Chapter 2150: Stealing a Chance

The Yellow River Meeting in the Dao Calendar year 3919 saw the emergence of many dazzling talents. Seven years later, these individuals have gradually become central figures in the world, holding positions of power and increasingly stirring up global affairs.

Precisely who among them was the most exceptional talent has always been a subject of endless debate. Although Jiang Wang achieved the most accolades, others like Dou Zhao and Chong Xuan Zun also provide ample material for discussion, not to mention Li Yi, who first broke historical records.

But among them, there is one person who exists "outside the discussion."

That is Xie Ai, known as the "Winter Emperor," a peak-level powerhouse.

It is said that she is the reincarnation of the Frost Immortal Monarch Xu Qiu Ci from over two thousand years ago. Now, having reascended the Derivation Path, she is fundamentally not on the same level as contemporary young people, with no basis for comparison.

The struggle for the Winter Emperor's Dao achievement in the Dao Calendar year 3921 was the most significant event in the northwest world.

However, Snow Country had sealed its borders and closed itself off at that time, so the details of such a momentous event have never been known to outsiders.

Although Xu Xiang Qian and the others encountered the disguised and fleeing Xie Ai back then, they still only half-understood how Xie Ai turned the tables, how she ascended the Derivation Path, and how she proved herself to be Xu Qiu Ci's reincarnation.

They only knew that Xie Ai was once pursued across heaven and earth. The fact that Snow Country directly sealed its borders wasn't seen as particularly friendly to Xie Ai at the time. But considering she still had the leisure to discuss the Dao with Zhao Wu Yan while fleeing, it's likely that everything was under control.

The Winter Emperor's first battle after proving her Dao was to travel far to her homeland in Jing Country and challenge the Dragon Martial Grand Governor, Zhong Jing. This very battle halted Jing Country's westward expansion war.

It's no wonder Huang She Li keeps thinking about Snow Country, clamoring about borrowing soldiers and sweeping them flat.

Snow Country has become a strong backing force behind the five-country alliance in the northwest—another point of support is Jing Country.

Jiang Wang raised the semi-transparent ice cup, slowly drank a mouthful of ice flame wine, letting his thoughts calmly scatter.

Ice flame wine is a famous wine from Snow Country. When White Jade Capital was first established, White Jade Xia planned to introduce this wine as a signature drink. However, considering the high purchase price and transportation costs... they switched to transporting snow.

Yes, Cabinet Member Jiang has already arrived in Snow Country.

After leaving Dragon Gate Academy, he flew directly here.

The place he is currently in is called "Ask Immortal Tower."

Ask Immortal Tower is the best tavern in Cold Flower City, and it is also the place where Zhao Wu Yan first met Xie Ai.

Jiang Wang clearly knows one thing—initially, Zhao Wu Yan came to Snow Country, considering it the endpoint of her ten-thousand-mile journey. She was determined to reach the realm of Divine Arrival in Snow Country.

She had also established her Dao path among many choices and was formally preparing to advance. But after meeting Xie Ai, she changed her mind, went into seclusion at Heavenly Stele Snow Ridge, and chose to integrate various schools, creating her own abyss flow.

And Heavenly Stele Snow Ridge was precisely Xu Qiu Ci's, Xie Ai's previous life's, Dao field.

Of course, it cannot be said that the Winter Emperor Xie Ai is solely responsible for Zhao Wu Yan's current state. Everything Zhao Wu Yan experienced and encountered on her path to cultivation is part of her journey and has influenced her.

There's no reason to pursue the mentor for a mistake someone else made.

Just like the Mountain Lord of Dragon Gate Academy didn't come to Snow Country to trouble Xie Ai.

But it is undoubtedly true that Xie Ai had an extremely important influence on Zhao Wu Yan's path of integrating various schools.

And Jiang Wang instinctively feels that this kind of influence is not simple.

Perhaps it's because the Winter Emperor struck from a distance in the Divine Firmament World, or because she obstructed the Taixu Illusion Realm in Snow Country, or because of the intelligence fee Dou Zhao gave him before his departure... or perhaps it's just a baseless guess.

In any case, he does have some suspicions.

And he didn't tell Xu Xiang Qian about this suspicion.

