Four Major Forces Gather at Falling Snow Mountain

Yun Zhongque waved his hand, sending a streak of light into the sky that transformed into a massive white jade ship. A restrained yet vast aura radiated outward.

"This is the Jade Dragon Boat, the magical treasure we’ll be using for this journey."

"Everyone, board immediately."

With that, he and Yan Qingxuan took the lead, soaring into the ship.

"Is this a magical treasure?"

The crowd stared at the Jade Dragon Boat, their faces filled with awe.

Wang Jianqiang also gazed up at the white jade vessel in the sky, his expression shaken.

Magical tools were artifacts used by Qi Refinement cultivators. Above them were spirit tools, which only Foundation Establishment cultivators could wield.

As for magical treasures, they required at least a Golden Core cultivator to control.

This was the first time he had ever laid eyes on a genuine magical treasure.

Even though its aura was suppressed, he still felt an overwhelming pressure, as if facing an endless ocean.

He had no doubt that if this treasure unleashed its full aura, the mere force of it could crush every disciple present.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

...

Watching as figures flew into the Jade Dragon Boat one after another, Wang Jianqiang turned to Wang Yuyao. "Let’s go up too."

With that, the two of them ascended and entered the ship.

...

The Joy Union Sect and the Snowfall Mountain were separated by a hundred thousand miles.

Even if a peak Qi Refinement cultivator flew at full speed without rest, it would take at least a month to traverse the distance.

But with the speed of the Jade Dragon Boat, they arrived at Snowfall Mountain in just a single day.

"The entrance to the secret realm is here."

Inside the Jade Dragon Boat, Yun Zhongque waved his arm, and the vessel was withdrawn.

Wang Jianqiang felt his vision blur for a moment. When his sight cleared, he found himself standing atop a massive mountain peak.

Snowflakes drifted endlessly from the sky.

Everywhere he looked, the mountain was blanketed in thick, eternal snow.

"Oh? Yan Qingxuan?"

"I didn’t expect the Joy Union Sect to send you and Elder Yun Zhongque as leaders this time!"

A surprised voice suddenly rang out.

Wang Jianqiang turned toward the sound.

Not far from them stood another group of people waiting in the same location.

Every one of them, regardless of gender, was powerfully built, their muscles bulging.

The speaker was the leader of this group—an elderly man with graying hair.

He looked ancient, his age seemingly on par with Wang Jianqiang’s, as if he were on the verge of death.

Yet his skin bore no wrinkles, and his exaggerated muscles strained against his robes, which clung tightly to his body, displaying astonishing elasticity.

It was as if an old man’s head had been placed on the body of a young bodybuilder—utterly incongruous.

The four great cultivation factions of the Northern Region—the Joy Union Sect, the Profound Clear Palace, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, and the Righteous Sun Sect.

Rumors said the Righteous Sun Sect specialized in body refinement.

Given how exaggerated their physiques were, they were undoubtedly from the Righteous Sun Sect.

Wang Jianqiang studied them thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, Yan Qingxuan turned to the muscular elder. From behind her veil, a cold voice emerged.

"Jia Wenchang, are you surprised to see me?"

"Indeed, a little."

The muscular elder, Jia Wenchang, seemed unfazed by her tone, as if he had expected it. He chuckled. "Fairy Qingxuan was once the Joy Union Sect’s top prodigy, renowned throughout the Northern Region."

"But for some reason, you haven’t left the sect in seventy years. There were even rumors that you suffered an incurable injury—or worse, that you had perished."

"Now it seems those rumors were unfounded."

Yan Qingxuan’s eyes flickered, but she did not respond.

Jia Wenchang smiled and turned to Yun Zhongque. "Elder Yun Zhongque, the last time the secret realm opened, it was you and I leading our sects. Thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and here we meet again."

Yun Zhongque returned the smile, and the two began exchanging pleasantries.

While the elders conversed amicably, the atmosphere between the disciples of the two sects was entirely different.

Everyone knew that once they entered the Frost Pond Secret Realm, they would be life-and-death competitors.

Their gazes clashed with open hostility, as if sparks were about to fly.

Wang Jianqiang stood among the crowd, scrutinizing the Righteous Sun Sect disciples one by one.

"Be wary of the two behind Jia Wenchang."

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.

Wang Jianqiang stiffened slightly and glanced toward Yan Qingxuan at the front of their group.

She didn’t look at him, as if the voice hadn’t come from her.

Wang Jianqiang smirked and turned his attention back to the Righteous Sun Sect’s ranks.

