Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds

"This time, when Bingbing descended the mountain to find a suitable partner, I was only protecting her in secret. I was not supposed to reveal myself unless it was a matter of life and death," Xue Yining said. "However, since she has found her partner, her journey down the mountain is considered complete. That is why I chose to intervene."

Gu Zhao’s Dao Practice had exceeded Xue Yining’s expectations, so she made a rare effort to explain herself, reasoning, "A Snow Maiden marries only once in her life. Their devotion is single-minded and universally praised.

Your Sect’s disciple possesses extraordinary talent and excellent character, a rare find indeed. If they were to become husband and wife, practicing dual cultivation in Harmony would also be of great benefit to him. What do you think, Palace Master?"

"As for whether Zhan Qing marries a disciple of Snow God Mountain, I will not interfere." Gu Zhao smiled and shook his head.

But just as Xue Bingbing broke into a smile, Gu Zhao continued, "However, I cannot accept that Snow God Mountain would use such methods to force my disciple’s hand."

"Wait, Sect Leader, are you really planning to let me marry her?" Zhan Qing asked via a transmission to his Sea of Consciousness.

"Huh? You don’t want to?" Gu Zhao asked, surprised. "When I heard your transmission just now, you seemed to be refusing, but your tone was hesitant. You were playing hard to get, and there was even a hint of smugness. I thought you were quite willing."

"Well... Miss Xue is very nice." Zhan Qing grimaced. "But from what that Xue Yining just said, it sounds like she wants me to marry into their sect and move up the mountain. I’ve heard that the husbands of Snow Maidens all cultivate the Ice and Snow Dharma Gate on Snow God Mountain."

He was also a little worried. "Besides, with dual cultivation in Harmony and shared Magical Power, will it hinder my cultivation of Daoist Techniques?"

"It shouldn’t be a major issue," Gu Zhao replied. "Both Silk Embroideress and Chen Zhi formed a Harmony between a human body and a demon. Although their Magical Power carries a trace of Demon Qi, the human aspect remains dominant, and it doesn’t hinder their cultivation of Taoist Skills."

"Yes, and we don’t have a precedent for a Daoist forming a Harmony with a demon yet. You can be the one to scout the path for us," Gu Zhao teased. "Then Changyi, Yangshuo, and the others won’t have to worry anymore in the future."

Zhan Qing was speechless.

’So the newest member has no rights, huh?’

"Then what will it take for you to agree?" Xue Bingbing asked.

"That Zhan Qing is also willing, of course," Gu Zhao said with a smile, then turned to Xue Yining. "Even if love at first sight exists, I’ve never heard of people getting married after just one meeting."

"If Miss Xue is interested, let the two of them travel the martial world together for a while. If they come to love each other, I certainly won’t stand in their way," Gu Zhao said. "But let me be blunt: even if they do marry, I will not allow my disciple to live permanently on Snow God Mountain."

Xue Bingbing peeked out from behind Xue Yining again. "But my uncles... they all live on Snow God Mountain?"

Gu Zhao smiled faintly. "Daluo Palace is different."

Just then, Yangshuo and Changyi, who had sensed Gu Zhao’s arrival, rushed to the scene. They emerged from the woods and came to stand behind Gu Zhao. "Sect Leader!"

Gu Zhao waved his hand and looked at Xue Yining. "What do you think, Madam?"

Xue Yining was noncommittal. "I will return and relay this to Bingbing’s parents."

"Very well." Gu Zhao nodded.

Xue Yining had been following Xue Bingbing earlier and had witnessed Zhan Qing, Changyi, and Yangshuo act with righteous heroism. Their dignified, upright aura showed her that Daluo Palace was not some lawless Sect. Her previous wariness of Gu Zhao stemmed only from the fact that he was far too powerful, and she knew she was no match for him.

Now, seeing that this Daluo Palace Master did not hold her accountable for abducting his disciple, and had even agreed to let the two get to know each other—while also laying his terms out plainly—she could see he was an open and honorable man.

