Thousands of miles away, in Wei State, Imperial Son Song Zhu walked alone along a snow-covered mountain path. This snow-capped peak was littered with broken giant swords. As he ascended from the base, no living creatures stirred. Any birds that dared approach were instantly sliced by the lingering sword qi.
This was Tianshaofeng, the holy land of sword cultivators.
At the summit, an ice wall stretched across the peak. Around it sat over a thousand sword cultivators, their bodies covered in frost and snow, eyes tightly shut, each with a sheathed sword across their knees.
Upon closer inspection, these cultivators were absorbing the immense sword intent emanating from the ice wall.
Song Zhu slowed his pace, approaching the wall before kneeling respectfully. “Master.”
The frosty wind, sharp as a blade, suddenly stilled. A cold voice resonated from within the ice wall.
“What is it?”
“The Dragon Lord requests your presence in Long City for a gathering,” Song Zhu replied.
“For what purpose?”
Song Zhu hesitated before answering, “It’s… for the Chen State Imperial Son’s birthday.”
At these words, the few less-focused sword cultivators near the ice wall opened their eyes, their gazes peculiar.
Chen and Wei States had long been enemies. Why should they care about the Chen Imperial Son’s birthday? Moreover, how could a mere junior’s celebration warrant disturbing Wei State’s sword master from seclusion?
After a prolonged silence, the voice behind the ice wall responded, “Did Ao Guanghan send an invitation?”
Song Zhu produced a dark gold invitation card adorned with dragon patterns. As he presented it with both hands, he felt the card burning hot. “Master, you were in deep seclusion recently, unaware of worldly affairs. An incident occurred in the upper States. The Dragon Lord detailed everything in this invitation.”
The pretext of inviting powerful figures from various States for the Chen Imperial Son’s birthday was a ruse. The true purpose… concerned Nanfang Zhu.
Considering the far-reaching implications, Song Zhu’s mind raced. Nearby disciples, noticing the prolonged silence from within the ice wall, speculated, “Master hasn’t outright refused, which suggests he might attend. Senior Brother, will you accompany him?”
Song Zhu nodded, “Naturally, I’ll go with Master.”
“Come to think of it, Senior Brother, you’ve been acting strange since returning from Mao State. Did something extraordinary happen?”
Extraordinary?
Song Zhu’s thoughts drifted. “I met an unforgettable Buddhist cultivator.”
His fellow sword cultivator, fixated on matters of strength, pressed further, “Buddhist cultivators, unlike us sword cultivators, don’t excel in offense. For one to impress you, they must be formidable indeed.”
“Indeed, she’s different from other cultivators,” Song Zhu recalled their brief encounter at Panyin Temple. “The Chen Imperial Son interrupted us then, but we agreed to meet again. If we go to Chen State, I should be able to see her.”
Misunderstanding, his fellow disciple assumed Song Zhu had met a lifelong rival and was going to Chen State for a duel. “If this person is so significant to you, Senior Brother, you must approach the meeting with utmost caution.”
Already nervous, Song Zhu eagerly sought advice, “How can I demonstrate proper caution?”
The disciple replied gravely, “We sword cultivators rarely unsheathe our blades because our sword intent resides within the sheath. The moment we draw our swords determines life or death. When you meet this person, Senior Brother, unsheathe your sword to show our sword cultivator’s etiquette.”
Song Zhu nodded in understanding, “I see. It seems I was too casual in our last meeting.”
Suddenly, all the sword cultivators on Tianshaofeng jolted, their swords seemingly resonating with a heavenly sound, wailing in unison.
“Why is Master angered?”
The thousand meditating sword cultivators paled. Before the raging sword qi could erupt from behind the ice wall, they swiftly fled the peak. Looking back, they watched in shock as a massive crack split the ice wall. With a thunderous boom, the wall shattered, and from the debris and snow emerged a frost-faced sword master.
“Song Zhu.”
Song Zhu steeled himself and bowed, “Greetings, Master.”
The sword master clutched the invitation card in one hand and an eight-sided sword in a bronze sheath in the other. His eyes remained closed, seemingly suppressing his anger.
“Go to Long City. Tell Ao Guanghan that Meng Xiaolou will arrive later.”
