Falling Snow

The Present-World Game. Myriad Gods Mountain. A look of deep worry weighed in God Lord Heitian's eyes. He had just received word that the individual who pre-ordered him had already arrived at Myriad Gods Mountain. At this moment, he was gripped by extreme anxiety. After all, once that person claimed him, his death would be certain. "I thought there would still be several epochs of time. I never imagined it would be so soon." The only reason he had invested with hope was that he believed there was still plenty of time. The friends he had made would have had enough time to grow. Yet now, that being had already arrived, leaving him with precious little time. He stood outside a mountain, waiting patiently. After an unknown amount of time, Feng Ye emerged from within. "God Lord Heitian, my lord has been in secluded cultivation the entire time. There is no telling when he will awaken." Hearing this, God Lord Heitian felt a wave of disappointment. He said, "If Qi Yuan emerges from seclusion, please pass him a message: any debt of gratitude he owes me is wiped clean." Feng Ye's expression stirred with emotion. Wiped clean? One had to understand that at their level of cultivation, any debt of gratitude was a tie of karmic cause and effect. To attain transcendence and advance further, all such karmic ties had to be resolved. These words from God Lord Heitian carried immense weight. Paying no mind to the strange look on Feng Ye's face, God Lord Heitian cupped his hands in farewell. About three breaths later, a voice sounded beside God Lord Heitian's ear. "Before absolute power, all schemes and plots come to nothing." The speaker was God Lord Heitian's good friend, God Lord Tunxing. God Lord Heitian's expression showed neither grief nor joy. "Tunxing, you should leave as well. Staying too close to me right now will bring you no good." God Lord Tunxing looked at God Lord Heitian and finally said, "If one day I can obtain a divine treasure and use it to become a Dao God, I will definitely seek justice for you!" As for surviving the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations as a God Lord to become a Spirit God, he had no confidence whatsoever. His only hope lay in a divine treasure. After all, no matter how poor a God Lord's aptitude might be, obtaining a divine treasure would allow them to leap straight into the realm of a Dao God. Such was the terrifying power of a divine treasure. Rumor had it that divine treasures were manifestations of the primordial laws of the Great Dao from the dawn of this Great Realm. By consuming a single divine treasure, one could master an entire Great Dao and become a Dao God. However, divine treasures were finite in number. In this world, an unowned divine treasure was almost impossible to find. Even if one appeared, it would immediately be seized by the Dao Gods. A rogue cultivator like God Lord Tunxing stood virtually no chance of ever obtaining one. *** Yunmeng Mountain. The faint aroma of roasted fish wafted through the air as flames danced in the brazier—a fiery red stove melting falling snow into empty air. Wu Shi lounged casually, her bare feet resting upon a bench draped in fox furs. Her slender calves rested against her thighs, smooth and fair beneath the hem of her skirt. Only beside Sword Disciple did she seem to cast off all guard and relish the delicacy. "Why do you always keep such a cold face? Learn from me and smile a little," Wu Shi said, looking at the frosty Sword Disciple. Her vixen-like face, paired with seductive peach-blossom eyes, carried an extraordinarily tender charm. Sword Disciple held his sword in his arms, exuding an air that warned all strangers away. He looked at this aloof, lofty master of his and asked unexpectedly, "What is it you want to do?" After receiving the divine treasure bestowed by Wu Shi, Sword Disciple had finally stepped into the realm of a Dao God, becoming the sharpest blade of Yunmeng Palace. His swordsmanship defied description, transcending all boundaries. With sword in hand, ordinary Dao Gods were utterly incapable of standing against him. Over the years, he had helped Wu Shi carve out an unprecedented empire. Yet all manner of rumors and whispers had also begun to circulate through Yunmeng Palace. The world claimed that Wu Shi, Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace, was a bewitching vixen who used carnal desire to control and exploit Sword Disciple. They said she used this sharp blade of hers to clear away obstacles and fulfill her own ambition. Sword Disciple, however, understood that his sword was no match for his master, Wu Shi. The world said Wu Shi was ambitious. Sword Disciple believed it was all mere gossip. Wu Shi was taken aback. Snowflakes landed on her crimson fur