Chen Ping’an scooped up two handfuls of white snow, rubbing them together as he smiled and returned to the small cliffside cave. After warming his hands by the fire, he took out a book from his bamboo basket and sat upright, beginning to read by the firelight. It was a Confucian classic gifted by an old sage. Chen Ping’an had an excellent memory, diligently reading it along the way, its contents already deeply ingrained in his mind. Yet, he still enjoyed flipping through the pages like this, softly reciting the words.

Li Baoping had once said, “Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself.”

Chen Ping’an thought these words were exceptionally well-spoken.

Therefore, now, each time after completing his footwork and stances according to the “Mountain-Shaking Manual,” he would adapt this saying, silently telling himself that reading was like this, and surely the martial arts were similar. Perhaps after practicing a million times, the essence of the fist would naturally come. After all, he diligently practiced his fist techniques day and night, spending seven or eight hours each day, patching up his previously dilapidated physique. The results were remarkable, especially with the breathing method taught by Old Yang, combined with the eighteen articulations of qi circulation. Chen Ping’an could clearly feel his body gradually strengthening, so mere survival was no longer his only goal.

Chen Ping’an wanted more, such as if he had the chance to meet that girl again, to display his footwork for her, she wouldn’t have that blank, almost idiotic look like she did in the Mud Bottle Lane ancestral home, as if wondering how there could be such a fool in the world. Instead, she would give him a thumbs up and once again say those two words, “Handsome!”

The book in Chen Ping’an’s hands was slowly turned page by page, read with utmost focus. The flickering campfire illuminated the young man’s dark face, revealing an extraordinary spirit to anyone who gazed upon it for a long time.

The pink-skirted girl, though the true form of a fire serpent, had the temperament of a child. In the Cao Clan’s book tower in Zhilan, she had kept a low profile, not daring to reveal herself easily, fearing unforeseen disasters. Following Chen Ping’an back to his hometown this time, she was regaining her lively and vivacious nature. At this moment, she was busy building a snowman by the plank road, only regretting that the heavens didn’t reward her with more goose-feather snow.

The green-robed boy, though a water snake by nature, was naturally drawn to water. However, he had no interest in a sparse and ordinary winter snow. He listlessly huddled next to the campfire, lamenting his unfortunate fate and ill-starred life.

The pink-skirted girl built a snowman resembling her master, lifelike and vivid. Just as she was about to brag to Chen Ping’an, her expression suddenly changed. She darted back to the cave in a panic, exclaiming, “Master, Master! There’s a couple coming down the plank road, a man and a woman. I can’t see anything special about the man, but the woman has a huge aura of demon energy! What should we do?”

The green-robed boy sniffed vigorously and immediately perked up. “Oh ho, she really is a big demon, reeking of fox stench! Master, let me tell you, fox demons in this world are mostly stunningly beautiful. Watch me, I’ll catch you a bed-warming maidservant, guaranteed to be much better than that skinny bamboo pole of a simpleton!”

Chen Ping’an closed his book and said, “If they are just passing through, we will yield the plank road. If they intend to harm us, then we will act.”

The enthusiastic green-robed boy sighed and obediently sat back in his place, regretting, “Master, give me a chance to make a contribution!”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “Returning safely to our hometown is a great contribution in itself.”

The green-robed boy protested, “We’ve already entered the territory of Great Li! If it’s always this safe and sound, when will I ever turn my two beads into three?”

On the ancient plank road carved into the cliff face, a man and a woman walked one after the other through the wind and snow. The woman wore brocade palace attire, graceful and charming, with a veiled hat concealing her face. The man had a refined appearance, a slender figure, and wore a snow-white sable fur coat. A vermillion-red wine gourd hung from his waist. He seemed to blend into the snowy night of heaven and earth.

As the two passed the cave, the woman turned her head and glanced at the three inside, then looked away.