Xu Xiang Qian's condition is not good, and it involves Zhao Wu Yan, making it difficult for him to remain calm. Jiang Wang simply wrote a letter and asked Ji Li from Evening Drum Academy to help keep an eye on things. He also sent a message to Green Cliff Academy to let Xu Xiang Qian's teachers know about his situation.

He intends to handle the matters in Snow Country alone.

His identity as a Taixu Cabinet Member is enough to ensure his safety anywhere in the current world. What would those forces that jointly recommended Taixu Cabinet Members be considered if someone were to kill one?

Beyond that, the Taixu Cabinet and Taixu No Distance are his double guarantees.

And his sword allows him to face everything in the world.

Cold Flower City is an ice city. Its gate towers, halls, houses, and streets are all carved from cold ice. This city is the second largest city in Snow Country and the largest city that outsiders can contact.

Everything west of this city is forbidden to travel.

Cold Flower City is one of the three cities in Snow Country that are open to the outside world and communicate with the outside world.

The Taixu Sect has built two Taixu Corner Towers in Snow Country, both in another city called "Snow Silence." That city is as cold and silent as its name suggests; there are not many people in the entire city area. The snow beast meat that Snow Country sells to the outside world is basically stored there.

Adding to that is Ice Yang City, which is stationed with a large army, is willing to accommodate ruthless people, doesn't restrict the identity of outsiders, and has a more severe atmosphere... These three cities are the only places where outsiders can understand Snow Country.

Several years ago, during the Winter Emperor's struggle for Dao achievement, even these three cities were locked down.

Compared to Snow Silence City, which is piled with animal carcasses, and Ice Yang City, where fighting is constant, the relaxed, safe, and stable atmosphere of Cold Flower City makes its prosperity almost inevitable.

It is Snow Country's biggest window to the east and the largest portal for exchange between people from outside the border and Snow Country.

So this city is also a mix of good and bad. Various types of people shuttle through, not lacking rich patrons and drunkards, assassins and big merchants.

Most of the ice houses in Cold Flower City are buried halfway underground; this is for the need to ward off the cold. The roofs of the ice houses are carved with various snow beasts, strange and varied, with unique charm.

In Jiang Wang's view, the biggest role is to prevent these cellar-like ice houses from looking like tombs.

Ask Immortal Tower is different. It is carved from ice, not inferior to taverns in prosperous areas of the central domain, and has a special array to ensure the warmth inside the tavern. Naturally, its consumption is also quite high.

He drank three cups of wine and listened to four or five batches of casual conversation, but didn't get any useful information, nor did he wait for the person he wanted to wait for. But a voice rang out beside his ear— "Jiang... True Person?"

Jiang Wang looked up and saw a man wearing silk clothes with two small mustaches. His face had the inherent shrewdness and slickness of a small merchant. He had just sat down at the neighboring seat.

Jiang Wang frowned. He felt somewhat familiar with the person in front of him, but couldn't actually recognize him. For his current cultivation, this is a very rare experience.

The small merchant took out an ink finger guard, put it on his right thumb, and then reached out and wiped off his two small mustaches. The expression on his face also changed... it clearly wasn't a significant adjustment, but it was as if he had become a different person! His temperament was elegant, and his bookish air couldn't be hidden by his silk clothes.

He cupped his hands and said with an elegant demeanor: "This humble one is Nalan Long Zhi. I had the fortune of fighting alongside True Person Jiang in the maze realm. I wonder if True Person still has an impression?"

With this appearance now, Jiang Wang naturally remembers.

To be able to deceive a True Person even in the realm of God Arrival, the Steal Heaven Mansion indeed has a way!

"I couldn't forget!" Jiang Wang said: "Please come closer quickly, come and have a few drinks with me."

Nalan Long Zhi was not polite either and moved his seat over: "I came to the northwest to retrieve an item. The wind and snow are hard to refuse. I didn't expect to still see an old friend in this bitter cold place. It's truly a fortunate matter!"

He was very mindful of boundaries. He both stated the purpose of his visit to Snow Country, explained that it was a coincidence to meet, and didn't inquire about Jiang Wang's activities.

But there is nothing that cannot be said about Taixu Cabinet matters. The purpose of a newly promoted Taixu Cabinet Member coming to Snow Country is almost obvious.