cloak, melting away into faint droplets of water. "Disciple, in all these years, this is the first time you've ever cared about me." Wu Shi's smile was enigmatic. This disciple of hers seemed not to care about anything in this world. The only thing he cared about was... This was truly the first time he had ever asked what she wanted to do. "Me...?" Wu Shi rose languidly. Beneath her cloak of red feather-gauze, her figure appeared slender and frail. Standing atop the peak of Yunmeng Mountain, she looked down upon all living beings. "I not only want to be the master of Yunmeng Mountain, the master of the Hunxuan Ruins, but also the master of this entire Zhoushan Great Realm. "I want... to stand atop Mount Wangzhou, at the very highest point." Her voice was cold and clear, yet imbued with an arrogant majesty. In this moment, she was no longer a lazy woman sneaking bites of fish, but an empress reigning supreme over all. "Oh," Sword Disciple replied flatly. He had no interest in it. Or rather, having no emotions, he had no interest in anything in this world. [Your strength grows ever greater. Throughout the Zhoushan Great Realm, Sword Disciple is also called the Sword Butcher. Dao Gods dare not contest you, and the major factions avoid you like vermin. Your power surges madly; everything in this world can be forged into the sword in your hand. You feel your strength is sufficient—sufficient to defeat your master, Wu Shi. Thus, you prepare to challenge Wu Shi. Once you defeat her, you can march upon the Nine Heavens Divine Palace and bring your sister home. However...] "Disciple, the Nine Heavens Divine Palace has sent your sister back." An enigmatic smile graced Wu Shi's face. She seemed genuinely happy for Sword Disciple. On that day, Sword Disciple was reunited with the sister he had not seen for a million years. He felt no joy. Or rather, he had long ceased to feel any emotion. His sister wore a yellow damask dress draped in white gauze. Delicate and lovely, she looked timidly at Sword Disciple, her eyes seemingly filled with curiosity toward this brother she had never met. "You haven't seen each other in a long time. Get reacquainted and catch up on your feelings." Leaving behind those words, Wu Shi's figure drifted away and vanished. Only Sword Disciple and his sister remained. His sister recounted how well she had lived in the Nine Heavens Divine Palace, and that the enemies who had slaughtered the Marquis Manor were all dead. She chattered on and on about her past, while Sword Disciple listened in silence. She seemed exceedingly patient, never losing her desire to share despite his cold reactions, babbling without pause. Finally, Sword Disciple looked at his delicate, pretty sister and said softly, "From now on, I will protect you." This was one of the three principles engraved into his heart. It was precisely because these three statements served as anchors that he did not lose himself amid slaughter and the sword. "I love brother the most!" The young girl seemed overjoyed and impulsively hugged Sword Disciple's arm, her plump chest pressing against him. As if suddenly realizing what she had done, she hurriedly let go, her face flushing crimson. Atop the peak of Yunmeng Mountain. Snow fell in thick clusters. The cold woman clad in red could not help but spit under her breath, "Scheming little brat." She held no real grudge against Sword Disciple's sister; she simply found her an eyesore. She dearly wanted to cut her down with a single sword strike. Yet that girl was the person her disciple sought to protect. She stared into the misty clouds beneath the clustering snowflakes. "Someone come, keep an eye on Yujiao... Forget it." Wu Shi waved her sleeve, dispersing the mist. She had far more important matters to attend to. *** A leisurely million years passed in the blink of an eye. Atop Mount Wangzhou, several mysterious figures stood tall. "The Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace has a mysterious background. Just what is her true identity?" "Alas, with that Sword Butcher around, none of us have ever seen her take action. We have no idea how strong she is or how many tribulations she has survived." "The identity of that Sword Disciple is rather mysterious as well." "Sword Disciple is not worth mentioning. The one we must be wary of is the Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace; she is too enigmatic." "So what if she is enigmatic? So long as they do not provoke us. Otherwise, their mystery will cease to exist." "Sword Disciple may be strong, but he is merely comparable to one who has passed a single tribulation. Hmph, today he dared to trespass into the Nine Heavens Divine Palace—he is courting death!" "How is Yujiao doing? Has she not brought Sword Disciple under