Retreat Behind the Second Wolf

Although the climate of the Northern Wastes is generally cold, it also has some volcanic areas.

Not far from the Heavenly Wolf Mountain Range lies Heavenly Lake Gan Six Peaks.

There were once some schools of thought that liked to study geology and minerals, and to explore and infer.

Between approximately two million and seven hundred thousand years ago, the Earth's surface was cold, while underground magma activity was frequent.

As magma rose and cooled layer by layer, it formed shield-shaped lava plateaus.

This so-called shield shape is the common round shield found in the human world, slightly arched in the middle and lower around the edges, but the difference in height is not too great.

Over the next hundreds of thousands of years, magma continued to rise through the pores, piling up higher and higher on the plateau, forming cone-shaped mountain peaks.

The rock strata at the very top of the mountain are fragile. Affected by high-altitude strong winds, earthquakes, and other factors, a large number of rocks collapsed, and rainwater and hot springs gathered, forming lakes located on the mountaintop.

Where there is water and geothermal energy, there is also greenery.

The area around Heavenly Lake is covered with grasslands, where flowers often bloom even during the warmest season of the year.

Standing here, looking around, one sees only distant mountains and snow-covered skies, while nearby, flowers and grasses abound and the lake water is azure.

The two extreme scenes complement each other, inspiring a sense of awe for nature.

Standing by the Heavenly Lake, Yue Chunfeng gazed into the distance and looked around, his eyes filled with sighs.

"There are some mysterious ancient books in this world that record legends about giant gods such as dragons and Pangu. Regardless of whether those myths and legends are exaggerated..."

"Even if it were true, the Pangu mentioned in the ancient texts only lived for a million years, while the Heavenly Lake Mountains alone took more than two million years."

Yue Chunfeng recited a long poem. "Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs."

"Even the colossus who created the heavens, if they possessed feelings and wisdom, could not live forever. Is it truly only these heartless beings that can endure?"

Yue Tianchi stood to the side, arms crossed, frowning and snorting coldly.

"The Demonic Sect often says that heaven and earth are eternal and need no mercy. Cultivators should not be bound by hypocritical benevolence. They should be like heaven and earth, with the high suppressing the low, the heavy swallowing the light, the strong bullying the weak, and killing countless mortals to refine treasures is only natural."

"Second Brother, your weak words seem to suggest that the heartless world is more powerful than human affection. If you think on a more extreme level, you might easily be led astray to the path of the Demonic Sect sect."

Yue Chunfeng was actually just indulging in a habitual lament about the passing of spring and the coming of autumn.

However, Yue Tianchi did sometimes have episodes in the past, and some cruel and ruthless thoughts would arise in his mind. After taking the medicine, he would be able to clearly realize the problem. Therefore, he was even more sensitive to the signs that might lead him astray.

But he just felt that the Demonic Sect Sect's system was bad; if you really asked him to argue about whether someone was sentimental or heartless, or whether someone was more virtuous or less virtuous, he couldn't say for sure.

Therefore, as he spoke, a subtle look of confusion appeared between his brows.

Chu Tianshu noticed this.

Chu Tianshu was dressed in the attire of a member of the Heavenly Wolf Sect, wearing a square scarf on his head, a simple white outfit underneath, and a thick gray robe on top.

A sword hangs on the left side of the belt, and a jade pendant hangs on the right, with a fiery red tassel below the pendant.

His eyes darted around, he thought for a moment, and then pointed.

"Second Master, what was this place called three thousand years ago?"

Yue Chunfeng was slightly surprised and pondered, "Three thousand years ago, it shouldn't have been called Heavenly Lake. I haven't verified what it was called."

"Are the same mountains and rivers from three thousand years ago the same as they are today?"

Chu Tianshu smiled and looked up at the sky, "Let alone this mountain, even the moon in the sky, some people think that the moon today is the moon of ancient times, and the people of today are not the people of ancient times."

"But if you look at the smallest details, you'll find that those tiny specks of light are constantly flickering and changing. The moon may still be there, but it has changed countless times, inside and out."

Although Yue Chunfeng didn't know anything about microscopic particles, he nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, the primordial energy of heaven and earth is constantly changing, and all things are formed from this primordial energy, flowing endlessly; there is nothing that is truly unchanging."

Chu Tianshu laughed, "So, since everything changes, what can truly measure the length of life is not how long the physical form can be preserved, but how stubborn we are."

Yue Chunfeng asked curiously, "Stubborn?"

Yue Tianchi also looked over in confusion.

"Good."

Chu Tianshu pointed to the mountains and rivers, "This mountain is no longer the same as it was a moment ago, but I can stubbornly say that my true self is still the same young man I was back then."

