Long ago, while playing chess on a withered wooden board by the cliff edge in Blood River Valley before the Bodhi Tree, Song Qian Ji had heard Wu Xiang speak of this seed and his insane, terrifying plan.

He just never expected that the seed would ultimately fall into He Qing Qing’s hands.

When he revealed his domain, causing the withering roots of the Sky-Supporting Tree to spread across the snow plain, this battle was no longer a dispute between the Immortal Alliance and Thousand Channels, nor was it about momentary gains and losses or victory and defeat.

Everyone had reached the moment to choose the world’s fate.

“Alliance Leader He, we are willing!” someone suddenly shouted from among the Immortal Alliance cultivators. “We have endured oppression in our respective sects. Today, we have achieved this cultivation level and position in the Immortal Alliance entirely thanks to the Alliance Leader’s support. There’s nothing worth cherishing in this corrupt world. I’m willing to sacrifice my cultivation to follow the Alliance Leader to the new world!”

The most fanatical followers had already begun swearing oaths to the heavens.

Under their urgent calls, more cultivators finally recovered from their shock:

“We cannot agree! If she becomes the creation deity, whoever she wants to live will live, whoever she wants to die will die, whoever she wants to attain the Dao will attain it. How would we be any different from slaves under her? Could we still be called cultivators?”

“How can one’s cultivation be given up and transferred? It’s unheard of! There must be a problem with her Ascension Pills. She’s had this plan all along, viewing us as nourishment. Such madness and cruelty will only harm everyone and the entire world! Everyone must not submit!”

The disciples of Celestial Sound Sect heard this and became furious: “How dare you! How can you disrespect the Sect Leader!”

More people were at a loss, watching like headless flies to see which way the wind would blow.

The previously united Immortal Alliance instantly fell apart.

“The Ascension Pills have issues? Sect Leader Yuan, how exactly did Sect Leader Xu Yun die that day?!” an elder from Hua Wei Sect demanded. “And where did Alliance Leader He’s rapidly growing cultivation come from?”

Yuan Qing Shi’s heart tightened as he faced countless suspicious gazes. It was as if he could see the words “betrayed master and ancestors” written on their faces, making his body go cold and sweat pour down like rain.

Having already come this far, if He Qing Qing failed, he would also be completely ruined, and his master… wouldn’t his master have died in vain?

An evil energy rushed to his heart, and when he came to his senses, his sword had already stabbed out.

He heard himself shout, suppressing the discord: “By order of the Alliance Leader, whoever dares disobey shall be executed!”

He Qing Qing put away the Sky-Supporting Tree’s seed and played “Ambush from Ten Sides” again, muttering to herself: “Nothing in this world comes without a price.”

Amid the chaos in the Immortal Alliance, an extremely piercing zither sound rang out, like countless swords stabbing down from the sky.

Those unwilling to obey cried out in pain, first feeling dizzy, their ears buzzing, their blood churning.

Then they fell into the zither music as if walking into a blizzard, having no idea where they were, their expressions gradually becoming blank.

Meng He Ze stood atop the Thousand Channels city wall, watching the clouds and winds change overhead. The continuous snow mountains shook under the sound waves, triggering a massive avalanche:

“She opened this passage to use the zither sound to activate the power of the Ascension Pills, control the Immortal Alliance cultivators, and absorb their cultivation! How ruthless!”

Ji Chen’s expression was also grave: “As long as they’ve taken the Ascension Pills, once they’re entranced by the music with their spirits swaying, they’ll be used by He Qing Qing. Her power is surging, and Elder Brother Song is in danger.”

Song Qian Ji’s tiny figure rose and fell among the layers of snow waves, appearing and disappearing, causing the people of Thousand Channels to worry endlessly. They began shouting, willing to sacrifice their lives for Song Wang.

Zhou Xiao Yun and Ji Xing could only lead the city defense team to maintain order, wanting to both cry and laugh:

“The other side has practiced evil techniques, but Song Wang hasn’t. Everyone should keep their lives and live good days. Don’t talk about dying.”

“Stop shouting. The snow plain is at the edge of the continent. Song Wang can’t hear you.”

Wei Zhen Yu suddenly said: “Since this passage has been opened, I have an idea.”

“Coincidentally, I also have an idea,” said Meng He Ze.

Clearly, without having heard the other’s plan, Ji Chen also said:

“This idea is crazy, but I like it. A spatial passage is also a type of spatial formation. When I was on the Three Lives Stone, I most enjoyed taking others’ formations for my use.”

