On the fifth day of the first lunar month, the heavy snow continued unabated.

Even though the Taoist officials of the Qintian Observatory intervened, there was no sign of the snow disaster abating. At most, they could only clear away some of the accumulated snow to prevent the city from being buried under it.

The cold became increasingly severe. In Yun Province to the north, a large number of disaster victims could not endure the frigid climate and fled southward for survival.

In Shusi Prefecture, as usual, some people continued to distribute porridge.

Those distributing porridge included some compassionate wealthy families, officials specially appointed by the court, and a majority of Taoists from the Taoist sects.

The Taoists, who possessed martial skills and strong physique, could manage a large number of people to distribute porridge. As a result, it was even possible to see Taoists carrying large barrels of porridge along the way in Shusi Prefecture, calming more than half of the disaster victims' hearts within half a day.

"Rescue the suffering, may the Heavenly Venerate bless us."

"Truly compassionate."

······

The disaster victims did not bother whether their words of praise were suitable for the Taoists; they just blurted out all the good words they could think of. Some even included terms like "Living Bodhisattva."

Upon seeing everyone praising the merits of the Taoist sects, a Daoist on a tall building beside Wenxin Street in Shusi Prefecture revealed a satisfied smile.

"What are you happy about?"

Just as the Daoist was smiling broadly, a sudden voice caused his expression to freeze.

"Hoo—"

At some point, a window not far behind him had opened, allowing the wind and snow to pour in, and a tall and thin figure stood amidst the cold wind blowing into the room.

The wind was cold, the snow was cold, but the chill in this person's words was even colder.

"Nan Huairen, you are a Taoist official under the Qintian Observatory and one of the earliest Daoists to join Northern Zhou. Why are you doing this?"

The person stared at Nan Huairen, his gaze seemingly carrying a chill, under which a layer of frost began to spread from Nan Huairen's feet, quickly freezing his ability to move.

"Lord Gu Chen," Nan Huairen said somewhat hoarsely, "I didn't expect such a distinguished figure as you to act personally."

Gu Chen was the leader of the first batch of Taoist officials in Northern Zhou, as decided by Qing Yu, and he was the chief of the Qintian Observatory. He oversaw all Taoist officials in Northern Zhou, holding a position similar to the Divine Constable of the Six Gates in Daqian.

This notable figure appearing just as the matter surfaced was truly beyond Nan Huairen's expectations.

"Since His Majesty summoned, it is only natural for a subject to exert their utmost effort."

Gu Chen lightly flicked his horsetail whisk, closing the window behind, and said, "From the moment I received the message, I had a suspicion that there might be some insiders in the Qintian Observatory. Therefore, not only I but also Daoist Lin Wenhe and several other Daoists have gone to investigate various places."

The Qintian Observatory had a direct connection with the Yin Demon Sect, and many in the department even doubled as Azure Dragon Association assassins, so naturally, they were extremely sensitive to intelligence.

However, this well-informed department only realized the emergence of the false god belief of Qinglian Jiu Ku Tianzun after Zhuge Longsu had collected the intelligence and reported it. This had to raise alarms.

"Over the years, as the Great Zhou has advanced rapidly, the internal investigations have been somewhat neglected, resulting in pests appearing even within the Qintian Observatory."

At this point, Gu Chen's anger flared, and frost instantly covered Nan Huairen's legs, the chill permeating upward.

But Nan Huairen, at this moment, ignored his lower half nearing complete encasement in ice and angrily questioned, "We are all serving Lord Qingyu, how could we be loyal to Emperor Zhou?"

"Without the support of the Dao Master, where would Northern Zhou's glory be today? Yet after Northern Zhou's rise, the Dao Master began to fade from the Northern Zhou Court, letting demonic people and members of the Sword Palace take high positions, which we find unacceptable!"

The unexpected words left Gu Chen unsure of how to respond.

He would never have thought that the reason behind Nan Huairen's betrayal was actually to speak up for the Dao Master.

······

Gu Chen remained silent for a moment, subconsciously softening his tone, "But don't you know that establishing faith after a major disaster brings the possibility of chaos?"

Faith is the most unreliable thing, most prone to extremism. The biggest flaw of believers is their propensity to follow blindly. Once exploited by a scheming person, the more believers there are, the bigger the trouble.

Especially during this catastrophe, unexpected changes are most likely to occur.

"Qinglian Jiu Ku Tianzun is modeled after the Dao Master. We revere the Dao Master; how could chaos ensue!" Nan Huairen declared categorically.

In his view, the Dao Master was right, and anything associated with the Dao Master could not be wrong.

Gu Chen looked at this obstinate Daoist with some vexation, his mind filled with myriad thoughts but unsure of how to articulate them.

Accusing Nan Huairen of having ulterior motives? That didn't seem quite right either; he merely had an excessive fervor for the Dao Master, treating the Dao Master as if he were a deity.

Presumably, Nan Huairen and some others intended to rally public sentiment to vindicate Lord Qingyu. In essence, this was a gesture of goodwill, though in practice, this goodwill merely added to the chaos.

The Dao Master does not need a little Taoist to fight for his reputation. In the Northern Zhou Court, the Dao Master's status is high; it's just that you, a little Taoist, do not know it.

"Enough, let Daoist Master Lin handle this." Gu Chen said helplessly.

