The Northern Glacier Region stretched endlessly across Azure Dragon Realm's polar territories, its crystalline landscapes home to body refinement practitioners who specialized in absolute cold integration. The Ice Body Palace rose from the frozen wasteland like a monument to constitutional perfection, its architecture carved from ice that never melted despite the spiritual fires burning throughout its halls.
Wei Liang observed the palace complex while processing his latest absorption gains. Li Tianlong's Celestial Dragon Constitution had integrated smoothly with his existing techniques, providing new understanding of how bloodline inheritance enhanced constitutional rebuilding.
The divine beast bloodline methods are fascinating, he analyzed as they approached the palace gates. Rather than simply enhancing physical capabilities, they rebuild the practitioner's essential nature to match mythological archetypes. Consuming multiple bloodline traditions should provide exponential advancement.
Zhang Wuji consulted his research notes about the Ice Body Palace's history and training methods. "According to ancient records, the palace's masters achieve constitutional integration with absolute cold that transcends normal temperature manipulation. Their bodies become living embodiments of winter itself."
Perfect for my collection, Wei Liang thought with predatory satisfaction. Ice techniques that operate through constitutional rebuilding rather than spiritual qi manipulation. The integration possibilities with my existing abilities are remarkable.
Their approach to the palace was intercepted by a young woman whose presence created visible frost patterns in the air around her. Her skin held the translucent quality of perfect ice, while her eyes carried the depth of frozen lakes that never saw sunlight.
"Halt, strangers," she announced, her voice carrying the crisp authority of winter storms. "I am Bai Lianhua of the Ice Body Palace. State your business in the Northern Glacier Region."
Bai Lianhua, Wei Liang noted, his enhanced senses detecting constitutional rebuilding that had achieved remarkable integration with ice principles. Her body refinement has progressed to the point where she's essentially become a living winter spirit. Valuable target for absorption.
"We seek knowledge about advanced body refinement techniques," Wei Liang replied politely. "Scholar Zhang specializes in ancient cultivation methods, while I'm interested in practical applications of constitutional rebuilding."
Bai Lianhua's expression showed professional interest mixed with obvious caution. News of the Heavenly Dragon Restaurant incident had spread quickly throughout the Azure Dragon Realm's cultivation communities.
"Your reputation precedes you, Senior Death," she said carefully. "The Ice Body Palace has heard of your... educational methods. What assurance can you provide that our cooperation won't result in unfortunate casualties?"
Refreshingly direct, Wei Liang thought. She recognizes the threat but maintains professional courtesy. More intelligent than the typical young master encounters.
"My interests are purely academic," Wei Liang replied with perfect scholarly sincerity. "The Ice Body Palace's reputation for constitutional excellence makes it invaluable for research purposes. I have no intention of disrupting your training methods."
Unless they prove insufficient for my advancement needs, he added silently. But patient observation serves conquest better than immediate harvesting.
Bai Lianhua studied them for several moments before nodding slowly. "Very well. The Ice Body Palace welcomes serious researchers. However, our training methods are sacred traditions that demand appropriate respect."
As they entered the palace complex, Wei Liang observed practitioners demonstrating ice body techniques that defied normal physical laws. Students walked barefoot across surfaces cold enough to shatter spiritual metals, their constitutional rebuilding having eliminated vulnerability to temperature extremes.
Impressive baseline capabilities, Wei Liang assessed. Each practitioner represents years of accumulated ice body knowledge. However, their specialization might make them vulnerable to techniques outside their constitutional focus.
Their tour was interrupted when commotion erupted at the palace's central training ground. A young man in pristine white robes was demonstrating techniques that created winter storms from his mere presence, his cultivation showing the distinctive signatures of legendary bloodline inheritance.
Another powerful target, Wei Liang realized, observing the newcomer's abilities with predatory interest. However, this one carries different energy patterns. Not another entitled young master, but something more significant.
"That's Xue Wuming," Bai Lianhua whispered with obvious reverence. "The chosen successor of the Ancient Ice Dragon bloodline. His constitutional rebuilding has achieved perfect integration with primordial winter principles."
Chosen one, Wei Liang's predatory instincts immediately classified Xue Wuming as a high-value target. Legendary bloodline inheritance combined with advanced body refinement. His accumulated techniques would provide significant advancement opportunities.
Xue Wuming's demonstration involved creating an actual winter environment within the training ground, his constitutional abilities transforming local atmospheric conditions rather than simply manipulating existing cold. Snow fell from clear skies, while ice formed from ambient moisture without any visible energy expenditure.
Constitutional rebuilding that alters environmental physics, Wei Liang noted with fascination. He's not just resistant to cold—he's become a living source of winter itself. The Ancient Ice Dragon bloodline has achieved remarkable integration.
However, Xue Wuming's attention had focused on the newcomers with obvious curiosity. His enhanced perception had detected Wei Liang's unusual cultivation signature, recognizing power that didn't match normal Soul Transformation patterns.
"Honored guests," Xue Wuming said, approaching with the confident bearing of someone accustomed to deference. "I am Xue Wuming, current inheritor of the Ancient Ice Dragon legacy. Your presence carries interesting energy signatures. Might I inquire about your cultivation background?"
Polite probing from someone confident in his abilities, Wei Liang recognized. Unlike the previous young masters, this one approaches with diplomatic courtesy rather than immediate arrogance. More dangerous but also more valuable.
"I practice unusual techniques that don't fit traditional classification systems," Wei Liang replied truthfully. "Scholar Zhang and I are researching constitutional rebuilding applications across multiple cultivation frameworks."
Xue Wuming's eyes showed genuine scholarly interest. "Fascinating! The Ancient Ice Dragon inheritance includes knowledge about cultivation methods that predate current spiritual frameworks. Perhaps we could exchange insights?"
Perfect opening, Wei Liang realized. He's offering to share bloodline knowledge voluntarily. I can gather intelligence about his techniques before deciding whether immediate consumption serves my purposes better than continued observation.
"An exchange of knowledge sounds mutually beneficial," Wei Liang agreed, his smile carrying undertones that Xue Wuming interpreted as scholarly enthusiasm.
As they settled into discussion about constitutional rebuilding theory, Wei Liang began planning his approach to harvesting the Ice Body Palace's accumulated techniques. Xue Wuming represented the highest-value target, but the palace's other practitioners could provide valuable foundation for ice body integration.
Patience serves conquest better than haste, he reminded himself as Xue Wuming began explaining Ancient Ice Dragon bloodline applications. Let the chosen one share his secrets willingly before adding his inheritance to my collection.