"Qingzhuo was fortunate to meet a benefactor. With that guidance he passed through a death calamity and could finally cultivate at ease under me."
"Oh? A benefactor. Which esteemed one helped your disciple?"
Su Qingzhuo did not answer, looking instead to his master.
Feng Fen gave a nod, and only then did Su Qingzhuo speak. "I was fortunate to meet Ran Xi Zūnzhě of Haoran Sect."
Receiving the answer he had half expected, Ming Jia had master and disciple sit, then said, "Feng Fen Daoyou, you likely know why I came. Could you cast a divination?"
Feng Fen sighed. "Ming Jia Zūnzhě, has your sect received a message from the upper realm?"
It did not surprise Ming Jia that Feng Fen already knew. He admitted it openly. "Yes. Our sect's Ancestor who ascended sent down his natal sword, telling us to hold the Weiyu Realm. We do not wish to remain entirely passive and want to send people up to scout."
Feng Fen shook his head. "Ming Jia Zūnzhě, this is beyond what I can divine. But the founding Ancestor of Tianyun Gate did cast once and foresaw a calamity for the Weiyu Realm. As for what you said, it must wait for the right moment.
When the time comes, whoever ascends will bring nothing but benefit to both the sect and the Weiyu Realm."
Ming Jia stroked the jade cup in his hand, eyes lowered as he weighed the words. After a moment he looked up. "How long must we wait?"
Feng Fen smiled with layered meaning. "Once the crisis of the 'Misty Snow Domain' in the Northern Region is resolved, that moment will not be far."
Ming Jia seemed to grasp something, yet not quite. He still nodded. "I will keep an eye on the Misty Snow Domain. May that day not be too far off."
Feng Fen inclined his head. "Mingjian Gate is the foremost sect of the Western Region and the strongest in battle. I hope you prepare early and do not let the evil cultivators catch you unawares."
A glint flashed in Ming Jia's eyes. "Very well. I understand."
With business done, Ming Jia drew a jade slip from his storage ring and pushed it with spiritual power to Su Qingzhuo, who had been listening with ears pricked. "This is our first meeting. Take this sword art as a greeting gift. It is not exceedingly profound, but more than enough for self-defense and to kill enemies."
Su Qingzhuo blinked, then looked to his master again.
Feng Fen bowed at once. "To receive a sword art of Mingjian Gate is Qingzhuo's good fortune."
He turned to Su Qingzhuo. "You foolish boy, why are you standing there? Offer thanks to Zūnzhě."
Su Qingzhuo accepted the jade slip with both hands, then bowed respectfully to Ming Jia Zūnzhě.
Ming Jia waved it off and took his leave. His purpose achieved, he had to return to the sect to make preparations.
Only after Su Qingzhuo was sure Ming Jia Zūnzhě's figure had completely vanished did he whisper,"Master, what does that timing have to do with the Misty Snow Domain?"
Recently the Su clan had also received word from the Northern Region that the Misty Snow Domain, which opens once every one hundred and fifty years, had its entrance in the Polar Extreme Wind Zone this time.
Yet the Polar Extreme Wind Zone had undergone an abnormal change, dragging cultivators within into the central area. Those cultivators had since vanished. For now they could only confirm that some of those swept in still had unextinguished soul lamps.
The news had shocked Su Qingzhuo. After all, those able to enter the Polar Extreme Wind Zone were at least early Nascent Soul. They were high-level cultivators. If even they were missing, they must have been trapped somewhere difficult to leave.
Feng Fen did not answer his silly disciple directly. He only said obliquely, "Once the Misty Snow Domain closes, the answer will be clear."
Ming Jia, hidden nearby, heard this and slipped away.
Before he even reached the back mountain of Mingjian Gate, he ran into Ming Hong. "Senior Brother Ming Jia, Haoran Sect's Hao Hui came to seek you. I told him about the Ancestor sending down his natal sword. He agrees that we should arrange for someone to ascend to check the Spirit Realm's situation. I said we would wait for you."
Ming Jia nodded. "Good. I have already met Feng Fen of Tianyun Gate. He said the time is not yet and that we should wait. The timing will only become clear after the Misty Snow Domain closes."
"In that case, I will reply to Hao Hui as much."
"Do so."
Ming Jia then entered the back mountain of Mingjian Gate.
Hao Hui, having returned safely to Haoran Sect, relayed the fresh news to Hao Yi, Hao Yan, and Hao Qing.
Hao Yi rubbed his brow. "So that is why we lost contact with the upper realm. They have already begun to fight."
Hao Yan's phoenix eyes narrowed. "For a senior of Mingjian Gate to send down his natal sword, besides passing on a message, the main point must be to warn us."
Hao Qing nodded as well. "In that case, the evil cultivators' obsession with the Weiyu Realm must have a purpose. Otherwise they would not be so fixated. After losing last time, they have spent a hundred years laying their plans. What they seek must be significant."
Hao Hui nodded in silence. He felt the same.
Hao Yi waved a hand. "Whatever the case, we must prepare in advance. We cannot wait for death."
Soon Yu Ling received the orders, and Sect Master Yu Geng began receiving new directives one after another. Haoran Sect shifted into high gear, and the sect master's second disciple Zhou Lingchuan was run off his feet.
———
Misty Snow Domain
Yunxi and her party had no idea what was happening outside the secret realm. They were already close to the center, but Baifeng, contrary to his usual manner, refused to go any farther.
Han Lian stroked the great white head. "Why will you not go in?"
Baifeng replied, "This is forbidden ground for the snow beasts of the secret realm. Any beast that enters never appears again. I will not go with you. I will wait on the perimeter. If small fry show up, I will handle them for you."
He patted his chest to guarantee it.
Yunxi pressed her lips into a smile. "Han Lian, do not force Baifeng. Leaving him outside is good too. If any slip through the net, his strength can hold them. We cannot let a single evil cultivator escape."
Han Lian nodded helplessly. The big fellow simply would not go. With an equal contract, she had no way to force him.
Yun Chen Fózǐ reminded them, "Amitabha. Make your preparations. We are about to enter a land devoid of spiritual energy."
Yunxi nodded. Her spiritual sense swept through her storage space. She took out four storage pendants and handed them to the others so they could stow their essentials: spirit stones, pills, talismans, formation plates. Safety first.
After thinking it over, Yunxi stuffed the capsule law house, the Hong Energy Shield, and the Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff into her storage pendant, along with spirit stones, talismans, and stamina restoratives, filling it to the brim. If you are going to fight, you must arm yourself to the teeth.
Since the pendants had limited space, the other three also crammed in their most important items. After one last check, they continued in the direction Baifeng indicated.
The closer the four drew to the center, the lighter the wind and snow became. They met no powerful snow beasts. Half a day later, they stopped before a wall of white mist.