Chapter 582 - 14: Snow Fills Heaven and Earth

Fang Cheng walked out of the Heaven Crossing Hall and immediately summoned the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass.

The hundred-zhang-wide Compass hung high in the sky like a blazing golden sun, emitting a vast and surging aura.

He refined the Dongxuan Realm coordinate marker given to him by the Dragon Elephant Wanderer into the Compass. The golden Compass, suspended high in the heavens, began to slowly rotate. An arcane star chart, bright and dazzling, appeared on its surface.

A moment later.

A blinding golden light shot out from the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass, landing straight on him.

A flash of gold suddenly lit up the space between heaven and earth.

Then, both the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass and Fang Cheng vanished.

...

A tide of coldness swept through the world.

All was silent, and a heavy blanket of snow covered everything.

A terrifying cold filled the sky and earth, seeming to freeze even space itself.

In the center of the gloomy sky, several sinister, pitch-black cracks suddenly appeared.

Following that, a wheel radiating golden light emerged. As the wheel slowly spun, the surrounding space shattered and collapsed. A tall, handsome figure in a wide-sleeved robe walked straight out of the golden light.

Fang Cheng stood in the sky and looked around. He saw only swirling snow and a vast expanse of white between heaven and earth.

Beneath the gloomy sky, vast plains and rolling mountain ranges were all covered in pristine white snow.

Above the distant mountains, countless densely packed "black dots" floated in the sky, resembling a great wall stretching across the horizon.

Upon closer inspection, one would discover that those "black dots" were actually Floating Islands.

Beyond the mountains lay a massive, bottomless abyss over a hundred *li* wide. The cold that permeated the world originated from this abyss.

Fang Cheng waved his sleeve, putting away the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass. He then summoned the Taixu Cloud Tower, sat alone atop it, and took out the jade slip given to him by the Dragon Elephant Wanderer to get his bearings.

He learned that this place was the Dongxuan Realm’s famous forbidden land, the Ancient Cold Abyss.

According to legend, during the Ancient Times, a Spirit Immortal from the Upper Realm descended in an incarnation and fought a great battle with many of this realm’s Demon Cultivators over a certain object, creating this abyss.

The cold at the bottom of the abyss was so intense that not even a Tribulation Realm Great Power was guaranteed to escape unscathed.

The Floating Islands above the abyss now served as the grounds for this realm’s top sect, Guanghan Palace. Countless Disciples had established Cave Mansions on the islands, using the cold from the Ancient Cold Abyss to practice their cultivation techniques.

Fang Cheng’s destination was Sheyang Mountain, a million *li* from the Ancient Cold Abyss—the cultivation ground of the Dongxuan Realm’s number one Artifact Refining master, Ascendant Dun’an, Tao Zhongyi.

This Ascendant Dun’an had originally been a Peak Dharma Appearance Loose Cultivator. He met the Dragon Elephant Wanderer a thousand years ago and, with his help, stepped into the Tribulation Realm.

Now, he was a great power who had passed the Fifth Celestial Tribulation, renowned throughout the Dongxuan Realm and dominant in his region.

It was precisely because of this relationship that after the Dragon Elephant Wanderer was severely injured by the Bitter Elder and could no longer oversee the forging of the Demon-Suppressing Celestial Stele, he had the idea of inviting Ascendant Dun’an to the Red Profound Realm to assist with the Artifact Refining.

The Taixu Cloud Tower streaked across the sky, and before long, it reached the territory of Sheyang Mountain.

A magnificent and colossal mountain rose from the earth, piercing the high heavens.

Within a thousand *li* of the mountain, the land was black and barren, without a single blade of grass or any sign of life.

A sheet of frozen clouds shrouded the sky, and between heaven and earth, countless crystalline snowflakes hung motionless in the void.

A bone-chilling cold filled the air.

Streaks of sword light emerged from within the snowflakes, circling and slicing toward Sheyang Mountain, flickering in and out of existence.

Meanwhile, on Sheyang Mountain, endless bursts of fire erupted, transforming into countless ferocious Flame Beasts that desperately fought back against the Icy Sword Light.

