Genius in the whole system: The useless young lady dominates the world

As night deepened, a bonfire was lit inside the cave. The firelight reflected on the faces of the three men, flickering and adding a touch of life to the quiet, cold night.

Xin Lanyunge leaned against the rough cave wall, her eyes closed, as if resting or deep in thought. At her feet, the snow-white fox was curled up in a ball, its fluffy tail swaying gently. Every now and then, it would raise its bright eyes and look around warily, as if guarding its master.

Lu Lingxi sat cross-legged, with spiritual energy flowing around her. She was circulating her cultivation technique to resist the bone-chilling cold. Nalan Rongzhi quietly stood by her side, looking at her tenderly, a smile occasionally appearing on his lips.

The next morning, the three continued their journey, with the snow-white fox leading the way. Its small figure stood out in the snow. It would stop from time to time to sniff the air and scan its surroundings with wary eyes.

After walking for about two hours, a melodious flute sound suddenly drifted from afar, as clear as an icy spring, yet carrying a hint of elusive mystery.

"This is... the Ice Spirit Flute?" Xin Lanyunge frowned slightly, her voice tinged with doubt. "How could someone in this frigid land be playing the Ice Spirit Flute?"

Before the words were finished, a biting wind carrying tiny ice crystals howled in. In the air, specks of blue light flickered and quickly condensed into lifelike ice butterflies. These ice butterflies danced gracefully, fluttering around the three of them, breathtakingly beautiful yet exuding a deadly chill.

Lu Lingxi's eyes sharpened instantly. With a wave of her hand, a blazing fire barrier rose from the ground, firmly protecting the three of them.

The seemingly beautiful ice butterflies crashed against the flame barrier, making a "sizzling" sound, turning into wisps of white cold air that dissipated into the air.

"Good means."

A clear, cool voice came from not far away, carrying a hint of admiration and a hint of probing. A girl dressed in blue walked slowly out of the wind and snow with light steps, holding a crystal-clear jade flute in her hand.

"I never expected to run into someone in this desolate place?"

Xin Lanyunge's eyes flickered slightly, as if she had guessed the identity of the newcomer. "Are you from the Ice Spirit Clan?"

"Indeed." The girl in blue smiled slightly, a hint of pride in her smile. "My name is Bing Qingyun. Seeing that you three have extraordinary bearing, you don't seem like ordinary intruders. May I ask what you are looking for?"

A cold glint flashed in Nalan Rongzhi's eyes. He was about to speak when Lu Lingxi Yao spoke first, "We are just passing through and have no ill intentions."

Bing Qingyun gave the three of them a meaningful look, her gaze sweeping over them: "Is that so? But I feel that the three of you seem quite interested in the extreme cold region? Especially..."

Her gaze fell on the snow-white fox on Xin Lanyunge's shoulder, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes. "This fox is no ordinary spirit beast, is it?"

Xin Lanyunge remained calm, gently stroking the fox's fur with a faint smile on his lips: "You flatter me, young lady. It's just a fox with a little bit of spiritual insight."

“In that case,” Bing Qingyun put away the jade flute and slung it behind her back, “why not come with me to visit the Ice Spirit Clan? The area ahead is my clan’s territory. If you are just passing by, I’m sure you won’t refuse this kindness, will you?” Although her tone was polite, it carried a hint that left no room for refusal.

Lu Lingxi and Nalan Rongzhi exchanged another glance, both seeing a hint of seriousness in each other's eyes.

The appearance of the Ice Spirit Clan was by no means accidental, and Xin Lan Yun Ge's reaction was even more unpredictable, but at this moment, they seemed to have no other choice.

"Then I'll have to trouble you," Lu Lingxi said calmly, her voice devoid of any emotion.

Nalan Rongzhi silently tightened his grip on her hand. The warmth from his palm brought her a sense of security. His eyes were filled with vigilance, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

The snow-white fox perched quietly on Xin Lanyunge's shoulder, a sly glint in its bright eyes, as if everything was within its expectations.

Bing Qingyun turned and led the way, with the three of them following closely behind. They then stepped into a world covered in silver and white. As they went deeper, the temperature plummeted, and the cold air was like fine needles, piercing into their bones.

Lu Lingxi circulated her spiritual power, with flames flowing within her body to resist the invading cold. Nalan Rongzhi quietly released wisps of demonic energy, which swirled around Lu Lingxi, creating an invisible barrier to keep the cold out.

Before long, a city built of huge ice crystals appeared before our eyes. The city walls were crystal clear and reflected seven colors under the sunlight, like a dream, which was breathtaking.

"This is my clan's sacred land, Ice Crystal City." Bing Qingyun's tone carried an undisguised pride as she slightly turned her head to observe the three people's reactions.

Stepping through the city gate, the streets are lined with buildings that resemble ice sculptures, each unique and lifelike, showcasing the Ice Spirit Clan's distinctive aesthetics and exquisite craftsmanship.

The Ice Spirit Clan members who passed by were all dressed in blue and white robes. They cast curious glances at Lu Lingxi and her group, whispering among themselves, but no one went forward to disturb them.

Bing Qingyun led them to a magnificent palace, which was taller and more majestic than other buildings. It was carved entirely from ten-thousand-year-old black ice and emitted a faint, cold light.

"This is our clan's council hall, and the clan chief is waiting for you all." Bing Qingyun's voice echoed in the empty square.

Upon entering the hall, one sees an elderly man with white hair sitting at the head of the table. He wears a white robe embroidered with ice patterns, his face is thin but his spirit is vigorous, and his eyes are deep and sharp, as if he can see into people's hearts.

