Chapter 1 The Moment the Sword Was Drawn

The moment Mr. Jin drew his blade.

The young man in white, sitting cross-legged on the withered stone, opened his eyes.

The long blade pierced downwards.

Thunder rumbled.

The fiery light released by the burning Dream of Kindling extinguished in an instant at the center of the white sleeve's brow, and the wisp of lightning conjured by the young man in white, with his fingers together, directly severed Mr. Jin's neck.

All of this happened so fast that even Mr. Jin himself didn't react.

And so, the still-warm head that rolled to the ground had an expression of bewilderment... He couldn't understand why a cultivator in a "state of enlightenment" could react so quickly.

It was impossible for anyone in this world to be immersed in a dream and still be able to respond to an assassination in the real world.

Unless...

He hadn't entered the dream at all.

The gently burning Dream of Kindling slowly dissipated in the snowy air of the mountain cave. Bai Xiu's spiritual power was exceptionally stable, without the slightest fluctuation, neither the joy of a successful breakthrough nor the disappointment of a failed enlightenment.

Bai Xiu's face was as still as a mirror, without a ripple.

As if everything that had happened here was within his expectations.

After igniting the Dream of Kindling, he had done nothing, simply calmly watching this extremely precious "dream" burn and then dissipate. That was all.

A firelight of entering the dream did ignite between his eyebrows.

But in reality, he hadn't entered even a moment of dreaming.

From beginning to end, he had simply closed his eyes, sat quietly, and cooperated with this "good show."

At this moment, the mountain cave was filled with blood, the chilling wind echoed, and it was exceptionally cold.

Colder than the wind and snow were Bai Xiu's words.

"Will killing me really make the Bai family better?"

Bai Xiu slowly rose from the withered stone.

Bai Zesheng's words, "Do it," were the fuse for his final thunderous strike.

The reason for closing his eyes and pretending to be in enlightenment.

Was because there was still a trace of "hope" in his heart, or rather... a trace of luck.

Second Elder was the one who brought him out of Jiangbei.

He was an benefactor.

The greatest benefactor!

Even if, at the last second, the other party chose to regret... perhaps he would have chosen to forgive. But most things in this world are not worth waiting for with a hopeful heart.

It was because of the five minutes of silence that Bai Xiu heard the words that had saddened him the most in twenty years.

Bai Zesheng slowly turned around.

He looked at Bai Xiu, this peerless genius he had cultivated with his own hands, standing before him bathed in lightning, his white robes unstained by blood... At this moment, Bai Zesheng understood everything.

He had set up such a killing scheme in the mausoleum.

Bai Xiu had already seen through it and chose to use it to his advantage.

This young fellow, facing him and the top assassins of Central洲 (Zhou), actually had the courage and spirit to sacrifice a wisp of Dream of Kindling to see what this assassination... would look like.

"You've already seen the answer, haven't you?"

Bai Zesheng said in a hoarse voice, "Killing you will make the Bai clan pure... and in my opinion, purity is a good thing."

Bai Xiu silently lowered his head.

The bloody wind howled and swept through the snow cave.

Mr. Jin's head was still twitching. Bai Xiu's two fingers, held together, slashed diagonally.

A wisp of lightning instantly swept down.

The head exploded, blood splattering, swept away by the wind and snow. This tragic and cruel scene was quickly swallowed up by the pure white snow. Bai Zesheng, standing at the entrance of the mountain cave, was surrounded by a faint white glow. The splashing blood did not stain his robes, but was bounced away by the white glow, and then disappeared into the snow mountain outside.

"This is a subordinate of a God Seat from the Source Tower, isn't it?"

Bai Xiu stared at the shattered corpse of Mr. Jin and said in a low voice, "A year ago, he attacked me in the tundra and escaped to Inta. You didn't kill him..."

"..."

In response, Bai Zesheng remained silent.

"Although he changed his weapon and altered his attack methods... some things can't be changed."

Bai Xiu paused and said, "Like the scent of blood."

During the previous exchange, the Lei Jie Xing Zhe struck Mr. Jin's forearm, and the blood that spilled out was clearly captured by Bai Xiu.

During this year, he had been in seclusion in the small courtyard.

Bai Xiu seemed to be staying at home, studying hard, but this was not the case.

Bai Xiaochi often went to the courtyard. Regarding the tundra assassin case, after extracting blood a year ago, there had been brief progress... The blood extracted by Zhao Ming was compared with billions of genetic data in the deep-sea database, and there was no matching information within the five continents.

The tundra assassin was an "unidentified person."

His information had not been entered into Shen Hai. In fact, there were quite a few such "unidentified persons" within the five continents. Many large forces and big figures with high enough authority would make such arrangements for their death warriors.

However, with the Bai family's authority, it was rare to be unable to find out the other party's identity.

It was this point that made Bai Xiaochi cast his suspicious gaze on the outer continents!

