The Plum Blossom Dojo was blanketed in snow year-round. Around the valley entrance, plum blossoms bloomed in every direction, a sea of flowers stretching far and wide, with spirit birds and cranes circling overhead.
A bolt of white lightning descended from the sky above the flowering canopy — it was a magnificent snow eagle. Perched atop it sat a young girl with bright eyes and pearly teeth.
The child wore a pale azure robe. Her eyes were as clear and sparkling as a mountain spring, her rosy cheeks flushed with health, and her delicate features so exquisite they could steal one's breath. Anyone who laid eyes on her would find themselves irresistibly drawn to her.
The girl appeared to be around ten years old, not yet fully grown, but judging by those long, slender legs, she would undoubtedly become a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms when she matured.
"Da Bai, that was amazing! You're getting faster and faster!" The girl's voice was crisp and sweet, as pleasant to hear as the song of a lark.
From afar among the plum grove, Lady Dan'er stood hidden behind an ancient plum tree, watching the child on the snow eagle in silence. Her expression was agitated, her eyes rimmed with red. As she watched, she could not help covering her mouth and weeping softly.
The little girl was completely unaware that pair of loving eyes so nearby was gazing at her with all the longing in the world.
The child was simply frolicking happily with the snow eagle in the snow, occasionally bursting into bright, innocent laughter that lent an air of cheer to the otherwise tranquil plum forest.
After tumbling and rolling through the snow for quite some time, the girl finally scrambled to her feet and began cheerfully smoothing the snow eagle's sleek feathers.
"Da Bai, we need to go back. If Granny comes back and sees I've been goofing around without practicing properly, she'll scold Nian'er for being lazy again. Granny always says that if I don't cultivate properly, she won't let Nian'er go visit Mother anymore. Mother… Nian'er really misses you…"
The girl's voice grew quieter and quieter as she wrapped her arms around Da Bai's neck, murmuring like someone lost in a dream. The sound of it could break one's heart.
Da Bai let out a sharp cry and transformed into a streak of white lightning, shooting skyward and rocketing toward the interior of the Plum Blossom Dojo.
Behind the ancient plum tree, Lady Dan'er could endure no longer. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed against the old trunk, sobbing without a sound.
"Nian'er, Nian'er, it's Mother who has wronged you. Mother is too selfish. Everything is Mother's fault — every last thing. Mother simply doesn't have the ability, and so I had to harden my heart and leave you in the care of the Plum Blossom Bright Emperor. Mother hopes that one day you'll rise above others, that you'll be able to grip fate firmly in your own hands. Don't be like Mother…"
Lady Dan'er gently wiped her tear-streaked eyes, checked her emotions, and cast one last reluctant glance toward the Plum Blossom Dojo. Then, with a final act of resolve, she turned and walked away.
It wasn't that she didn't want to see her daughter — it was that she feared she wouldn't be able to endure it. If she met her daughter face to face, she knew there was no way she could withstand the child's pleading. She would take Nian'er with her, no matter what.
But Dan'er knew full well that her own strength and resources were far from sufficient to give her daughter the finest upbringing.
"Nian'er, wait for Mother. Mother promises you — it won't be long. Mother promises that when I return this time, I will never leave you again. Even if the sky comes crashing down, Mother will be right beside you, protecting you. This is the last time. If I don't give this one last try, I will never be at peace for the rest of my life…"
The words echoed softly in Dan'er's heart as she transformed into a streak of flowing light and shot down from Peacock Holy Mountain.
…
Glazed Royal City was bustling with excitement. Millions of independent cultivators had packed the venue of the Dragon-Tiger Grand Assembly until it was absolutely jammed.
Jiang Chen sat upon the lecture platform, speaking with ease and eloquence. In the midst of his discourse, an air of transcendent poise radiated from him, drawing the reverence of all who were present.
Even the Upper Eight Territories powerhouses seated in the guest of honor section were holding their breath, listening attentively to Jiang Chen's words. Not a single discordant sound escaped anyone's lips.
"Some of you have asked — the Upper Eight Territories have never heard of the Pine Crane Pill, nor of the Emperor Ascendant Pill. Did I fabricate these pills out of thin air?"
Jiang Chen wore a composed smile, his eyes gleaming with the quiet confidence of someone holding all the right cards, and he cast his gaze toward Grandmaster Dongye of the Temple of Heavenly Sound.
"I imagine Grandmaster Dongye already has an answer to that question," Jiang Chen said with a smile. "He wouldn't have parted with one billion, six hundred million Holy Spirit Stones without very good reason."
"The Primordial Universe is boundless and infinite. The worlds we know are but a single drop in a vast ocean — vanishingly small. Human knowledge is finite after all. You've never heard of the Pine Crane Pill, never heard of the Emperor Ascendant Pill — that's perfectly fine. After today, you'll know that these pills truly exist. But does that mean these two pills represent the pinnacle of the alchemical world?"
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "Obviously not."
"The Dao of alchemy is boundless. Even pills like the Pine Crane Pill and the Emperor Ascendant Pill are nothing more than ordinary fare in the grand scheme of things."
"Let's not speak of distant realms. Even here on the Divine Abyss Continent, all we know of is the Human Territory. Beyond the Human Territory, how much of the world do we truly understand?"
"And beyond the races of humanity — how much do we know of those worlds?"
"Some might say our strength is limited, our capacity for knowledge restricted. As long as we manage our own affairs, that should be enough."
"Others might say there's no point in knowing any of that."