Bing Qingyun stepped forward respectfully and bowed slightly. "Clan leader, I have brought them here."

The old man nodded slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the three of them before finally settling on the snow-white fox resting with its eyes closed on Xin Lanyun's shoulder. A barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.

"I never expected that outsiders would dare to trespass into my territory. Speak, what is the purpose of your visit?" His voice, though aged, was full of vigor and carried an undeniable authority.

Just as Lu Lingxi was about to explain, Xin Lanyunge stepped forward, cupped his hands slightly, and said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant, "Clan Chief, we are here to search for the Pure World Lotus and the Mysterious Ice Snow Lotus."

These words caused an uproar in the hall. The Ice Spirit Clan members whispered among themselves, their faces showing shock.

The old man frowned, his eyes sharpening. "Do you know what these two things mean?"

Nalan Rongzhi stepped forward, blocking Lu Lingxi Yao, and said coldly, "Please enlighten me, Clan Leader." His voice was deep and cold, carrying an irresistible sense of oppression.

The old man was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, and slowly said, "The Pure Lotus is a treasure that can dissolve the power of darkness. It is rare in the world. The Mysterious Ice Snow Lotus grows on the top of the Frozen Throne, the sacred land of our clan. It blooms once every thousand years. Picking it means challenging the authority of our clan."

Lu Lingxi's eyes narrowed, and an indescribable excitement welled up in her heart. She stepped forward and said firmly, "We have no intention of offending anyone. We have no choice but to do this to save an important person."

The old man looked at her thoughtfully, his gaze shifting between her and Nalan Rongzhi. "Are you talking about the little prince of the sea monster clan who was devoured by the power of darkness?"

Lu Lingxi was startled, not expecting that the reclusive Ice Spirit Clan would be so knowledgeable about the outside world. However, she remained calm and nodded slightly, "The clan leader is well-informed."

The old man smiled, a smile tinged with unfathomable mystery. "Although the Ice Spirit Clan lives in seclusion, they are still aware of major events in the outside world. In that case, how about we make a deal?"

A cold glint flashed in Nalan Rongzhi's eyes. He gripped Lu Lingxi's hand tightly and asked in an icy tone, "What deal?"

"If you help my clan solve a problem, I will allow you to enter the Frozen Throne. How about it?" the old man stated his condition, his gaze fixed intently on the three.

Lu Lingxi and Nalan Rongzhi exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes, and then looked at Xin Lanyunge at the same time.

The latter gently stroked the snow-white fox that seemed to be asleep on his shoulder, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips. "I wonder what trouble the chieftain is referring to?"

The old man sighed, a look of worry on his face. "Recently, an ancient ice beast has awakened and is wreaking havoc in our territory. Many of our people have been injured. With your strength, you should be able to handle it."

Lu Lingxi hesitated for a moment. She knew this might be their only chance, so she decisively said, "Okay, we agree."

“Very good,” the old man nodded in satisfaction, a relieved smile on his face. “Qingyun, take them to rest. We will set off for the Ice Beast’s location early tomorrow morning.”

After leaving the council hall, Bing Qingyun settled the three of them in a quiet courtyard. Although the courtyard was not large, it was exquisitely decorated. Several plum trees were planted in the courtyard, and a faint fragrance of flowers wafted through the air in the breeze.

After Bing Qingyun left, Nalan Rongzhi spoke, his voice low and solemn, "The Ice Spirit Clan clearly has other plans. We must proceed with caution."

Lu Lingxi nodded, she also sensed the strangeness of the Ice Spirit Clan, "Indeed, but we have no choice now. Young Master Xinlan, what do you think?"

Xin Lanyunge remained silent, gently stroking the snow-white fox on his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with an inexplicable light.

The snow-white fox suddenly spoke, its voice clear and melodious, tinged with a hint of mockery, "Interesting. It seems the Ice Spirit Clan has more secrets than we imagined."

Lu Lingxi was startled. Her eyes widened as she stared at the fox in disbelief. "You...you can talk?"

The fox blinked its bright, large eyes, as if to say, "What's so strange about that? My name is Xiao Jiu, and I'm Yun Ge's friend. This trip to the Ice Spirit Clan is quite interesting." Its voice was full of liveliness and cunning.

Nalan Rongzhi's gaze darkened, and a strong sense of unease welled up in his heart. "It seems that we have all been kept in the dark. This mess is deeper than we imagined."

Xin Lanyunge sighed softly and finally spoke, his voice tinged with helplessness, "Since things have come to this, I will speak frankly. Besides searching for the spirit beast Ice Soul Snow Spirit, I have other purposes for this trip."

"What's your purpose?" Lu Lingxi asked warily, staring intently at Xin Lanyunge, trying to glean something from his expression.

"Well," Xin Lanyunge smiled mysteriously, gently patting Xiao Jiu's head, "you'll know once we've dealt with the ice beast."

As night fell, the courtyard fell silent, save for the soft rustling of the plum blossoms in the cold wind.

Lu Lingxi leaned against Nalan Rongzhi's chest, feeling the warmth emanating from him, and whispered, "Do you think we can trust Xin Xinlan Yunge? He seems to be hiding many secrets."

Nalan Rongzhi hugged her tightly, gently brushed the stray hairs from her forehead behind her ear, and whispered, "No matter what happens, I will protect you. As for Xin Lanyunge, we can only take it one step at a time."

Lu Lingxi felt a warmth in her heart. She knew that Nalan Rongzhi would always be her strongest support, but she still couldn't help but worry.

No one can say for sure what tomorrow will bring, and the secrets of the Ice Spirit Clan are probably far more complex than they appear on the surface.