This casual glance caused the previously eager green-robed boy to feel as if struck by lightning, sitting even more upright than Chen Ping’an. On the contrary, the pink-skirted girl, whose cultivation was inferior, did not yet know the gravity of the situation and couldn’t help but take another look at the man and woman. Chen Ping’an placed the book on his lap, reached out to warm his hands by the fire, and remained composed, not looking sideways.

As the man passed the snowman, he narrowed his eyes and smiled, finding it quite interesting. He hesitated for a moment, then turned directly towards the cave, but did not overstep, stopping outside the “doorway.” He looked directly at Chen Ping’an and asked in fluent, authentic Eastern Treasure Continent formal language, “Traveling on this snowy night, my maidservant and I are truly exhausted. Can this young master allow us to rest for a moment?”

Chen Ping’an turned to look. The man exuded a gentle aura. Chen Ping’an knew full well that this unexpected encounter was unavoidable, whether it was a blessing or a curse. If the other party truly had malicious intentions, whether he nodded or not would make no difference, so he simply smiled and said, “You may.”

The man entered and sat cross-legged in a natural manner, turning his back to the cave. He took down his wine gourd, preparing to drink. Before drinking, he openly stated, “My maidservant is a fox demon. Earlier, she sensed the existence of the three of you, so I had her release some demonic aura, as a greeting of sorts, to avoid unnecessary conflict. We have no ill intentions.”

After discovering the green-robed boy’s restraint and fear, Chen Ping’an knew that things were not good. However, since things had come to this, Chen Ping’an didn’t think too much about it, but instead focused his mind and prepared to deal with the man and his maidservant’s sudden attack. Immortals and demons on the mountain, good or bad, were difficult to predict. Once a great enemy was at hand, life and death were often decided in an instant. Chen Ping’an was no stranger to this. The confrontation with Cai Jinjian in the alley, Fu Nanhua in Old Dragon City, then the entanglement and fight with the Mountain-Moving Ape, the battle with Ma Kuxuan in the Immortal’s Graveyard, the fight against the White Python on Chessboard Mountain, the assassination attempt by Zhu Lu in Pillow Station, and so on. The reason Chen Ping’an was able to survive to this day was that the word “steadfastness” was of utmost importance.

The man took a sip of wine, his eyes as clear as moonlight. He looked at Chen Ping’an and said straightforwardly with a smile, “Young master’s martial arts realm is not high, but his fist intent is very solid, which is not easy. If he can persist, the realm of cessation is within reach.”

The green-robed boy swallowed, afraid to move.

A great demon, a great demon, truly a great demon! Greater than the sky!

The reason was simple: the reason why fox demons were famous in the world, apart from being good at bewitching people, was that fox demons were more difficult to conceal their demonic aura compared to other mountain demons and spirits. Therefore, the widely sung tales of demon slayers by cultivators often targeted fox demons who were not yet powerful.
Logically, as the fox demon outside the cliff cave drew closer, its demonic aura should have become increasingly dense. However, when she passed the entrance, she possessed an aura of pure humanity, giving the green-robed boy the impression that she was even more ordinary than a mortal, so fragile that a single finger could snap her slender waist. The green-robed boy was himself a demon of this world, and transforming into human form was merely the first step in the path of enlightenment for a mountain and marsh demon cultivator, a distance as vast as that between the Sui and Dali dynasties away from truly becoming human.

To be unable to sense any anomalies, even for him, a sixth-realm local tyrant of the river, whose combat strength was comparable to a seventh-realm cultivator, the green-robed boy weighed his options and decided that playing the obedient grandson was the most suitable course of action. If this seemingly amiable river dragon wasn’t satisfied with a grandson, he could even be a great-grandson.

The green-robed boy judged that the palace-attired woman was at least a ninth-realm cultivator, and possibly even a tenth-realm transcendent figure, although he considered that possibility unlikely.

For demons of the Vast World, reaching the tenth realm was a tremendous watershed, no less difficult than breaking through the bottleneck of the tenth realm for human cultivators. It signified recognition by the Great Dao of this world, a feat of immense difficulty. The opportunities and trials required were unimaginable.