"Haha, the strength of one's ego determines the length of life. Water Heaven, cannot even ask themselves 'Who am I?' But as a human being, even in the most terrifying nightmare, the question 'Who am I?' will arise."

When Chu Tianshu got to this point, his tone softened and his voice became gentle.

Therefore, a thinking being, even in the brief moment of thought, is more precious than the entire starry sky.

"Those who kill indiscriminately in order to forge magical artifacts are truly putting the cart before the horse, foolish, despicable, and utterly laughable."

Chu Tianshu had killed many enemies he felt it was a pity he couldn't discuss philosophy with.

These people should have been treasures themselves, but they chose to destroy even more treasures in the world—and therefore deserve to die!

As Yue Chunfeng listened to Chu Tianshu's words, he sensed the nostalgic undertone in them and felt a sense of solemnity.

Fellow Daoist Chu has a mysterious background. Although he possesses an extraordinary temperament and superb martial arts skills, he defeated my elder brother.

Yue Chunfeng originally only regarded him as an outsider ally.

But those words just now made him realize that Fellow Daoist Chu's Dao heart had been tempered in ways that made it so gentle yet resilient.

Such a person truly seems like a senior figure.

Looking at Chu Tianshu's youthful face, Yue Chunfeng couldn't help but raise his opinion of him.

"Good!!"

Yue Tianchi suddenly clenched his fists and shouted, startling his second brother.

"Okay, okay, that's exactly what I mean."

Yue Tianchi's face was already red, but when he got excited, his face turned even redder, and he couldn't help but grab Chu Tianshu's shoulders with both hands.

"Brother, you're so good with words. I often despise the Demonic Sect in my heart, and sometimes I want to speak out, but I can't quite get to the point. What you just said is exactly what I wanted to say."

"Although I can't put it into words, in my heart, I feel the same way as you!"

He was so excited that he even started speaking the local dialect he used when he was a child, the dialect he used to speak in front of the mountain gate.

Meanwhile, eighty miles away.

Hidden high in the snowy clouds was an elderly man in white robes with gray hair, puffy eyes, many age spots on his face, and a sparse beard.

Before this person floated several crystal discs, manipulated by magic, stacked in a row, each rotating in a different direction.

The clouds, thick with snowflakes, were piled up like mountains, and hidden within them were hundreds of figures.

But all these figures deliberately looked away, avoiding eye contact with the Heavenly Lake Mountains.

Even the Hall Master of Spirit Mountain Hall, standing beside the white-robed elder, appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, only asking questions.

"Poison God, your emotions have suddenly stirred. What did you see?"

This old man in white was originally the leader of the Ten Thousand Poisons Grotto, a major branch of the Demonic Sect, and was known as the Poison God.

The Ten Thousand Poisons Grotto and the Heavenly Wolf Sect are sworn enemies, but the Qilin True Person's medical skills are divine, suppressing the Ten Thousand Poisons Grotto for hundreds of years.

The old man in white had been defiant since childhood and was too ruthless in his poison-making. Three years ago, he was on the verge of going mad from practicing poison.

Thanks to that calculation, the Master of the Hall of Longevity found the Dragon-Subduing Cauldron, placed the white-robed old man inside, bathed him in spiritual medicine, and refined him for forty-nine days, helping him to resolve most of the poison in his body.

After this incident, the Ten Thousand Poisons Grotto was merged into the Hall of Longevity.

This time, Hall Master of Spirit Mountain Hall came to spy on the Heavenly Wolf Sect, waiting for an opportunity to make a move.

The Hall of Longevity dispatched the Poison God and personally sent a letter inviting the Master of Hehuan Sect and the Master of Heavenly Lantern Pavilion to join forces.

The Master of Hehuan Sect and his disciples were hidden in a cloud of red mist. They should have been very conspicuous amidst the snowy clouds, but for some reason, they seemed inconspicuous.

On the other side of the Master of Heavenly Lantern Pavilion, clouds turned into mist, and each wisp of mist seemed to emit a dim white light, so thick that one could not see a person.

Of all these experts, only the Poison God could directly observe the movements of the Heavenly Wolf Sect.

Because the world's top experts all possess extraordinary sensitivity.

If the Demonic Sect Cult were to focus their attention directly on a master of the Heavenly Wolf Sect, it would certainly raise their alarm. Even with methods like Gu Arts surveillance or crystal projection, they would not escape the intuition of the three sect leaders of the Heavenly Wolf Sect.

Only the Seven Heavens Treasure Mirror of the Poison God, composed of seven layers of mirrors, is a magical artifact with endless uses.

It can deceive even the most skilled individuals and allow one to spy on their movements.

Hehehe.

