Chapter 014: Introduction

There is a vast sea of bamboo in the land of Snow Bamboo, where every kind of bamboo is cultivated, though green bamboo and snow bamboo are the most common. Immersed within, one hears the gentle rustling and swaying of leaves, feels the elegant and tender atmosphere, and breathes in the subtle fragrance of bamboo and orchids, which brings a sense of peace, comfort, and delightful serenity.

Qian Gui led Xue Ze and Lotus Seed into the bamboo sea, arriving amidst a dense grove of snow bamboo. There, she cast a spell to pick a leaf as green as jade and shaped like a willow, then called Lotus Seed over.

"Are you afraid of pain?" she asked.

Lotus Seed shook her head nervously, unable to speak.

Qian Gui smiled gently and, with a soft wave of her hand, drew the bamboo leaf across Lotus Seed’s palm, taking a drop of blood back onto her own hand.

Startled, Lotus Seed touched her palm and saw the fine, thread-like cut slowly healing itself. Glancing anxiously around, she timidly backed up to Xue Ze’s side, fearful of causing any trouble.

"The blood of the red lotus is so bright and vivid—it pairs well with my green bamboo leaf," Qian Gui said, merging Lotus Seed’s blood with the bamboo leaf, which transformed into a dark green pendant that she handed to Xue Ze.

"Lotus Seed, come here," Xue Ze said with a gentle smile, placing the pendant in her hand. "This is yours. Do you like it?"

"I do, but…" Lotus Seed glanced at the venerable one, hesitant and timidly asked, "May I ask if you are bestowing upon me an identity?"

"That’s right," Qian Gui replied. "It seems you share a connection with Xue Ze and this land of Snow Bamboo. Your red blood has been melded into the green leaf, and its color is now welcomed here. You shall stay at Snow Bamboo with Xue Ze."

Upon hearing this, Lotus Seed respectfully accepted the pendant and bowed deeply in gratitude. "Lotus Seed thanks the venerable Qian Gui for her kindness! In the future, I will follow the commands of you and my senior brothers without a second thought or complaint!"

"Lotus Seed, how can you address our master as ‘venerable one’? You should address her just as you do your senior brothers—call her Master!" Xue Ze reminded her with a smile.

Lotus Seed quickly understood and respectfully bowed again, calling out, "Master."

Qian Gui laughed joyfully, personally helping Lotus Seed to her feet. "Now that you call me Master, leave behind all these formalities. I dislike complicated rites and customs—in the land of Snow Bamboo, we value honesty and straightforwardness!"

"Yes, Master!" Lotus Seed was very pleased with this place, finding everyone in Snow Bamboo easy to get along with.

As the three shared their laughter, Lan Shui and Ji Lin arrived, bringing Celestial Master Qinglian to Snow Bamboo.

Sensing Qinglian’s presence, Qian Gui stroked her beard and said to the others, "Since Celestial Master Qinglian is here, let’s return to White Pine Pavilion."

Xue Ze and Lotus Seed nodded and followed Qian Gui back. At White Pine Pavilion, they found Celestial Master Qinglian and her two disciples already waiting.

"Why did the venerable one summon me here?" Qinglian asked. "I haven’t returned in such a long time—Northern Winter Palace has grown dull, and I have yet to set things in order!"

Celestial Master Qinglian resided in Northern Winter Palace, which was close to the snowy regions of the north, and she oversaw the rare and wondrous Tianshan Snow Lotus.

"We are about to deal with a matter in Beihua Kingdom," Qian Gui explained. "Today, an outsider related to this case has arrived, so it’s the perfect opportunity to investigate."

"Oh? What is the current situation?" Qinglian inquired with curiosity.

"The outsider’s name is Feng Xing, a general from Beihua. His younger sister was just afflicted with a spreading illness, but she has been cured. Celestial Master He’an confirmed it was merely a seasonal epidemic, treatable with common folk remedies. However, the current empress dowager, Lady Xue, insists on obtaining our second-grade snow lotus, which seems suspicious. I recall she once received a snow lotus—you wouldn’t happen to know which one it was?"

Celestial Master Qinglian pondered and replied, "In the year 1025 of the common era, two decades ago, the late emperor Hongxiao of Beihua fell gravely ill and the Tianshan sent a snow lotus to help. At that time, it was the third-grade Frost-Soaked Lotus, designated by Celestial Venerable Jiucang, but for some reason it was never used, and the emperor died. That was when Lady Xue began to harbor resentment toward Tianshan."

"It seems Lady Xue has been plotting for a long time. She already possesses the Frost-Soaked Lotus, and now she seeks the second-grade Cold Ice Lotus. Next, she’ll likely scheme to obtain the first-grade Ice Crystal Lotus!"

At these words, everyone in the room fell silent. Lotus Seed understood none of it, and Xue Ze only half.

Suddenly, a carrier pigeon flew in through the window. Qian Gui caught it in her palm.

"That old Jiucang has finally returned," Qian Gui said. "Qinglian, come with me to Qingming Palace."

With that, Qian Gui and Qinglian vanished, leaving only an echo of her words: "Lan Shui, go inquire about General Feng Xing’s situation."

Lan Shui glanced at those remaining and said, "Ji Lin, stay with the girls. I’ll be back soon."

Watching Lan Shui depart, Ji Lin cheerfully remarked, "Not a bad deal this time—I’ve got the easy job!"

"Senior brother, don’t think it’s easy," Xue Ze said, walking over with a smile. "We have questions for you! Just now, when Master and the others spoke, Lotus Seed and I didn’t understand much. Could you explain?"

