Chapter 1172: Chapter 1171: Snow Emperor Bloodline

"Huo Huashen pondered, ’Since the blame has been shifted onto the Ruthless Sect, why not just eradicate the Ruthless Sect altogether to ensure there are no witnesses left?’ Who would have thought that there really were members of the Ruthless Sect in the Extreme Northern Lands?"

"How significant is the Ruthless Sect’s influence in the Extreme Northern Lands? Are there any high-ranking members present, and what is the highest Cultivation Level among the cultivators?"

Huo Huashen asked, as this was the crux of the issue. After several rounds of suppression by Great Xia, both Vice Sect Hierarchs of the Ruthless Sect had been captured, and almost ninety percent of the upper echelon had been apprehended.

So the Ruthless Sect in the Extreme Northern Lands was either a minor power or... the Sect Master of the Ruthless Sect was here!

The Nascent Soul younger brother shook his head: "It’s not clear whether any high-ranking members are present, but one thing is certain—we still have adherents in the Divinity Transformation Stage."

"Okay, I’ve got it," Huo Huashen said, having made up his mind to report to Boss Shi Huagu and let him decide how to proceed.

"There’s one more thing." The Nascent Soul brother produced a book of Scriptures.

"This is a Cultivation Technique called the ’Xuantian Scripture,’ scavenged from that couple’s residence. According to the couple, it’s a Cultivation Technique of the Unification Level."

The Xuantian Scripture had an ancient design and did not seem like a technique from the era of Great Xia.

"A Unification Level Cultivation Technique? Let me see." Huo Huashen examined the text word by word, making calculations with his fingers, and pondering over each sentence’s implied meaning—profound insights were contained in every single character.

"The requirements for Cultivation are harsh, and it’s a unique technique that can only be cultivated by one person. The design is truly ingenious."

"But how can one only have a slim chance of progressing to the Unification Level after Cultivation to the highest realm? The techniques I cultivate are stronger than this."

...

"The Ruthless Sect in the Extreme Northern Lands?" Mu Baiyi mused as he rubbed his chin upon hearing the news reported by Shi Huagu.

How could the Ruthless Sect be so reckless? I say they’re in the Extreme Northern Lands, and there they actually are?

If Young Master Lu runs into the Ruthless Sect and they claim to have no knowledge whatsoever of the Nine Ghosts Alliance, wouldn’t it be awkward when he and I meet again?

"Shall I personally make a trip to the Extreme Northern Lands?" Shi Huagu volunteered.

Mu Baiyi glanced at Shi Huagu. If you truly wished to venture into the Extreme Northern Lands alone, would you have bothered to report this intelligence to me?

It’s nothing more than the fear that the Ruthless Sect’s devotees aren’t the only ones in the Extreme Northern Lands, but also a Sect Master of unknown identity, and you want to drag me along as well.

Although I am a Pass Tribulation Cultivator, I am only in the Early Tribulation Stage after all. The Ruthless Sect has two Vice Sect Hierarchs, one in the Early Tribulation Stage and the other in the Middle Tribulation Stage, while the Sect Master is definitely in the Late Tribulation Stage; I would certainly be no match against a veteran in the Late Tribulation Stage.

With that thought, Mu Baiyi stood up and ordered Shi Huagu, "Contact the Yaoyang Sect and have them join us to the Extreme Northern Lands."

Chi Sect Leader of the Yaoyang Sect has also advanced to the Transcendance Tribulation Stage, and the Yaoyang Sect originally had an old Pass Tribulation Mid-Stage cultivator.

...

On a rare day off, three teachers went on an outing outside of Muxue City, set up a barbecue grill, and Lu Yang took over the cooking.

"Here, try the roasted rabbit."

"This rabbit was caught by me personally after a significant effort during a hunting trip; it almost escaped."

Xue Shilou was holding an Ice Sword, which he had found accidentally formed from an icicle under the eaves of the Martial Arts Hall; it greatly resembled a real sword, and Xue Shilou cherished it since finding it.

Although he could conjure a real Ice Sword using magic skills, he preferred the naturally formed Ice Sword, a product of Mother Nature’s marvelous craftsmanship.

Leaving aside Xue Shilou, even Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, who didn’t practice Swordsmanship, liked it and wanted it—though Xue Shilou wouldn’t give it up.

"Then I’ll trouble Daoist Lu," Xue Shilou said as he placed his Ice Sword into the ice box before storing the box back into his Storage Ring and started tasting the roasted rabbit.

