Peaceful Years, Enjoy the Present

That year slowly passed amid the sounds of Chen Xun's pill furnace exploding. They added their Longevity Points to the Essence of All Things, bringing it to 19.

Goose-feather snow fell over the Ningyun Mountain Range, silvery white blanketing the earth. Heaven and earth merged into one line, blurring the boundaries, blurring the horizon.

The Qian Kingdom seemed somewhat unsettled that year. It was said that war had broken out along the border, and countless righteous patriots of the nation had set out for the frontier to guard the kingdom's gates.

Snow filled the sky as their families bid them farewell through the haze. The snow was filled with footprints, and filled with longing.

The families of countless righteous men lingered there, standing until dusk.

Yet the snow at dusk fell thick and deep, as though carrying a thousand strands of emotion, surging like the sea, capable of drowning everything.

But no matter what happened in the mortal world, it seemed unable to stop the immortal-seeking path of countless independent cultivators.

The Ascension Convention proceeded as usual. That hooded cultivator leading an ox never appeared again, gradually fading from people's memories.

However, a major event took place within the valley. Cultivators from several hundred sects personally stepped in to arrest those selling the booklets. Though they killed no one, their Family Fortunes were completely emptied out.

These booklets had severely harmed the interests of the various immortal sects. Originally, everyone had competed fairly, but now that such a "strategy guide" had appeared, the number of independent cultivators attempting the trials for certain immortal sects had visibly increased.

Some promising seedlings had also been snatched away. They blamed it all on those booklets, saying they had led the young astray.

The Ten Great Immortal Sects stood united against the outside world, clearing away this scourge. Should such a thing happen again, they would ensure that all involved suffered Death and Dao Dissipation.

Ningyun Mountain Range, outskirts, inside a Mountain Cave.

By now, they had completely used up their spiritual herb seeds, and their Pill Refining Furnace had exploded as well. Chen Xun began considering the next step of their plan.

Big Black Ox sat to one side, grinding medicinal herbs with tremendous force in its two hooves. These were the seasonings they normally used for meals.

"Old Ox, let's use up the remaining pills first. We'll save the other spiritual herbs for now."

"Moo."

Big Black Ox called out halfheartedly, using its hoof to pour the powder into a bottle before continuing to grind it, its eyes Filled With seriousness.

Chen Xun hoisted two water vats onto his shoulders, clothes still inside them, and smiled. "Old Ox, we're fetching water. Coming?"

"Moo moo~" Big Black Ox cried anxiously, hurriedly tidying up the stone grinder. Wherever Chen Xun went, it went.

Big Black Ox directly moved aside the enormous boulder outside the Mountain Cave. After Chen Xun left, it covered the entrance again and even checked for any flaws.

Snowflakes drifted outside as the freezing wind raged. Chen Xun wore only a thin layer of clothing, yet he felt no cold at all.

They arrived by a stream and chiseled holes through the ice everywhere. Chen Xun held up a water vat with one hand to fill it, while Big Black Ox held another vat and stood in the middle of the Small Stream, delighted beyond measure.

Big Black Ox got too carried away and cracked the ice beneath its feet, plunging straight in. Chen Xun reacted swiftly and pulled it back up.

After filling the vats, they sat together to wash their clothes. Neither man nor ox knew what they were talking about, but their laughter never stopped.

Snowflakes danced across the sky. They sat amid snowdrifts several feet deep, and it seemed that Between Heaven and Earth, there was only that young man and a Big Black Ox.

The years were peaceful. Enjoy the present.

Before long, the sound of dry branches snapping drifted over, accompanied by heavy footsteps crunching through the snow. Though they were still far away, Chen Xun and Big Black Ox had long since heard them with their current hearing.

Chen Xun and Big Black Ox turned toward the snow-covered Woods. A large group of people in ragged robes was approaching, Wooden Staffs Leaning On in their hands.

Their faces were filthy and reddened from the cold. There were at least a hundred of them—men and women, old and young alike.

Every face was filled with shock. In such heavy snow, these two were actually washing clothes. And that Big Black Ox was sitting upright, with clothes and soapberries in its hooves.

"Old Man, are you lost?"