her control yet?" "If Sword Disciple can be turned to our use, our chances of victory against the Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace will be far greater." "Yujiao says Sword Disciple does not partake of mortal pleasures. It seems there is no one in this world he cares about." "Doesn't he care about her?" "Tell her to hurry up and win him over." At their realm of cultivation, gender, morality, and sentiment meant nothing. In their eyes, Sword Disciple had a weakness: his obsession. His sister was his obsession, his sole vulnerability. *** Inside the palace hall, fiery red maple leaves blanketed the floor. "Cough, cough..." Sword Disciple coughed, his ragged breaths echoing through the empty chamber. "Brother, I've come to see you." Draped in thin, gossamer gauze, Yujiao embraced Sword Disciple from behind. Her brows were knit in a look of pitiful fragility. "Mm," Sword Disciple responded flatly. From forcing his way into the Nine Heavens Divine Palace this time, he had suffered significant injuries. "The Palace Master... is still in Yunmeng Palace." Yujiao's voice drifted with seeming carelessness, much like the subtle shifting of her chest against him. Seeing no reaction from Sword Disciple, Yujiao pressed on, "I admit I'm stirring up trouble, but I just can't stand her! Brother works himself to the bone for her and suffered such severe injuries, yet she isn't even willing to come check on you!" Yujiao grew increasingly indignant as she spoke, sounding deeply aggrieved on his behalf. Sword Disciple's gaze remained calm. "She is my master." What did his master want to do? He did not know. Whether his master cared about him or not was equally unimportant. Just then, Yujiao's hand subtly drifted downward, a flush of rose creeping onto her pale face. "I need to practice my sword," Sword Disciple said indifferently. Yujiao froze. Gritting her teeth, she stamped her foot and stormed out. Sword Disciple was left alone in the vast hall. His face showed neither sorrow nor joy, his voice flat as a machine. "How... can I become stronger?" This was another of the three sentences carved into his soul. His sword swung continuously. The Great Dao shattered and reformed. His strength continued to rise. Yet he always felt the progress was far too slow. After an unknown period, a Dao God walked in. "Lord Sword Butcher, the Palace Master commands you to pacify the Tianyuan Ruins." His name was Sword Disciple, yet everyone called him Sword Butcher. The Dao God's expression held a trace of hesitation, appearing indignant on Sword Disciple's behalf. "Oh," Sword Disciple replied flatly. The Dao God lowered his head and finally said, "My lord, your injuries have not yet healed. Recklessly starting a war... I fear..." At this point, a wave of resentment crept into the Dao God's tone. "Yunmeng Palace spans two ruins now, and every inch of this territory was carved out sword by sword by Lord Sword Butcher! "Has she, the Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace, ever shed a single drop of blood? Has she ever lifted a finger?" The Dao Lord grew more agitated with every word. In the end, he looked at Sword Disciple and said, "If Lord Sword Butcher is willing, we... are all prepared to honor you as our master and have you take charge of Yunmeng Palace!" This was also the consensus among the other Dao Gods. After all, Sword Disciple's sacrifices were plain for all to see. And Wu Shi? She simply sat back and reaped the rewards. Sword Disciple listened quietly, showing no sign of whether he took the words to heart. "I will go see Master." He wanted to ask his master a few questions. Space shifted, stepping from autumn directly into winter. The fiery red maple leaves gave way to pure, pristine snow. Above Yunmeng Palace, Wu Shi, clad in crimson, seemed to murmur to herself. Snow fell continuously atop the peak of Yunmeng Mountain, unending through the ages. Year after year it snowed, the flurries gradually growing lighter. A vast, desolate white blanketed heaven and earth. At that moment, Wu Shi turned her head, looking through the wind and snow toward the approaching figure. She revealed a bright, enchanting face. "You don't want to wage war on the Tianyuan Ruins?" Wu Shi asked gently. "No." "Then what brings you here?" Looking at Wu Shi, Sword Disciple wore an unreadable expression. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, he had believed he could surpass his master. Yet as his strength grew, he discovered that he understood Wu Shi less and less. He could not see through her at all. "With Master's power, if you were to take action personally, the Tianyuan Ruins would likely be swept clean in no time. Why does Master not act in person?" Drawing upon his own understanding of Wu Shi, Sword Disciple voiced the doubt shared by the other Dao Gods. Wu Shi smiled. "I cannot leave Yunmeng Palace." "Why?" "I must wait here for someone." Wu Shi looked into Sword Disciple's eyes. "Waiting for whom?" Sword Disciple's eyes were clear and devoid of emotion. "I am waiting for a sword. A sword... that can free the world from suffering." "Has it arrived?" Sword Disciple asked. A look of reminiscence surfaced on Wu Shi's face. "Mount Wangzhou has not yet broken. Perhaps... it has not." In her heart, she added another line. Sword Disciple's expression shifted slightly. Mount Wangzhou was the core of the Zhoushan Great Realm. If Mount Wangzhou broke, the Zhoushan Great Realm would be overturned, and countless living beings would sink into tragic ruin. That ran contrary to his Lawful Good nature. Wu Shi looked at Sword Disciple and said earnestly, "It will come." Her memories told her that she would see that sword. Taking his leave of Wu Shi, Sword Disciple walked alone. With one man and one sword, he spent a hundred thousand years pacifying the Tianyuan Ruins. With that, three of the Seven Ruins of the Zhoushan Great Realm were brought under the banner of Yunmeng Palace. Rumors and gossip proliferated all the more. "The Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace harbors wild, wolfish ambitions! She dares dream of unifying the Zhoushan Great Realm!" "Are we truly to grovel at her feet?!" "Despicable! That Sword Disciple aids the tyrant, willingly serving as the executioner for the Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace!" "Hmph, and he claims to be benevolent? Is this what he calls benevolence?!" Many murmured in resentment. Against the Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace, and against Sword Disciple. It seemed that overnight, they had become the target of universal condemnation. Yet words were useless as weapons of censure. Over the next million years, Sword Disciple's strength grew ever more formidable. His sword bordered on the Dao itself. Ordinary Dao Gods were simply no match for him. In merely a million years, only a single voice remained throughout the entire Zhoushan Great Realm. That voice was Yunmeng Palace. And Sword Disciple was hailed as the foremost among Dao Gods. Even the Nine Heavens Divine Palace treated Sword Disciple with utmost deference. After all, they still had to conduct business within the Zhoushan Great Realm. Slay Sword Disciple? They had the confidence to do so. Yet... the Palace Master of Yunmeng Palace was far too mysterious. No one knew the true depths of her power. If anyone did, it was likely only Sword Disciple. *** "Master, are you still waiting for that sword?" Sword Disciple held his sword in his arms, his voice as icy as ever. Over these years, he noticed that his master slept more and more, and her appetite grew ever larger. Yet she refused to eat anything unless it was prepared by him. "Mm." Wu Shi ate her fish, her voice much colder than in the past. Now, even though the Zhoushan Great Realm was unified and they saw each other more frequently, their relationship appeared increasingly distant to outsiders. Wu Shi rarely seemed to smile in front of Sword Disciple anymore. Sword Disciple understood—or so his sister Yujiao had claimed. This was the aloofness of a superior. "Has it arrived?" "No," Wu Shi said flatly. "When Mount Wangzhou breaks, perhaps it will." "Master, if Mount Wangzhou breaks, the Zhoushan Great Realm will collapse. I hope Master will not make a mistake," Sword Disciple said coldly. He recalled Yujiao's words, as well as the hints dropped by several Dao Gods. In recent years, as the Zhoushan Realm was brought under one rule, Wu Shi seemed to have been constantly laying down arrangements across the Great Realm. Rumors spread that Wu Shi intended to overturn the Zhoushan Great Realm. He had also discovered some of the formations she had left behind. "Disciple, are you telling your master how to act?" Wu Shi looked coldly at Sword Disciple. Sword Disciple had never seen such a look in her eyes before. Lacking emotion, he showed no reaction. He gave Wu Shi a deep look and said flatly, "I have prepared many dishes here, enough to last Master for a hundred thousand years." With that, Sword Disciple turned and walked away. Inside Yunmeng Palace, only the solitary Wu Shi remained. She looked at the thinning snow and murmured softly, "Now, even you refuse to listen to me?" In the Yunmeng Palace of today, though she remained Palace Master in name, all the Dao Gods bowed to Sword Disciple. Her decrees could not even leave the hall. She had truly become entirely alone. "So cold." "I'm hungry." "Yesterday I watched the snow, clustering thick and white. Tonight I watch the snow, drifting down and gone."