Chapter 137: Coveting Xueze

Shuo was startled and asked excitedly, “What did you say? How could the pearl have been lost? I was still counting on…”

“Counting on obtaining both divine pearls and accomplishing a great deed?”

“看来 I should never have taught you so much!” Shuo replied irritably.

The Empress Dowager gave a cold smile. “Do not worry. Liu Zhong has taken the pearl. Since it is on our side, you need not be concerned.”

Shuo let out a long breath, and his expression settled. “Good!”

“You may find time to test whether it is genuine, but do not alarm Liu Zhong. He treats it like a priceless treasure!”

“Of course. We should keep this matter discreet. By the way, I have met your son. He truly has the bearing of one devoted to spiritual cultivation!”

“What?” The Empress Dowager was greatly alarmed. “You did nothing to him, did you? Did he discover your identity?”

“Do not worry. How could I act recklessly?” Shuo gave a meaningful smile. “You would do well to keep this matter secret. Here, I possess the advantages of both time and place. I have already completed sixty percent of my great cultivation and will soon be able to fulfill your wishes!”

The Empress Dowager was overjoyed and asked eagerly, “When will you be able to go? What must I do?”

“For now, I still need the help of someone from Celestial Mountain. Moreover, our agent has not yet thoroughly explored the Snowlands, so we must devise a way to lure the Snowland Fairy down the mountain. Only once she descends will the Snowlands have a chance to let my agent enter, and only then will I have the opportunity to take her spiritual root!”

“What do you want her spiritual root for?”

“From what I have heard, she possesses an immortal beauty, extraordinary intelligence, and profound spiritual power. Surely she can help me accomplish my great ambition. Besides, she carries a divine artifact—the very thing I must obtain. With it in hand, I will not fear even if Celestial Mountain chooses ten Heavenly Maidens!”

“Then… how do you intend to arrange it?”

Shuo laughed theatrically and stared at the Empress Dowager. “Is the answer not already in your hands? As long as you cooperate with He Yu and have her kill Eunuch Liu, everything will be resolved. The secret from twenty years ago will never be known to anyone again, and you can take this opportunity to summon someone down the mountain!”

The Empress Dowager’s heart tightened. She turned her head away and asked suspiciously, “Can this matter truly bring someone down from the mountain?”

“That depends on how you make use of it. If the affair threatens the realm, they will naturally intervene. You can also take the opportunity to suppress Liu Li. If you want me to kill him, that can be arranged as well. After all, the divine pearl is not with him.”

“Can you guarantee that the one who descends will be the Snowland Fairy?”

“Of course. Everything is within my control!”

The Empress Dowager froze for a moment, her palms slick with sweat. Hesitant, anxious, and distressed, she asked, “Once she comes down, you will eliminate her? Is that not rather hasty?”

Shuo gave a cold laugh, entirely unmoved by the Empress Dowager’s probing and panic. Instead, he asked, “Do you suspect that the Snowland Fairy is the young woman you have taken a liking to? Hahaha, let me tell you—you are right. You have excellent judgment. Unfortunately, neither she nor your son has any such intention. I think you should stop trying to force the matter.”

The Empress Dowager sighed, her thoughts shifting from concern over Eunuch Liu to the First Imperial Prince.

“Would it not be better to win over such a formidable rival? Rather than murdering her outright, why not—”

“Do you think someone like her can be made to serve another?” Shuo interrupted. “You do not understand her, and you do not understand your son. People so proud and pure of heart leave no opening to exploit and will not submit to another’s manipulation. They act only according to their own judgment of right and wrong!”

The Empress Dowager sighed again. After a moment’s thought, she asked, “You intend to keep one of the Heavenly Maidens for your own purposes. What if she is that Heavenly Maiden?”

“When I searched for the Luminous Mirror, I also found a solution. Aside from the Heavenly Maiden, I have other methods at my disposal. Still, it is strange—I have never seen you plead for mercy on anyone’s behalf. Why are you asking me to spare two people today?”

The Empress Dowager forced a composed smile. “You are overthinking it. I merely believe they may still be useful.”

“Heh. Whatever the reason, you will not be able to protect them.”

As the scroll was opened, the ancient fragrance of sandalwood drifted forth, mingled with a faint, clear chill.

This was an ancient book passed down for thousands of years. Its entire cover was encased in hard frost and could be opened only through the use of magic. A cool, wintry aura permeated the book, while a faint floral fragrance rose from its yellowed pages, giving it the distinctive character of an ancient Celestial Mountain text.

The Venerable Lord Qiangui examined it, then closed the book and placed all three volumes on the table. With a gentle spell, he transformed the three books so that they shared the same appearance and coloring—even the frost covering their surfaces was identical.

