice Palace.

Wandering amid a world of ice sculptures, the two walked side by side, as if strolling through a fairy tale.

Especially since Gong Qing was an authentic Ice Race person.

After passing through several restrictions, Gong Qing guided him to the core area of this Ice Hall.

Before Jiang Cheng appeared a tiny transparent crystal floating in mid-air.

So small, merely the size of a mung bean.

"This is the Shengyuan Crystal Core of the Ice Palace."