One

Sang Dulu Hayin believes that the teacher is correct; this place was once an immensely wide river. Millions of years ago, with the arrival of the cold, it was frozen over, completely turning into a massive block of ice. It is precisely for this reason that they are able to find this broad and flat road amidst the surrounding jagged glaciers. From the topography, it appears that this river is narrowing, indicating that its source should be ahead.

Zi Chan raised his eyes to look at the old man, his eyelids slowly drooping: "Master ... ... I need to take a break"

The travelers advanced over the solid ice, with howling winds above their heads. Looking up, they saw the biting cold wind carrying snowflakes the size of salt grains rushing towards them, as if all of it originated from a single point in the northern sky

Sang Dulu Haya once witnessed the shamans of his tribe dancing slowly under the starry sky, wielding short staffs to sense the myriad stars. Yet, never had a dance evoked in him this momentary feeling, as if a traveler were to see, in the stillness of a moonlit night, deep within the dense forest, ancient trees swaying their branches in a dance, singing a melody as ethereal as the heavens. ... That was the dance of antiquity, the dance of mystery, the dance of the heavens ... yet, never had a dance evoked in him this momentary feeling, as if a traveler were to see, in the stillness of a moonlit night, deep within the dense forest, ancient trees swaying their branches in a dance, singing a melody as ethereal as the heavens. ... That was the dance of antiquity, the dance of mystery, the dance of the heavens ...

"Sang Dulu Hayin, thank you for bringing me here," the old man said softly as he watched his figure depart

Will God save my soul?" Zi Chan exhaled wisps of white breath

The old man fell silent for a moment, stepped forward, and embraced Zichan's head in his arms, gently stroking his hair: "Do not be afraid, child, I know you have tried your best. You should be proud, sleep now"

Sangdu Luha Yin stands at a height of 1.5 zhang, is strong, silent, and weighs as much as eight adult Donglu men. Currently, he carries the entire team's burden on his shoulders, with his clothes fully donned. The load contains venison, a windproof tarpaulin tent, and charcoal for warmth. They no longer have horses, and if Sangdu Luha Yin were to collapse, there would be no one in the caravan capable of advancing even ten miles, as no one else can carry these items, which are essential for survival

"Kua Fu does not require a tomb; please place my corpse in the snow, facing west"

The fine rain formed by the melting snow soon ceased. At this moment, Sangdu Luha Yin could clearly see the originally snow-covered peaks revealing their black ridges after the avalanche. At the highest point of the ridge stood a shadow. It was a figure as still as cast iron, riding on the back of a gigantic white wolf, the wind whipping the wolf's long fur, resembling a battle flag. Sangdu Luha Yin was taken aback; he could hardly believe his eyes. In the lifeless expanse of the far northern snowfield, he saw the wolf, and he also saw a living person.

The old man suddenly opened his eyes wide at the sight of the wolf

Sang Duluha hurriedly rushed back, flustered as he pushed some of the accumulated snow away to cover the melting ice surface. Then, he carefully pulled the old man onto the surrounding snow that was more than a yard high. The old man brushed off the snow dust from his cloak, standing in the misty drizzle, smiling as he looked up and saw a faint rainbow arching across the sky.

The old man slowly adjusted his sleeves, the dance had already concluded, and the footprints he left in the snow formed an ancient totemic pattern. He stood at the center of that ancient totem, breathing in the entirety of heaven and earth

The young man had a delicate and refined Donglu face, fair and smooth, appearing to be a noble scion. Sang Dulu Hain had quite an affection for this young man. Before crossing the snow line, he was the joy of the entire traveling party; at night, while tending to the campfire, everyone would cheerfully watch him play music and sing, telling all sorts of amusing jokes and incredible anecdotes. But now, the young man could no longer smile; his face had taken on a deathly pallor, and his lips were a deep purple, with snowflakes clinging to his hair and face. His body had become stiff, his arms crossed over his chest, and his hands, like chicken claws, tightly grasped his greatcoat. As he moved forward, it was as if he were shackled with dozens of pounds of iron on his ankles.