“Who, in the end, will obtain the foremost of these wondrous books?” Qiangui murmured to himself. He shuffled their order again and again, until even he could no longer tell them apart.

Before long, Bluewater brought Snowze and Jilin over.

“You are here!” Qiangui said with a smile, looking at the three disciples before him. “At last, I have found a little leisure, yet the mortal world has not known peace, and a great demon still walks the earth. Therefore, your master will teach you a powerful art!”

Jilin and Snowze smiled, gazing eagerly as Qiangui placed the books before them. Bluewater, however, showed no excitement. He had known in advance that his master would do this.

“These are three wondrous books handed down from ancient times, each recording one of three extraordinary arts. The Fish-Tail Drinking Ice you studied last time is among them. All three techniques are immensely powerful, yet, like the snow lotuses of Celestial Mountain, they are divided into three ranks, each representing a different level. They are the Phoenix Soaring Through the Nine Heavens, the Fish-Tail Drinking Ice, and the Butterfly Dancing Through Frost. Each of you may choose one at will. There is a subtle matter of destiny involved, so do not be overly modest or polite.”

“Can the three of us not learn all of them? These three extraordinary arts must each be different. Why are we allowed to choose only one?”

Qiangui smiled at Jilin and sighed. “Learn all of them? Did you not fail to master the Fish-Tail Drinking Ice when you studied it before? This time, although I have infused the books with spiritual power, there is still no guarantee that they will accept you as their wielders. One book per person is already the best possible outcome, and you still hope to touch all three? You cannot have both the fish and the bear’s paw.”

“All right. So you mean that these wondrous arts are like magical weapons: they must favor their users, and everything depends on timing and destiny?”

“Precisely. You do not possess a magical weapon. Why not choose first?”

Jilin hesitated and took a step backward. “I am not as capable as Senior Brother, nor as gifted and fortunate as Junior Sister. I would rather choose later. What if this book is once again fated to be with Junior Sister and simply does not like me?”

Snowze smiled and comforted him. “Second Senior Brother, there is no need to be modest. The more extraordinary the object, the more it depends upon destiny. When we studied together last time, did we not all fail to conquer the Fish-Tail Drinking Ice? That proves we are equal. Do not worry so much.”

Bluewater nodded as well. “Do not make wild guesses. Everyone has an equal chance.”

Jilin thought it over, then glanced at Bluewater. “All right. Let us proceed according to seniority and rank. Senior Brother, you first.”

Bluewater remained where he was and said to Jilin, “There is no need to go by seniority. You go first.”

“Me?” Jilin was stunned. He looked at the three books on the table. “I do not even know which one is which!”

Bluewater gave Jilin a push and said coldly, “Choose whichever one you like.”

“This…”

“It is fine.” Qiangui smiled at Jilin. “Do not worry. Going first or last makes no difference.”

“All right!”

After hearing Qiangui’s words, Jilin picked up the book in the middle, only to find it exceedingly cold. “Master, it is freezing!”

“You must cast a spell to open it. If you cannot open it, then you have no affinity with it and must try another.”

Jilin nodded and began casting his spell, thinking to himself, I knew there was no good in making me go first. Ever since Lianzi left, they have started bullying me again!

“Master!” Jilin stared mournfully at Qiangui. “It still will not open!”

Qiangui sighed and handed him another book. “Try this one.”

Jilin cast the spell, but a layer of frost remained upon the book, unmoved in the slightest.

“No way! I cannot open either of them? Is my luck really this terrible?”

“There is still one left.”

Jilin nodded and picked up the final book, placing it before him. He cast his spell reverently, unwilling to return empty-handed.

“Heavens above, bless me. For the sake of my sincerity, please give me some response!”

Suddenly, Jilin saw all the frost on the book scatter away. On the first page were written the words: Fish-Tail Drinking Ice.

“Wonderful! The Fish-Tail Drinking Ice actually chose me!” Jilin burst into laughter. “No wonder—it is the book I have studied for so long! Wait, which rank was this book again?”

“Second,” Bluewater replied.

“Then does that not mean it matches my own ranking?” Jilin laughed and walked over to Bluewater. “Senior Brother, you should claim the Phoenix Soaring Through the Nine Heavens. It would suit your status as the leader!”

“The Phoenix Soaring Through the Nine Heavens might belong to Junior Sister as well.”

Snowze shook her head lightly. “No. Senior Brother is more suited to it.”

Bluewater looked at Snowze and thought, If only I could truly be the one to take that book. Master said that the Phoenix Soaring Through the Nine Heavens can be obtained only by the person with the deepest affinity to Celestial Mountain. I truly do not wish for Junior Sister to be the one most closely tied to Celestial Mountain. What would be wrong with her quietly and peacefully remaining the Snowland Fairy?