Perhaps... the great forces of the outer continents could do it.

And the power of the Source Tower was too great, leaving the Bai family with no choice but to suspect.

However, no matter how much they suspected, without evidence, they could only let it go.

"Sure enough... you used Zhao Ming to investigate Binghu," Bai Zesheng said with a soft laugh. "I thought you wouldn't be able to investigate that deep."

In the past year, because of his injuries in Inta, Bai Zesheng had spent most of his time "recovering."

Core family affairs had been handed over to others.

In fact, he could already feel the head of the family's precautions against him... However, Bai Zesheng was not nervous, because he knew very well that if the truth of what happened a year ago was truly found out, things would not be so simple.

His only ending would be to atone for his sins with death.

"Perhaps even deeper than you think."

Bai Xiu said slowly, "I will never forget the scent of blood from the tundra assassin. And the head of the family went to Inta and told me some regrettable news... At the scene of the incident in Inta, Zhao Ming did not capture the assassin's blood."

Bai Zesheng narrowed his eyes.

He remembered that he was seriously injured at that time, and the head of the family arrived and saved his life with his ability.

At that time, he thought... this knife had stabbed deep enough to help him escape from danger.

But now it seemed that this was not the case at all.

Because Bai Xiaochi's real purpose in going to Inta was not to treat him, but to extract the "blood" from the scene of the incident in Inta... How could he possibly leave such a thing behind?

Bai Zesheng was very clear about the terror of Zhao Ming's abilities.

He used the most powerful sealed object on his body, plus a large amount of transcendent source matter... to burn the fake corpse completely, so that there would be no trace of blood residue. And after the outer defensive shield's floating panels in Inta were wide open, the fierce blizzard made it more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack to obtain effective evidence.

On the other hand, some evidence was found in the place where Mr. Jin had lived and hidden, which was enough to prove that this assassin had indeed come to Inta.

And then, disappeared.

"In the past year, the Bai family has never stopped investigating the tundra assassination attempt... Although the assassin is 'dead,' his identity is unknown." Bai Xiu said slowly, "Although this case is closed, it has become a unsolved case, and I will never know who attacked me."

Who the assassin was didn't matter.

Who was behind the assassin mattered.

In this small, smokeless war, the tundra assassin was ultimately just a pawn... What he had to do was to find the mastermind behind the scenes!

"Some things are too clean to be good. There should have been blood at the scene in Inta."

Bai Xiu looked at the Second Elder and said, "In the past year, I have locked myself in the courtyard because I didn't know how to face this most likely truth..."

A seed of doubt was planted.

Bai Xiu wanted to persuade himself not to be suspicious.

This was the patron who had discovered his talent, and even more so a "relative" who thought of him in every way.

However, he couldn't do it.

The afterimage of the snowy field assassination often echoed in his mind, causing his state of mind to waver.

Once some seeds are planted, they will inevitably take root and sprout, and then grow.

Once some gaps arise, they will inevitably grow larger and larger, until they shatter.

"The assassination in the snowfield is about to become a nightmare... Compared to the enlightenment of the Dream of Kindling, this matter is more important. So, in the past year, I have often wondered how to conclude the assassination case."

Bai Xiu said, "In the end, I chose to leave seclusion and then enter the mausoleum."

Bai Zesheng, standing at the entrance of the mountain cave, smiled silently.

"Child... do you know, you made a very naive choice."

The Second Elder's sleeves slipped, revealing a long sword.

He said calmly, "If I were you, after finding these clues a year ago and suspecting the truth... then I would not have chosen to enter the mausoleum, nor would I have chosen to verify the truth in this way. Because the price to pay for finding out the truth is too great."

Bai Xiu looked blankly at the "teacher" who had taught him how to fight in the earliest days.

The icy wind howled in the snow cave, its sound sharp!

This was an excellent place to bury a corpse.

Killing, beheading, destroying the corpse, eliminating traces... no one would notice. The cave was narrow, making it extremely difficult to escape.

Choosing this place must have taken some thought.

"You want to kill me." Bai Xiu said in a very soft voice. All along, he had addressed Bai Zesheng with the respectful term "Nin (您)."

But not anymore.

This was no longer a person worthy of his respect.

And... it had nothing to do with whether he killed him or not.

Bai Xiu had already sensed that the power flowing in the body of the assassin lying on the ground was the power of a God Seat from the Source Tower in Central洲 (Zhou)... This was also the reason why he had been unable to catch up with the other party before.

If he had not been prepared and taken the lead, completely shattering the assassin's expectations and forcibly cutting off his head, then today's battle would have been several times, ten times, more difficult.

That token would continuously provide divine power. As long as he could not kill the host with one blow, then the other party's combat power would be greatly improved!

And the same power also appeared on Bai Zesheng's hands.

Between his sleeves, purple divine radiance lingered.

