Chapter 10 The Snow Demon

"What's wrong?" Ji Ning asked.

If it were merely loneliness, immortals and demons should be able to endure it. In the World Prison, some prisoners held for several chaos cycles had broken down and committed suicide. But the time Xi Ke the Celestial had been trapped here was relatively much shorter.

"Didn't I mistake you for the Snow Demon before?" Xi Ke the Celestial said.

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded.

"This Moon Under the Abyss is extremely treacherous. Back then, I broke through the Sea Clan Yakshas' blockade and arrived at this Snow Island. At that time, there were no other celestials on the island, so I continued forward," Xi Ke the Celestial said. "On the other side of this Snow Island, there is another floating log bridge. When I followed that bridge, I encountered the Snow Demon."

"I couldn't defeat the Snow Demon back then, but fortunately, relying on my movement technique, I escaped back to Snow Island," Xi Ke the Celestial said. "The Snow Demon chased me all the way, but when I fled back into Snow Island, it stopped pursuing."

"Every time I fought the Snow Demon, I couldn't win, so I could only stay on Snow Island."

"I thought I would be safe on this island, but unexpectedly, a thousand years later, a clone of the Snow Demon actually came to the island to kill me," Xi Ke the Celestial said, shaking his head with a sigh. "From then on, roughly every thousand years, a Snow Demon clone would come to the island to hunt me. And each time, its strength was greater than the last. Once every thousand years, after a million years, the Snow Demon clone that came to the island had strength comparable to its true body."

Ji Ning asked in confusion, "Every thousand years, its strength gradually increases—is this specifically to train you, senior apprentice-brother?"

"It is indeed a kind of training," Xi Ke the Celestial nodded. "Because the Snow Demon clone that first came was relatively weak, I could completely withstand it. After a million years, my movement technique had reached an extremely formidable level. Even when the Snow Demon clone's strength matched its true body, it couldn't kill me."

"It couldn't kill me, but I couldn't break through its blockade either."

"So I've been trapped on this island ever since. Over the years, other celestials have come to Snow Island one after another. Some died at the hands of the Snow Demon, some entered the next island, and some, like me, were trapped here for a long time. But as the Snow Demon clone grew stronger, they couldn't keep up with its increasing strength, and one by one, they died."

"Only I remain!"

Xi Ke the Celestial shook his head and laughed. "In terms of strength, many of them were actually not inferior to me, but what I'm best at is movement technique. Driven by the Snow Demon, my movement technique reached a level I had never dared to imagine before."

"But what's the use? The Snow Demon still harasses me time and again, using all kinds of shapeshifting and stealth techniques, trying every way to assassinate me," Xi Ke the Celestial sighed. "I'm alone here in solitude. My strength can no longer improve in the slightest. I can't break through... and I have to be wary of the Snow Demon's sneak attacks."

"Even if I'm not killed, I'll eventually break down," Xi Ke the Celestial said.

Ji Ning nodded lightly.

"Senior apprentice-brother Xi Ke," Ji Ning said solemnly, "I find the Moon Under the Abyss world quite strange. From my observations, this world should have been created by some ancient mighty being. After we entered, we encountered dangers; if we couldn't withstand them, we died. But if we could, we continued forward. Some even obtained treasures and finally left."

"Did the mighty being who created the Moon Under the Abyss world create it just to nurture juniors, give away treasures, and then let us go?" Ji Ning wondered.

"No one is that kind-hearted," Xi Ke the Celestial shook his head. "The mighty being of this Moon Under the Abyss world must have a purpose."

"Right, no one is that kind-hearted," Ji Ning agreed.

Training some celestials, developing the most outstanding ones, giving them treasures, and letting them leave.

That would be too selfless.

Ji Ning didn't believe anyone could be so selfless; there might be a conspiracy!

"Hasn't the Buddha Jueming said anything all these years?" Xi Ke the Celestial asked.

"No," Ji Ning shook his head. "I asked my master, and he said that the Buddha Jueming refuses to talk about it; no one can get anything out of him. Even the Tathagata Buddha can't make him speak about the Moon Under the Abyss world."

Xi Ke the Celestial frowned: "How strange. Why does the Buddha Jueming refuse to talk?"

The Buddha Jueming didn't speak, nor did he stop other celestials from entering. Regardless, he wouldn't say, and no one could force him.

"The Snow Demon has come to assassinate me many times and has talked with me many times. According to him, there is only one way to enter the Moon Under the Abyss world, obtain treasures, and leave alive," Xi Ke the Celestial said.

Ji Ning listened carefully.

"That is... to advance along the floating log bridge, defeat all who block you. There are five islands along the way. When you reach the fifth island, you can leave safely. But so far, only the Buddha Jueming has achieved this," Xi Ke the Celestial said.

"Five islands?"

Ji Ning was startled.

The snow-covered island he was on was only the first. Reaching the fifth island would not be easy.

"When you reach the fifth island, you might learn what the creator of this Moon Under the Abyss world is really after," Xi Ke the Celestial said.

"Mm," Ji Ning nodded.

Ji Ning didn't really care about the ancient mighty being's scheme.

What he cared about were the 'Iceheart Marrow' and 'Iceheart Leaves'.

...

