Chapter 1171: Snow Emperor Bloodline
“Since we’ve pinned the blame on the Heartless Creed, why not just wipe them out? After all, dead men tell no tales.“ Huo Huashen mused. Who could have guessed that there are actually Heartless Creed members in the Extreme North?
“How extensive is the Heartless Creed’s presence in the Extreme North? Are there any higher-ups here? What’s the highest cultivation level among them?” Huo Huashen asked.
This was the crux of the matter. After several rounds of purges by Great Xia, the Heartless Creed’s two vice creed leaders had been captured, and at least ninety percent of their higher-ups had been apprehended.
Hence, whatever presence remains in the Extreme North is either a minor force or... the creed leader of the Heartless Creed is here!
The Nascent Soul underling shook his head. “We’re not sure about the higher-ups, but we can confirm that there are Divine Transfiguration members above them.”
“Alright, got it.” Huo Huashen had already decided to report this to his boss, Shi Huagu, and let him make the call.
“One more thing.” The underling whipped out a scripture. “This is the cultivation manual we confiscated from that couple’s residence. It’s called Mystic Heaven Scripture. According to them, it’s a Fusion-level cultivation technique.”
The Mystic Heaven Scripture was archaic and plain. It didn’t look like it was a cultivation manual from the Great Xia era.
“A Fusion-level cultivation technique? Let me see.” Huo Huashen read it carefully, making calculations with his fingers and pondering the deeper meaning. It was truly profound, with each character carrying special significance.
“The cultivation requirements are stringent, and only one person can practice it, huh? The design concept is quite ingenious.
“But when it’s cultivated to its peak, it only offers a sliver of a chance to break through to the Fusion Stage? Even the cultivation technique I practice is better than this.”
~~~
“The Heartless Creed is in the Extreme North?” Mu Baiyi rubbed his chin thoughtfully upon hearing Shi Huagu’s report.
Jeeze, this Heartless Creed has no sense at all. I said you were in the Extreme North, and you actually are there?
If Young Creed Leader Lu runs into the Heartless Creed and they claim they’ve never heard of the Nine Ghost Alliance, wouldn’t that make things awkward between Young Creed Leader Lu and me?
“Why don’t I make a trip to the Extreme North personally?” Shi Huagu volunteered.
Mu Baiyi shot a sidelong glance at Shi Huagu. If you really wanted to go to the Extreme North alone, would you have reported this to me?
You’re just afraid that it’s not just the Heartless Creed members who are in the Extreme North, but also their enigmatic creed leader. You want to drag me along too.
Although I’m a Transcendent Tribulation cultivator, I’m only at the Basic Transcendent Tribulation Stage. The two vice creed leaders are at the Basic and the Intermediate Transcendent Tribulation Stage, respectively, while the creed leader must be at the Advanced Transcendent Tribulation Stage. Against a veteran Advanced Transcendent Tribulation cultivator, I’ll certainly lose.
Mu Baiyi rose and ordered Shi Huagu, “Contact the Radiant Sun Creed and have them join us in going to the Extreme North.”
Creed Leader Chi of the Radiant Sun Creed had also advanced to the Transcendent Tribulation Stage, and the creed already had a veteran Intermediate Transcendent Tribulation cultivator.
~~~
On a rare day off, the three teachers went on an outing. They set up a grill outside Muxue City, and Lu Yang took charge of the cooking.
“Here, try my roasted rabbit. I hunted these rabbits myself. It took quite a bit of effort; I nearly let them get away."
Xue Shilou held an ice sword, an icicle he had happened to find on the martial arts school’s eaves. It looked remarkably like a sword, and he had become deeply attached to it since acquiring it. Although he could use spells to conjure a proper ice sword, he preferred the natural craftsmanship of this one.
Let alone Xue Shilou, even Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, who didn’t practice with swords, admired it. But Xue Shilou refused to part with it.
“I’ll have to trouble you then, Fellow Daoist Lu.” Xue Shilou produced an ice case to store his ice sword and placed it back in his storage ring before tasting the roasted rabbit.
Meng Jingzhou didn’t stand on ceremony with Lu Yang. He grabbed a piece and ate. “The taste is great. None of the roasted rabbits I’ve had before was as delicious.”
