Chapter 83: Seeking Fate in the Sacred Land

At the entrance to the Sacred Land, towering stone pillars formed an archway, thick vines coiling around them. The vines slithered back and forth ceaselessly, like venomous snakes baring their fangs at any moment, scrutinizing all who passed. Many who came here for the first time were gripped by fear, hurrying through without daring to linger.

Youshi Yue merely cast a glance at the scene before stepping inside.

No one noticed that, as Youshi Yue entered, the vines froze for an instant. Only after she had moved on did they return to their restless vigilance.

The Holy Realm was vast, so boundless it seemed impossible to find its end, and yet the Sacred Land was even greater. In the Holy Realm, one might encounter travelers at any turn. But in the Sacred Land, if you journeyed alone, you might never meet another soul. Only at the entrance, or within the sects and the Four Great Domains, did it become apparent this was not a land of the dead.

Youshi Yue’s understanding of the Sacred Land came only from another’s memories. Regrettably, that person had ventured only into the Domain of Light, never the Domain of Snow.

Still, among those passing through the entrance, she noticed a familiar face from those memories.

It was a graceful woman, youthful in appearance but in truth over a hundred thousand years old.

“Lan Shi!”

The woman called Lan Shi turned with a seductive flair, looking at Youshi Yue in puzzlement. “Little one, I don’t believe we know each other, do we?”

“No, we don’t,” Youshi Yue replied honestly, meeting her gaze. “I know you from someone else’s memories.”

“Oh?” Lan Shi’s interest was clearly piqued. “Now I’m curious—whose memories could hold such a strong impression of me?”

“It’s not so much a strong impression,” Youshi Yue admitted awkwardly, pressing her thumb to her forefinger. “It’s just that I recall you blew up a cauldron during alchemy practice. The explosion… it happened in the Snow Veil, and the stench lingered for over a month.”

Lan Shi’s chest heaved in indignation, enough to make Youshi Yue dizzy. But Lan Shi soon recovered her composure. That disastrous explosion was centuries ago, and she had never repeated such an embarrassment since. Among those who studied alchemy with her then, few remained—most were revered within the Sacred Land, except for the most gifted of all, Wang Yu, who had been missing for thousands of years.

“Wang Yu, then…”

Indeed, those skilled in alchemy were quick-witted; a few words sufficed to identify the person in question.

“He’s dead.”

“Dead?” Lan Shi was visibly agitated, stepping forward to seize Youshi Yue’s arm. “How did he die? Someone like him—how could he possibly die? He was the only person in existence capable of refining eighth-tier pills.”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you the reason, at least not yet.”

“Why not?” Lan Shi released her, her caution returning. “Is his death connected to you?”

Youshi Yue shook her head. “It’s not.”

“Then…”

“I simply can’t speak of it now.”

“When will you be able to?”

“The next time we meet in the Sacred Land, you’ll likely know.”

Lan Shi, patient as all master alchemists are, pressed, “Approximately how long?”

“Within three years.”

Lan Shi placed a hand on her hip and laughed. Three years—she might not even complete a new pill recipe in that time.

“Fine, I’ll wait.”

She patted Youshi Yue’s shoulder and turned to leave, but Youshi Yue stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

“What is it, little one? Have you more to say to me?”

Youshi Yue’s eyes grew distant. “I want to know how to reach the Domain of Snow.”

“You wish to go to the Domain of Snow?” Lan Shi was puzzled. “Do you have a pass for it?”

“No.”

“Without it, you can’t enter. Are you new to the Sacred Land? You seem unfamiliar with everything here. Traveling to any domain requires a pass—this is common knowledge, even among children.”

Youshi Yue pressed her lips together. “I’m not from the Sacred Land.”

“You’re not?” Lan Shi’s surprise was palpable. She extended her spiritual sense, probing Youshi Yue, but saw nothing except for a bone age of about a decade—everything else was hidden. “Then you can’t be from the Holy Realm either.”

“No, I’m not,” Youshi Yue confirmed, nodding. “Just tell me how to reach the Domain of Snow.”

“Never mind,” Lan Shi said, letting go of her curiosity—the Domain of Snow was no concern of hers. She took a scroll from the pendant at her chest and handed it to Youshi Yue, along with a brush.

“Write the name of the place you wish to go, and that’s all.”

Youshi Yue accepted the scroll and brush in surprise. “Why was there no mention of this in Wang Yu’s memories?”

“Because it didn’t exist back then. It’s a recent innovation—no one knows who invented it, but it’s incredibly convenient.”

Youshi Yue nodded in agreement. “It certainly is.”

She took up the brush and wrote “Domain of Snow” on the scroll.

As the final stroke fell, golden light enveloped her, and, together with the scroll, she was transported to a world of endless snow.

The snow fell ceaselessly, yet the drifts on the ground never seemed to deepen.

Youshi Yue left a trail of footprints at the entrance, then turned to glance back; the marks in the snow were already vanishing, as though no one had ever passed.

The gatekeeper of the Domain of Snow approached, displeased, and scolded her. “Don’t stand around daydreaming here. If you want to admire the scenery, go elsewhere. This is the Domain of Snow. We don’t welcome outsiders.”

Youshi Yue paid him no mind. She opened her palm and caught two crystalline snowflakes.

“Do you like snow?” she asked.

“What was that?” The gatekeeper grew more impatient. “Stop your nonsense. Move along.”

He made to shove her aside, but Youshi Yue sidestepped gracefully, letting him stumble forward into the snow.

“You impudent brat! You dare mock me?” The gatekeeper’s companions laughed at his misstep, and his face flushed red with embarrassment. Unable to contain his anger, he drew his sword and, in a fit of rage, swung it down at Youshi Yue.

With two fingers, Youshi Yue caught the descending blade.

No matter how the gatekeeper struggled, he could not wrest his sword free.

The laughter behind him grew louder.

Driven to the brink, the gatekeeper released the hilt, clenched his fists, and threw a punch at Youshi Yue.

This time, Youshi Yue did not hold back. She raised her right leg and kicked him, sending him flying from the entrance clear to the guest courtyard.

The others, who had just been mocking the gatekeeper, were struck dumb with shock. How could anyone possess such strength? To kick a man that far—especially here at the entrance to the Domain of Snow, where the cold rendered the body stiff and sluggish. Only those especially tolerant to the cold ventured here.

After a moment’s stunned silence, the others drew their swords and leveled them at Youshi Yue.

“Who are you? Why did you attack a snow domain guard? Are you looking for trouble?” The rest of the gatekeepers burst forth, surrounding her.

“Looking for trouble?” Youshi Yue laughed softly, her eyes turning dangerous. “I’m here to deliver death!”