Thus, Xue Yining let down her guard. She turned to Xue Bingbing and said, "The Daluo Palace Master arrived here so quickly. It’s clear Daluo Palace has its own Secret Technique for communication. You can travel with them for now. I will return to the mountain and speak with your mother."

"Okay!" Xue Bingbing’s eyes lit up, and she smiled happily.

She was still young and didn’t really care about the custom that her husband must marry into her family. She had simply acted subconsciously, following the rules she was familiar with, which was why she wanted to whisk Zhan Qing back to Snow God Mountain to get married.

Now that his Sect Leader had given his blessing for them to pursue a marriage, Xue Bingbing couldn’t think of any reason why Zhan Qing would refuse her.

He champions Righteousness and Heroism; she was a kind Spirit Monarch.

He was handsome; she was young and beautiful.

He had outstanding aptitude; she had supreme talent.

He had his Sect, Daluo Palace; her Snow God Mountain was just as strong, if not stronger.

Xue Yining gave Gu Zhao a slight bow. "Thank you for your mercy, Palace Master. Xue Yining takes her leave."

"Please." Gu Zhao also clasped his hands in a return salute.

With a flicker of her form, Xue Yining was enveloped in a white light. The icy energy condensed around her without dispersing, seeming to Gu Zhao’s senses like a crystal of ice and snow before it tore through the void and vanished over the distant horizon.

Then, Xue Bingbing hopped in front of Gu Zhao and asked curiously, "Did you really kill the Netherfire Sect Leader and the Ink Flood Dragon?"

"Guaranteed authentic." Gu Zhao nodded, slapping his gourd. A Dragon Horn, radiating a sinister Demonic Qi, appeared in his hand.

This was the Ink Flood Dragon’s Flood Dragon Horn, which had been severed by a bolt of Gu Zhao’s lightning and then stored in his Storage Gourd.

When the Ink Flood Dragon died, the people of Daluo Palace had been excited at the prospect of feasting on Dragon Liver and Dragon Meat. However, when they brought it back to Daluo Palace, they discovered that the Flood Dragon had cultivated a Demon Technique and had become a Fallen Demon. Its entire body was tainted by Demonic Qi, making it essentially inedible, like moldy food.

Even its Dragon Scales, Dragon Claws, fangs, and horns were steeped in Demonic Qi to the very core. The Demonic Qi wasn’t just mixed with its original body; it had fundamentally altered it. Expelling the Demonic Qi would be tantamount to destroying the materials themselves.

From this, one could see the effect Demonic Qi had on this world. No wonder the so-called descent of the Celestial Demon sought to completely reshape heaven and earth.

The Ink Flood Dragon meat was a loss. Gu Zhao had incinerated the corpse with Taoist True Fire, leaving behind a few things like its fangs, claws, and horns. Though they weren’t particularly useful, he had sealed the Demonic Qi within them and kept them as collectibles.

Gu Zhao had placed most of the other materials in the Daluo Palace warehouse, but he kept one Dragon Horn with him. Since Demonic Qi could sense other Demonic Qi, carrying the horn might allow him to detect other hidden Demons.

"Whoa!"

Seeing the gnarled Dragon Horn, Xue Bingbing looked amazed. She leaned in for a closer look, then recoiled in shock. "Demonic Qi?"

"You recognize Demonic Qi?" Zhan Qing asked in surprise.

Xue Bingbing smiled smugly. "A Demon from the Southern Border came to wreak havoc in Yazhou once. My aunt severely injured it, and later, I followed my mother deep into the Southern Border and killed that Demon."

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "There are Demons in the Southern Border too?"

"The Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Border have all sorts of Demons and Ghosts," Xue Bingbing said enthusiastically. "If you’re interested, I can take you there for fun."

Gu Zhao continued asking, "In the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Border, are there many bad people?"

"Lots!" Xue Bingbing frowned. "There are many good people and many bad people. Some protect the peace of their region, while others treat the mountain folk as disposable materials—draining their souls, stealing their spirits, and even boiling their bones to refine their blood."

"Understood." Gu Zhao nodded. A new leveling zone had just spawned.