The iron rod at the head of the bed trembled, emitting a faint sound.
The moonlight was gentle like water, spilling softly across the smooth floor, casting the silhouette of a slender and graceful figure.
Su Youzhu stood silently in the doorway, wearing a pink nightdress, quietly watching him.
She covered her lips with her hand, soundlessly.
Her vision gradually blurred.
The mountain peaks shrouded in year-round blizzards vanished amidst the mist and clouds. A steep mountain path led deep into the snowy expanse, resembling a seemingly infinite road to the heavens—one wrong step would lead to eternal damnation.
Dimly, eagles could be seen circling within the wind and snow, their eyes blood-red, shimmering with streaks of crimson lightning.
Snow pines swayed among the cliffs, accompanied by the howling sound of sword wind.
Someone practiced swordsmanship between the cliffs, sword qi roaring across the air, shattering rocky debris.
Others soared through the blizzards atop their swords, resembling celestial beings.
In the Extraordinary World, Mythical Weapons came in many varieties.
The most common types were special-effect Mythical Weapons, such as the Lock of Nonexistence, the Tear of the Abyss, and others.
Rarer were Growth Type Mythical Weapons, which could grow alongside their wielder. Legends claimed that some even possessed self-awareness, harboring ancient souls within—terrifyingly powerful.
Then there was another type—not exactly rare, but unattainable.
Or perhaps, even if obtained, it would remain useless.
This type was called Space-Type Mythical Weapons.
Only Catastrophe-level Ascenders were qualified to wield such weapons, which came with their own intrinsic worlds.
For instance, the Forget Sorrow Grocery Store belonging to the King of Qing.
Or the Sword Tomb of the Silver King.
On the frozen, icy path, Tang Ling walked up the frost-covered steps expressionlessly. She wore a white wool coat and jeans hugging her long legs, along with tall black boots.
A massive instrument case was slung across her back, while her snow-white hair fluttered in the wind.
"So, she's the one who came back."
"Shh, don't pay any attention to that monster. Stay away from her, or you'll get beaten."
"What's there to be afraid of? Senior Sister Mu has returned, too. She won't just stand by and watch us get beaten."
"Fool! Don't forget, even though she's only Fourth Rank now, it's because she's been held back by Extreme Thunder. It won't be long before she advances to Fifth Rank. By then, Senior Sister Mu won't hold a candle to her. Aren't you afraid she'll bear a grudge?"
Soft whispers floated within the blizzard.
Tang Ling acted as if she'd heard nothing, coldly pushing her way through the snowstorm.
At the mountaintop lay a dojo blanketed in snow. Inside the dojo hall, two figures sat cross-legged on meditation cushions.
Between them was a chessboard with an incomplete game.
In this world, those who could step into this dojo hall were extremely few.
Other than its owner, the Silver King.
The most frequent visitor here was the President, Taihua.
The Silver King, fixated on the chessboard, replied nonchalantly.
As one of the Catastrophe-level entities, the Silver King was also a woman.
Her face was average-looking, and her age indiscernible. She wore a retro black-and-white Daoist robe, her long, snow-white hair cascading across the entire hall like a blanket of snow, its actual length immeasurable.
Just her presence sitting there prevented the blizzard from invading the hall.
The snowflakes were sliced apart by invisible sword qi, scattered in the winds.
Taihua pinched a black chess piece, her voice indifferent: "Avoid dealing with Huai Yin for now. No matter how grand his claims, don't interact with him. Don't answer his calls or meet with him."
The Silver King raised her head, her gaze growing colder: "What sort of trouble has that brat stirred up now?"
Taihua only said three words: "Showing off."
A hint of suspicion flickered in the Silver King's eyes as she casually placed a white chess piece.
"Teacher, President."
Tang Ling stepped into the hall, shaking the snow off her hair, bowing deeply: "I've returned."
The Silver King raised her head and glanced at her student.
"Firm resolve, clear Sword Intent, vigorous Qi and spirit."
She commented with satisfaction, "Not bad. It seems the Qilin Immortal Palace has been fruitful for you."
Inheritance Pathways are a rather intriguing concept.
If the strength of the Ancient Martial Path depends on one's comprehension of Martial Arts,
then the Sword Sect Path emphasizes honing one's willpower beyond mere swordsmanship.
That is to say, one's Qi, spirit, and essence.
As for the Divine Path, it focuses on the interplay of madness and self-restraint.
Each is highly abstract.
Taihua shifted her attention from the chessboard, focusing instead on the white-haired girl before her, and praised: "Marvelous. It's a pity you were born ten years too late. Otherwise, after I pass on, the position of President would surely have been yours."
If anyone had been present, they'd be utterly shocked.
Everyone knew the President's time was running out.
Having lived over four centuries, she had nearly reached the limit of what Ascenders could endure.
The one originally slated to inherit the next presidency, Light, had ventured into the depths of Buzhou Mountain in pursuit of a Catastrophe-level breakthrough, taking extreme risks. Ultimately, he perished at the hands of Candle Dragon Venerable.
As a result, internal strife within the Ether Association intensified dramatically.
These last two centuries marked the most turbulent and chaotic era for the association.
And with just these words, the President revealed she'd long chosen her successor.
If the President managed to find a way to extend her life by another decade, it would set off massive shifts within the Ether Association, shaking all its factions and inevitably stirring malicious ambitions.
"You overestimate me,"
Tang Ling responded calmly: "I'm not even the strongest in the Sword Tomb. How could I possibly lead the association as President?"
The Silver King smiled faintly.
"I've never been wrong in judging a person."