Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

On the eastern side of the Western Continent, there was a large Mountain Range called the Ancient Beast Mountain Range. The origin of its name is because rumors claim that there are beasts from ancient times lying deep within the Mountain Range. Well, that's only speculation, but rumors have to come somewhere.

The Ancient Beast Mountain Range spans most of the Western Continent from North to South, and in the center stand some of the tallest Mountains on the entire Continent.

These mountains contain an uncountable number of dangers, from beasts to plants that have gained sentience to the terrain, but with those dangers come opportunities. On the entire Western Continent, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better place to search for treasures than the Ancient Beast Mountain Range.

The Qi density on and around the Mountain Range is more than enough for most people to want to settle near.

In fact, it's rumored that at the top of the Mountain Range, the density of the Qi is so dense that it's turned into a mist!

With such dense Qi and an abundant amount of resources, is there a better place for the Sects of the Western Continent to stay?

Unfortunately, the Sects can't actually reside on top of the mountain because of the ever-changing dangers. They could create walls to keep out the weaker threats, but those walls will become useless if they are overrun by too many enemies or if a severe threat appears.

The ones who will suffer in such scenarios are the newer and weaker disciples. How could a Sect be able to grow if the younger generation is constantly being killed?

They can't. It's just that simple.

Sure, the older generation could always try and protect the younger generation from such threats, but then they wouldn't be getting any stronger.

In the end, the Sects were pretty much forced to settle near the base of the Mountain Range. However, that didn't stop them from building residences higher up the mountains, so those who have a higher status or cultivation could have the opportunity to improve at a rapid pace.

That being said, the foundation of the Sects are still mostly contained at the base of the mountains.

It's also at the base of the mountain where any disputes between the various human powers are resolved.

The name 'Ancient Beast Mountain Range' isn't just for show. Having large-scale fights on the mountain is a surefire way to awaken some of the more terrifying creatures in the mountains and get both sides killed.

Although it's unfortunate, humanity has never been able to conquer this Mountain Range and rid it of all the terrifying dangers hidden within.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, as the resources the various sentient beings on the mountain can provide are seemingly unlimited. Beast bodies can provide ingredients for all kinds of side occupations. The various plant species can grow rare and unique herbs that humans would never be able to cultivate.

The dangers in the mountain can also act as a kind of smelting ground for the disciples to get stronger.

A few kilometers above the surface near the center of the Mountain Range resides the Battle Maiden Sect's Main Branch. This is where those who pass the Entrance Exam stay, but it's not where the actual Entrance exam will take place.

In the past, it may have taken place there, but now that the Battle Maiden Sect has grown to such a great extent and people from all over the Continent come to try and join, forcing all of them to climb partially up the mountain only creates chaos and will ruin the mountain ecosystem.

So, the Battle Maiden Sect began doing their Entrance Exams on the surface at the base of the mountain, and due to this, a City was actually formed. This city is called Snow Maiden City, clearly named in honor of the Battle Maiden Sect.

Over the years, Snow Maiden City has continuously grown in size and now houses millions of people along with several prominent Clans, but everyone within it is technically considered to be subordinated to the Battle Maiden Sect.

It's in this city where the Entrance Exams will take place.

That being the case, the city is now overrun with people from all over the Continent. Since the Battle Maiden Sect's roots spread throughout most of the Western Continent, it should come as no surprise that when it's time for their recruitment, people come flocking.

Most women who have heard of the Battle Maiden Sect wish to join.

The same goes for the fathers of those women. After all, what father would want to send his daughter into a den of wolves?

Well, that's only part of the reason why these women's fathers want them to join. If that were the only reason why people wanted to join the Battle Maiden Sect, then the Sect would have long since collapsed.

The real reason is that they are strong and don't lose out in overall power and depth compared to the other Sects!

So, not only are they an all woman Sect, but they are also powerful! Why would the women of the Cultivation World not want to join?! They can hang out with like-minded people, learn techniques that are more suited to their gender, and can cultivate in peace without having to worry about being courted by horny men!

That last reason is what many women seek when they want to join the Sect. Only women would understand how much time they waste and the pressure they face when dealing with guys who want nothing more than to vent their frustrations and desires on them.

Just by eliminating that, they might be able to save days, weeks, or even months of nonsense along with future headaches and can instead invest their focus on getting stronger! They won't have to exit their seclusion so they can deal with some idiot who wants to wife them up. They won't have to worry about their families being threatened by a higher-status boy.

Once they join the Battle Maiden Sect, they can cultivate and learn in peace, to a certain extent.

Of course, there are exceptions, and things still happen even to those in the Battle Maiden Sect's Main Branch, but the chances of such things are greatly reduced.

For that reason alone, many women and their fathers risk their life and wealth to journey from all over the Continent just for a chance to join.

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[A/N: Here's one bonus chapter for making it to the Top 25 of the Golden Ticket Rankings! Thank you guys so much for the support! I'm going to try and upload 3 chapters per day until this weekend as a thank you for all the gifts and support I received last month!]