Winter Snow

Qin Wentian lay motionless and silent on the stone slab, a lone figure under the gentle caress of the billowing winds. Every night, as darkness descended, the stone slab atop the hilly region would come alive with radiant Astral Light, absorbing starlight from the heavens as if it were a timeless ritual, occurring night after night.

The Immersed/Creation Dream state, the second stage of the Dreamcast Art, allowed Qin Wentian to significantly amplify his absorption rate of Astral Energy. It was as if he had gained profound insights. Astral Light flowed incessantly into his body, coursing through his arterial pathways, revitalizing his energy and strength. It even seemed to be on the verge of breaking through, creating new circular arterial pathways.

Qin Wentian had also constructed a dreamscape to practice his Dreamcast Art, a realm where he was omnipotent, and the boundaries of reality ceased to exist.

Cultivators could subsist on Yuan Qi or Astral Qi alone. Food and water were of no concern.

As the temperature dropped, chilling gusts of wind occasionally rustled his robes. Yet, his eyes remained closed, lost in a deep state of concentration.

Today, however, the skies darkened and rain began to pour, soaking the youth's clothes. He remained unmoved, eyes still closed. It was as though he had entered a state of profound realization, oblivious to his surroundings, even to himself.

In the overcast sky, thunder rumbled and lightning danced amidst the clouds before striking the earth. The youth showed no reaction.

As time passed, his facial features subtly transformed. The lines on his face grew more refined, sculpting an expression of unwavering determination.

Winter's snowflakes gently descended, draping his body like a robe of pure white.

In the Chu Country's royal capital, snow began to fall, drawing youths from the academies out of their dorms to revel in its beauty. Among them were many couples, their cultivation levels not particularly high but irrelevant in the radiance of their youth. These were the years when life sparkled the brightest. Once they embarked fully on the martial path, they might never return to this innocent simplicity.

The Martial Way was a harsh and demanding journey.

Mu Rou tilted her head to admire the falling snow, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. Over two months had passed, and there was still no sign of Qin Wentian in the City of Illusions, nor any news of his whereabouts.

Perhaps, like many other brilliant young talents, he would meet an untimely end in his youth, never realizing his full potential, unknown to the masses.

In the Emperor Star Academy, he had etched his name in history, causing both tremendous and trifling ripples. But as time marched relentlessly forward, his marks would soon be buried beneath its weight. New legends would always emerge, captivating the crowd's attention.

The vast Royal Capital of Chu had no shortage of talented youths.

Last year belonged to Luo Qianqiu, and this year was Qin Wentian's time in the spotlight. Yet, Luo Qianqiu was still crafting his own legend.

Beside her, footsteps approached. Mu Rou turned to see Ye Zhan and Liu Yan.

Ye Zhan, leveraging his family's influence, had secured Liu Yan's enrollment in the Royal Academy.

Mu Rou regarded Liu Yan, who stood with Ye Zhan. The girl's intentions weren't malicious; it was the result of her transition from a humble upbringing in a small town to the bustling Royal Capital. Her values had naturally evolved, and she sought to chart her own path. This was what she had wanted.

Mu Rou understood it wasn't entirely Liu Yan's fault. After all, Qin Wentian had saved her and her sister Liu Yue's lives that day, and despite witnessing the peril he faced, she had chosen to remain silent, revealing her choice.

But everyone had their own path. Mu Rou had no right to condemn Liu Yan; at most, she would maintain her distance.

"Mu Rou, I've heard that because of you, many clans have distanced themselves from the Mu Clan. Have you thought about dating Yanaro? He has shown interest in you," Ye Zhan remarked lightly, eliciting an unsightly expression from Mu Rou.

Several months ago, news of what transpired in the Royal Clan's hunting grounds had spread throughout the Royal Capital. Despite Mu Rou's insistence that the choice was hers alone, she was quickly ostracized. Crafty members of aristocratic clans cared only about the Third Prince's stance and were unwilling to establish closer ties with the Mu Clan or maintain friendly relations. Consequently, many clans began avoiding the Mu Clan. Mu Rou herself faced increasing pressure from her family. She was no longer entitled to the clan's cultivation resources.

"I don't need your concern in my affairs," Mu Rou replied calmly, her heart heavy with a sigh. She had once enjoyed a strong bond with Chu Ling. However, after the incident, Chu Ling, to her surprise, not only ignored her for several days but also distanced herself from Mu Rou. When they did cross paths, Chu Ling's gaze was cold.

"All because of a dead man," Ye Zhan sniped as he passed Mu Rou.

Liu Yan walked alongside him, her head bowed, remaining silent throughout their conversation.

"All because of a dead man," Mu Rou repeated. Was he truly gone? She couldn't fathom why she couldn't forget Qin Wentian. It wasn't love, but perhaps their daily sparring sessions in the City of Illusions had left her with a faint sense of missing him in her heart.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Within the serene confines of the Emperor Star Academy, in a picturesque pavilion, a figure of unparalleled beauty graced the scene. This ethereal presence was none other than Mo Qingcheng, the Chu Country's reigning beauty.