Meng Jingzhou no longer stood on ceremony with Lu Yang and started eating immediately, "This tastes really good, better than any roasted rabbit I’ve had before."

Lu Yang boasted with pride, "That’s because it’s a roasted rabbit from the Extreme Northern Lands. Where have you been eating before?"

"In the Extreme Northern Lands, where it’s cold all year, Demon Beasts have thick fat. When I roast them with my Three Flavored True Fire, the fat melts away. How can rabbits from other places compare?"

"That’s true too."

The three of them chatted and laughed around the fire, from Xue Shilou’s confusion in learning swordsmanship, to the Cultivation anecdotes Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had experienced, to the local customs of the Extreme Northern Lands.

They didn’t feel cold; the fire was mainly for maintaining the atmosphere.

"Speaking of which, what exactly is this Snow Emperor Bloodline?" Lu Yang asked out of curiosity.

Lu Yang remembered that during the Sword Inquiry Ceremony, Xue Shilou had cured his split personality and had initially awakened the Snow Emperor Bloodline. It was fully awakened in the dungeons of the Laurel Fairy Palace.

Xue Shilou had a Senior Brother named Xuanyuan Tianhen, and judging by his reaction, the Snow Emperor Bloodline must be something extraordinary.

"What is the Snow Emperor Bloodline?" Meng Jingzhou also hadn’t heard of it.

Xue Shilou explained with a smile, "The Snow Emperor is a legend of our Extreme Northern Lands, or rather, an ancient belief. All people from the Extreme Northern Lands are descendants of the Snow Emperor. This legend is little known, so it’s normal for you two Daoist friends to be unaware."

Lu Yang remembered that Fairy Eternity had never mentioned the Snow Emperor. It seems that the Snow Emperor wasn’t as ancient as Fairies.

"In the Extreme Northern Lands, it’s said that awakening the Snow Emperor Bloodline means that you’ve been recognized by the Snow Emperor, and you’re the one with the strongest talent in the Extreme Northern Lands."

"Actually, that’s not accurate. That’s something I learned from my bloodline memories after I awakened the Snow Emperor Bloodline."

"To be precise, awakening the Snow Emperor Bloodline means you’re qualified to be the Snow Emperor’s heir."

"The Snow Emperor is not a specific individual, but a title. In fact, there have already been several generations of Snow Emperors."

"And if I want to become the next Snow Emperor, I have to pass three trials." As Xue Shilou spoke, he took out three thawed pears from a basin next to the barbecue grill.

"Try these, they’re a specialty of our Extreme Northern Lands. You probably haven’t tasted them before."

Lu Yang took a bite of the frozen pear, and the juiciness was so astonishing that it nearly dribbled out of his mouth.

As Lu Yang and another person munched on the frozen pears, they asked, "Which three trials do you have to pass?"

"The first trial is the test of one’s Dao Heart. Your Dao Heart remains unshattered despite facing setbacks, proving your resolve in seeking the Dao."

"I passed that test when I first arrived at the Martial Arts Hall."

"Ah?" Lu Yang didn’t quite understand.

"That’s when I had just arrived at the Martial Arts Hall, you, Daoist Lu Yang, told me you had broken through to the Void Refinement Stage and that your realm could fluctuate to the Transcendence Tribulation Stage. Ever since the Sword Inquiry Ceremony, I’ve been cultivating with you as my goal. When I heard this news, my Dao Heart was greatly shaken."

Lu Yang understood, "So passing the first trial means you didn’t lose heart, continuing to take me as your goal in cultivation?"

Xue Shilou waved his hand, "Ah no, what I realized is that it’s good to be the number one in swordsmanship talent in the Extreme Northern Lands. There’s no need to compete with you for the title of the world’s number one swordsmanship talent."

"..."

"What about your second trial?"

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"The second trial requires me to become the unbeatable presence within my own realm in the Extreme Northern Lands."

"I see that Brother Xue’s swordsmanship cultivation has achieved results, allowing you to fight across levels. In the Extreme Northern Lands, aren’t you already invincible within your own realm?" Lu Yang continued to inquire.

Xue Shilou shook his head, "No, at the Spirit Transformation Stage there is a Demon Cultivator known as the Carefree Guest who has committed all kinds of evil acts. I have fought with him and unfortunately was defeated. Only by defeating him can I pass the second trial, and that is one of the reasons I came to Muxue City to contemplate swordsmanship."