The Time Has Come

The Snow Flame Sect is located at the convergence point of three flame veins in the Monster Beast Mountain Range. Aside from the surrounding mountains where wind and snow rage, the central eighteen main peaks experience constant light snowfall that melts upon landing, making it rare to see accumulated snow on the mountains.

The tallest and most central main peak, Sky-Reaching Peak, hasn't seen snow in decades. The last time it snowed was before the Sect-State War.

Last night, however, heavy snow fell.

By morning, after the snow, the sky had cleared.

Accumulated snow actually appeared on the ridge north of Sky-Reaching Peak!

The surrounding mountains were even more covered in silver, like layers upon layers of clouds, reflecting the warm sun.

—Where there is unusualness, there must be a demon.

Coincidentally, today is the Partner Recognition Ceremony for the Pill Elder, Master Yuhu.

Things were starting to get strange.

This new Partner Recognition Ceremony, unlike the usual method of touring the mountains and receiving gifts, was scheduled to be held on Sky-Reaching Peak, where the Sect Master's residence and the Sect's deliberation hall are located.

About a mile above the majestic mountain gate halfway up the mountain, there is a huge, semi-suspended circular platform of bluestone.

This is the location where this Sect Tour Ceremony will be held—

The Mountain Gate Plaza.

In the center of the plaza is a large circular Flame Platform, three zhang wide.

The platform is connected to the earth fire, and magma gurgles out, flowing into underground tributaries, forming a cycle.

Today is a joyous day for the Snow Flame Sect, and the magma fountain show in the center of the Flame Platform was actually activated.

The magma erupting straight into the sky roasted the Mountain Gate Plaza to a spring-like warmth, setting the mood perfectly.

In the morning, before the Sect Tour Ceremony had even begun, the plaza was already packed with Inner Sect disciples from the various main peaks.

The distant snow-capped mountains provided a cool view, while the flame fountain in the plaza made people's bodies heat up and their foreheads sweat.

What made their internal heat even more excessive was Elder Yu Hu's errand disciple Dao Companion...

Especially the male disciples who considered themselves exceptionally talented and handsome, their hearts were uneasy, and they gathered in groups, discussing animatedly.

"Even Sky-Reaching Peak snowed, which shows how absolutely ruthless Elder Yu Hu was this time. This is the wrath of heaven."

"I think that's your wrath, isn't it? You just regret that the Elder's Dao Companion isn't you."

"As if you're not angry?"

"What can we do about it? The wrath of Qi Refining is only good for taking off your hat, going barefoot, and banging your head on the ground. What good is that?"

"No matter what, taking an errand disciple as a Dao Companion truly insults the dignity of the sect. The Sect Master might be hesitant to dissuade her out of consideration, but the Discipline Hall won't just stand by."

"Just wait and see, this Sect Tour Ceremony will definitely make this little errand disciple the target of a thousand fingers, and he'll have to swallow his own spit."

"What you're saying are all minor matters. Being robbed of love by a mere errand disciple, that Sect Overseer will definitely not be indifferent. There's a good show coming."

"Did you hear the news from the Errand Disciple Quarters? They say that a few days ago, this errand disciple was Soul Seized, but he killed the Deacon in return, and the matter wasn't resolved until Senior Sister Mu Yun stepped in."

"Could he really have been Soul Seized? After all, this guy is currently ranked number one on the list of people in this sect most likely to be Soul Seized. It's normal for him to be Soul Seized."

"What are you all talking nonsense about? How can you Soul Seize below the Nascent Soul stage? Moreover, Soul Seizing is a first-level forbidden technique strictly prohibited by the Dao Alliance and will result in execution!"

"The more you talk, the more outrageous it gets. Don't you think the weather is quite nice after the snow has cleared? Perhaps the Pill Elder's unconventional act of taking a Dao Companion is in accordance with the heavenly dao and has some deeper meaning?"

"Forget it, it's a good thing for us spectators. Without these outrageous things, daily cultivation would be boring."

"Look quickly, the Elders are coming!"

The disciples all looked towards the east.

A tall, thin old officiant with graying hair and a straight posture slowly walked into the Mountain Gate Plaza.

With a wave of his hand, he removed the flame fountain and arranged sixteen chairs around the Flame Platform.

