The Snow Fiend’s Challenge

“What’s wrong?” Ji Ning asked immediately.

If it were merely solitude, immortals and demon-saints should have been able to endure it. Those imprisoned in the World Prison for several chaos cycles often collapsed and committed suicide only after eons. The time Empyrean God Xiuke had been trapped here was relatively far shorter.

“Earlier, didn’t I mistake you for the Snow Fiend?” Empyrean God Xiuke said.

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded.

“This Moon Underwater Abyss is exceptionally dangerous. Back then, I forced my way past the obstruction of the sea-race yakshas and arrived at this Snow Island. At the time, there were no other Empyrean Gods on the island, so I continued forward,” Empyrean God Xiuke said. “On another side of this Snow Island, there is a log bridge. When I advanced along that log bridge, I encountered the Snow Fiend.”

“In those days, I was no match for the Snow Fiend. Fortunately, relying on my movement technique, I managed to flee back to Snow Island,” Empyrean God Xiuke said. “The Snow Fiend gave chase, but when I escaped back into Snow Island, the Snow Fiend stopped pursuing.”

“Every time I fought the Snow Fiend, I was unable to prevail, so I could only stay on Snow Island.”

“I thought I’d be safe on this island. But a thousand years later, to my surprise, an avatar of the Snow Fiend actually came to kill me on the island.” Empyrean God Xiuke shook his head and sighed. “From that time on, roughly once every millennium, the Snow Fiend would send an avatar to the island to hunt me. And every time, its power was greater than the time before. Once every thousand years… after a million years, the power of the Snow Fiend’s avatar that came to kill me on the island was already comparable to its true body.”

Ji Ning was puzzled. “Once every thousand years, its power gradually increasing… was this a special trial meant to temper you, Senior Apprentice-Brother?”

“It was indeed a form of tempering,” Empyrean God Xiuke agreed. “In the beginning, the Snow Fiend avatar that came to kill me was relatively weak. I could completely withstand it. A million years later, my movement technique had reached an extremely profound level. The Snow Fiend avatar’s power was comparable to its true body, yet it still couldn’t kill me.”

“It couldn’t kill me. But I couldn’t break through its obstruction either.”

“And so, I remained trapped on this island. Over all these years, other Empyrean Gods arrived at Snow Island one after another. Some died at the hands of the Snow Fiend. Some managed to proceed to the next island. Others were trapped here for a long time, just like me. But as the Snow Fiend’s avatars grew stronger and stronger, they were unable to keep pace with the increasing power of the avatars, and they all died one by one.”

“Only I am left.”

Empyrean God Xiuke shook his head with a bitter laugh. “In terms of raw power, many of them were not inferior to me. But my greatest strength is my movement technique. Forced by the Snow Fiend, I have pushed my movement technique to a level I never dared imagine before.”

“But what of it…?” The Snow Fiend still comes to harass me time and again, using all manner of shapeshifting and stealth techniques, trying every possible way to assassinate me.” Empyrean God Xiuke sighed. “I am utterly alone here. My power can no longer advance in the slightest. I cannot break through… and I must constantly guard against the Snow Fiend’s sneak attacks.”

“Even if I am not killed, I will eventually collapse,” Empyrean God Xiuke said.

Ji Ning nodded gently.

“Senior Apprentice-Brother Xiuke,” Ji Ning said solemnly, “I find the entire Moon Underwater Abyss world quite strange. Based on my observations, this Moon Underwater Abyss world was most likely created by some ancient, unfathomably powerful figure. After we entered, we encountered various dangers. Those who cannot withstand them die. But those who can withstand them are permitted to continue forward. Some may even obtain treasures and eventually leave.”

“Could it be that the ancient power who created this world did so just to train younger generations, give out treasures, and then let us go?” Ji Ning wondered.

“No one is that benevolent,” Empyrean God Xiuke shook his head. “The ancient power who created this Moon Underwater Abyss world definitely has some purpose.”

