Seven mountains, five peaks, and thirteen water veins—these represented the twenty-five grotto-heavens and blessed lands of the Jia Five Realm, and also marked the various boundaries among its twenty-five provinces.
The place where snow drifted in the eighth month was Vast Cold Province.
Beyond the seventeen provinces governed by the Zixuan Dynasty, it was a typical land beyond the pale, a place beyond the court's jurisdiction.
In Vast Cold Province, there were no four seasons in a year—only winter.
Heavy snow swirling through the air was the norm in this land. When it did not snow, that was equivalent to a bright sunny day elsewhere. Such a place was undoubtedly unsuitable for ordinary living beings to survive in.
Fortunately, cultivators exceptionally skilled in the might of arts and restrictions had set up formation after formation here, borrowing the power of heaven and earth to contend against the seasons. Only then were the mortals of this place sheltered.
Yet even with the formations' protection, this place was still far too bitterly cold.
Thus, after the Zixuan Dynasty announced twenty years ago that any mortal of Vast Cold Province who could reach the border of Lin Province would be regarded as a meritorious citizen of the Zixuan Dynasty, be assigned a place to live, and receive food and clothing for three consecutive years, the mortals of Vast Cold Province began trying every possible means to leave.
This also caused Vast Cold Province, which had once retained some traces of human habitation, to become desolate as far as the eye could see.
"Fellow Daoist Tan, your honored father's open scheme back then could be said to have brought Vast Cold Province under the Zixuan Dynasty's rule as well!" Sword Young Master said with feeling as he and Tan Shuchang walked upon the clouds.