The sixteen chairs corresponded to the sixteen main peak Elders of the Snow Flame Sect, excluding the Sect Master and the Pill Elder.

As for the Sect Master, they usually stood.

"The time has come, please take your seats, Elders!"

The old officiant's sonorous voice, like the evening drum and morning bell, echoed endlessly throughout the eighteen main peaks.

It was as if he was summoning...

Over the next half an hour, except for the Myriad Laws Elder who was in seclusion, the Elders from the other peaks, along with their Core Disciples, arrived at the Mountain Gate Plaza one after another.

Among the seventeen Elders of the main peaks, the Discipline Elder was equivalent to half a Dao Alliance representative and theoretically held the most power.

The other five highest-ranking Elders were: the Sword-Wielding Elder, the Myriad Laws Elder, the Artifact Forging Elder, the Beast Taming Elder, and the Pill Elder.

The Beast Taming Elder, True Person Zhe Hui, was a woman with a peacock feather hairpin on her head and a face full of fine wrinkles, yet still exuding a charming demeanor.

"Even Senior Brother Gongshuzi has come... As expected, Junior Sister Yu Hu's actions are significant enough. Not only did she cause the heavens and earth to change color and the centuries-old pilgrimage tradition to be altered on a whim, but she also managed to get you, old man, to leave the mountain."

The Gongshuzi she referred to was the Artifact Forging Elder of the Snow Flame Sect, a hunched old man with dim eyes, carrying a sword box on his back.

It was said that the sword box contained everything but a sword.

Gongshuzi usually kept to himself, refining spiritual artifacts, and rarely participated in internal sect activities like the Sect Tour Ceremony.

"The Sect Master commanded it; this old man had no choice."

The old man sighed deeply. At his advanced age, nearing the end of his life, it seemed only a faint spark deep within his eyes kept him alive.

"Then why isn't the Sect Master here?"

The one who spoke was a round, mountain-like stout old man.

With black hair and a ruddy complexion, he was impeccably dressed, though his words carried a slight scent of alcohol.

It was none other than the Snow Flame Sect's Sword-Wielding Elder—

Wei Shanjun.

The old woman, True Person Zhe Hui, covered her mouth and chuckled.

"It wouldn't do to cry on such an occasion, you know. I suspect Sect Master Senior Brother is off somewhere playing the flute to soothe his feelings. He'll only dare show up after he's calmed down, to avoid awkwardness when he sees the newlyweds."

"Senior Sister, be careful with your words."

The one who spoke this time was a stern middle-aged man with a restrained fierceness in his eyes.

His features were chiseled, yet lacked any sense of handsomeness, instead giving off an unsettling, eerie feeling.

He was the sect's Discipline Elder—

Zhong Fuzi.

"Don't judge a gentleman's heart. The one who decided to hold this grand event was precisely Sect Master Senior Brother."

True Person Zhe Hui glanced around but still didn't see the Sect Master.

"Regardless, wasting a precious Sect Master's command for a married woman is truly a disgrace to the sect's prestige."

Following that, the Elders discussed everything from the Sect Master, the Pill Elder, the mysterious Myriad Laws Elder, and even demons, ghosts, and monsters.

Only regarding the person Xiao Bai did all the Elders fall silent collectively.

Nothing else; this matter was simply too strange.

An errand disciple identity, Fetal Breath cultivation, Balanced Five Elements Physique...

Logically, Elder Yu Hu, who had always been pure and aloof, rejecting people from a thousand miles away, wasn't someone who would act so casually.

She had even rejected the powerful and upright True Person Sect Master, and the promising young Sect Overseer, a descendant of a prestigious clan.

Yet now she was taking an errand disciple as her Dao Companion.

Adding to this, a sudden heavy snow fell on Sky-Reaching Peak, which didn't seem like it was caused by magic.

Things just seemed stranger and stranger...

The Elders couldn't make a judgment and needed to personally verify things to understand her intentions.

Just as the Elders fell into silence, a melodious flute sound drifted from the horizon.

"When you're badmouthing Senior Brother, could you at least try to hide it a little? The Mountain Protecting Array heard everything clearly, Senior Sister Zhe Hui."