“Good! Then today, the three of us will tear through the sky and bring Elder Brother Song back to Thousand Channels!” said Meng He Ze.

Wei Zhen Yu had already obtained the Endless Fire, a powerful tool for burning all things and breaking barriers.

Meng He Ze had practiced the Blood Sea Divine Technique on the Three Lives Stone and knew the flaws and gaps in He Qing Qing’s techniques.

Ji Chen had specialized in studying unorthodox formations in his previous life and had made many bold attempts.

The three flew toward the sky.

…

Even without seeing the reactions of the Immortal Alliance, Song Qian Ji could guess what was happening in another part of the world.

He lightly waved his sleeve, one hand holding the Seven Absolute Zither, the other brushing the strings:

“Since everything began with the ‘Snow Storm Formation’ melody, let it end with it as well.”

“Zheng! Zheng! Zheng!”

Three heavy notes, like three sword beams cutting through the encirclement.

This was the second time he had played the Snow Storm Formation melody. The first time was to suppress chaos, not to kill. This time, however, his killing intent was fully revealed.

Sword beams flew out from between the zither strings, cutting a path through the snow and wind.

Song Qian Ji stepped on the snow waves, like a small boat crossing a raging sea, advancing to kill.

He Qing Qing’s zither music became slightly chaotic. She rose with her zither, evading Song Qian Ji’s pursuit from behind: “You cannot defeat me. You are just one person, how can you overcome these thousands?”

“Everyone, guard your spirit! Don’t listen to the zither sound from above!” Chen Hong Zhu led the small Hua Wei Sect cultivators to charge into the poisonous miasma forest, waking each Immortal Alliance cultivator. Those who couldn’t be awakened were knocked unconscious on the spot.

But they were short-handed, and progress was slow.

At this critical moment, suddenly another zither melody drifted over.

This zither sound was gentle and soft, like the clear, bright moon rising over the mountain pass, like light fallen flowers following the flowing water.

It didn’t tangle or confront He Qing Qing’s zither sound, competing for dominance. Rather, it was like sunlight melting snow, like a spring breeze smoothing out clouds, gradually dissolving the violent, demonic sound.

“It’s her,” Chen Hong Zhu murmured.

The twin beauties of Celestial Sound finally faced each other with their zithers.

They had the most beautiful faces in the world and walked the most dangerous paths. Was this beauty and talent a gift from fate or a curse?

The gentle melody gained the upper hand. As the spring breeze in the song blew over the Immortal Alliance cultivators, their minds gradually cleared.

They didn’t know who was playing the zither, only that the sound came from Thousand Channels.

“It’s the music master stationed in Thousand Channels who broke through He Qing Qing’s Heavenly Sound technique!”

“What melody is being played?”

“I’ve only heard it’s a melody written by Song Wang, a masterpiece called ‘Flowers and Moon Falling from Clouds.’ Everyone in Thousand Channels can sing it.”

The power of the eighteen red beads stopped growing. He Qing Qing gradually felt her strength failing. She took a deep breath and shouted:

“Your zither strings were damaged in Blood River Valley. Stop forcing yourself!”

The Nine Heavens Ring Ornament pushed to its limit, rose to an even higher level of power. All the strings of the Seven Absolute Zither snapped.

Song Qian Ji let out a muffled groan, a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

Undeterred, his expression unchanged, seven sword shadows rose behind him.

The surface of the Seven Absolute Zither expanded rapidly, flying toward the sky.

Shadowless, Spring Autumn, Just Stay, Crossing River, Waning Moon, Evil Cutting, and Breaking Illusion all emerged, lying across the zither’s surface.

Seven swords became strings, vibrating according to Song Qian Ji’s will.

Snow Storm Formation truly became a killing melody.

Sword energy crisscrossed, rolling up snow waves toward He Qing Qing.

Song Qian Ji spat out another mouthful of blood but saw a golden light descending from the sky.

The power of faith from the thousands of people in Thousand Channels, through this passage, was directly infused into him.

“How is this possible?!” He Qing Qing was shocked.

The passage she had opened was breached by others. As she suffered from the backlash, she was also attacked by sword energy.

The eighteen red beads shattered, falling from the sky one after another.

“Snap!”

The Nine Heavens Ring Ornament broke in the middle.

He Qing Qing’s thin body flew out, blood gushing, drawing a long arc in mid-air.

Suddenly her body sank, pulled by a powerful suction force into the gale above the Ice Chasm.

He Qing Qing was severely injured. Using all her strength to break free from the gale, she stood at the edge of the cliff.