"Qingcheng, what brings you to visit this old man today?" An elderly gentleman, known as Old Man Gu, strolled over. He happened to be Mustang's esteemed teacher.

"Grandpa," Mo Qingcheng inquired with eyes like sparkling jewels, "any news of him?"

Old Man Gu knew precisely who 'him' referred to in Mo Qingcheng's words. He sighed inwardly. It had been so many days, and there was still no word of Qin Wentian. It seemed that their worst fears were coming to fruition.

"Qingcheng, if I recall correctly, you rarely concern yourself with others," Old Man Gu chuckled, trying to shift the conversation. Mo Qingcheng rolled her eyes and persisted, "Is there any hope left?"

"Sigh." Old Man Gu's gaze drifted into the distant horizon as he shook his head with a bitter smile. "I underestimated Chu Tianjiao. I never imagined he would be so ruthless and decisive, using the banquet as an excuse to act directly and disregarding public opinion. He even used Qin Chuan as bait. He's far more ruthless than the Chu Country's First Prince."

"Such a shame that it seems unlikely for the First Prince to ascend to the throne."

"Grandpa, why didn't our Mo Clan step in to help the Qin Clan?" Mo Qingcheng inquired further, "After all, the Mo Clan and the Qin Clan used to share a strong bond."

"Things are more complex than they appear. There are many layers of complications behind this, making it difficult for the Mo Clan to openly intervene," Old Man Gu replied calmly. "Do you recall the agreement your grandfather once made with Qin Wu? If both their descendants were a boy and a girl, they would be betrothed to each other."

Old Man Gu wore a reminiscent smile. "If the Qin Clan hadn't declined and remained the Qin Clan of old, you and Qin Wentian might have been bound by destiny."

"That was ages ago; I barely remember. Besides, Qin Wentian isn't even Qin Chuan's biological son," Mo Qingcheng chuckled. She had heard her elders discuss this topic before. But ever since the Qin Clan moved to Sky Harmony City, the relationship between her Mo Clan and the Qin Clan had not been as close due to their different locations.

"All I want now is for him to survive," Mo Qingcheng sighed, casting her gaze toward the horizon, her heart filled with silent prayers.

"How is Qin Yao doing?" Mo Qingcheng suddenly inquired. The Emperor Star Academy had previously organized a search party to find Qin Wentian. Although they hadn't discovered any traces of him, they did locate Qin Yao, bringing her back to the academy.

"She's here at the academy. At least this way, she'll be safe," Old Man Gu replied, and Mo Qingcheng nodded in understanding.

"Chu Tianjiao won't spare Qin Yao," Old Man Gu added in a hushed tone. "Knowing him, because his trap in the Dark Forest failed, he won't give up."

"Grandpa, are you suggesting that Chu Tianjiao will use Qin Chuan again to go after Qin Yao?" Mo Qingcheng questioned, her brows furrowed. "But he's already tried that tactic once; will it really work again?"

"For those who cherish emotions and relationships, even if Chu Tianjiao used Qin Chuan as bait a hundred times, Qin Yao would still willingly walk into the trap," Old Man Gu shook his head. He understood this reasoning well, as did Chu Tianjiao.

Mo Qingcheng could only remain silent, her heart heavy with worry.

In the Dark Forest, a blanket of snow covered the ground. Near the forest's boundary, a massive Blackwind Condor descended from the sky.

A young man jumped down from the back of the Blackwind Condor. He appeared to be around 17 years old, dressed in rugged beast-skin clothing. His features had matured, now carrying a hint of a charming, almost demonic allure. This young man was none other than Qin Wentian.

"Senior, I want to thank you for your kindness," Qin Wentian said, turning to express his gratitude to the Blackwind Condor. Without the Condor's assistance, he might have perished within the Dark Forest, becoming a meal for its countless demonic beasts.

The Blackwind Condor emitted a low rumble, and Qin Wentian laughed, seemingly carefree. "Don't worry. I've engraved the matter you asked for deep in my heart. When I can freely control the power of my Bloodline Limit in the future, I'll fulfill my promise and give you three drops of my blood essence."

It was as if the Blackwind Condor understood Qin Wentian's words. With a loud screech, it flapped its wings and soared into the sky, creating a powerful gust of wind that swept past. Soon after, the Blackwind Condor became a mere speck and disappeared over the horizon.

Qin Wentian watched the disappearing Condor, feeling a sense of puzzlement. He couldn't comprehend why the Blackwind Condor had asked for his blood essence. Perhaps there was something unique about his blood. Back when he had fainted in the Dark Forest, several demonic beasts had avoided him, some even giving him a wide berth.

Not dwelling on it further, Qin Wentian turned away from the Dark Forest. With his back to the menacing woods, he began his journey toward the nearby city.

His footprints left marks on the snowy ground, and his eyes gleamed with a sharpness that rivaled a sword's edge. He vowed that the grandiose Royal Capital, with all its hidden schemes, would never block the path he aimed to tread in the future.