Therefore, the old dragon with a concealed identity, the father of the Cold Food River God, with his tenth-realm cultivation, was already comparable to an eleventh-realm cultivator in strength.

Chen Ping’an was unaware of these intricacies, but with danger looming, he didn’t delay his preparations. After hearing the man’s praise, he didn’t let his guard down in the slightest, simply offering a polite response, “Thank you for your kind words, sir.”

The man took a small sip of wine, revealing a vital secret, “Young master, it’s a pity that your Bridge of Longevity is broken. Repairing it will be as difficult as ascending to heaven. Why not take a different path and simply rebuild one…”

At this point, the man let out a surprised “Oh?” Seeming somewhat astonished, he pondered for a moment, glanced at the book on the young man’s lap, and smiled, “Well, it’s truly a case of ‘so many coincidences.'”

The man slowly stood up and departed, walking out of the cave. The palace-attired woman was already silently leading the way.

The man turned his head to look at the snowman on the inn, smiled, and exclaimed, “So many coincidences indeed.”

In the wind and snow, the man and woman continued on their journey. The palace-attired woman didn’t turn her head, respectfully asking, “Lord Bai, could this encounter be a conspiracy by the two Sages?”

The man shook his head, “I’m merely on a leisurely journey, seeking nothing. I’ve been very careful to conceal my tracks, not disturbing any forces. If even so, they still want to plot against me, then I…”

Beneath the veiled hat, the palace-attired woman’s face was captivating, her gaze ardent.

Unexpectedly, the man sighed, “What can I do?”

A heavy snowfall.

The world was a vast expanse of white, pristine and pure.

After walking three or four miles along the plank road, the man addressed as Lord Bai stopped, raised his head to look at the sky, his expression desolate.

The palace-attired woman had no choice but to stop as well, and noticing that the man showed no sign of moving, she cautiously called out, “Lord Bai?”

The man continued to gaze at the sky, softly saying, “The tree desires tranquility, but the wind never ceases. You say you’ve grown up in the Vast World, so why are you always thinking about crossing the Inverted Mountain? If you’re homesick and want to return to your roots, that’s perfectly understandable, but your roots are right here. What are you hoping to gain? This world of calamities, with nine out of ten houses empty, is that fun?”

The palace-attired woman was terrified, turning around and kneeling on the ground, prostrating herself. From above, her alluring figure resembled rolling mountains. She trembled as she said, “Lord Bai, spare me!”

The man ignored her, answering his own question, “I don’t think it’s fun, not interesting at all.”

The palace-attired woman was gripped by extreme fear, and with a bite of her teeth, she instantly unleashed a majestic aura capable of overturning mountains and seas.

In the next moment, atop the plank road, appeared a gigantic, eight-tailed fox as large as a mountain peak, pure white in color, clinging to the cliff face, frantically climbing towards the summit, attempting to escape the man.

The man remained unmoved, softly calling out a name, “Qing Ying.”

With a loud bang, a burst of fresh blood rained down on the cliff, one of the fox’s tails exploding on the spot.

Countless snowflakes were stained with blood, turning the area around the man into a bizarre and terrifying crimson snowscape.

Legend has it that countless demons once plagued the worlds, causing chaos everywhere. Mortals didn’t know their names, were helpless, and cried out in misery. Later, a sage of virtue cast great cauldrons, inscribing the names of ten thousand demons and recording their origins. He then ordered the creation of over a thousand replicas, placing them on the peaks of mountains in various continents, for the people below to memorize. Humble scholars braved the dangers of ascending the mountains, and through this experience, the foundation for mountain cultivators was laid.

Those mountains mostly became the Five Sacred Mountains of later kingdoms, enjoying the worship of countless monarchs and mortals.

The colossal beast on the cliff face fell into the ravine like a shooting star.

It was evident that it was not just a matter of losing a tail and suffering a heavy blow to cultivation.

