As the moon set in the west, the morning sun rose in the east.
When the first ray of dawn broke, Lin Huang had already arrived at the foot of the mountain where Piaoxue Palace was located.
The air was still somewhat crisp and cold following the auspicious winter snow. Lin Huang gazed at the palaces situated on Piaoxue Peak. Most were draped in a thick layer of snow, arranged in overlapping rows that cascaded all the way from the summit to the mountainside.
Seven peaks clustered around Piaoxue Peak. Though not as tall, they were incredibly steep, resembling seven snow-white sharp swords piercing Changtian, standing guard over Piaoxue Palace.
Piaoxue Palace was not as majestic as Lin Huang had imagined, but it possessed a unique, imposing aura. Like snowflakes drifting in the wind, it was uninhibited and free. It was also just like Piaoxue Palace’s Martial Technique, Snow Falling on Earth—full of poetic grace.
Piaoxue Palace! One of the Four Great Sects in the East Spirit Realm.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, Lin Huang looked up at the palaces towering on the summit. He let the knife-like cold wind blow over his body, but his face revealed only excitement and urgency.
Following the morning light, Lin Huang walked all the way to the paifang archway at the base of the mountain. In the hazy mist, he could faintly make out two young men wearing Baiyi as pristine as snow. They stood meticulously before the archway, longswords hanging at their waists, their bodies hidden beneath pristine white cloaks.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, the two spoke in deep voices, "Who goes there? This is Piaoxue Palace!"
"I am a newly admitted disciple!" Lin Huang’s figure slowly appeared before the two men as he offered a calm smile. With a smooth motion of his hand, he had already passed them the Floating Snow Order to prove his identity.
"A newly admitted disciple?" The two Piaoxue Palace disciples frowned slightly. Then, looking at the small characters on the Floating Snow Order in their hands, their suspicions were suddenly confirmed. They spoke in a rather peculiar tone, "So, you are Lin Huang!"
It had been fifty days since Piaoxue Palace recruited new disciples, and disciples from all over had successively arrived. Except for this guy named Lin Huang.
For a full fifty days, not even his shadow had been seen. The disciples in the palace even thought this fellow had been eaten by dogs on the way here. Normally, no one would care about the life or death of a new disciple, but this particular disciple was somewhat unusual because he was Lin Cangxue’s younger brother.
Lin Cangxue possessed the highest aptitude the East Spirit Realm had seen in hundreds of years.
During her prime, she was like the bright moon of the Nine Heavens. With a beauty capable of toppling nations and the bearing of a chosen genius, she shook the East Spirit Realm. Even if the geniuses of the Four Great Sects were tied together, they would all pale in comparison before her.
She once achieved Breaking Realm into the Third Heaven in a single night.
She once chased down a traitor for Three Thousand Miles alone with a single sword.
She once achieved Earth Element Kills Celestial Element.
She also once marched into Xuanyuan Mansion entirely alone!
She was Lin Cangxue. To the entire East Spirit Realm, her aptitude was unsurpassed. Even a figure like Xuanyuan Tibing had once said that her talent was far beyond his reach. And now, even though she had fallen from grace, the geniuses in the East Spirit Realm could never bypass this legend.
This unprecedented genius in the history of Piaoxue Palace had been in decline for three years, yet no one had forgotten her. Even though many secretly took pleasure in her misfortune and rejoiced wildly, there were also those who held onto a tiny glimmer of hope, hoping that the once peerlessly magnificent woman would make a glorious return!
When everyone here learned that Lin Huang was coming to Piaoxue Palace, they were surprised, even shocked. This woman of countless legends had a younger brother. He was a silk-pants playboy! He was the one who dragged this peerless genius down from her pedestal, causing her to remain completely broken for three years.
From that day on, everyone from top to bottom in Piaoxue Palace harbored a somewhat inexplicable attitude toward this newly admitted Lin Huang: resentment, disdain, sneering contempt, mockery for riding on another’s coattails, and disgust at his utter disgrace.
In short, within Piaoxue Palace, there was probably no one except Lin Cangxue who thought highly of Lin Huang.
"Seniors, I am Lin Huang. Is there a problem?" Standing in the cold wind, Lin Huang looked at their strange expressions and asked with a hint of suspicion.
The corners of their mouths turned cold, and their faces were frozen like blocks of ice. Looking at the young man before them, they said coldly, "Head up the mountain yourself."
Lin Huang remained speechless.
