Thirty miles outside Mount Rotten Chess, in a small town.

Inside a dimly lit room.

Several shadowy figures sat around a table, seemingly lost in thought. The eerie silence carried an air of solemnity.

After a long pause, one of the figures—clearly a woman—spoke up:

"Why aren’t we lighting any lamps?"

"Our business isn’t meant to see the light," came a serious male voice.

"Besides, this way it feels more like we’re scheming in the shadows."

"?"

You’re insane, but at least you’re professional about it.

The woman fell silent for a few seconds before moving on.

"How’s the task I assigned you coming along?"

"Don’t worry, I’ve got it handled. I’ve hired several storytellers from under the bridge to spread the word about Li Mo and Ying Bing’s conflict with His Highness the Crown Prince. Every faction gathered here will know they’ve offended him."

Another shadowy figure lifted his head proudly.

"So… the storyteller who claimed the Crown Prince’s sword attendant, Dan Hong, was beaten into a sniveling, piss-soaked pig… was one of yours?"

The woman seemed to take a deep breath, barely suppressing her rage.

An awkward silence filled the room.

Finally, the man coughed lightly. "Don’t get mad. This was all according to your instructions."

"When did I ever say to portray myself as a piss-soaked pig?"

"Think about it—the more pitiful you seem, the more it proves Li Mo and Ying Bing have deeply offended the Crown Prince, right? The more they’ll be left with no place to stand."

"And the more eager those who wish to serve His Highness will be to eliminate them for him."

Indeed, the woman in the shadows was Dan Hong.

She snorted coldly, conceding the point, and moved on.

"What if no one takes action?"

"No worries. I’ve already hired an assassin from the Drizzle Pavilion. Back in the day, he ranked among the top five in the Earthly Fiends. Later, he defected to the Demon Calling Sect. The jianghu calls him ‘Spares Neither Man Nor Beast, Leaves No Chicken or Dog Alive.’"

"Is he reliable?" Dan Hong narrowed her eyes.

"He’s a professional. No need to worry."

The man chuckled. "He’s successfully assassinated even those in the fifth realm, the Outer Scenery. Once they enter Mount Rotten Chess, he’s ninety percent certain to bury those two there."

Dan Hong finally relaxed slightly and handed over a box containing the deposit.

The shadowy figure took the payment and vanished.

Not long after.

Under a bridge by the roadside, figures came and went as street vendors hawked their wares.

A storyteller reappeared beneath the bridge, his cross-eyed gaze scanning passersby before he donned his long robe and smacked the storytelling block.

"Now, the Frost Immortal—ah, what a peerless beauty, unmatched in this world! She’s the first to rank higher on the Flower Ranking than the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

"She single-handedly fought two Inner Scenery experts! Even the Crown Prince’s sword attendant pales in comparison—like a pheasant beside a phoenix."

"That battle was truly spectacular, dear listeners. Let me recount it in detail—"

Clink-clank!

Coins rained onto the stage.

Inside a passing carriage:

"News spreads fast, even to Mount Rotten Chess?"

"Not bad. This storyteller’s got some of Dad’s flair..."

Li Mo was surprised but nodded in approval.

The Frost Immortal was peerless—he could personally attest to that.

After all, her soft, jade-like hand was currently in his grasp, cool to the touch but not unpleasantly so.

"Ice Block, what are you looking at?"

"An anomaly."

Ying Bing stared intently toward Mount Rotten Chess.

This phenomenon was strikingly similar to the Sky Phoenix Domain she had claimed in the Imperial Capital in her past life.

But the Sky Phoenix Domain should still be there.

That floating city, a sacred artifact condensed from an Inner Scenery field, had hovered over the Imperial Capital for years, even becoming a source of enlightenment for many prodigies.

Jiang Yu’s divine intent, for instance, bore traces of its influence.

So what was this in Mount Rotten Chess?

And what had she obtained in her past life?

Li Mo followed her gaze and saw a mirage-like city in the sky, its architecture bizarre, unlike anything from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Before long, the vision slowly dissipated, transforming into flocks of divine birds that vanished into the world.

Gasps erupted outside the carriage.

"The vision’s gone! Has the spiritual miasma of Mount Rotten Chess finally dispersed?"

"Does that mean we can enter now?"

"Feng shui masters say that tomb holds great peril. Going down won’t be so easy."

"Fortune favors the bold!"

Sword beams shot into the sky as riders galloped toward the mountain.

But to Li Mo, the fading vision felt familiar.

"Ice Block, is this related to things like the Jade Phoenix God or the Blood Phoenix Essence?"

"Mn."

Ying Bing nodded seriously.

"Good. We have to claim it!"

Li Mo’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

What could be better than Ice Block? (Referring to return on investment.)

"I’m still not sure..."

"Then let’s go find out together!"

Li Mo grabbed her hand and stood, storing the carriage in his spatial artifact before wrapping them both in mist and soaring into the sky.

The wind howled past their ears.

Ying Bing tucked her fluttering hair behind one ear, her gaze lingering on his profile.

The boy’s face was alight with enthusiasm, just like in her dreams when he’d eagerly dragged her out to play as a child.

But…

This had nothing to do with him.

She was the one who wanted answers...

"Ice Block, why are you secretly staring at me?"

"I’m not."

Hand in hand, they flew into the clouds, heading straight for Mount Rotten Chess.

Their figures were instantly recognized—how could they not be, when Ice Block stood out like the cold moon in the night sky?

Amid the exclamations, the cross-eyed storyteller under the bridge squinted and removed his robe.