After a pause, Daoist Chu continued to talk.

"The Ice Drakes are among the most ancient species that retain dragon essence in the Silent Lotus World. Even a drop of their blood is worth more than a thousand high-grade spirit stones.

If refined properly, it can condense ambient ice qi and cause local distortions in the environment. That could explain the unnatural blizzards and the

crystallized frost qi we saw at the site." He stated.

Lin Mu crossed his arms, deep in thought. "If they truly did this, they have not only broken a sacred treaty but also endangered everyone in the Darkhan Dynasty. The Ice Drakes do not forgive easily. No dragonic beast does..."

Daoist Chu's expression turned grave. "That is what makes this even more perplexing. From what I know, the Ice Drakes have an ancient pact with the Imperial Court of the Darkhan Dynasty.

They reside in the Southwestern Glacial Ranges and are considered a protected race under imperial decree. Their ancient clan leader, the Frostwing Sovereign signed an agreement of non-aggression with the emperors many eras ago. The Ice Drakes guard the borders of the empire, and in return, the empire ensures their safety and privacy."

Lin Mu nodded slowly, remembering what he knew about such beings. "Most immortal beasts have intelligence equal to or greater than humans," he said. "The Ice Drakes are no exception. They are proud, wise, and honor their oaths. Being of dragonic descent, they hold their word sacred. If the treaty was broken, there would have been consequences."

Daoist Chu agreed. "Exactly. If the Ice Drakes truly lost one of their young to humans, they would have reacted immediately. They are not impulsive, but their wrath, once provoked, would shake the heavens."

Lin Mu's eyes narrowed slightly. "So either the Imperial Court covered it up or they somehow managed to placate them. But that would not have been easy. A single Ice Drake's fury could freeze an entire province."

He turned to Daoist Chu. "We need to know what really happened. If the Ice Drakes reacted, there must have been a record; an uproar, an incident, anything."

Daoist Chu was about to respond when a familiar presence entered the room. The door slid open, and Elyon stepped in, his posture relaxed but his expression serious. His golden amber eyes gleamed faintly under the lantern light, and his wolf-like ears twitched once as if to acknowledge he had heard everything.

"No need to investigate," Elyon said as he walked closer. "I already know what happened."

Lin Mu looked at him, raising a brow. "You do?"

Elyon gave a small nod. "Yes. The incident with the Ice Drakes was well known, though most believed it had already been resolved. When one of their young went missing, the Ice Drake clan was enraged. But instead of rampaging, they acted with caution. They sent an emissary to the Imperial Court, demanding an explanation."

Daoist Chu leaned forward slightly. "And how did the Court respond?"

"The Imperial Court treated the matter with the utmost seriousness," Elyon replied. "They knew the stakes. Even though the Drakes dwell in isolation, their power is enough to rival the entire imperial army.

The Ice Drakes have a neutral yet cordial relationship with the dynasty. They have even offered the Court their shed scales as tribute... rare treasures that can be forged into weapons capable of enduring tens of thousands of years without decay. In return, the Court respects their sovereignty and ensures that no human dares encroach upon their territory."

Lin Mu listened intently. "So when one of their young was taken, the Court intervened?"

Elyon nodded again. "Immediately. They launched a large-scale investigation and purged every known immortal beast poacher across the dynasty. Thousands of cultivators were arrested, and many were executed on the spot. Those that survived were sent directly to the Ice Drakes as compensation." Daoist Chu frowned. "Sent to the Ice Drakes? What do you mean by that?" Elyon's tone was grim. "Exactly what it sounds like. The captured individuals were transported to the Glacial Ranges and handed over to the Ice Drakes. No one knows what became of them after that.

Their fates were never recorded. Some believe the Drakes simply executed them, others think they used them for retribution rituals or as sacrifices to appease the spirits of their slain kin."

Lin Mu's face darkened. "And that ended the matter?"

"Publicly, yes," Elyon said. "Afterward, the Ice Drakes withdrew back into their territory and have not interacted with outsiders since. There were rumors that additional compensations were offered by the Imperial Court, precious treasures and herbs, perhaps even a blood oath. But the exact details are unknown. The dynasty ensured no further mention of the incident would circulate. To most people, it is nothing but an old story."

Daoist Chu rubbed his temple. "That means the Court might have covered more than we know. If the Ice Drake the cult captured was never recovered, the Ephemera Sect may have gained access to its body through the aftermath."

Lin Mu sighed softly. "It fits too well to be coincidence. A missing Ice Drake, the emergence of artificial Greater Elementals, and the Ephemera Sect's experiments with elemental catalysts. If this truly connects back to that event, then the problem may be older than we imagined."

Elyon crossed his arms, his tail flicking once in thought. "The Ice Drakes might not know that one of their young was used this way. If they did, even the Imperial Court would not be able to prevent the storm that would follow."

Lin Mu nodded, his gaze hardening. "Then we must find out exactly how far this connection goes before anyone else does. If the Ice Drakes discover the truth before we do, the entire region could be consumed by their wrath."

He looked toward Daoist Chu and Elyon in turn. "Begin gathering every record related to the Ice Drake incident, both public and sealed. We need to know who was responsible for the investigation, who led the purges, and who might have assisted in the transport of the captured beast."