Half an hour later, Lin Huang appeared halfway up the mountain. Recalling the expressions of those two disciples from earlier, he came to an understanding. Watching a snowflake slide past his fingertips, he laughed at himself mockingly. "Perhaps... you all look down on me!"
As he climbed the ten thousand stone steps, Lin Huang’s expression didn’t change much. He never cared about how he appeared in the eyes of others. Thinking about the attitude the Piaoxue Palace disciples might hold, he simply smiled with indifference. Other than what he cared about, everything else was not worth mentioning.
Lin Huang stopped in front of the mountain gate halfway up the peak. The Giant Hall stood tall, resembling a snow beast lying across the mountainside. Although it was currently asleep with its eyes closed, the large characters on the Giant Hall did not diminish its imposing might in the slightest. Piaoxue Palace!
At this moment, a woman was standing quietly in front of the mountain gate of Piaoxue Palace. Her snow-white sleeves fluttered in the wind, and her long black hair cascaded down to her waist like a dark waterfall, outlining her breathtakingly beautiful figure.
Her expression was as cold and clear as snow, seemingly carrying an innate trace of sorrow that made one look upon her with tender pity. Yet right now, a shallow smile blossomed on that peerlessly beautiful face.
With eyes like shining starlight, she watched the young man climbing the steps from the foot of the mountain. When he looked up and suddenly froze upon noticing her, the smile on the woman’s face grew even brighter, highlighting her nation-toppling beauty even more.
"...Cangxue!" Just as Lin Cangxue had observed, when Lin Huang saw that peerlessly magnificent figure in front of the mountain gate, he immediately froze in place. Only after a long while did a hoarse, choking voice escape his throat.
In that instant, when Lin Huang saw the smile on Lin Cangxue’s face, he felt his heartbeat stop. All the bitterness and sorrow surged into his heart at that very moment. It felt as if he hadn’t seen that familiar figure in seventeen years. The bright smile filled with a hint of doting affection, and the faint reproach in her eyes—they were exactly the same as back then.
In Lin Huang’s heart, it had genuinely been seventeen years since he last saw Lin Cangxue. Before stepping into the mountain gate, he had thoroughly prepared himself mentally, but the moment she appeared, all his preparation shattered like a collapsed defense line, completely unable to withstand a single blow.
"Cangxue!" Lin Huang spoke hoarsely, his voice choked with emotion and even trembling.
"I heard you," Lin Cangxue huffed. Her small face carried a hint of annoyance as she reached out to pat Lin Huang’s head, muttering, "You’re a bit taller than me now."
Lin Huang was momentarily stunned.
Across the seventeen years before and after his rebirth, he didn’t know how many times he had called Lin Cangxue’s name. Yet in all those seventeen years, he had never received a single response. Even in his dreams, he was unable to dream of her. And now, he heard that familiar voice again and saw that familiar appearance. She was appearing right in front of him, so real and tangible, well within his reach.
Lin Huang felt like he was dreaming. How wonderful!
Pulling Lin Cangxue into a tight embrace, Lin Huang’s voice was filled with self-blame. "I’m sorry. I’m here now!"
"Let go... You were the one who used to say that men and women shouldn’t be too close!" Lin Cangxue grumbled.
"Uh..." Lin Huang was a bit dazed. After a long moment of confusion, he said, "What bastard said that? How could it have been me!"
"You... honestly..." Lin Cangxue patted his head. Her voice carried a sense of helplessness, mixed with a faint tremble.
How could she not understand? Lin Huang had only been engaged in Cultivation for a year. The amount of effort he had put in just to make it to Piaoxue Palace, and the reasons behind it—she knew it all too well.
In the cold wind, the two embraced quietly, unable to see the tears and sorrow shimmering in each other’s eyes. They looked just like they did back in the Great Xia Dynasty. When Crown Prince Lingyun had insulted the siblings by calling them wild, parentless children, the two of them had beaten him half to death. After Lin Beichen punished them by making them kneel in the ancestral hall for an entire night, the siblings had huddled beneath their blankets, silently shedding tears and comforting one another.
A short while later, Lin Cangxue took Lin Huang for a stroll around the palace. Truth be told, she was probably a bit lacking in her sense of direction. The two got lost three times. After wandering in circles for half a day, they finally found the path to the Outer Sect.
"The palace is divided into the Outer Sect and the Inner Sect, with the Inner Sect naturally being self-explanatory. The Outer Sect is split into the Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow Four Institutes. Among them, the disciples of the Celestial Institute have the highest aptitude, while those in the Yellow Institute have the lowest!" Lin Cangxue explained the layout of Piaoxue Palace to Lin Huang.