“Where are you going, Master?”
A spatial rift opened before Meng Xiaolou. As he stepped in, his voice resonated with suppressed fury, “Dao Sheng Tian!”
Meanwhile, the rulers of major States received invitations from Long City. Soon, the sound of spatial transfers echoed across the realm.
In Long City’s center, surrounded by towering palaces, stood the hundred-foot-tall Chao Yu Tower, heavily guarded.
Nan Yan had been confined in this tower for nine days. Though the servants attended to her respectfully without any neglect, she remained uneasy.
From what she had gathered these past two days, it seemed that although her mother had nearly become the Dragon Lord’s Dao partner years ago, their relationship could hardly be considered amicable.
For years, Dragon Lord and Nan Fragrance Lord had countless grievances, even in their youth. One particular incident occurred when all the heirs from various regions gathered at Dao Birth Heaven to listen to the old Dao Master’s teachings. During their stay, Nan Fragrance Lord and Dragon Lord were assigned adjacent rooms.
Back then, Nan Fragrance Lord was quite mischievous. She decided to brew wine using water from the Soul River in Dao Birth Heaven. One night, she snuck out to steal some water.
“The Soul River’s water is formed from the lingering thoughts of the deceased,” someone explained. “It’s not something to be taken lightly. While it won’t be fatal for cultivators, it can cause horrific nightmares for days.”
That night, Dragon Lord went looking for Nan Fragrance Lord, only to find her missing. He tracked her down to the Soul River, where she was attempting to draw water. To cover up her misdeed, Nan Fragrance Lord kicked Dragon Lord into the river and fled. Consequently, Dragon Lord became possessed by a female ghost and sang all night long.
“They say it was the last song Dragon Lord ever sang in his life – and it was off-key,” someone added.
The next day, an enraged Dragon Lord sought revenge. Nan Fragrance Lord, trying to evade him, darted around Dao Birth Heaven. She eventually reached the Yin-Yang Springs, where she switched the sign on the Kun Yin Spring. When the Dragon Lord pursued her there, he was beaten by the female Daoist disciples bathing inside, utterly humiliated.
After listening to an hour of stories about her mother’s bitter feud with the Dragon Lord, Nan Yan trembled. The snacks before her suddenly felt like a last meal. Nervously, she stuffed a celestial peach pastry into her mouth and asked timidly, “What’s the Kun Yin Spring?”
“You might not know, Miss South, but Dao Birth Heaven has two famous springs side by side – the Yin and Yang Springs. Female cultivators use the Kun Yin Spring, while male cultivators use the Qian Yang Spring. The spring water has remarkable effects on refining spiritual energy,” the maid explained. “Nan Fragrance Lord later felt she had gone too far and wanted to apologize. However, when Dragon Lord emerged from the Kun Yin Spring, he was so furious that he lost all reason. He wouldn’t listen to anything and kicked Nan Fragrance Lord into the Qian Yang Spring in retaliation.”
Nan Yan hesitated before asking, “Were there… people in the Qian Yang Spring at the time?”
“Quite a few, actually,” the maid replied, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Especially Meng Xiaolou, the Sword Hero from Wei Region. Nan Fragrance Lord landed right on top of him. I heard that Senior Meng accidentally lost his first kiss because of that incident.”
Nan Yan marveled at the series of outrageous events.
“After that, Dragon Lord’s temper worsened,” the maid continued. “Look at the roof eaves in our Dragon Capital – they’re much thicker than in other regions. It’s to protect against the Dragon Lake’s furious thunderbolts that might strike out of the blue and pierce through the roofs.”
Just then, a rumble of thunder sounded outside, followed by a flash of lightning. Nan Yan felt the protective array on the Mockery Rain Tower’s roof shudder from the strike.
“See? Dragon Lord is angry again. Who knows what’s upset him this time,” the maid remarked.
Nan Yan thought to herself, “I don’t know either, but I’m sure seeing my face would anger him.” She wasn’t wearing her mask, and her face, so similar to Nan Fragrance Lord’s, made her feel like a wanted criminal in Dragon Capital. She felt uneasy, realizing that her mother had a history with many powerful figures in the cultivation world. She wondered if her father’s identity would be revealed when all these former lovers gathered to confront each other.
