Great Xia Imperial City. As autumn gave way to winter, the first snowfall of early winter arrived without warning. Ice sealed a thousand miles, snow drifted across ten thousand.
Within Zhiming Marquisate, Ning Chen stood in the courtyard, watching the snowflakes whirl down from the sky, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Winter had arrived. Time truly passed quickly.
Amid the wind and snow, Bai Ye wielded his sword, growing faster and faster. Sword light swept through the four wilds, stunning the mortal world.
In a single month, his peak swordsmanship had drawn ever closer to perfection. A rare genius of the sword, his progress advanced a thousand miles each day.
For that month of instruction, Ning Chen had honored their agreement and held nothing back. Whatever Bai Ye could learn, he taught.
Several breaths later, the sword light dissipated. In the wind and snow, Bai Ye came to a stop. Looking at the white-clad figure before him, a complex glint passed through his icy eyes.
"The time is up. You should leave," Ning Chen said calmly.
Bai Ye tightened his grip around his sword. True qi surged around him, far stronger than it had been a month ago.
"You are still not my match. You will have only one chance. If you fail, I will not hold back again," Ning Chen said indifferently.
Bai Ye's body trembled. Reason returned to his eyes. After one final look at the man before him, he turned and left.
"Marquis of Knowing Fate, I understand you less and less."
Not long after Bai Ye departed, the Dragon Gate appeared in the sky. A familiar figure stepped out, his powerful aura having reached the peak of Great Perfection.
"It has been a long time, Yang Hong."
Ning Chen looked at the newcomer and