Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds

「Somewhere in Yazhou.」

"Miss Xue, we fought side-by-side, after all. Can’t we just talk this out?" Zhan Qing said helplessly.

"No!" Xue Bingbing crossed her arms, pouting. "What’s so bad about me? Why don’t you want to marry me?"

Zhan Qing glanced at the middle-aged woman standing behind Xue Bingbing. She wore a snow-white gown, her skin was as pale as snow, and she emanated a biting chill as her cold eyes stared at him.

"You’re great," Zhan Qing said.

"Then let’s get married," Xue Bingbing said.

Zhan Qing was speechless. "But a marriage requires building a relationship first."

"We’ve already fought side-by-side. Isn’t that a relationship?" Xue Bingbing asked.

"That’s the bond of comrades-in-arms," Zhan Qing said. "Not the bond of a husband and wife."

Xue Bingbing blinked, and then the woman behind her spoke. "This Junior Mage doesn’t know what’s good for him. Bingbing, why even bother arguing? Since he’s unwilling, we’ll just tie him up and drag him back to Snow God Mountain."

"Wait, wait," Zhan Qing said hurriedly. "I am a disciple of Daluo Palace in Jiangzhou. We were originally comrades, and this is all a misunderstanding. But if you kidnap me, that misunderstanding will only grow."

"Daluo Palace in Jiangzhou?" Xue Bingbing thought for a moment. "The Dragon King of Ten Thousand Spirits in Jiangzhou is powerful, and that Ink Flood Dragon is also quite famous. But other than them, there aren’t any other major figures. Since your sect is so weak, you have all the more reason to marry me, enter into Harmony, and join my Snow God Mountain."

Zhan Qing asked curiously, "Is Snow God Mountain very powerful?"

The middle-aged woman shot Zhan Qing a look one might give an idiot, then said to Xue Bingbing, "He’s never even heard of Snow God Mountain. It just shows how ignorant he is."

"Wait!" Zhan Qing raised his hand. "But I have heard of Chaoyang Island and Silent God Mountain."

Xue Bingbing asked curiously, "Chaoyang Island and Silent God Mountain are powers in Yongzhou. Isn’t your Daluo Palace in Jiangzhou?"

"We also have branches in Yongzhou’s Shide Prefecture and He Yan Mansion," Zhan Qing said.

"Oh?" Now it was the middle-aged woman’s turn to be curious. "He Yan Mansion is the Nether Fire Sect’s territory. Their leader is known for being tyrannical. He didn’t drive you out?"

Zhan Qing raised an eyebrow and smiled. "The Netherfire Sect Leader was struck dead by a single Thunderbolt from our Sect Leader."

The middle-aged woman’s brow furrowed. "Don’t talk nonsense. The Nether Fire Sect is a major power. If their leader heard you speaking so disrespectfully, he’d surely come looking for trouble with Daluo Palace."

Zhan Qing’s eyebrow twitched as he continued, "The Ink Flood Dragon was also struck dead by a single Thunderbolt from our Sect Leader."

The middle-aged woman studied Zhan Qing from head to toe, then turned to Xue Bingbing. "Bingbing, your judgment was off. This man is a braggart with a loose tongue and a flippant attitude. He’s not a suitable partner."

Xue Bingbing immediately shook her head. "His Divine Soul is compatible with mine. He’s not a braggart. His Sect Leader must have lied to him!"

Xue Bingbing skipped over to Zhan Qing’s side and said earnestly, "Snow God Mountain is in the southernmost part of Yazhou, guarding the border of the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the south. Our ancestor, the Snow Goddess, has Ten Thousand Years of Dao Practice and is no weaker than the Chaoyang Ancestor.

All the disciples of our Snow God Mountain are Snow Maidens. When we come of age, we descend the mountain to find a suitable partner to enter into Harmony and marry. They then join our Snow God Mountain, and as a couple united in heart, we cultivate for eternal life.

Your Divine Soul is compatible with mine, you have exceptional talent, and you have a good character. In the future, we’ll definitely have a baby Snow Maiden with astonishing innate gifts. It’ll make all those sisters who laughed at me drop their jaws in shock!"

Zhan Qing: "..."

"Why are you so sure you would have a daughter, not a son?" a voice suddenly asked.

Startled, Xue Bingbing and the middle-aged woman whipped around to see a young man standing not far behind them, sizing them up with curiosity.