With the inherent violence of demons, the ferocity they unleash when dying or severely injured is often even more terrifying.

The key to everything lay in the name “Qing Ying,” and who spoke that true name.

The fox demon, crashing heavily at the bottom of the cliff, sent countless snowflakes and debris flying. It seemed on the verge of death, and the bloody mist it exhaled in large gulps melted the surrounding snow, revealing a large patch of muddy ground resembling a scar.

The man stood before the fox demon, who was curled up into a ball, at some point. Compared to the enormous fox demon, he was like an ant standing before a human, utterly insignificant. He drank some wine from his vermillion gourd.

“Before you cultivate your eighth tail again, stay by my side obediently. Some things are not for you to meddle in for now.”

The man slowly said, “If it weren’t for that little bit of goodwill from back then, you would already be dead. Since you’re still alive, cherish it. Let’s go, continue on our journey.”

With a wave of his sleeve, the man removed the secret Heavenly Dao restriction, returning the small world he had casually carved out to the greater world.

The demon fox gradually transformed back into human form, struggling to get up, staggering behind the man.

The palace-attired woman’s expression was desolate.

The difference of one tail was the difference between heaven and earth.

What had previously been enough to make it proud among its kind was now lost amidst the masses.

However, it harbored no thoughts of revenge.

For them, who were native to this world, Lord Bai’s joy and anger were the might of Heaven.

Inside the cliff cave, the green-robed boy wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying with lingering fear, “Too terrifying, too terrifying…”
The girl in the pink skirt, with eyes wide and innocent, asked, “Was that senior’s wife really so powerful?”

The boy in green, hopping mad, retorted, “Silly girl, you’re truly a simpleton! If a nine-realm fox demon isn’t terrifying, what is? Besides, if a mere servant is this formidable, wouldn’t the man who lords over the fox demon be even more monstrous?!”

The girl in the pink skirt weakly countered, “Our master isn’t as powerful as we are.”

Chen Pingan couldn’t help but chuckle.

The boy in green’s eyes lit up. “Ah? That’s right!”

The boy in green burst into laughter, then coughed a few times, sheepishly saying, “How embarrassing, how embarrassing. My apologies for the display, Master. To err is human, after all. Let’s just let this small imperfection be swept away by the wind, forgotten completely.”

Chen Pingan continued to read, but he couldn’t focus. He reluctantly put away the Confucian classic and, after a moment’s thought, retrieved the medicinal prescriptions from the young Daoist priest surnamed Lu. All were written in neat and orderly regular script. He then picked up a thin twig and, squatting down on the snow-covered ground in front of the cave entrance, began to painstakingly copy the characters. To prevent the snowflakes from dampening the prescriptions, he had to carefully protect them, writing one character at a time.

The boy in green, having lost face tonight, clamored to sleep, while the girl in the pink skirt bypassed Chen Pingan and continued to perfect her snowman.

At the end of the last prescription, the Daoist priest surnamed Lu had also taken out a green jade seal from his sleeve and stamped it on the paper, leaving the four vermilion characters of the seal impression: “Lu Chen’s Edict.”

Tonight, Chen Pingan practiced calligraphy, meticulously copying everything from beginning to end, not even missing the final four characters of the seal.

As Chen Pingan in the cave was diligently writing the characters “Lu Chen” with a twig.

At the bottom of the distant cliff, the man followed by the palace-attired woman suddenly turned his head.

When Chen Pingan finally finished writing the two characters “Edict.”

In that instant, it felt as if heaven and earth had flipped upside down.

The man remained motionless, his expression grave. But the palace-attired woman was utterly shocked, almost losing her footing.

The fox demon, filled with apprehension, felt a primal fear permeate her entire being. Instinctively, she moved closer to the man, calling out softly, “Master Bai?”

The man retracted his gaze and continued forward, “It’s nothing. It’s just a matter of keeping separate, like well water not interfering with river water.”

Who was the insignificant well water, and who was the vast river?

Heaven alone knew.