Chapter 716: Ye Wuzong

Once again, the rebellious young guards who dared mock their saintess found themselves punished.

They were now lined up, kneeling, with copper basins on their heads, collecting the falling snow, waiting to use it to prepare a bath for the saintess.

It was said to enhance the skin, making it as smooth as ice and snow... a process that was quite foreign to the Spirit Tribe. The method sounded impressive, but in the end, what good was “skin as pure white as snow” if there was no one to appreciate it?

With the guards quietly questioning their actions but too afraid to speak, Sisi, clearly irritated, stormed out of the temple. She made her way to the back, where her palace awaited—her true residence.

She was the queen of the Spirit Tribe, having undergone a ceremony similar to the Central Plains’ imperial system when she ascended the throne. But despite her title, most people still referred to her as the saintess, especially considering the ancestral god and the sacred envoy. The title of queen was mostly reserved for when there were outsiders. Sisi herself actually preferred it this way. Otherwise, people might forget the might of the sacred envoy.

However, this situation could not last forever. It had been half a year—neither a short nor a long time—but enough for people to forget past events once they healed from old wounds. Outside, people had all but forgotten the chaos and death that once teetered on the brink of erupting within Miaojiang. The region had only recently stabilized, and already, the tensions of power struggles had started to rise once more. Even within the Spirit Tribe, after the various tribal leaders had seen the outside world, their desires had shifted in unpredictable ways.

Still, Sisi was not one to be easily manipulated. When it came to scheming and calculating, she was more than a match for anyone.

There had been a small rebellion recently, which had actually been orchestrated by her as a test. The others had not originally planned to rebel, but once she had “baited” them, it was too late to back out. With overwhelming force, she had crushed them, leaving a river of blood in her wake. The reputation of her “unfathomable” power had spread far and wide. Now, her authority was unshakable, and those who sought to stir trouble had to rely on secretive, covert methods.

Though Sisi was aware of the growing unrest, it was not something that could be solved immediately.

There were simply too many issues at hand.

Her master, Ye Wuzong, had been injured and was still recovering in her palace. He had not yet healed, and the thought of him, a Ranking of Heaven figure, being incapacitated by a mere weapon sent a chill down her spine. The forces at play were beyond reason, and the more she thought about it, the less certain she felt. The unknown power that had done this left her with an overwhelming sense of insecurity.

The more insecure she felt, the more she longed for her own man.

Even though Zhao Changhe was merely on the Ranking of Earth, she could not help but feel an attachment, an overwhelming need for him. Otherwise, she never would have said anything in front of the guards, especially not about the snow. The thought of being mocked made her angry.

Fuming once more from the thought, she picked up a bowl of medicine and personally delivered it to her master’s sick room.

Ye Wuzong did not appear as if he were languishing in bed, as the rumors might suggest. Instead, he was sitting upright on his bed, meditating and recovering. His spiritual sense was extremely sharp, and as soon as he sensed her presence, his eyes snapped open.

Sisi smiled as she entered, carrying the medicine. “Master, how are you feeling today? Any better?”

Though Ye Wuzong’s appearance had not improved, he was more serious than ever. He quietly asked, “Is it snowing?”

“Yes,” Sisi said as she set the medicine on the bedside. “Everyone’s quite happy. We’ve never seen snow here before. It’s quite the novelty.”

“Nonsense...” Ye Wuzong frowned deeply. “If you’ve never experienced snow within an entire era, shouldn’t its sudden appearance be alarming rather than a cause for celebration?”

Sisi paused, taken aback. “Isn’t it because of the divine axe?”

Ye Wuzong shook his head slightly. “The divine axe does have the power to summon lightning, but it’s already been here for over a month...”

Sisi fell silent.

“If it had caused rain, I wouldn’t say anything... But why snow? Why has the temperature in the Spirit Tribe’s secret realm been dropping, to the point of forming snow...” Ye Wuzong continued, “The temperature has been dropping for the past few days, and today, it’s reached its peak. Cold weather is one thing, but it has nothing to do with the divine axe. Forcing a connection between them is a mistake.”

Sisi felt a chill run down her spine.

Experience really mattered. Everyone else had failed to connect the dots, content with the simple explanation of thunder and snow. But if it was not related to the axe, and trying to link them was a misdirection... then something far bigger was at play.

“If it isn’t because of the divine axe, then what could it be?” Sisi asked, her voice low. “A demon god that controls ice and snow?”

Ye Wuzong replied thoughtfully, “Such demon gods may exist, and there have been many in ancient times who could wield ice and snow. Black Tortoise could, for example, and there’s the Night Emperor’s guard, Shuanghua, who was also skilled in this regard. The natural paths of the five elements have always been among the most versatile forces, and while the four idols are the primary masters, others have certainly mastered them, too. But if it’s someone like that, why would they waste their time sending snow to you? What’s the purpose? To bless you with a bountiful harvest?”