"Junior apprentice-brother, I've fought the Snow Demon for endless ages and talked with him many times," Xi Ke the Celestial looked at Ji Ning. "He told me there's another way to survive."

"Oh?" Ji Ning's eyes lit up.

"That is to hide inside the magic treasure of an extremely powerful celestial," Xi Ke the Celestial said. "For example, if someone trusted the Buddha Jueming and willingly hid inside his magic treasure, and the Buddha Jueming was willing, then as the Buddha Jueming fought his way through and finally left alive, he could safely bring that person out."

"But hiding inside a magic treasure has its drawbacks: you don't get any treasures, and your life is no longer in your own hands," Xi Ke the Celestial said. "For instance, if the Buddha Jueming died, then the celestial hiding inside his treasure would surely die as well. After all, even if that celestial came out, whoever could kill the Buddha Jueming could naturally kill him."

Ji Ning nodded.

"Now I'm thinking... whether I should follow you," Xi Ke the Celestial looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning was taken aback: "Follow me?"

"Follow you. Wherever you go, I'll follow. When you leave, I can leave too. But I think your chances of leaving are very, very small," Xi Ke the Celestial laughed. "Still, I want to see the other islands. Even if I only see the second island, that would be enough. I've been alone here in solitude; I've had enough of this life."

"If senior apprentice-brother trusts me, I will naturally do my best," Ji Ning said.

"But now I'm worried about one thing..." Xi Ke the Celestial said.

"What?"

"I'm worried whether you can get past the Snow Demon's obstruction," Xi Ke the Celestial laughed. "If you can't and you die, since I'd be in your magic treasure, I probably wouldn't have time to escape and would be killed by the Snow Demon. Then I wouldn't get to see another island. I've always been curious: what are those five islands really like? What terrible dangers lie ahead that have blocked so many celestials?"

Ji Ning hesitated: "This... I can't guarantee."

"I don't need your guarantee. Follow me," Xi Ke the Celestial led the way.

...

Snow Island was vast, but the two celestials were extremely fast. Soon they reached the other end of the island and saw another floating log bridge.

"Hm?" Ji Ning looked into the distance.

This floating log bridge also extended to the end of the ocean, but the endless ocean before them was completely frozen.

Countless snowflakes were still falling from the sky.

"As soon as you step onto that floating log bridge," Xi Ke the Celestial pointed, "the Snow Demon will sense it. You don't need to advance; just wait. Soon, the Snow Demon will appear! The Snow Demon that appears at this time is only a clone... If you fight it and can kill it with one move, then I'll take the gamble and hide in your magic treasure to follow you forward."

"Junior apprentice-brother." Xi Ke the Celestial bowed deeply.

"Senior apprentice-brother, don't," Ji Ning quickly stopped him.

"I need you to take me forward, yet now I have to test your strength. I'm truly ashamed," Xi Ke the Celestial said hastily.

"This is only natural," Ji Ning said quickly. "If I can't even handle a Snow Demon clone, following me would be sending you to your death."

Xi Ke the Celestial said no more.

He just looked into the distance at the endless ocean, gazing at its end, and said softly, "I really wonder what the next island looks like, whether there are still living celestials on it. I really want to know. Even if I die after seeing it, I'll be content."

Ji Ning stepped forward and walked onto the floating log bridge.

"Whoosh~~~"

The moment he stood on the bridge, the snowflakes drifting through the sky noticeably increased.

A blood-colored divine sword appeared in each of Ji Ning's hands as he silently prepared.

...

In the distant sky, a large amount of snow quickly gathered, forming a white-furred ape holding a snow-white staff. The white-furred ape stood in midair, its gaze passing through countless snowflakes to land on Ji Ning and Xi Ke the Celestial at the edge of Snow Island.

"A new little one," the Snow Demon ape muttered to itself. "From their conversation, it seems that Xi Ke the Celestial, trapped for so many years, can't hold out anymore and wants to follow that white-robed kid to break through?"

"It's rare to have a little one keeping me company for so long. Is he going to die too?" The Snow Demon ape shook its head.

Whoosh.

The Snow Demon ape vanished into thin air.

...

Ji Ning's expression changed slightly as he looked ahead. A large amount of snow was rapidly gathering.

"Be careful, junior apprentice-brother. The Snow Demon clone is about to appear," Xi Ke the Celestial warned from behind.

Ji Ning watched steadily. As the snow gathered, a vast amount of worldly power also converged, quickly forming a white-furred ape holding a snow-white staff. Its eyes held an innate killing intent; it was born for slaughter.

"Hehe, that Xi Ke the Celestial kid has excellent movement technique and has escaped from me time and again. But the other celestials who have died by my hand number nearly a thousand," the Snow Demon ape said, scrutinizing its prey while speaking.

Ji Ning dared not be careless.

Every celestial who had broken through the Sea Clan Yakshas was extraordinary. Nearly a thousand had died at the hands of the Snow Demon. Although his brief fight with Xi Ke the Celestial had been short, Ji Ning understood that in terms of movement technique, he was far inferior to Xi Ke the Celestial.

"Don't disappoint me." The Snow Demon ape's strange laughter echoed through the sky as it shot through the air, both hands gripping the snow-white staff, and struck directly at Ji Ning.