Returning to the courtyard, Zong Shou left the spiritual fruits and wines in the main hall. Then, he walked alone into his quiet meditation chamber.

Within the small space, barely forty feet across, it had completely transformed into a world of light and shadow. One side was utter darkness, without even a trace of light. The other half radiated a blinding, incandescent white.

The two spiritual beads, already rough drafts of black and white holes, were now impossible to see directly. Even extending spiritual senses, one half was repelled, the other absorbed, rendering them completely inscrutable.

Fortunately, by this time, the Glazed Fire Spirit and the Ultimate Dark Essence beads had been refined by him to a state of mutual connection with his heart and mind, allowing him to sense them even from several miles away.

He could also clearly feel that a channel, a spiritual bridge, had now been established between the rough drafts of the black and white holes.

The Ultimate Dark Essence bead was no longer restricted to merely absorbing and storing spiritual energy deep within itself. And the Glazed Fire Spirit bead no longer needed to burn its own essence.

A continuous, self-sustaining cycle, endless and inexhaustible, had formed between the two.

Looking before him, Zong Shou hesitated slightly.

Stepping forward now meant one of two outcomes: either achieving the Dharma Manifestation in the Seventh Order realm through external aid, or having his foundation utterly destroyed, his sea of soul ruined, potentially even risking his life!

The probability of success was estimated to be only thirty percent.

Frowning in deep thought, after a moment, Zong Shou let out a cold, clear laugh, suddenly stepping forward and sitting down precisely at the boundary between the black and white.

He executed several spiritual seals, and simultaneously uttered the word, 'Receive,' from his lips.

Instantly, this unseeable spiritual light, one black and one white, surged toward him. It rushed directly from his Divine Empyrean Aperture, plunging into the deepest core of his Primordial Soul.

Zong Shou’s face immediately turned pale green. He felt as if his skull was simultaneously half-frozen and half-scorched, threatening to shatter his very soul in that instant.

Without hesitation, Zong Shou reached out again, summoning a glazed jade bottle into his hand.

A few drops of milky-white spiritual liquid flew out, drop by drop—it was the Spiritual Essence Marrow that Long Ying had procured for him from the Lingyun Sect that day. These few drops also (dutun/fled/slipped away) into the center of his brow.

Then, his entire Primordial Soul felt an immediate easing. The almost-stalled flow of thought reactivated.

The two sea-of-soul vortices, teetering on the edge of collapse, began to spin once more.

Zong Shou’s mind was now purely focused, exerting his utmost strength to command the two black and white spiritual beads. One rising above, one sinking below, they entered the very center of the sea-of-soul vortices.

Then, with a deafening 'BOOM,' both vortices suddenly exploded. Yet, just as they were about to dissolve completely, all his soul power began to revolve anew, using the Glazed Fire Spirit and the Ultimate Dark Essence beads as their core.

The sea of soul was rebuilt, yet one side was the profound depth of darkness, and the other, the dazzling glare of light.

After a long time, only when the structure within his Primordial Soul had stabilized completely did Zong Shou finally breathe out softly, knowing this step was finished.

But he did not relax in the slightest. Impacting the Seventh Order, gathering the Dharma Manifestation—this was only the beginning. The most perilous hurdle was still far from arriving.

Seven days later, within the Heaven's Sanctuary Realm, inside the main hall of the Academy. Fang Wen was frowning deeply as he gazed at the scene before him.

It was an illusory projection of clouds and light, clearly showing the vast spatial-temporal rift outside the Sanctuary. A massive congregation of cultivators was gathered there. Packed densely together, a rough count revealed an astonishing four thousand three hundred individuals.

And nearly everyone’s cultivation was at least above the Sixth Order. Experts above the Seventh Order numbered four hundred.

About a quarter of the assembly consisted of rogue cultivators; the rest were disciples from the various sects of the Cloud Realm.

“This Jueyu really is a headache!”

Fang Wen truly felt a sharp, throbbing pain in his temples. Around him, several Academy Elders also wore tight expressions, seemingly troubled.

“Their gathering here is not the main issue. I fear there are those among them with malicious intent toward our Cangsheng Dao. We must devise a way to resolve this—”

Fang Wen looked toward the speaker, a woman in her twenties, gazing at the central phantom with evident worry in her eyes.

She was an expert of the Spirit Realm and also an Elder of the Taiyuan Sect. In recent years, due to cultivating a profound technique requiring the rebuilding of her Dao foundation, she had returned to the Cloud Realm and sought refuge with her sect. However, due to the sheer strength of her cultivation, she could only remain within the Sanctuary, serving concurrently as an Academy Elder.

The spiritual tide in the Cloud Realm was low; even Martial Cultivators or Spirit Masters of the Eighth Order could not remain outside for too long. If a suitable spiritual ground for cultivation was not found, their Dao foundations would be damaged.

This was why the Sacred Lands, Spiritual Mansions, and numerous Spirit Mountains were so crucial, regarded as the very roots of a sect. Without these grounds for cultivation, let alone advancing further, merely maintaining one's current realm became difficult.

“Jueyu’s origins and background are extraordinary; forcing him out might be impossible—”

“Hmph! Even if this person has a Sage Realm or Ultimate Realm backer, does our Cangsheng Dao need to fear anyone?”