Chen Xun asked casually. They were a group of mortals, and the wariness in his heart gradually faded.

Big Black Ox merely glanced at them. There was no danger, so it continued scrubbing the clothes, occasional moos sounding from its mouth.

"Young Hero, we are refugees fleeing from Dan Song City."

An elderly man hobbled over. This young man clearly looked like a martial artist, strong and healthy, unafraid of the cold despite such heavy snow.

"Dan Song City? That's so far away—you must have reached the other side of the Ningyun Mountain Range." Chen Xun said in surprise. He had heard of Dan Song City before. It neighbored Pan Ning City, but the journey was distant. "Are you going to Pan Ning City?"

"Yes, yes." The old man nodded. It seemed they were about to arrive, and delight flashed in his eyes.

"Old Man, what happened? The Ningyun Mountain Range is so dangerous, yet you dared to cross it?"

"Young Hero, you misunderstand. We traveled along the outskirts and took a detour."

The old man Shook His Head and sighed deeply. "The Qian Kingdom is in turmoil now. Rebellious armies are rising everywhere, and bandits are causing trouble as well. Even Dan Song City's city lord was killed."

"Huh?"

Chen Xun was startled and immediately understood these people. If it were him, he would run too. "Pan Ning City is reached by heading southeast. You took a bit of a detour."

"Many thanks, Young Hero." The old man gave a Cupped Fist Salute. After saying so much, he had really just wanted to ask for directions.

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

Chen Xun waved his hand, looking at the refugees. "Be careful on the road. There are quite a few wild beasts around here."

"Many thanks, Young Hero."

"Many thanks, Young Hero!"

"Thank you, Big Brother."

Many voices of thanks rose from the crowd, along with the crisp shout of a Little Girl. Hope kindled in all their eyes. They would finally reach Pan Ning City—a Great City with quite stable public order.

Chen Xun smiled faintly as he watched them leave. Big Black Ox also mooed at them.

"Old Ox, let me tell you, no matter what world it is, as long as there is a nation, there will be raging beacon fires stretching to the heavens. The common folk always suffer."

Chen Xun said with emotion. The history of his homeland in his previous life had been a painfully tragic history of war, carved into the blood of every person.

"Moo? Moo moo moo!"

Big Black Ox was immediately energized. It even stopped the work in its hooves and continuously rubbed its body against Chen Xun. Hurry up and tell it.

"Then we'll have to start with the Xia Dynasty..."

Chen Xun began his tale with solemn gravity. Big Black Ox's eyes widened round as it listened, utterly entranced, even memorizing several names.

After Half an Hour, they had finished washing their clothes and sat there admiring the snowy scenery. Chen Xun was still telling Big Black Ox about history, immersed in it.

"If you wish to know what happened next, listen for the next installment."

Chen Xun patted Big Black Ox, which was Still Wanting More, then looked at the washed clothes. "Our clothes have all frozen into Ice Blocks!"

"Moo!" Big Black Ox suddenly snapped back to its senses. That was indeed true.

"Let's go, let's go. Good thing we have the Fireball Spell."

Chen Xun stood, carrying the water vats and clothes as he led Big Black Ox back toward the Mountain Cave. Spells really were convenient—they could dry everything directly.

Along the way, they gradually began to feel that something was wrong. Why was there a scent of blood drifting through the wind and snow?

"Old Ox..."

Chen Xun said in a low voice. He pulled the hood from his robes and put it over his head. "Be careful."

"Moo."

Big Black Ox answered quietly, vigilance in its eyes. Its sense of smell was exceptionally keen.

In the distance, several corpses lay beneath a tree. Their blood had stained a patch of snow red, only to be gradually buried by the falling snow.

Chen Xun's brow furrowed deeply, and his pace slowly eased. It seemed there were several corpses every half li or so, bearing blade wounds. They had not been dead long, and the footprints around them were a chaotic mess.

"Moo?"

Big Black Ox looked at Chen Xun. Several of them seemed awfully familiar, like the common folk who had just asked for directions.

Chen Xun gradually approached and turned over several corpses. One woman had fiercely Protected a Little Girl, but both had already stopped breathing. Even their wounds had begun to freeze.