A maid, noticing Nan Yan’s distraction, studied her face and said with a smile, “Miss, you truly resemble Nan Fragrance Lord. You’re just dressed more plainly. If you wore the Phoenix Cry Skirt, no one could tell you apart.”
Another maid added, “It’s a pity that the Phoenix Cry Skirt is locked away in the Imperial Treasury. It would take the approval of three Supreme Elders to retrieve it.”
Nan Yan, however, had no interest in beautiful dresses at the moment. She was trembling internally, fearing that the Dragon Lord might see her face, recall his deep grudges, and send her to meet her mother in the afterlife.
As a Buddhist nun, Nan Yan felt her faith shaking. Suddenly, someone came to report, and a maid announced, “Miss South, Dragon Lord requests your presence.”
Hearing the continuous thunder outside, Nan Yan shrank into a small ball. “This poor nun… is feeling unwell. Could I rest under the table for a while?”
The maid laughed, “Don’t worry, Miss. You’re not meeting Dragon Lord. Mr. Yigu from the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace has arrived.”
“Uncle!” Nan Yan exclaimed, quickly descending from Mockery Rain Tower. Outside the courtyard stood a blind zither player with a melancholic expression.
As he sensed Nan Yan running towards him, he turned, the worry between his brows fading significantly.
“Uncle!” Nan Yan felt her life was saved as she darted to Nan Yi’s side. “Is everything alright at the Demon Sealing Array?”
“Yes, the earlier anomaly seemed to be the awakening of the Sumeru Turtle beneath the array. After a long suppression, we received a response from the underwater Demon State saying the Sumeru Turtle had fallen back asleep. Other Transformation stage cultivators will come to investigate in a few days,” Nan Yi explained. “I heard you were pursued by Core Formation cultivators in Yin Region when you left?”
Nan Yan was surprised. “Uncle, have you been to the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace?”
“I didn’t want to trouble you with this, but our Nan family has some old grudges. Those pursuers must have been sent by the Imperial Consort,” Nan Yi replied.
The Cloud Imperial Consort was Nan Yi’s mother. Nan Yan, not wanting to dwell on this, said, “I only want to find my mother and uncover who harmed her. Once this grudge is settled, I have no other desires.”
“If your aunt saw how you’ve been wronged, she would scold me,” Nan Yi said. “You are the only bloodline of our Nan family. Even the Imperial Consort cannot decide whether you’ll ultimately return to the family. I’ve already contacted the Supreme Elders in seclusion at the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace. Before coming here, I also informed the Cloud clan in Shen Region to escort the Imperial Consort back to Shen Region for recuperation.”
“But… won’t there be objections in the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace if you directly send the Cloud Imperial Consort away?” Nan Yan asked, concerned.
Nan Yi replied firmly, “The Red Emperor’s Jade Palace bears the surname Nan.”
Though Cloud Imperial Consort seemed to wield absolute power in the Red Emperor’s Jade Palace, the palace’s enduring strength came from several reclusive Supreme Elders. These elders, once fierce generals under the Red Emperor, naturally trusted the words of the Red Emperor’s bloodline.
Nan Yi continued, “Later, I’ll drive away those troublemakers from Yin Region who’ve come to Dragon Capital. They dared to hunt the Red Emperor’s descendant and must face the consequences.”
Nan Yan, recalling her uncle’s former gentle and accommodating nature from the Netherworld Mirror, felt uneasy about his newfound decisiveness after emerging from the Demon Sealing Array.
“Uncle, you’ve gone to such lengths for me,” she said gratefully.
Nan Yi shook his head and asked for Nan Nao’s life jade. Feeling its icy fragments, he revealed his anguish, “I always thought my sister would outlive me. What kind of person could have harmed her, when even the Red Emperor’s Demon Heart couldn’t protect her life?”
