「Yazhou, Jing’an Prefecture, Snow God Mountain.」
Xue Feishuang stood on a platform of the Snow God Palace, located in the Central Mountain Range of Snow God Mountain. Xue Yining was right behind her, surrounded by more than a dozen Snow Maidens. Some were alone, while others were accompanied by their husbands.
Xue Feishuang gazed at a luminous white cloud drawing near in the distance, a hint of melancholy in her eyes.
A barely perceptible Divine Thought emanated from the back of the Divine Mountain, seeming to soothe Xue Feishuang. It then swept over the visitors from Daluo Palace, who had traveled a great distance, conveying a touch of goodwill before retracting.
Taoist Shen Hao’s eyes lit up. He nodded slightly as a rich and vast Shangqing True Qi emanated from him in turn, causing the surrounding clouds to churn and swell. The Qi then transformed into the hazy shapes of Immortal Cranes, soaring dragons, koi fish, and qilin, accompanied by visions of a hundred flowers drifting on the wind and fairies dancing in the air.
At the same time, a golden radiance bloomed behind the Daluo Palace members, suffusing the endless auspicious clouds with an iridescent golden sheen. The entire sky turned into a rainbow-hued backdrop.
"How beautiful!" a Snow Maiden exclaimed in admiration.
"They aren’t deliberately using Magical Power to shape those forms. They’re just releasing their power and letting its intent manifest," a more perceptive Snow Maiden pointed out. "Those Immortal Cranes and flowers are all natural materializations."
"Even though the forms aren’t finely sculpted, the intent is remarkably similar."
"Such profound Dao Practice Magical Power! Such a lofty Mental Realm and Divine Soul! Such an arcane Cultivation Method!"
"Worthy of a Dream Transmission from a Spirit Realm Upper God. It seems Daluo Palace is set to establish a new path of Mage cultivation for this age."
"I heard that even Demon Spirit Monarchs and Ghost Gods can cultivate it," said one of the more well-informed women. "They say Daluo Palace also accepts Incense, with Spirit Monarchs serving as Guardian Star Officials and Ghost Gods as Outer Elders."
"So they teach all without distinction, bringing blessings to the masses?"
"Hee hee, I heard our Bingbing is the first girl who will enter into a Harmony with an Elder from Daluo Palace, isn’t she?"
"I’m eager to see for myself just what’s so special about this Daluo Palace."
As they spoke, the Daluo Palace wedding procession drew near.
With a wave of her hand, Xue Feishuang summoned endless flurries of snow from all across Snow God Mountain. The snow coalesced into a thirty-foot-wide avenue of ice, extending from the Central Mountain Range all the way to the feet of the Daluo Palace delegation.
Taoist Shen Hao was the first to step onto the icy avenue. He found its surface carved with exquisite patterns, while both sides were lined with magnificent ice sculptures every ten paces, each one unique in posture and expression.
This feat was a testament to the caster’s exceptional Dao Practice and exquisite control.
"Whoa!"
"Incredible!"
The members of the Daluo Palace retinue voiced their admiration.
On this trip, besides the nine great masters and the groom himself, Zhan Qing, there were also fellow Shangqing Sect members Taoist Han Zheng and Taoist Han Xuan. Changyi and a few other young people had come, as well as several old Daoists who happened to be free and tagged along for the festivities.
Dozens more Daluo Palace disciples came along, tasked with playing music, carrying banners, bearing the palanquin, and presenting the gifts.
The people of Snow God Mountain saw the arriving Daluo Palace party and nodded in satisfaction.
"Taoist Shen Hao." Xue Feishuang stepped forward.
"Greetings, Lady Frost," Taoist Shen Hao said with a cupped-fist salute.
Daluo Palace disciples set down red chests, while five female disciples stood in a line, each holding a tray.
The crowd from Snow God Mountain gathered, looking at Zhan Qing, who was adorned in festive red. They pointed and giggled amongst themselves.
Ye Ruyan approached Xue Yining with a graceful sway and presented the gift manifest.
Xue Yining took one look at it and was startled. She sent a mental message to Xue Feishuang, "My Lady, we may need to supplement the dowry we prepared."
Xue Feishuang raised an eyebrow. She glanced at the gift manifest, pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, it needs supplementing. Go and make the arrangements."
"Yes, My Lady!" Xue Yining bowed and withdrew.
"This way, please." Xue Feishuang invited the members of Daluo Palace into the palace.
...
While the Daluo Palace delegation was on its way to Snow God Mountain for the wedding, the battle between the Daluo Palace branch in Shanzhou and the Illusory Flower Hall was raging.
The forces were led by Taoist Huai Yi of the Lao Mountain Golden Mountain Sect, Taoist Tai Xian of the Sui Mountain Sect, Taoist Xuan Yong of the Yu Mountain Sect, Taoist Gao Yue of the Zhenwu Mountain Qingwei Sect, and Taoist Xu Xing of the Dragon Gate Sect.