Jiang Wang said: "I represent the Taixu Cabinet and have come for the construction of the Taixu Illusion Realm in Snow Country. Now the world is exerting force, the human path is surging, and in the entire present world, only the northwest is lacking a corner, right here in Snow Country. The Taixu Cabinet, from top to bottom, is very troubled."

Nalan Long Zhi cupped his hands and said: "It's not yet time to congratulate True Person Jiang on entering the cabinet!"

Jiang Wang waved his hand: "Between us, don't speak of these things."

He personally poured wine for Nalan Long Zhi and said: "The last time I met you in the maze realm, the battle situation was urgent, and I forgot to ask something."

Nalan Long Zhi received the wine cup with both hands: "I will tell you everything I know!"

Jiang Wang said: "I have an old friend named Su Qi Yun. I got to know her in the Forest Sea Origin Realm many years ago, and I haven't heard from her since. I wonder how her current situation is?"

Nalan Long Zhi was slightly stunned and sighed: "I didn't expect Junior Sister Su to still have such a connection with True Person Jiang."

Among the three people who teamed up in the Forest Sea Origin Realm initially, Wu Qu Ji is now the Gate Master of Gold Needle Gate, and True Person Jiang is the world-famous Taixu Cabinet Member. Only Su Qi Yun, who originated from the Steal Heaven Mansion, indeed behaves very much like her sect, vanishing without a trace.

Jiang Wang thought of past events and sighed: "She also had a friend named 'Little Fish' who had an accident in the Forest Sea Origin Realm. Fortunately, she received help from the Jade Balance Star Monarch, preserving a bit of her true spirit, and then imparted her a method for shaping a true spirit body. When we parted initially, she told me she would dedicate this life to this matter. I sometimes think about where my old friend is and whether she achieved her wish."

Nalan Long Zhi was silent for a moment and said: "Junior Sister Su has already unfortunately passed away. It was precisely for collecting body shaping materials that she was exploring a ruin when... we found her. She had already collapsed with the ruin, shattered in the chaos of time and space."

Jiang Wang was stunned for a moment.

He hadn't been in contact with her for many years, so it's not necessarily true that he had deep feelings for Su Qi Yun. But they were acquainted after all, and they fought side by side after all... the passing of old friends is inevitably saddening.

World affairs are truly impermanent.

He repeatedly realized that life is a lonely journey, and cultivators are always traveling alone.

"Sorry," Jiang Wang said: "I made you think of sad things again."

"No harm," Nalan Long Zhi said: "In this world, there is still someone who remembers her, and this person is Jiang Wang. I am happy for her. Although life and death are impermanent, one leaves traces after all."

The Steal Heaven Mansion's understanding of life and death is probably very indifferent.

This ancient and mysterious sect, although it has always existed, has rarely left traces in history.

The Sword Pavilion is thirty thousand years old, the Blood River Sect is fifty-four thousand years old, but no one can say clearly when the Steal Heaven Mansion was founded. This sect, just like Nalan Long Zhi today, also travels the world and appears in various corners, but does not cause ripples.

Jiang Wang raised his wine cup and poured a line on the ground, a distant sacrifice. "At that time, I felt her determination, and I always thought she would succeed."

Nalan Long Zhi said: "True Person Jiang, many people in this world have made efforts, but not everyone can achieve success. Sometimes we pay everything, and it's just a possibility."

Jiang Wang had connected with Su Qi Yun and now also with Nalan Long Zhi, both disciples of the Steal Heaven Mansion. But regarding the Steal Heaven Mansion, he still has no understanding whatsoever.

What is the purpose of this sect, what do they pursue, where are they stationed, what are their main cultivation methods, how many disciples do they have... it's all a mystery. People only know that in the paths of body techniques and concealment, the Steal Heaven Mansion is unparalleled in the world.

Jiang Wang looked at him: "So what possibility is Brother Nalan paying everything to pursue?"

"How can one not sigh when one doesn't see the deer in the deep forest, and it's hard to find kindred spirits in the world!" Nalan Long Zhi sighed: "I really want to tell True Person Jiang my story, although it is shallow and uninteresting, it is also truly lonely. It's a pity I cannot."

