Winter had already arrived on the grasslands in early December.
The wind blew down from the north, carrying the chill of the North Sea's glaciers. It pressed the gray-yellow grass flat against the ground, like an old felt blanket.
Loa had stayed at the Warrior Saint Gate for more than half a month, discussing the Dao, sparring, and drinking with Tulilei every day. Life was much more settled than when he had wandered the grasslands.
But he had not been idle during that half month.
He had begun actively mobilizing the Annihilation Power within him-that layer of gray-white energy.
Previously, it had been passive, hidden deep within his Saint Realm Heart. It occasionally surfaced, but spent most of its time asleep. Now he tried to touch it, guide it, and make it move according to his will.
It was difficult.
This power was different from wind and lightning. Wind was light, lightning violent; both had temperaments, and both could be communicated with. Annihilation had no temperament. It was neither light nor violent, neither cold nor hot. It neither took the initiative nor resisted. It simply sat there, like a rock. If you pushed it, it moved; if you did not, it stayed still.
It took Loa ten days to get a feel for it.
To make Annihilation Power move, he could not use the same methods he used to guide wind and lightning. Wind and lightning required him to "follow"-to work with their temperaments and turn their strength to his use. Annihilation required neither following nor opposing. It needed "pressure." Compress it to the limit, leave it no room for choice, and it would go in the direction he wanted.
One morning in late November, Loa stood at the edge of a cliff on the northern side of the sacred