Just at this moment, on the other side, the “Flowers and Moon Falling from Clouds” melody ended, and the world returned to silence.

The Immortal Alliance cultivators fully awakened, discovering their cultivation had greatly decreased. Filled with hatred and anger, they trembled:

“This witch is truly terrifying! Song Wang, kill her quickly!”

“We cannot let her live any longer!”

“You cannot fly across the Ice Chasm now. Turn back and give me the Sky-Supporting Tree seed,” Song Qian Ji descended from the sky, walking step by step toward the cliff.

He Qing Qing’s jade-green dress was stained with blood, her pearl crown shattered, and her three thousand strands of dark hair flew in the wind.

She looked up: “Turn back? Ha, in life to be worshipped by thousands, in death to be condemned by thousands. Who wants to die of natural causes?”

The Immortal Alliance cultivators heard her laugh and felt waves of fear, actually intimidated by her presence, not daring to speak again.

For a moment, the wild snow surged, and heaven and earth were silent.

“In this life, I have crossed mountains of knives and climbed high peaks. Unfortunately, to have come so far only to fail at the last step. You may hate me and fear me, but none of you can judge me!”

He Qing Qing took out the Sky-Supporting Tree seed, leaped backward, and fell into the gale.

“Miss He!” Song Qian Ji flew out.

In this critical moment, his seven swords were embedded in the zither as seven strings, and in his hand was only the Spilled Water Sword.

The short sword flew out, its hilt hooking onto the ring at her waist. Song Qian Ji gripped the sword blade with his left hand, his right hand barely hanging onto the cliff edge, his entire body suspended in mid-air, using all his spiritual energy to resist the suction force in the wind.

He desperately wanted to subdue this sword immediately, but the sword refused to obey his commands.

The sword blade cut his palm, warm blood flowing, dripping onto He Qing Qing’s cheek.

Song Qian Ji shouted: “Grab the sword hilt!”

In the pitch-black depths where no light reached and no one could see, He Qing Qing suddenly curled her lips into a smile:

“All these years, following my master, I’ve heard many old stories. This is the Sword Saint’s ‘Spilled Water Sword,’ a sword for cutting down relatives and killing old friends. Spilled water cannot be recovered, karma is settled. I owe you so much, never able to repay.”

Her smile was desolate, like shattered crystal: “Elder Brother Song, don’t save me this time. Can you remember me… Never mind, you don’t distinguish between beauty and ugliness, seeing a rosy face as white bones. How could you remember?”

Song Qian Ji shook his head, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, his entire body trembling in the violent gale.

He Qing Qing said something else, but her voice was too faint. Song Qian Ji’s ears were filled with the sound of the wind, and he couldn’t hear a single word.

He Qing Qing cut off the ring ornament. Her green dress fell backward, like a butterfly flying into a sea of fire.

A red shadow flew out from the fierce wind, brushing past Song Qian Ji’s cheek.

Song Qian Ji instinctively reached out to grab it, feeling something warm fall into his hand.

It was a pulsating seed.

The person who possessed it, at the final moment, didn’t destroy it but sent it to escape the suction at the bottom of the chasm.

“Miss He!” Song Qian Ji shouted at the top of his voice.

The Ice Chasm swallowed everything, with not even an echo in response.

The Spilled Water Sword gave a clear ring, a green light flashing across its blade, carrying him out of the gale of the Ice Chasm.

So this sword needed to be awakened with the bearer’s fresh blood.

Indeed, spilled water cannot be recovered.

Song Qian Ji staggered slightly, steadying himself with the Spilled Water Sword.

The battlefield was in ruins, the snow plain riddled with wounds, the music of the Snow Storm Formation melody still seemed to float in the world.

Originally, this melody was written about a life of hardship, striving endlessly, without a good end.

A young girl had used it to rise to prominence in one step, from then on resolutely rushing toward her own fate.

Are all stories’ endings determined from their beginnings?

The blood-red seed was still in his palm, pulsating along with his heartbeat.

In the vastness of heaven and earth, the vegetation flourishes.

Even if you are an unmatched hero of the age, revered by thousands like the sun at high noon, even if you can kill your way through tens of thousands of miles, you still cannot save a heart determined to die without regret.

The earth trembled slightly. From a distant place came a mighty humming sound. On the horizon suddenly rose clouds of dust. Song Qian Ji looked carefully—

It wasn’t dust. What blocked out the sky and joined together was the shadow of ten thousand swords appearing at once.

At the edge of the continent, someone had drawn their sword.