This place was once the Northern Ice Plains. Ever since the Daqian Dynasty unified the southern region of the Southern State and incorporated the Sword Dynasty, it has been renamed Icefield County.
Even though it had been incorporated into the territory of the Daqian Dynasty, this place still remained a borderland.
There were still some powerful individuals from the Sword Dynasty who refused to submit, hiding within the Ice Plains and occasionally causing disturbances along the borders of the Daqian Dynasty.
In that remote location amidst the swirling snow.
The lights blazed bright in a small town, where townspeople sat inside a tavern at the center, listening to an old blind man speak confidently.
Everyone was focused, listening intently.
The blind old man, his hair a disheveled mix of white and gray, spoke with a weather-worn face. His cloudy eyes, as they rolled, held a strange hue, "Now, speaking of King Xiao Yi of Zhen, he was a rare genius, scarcely seen in the world. It is said that when he was born, his talent was extraordinary. He was suppressed and imprisoned by his own brother and father, who feared that his talents might threaten their power…"
The blind old man narrated slowly, his raspy voice telling a captivating story.
It was thought-provoking.
A noble-born individual with exceptional talent, imprisoned for over a decade due to his brother's jealousy.
Yet he did not fall into despair.
Instead, he struggled even harder and finally achieved greatness!
"Old blind man, why have I heard that Xiao Yi was actually of average talent at birth and that his accomplishments are due to some fortuitous encounters?" someone interjected.
"Yeah, I've never heard about Xiao Yi possessing any remarkable talent!" others chimed in.
The crowd spoke in unison.
Undisturbed, the old blind man huffed coldly and said, "Do you really think such fortuitous encounters are so miraculous? Without inherent talent, no encounter can transform rotten wood into jade!" Pausing for a moment, he slammed his more startled hand onto the table, his voice ringing out loudly in the tavern, "Speaking of King Xiao Yi, once he came to the Northern Ice Plains, he began to investigate the mystery of the locals' disappearances. Following the clues, he finally found the culprit behind the disappearances…"
Everyone looked eagerly at the old blind man, the climax of the story beckoning.
Who indeed was the culprit behind the disappearances?
The old blind man suddenly slammed his hand down and pronounced loudly, "To find out what happens next, please stay tuned for the next session!"
Groans filled the tavern: "Damn it, stopping there?"
"Are you kidding? I've just ordered food and drink, and you're telling me I have to wait until next time?"
Facing the crowd's complaints and angry shouts, the old blind man, all smiles, said, "Ladies and gentlemen, wealth should not be distributed in one day, and a story should not be told in one sitting. Xiao Zhenguo is a legend, indeed a savior of the Daqian Dynasty. It's worth waiting a little longer to hear his tale…"
"Well, that does make sense!"
"Alright, let's wait a bit longer then."
The crowd sighed resignedly.
A young man listened to the old blind man's story, sipping his drink quietly, his downturned head concealing his face.
He was about to stand up.
A sneering voice emerged from the crowd, "What legend? It's just that in the absence of tigers in the mountains, the monkey claims to be the king! The vast Southern State, apart from the Nantian Dynasty, has no real masters. Xiao Yi is merely lucky to be born in this remote corner. If he were in the Nantian Dynasty, he wouldn't even amount to a fart!"
Everyone was taken aback.
Someone dared to curse Xiao Yi in the Daqian Dynasty?
A young man in the corner suddenly looked up with a cold gaze toward the speaker.
This man was clad in black.
On the cuffs, there was a Money Gang symbol, signifying he was Jin Chi, a considerable force from the Nantian Dynasty's third-rate powers. His cultivation had reached the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribulation Realm. In this border land, such cultivation was enough to walk unhindered, and he had specifically come from the Nantian Dynasty to expand his market into the Daqian Dynasty.
Unexpectedly, on his way, he heard an old blind man recounting the story of Xiao Yi, and how people treated Xiao Yi like a deity.
This annoyed him greatly!
"Who are you to insult Xiao Zhenguo?"
"Xiao Zhenguo is a deity of our Daqian Dynasty. Kneel and repent immediately, or don't dream of leaving here..." the crowd glared in anger.
At least in the past, in the hearts of the citizens of the Great Qian Dynasty, Xiao Yi was a supreme deity.
No blasphemy was allowed.
Jin Chi sneered at the crowd and with a tremor around him, an explosive wave of energy burst forth. With a booming sound, it overturned tables and chairs in the tavern, throwing the people inside into disarray. Some of the citizens close to him suffered heavy injuries, their blood spraying wildly, their faces pale.
Jin Chi looked disdainfully at the crowd: "You trash think you can make me kneel? From your strength, I can see what the Daqian Dynasty is made of and how Xiao Yi is merely a man of empty fame..."
Jin Chi's words were suddenly interrupted by a crisp slap.
He covered his face in confusion, "Who, who did this?"
It had broken half his teeth.
This time, Jin Chi saw who had struck—it was the icy-eyed young man in the corner, holding his cup, sipping his drink. As his eyes blazed a bloody red, he hissed, "You little bastard, dare to sneak attack me again and again, I will kill you!"
A streak of cold light blazed past.
The young man in the corner seemed to shatter into an illusion, then like thousands of stars flickering, he merged back together. As his form faded and solidified, he had already brushed past Jin Chi. Holding a jug of wine, he staggered towards the door, his indifferent and icy voice mixed with the incoming snow from the broken door, chilling the tavern even further, "Those who insult my master—die!"
A streak of blood surfaced on Jin Chi's neck, his body falling to the ground with a thud, dragging a jagged trail of blood behind.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Jin Chi was a strong practitioner on the Seventh Layer of the Tao Tribulation Realm; the young man had silently killed him?
What a terrifying method!
Recalling the young man's words, the people couldn't help but gasp in awe: "A disciple of Xiao Yi?"
"If even his disciple is so powerful, it seems Xiao Yi really does have some skills!"
The few powerful followers with Jin Chi exchanged glances; a glint of icy cold light flashed in one of their eyes: "No matter who it is, whoever dares to kill a member of Money Gang has only one path—death!"
PS: Sorry, I had a fever yesterday and still haven't recovered...