“Right. No one is that selfless,” Ji Ning agreed.

To train Empyrean Gods. To cultivate the most outstanding among them, give them treasures, and let them leave.

It was far too altruistic.

Ji Ning did not believe anyone could be so selfless. There was likely a scheme behind it!

“Hasn’t the Lord Buddha Jueming spoken of it even after all these years?” Empyrean God Xiuke asked.

“He hasn’t,” Ji Ning shook his head. “I asked my master. My master also said that Lord Buddha Jueming refuses to speak of it. No matter who asks, it’s useless. Even Lord Buddha Tathagata cannot force Lord Buddha Jueming to speak of the matter of the Moon Underwater Abyss.”

Empyrean God Xiuke frowned. “How strange. Why does Lord Buddha Jueming refuse to speak of it?”

Lord Buddha Jueming neither speaks of it nor forbids other Empyrean Gods from entering. Regardless, he won’t say a word, and no one can force him to.

“The Snow Fiend has come to assassinate me countless times over the years, and we have spoken many times. From what it says, there is only one way to enter the Moon Underwater Abyss, obtain treasures, and leave alive,” Empyrean God Xiuke said.

Ji Ning immediately listened attentively.

“That is… to advance along the log bridge, defeating all obstacles. There are five islands along the way. When one reaches the fifth island, they can leave safely. To this day, only Lord Buddha Jueming has accomplished this,” Empyrean God Xiuke said.

“Five islands?”

Ji Ning was startled.

The snow-covered island he was on now was merely the first. Reaching the fifth island… that would be no easy feat.

“When one reaches the fifth island, perhaps they will learn what the ancient power who created this Moon Underwater Abyss truly plots,” Empyrean God Xiuke said.

“Mm.” Ji Ning nodded.

Actually, Ji Ning didn’t really care what schemes this ancient power harbored.

What he cared about were the ‘Iceheart Marrow’ and the ‘Iceheart Leaves.’

…

“Junior Apprentice-Brother, I have fought the Snow Fiend for endless years and have spoken with it many times,” Empyrean God Xiuke said, looking at Ji Ning. “It told me there is another way to survive.”

“Oh?” Ji Ning’s eyes lit up.

“That is to hide inside the magic treasure of an extremely powerful Empyrean God,” Empyrean God Xiuke said. “For example, if someone trusted Lord Buddha Jueming and willingly hid inside his magic treasure, and Lord Buddha Jueming was willing, then as Lord Buddha Jueming fought his way through and eventually left alive, he could safely bring that person out.”

“But hiding inside a treasure has a drawback. You won’t obtain any treasures. And your life and death will no longer be in your own control,” Empyrean God Xiuke said. “For instance, if Lord Buddha Jueming were to die, any Empyrean Gods hiding in his treasures would undoubtedly die as well. If even the cultivator who can kill Lord Buddha Jueming emerged, he could naturally kill those hiding inside.”

Ji Ning nodded.

“I am now considering… whether I should follow you,” Empyrean God Xiuke said, looking at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning was startled. “Follow me?”

“Follow you. Wherever you go, I will follow. When you leave, I will leave as well. But I think your chances of leaving are very, very slim,” Empyrean God Xiuke said with a laugh. “But still, I want to see the other islands. Even if I only see the second island, that will be enough. I have been utterly alone here. I have had enough of this life.”

“Senior Apprentice-Brother, if you trust me, your junior apprentice-brother, I will naturally do my utmost,” Ji Ning said.

“But right now, there is one thing I am worried about…” Empyrean God Xiuke said.

“What is it?”

“I am worried about whether you can break through the Snow Fiend’s obstruction,” Empyrean God Xiuke said with a smile. “If you cannot break through and die, then because I am inside your magic treasure, I might not even have time to escape before the Snow Fiend kills me. Then I would never get to see another island. I have always been curious… what are these five islands really like? What sort of terrible dangers lie ahead that could stop so many Empyrean Gods?”