The plain-sheathed long sword that slipped from his sleeve was also fully covered in the divine power of the Wine God Seat.

"I gave you a beginning."

Bai Zesheng said coldly and ruthlessly, "Logically speaking, I also have the right to give you an end..."

He brushed his two fingers.

The long sword scabbard instantly shot out.

Bai Xiu slightly turned his head. The scabbard was like a flash of lightning, brushing against his cheek and crashing into the darkness deep in the mountain cave. Immediately afterwards, the tall figure blocking the snow mountain cave suddenly attacked, as if a great mountain, occupying all the view in front of him.

A blade of light!

Filled the entire mountain cave!

Bai Xiu's expression was still calm and composed. Wan Shan was activated... countless phantoms dodged in the mountain cave.

This technique, which could be called a divine skill in close combat among transcendent beings of the same level, was no longer so perfect in a battle where the realms were crushed. It was inevitable that the blade of light would graze his snow-white clothes and cut them.

Pieces of white sleeves, like snowflakes, fluttered in the mountain cave.

Bai Zesheng was already a quasi-titled level powerhouse on the eleventh floor of the Deep Sea.

And Bai Xiu, no matter how much of a genius he was.

A year ago, he was only on the ninth floor of the Deep Sea.

Bai Zesheng waved his sword forward.

His swordsmanship was wide open and extremely rough, but the wisp of purple divine radiance contained on the blade was extremely delicate, sealing off all of Bai Xiu's escape routes... This was not to directly kill him, but to compress the opponent's activity space.

Wan Shan, no matter how powerful it was, needed a certain amount of space to be used!

The interior of the mountain cave was extremely narrow.

The phantoms that were bursting forth were gradually decreasing.

With a "whoosh!"

Bai Zesheng suddenly raised his hand. From afar, there was a light echo, and the scabbard that had been shot out suddenly returned, like an arrow shot out swiftly. This time, Bai Xiu grunted. He still made an accurate dodging motion in the first instance, but the side of his cheek was grazed, leaving a slight bloodstain...

With the scabbard in his hand, Bai Zesheng held the two long-sheathed objects in both hands and said calmly, "If I were you, I would hide in the courtyard and quietly wait for the end of the storm. As long as you hide in that small courtyard, no one can do anything to you, can they?"

Bai Xiu slowly wiped the wound on his cheek with the back of his palm.

He silently looked at the bloodstains on the back of his palm, his expression somewhat dazed.

How long had it been... since he had bled in battle?

The next moment.

Bai Zesheng attacked again, the sword and scabbard whistling, condensing into a hurricane!

There was no way to retreat!

With a "clang!"

An extremely crisp collision sound rang out in the mountain cave. Bai Xiu no longer used Wan Shan. The moment he raised his head, a phantom of a lightning-condensed humanoid figure suddenly appeared behind him.

That humanoid phantom was as majestic and domineering as a divine general from ancient legends.

He was wearing heavy armor and a helmet, only revealing a pair of dark eyes. Where his gaze passed, darkness shattered and lightning bloomed, making people fearful.

The only regret was that this frightening phantom only condensed its upper body. Its lower body was covered by lightning, as if it were a cloud of mist... A large amount of transcendent source matter supported the condensation of this body. Even if it was only half, it was enough to form a powerful deterrent!

The Thunder Shadow Ancient General only stretched out one hand and grasped the silver-white blade that was slashing out like a crescent moon.

Bai Xiu looked at the old man in front of him.

His benefactor, teacher, foster father, enemy.

He said softly, "So, you are not me."

The Thunder Shadow Ancient General threw a punch!

What kind of monster was this?

Was it the condensation of spiritual power?

Or was it a bloodline power similar to the Garuda?

Bai Zesheng's pupils shrank. He felt an unprecedented crisis. At this moment, the Wine God Seat's boundless divine power vibrated out, and the purple radiance on the blade burst out with transcendent power that surpassed the current stage. However, that divine spirit phantom also burst out with terrifying divine power.

With a crack.

The Thunder Shadow Ancient General's hand shattered first!

The blade also shattered!

Before the two forces could determine their strength, Bai Xiu's punch... hit the old man's abdomen firmly, causing Bai Zesheng to cough up a large mouthful of blood and fly out.

In the mountain cave, pieces of white sleeves fluttered.

Each piece was like a blade, like burning lightning, suspended in the air, cutting open his shoulders, calves, and chest.

The old man finally flew out of the mountain cave.

He landed on the snow, becoming a bloody figure. This old body was cut open with countless tiny wounds. None of them were fatal, but when gathered together, they burst out with a heart-wrenching pain.

Bai Zesheng struggled to sit up.

He looked blankly at the scene before him.

His long sword had shattered into millions of pieces, stuck in the snow. The blade was like a mirror, reflecting millions of falling snowflakes.

And millions of pieces of white sleeves stained with blood.