Jiang Wang said: "Although this Jiang is not a gentleman, he doesn't force others. If it's not suitable to speak, Brother Nalan doesn't need to speak."

"It's not that it's not suitable, it's that I cannot," Nalan Long Zhi said seriously: "But with True Person Jiang's cultivation speed, perhaps you will know one day."

Jiang Wang thoughtfully: "It seems that the Steal Heaven Mansion has many secrets."

"It's just a small stolen heavenly machine—"

As Nalan Long Zhi was speaking, the five fingers holding the ice cup suddenly froze, and frost also appeared on his eyebrows. He showed a regretful expression: "True Person Jiang, it seems we can't chat anymore."

With just this sentence—

His entire person froze into ice.

Crash la la, shattered on the ground!

The shattered ice fragments in the ice-carved tavern refracted points of light, but the people around couldn't see anything. Those chatting continued to chat, and those drinking continued to drink.

Those who continued to drink also included Jiang Wang.

"You don't seem surprised."

The woman who spoke sat down opposite Jiang Wang.

Her sitting posture was very proper, her figure slender, yet she had clearly become the center of everything. She had a face that was too pale and exquisite, with an unmelting sorrow between her eyebrows, possessing a sense of fragile beauty.

It was as if she would leave at any time, disappear at any time, and therefore was all the more moving.

This is the most beautiful woman in Snow Country, Xie Ai, who ascended at the Yellow River Meeting in the Dao Calendar year 3919.

Or perhaps she should be honored as—the Winter Emperor.

The talents from the same Yellow River Meeting meet again today.

The Winter Emperor is no longer the Xie Ai who couldn't enter the top four initially.

Jiang Wang's glorious titles are also not limited to being the Yellow River chief initially.

Facing the current True Monarch, Jiang Wang appeared unusually calm: "There are too many things that are worth surprising me, making me unsure which one to be surprised at first."

He opened a new ice cup and poured a cup of wine for Xie Ai, his voice calm: "Should I be surprised at your sudden attack, or should I be surprised that Nalan Long Zhi could actually escape from your hand with his life?"

Xie Ai was surprised: "You can actually see that he has already escaped. You are indeed our Yellow River chief. You have only become a True Person for a few years? You cannot be casually viewed anymore."

Jiang Wang said: "How can anyone who has become a True Person in the world be casually viewed? Moreover, those on the Derivation Path. In front of the Winter Emperor, I truly have nothing to be proud of."

Nalan Long Zhi, in the realm of God Arrival, could not possibly survive in the Winter Emperor's hands.

So Nalan Long Zhi is very likely also at the strength of the Derivation Path.

Jiang Wang is not surprised that Nalan Long Zhi could deceive him. The Steal Heaven Mansion is so skilled in concealment and so mysterious that having some special means is most normal.

But Nalan Long Zhi also participated in the Dragon Palace Banquet initially, although he was very low-key throughout, with no eye-catching performance—just like his standard on the maze realm battlefield.

He actually even deceived the Long River Dragon Monarch?

Even if the Dragon Monarch was only a phantom there, that was still a phantom of a super detached existence!

He is indeed from the Steal Heaven Mansion, the most mysterious sect in the present world, like a faint shadow in the long night, seemingly hidden, yet present, everything exuding an incomprehensible aura.

In fact, Jiang Wang is still unclear about Nalan Long Zhi's exact age and appearance. Today is the first time they've sat down and chatted, and it completely subverted the impressions established from their previous two meetings. He completely cannot confirm everything he has seen and heard.

The Winter Emperor didn't take that cup of wine, only looking at Jiang Wang: "He stole something of mine, and happened to be sitting here drinking with you. Should you give me an explanation?"

So the "item" Nalan Long Zhi said he came to the northwest to retrieve was taken in this way...

Is the Steal Heaven Mansion not for thieves?

Jiang Wang didn't speak, nor did he have any expression. He just reached out to take his own Taixu Hook Jade.

He doesn't need to explain, because he is a Taixu Cabinet Member.

Recommended by various sides, raised by the world together; Passing through the six directions, unimpeded in the present world; Looking around the world, only nine people.

If he doesn't want to explain, that's that. Will he still explain?

But he searched himself front and back, and was stunned.

...Huh?

Where is my jade?!

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