Lu Yang puffed up with pride. “This is Extreme North roasted rabbit. How could you have eaten it before?
“The Extreme North is freezing all year round. Demon beasts here have thick fat, which melts when roasted with my Three Flavor True Fire. How could rabbits from anywhere else compare?”
“That’s true.”
The three gathered around the fire and chatted jovially, discussing everything from Xue Shilou’s doubts in his Sword Dao studies to amusing tales from Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou’s training experiences, and even the local customs of the Extreme North.
None of them felt cold at all. The fire was mainly for atmosphere.
“Speaking of which, what exactly is the Snow Emperor Bloodline?” Lu Yang asked curiously.
Lu Yang remembered that Xue Shilou had cured his split personality and achieved an initial awakening of his Snow Emperor Bloodline at the Sword-Seeking Ceremony. Later, he had fully awakened it in the dungeon of the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace.
Xue Shilou had a senior brother named Xuanyuan Tianhen. Judging by his reaction, the Snow Emperor Bloodline was something truly impressive.
“What is the Snow Emperor Bloodline?” Meng Jingzhou had never heard of it either.
Xue Shilou smiled and explained, “The Snow Emperor is a legend of the Extreme North, or perhaps an old belief. All of us in the Extreme North are descendants of the Snow Emperor. The legend is hardly known, so it’s natural that you two fellow Daoists wouldn’t be aware of it.”
Lu Yang remembered that the Everlasting Immortal Fairy had never heard of any Snow Emperor. It seems that no matter how old the Snow Emperor is, the Immortal Fairy is older.
“According to legends in the Extreme North, awakening the Snow Emperor Bloodline means you have earned the Snow Emperor’s recognition, and you are the most talented person in the Extreme North.
“Actually, that’s not accurate. This is something I learned from the bloodline memories after awakening.
“The correct version is that awakening the Snow Emperor Bloodline makes you qualified to become the Snow Emperor’s successor.
“The Snow Emperor isn’t a particular individual, but a title. In fact, there have been several generations of Snow Emperors.
“If I wish to become the next Snow Emperor, I need to pass three trials.” As he spoke, Xue Shilou took three thawed frozen pears from a basin beside the grill.
“Have a try. This is a specialty of the Extreme North. You probably haven’t had it before.”
Lu Yang took a bite. The frozen pear was astonishingly juicy, almost spilling from his mouth.
He and Meng Jingzhou asked between bites. “What are the three trials you need to pass?”
“The first trial is a test of one’s Dao heart. Even after suffering a devastating setback, your Dao heart must remain unbroken, proving your steadfast resolve to seek the Dao.
“I already passed this trial when I first arrived at the martial arts school.”
“Ah?” Lu Yang was puzzled.
“When I first arrived at the martial arts school, Fellow Daoist Lu, you told me you had broken through to the Void Refinement Stage and that your cultivation realm could fluctuate to the Transcendent Tribulation Stage. Ever since the Sword-Seeking Ceremony, I’ve been striving to catch up to you. Hearing that news dealt my Dao heart a heavy blow.”
Lu Yang understood. “So passing the first trial means you aren’t discouraged and that you’re still striving to catch up to me?”
Xue Shilou waved his hand. “Ah, no. I realized that being the number one Sword Dao talent in the Extreme North suits me just fine. There’s no need to compete with you for the title of number one in the world.”
Lu Yang was speechless.
“And what’s your second trial?”
“The second trial requires me to become unbeatable among my peers of the same level in the Extreme North.”
“Fellow Daoist Xue, I see that you’ve achieved commendable success in your cultivation of Sword Dao. You can fight beyond your level. Are you still not unbeatable among your peers in the Extreme North?” Lu Yang was baffled.
Xue Shilou shook his head. “No, there’s a devil called Carefree Wanderer at the Divine Transfiguration Stage. Despite calling himself “carefree,” he has committed every evil imaginable—arson, murder, robbery, rape, and theft. I once exchanged blows with him but lost. Only by defeating him can I pass the second trial. That’s one of the reasons I came to Muxue City to comprehend the Sword Dao.”