When Fang Cheng’s Taixu Cloud Tower arrived a few hundred *li* from Sheyang Mountain, it drew the attention of two groups of people.

One group was situated on Sheyang Mountain. Their leader was a middle-aged Daoist with a square face, a straight nose, and a tall, robust build. He wore a Piqiu Crown and a Purple Cloud Sun Robe, exuding a dignified and imposing air. Beside him were two other Tribulation Realm Cultivators with vast auras.

One of them was a young monk in white robes with a calm and peaceful expression—it was none other than Monk Haideng, who had previously traveled with Fang Cheng to Extreme Jade Heaven in search of the Demon-Suppressing Immortal Cicada!

The other was a slender, graceful woman, also dressed in white, with exceptionally beautiful features.

These three were defending Sheyang Mountain, activating the Flame Void Array to manifest countless Flame Beasts to resist the sword light that incessantly materialized in the void, holding their ground on the mountain.

Outside the mountain, amidst the swirling snow, were four women, each holding a position to power the Grand Array and attack Sheyang Mountain.

Although the four differed in appearance and temperament, all were stunningly Beautiful Female Cultivators—one was noble and elegant, another charming and lovely, a third graceful and quiet...

The leader of the four was an enchanting, beautiful woman. She stood in the void, her simple dress and ribbons fluttering in the wind, fully revealing her voluptuous and alluring curves.

This woman was the one orchestrating the Grand Array besieging Sheyang Mountain; the other three were merely assisting her.

Sitting in the Taixu Cloud Tower, Fang Cheng took in the situation on Sheyang Mountain at a glance.

’No wonder the two groups of people the Dragon Elephant Wanderer sent to invite Ascendant Dun’an both failed. It turns out he’s been trapped.’

The beautiful woman in the lead also possessed a shocking Five-Tribulation Cultivation. The cold aura she exuded was astonishing, and she seemed to have some connection to the Ancient Cold Abyss.

The other three women also had Tribulation Realm Cultivations.

Although the four women had varying levels of Cultivation and different Cultivation Techniques, they were well-versed in a joint Secret Technique that allowed them to merge their auras and Magical Power into the Snow Full of Heaven and Earth Formation, pinning Ascendant Dun’an in place.

Fang Cheng halted the Cloud Tower and observed them carefully.

The beautiful woman glanced at him from a distance, her delicate brows knitting slightly. She didn’t speak but simply pointed a finger. A flurry of snowflakes danced through the air, descending to envelop the Taixu Cloud Tower.

A world-freezing cold spread out. Frost condensed on the exterior of the Taixu Cloud Tower, and countless ice crystals appeared.

An incomparably sharp streak of sword light then pierced through the Cloud Tower’s outer restrictions in an instant, aiming for the space between Fang Cheng’s eyebrows.

Fang Cheng smiled serenely and shattered the sword light with a flick of his finger.

The next moment.

Hundreds, even thousands, of sword light streaks swarmed forward, looking as if they would skewer the Taixu Cloud Tower.

"Sigh..."

An ancient sigh echoed between heaven and earth. A magnificent blaze of fire, like a Golden Crow crossing the sky, shot out from Sheyang Mountain. It incinerated all the sword light attacking the Taixu Cloud Tower along its path before circling the tower once. Then, both vanished on the spot.

In the next instant, the Taixu Cloud Tower reappeared on Sheyang Mountain.

"..."

Fang Cheng looked at Ascendant Dun’an, who had just acted, suppressed his thoughts, and cupped his hands. "Fang Cheng of the Red Profound Association. Greetings, Ascendant. Thank you for saving me just now."

Ascendant Dun’an nodded faintly and sighed. "You all shouldn’t have come here just to throw your lives away. Unless Fellow Daoist Dragon Elephant comes in person, I cannot escape this Snow Full of Heaven and Earth Formation."

Seeing Fang Cheng arrive, Monk Haideng said, "Fellow Daoist Fang, congratulations on reaching the Tribulation Realm. Why have you come?"

Fang Cheng smiled. "I’ve come to escort Ascendant Dun’an to the Red Profound Realm."

