According to historical records of the Great Xia, the Northern Territory was warm and blooming year-round, with a pleasant climate and a permanent population of five million.
It was the military, political, and economic center of the Xia Dynasty.
One day, a towering palace fell from the sky.
No one knows where the palace came from, nor who lives inside. Anyone who gets too close will be turned into an ice sculpture.
"From that day on, the Northern Territory never saw the sun again."
"The raging snowstorm turned this paradise, which everyone longed for, into a barren and frigid wasteland in just a few days."
"Of the five million people who died or suffered frostbite that year, most of them perished or were injured; the rest began to migrate outwards."
"On their journey, the people saw the palace gates open and a god emerge from them."
"A human body with a tiger's tail, four long arms, and eyes like torches; anyone who looks directly at the gods will be reduced to ashes."
Before people could even kneel in worship, the sky split open into a hundred-mile-long Abyss, and a person emerged from Abyss, standing on a bronze Mystic Coffin.
"That person had the physique and appearance of an ordinary person, dressed in black hunting clothes, with eyes like bottomless abysses, and an aura like that of a demon god."
"The moment they met, it was like a thunderbolt striking the earth; they fought fiercely, neither able to gain the upper hand."
"The sky collapsed and the earth caved in; the sun and moon lost their light."
"They can shatter the sky and tear the earth apart with the flick of their fingers."
This battle lasted for three days and three nights.
When the people of the Xia Dynasty set foot on this land again, there was nothing but a sky full of falling snow.
"Whether it was the towering palace, the bronze Mystic Coffin, or the two gods who appeared out of nowhere, all have vanished without a trace."
Some say that the two gods were both severely injured and retreated.
"Some say that both the Snow God and the Demon God are dead, but the divine palace and the bronze coffin remain forever in the Northern Territory."
"If we find both of them, we can obtain the treasure of the two gods."
"..."
Inside the beer hall, a civilian official in military uniform was leaning against the bar, talking eloquently to the crowd.
After recounting the story of the battle between the two gods, he raised his glass to the crowd.
"That's it? That's so unbelievable!"
"Brother, you're looking for reality in myths and legends, why don't you look for a wife in a wife cake?"
"I can testify that what he said is true; I am one of the Xia Dynasty citizens who froze to death."
"What a coincidence, I'm the father who froze to death."
"Damn it! You want to fight, huh?"
"Hey guys, anyone want to team up and go find the Twin Gods' Treasure? We'll be rich if we dig out that coffin."
"Perfect, you can bury yourself here and save money on a coffin."
"..."
Mercenaries, assassins, merchants, soldiers on leave... the group laughed and cursed, and the conversation quickly shifted from the Twin Gods' Treasure to women.
The civil official gestured to the strange man carrying Sword Case beside him, "Thank you for the wine."
Qin Ze waved his hand. "I have to thank you for your story, it was very interesting."
Tonight marks the third day since his failed breakthrough attempt. With nothing else to do, Qin Ze brought Miss Sword Case to the tavern for some fun.
Just then, a civil official was boasting to the crowd that he was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography.
So the crowd egged him on to tell a story that no one knew, and the civil official, in exchange for a cup of wine, told this completely unverified myth.
The civil official said calmly, "You also think it's fake?"
Qin Ze shook his head. "Myths are the embodiment of ancient people's aspirations for a better life and their fantasies about the unknown."
"How much of it is true and how much is false, no one knows except the person who originally wrote this story."
The civil official was somewhat surprised by this answer, "I didn't expect that beneath your rugged exterior, you possessed a touch of scholarly refinement."
Qin Ze raised his eyebrows. "I'm a cultured sword cultivator."
The civil official put down his wine cup, stood up, and put on his hat. "I have to be on duty for the rest of the night. See you later."
The clones were also intrigued by the story.
One of the clones suggested, " Pretty God, let's go find the treasure of the two gods too!"
Qin Ze rolled his eyes. "Find an egg."
"Instead of wasting time on that, you'd be better off meditating; I can break through sooner."
The Xia Dynasty was the first dynasty in Human Race history with written records, dating back several thousand years. At that time, the Pan-Continent did not even exist.
Many of today's well-known and popular myths and legends originated from that time.
The story of the war between the two Northern Territory gods is relatively niche, and not many people know about it.
From this perspective, that civil official could indeed be considered well-read.
Qin Ze had originally planned to meet the Dew Duo tonight.
The Slacking on the Sidelines of the group said they would arrive in Snow City tonight, but they were stuck outside the city by a blizzard and probably won't be able to get in until tomorrow morning.
The bartender took two oranges and, looking at Qin Ze's empty glass, said, "Second glass half price."
Qin Ze shook his head. "These oranges are made of gold, I can't afford them."
The bartender shrugged. "You're only the second person in the last three years to order orange juice from me."
Qin Ze asked knowingly, "What a coincidence! Who was the first one? Introduce me to them."
The bartender sighed. "He's probably dead."
Qin Ze's face darkened; this conversation was over.
May you live forever.
Qin Ze got up, intending to go back and walk Big Black.
The bartender offered his heartfelt blessing. "May you live a long life too."
After all, orange juice customers are not easy to find.
As soon Qin Ze pushed open the tavern door, snowflakes rained down on him.
As Miss Sword Case gazed at the smooth snow-covered street, her creative spirit stirred.
Suddenly, the sound of someone exploring the new version of Snow City clones came through the Local Area Network.
"Family members, you'll never believe what we've discovered—the treasure of the two gods!"
Qin Ze froze, stunned. Whose treasure was this?
In a dimly lit basement, two men wearing masks of Leopard and Peppa respectively were drooling over a bronze coffin in front of them.
Peppa Yangyang, "What did I tell you? That little entrance is definitely a hidden loot spot!"
The Leopard rubbed its hands together excitedly. "I'm rich! I'm rich! Do you think we might find a Blood Race inside?"
Peppa rolled her eyes. " Blood Race use European-style coffins. This bronze coffin is at best an old Qing Dynasty zombie."
"Whatever it is, let's open it first. Maybe it's the 'Dual Gods' the civil official was talking about!"
As he spoke, the Leopard reached out to open the coffin.
But as soon as his hands touched the coffin lid, a chill swept over him, and solid ice spread rapidly up his arms.
The Leopard was terrified. "Holy crap! I can't move!"
With a swift movement, Peppa severed both arms, Leopard recoiled violently, blood gushing from the severed limbs like a fountain.
Thanks, bro.
Peppa looked at the two severed arms stuck to the coffin lid and the human fountain, and sighed, "I'll fix them for you."
The Leopard shook its head. "I'd better go back and jump into the fireplace; that way we can save some firewood."
Peppa thought about it and agreed, so she put away her knife.
The two men were stumped as they looked at the old Qing Dynasty coffin; they couldn't touch it, so how were they going to move it?
A clear and pleasant voice suddenly rang out from the darkness behind them.
"Hey, get away, that's my loot."