Standing behind Jia Wenchang were a man and a woman.

The man was nearly two meters tall, bare-chested, his body covered in exaggerated muscle lines that exuded raw power.

The woman was even taller, standing half a head above the man. Though her features were delicate, her muscles were just as imposing, straining against her dress.

A moment later, their status panels appeared in his mind.

"Name: Yang Yun

Gender: Male

Cultivation: Peak Qi Refinement

Age: 29

Spiritual Roots: Dual Earth-Water

Karma Value: -50"

"Name: Su Su

Gender: Female

Cultivation: Peak Qi Refinement

Age: 28

Spiritual Roots: Dual Earth-Wood

Karma Value: -50"

Unsurprisingly, both were at peak Qi Refinement.

Their true combat prowess was likely on par with the likes of Ye Lingyun.

Moreover, as top-tier outer sect geniuses, they had surely accumulated enough resources to break through to Foundation Establishment at any moment—especially since they undoubtedly carried Foundation Establishment Pills.

Though they were still at Qi Refinement now, they would undoubtedly advance swiftly upon entering the secret realm.

As for their karma values…

He wasn’t surprised.

After all, they would soon be trying to kill each other inside the secret realm.

It was only natural that their goodwill would be in the negatives.

Just as Wang Jianqiang observed them, the two seemed to sense his gaze. Their eyes sharpened like blades, locking onto him simultaneously.

"Such keen perception. They’re no ordinary opponents."

Wang Jianqiang raised an eyebrow and subtly averted his gaze.

"That woman is Su Su, the Righteous Sun Sect’s top outer sect disciple in this year’s tournament. The man is Yang Yun, the runner-up…"

Yan Qingxuan’s voice echoed in his mind again, this time listing the top ten outer sect disciples of the Righteous Sun Sect.

Wang Jianqiang memorized each one as she pointed them out.

Whoosh—

At that moment, a piercing sound tore through the air.

A massive sword descended from the sky, halting above the crowd.

Dozens of figures leaped down from the sword.

Each of them exuded a razor-sharp aura, as if they themselves were peerless blades.

Though Wang Jianqiang didn’t recognize them, their characteristics were unmistakable.

In an instant, he knew their origin.

The Ten Thousand Swords Sect!

"Haha, Daoist Qing Feng, you’re a bit late this time."

Jia Wenchang acted like a social butterfly.

As the Ten Thousand Swords Sect arrived, he laughed heartily and greeted them.

The leader of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect was a middle-aged man in green robes.

He nodded at Jia Wenchang. "Fellow Daoist Jia."

"Daoist Qing Feng." Yun Zhongque also smiled in greeting.

"Fellow Daoist Yun Zhongque."

Qing Feng returned the nod.

When his gaze landed on Yan Qingxuan beside Yun Zhongque, his expression mirrored Jia Wenchang’s earlier surprise.

"Fellow Daoist Yan? I didn’t expect you to join this expedition to the Frost Pond Secret Realm."

"If I recall correctly, this should be your first time leaving the sect in nearly a decade, isn't it?"

Yan Qingxuan nodded coldly without a word.

Yet, in the next moment, Wang Jianqiang heard Yan Qingxuan's voice echoing in his mind.

"That woman is named Liu Qing'er, the top-ranked disciple in this year's outer sect competition of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. The one carrying twin swords is Jian Jiu, ranked second..."

Following Yan Qingxuan's guidance, Wang Jianqiang surveyed them one by one.

His gaze lingered particularly long on Liu Qing'er.

Surprisingly, Liu Qing'er was far younger than expected—only eighteen years old!

Unlike the other disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, she bore no flying sword on her back, nor did her aura radiate the same sharp, unyielding edge.

But upon closer inspection, one could sense a restrained sharpness within her, as if concealing an indomitable will capable of cutting through anything—truly astonishing.

As for her karma value...

It stood at a mere -50.

Hah—

While Wang Jianqiang was observing the disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, another whistling sound tore through the air.

Everyone turned to look.

A resplendent palace came soaring into view.

At the sight of it, Jia Wenchang grinned. "The Profound Clear Palace has arrived. Now, everyone's finally here."

As he spoke, the palace hovered above them before vanishing in a flash.

Dozens of figures materialized mid-air, then descended gracefully.

Leading them was a woman adorned in palace robes.

Her eyes swept across the crowd.

When they landed on Yan Qingxuan, her pupils constricted.

"Yan Qingxuan... You're still alive?"