Monk Haideng gave a bitter smile and pressed his palms together. "Benefactor Wu Bingxian outside has profound Divine Techniques, and she has three Tribulation Realm experts assisting her. We can’t even think about escorting Ascendant Dun’an away. If the Ascendant were to make a move, I’m afraid we would all perish within this Grand Array."

Fang Cheng put away the Taixu Cloud Tower and watched the myriad Flame Beasts wreathed in roaring fire battling the endless Icy Sword Light outside the mountain. He asked curiously, "Is that woman a Cultivator from Guanghan Palace?"

Monk Haideng nodded. "Indeed. Wu Bingxian achieved the Dao five hundred years ago and has passed a Celestial Tribulation every century. In the last three thousand years, she is the person with the highest talent for cultivation in this realm."

Fang Cheng remained noncommittal, his gaze sweeping over the other three women within the Grand Array. "The other three don’t seem to be Cultivators from Guanghan Palace."

Haideng replied, "Those three are from three different sects in the Dongxuan Realm. But according to Fellow Daoist Dun’an, the four of them had no connection in the past. It’s a mystery why they’ve come together now and are proficient in a joint technique."

A playful smile touched the corners of Fang Cheng’s mouth. "What these four are practicing should be a Secret Technique from some Dual Cultivation Technique. It seems the four of them are all some person’s dao partners."

He was an expert in the way of Dual Cultivation, so he saw through the four women’s secrets at a glance.

In contrast, Dun’an, Haideng, and the slender female cultivator were not versed in this path and hadn’t noticed anything.

During their conversation, Fang Cheng and the slender female cultivator introduced themselves. Her name was Qiu Jingyu, a member of the Chixiao Domain’s Red Profound Association with a Two-Tribulation Cultivation.

The first group of Cultivators sent to invite Ascendant Dun’an had already perished.

Haideng and Qiu Jingyu were the second group. By the time they arrived, Sheyang Mountain was already trapped by the Snow Full of Heaven and Earth Formation.

When the two of them tried to break through the Grand Array from the outside, a shift in the formation trapped them within it instead.

It was Ascendant Dun’an who had to unleash an astonishing Divine Technique to bring them back to Sheyang Mountain.

"Someone in the Red Profound Association must have leaked the news," Qiu Jingyu said coldly.

They only learned after meeting Ascendant Dun’an that Wu Bingxian of Guanghan Palace had no grudge against Dun’an and would never have attacked so suddenly at a time like this.

Haideng said, "If it’s as Fellow Daoist Fang says, then these four women’s dao partner must have a feud with the Red Profound Association. Perhaps he is one of the Demon Lord’s Demon Servants."

"Could it be the Bitter Elder?" Fang Cheng glanced at Qiu Jingyu.

’The Bitter Elder’s Cultivation is high, comparable to the Dragon Elephant Wanderer’s. He also has connections with certain traitors in the Red Profound Association. It’s highly likely to be him.’

Qiu Jingyu shook her head. "I don’t think so."

"The Bitter Elder came from a Xuanmen Orthodox Sect in the Chixiao Domain. For some unknown reason, he developed a blood feud with his sect’s upper echelon, fled for his life, and disappeared. When he returned many years later, he already had a Tribulation Realm Cultivation. He personally slaughtered everyone in his sect, from top to bottom. Judging by his aura, he doesn’t seem like the type to indulge in worldly pleasures and have dao partners."

She glanced at Fang Cheng, her expression elegant. "The Bitter Elder is clearly a man burdened by deep-seated hatred. His aura is completely different from a romantic figure like you, Fellow Daoist."

Haideng chanted a Buddhist mantra and said worriedly, "According to rumor, the Demon Lord has four great Demon Servants. The Night Queen and the Bitter Elder have already appeared. I wonder who the other two are."

A thoughtful look appeared on Fang Cheng’s face.

’The reason I didn’t resist when I fell into the Snow Full of Heaven and Earth Formation and saw Ascendant Dun’an step in to help was that once I’m on Sheyang Mountain, I can use the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass to return directly to the Red Profound Realm.’

’There was no need to fight the four Tribulation Realm masters.’

But now, knowing that these four women were connected to the Demon Lord, he had a change of heart.

’Eliminating these four women would be like clipping the Demon Lord’s wings. Why not do it?’

...