The Poison God let out a strange laugh, "Yue Gude led several elders to guard that Qingyun Sect disciple as they entered the Heavenly Lake Pool to investigate; quite some time has passed since then."

Just now, Yue Tianchi suddenly became extremely excited.

"This man is cunning and ruthless. What could possibly make him so happy? It must be that Yue Gude used magic to contact them, mentioning that the treasure hunt has made great progress!"

These words moved everyone slightly.

Yue Tianchi was notoriously gloomy.

For someone like this to be so excited and lose their composure in front of a disciple is definitely extraordinary good news.

"It's not just significant progress, it's that we've found the divine stone!"

The Hall Master of Spirit Mountain Hall declared, "Everyone, prepare yourselves. We will make our move in an instant."

There was no response from the Hehuan Sect; it was unclear whether they had heard anything.

From the location of the Master of Heavenly Lantern Pavilion, however, came a strange, wet sound.

"We're not far from the Heavenly Wolf Mountain, and the three Yue brothers are quite skilled. If we delay any longer, they might send reinforcements."

"If the delay continues, experts from various sects such as Tianyin Temple and Incense Valley will inevitably have to arrive as well."

Upon hearing this, the Hall Master of Spirit Mountain Hall opened his eyes a crack, his gaze turning cold and intense.

"Indeed, I can vaguely sense that there have been bald monks lurking nearby for some time."

"Hmph! Tianyin Temple and Incense Valley must have already secretly sent elders and other high-ranking figures to keep an eye on the Heavenly Wolf Sect, just waiting for the right opportunity to jump out and interfere."

"However, you can rest assured that the four great monks of Tianyin Temple, the three monks of Incense Valley —Snow Mud Swan Tracks the one Chuanhuo, the one Chuangong, and the valley master—are all unable to come to our aid in person."

The Hall Master of Spirit Mountain Hall smiled, "Small fish are hard to predict, but when big fish set out, there will always be waves."

"Those two powerful figures will be dealt with personally by Brother Shanjun, who will contact his fellow Daoists and arrange for their interception."

Strange sounds came from the Master of Heavenly Lantern Pavilion's side again, like a slippery python swimming in the clouds.

"Yes! Few in the world can withstand those four bald old men joining forces. Fortunately, the Shanjun has kept his promise, so we can rest assured."

The Hall Master of Spirit Mountain Hall nodded with a smile, but his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

He even saw that members of his own sect felt more confident because Hall of Longevity was involved in planning this event.

The calculations made three years ago truly established a great reputation for Hall of Longevity.

Wu Shanjun is powerful, that's one thing.

More importantly, he actually values friendship, which is a rare quality in the Demonic Sect.

Even so, the Hall Master of Spirit Mountain Hall was still unwilling to submit.

"After obtaining the divine stone, I fear I cannot keep it all to myself. It will inevitably be arranged by the Hall of Longevity, and everyone will discuss its contents. However, as the owner of the Blood-Devouring Primordial Stone, I will surely receive the most."

"Wu Shanjun, I refuse to believe that my cultivation level cannot catch up with yours!"

The Hall Master of Spirit Mountain Hall felt a burning desire within him, silently contemplating and refining his jealousy like a sword.

The group moved stealthily through the snow clouds, slowly approaching.

They planned to launch a surprise attack and rob the group the moment Yue Gude led his men out of the water.

But after waiting a while longer, Yue Gude still did not emerge from the water.

"Broken."

Poison God suddenly said, "Could it be that Yue Gude and the others have already traveled underground, while the rest of the Heavenly Wolf Sect are still at Heavenly Lake, merely playing a cover?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the Demonic Sect felt that it made a lot of sense.

The Master of Heavenly Lantern Pavilion said sternly, "I'll go underground to probe."

Amidst the snow clouds, a wisp of mist parted, suddenly rushed to the ground, and seeped into the earth.

They were now only a dozen miles away from Heavenly Lake.

The sudden descent of a cloud of mist from the sky immediately caught the attention of the Heavenly Wolf Sect.

"Demonic Sect cult prodigy? Perfect timing!"

Yue Tianchi roared, as if stepping on a purple moon, and flew into the air, chasing after the place where the mist fell.

However, while he was still en route, he noticed something unusual happening within the snow clouds.

The seven crystal discs, spaced further apart, resemble a rapidly elongating beam of light.

The crystal disc at the very front of the beam of light hurtled towards Yue Tianchi.

"You bastards from the Heavenly Wolf Sect, taste my Poison God Circular Light Technique!"

Yue Chunfeng's expression was solemn. He spread his sleeves and held a writing brush in his hand.

Chu Tianshu, like any other normal disciple of the Heavenly Wolf Sect, hid behind the Second Sect Leader.