Before Ji Lin could reply, Lotus Seed ran over, grinning. "It’s not just that I didn’t understand much—I didn’t understand anything at all! All these palaces and halls, whose residences are they? And who are the many Celestial Venerables and Celestial Masters? I know a little about how the outside world describes Tianshan, but I truly understand nothing. How am I supposed to settle here in peace?"

"That’s easily resolved. In time, you’ll understand," Ji Lin replied with a laugh.

"Senior brother, you might as well tell us everything you know, so we won’t be confused and can do our duties properly," Xue Ze added, eager to learn more details—after all, she’d been away for ten years and did not know how Tianshan might have changed.

Pressed by the two young women, Ji Lin relented and began to explain the basics of Tianshan.

"Since Lotus Seed knows the least, I’ll start from her perspective. This place is the divine territory between the mortal world and the realm of immortals, blessed with beauty in all seasons and filled with rare treasures. Ordinary people cannot ascend Tianshan, as the Blue Lake, the Maze Valley, and the three Snow Maidens’ gates bar the way.

Apart from the commoners living at the mountain’s base, only those with great martial skill, profound magic, or special status can enter. Outsiders are received at the Hall of the True Sovereign, which you’ve already seen. It is also where important matters are discussed and decided.

As for the residences and responsibilities of Tianshan’s elite, things are more complex, but you only need to know the key figures. In order of rank: Celestial Saints, Celestial Venerables, Celestial Masters, and the outstanding disciples; then the Celestial Maidens, Spirit Maidens, and Snow Maidens.

The celestial officials of Tianshan are called Celestial Saints. The current one is Yi He, who lives in the Ice Palace and rarely leaves—she may already be a high official in the immortal realm.

Next are the Celestial Venerables. Our master, Celestial Venerable Qian Gui, resides in the White Pine Pavilion of Snow Bamboo and oversees the snowy regions. Celestial Venerable Jiucang manages all major affairs inside and outside Tianshan from Qingming Palace. The last, Celestial Venerable Lejie, wanders the world and seldom returns home to Red Maple Tower.

Then there are four Celestial Masters. He’an manages general affairs from Southern Summer Palace; major matters are reported to Jiucang. Qinglian oversees the snow lotuses from Northern Winter Palace. Bailing manages the female disciples from Western Spring Palace. Pujun oversees the male disciples from Eastern Autumn Palace.

There is also a position of Celestial Maiden, currently vacant—a goddess of the snowy region, residing in the Ice Palace opposite the Celestial Saint. Below her are two Spirit Maidens, trained by Celestial Master Bailing in Western Spring Palace: White Feather Spirit Maiden, who tends the carrier pigeons, living in Yuhua Palace; and Velvet Spirit Maiden, who manages the female disciples in Meizhen Palace. Beneath them are the three Snow Maidens, guardians of the three mountain gates.

From Lotus Seed’s view, you would first pass the three gates—Lower Pure Snow Maiden, Middle Tranquil Snow Maiden, and Upper Virtuous Snow Maiden—ascend the mountain steps, and reach the Hall of the True Sovereign. Radiating out from this central hall are the four palaces of the Celestial Masters: east, south, west, north. In the northwest is Snow Bamboo; cross the Bridge of Souls and you’ll arrive. Beyond Snow Bamboo and Northern Winter Palace lies the snowy region, whose peak is crowned by the Ice Palace. In the northeast is Qingming Palace, with Red Maple Tower behind its mountain peak…"

When Ji Lin finished, Lotus Seed was utterly lost. "Is this the legendary Snowy Sacred Land? No wonder there are so many halls and palaces—it’s almost unimaginable."

"I told you to take it slowly," Ji Lin chuckled. "You insisted I explain everything at once. In the future, pay attention and you’ll learn."

"I don’t mind," Xue Ze said. "I was here for eight years, so I’m used to it. I haven’t forgotten—just wanted to know what’s changed. It seems only the Spirit Maiden and Snow Maiden positions have shifted. The rest is as before, which makes me happy!"

"Alas, it seems I’m the only one unfamiliar. I’ll have to study hard to keep up with your way of life," Lotus Seed sighed, then pondered Ji Lin’s explanation, recalling the route they’d just taken.

After a moment, Xue Ze asked, "What about the magical arts, secret techniques, sacred objects, and spiritual tools of Tianshan? Now that I’ve returned, I should learn some, since I know so little!"

"Now you’re asking the right questions," Ji Lin replied. "But learning depends on fate—Master always emphasizes teaching according to one’s abilities. For now, focus on the basics and some defensive arts."

He paused and continued, "The sacred objects of Tianshan are all around us, hidden in the environment and the secret realms. The secret realms hold the Ice Pool and the Warm Pool, both vast beyond measure. But the most important is the snowy region overseen by Master and the Celestial Masters. There, many sacred artifacts are found—our treasures for survival and cultivation, never to be lost!"

"Isn’t it just the snow lotuses? There are three kinds—is that what you mean by sacred artifacts?"

Ji Lin shook his head. "Not at all. Hearing you say that reminds me you never studied properly. The snowy region harbors wind, frost, ice, and snow—ordinary people cannot enter. There are three grades of snow lotuses, all nurtured by the three-colored ice crystals on the Ice Laurel. Only with these crystals do the lotuses endure, their fragrance persisting. These ice crystals are the true sacred objects of Tianshan, famed alongside our spiritual tools and revered by all disciples!"

"I see. So, why haven’t you gone to claim a spiritual tool?"

"I… I…" Ji Lin hesitated, then replied awkwardly, "My fate hasn’t aligned, and opportunities are few. If the spiritual tools don’t reveal themselves, what can I do? Few celestial officials ever obtain them. I’ve only borrowed a senior brother’s tool before."