Ji Ning hesitated for a moment. “I can’t make any guarantees.”

“I don’t need you to guarantee anything. Follow me.” Empyrean God Xiuke led the way.

Snow Island was vast, but the speed of two Empyrean Gods was incredible. Soon they reached the other end of the island and spotted another log bridge.

“Mm?” Ji Ning looked into the distance.

This log bridge also extended toward the end of the ocean, but the endless sea before them was completely frozen.

Countless snowflakes were still drifting through the sky.

“As soon as you set foot on that log bridge,” Empyrean God Xiuke said, pointing at it, “the Snow Fiend will sense it. You don’t need to advance. Just wait. Soon, the Snow Fiend will appear. The Snow Fiend that appears at this point will merely be an avatar. If you can kill this Snow Fiend avatar in a single move, I will take the gamble, hide inside your magic treasure, and follow you forward.”

“Junior Apprentice-Brother.” Empyrean God Xiuke bowed deeply.

“Senior Apprentice-Brother, you mustn’t.” Ji Ning quickly moved to stop him.

“I need you to take me forward, yet I must first test your strength. It is truly shameful,” Empyrean God Xiuke said hurriedly.

“This is only natural,” Ji Ning said quickly. “If I cannot even deal with a Snow Fiend avatar, then for you to follow me would be to court death.”

Empyrean God Xiuke said no more.

He simply gazed into the distance at the endless ocean, looking toward its horizon. He said softly, “I really wonder what the next island will be like. I wonder if there are any living Empyrean Gods on that island. I truly want to know. To see it, even if I die, I will have no regrets.”

Ji Ning stepped forward and walked onto the log bridge.

“Hooooo~~”

The moment he stepped onto the log bridge, the snowflakes drifting through the sky noticeably intensified.

A crimson divine sword appeared in each of Ji Ning’s hands. He prepared himself silently.

…

In the distant sky, a massive amount of snow quickly gathered, soon condensing into a white-furred ape, its hand holding a snow-white staff. The white-furred ape stood in midair. Its gaze, transmitted through countless snowflakes, fell entirely upon the two figures—Ji Ning and Empyrean God Xiuke—at the edge of Snow Island in the far distance.

“Another little one has arrived,” the Snow Fiend ape murmured to itself. “From the sound of their conversation, that whelp Empyrean God Xiuke has been trapped for so many years it seems he can’t hold on any longer. He wants to follow this white-robed boy and try to break through?”

“You have been a rare companion, staying with me for so long.”

“If it weren’t for my master’s orders, I would have let you go. Unfortunately, although my master has departed, I must still carry out my orders,” the Snow Fiend ape shook its head.

Huu.

The Snow Fiend ape vanished into thin air.

…

Ji Ning’s expression changed slightly as he watched the large amount of snow rapidly gathering in front of him.

“Be careful, Junior Apprentice-Brother. The Snow Fiend avatar is about to appear,” Empyrean God Xiuke warned from behind.

Ji Ning watched calmly. As the snow gathered, a vast amount of world-force also converged, soon forming into a white-furred ape holding a snow-white staff. Its eyes held an innate killing intent; it had been born for slaughter.

“Heh heh. That whelp Empyrean God Xiuke has a pretty good movement technique—he’s escaped from my grasp time and again. But the other Empyrean Gods I have killed number nearly a thousand.” The Snow Fiend ape looked at Ji Ning, appraising its prey.

Ji Ning did not dare to be careless.

Every single Empyrean God who managed to force their way past the sea-race yakshas was extraordinary. Nearly a thousand of them had still died at the hands of the Snow Fiend. Although his brief exchange with Empyrean God Xiuke had told him that in terms of pure movement technique agility, he was far inferior to Xiuke.

“Don’t disappoint me.” The Snow Fiend ape’s strange, grating laugh echoed through the sky as it tore through the air, charging straight at Ji Ning, both hands gripping the snow-white staff as it swung down toward his head.