Chapter 144 - Snow Fell Without a Sound
Guo Fan remained unaware of the profound impact his actions had on the aspiring cultivator's heart.
Returning to his shared quarters, Meng Jin opted to meditate on his bed. However, moments after taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he reopened them.
He gazed vacantly at the now-empty room.
His companions had all departed.
A decade had passed since the momentous event of witnessing the tides and listening to the sword's whispers, and each time, a renowned sword never failed to astonish the world. This occasion was no exception, with the added spectacle of a mortal participating in the swordsmithing contest. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and novelty.
Moreover, the event provided opportunities for making acquaintances and exchanging insights, potentially benefiting him.
In the pursuit of cultivation, companionship and knowledge were invaluable assets.
Consequently, many cultivators seized the chance to explore the world during these days.
Yuan Jiang from the Fishtree Family should have possessed these essentials, yet his whereabouts remained a mystery. It seemed he had joined the Sword Singing Conference merely for amusement.
Thus, Meng Jin found himself alone in the room.
Firm in his belief that even exceptional talent paled in comparison to relentless effort and diligence.
There existed no innate geniuses; he utilized the leisure time of others for his cultivation.
As for those lesser “geniuses” who blamed their shortcomings on fate, he held them in contempt, viewing their clandestine cultivation methods with disdain. This conviction fueled his confidence in surpassing them.
“But—how can this be possible!?”
Meng Jin pondered if the echoes of existential questioning reverberated within the confines of the room.
Xia Shui, over the past few days, not only frequented brothels but also sought favor at the City Lord Mansion. How long had he been cultivating?
Moreover, it had only been a single night!
As a sectless cultivator, his talent and cultivation technique couldn't possibly be this advanced. Otherwise, at nineteen years old, he wouldn't have only reached Foundation Establishment Sixth Level.
The idea of Medicinal Pills… it seemed improbable. In just one night, advancing from Foundation Establishment Sixth Level to Foundation Establishment Completion, his Spiritual Energy aura was stable and brimming. Regardless of how one analyzed it, it didn't resemble the effects of a Medicinal Pill.
The more Meng Jin dwelled on it, the more implausible it seemed. His thoughts led him to a rather unsettling speculation.
Could it be that he utilized a Void Refining Stage Physical Integration Period female cultivator as his furnace?
“Damn it! No matter your advancements, I will defeat you!” Meng Jin gritted his teeth. This enigmatic individual had become a disturbance to his Dao Heart.
“Foundation Establishment Ninth Level against Foundation Establishment Ninth Level. Perfect. I'm not exploiting weakness. I must emerge victorious fair and square!”
Guo Fan escorted Xinyue to the City Lord Mansion. Fang Xiang also held a fondness for Xinyue. After some playful banter, she entrusted Yueh with Xinyue's care temporarily. After settling some matters, she would proceed to oversee the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference.
Guo Fan harbored no interest in the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference.
He was already briefed on the general outline.
In essence, Lang Qing faced numerous challenges during the seven-day event. Initially disadvantaged due to nervousness and unfamiliarity with the competition's rules, he gained insights with encouragement from fellow participants, leading to his ascent in the mid-stages. Ultimately, they clinched the championship of the Tide-watching Sword-listening Conference.
He had no role in the combat throughout the entire process, relegated to running errands.
Guo Fan resolved to have a candid conversation with Xun Yimu. He found it peculiar that Sun Fen didn't retaliate after slashing her sword at Xun Yimu. However, he couldn't directly inquire about Profound Yin Young Lord's distressing state from another woman.
He glanced at Xun Yimu, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
He noticed an increasing number of companions around him: Yijun, Xun Yimu, and even a hammer…
“Speaking of the hammer, this little fellow must have been snoozing for quite a while, huh?”
Guo Fan extracted the hammer from his sleeve and discovered the small cat nestled in a deep slumber. Gently turning it over, he cradled its claws in his hand, eliciting a sleepy mew as it stretched.
Guo Fan fell silent. Clearly, this creature had spent an extensive period imprisoned beneath Water Moon Lake, becoming accustomed to centuries-long naps.
However, the hammer had undergone a transformation.
Perhaps owing to his recent breakthrough, the hammer had surprisingly ascended to the God Forming Stage while slumbering.
“A demon beast at the God Forming Stage?”
Xun Yimu emitted a soft gasp of astonishment, reaching out to stroke the white cat's velvety fur. Startled, the hammer abruptly roused itself, pivoting to face the young girl with bared teeth.
“Meow, meow, meow!”
With a swish, the hammer darted onto Guo Fan's shoulder, fixing a glare upon Xun Yimu. After all, she was a Constructing Fracture of Scaled Dragon, imbued with the soul of a true dragon; how dare any human aside from her rider attempt to touch her?
Xun Yimu reluctantly withdrew her hand, casting a glance at Guo Fan.
Guo Fan patted the hammer's back and remarked, “She's quite untamed, with a rather volatile temperament.”
Mao Mao unfurled her cushion and tapped her mount's hand, emitting several dignified meows as a warning. How audacious of Guo Fan to label the hammer as wild! She was clearly asserting…
Wait, what was it again?
Huh? What was that?
Puzzling, what argument did she intend to make? Wasn't she simply a feral demon beast, born amidst the realms of heaven and earth?
The Demonic Dragon found itself momentarily entranced. Suddenly, it felt as though it had existed long ago, no longer recklessly traversing this world.
It wasn't just enduring centuries of monotony and anguish beneath the Water Moon Lake, nor was it merely indulging in decades of ruthless slaughter and hubris in this realm. It transcended the brief period of naivety at its birth; it felt as though those times were eons ago.
Such an unfamiliar sensation welled up within its heart.
Beneath the white expanse of desolate snow lay deep blue ice, shrouded in profound silence. The snow fell silently amidst the wind's whispers. Someone conversed nearby.
Their words were inaudible, yet steam seemed to emanate from their ears, creating a ticklish sensation.
It resembled the feeling when a mount playfully nibbled at her ear.
The hammer couldn't help but shake its ear, growing increasingly perplexed.
How could this be? She was clearly born amidst lava; how could she have encountered snow… yet she seemed to recall snowfall from somewhere.
The earth's fire lay beneath the depths of the sea.
The naive Demonic Dragon had just come into existence, and upon birth, it joyfully swam around. In the darkness, it glimpsed light shimmering above and eagerly sought to breathe the air. With a whoosh, it emerged from the sea, soaring toward the heavens.
The sound of ice shattering trailed behind her, as she swiftly melded with the clouds ahead, leaving only faint impressions in her memory of the boundless snow atop the sea's surface.
It felt as though there was a woman's sigh echoing behind her.
Odd, could it be that demon beasts experienced such illusions upon breaking through to the God Forming Stage?
The hammer shook its head, dispelling the sudden peculiarity. As it glanced sideways, it caught sight of Guo Fan's profile, prompting it to draw closer and nuzzle against him.
“Meow!”
The more it beheld its own mount, the more endearing it found her.
Guo Fan extended his hand, stroking Mao Mao's head. He was puzzled; it seemed this creature was growing increasingly fond of seeking affection.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