"Newly admitted disciples, apart from a very select few who can directly enter the Inner Sect, must undergo trials in the Outer Sect. Only after meeting the Realm requirements can they enter the Inner Sect.
"Among the four institutes of the Outer Sect, most disciples from the Celestial Institute will eventually make it into the Inner Sect given time. Conversely, due to their limited aptitude, most disciples from the Yellow Institute will leave to enter the mortal world after a few years of Cultivation within the palace!"
"What about Fatty Bai?" Lin Huang asked.
"His aptitude is naturally excellent, so he entered the Inner Sect directly. However, when I first saw him, I didn’t recognize him at all," Lin Cangxue said with a smile.
In her memory from two or three years ago, Fatty Bai had been a suave and dashing young master in the Great Xia Imperial City. But after seeing him that day, she had been genuinely stunned.
Lin Huang also smiled. He didn’t completely understand Fatty Bai’s earth-shattering transformation either, but he vaguely guessed it might be related to his Martial Soul.
"According to my master, your aptitude is also sufficient to enter the Inner Sect directly. It’s just..." Lin Cangxue bit her lip and suddenly spoke up.
"I understand!" Lin Huang squeezed her hand, interrupting her. "If I really entered the Inner Sect, I’m afraid many busybodies would say I was just leeching off my sister."
"In truth, the Inner Sect and the Outer Sect are all the same to me. There isn’t much of a difference," Lin Huang chuckled, not caring much about it in his heart.
He hadn’t come to Piaoxue Palace for their Martial Techniques or the Cultivation guidance of the Elders. No matter how lacking Lin Huang might have been in his past life, his Martial Arts experience was still far richer than that of anyone in Piaoxue Palace. Moreover, since he possessed the Godslaying One Slash, he wouldn’t place much importance on Piaoxue Palace’s Martial Techniques anyway.
He had come here firstly for Lin Cangxue, and secondly for Jun Qingcheng. Of course, now there was also a young man in hemp garments... the bastard who stole the Sea of Karma Flower. Lin Huang had to find him no matter what.
"The Outer Sect of Piaoxue Palace has twelve Elders in total. Eight of them are responsible for the disciples of the Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow Four Institutes, while the other four Elders manage various resources." Walking along the corridor of Piaoxue Palace, Lin Cangxue gave a detailed introduction, afraid that Lin Huang would still act as recklessly as he did in the Great Xia Dynasty, never knowing when to lower his head.
Lin Huang listened with keen interest.
"The two Elders of the Earth Institute where you are assigned are Elder Hee Han and Elder Duan Bafang. Both of them possess Cultivation in the Celestial Element Realm. Among the twelve Elders of the Outer Sect, they are top-tier existences."
"Don’t worry, Cangxue. I won’t cause trouble so easily," Lin Huang said half-heartedly.
Lin Cangxue’s delicate brows furrowed. How could she not understand what he meant by "so easily"? She then lowered her head, her voice carrying a trace of loneliness. "My status is no longer what it once was. I can’t protect you in every matter like I could back in the Great Xia Dynasty."
Lin Huang’s heart suddenly ached. He smoothed the loose strands of hair at her temples and said earnestly, "Then from now on, I will be the one to protect you!"
Lin Cangxue looked up at him. After a long while, she playfully scolded, "Little brat!"
As they continued on their way, the number of Piaoxue Palace disciples gradually increased. Looking at the beautiful scenery she presented in the corridor, those disciples all instinctively turned their heads to stare.
At the same time, they also noticed Lin Huang. Following this, whispering voices arose.
"That’s Lin Cangxue? The former East Spirit Legend?"
"I truly never imagined there would come a time when she’d have to step foot into the Outer Sect."
"In the end, she’s just a woman. She won’t amount to much."
In the corridor, Lin Huang’s expression gradually turned cold, and one of his hands had already slipped into his sleeve. However, before he could lash out, Lin Cangxue grabbed his hand and said softly, "Only the mediocre have time to laugh at others. There’s no need to pay attention to them."
His frown deepened, but under her persistent grip, the fist hidden within his sleeve slowly unclenched.
However, these people seemingly had no intention of letting the siblings off the hook. Their voices grew louder, and their words became increasingly piercing. It wasn’t until a brazen voice of mockery echoed from behind them that both Lin Huang and Lin Cangxue stopped in their tracks at the exact same time.
"Tsk tsk. A trash sister shameless enough to overstay her welcome at Piaoxue Palace, and now a trash younger brother has come along too. What a perfect match made in heaven!"