Sisi: “...”

What was I thinking? I thought it was to share the snow with my man...

It was clear now—romantic notions were dangerous.

Ye Wuzong continued, “From my experience, it seems someone is deliberately stirring up cold or yin qi. This usually would just lower the temperature, but because the divine axe is here, with its power to summon lightning, it triggered this strange weather, turning what should have been a simple drop in temperature into snow. It’s a warning, a sign of fate. If you ignore it, disaster will follow.”

That explanation was plausible. Sisi paced back and forth, struggling to comprehend what could be causing such intense cold to rise into the sky.

She decided not to waste any more time thinking idly and immediately ordered, “Gather the guards immediately. I want every area checked, especially places with water sources. Report any abnormalities immediately.”

“Yes, saintess.” The guards bowed and left in a hurry.

Suddenly, Ye Wuzong broke into a violent coughing fit. Sisi rushed to his side, her concern evident. “Master, are you alright? How could a mere axe hurt you like this? Are you really a Ranking of Heaven expert? This is embarrassing!”

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Ye Wuzong did not care about the scolding. He smiled weakly. “The divine weapon has its own spirit. If you don’t control it, it can turn on you. I was hurt when the axe spirit fought back as I tried to force it into slumber. Do you really think I’d be injured just by stealing it? Do you think I’m an idiot?”

Sisi scowled. “If you’re not an idiot, then what are you? What are you doing wrestling with an axe spirit? So what if it ran away? Just let it go. Is it really worth all this trouble?”

“Hey, that’s not going to happen. If I send it back, wouldn’t that make my theft meaningless? If your man ends up clashing with those of the north, having this axe or not could completely change the outcome,” Ye Wuzong said with a grin. “Damn, when Xia Longyuan faced this axe, he seemed totally unfazed. But when I faced it myself, I understood just what kind of monster I was up against. If this thing falls into Bo’e or Timur’s hands, the boost it’ll give them is no joke.”

Sisi: “...”

Ye Wuzong suddenly burst out laughing. “This old man might not have much time left, but I’ve lived a fulfilling life. To steal a divine artifact right in the middle of a battle between the top two martial artists in the world, I’ve done my path and my nation justice. The Rankings of Troubled Times shines across the heavens,and nothing can compare to the slap in the face it delivered to Bo’e after that fight. Even if I drop dead right now, what more could I ask for?”

Sisi said quietly, “Then why are you hiding here? Shouldn’t you circle back and hand the axe over to Zhao Changhe or Xia Chichi? Who knows, Zhao Changhe’s Rejuvenation Art might just be able to save your life. But no, you come to us, turn your nose up at our medical skills, calling them witchcraft. How did I never realize before what a stubborn, idiotic old man you are?”

“Hand it over to Zhao Changhe? No way! I’m saving this as a dowry for my disciple. What kind of master would I be otherwise? Back on Kunlun, if it hadn’t been because of their connection with you, do you really think I’d have been so magnanimous with them?”

“...”

“I’m old, and my days are numbered as it is.” Ye Wuzong’s voice suddenly softened. “Hai Pinglan’s final strike against the Sea Emperor was a blaze of his life force. In truth, I am no different. If I hadn’t taken this gamble, I would have died with regrets. Now, my wishes have been fulfilled. The only thing I regret is that I couldn’t properly pass on my legacy. Chengkong and those other brats are loyal enough, but their skills are unfortunately lacking. You, on the other hand, suit my taste. As long as you can carry on my path, I can die without a second thought. Why would I rely on witchcraft? Those sorcerer’s curses, poisonous gu, and flesh puppets feel disgusting. Even if they saved me, I’d feel like there was something inside me that doesn’t belong.”

Sisi sighed. There was no reasoning with the obstinate old man.

Ye Wuzong laughed again. “Besides, don’t some in your tribe want me dead? Since I beat the axe spirit into submission, it listens to me for now. But once I’m dead, the axe will fall under the control of your Spirit Tribe.”

Sisi admitted, “There are indeed those who think that way. But I won’t let them act disrespectfully. That’s a small matter. My bigger concern is that there are outsiders eyeing the axe. That might not be something I can handle. Everything seems to be happening all at once. This strange weather hasn’t even been fully investigated, and now we have enemies knocking right at our gates...”

Ye Wuzong chuckled. “If that’s the case, would you like this old man to help you fish out those external threats? Let’s clear them out first.”

Sisi tilted her head. “How would you fish them out?”

“Get me a coffin to lie in and spread the word that I’m dead. Won’t that bring a lot of things to the surface?