Chu Xingchen did not answer Qinghe’s question, instead turning his gaze toward the corridor.
Whether Qinghe’s habit of enjoying the snow was foolish or just the peculiar preference of a certain flood dragon, he didn’t know. But Chu Xingchen was certain that Xie Lingyu would never come trudging through the snow like this.
Qinghe frowned slightly, her short legs quickly carrying her into the corridor. She shook off the snow from her body and said,
"Stop looking. Lingyu isn’t here."
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen withdrew his gaze, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"Then why did you come alone today?"
Qinghe hadn’t visited since fleeing the construction of the Wanhua Ridge sect.
Even though Xie Lingyu had come several times, Qinghe—who usually loved joining in on the excitement—hadn’t accompanied her once.
It was unclear whether she was too embarrassed to return after running away or if she was waiting for the project to be fully completed to avoid being roped into labor by Chu Xingchen again.
Qinghe sighed softly. "Do you know that Grandma Bai went out on business?"
"I know. Lingyu mentioned it. Why?"
"Do you know where Grandma Bai went?"
Without hesitation, Chu Xingchen reached out and lightly rapped Qinghe on the head.
"If you’re going to talk about something, don’t do it in such a roundabout way. It makes people really want to hit you. Consider this a lesson."
Qinghe pouted, rubbing the spot where Chu Xingchen had knocked her.
She muttered, confused, "But doesn’t that make me seem smarter?"
Chu Xingchen sighed again. "You’re already plenty smart. Just get to the point."
Though Qinghe knew Chu Xingchen was just humoring her, being called "smart" by the cunning brat still pleased her a little.
As for whether it was sarcastic—was that something Qinghe needed to worry about?
Without further delay, Qinghe retrieved a heavily sealed jade slip from her spatial ring and handed it to Chu Xingchen.
Chu Xingchen didn’t take it immediately, instead eyeing Qinghe with suspicion.
"This was sent to you by Grandma Bai. The sect leader ordered me to deliver it. It’s a top-secret matter—even Lingyu doesn’t know about it."
A hint of pride flashed across Qinghe’s expression. Despite Grandma Bai’s usual disdainful attitude toward her, it seemed she still held Qinghe in some regard.
After all, such a highly classified sect matter had been entrusted to her alone.
Only then did Chu Xingchen take the jade slip.
He channeled a trace of spiritual energy into it, then carefully extended his divine sense inside.
As the seals recognized his divine sense, they unraveled layer by layer.
Different grades of jade slips could transmit varying levels of information. The cheaper ones could only convey text, while the more expensive ones could include images and words.
The most expensive ones could even carry short recordings.
However, all jade slips were crafted by artificers using similar materials—the cost difference lay mostly in labor.
The techniques for crafting high-grade jade slips required not only advanced cultivation but were also rarely shared, ensuring the industry remained profitable.
This created a technological barrier in the cultivation world.
Naturally, such barriers didn’t exist for top-tier sects like the Tianyan Sect.
But artificers from major sects rarely had time to mass-produce such items. Instead, master artificers periodically sold batches to the Eighteen Immortal Sects at slightly above cost.
A small tribute for peace.
Thus, high-grade jade slips remained exorbitantly priced in the outside world.
The jade slip projected a scene from Bai Xuanling’s first-person perspective.
From high above, Bai Xuanling gazed down at the lone island in the vast sea.
The island was lush and green, though not particularly large.
"The aura here matches… but these things should have been wiped out long ago."
A deep male voice spoke beside Bai Xuanling, to which she replied,
"Records say it was us who were nearly wiped out back then. Any news from the other sects?"
"Very little. But they’ve begun joint investigations. Though it seems only a few, like the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect, are taking it seriously."
Bai Xuanling’s voice turned colder. "They only remember the feast, not the famine. No matter—let’s deal with the thing below first."
The moment she finished speaking, streaks of multicolored spiritual energy shot past Bai Xuanling’s view. Ten Tianyan Sect cultivators formed a grand formation, descending upon the island like a falling sky.
The weakest among them was likely at the Great Ascension stage.
From formation to descent, it took only an instant.
A terrifying force erupted, sending towering white waves into the sky, as if the world itself had turned pale.
Bai Xuanling reached out and gently flicked her fingers.
The surging waves parted to the side, revealing the scene beneath.
A monstrous beast of grotesque shape was restrained by the ten Tianyan Sect cultivators. The formation’s threads sliced into the creature, spraying crimson blood.
The beast roared furiously, its four blood-red eyes glaring wildly as dark, near-black energy pulsed from its body.
Then, in the next moment, the jade slip’s recording abruptly switched to the churning sea.
Bai Xuanling seemed to turn slowly, facing the beast once more—only to see its severed head plummeting into the ocean, blood staining the waves.
The jade slip could only capture simple visuals, utterly incapable of keeping up with Bai Xuanling’s blinding speed.
"Burn it all. Not a drop of blood left."
Her cold, solemn voice rang out again before the scene went dark.
Then, Bai Xuanling’s written message appeared:
[The situation is strange. Celestial signs are deceptive, yet Tianyan’s divinations are not baseless.]
[The Great Dao and Heavenly Dao remain elusive; the truths of this world are near impossible to discern.]
[In ancient times, a true dragon failed its tribulation and perished, its fortune scattering into ruin.]
[Now, as fate converges, the tribulation should fall upon the Eighteen Sects—yet you emerged, defying all logic.]
[This anomaly demands an explanation.]
[I fear the tribulation may lie with you. I’ve instructed Qinghe to deliver sealed records of the ancient calamity. Study them carefully. Whether it’s true or not, you must prepare.]
[Proceed with caution. Cultivate diligently. The heavens may collapse in an instant.]
[For now, this remains a top-secret matter. Do not speak of it to avoid unforeseen consequences.]
[Destroy this jade slip after reading.]
Chu Xingchen’s divine sense returned to his body, his expression turning grave. He channeled violent spiritual energy into the jade slip, reducing it to scattered motes of light in moments.
Lowering his gaze, he found Qinghe staring at him with burning curiosity.
She blurted out, "What did Grandma Bai say?"
Chu Xingchen arched a brow. "Grandma Bai said I lack a divine weapon, and that your horns are rare materials. She told me to snap them off and forge one."
Qinghe’s face paled, and she scrambled backward several steps.
"Impossible! Grandma Bai would never do that to me!"
Horror flashed across her face, but upon closer thought, Chu Xingchen’s words made a twisted kind of sense.
Why had she been the only one entrusted with delivering the message?
It wasn’t trust—it was a trap! Grandma Bai had used her as bait, luring her right into Chu Xingchen’s clutches!
How vile! And here she’d been moved to tears!
"Relax, I was joking. Grandma Bai just asked me to handle a matter. The letter mentioned you brought me a book. Hand it over."
Chu Xingchen smiled, extending his hand expectantly.
Qinghe's expression softened slightly upon hearing this, though a trace of suspicion still lingered in her eyes. She retrieved a rather thick and somewhat aged book from her spatial ring.
Not daring to approach, she used spiritual energy to pass it over.
Chu Xingchen didn’t mind, reaching out to take it. After flipping through a few pages to confirm the contents were correct and that Qinghe hadn’t handed him the wrong book, he put it away.
"Later, we’ll brew some tea here and maybe grill something," Chu Xingchen said, glancing at Qinghe.
"Do you plan to stay for a bite… or head back?"
Qinghe protectively covered the horns on her head, then murmured softly,
"Then… I’ll have a little."