Earth Cold Island lay across the boundless sea like an enormous jade platter thoroughly steeped in ink.
The island was immensely vast, spanning several thousand li, with a flourishing population exceeding fifty million. It was truly a supreme-grade third-tier island.
Around Earth Cold Island, nine second-tier satellite islands encircled it like stars surrounding the moon, resembling the unfolding layers of a lotus-a breathtaking sight.
At its center, a main peak rose abruptly from the earth, soaring more than three thousand zhang into the clouds.
At its summit, pristine white snow remained unmelted all year round.
Cold Mountain Temple, the ruler of the Cold Mountain Archipelago, had built its imposing headquarters atop this main peak, named Cold Mountain.
At that moment, within Cold Mountain Temple's Cold Mountain Treasure Hall, an important meeting was quietly taking place, one that might affect the Cold Mountain Archipelago's fortunes for hundreds or even thousands of years.
With the abbot away at Primordial Magnetic Origin Mountain, five senior members at the middle Golden Core stage or above had gathered here;
They were all pillars of Cold Mountain Temple and commanded immense prestige.
"...Elders, Abbot." Dragon-Seal's voice echoed through the spacious hall, clear and steady. "What Qing Chen said was no empty claim.
"If he attacks Lesser Cold Temple alone, he will certainly face a pincer attack from the Eight Serpent Sect and the Illuminating Deity Sect, leaving him beset front and rear;
"If he joins forces with our temple to reclaim our lost territory and open the sea route, it will be the key to breaking the deadlock for both sides."
On the meditation cushion in the seat of honor, Grand Elder Dharma Master Huishan, who was at peak Golden Core, stroked his snow-white beard, his gaze slowly passing over the halberd wound on Dragon-Seal's arm,