“When the spiritual tide rises significantly, it will be an era of great struggle. Sects will clash endlessly, and our Cangsheng Dao cannot escape involvement. If it comes to that, we should avoid deliberately creating a powerful enemy!”

“That is appeasement! I am ashamed to hear such words! For ten thousand years, the Cangsheng Dao has been the target of countless condemnations, surrounded by enemies—who have we ever feared?”

“That approach is certainly flawed. However, forcing Jueyu to leave should only be a last resort.”

“In my opinion, we should let Zong Shou fight him!”

“But if the Martial Uncle is unwilling, what can we do?”

Fang Wen rubbed his temples and turned his gaze toward Han Fang. Since the battle between Chuxue and Jueyu that day, his martial uncle had been constantly worried. Now, his expression was grim, holding a golden communication talisman he had only recently received, seemingly deep in contemplation.

Seeming to sense Fang Wen’s gaze, Han Fang snapped back to attention and let out a wry smile: “It is the two Martial Uncles, Xuanjing and Xuanxuan, discussing the matter of Chuxue.”

The entire main hall of the Academy instantly fell silent. Everyone focused only on their own business, eyes downcast.

Lin Xuanjing, the progenitor of the Taiyuan Sect, and Lin Xuanxuan, the progenitor of the Seven Spirit Sect. They were the confidantes of Xi Zi in those past years and currently the only two First Generation Ancestor figures remaining in the Cangsheng Dao.

Han Fang coldly glanced at this group of ‘Academy Elders.’ He knew precisely which of them had ‘leaked’ the news. He then continued: “They say they will return to the Cloud Realm within the next few years to inspect the younger generation. Since the two Martial Uncles are returning after such a long time, we must receive them well, lest we disappoint them. This is also a rare opportunity for the newer disciples of our Cangsheng Dao—”

Fang Wen grew even more distressed. One Jueyu was already enough of a headache. Before that issue was resolved, why did these two Martial Ancestors have to show up?

He almost wished he could immediately resign the position of Palace Master. He wouldn't even mind handing it over to that unreliable Fairy Lingbo.

Just as he was pondering this, Fang Wen’s heart suddenly jolted, and he looked toward the main hall entrance. Then, he abruptly stood up and strode out with a powerful gait.

“It’s snowing!”

Gazing up at the sky, he saw rolling, tumultuous dark clouds gathering overhead. Flakes of snow were beginning to drift down slowly.

Han Fang and the others had also stepped into the main hall of the Academy. They stared at the sky in utter astonishment.

“What’s happening?”

“How can it snow inside the Sanctuary? Could someone be performing a ritual within the realm?”

The Elders exchanged bewildered glances, faces filled with strangeness.

Although the Sanctuary simulated the rising and setting of the sun, the cycle of day and night, it was ultimately not a real world. It was spring-like all year round, with no seasonal changes, and certainly no ‘snow.’

What in the world was going on? It was simply unbelievable—

“It’s not just snowing; can everyone sense the changes in the world’s spirituality?”

“Yes! Everything has completely halted—”

Almost all worldly spiritual energies were motionless at that moment, appearing stiff and lifeless, as if completely frozen by some inexplicable force.

Han Fang’s expression darkened. He had never witnessed such a scene. He swept his spiritual sense around but could still not ascertain the cause.

Finally, he could only gaze in the direction of the First Courtyard, designated 'Jia' (A). Could this celestial phenomenon be related to that fellow?

He immediately dismissed the thought with a wry chuckle—how could it be? To freeze all spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred thousand feet—even he could only barely manage such a feat.

This situation seemed less like human intervention and more like an omen from the heavens. It should extend far beyond just the Cangsheng Sanctuary.

He wondered privately: who or what kind of event could cause such a massive disturbance?

Could the legendary Divine Emperor, who was supposed to lead myriad worlds, have finally emerged? But that wasn't supposed to happen for decades?

“How can it be snowing?”

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen this—”

At that exact moment, within the dozen or so Scripture Halls of the Cangsheng Palace, the majority of the Cangsheng Academy disciples poured out from their lecture halls.

The dozen or so lecturers did not stop them, also stepping out of the halls to look upward.

Yuan Fei also emerged from his Scripture Hall, his expression deeply uncomfortable and somewhat furtive, as if trying hard not to be noticed.

Since the battle with Jueyu, the arrogance in his eyes had faded considerably.

He could still console himself that Jueyu was exceptionally powerful—the Sword Prince who swept through the Cloud Realm’s sects, his swordsmanship nearly unparalleled. With Eighth Order strength, acting without restraint and going all out, he was naturally capable of crushing him!

But even Xue Chu had far surpassed him. Fighting Jueyu while only newly entered into the Seventh Order, she had not been at a disadvantage. This was truly unacceptable to him.

For the first time, he understood that while he considered himself a favored son of heaven, there were countless stronger figures in this world.

Reaching the peak of the Seventh Order at age twenty—there was truly nothing to be proud of. Compared to these people, he was nothing. His master had always told him to curb his pride and anger, but he had never managed to do so, nor had he paid much attention.

It was only on that day that he finally woke up completely. If he continued down this path, he would inevitably invite disaster sooner or later. Even if, by some miracle, no one targeted him because of his arrogance, problems would likely arise—either damaging his Dao foundation or meeting death due to carelessness. He should take this as a warning.

As he walked out with the crowd, Yuan Fei glanced upward and was stunned.

It really was snowing—