They were assisted by Taoist Zhi Qing and Taoist Zhi Xiu from the Celestial Master’s Mansion; Taoist Ling Ya of the Feiyun Mountain Purple Sun Sect; Taoist Yu Hua of the Northern Emperor Sect; Taoist Chong Xuan of the Shenxiao Sect; and Taoist Xi Ning and Taoist Miao Zhen of the West Mountain Hua Sect.
Also present were Taoist Qing Ye of the Spiritual Treasure Sect, Taoist Fang De of the Wen Shi Sect, and Taoist Wu Zhi of the Shaoyang Sect, among others. They roamed Shanzhou as sword-wielding vigilantes, punishing the wicked, eradicating evil, and carrying out Demon Suppression.
"It feels like the Illusory Flower Hall is getting restless," Taoist Tai Xian said with a laugh.
Taoist Gao Yue thought for a moment. "The last time the Lady of Illusion Flower tried to ambush Taoist Ling Ya, we turned her plot against her and wounded her in our own ambush. But with her profound Dao Practice, her injuries should be healed by now, don’t you think?"
Taoist Xuan Yong’s eyes narrowed. "So she can’t hold back any longer?"
Taoist Xu Xing stroked his beard. "Because she knows that if she delays any longer, the Illusory Flower Hall will be doomed."
Taoist Huai Yi exhaled a ring of smoke. "They were doomed from the start. If the Sect Leader hadn’t wanted us to get some practice, he would have sent Senior Brother Yi Hong and the others to set up a Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Array and annihilate the Illusory Flower Hall completely."
Taoist Tai Xian chuckled. "They killed both Yun Fei’ang and Li Chiwang recently. They still haven’t finished processing all the Evil Qi they harvested from that, so of course they’d be too embarrassed to show up again."
Taoist Xuan Yong shook his head with a laugh. "I suppose it’s our turn now."
Taoist Gao Yue said calmly, "We’ll keep an eye on the Lady of Illusion Flower and the three Elders of her Hall. Let Brother Ling Ya and the others clip the Illusory Flower Hall’s wings first. Then, we will lay siege to it."
While the old Daoists were discussing their strategy, Taoist Zhi Qing, Taoist Ling Ya, Taoist Xi Ning, and the others were out in various locations, frantically leveling up.
...
「Shanzhou, Ju Ye Prefecture, Gubei County.」
Taoist Xi Ning of the Quanzhen Huashan Sect and Taoist Miao Zhen of the Chen Ancestor Huashan Sect stood before a dilapidated Mountain God Temple.
"This is the place."
"A run-down Mountain God Temple, and a so-called ’North Mountain God’ who performs miracles."
"For twenty years, it has demanded a sacrifice of a young boy and girl every season, lest it unleash disaster."
"It’s just as they say—when the Court becomes inept, all manner of Demons and Ghosts crawl out of the woodwork."
"A mere mountain pheasant, daring to impersonate a Mountain God."
The two old Daoists reached the entrance of the Mountain God Temple and stopped.
"We’re here. Aren’t you going to come out?" Taoist Xi Ning said coolly.
The Mountain God Temple before them remained utterly silent.
Taoist Miao Zhen shook his head with a laugh. "Stubborn until the bitter end. He won’t give up until he’s staring death in the face."
Taoist Xi Ning nodded, then slapped the gourd at his waist, a Seven-Star Sword appearing in his hand.
SHIIING—
The longsword left its sheath. A streak of Sword Qi tore through the air, splitting the Mountain God Temple before them in two.
SKRAWWWK!
A shrill squawk echoed as a figure pounced toward Taoist Miao Zhen.
Taoist Miao Zhen neither dodged nor evaded. A Shadow Puppet simply appeared in his hand.
With a gentle wave, the puppet flew out to meet the dark figure, instantly plastering itself to the attacker’s forehead.
The figure dropped to the ground instantly, revealing a man dressed in a vibrant, patterned robe and a tall red hat.
A bizarrely shaped Shadow Puppet was stuck to his forehead, and the man himself had fallen into a deep slumber.
Taoist Xi Ning and Taoist Miao Zhen watched the comatose man, standing perfectly still without making a move.
A moment later, however, the man’s life force vanished completely. Simultaneously, within the Sea of Consciousness of both Taoist Xi Ning and Taoist Miao Zhen, a new deposit of Evil Qi was credited to their Thunder Seeds.
Taoist Xi Ning pursed his lips. "No matter how many times I see it, that Daoist Skill of yours still feels like an Evil Technique."
Taoist Miao Zhen chuckled as he waved a hand, recalling the puppet and tucking it into his sleeve. "This is the most authentic Huayin Shadow Puppetry. It allows a person to experience the entire life of the puppet in a dream, even on an endless loop."
"If you can endure it, your Mental Realm is guaranteed to grow, and your Dao Practice will advance by leaps and bounds. It’s a top-tier dream cultivation method—the Huangliang Dream Realm Skill. How can you call it an Evil Technique?"
"And if you can’t?" Taoist Xi Ning asked flatly.
Taoist Miao Zhen smiled faintly. "Then, naturally, they fall into the cycle of reincarnation, their body perishes, and their Dao is extinguished."