The middle-aged woman’s pupils contracted. She had a thousand years of Dao Practice and was considered a formidable figure on Snow God Mountain. If Xue Bingbing hadn’t been a direct descendant of the Snow Goddess, she wouldn’t have been assigned to protect her in secret.

But even with her level of Dao Practice, she hadn’t sensed his silent approach. If he had borne any ill will, she feared she would have been grievously wounded in a single blow.

"Sect Leader!" Zhan Qing called out urgently.

"The Daluo Palace Sect Leader?" The middle-aged woman looked at Gu Zhao warily and pulled Xue Bingbing behind her.

Gu Zhao waved his hand, and a wisp of True Qi entered Zhan Qing, shattering the shackles within his body. Zhan Qing stood up and hurried to Gu Zhao’s side. "Sect Leader, Miss Xue and her companion mean no harm..."

"I heard what Miss Xue just said. A Snow Goddess with Ten Thousand Years of Dao Practice is someone I can’t afford to offend," Gu Zhao said with a smile, shaking his head.

Xue Bingbing peeked out from behind the middle-aged woman. "Does that mean you’ll agree to the marriage?"

The middle-aged woman once again blocked Xue Bingbing. While Xue Bingbing might be taken in by Gu Zhao’s kind smile, the woman herself would not underestimate him.

’She was the one who placed the restriction on Zhan Qing. It was the secret Ice and Snow Forbidden Technique of Snow God Mountain, which imprisons the Dantian Meridians and seals one’s Divine Soul Magical Power. Its core is the True Meaning of Ice and Snow. Even someone with greater Magical Power than her couldn’t hope to easily break her seal.

But the man before her had simply given a casual wave, and the Ice and Snow Forbidden Technique she had placed inside Zhan Qing’s body had melted away like snow in the sun, dissolving in an instant. How could she not be on high alert?’

However, Gu Zhao paid no mind to the middle-aged woman’s caution. He simply raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You are both Spirit Monarchs, which shows that the Snow Goddess of Snow God Mountain must also be a person of integrity. Therefore, if I take Zhan Qing back to Daluo Palace, given the Snow Goddess’s status, I assume she won’t show up at our gates to snatch him away by force, will she?"

Xue Bingbing: (⊙o⊙)

The middle-aged woman was silent for a moment before speaking frankly, "Snow Maidens must rely on their own strength to find a suitable partner for Harmony. Snow God Mountain will not intervene."

Gu Zhao looked at her. "Then haven’t you already intervened?"

The middle-aged woman fell silent. Behind her, Xue Bingbing pouted. "I’ve never heard of anyone refusing a Snow Maiden before!"

The Snow Maidens of Snow God Mountain were all Spirit Monarchs. They generally didn’t break up couples who were already married or in love. And as for single young men, who could possibly refuse a beautiful, kind-hearted Snow Maiden and the promise of a future cultivating for eternal life?

But as it turned out, Xue Bingbing had.

The middle-aged woman patted Xue Bingbing’s hand, then straightened her robes and composed her expression. She faced Gu Zhao and gave a slight bow. "Xue Yining of Snow God Mountain greets the Daluo Palace Master."

Gu Zhao cupped his hands in return. "Snow God Mountain is renowned, and I have of course heard of it. It’s just that your esteemed mountain is in the south of Yazhou, so I have never had the chance to pay a visit."

As a power that had guarded Yazhou for thousands of years, Snow God Mountain was comparable to Chaoyang Island in Yongzhou, so Gu Zhao had naturally heard Bai Fei and Li Qingshuang mention it before.

’It was just that the Cultivators on Snow God Mountain were Snow Maiden Spirit Monarchs. They guarded the south, had no record of evil deeds, and did not seek to expand their territory, so they were unlikely to ever conflict with Daluo Palace. Since Daluo Palace’s disciples had not yet set foot in southern Yazhou, Gu Zhao hadn’t considered going to Snow God Mountain to build ties.

As the saying goes, "He who is overly attentive has a hidden motive." Gu Zhao didn’t want to arouse their suspicion and cause a misunderstanding. He had figured that as his Daoists gradually expanded southward, their paths would eventually cross in due time.

He just never expected the first meeting between their two sects to happen so soon—or that it would be over a Snow Maiden trying to snatch a groom!’