Lin Zixiao holds a significant position within the Taoist sects, elevated by the Dao Master's support. In the Dao Master's absence, matters of the Taoist sects in Northern Zhou are basically presided over by Lin Zixiao.

Only recently, Lin Zixiao went to East Province, which allowed the Taoist sect to do so many things in secret.

Ice spread, completely covering Nan Huairen and blocking his ability to resist. Gu Chen was about to step forward to take away the newly formed ice statue when he sensed something amiss ahead.

"Not good!"

True Qi surged forth, intending to fend off the sudden attack, but unfortunately, it was too late.

With a crisp sound, a gap appeared in the head of Nan Huairen's ice statue, as an ice-blue cold iron flying knife shot deeply into Nan Huairen's forehead, buried to the hilt.

Due to Gu Chen's ice seal, Nan Huairen's power was also sealed, leaving him without the slightest ability to resist, and he was instantly killed by the knife entering his brain.

"Careless!" Gu Chen said angrily.

Because of Nan Huairen's words, Gu Chen thought that this was a group of Daoist zealots messing things up with good intentions, and in his moment of carelessness, someone else silenced him.

However, this also exposed one piece of information, which is······

Someone really is up to no good.

Nan Huairen might have been used by someone, or perhaps he was also one of the conspirators, and his previous words were merely deceiving.

Anyway, one thing is certain: someone is indeed making a move against Northern Zhou.

························

When Ren Piaomiao and Lin Zixiao returned to Northern Zhou, Lin Zixiao immediately received a message and hurriedly went to investigate the Northern Zhou Taoist sect.

Ren Piaomiao, however, was not in a hurry and returned to the Piaomiao Sword Palace.

As one of Qing Yu's Three Souls, he had already learned all the intelligence along the way and knew that enemies were secretly making their move.

Qing Yu's attitude towards this was to hand it over to the subordinates to investigate.

Having reached his current status as an unquestionably important figure and leader, if he personally intervened in every little issue, what would be the point of having subordinates?

Qing Yu formed his power so they could serve him, not for him to be a babysitter for them.

Thus, he quietly returned to the Sword Palace without telling anyone.

The Sealing Sword Tower of the Sword Palace was still bustling. Even in such heavy snow, it did not deter the swordsmen's eagerness to test their skills.

In the bitter cold weather where ordinary people did not dare to go out, nearly a hundred swordsmen in light clothing sat cross-legged on the snowy ground in front of the Sealing Sword Tower.

They sometimes muttered to themselves, sometimes practiced sword techniques as if no one else was around, and after gaining some insight, they would enter the Sealing Sword Tower for trials.

The good or bad weather was irrelevant to them. In fact, the swordsmen sitting in front of the Sealing Sword Tower at this time all had at least Divine Origin Realm cultivation, and as long as it wasn't a natural disaster-facing situation, they could ignore the weather changes.

"The Sword Realm has grown stronger with the nourishment of numerous swordsmen."

Ren Piaomiao observed the invisible overlapping space on the Sealing Sword Tower with a satisfied smile.

While ordinary people saw the Sealing Sword Tower as just a building with Sword Qi piercing the sky, Qing Yu could perceive the changes within the Sword Realm.

The sword-shaped world, having grown over time, became increasingly grand, allowing more people to undergo trials simultaneously.

If someone skilled in fortune-telling were present, they would see Sword Intent soaring into the Heavenly Vault, mirroring the Haqi River on Datong Mountain on the other side of the Divine Capital, creating a shimmering contrast of literature and martial power.

Moreover, within the Divine Capital, the immense and supreme Dragon Energy loomed, sometimes overwhelming the sky with its divine might, sometimes vanishing without a trace, formless and unmanifested.

It was just like a Divine Dragon, able to grow or shrink, ascend or hide; large enough to command clouds and fog, small enough to conceal itself; ascending, it soared through the universe, hidden, it submerged beneath waves.

With such celestial phenomena, the battle power of Emperor Zhou in the Divine Capital was also driven to its peak. If anyone wanted to stir chaos in the Divine Capital, it would be like an old man courting death by taking poison.

At this moment, a Sword Qi streaked across the sky, passing above the nearly hundred swordsmen on the snowy ground, directly entering the Sealing Sword Tower.

"Yuan Jianzi is going to challenge the thirtieth floor again."

"Do you think Yuan Jianzi will win or lose this time?"

"Why not guess how long Yuan Jianzi can last? The thirtieth floor is terrifying."

······

The swordsmen on the snow-covered ground saw such an audacious act and, instead of being angry, were eagerly discussing it.

Within that Sword Qi was none other than Yuan Jianyi, the most renowned sword fanatic of the past year. After obtaining Shen Yunji's remnant Sword Qi, he continuously challenged the Sealing Sword Tower to refine himself and assimilate Shen Yunji's Sword Qi.

This person indeed deserves to be called a natural sword prodigy; the more he tempered himself, the sharper he became. Over the past year, his progress was evident, becoming the undisputed strongest swordsman among those who came for trials.

Yet even such a figure had never broken through the thirtieth floor.

Because in the past, the thirtieth floor was guarded by Xuanyin Sword Residence personally, and now, it was defended by an avatar of Ren Piaomiao at the Divinity Realm, created by the Sword Realm.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.