As he spoke, Nan Yan sensed a distortion in the surrounding spiritual energy, realizing that Nan Yi seemed to struggle more than ordinary cultivators in controlling his emotions. Fearing he might fall into madness like in Linglong Capital, she quickly changed the subject, “Dragon Lord has summoned relevant parties to Dragon Capital for a confrontation. The truth will come to light then. Uncle, since we have this rare chance, let me tell you about my mother and me in Mortal State…”
At Dragon Capital’s main gate, Dragon Lord Ao Guanghan, after spending the afternoon beating Mu Zhanting, handed him over to the city’s physicians and went to Mockery Rain Tower. He stood outside for half an hour without entering.
Beside him was an elder with dragon scales embedded between his eyebrows, also a Nascent Soul cultivator, who showed great respect to Ao Guanghan.
“Dragon Lord, if you truly don’t wish to see Nan Fragrance Lord’s descendant, we can send her away once this matter is settled,” the elder suggested.
“Silence!” Ao Guanghan snapped, his vertical pupils flashing with anger as he pushed the dragon servant aside. “Who said anything about sending her away? If she’s my bloodline, fine, but if that old scoundrel had a child with someone else in the Mortal State, I’ll…”
He stopped mid-sentence, but his overwhelming rage terrified the dragon servant.
“The Nan clan owes our Chen Region anyway. Nan Yi is inside now. If it’s inconvenient, Dragon Lord, perhaps you should return to handle military affairs? That troublemaker from Si Region, Huo Wuji, has been lying low recently. Who knows what he’s planning.”
Ao Guanghan didn’t move. After a moment, he declared, “This is Dragon Capital’s territory. Why should I avoid those with the surname South? Let’s go in and question them now!”
However, upon entering Mockery Rain Tower, he deliberately concealed his aura. When they reached a flower bed in the courtyard, they saw a white-robed Buddhist nun beside Nan Yi near some osmanthus trees. As she turned her face, the dragon servant saw Ao Guanghan freeze.
“…My mother didn’t usually celebrate holidays,” Nan Yan was saying. “It wasn’t until I saw neighboring children with red envelopes on New Year’s Eve and asked her for one that she lazily dug out two copper coins from the bottom of a chest, wrapped them in a red handkerchief, and gave them to me as a red envelope.”
“I always thought I was the only one in the palace who enjoyed interacting with mortals,” Nan Yi replied. “It seems my sister also experienced such worldly pleasures in the Mortal State.”
While Nan Yi focused on Nan Yan’s stories about her mother, Ao Guanghan, overhearing this, was shocked.
…When had Nan Nao ever suffered such hardship? Did she raise a child alone in the Mortal State, living so frugally?
The dragon servant, noticing Ao Guanghan’s shock and anger, quietly asked, “Dragon Lord?”
“Go…” Ao Guanghan seemed to use all his strength to say, “Go get a red envelope.”
“What? Dragon Lord, we don’t celebrate mortal holidays in the Upper State. We don’t have such things,” the servant replied, confused.
“Useless! Can’t you make one? And bring the… the territory seal of Wangqiong Capital.”
Chen Region currently has six capitals, each prosperous. Wangqiong Capital was one of them, spanning thousands of miles. Whoever held its territory seal ruled the land.
The dragon servant hurriedly advised, “Dragon Lord, please reconsider! Wangqiong Capital is crucial. Even the Imperial Children haven’t been granted such territories. If we do this, this young lady will surely face opposition from other minor sects!”
“You’re right. We’ll hold onto it for now,” Ao Guanghan frowned, seriously considering before reaching out to the servant. “Then bring me the keys to the Imperial Treasury.”
The dragon servant nearly fell to his knees, “Dragon Lord! She might not even be of our Ao clan’s bloodline!”
Ao Guanghan roared, “Who cares whose she is? That old scoundrel’s fate is unknown. Shouldn’t the child be left to me? Do they think our Chen Region is so easily bullied?”
After watching him fume for a while, the servant said, “It’s been so long, Dragon Lord. Stop avoiding it. Just ask them whether Nan Fragrance Lord is alive or dead. Let’s put an end to this.”
Ao Guanghan fell silent. After a while, he leaned against the wall, his gaze seeming to pierce through space and time.
“…How can I end it? From our teens to our three or four hundred, she’s risked her life for me, and I’ve killed for her. Sometimes I don’t even know if I should hate her or keep her… Tell me, how can I end this?”