Has anyone been here?" Sang Duluhayin asked. If the old man does not speak, he will assume that they are the first group to arrive here.

"Do not cry, you can change this world." The young master looked at the old man

A slight commotion arose among the attendants in front. Both the old man and Sanduluhayin were taken aback when they looked over.

"Teacher, let me recall... your strength!" the old man said to himself

The attendants became invigorated and quickened their pace, as perhaps this way they could survive another day. In this desolate and lifeless place, being alive evokes a sense of both loneliness and preciousness

The old man gazed into his memories, once again seeing the young man in white with flowing sleeves. He stood on the battlefield stained red with blood, calmly and indifferently gazing into the distance. He did not belong to this bloody slaughterhouse, pure and noble like a deity, observing the ever-changing world from beyond the clouds, neither sighing nor showing pity.

"Do you see it ahead? The ridge of the Great Snow Mountain, gentle as a maiden's back," the old man pointed forward.

He saw the old man dancing on the ice field

The elderly man, leaning on his cane, looked towards the direction of the snow valley and said loudly: "When dealing with guests who have traveled from afar, is it not a cause for an avalanche to remain silent? Do you not wish to hear the purpose of the guests' visit?"

Millions and tens of millions of flower stems emerged from the soil, lush and green, sprouting tender new leaves and bearing beautiful flower buds, covering the mountains and fields. ... At the moment the young master opened his eyes, the flowers bloomed, vast expanses of crimson, pale purple, moon white, sea blue, and goose yellow ... . ... It was as if a painter had splashed ink across the entire land.

If I am not mistaken, we will see the Great Snow Mountain Range after crossing the snow valley ahead, and this glacier originates from there before it freezes. The old man pointed ahead, "We have come for it"

Where is the river? A young man dragged his feet behind the old man, his steps unsteady, murmuring, "I cannot see the river..."

The old man suddenly knelt down, his body leaning forward as if paying homage to a king. He then drew the ancient silver dagger from his waist and with all his strength, plunged it into the center of the totem. The snow was shaken, and the massive totem was also disturbed. For a moment, there was silence, and then a surging and pure power erupted from the center of the patterns, resembling an invisible giant sword.

Sang Duluha recalled the path they had just traversed, unable to imagine that it was the remnants of a waterfall. They had just climbed up a terrace, which suddenly rose about five hundred feet above the ice field. Standing beneath the terrace and looking up, they felt as though a massive wall towered before them, reaching up to the sky

In that moment, Sang Dulu Hayin was stunned; he felt as if a door leading to the ends of the world had opened before his eyes

The attendants also saw that large masses of snow were sliding down from the snow peaks on both sides, and the entire snow shell was peeling away, stirring up a vast cloud of snow dust. An avalanche was taking shape, and millions upon millions of pounds of snow were about to surge forth like a raging tide, burying everything in the snow valley

His eyes gradually became blank: "I am a little scared... but it's nothing."

Teacher ... ... I can’t walk anymore ... ... You all go ahead, let me rest here ... ..." His purplish lips moved, "Teacher, you all go ... ... leave me behind ... ..."

"You cannot rest here, Zichan!" The old man struck Zichan on the face with his palm, "Open your eyes!"

Amidst the resounding "dong dong," there were some unusual sounds mixed in. Sang Duluha Yin scanned the surroundings. He sensed danger and let out a low growl of alertness from his throat. The ice beneath his feet began to tremble, the shaking gradually intensifying, and the freshly fallen snow slid down the ice surface. The attendants chasing the deer also noticed this anomaly; they had already reached the center of the snow valley, anxiously looking around.

A long time ago, this place must not have been as cold as it is now; the water could flow, and beneath our feet was a great river. What we passed yesterday was merely a small tributary of this great river. An aged voice floated past Sandulu Hain's ear, "The river is two li wide, with a water volume equivalent to the combined flow of the Jianshui and Xuesong rivers in Wanzhou. At the spot we just passed, it forms a massive waterfall, one and a half li wide, with water cascading down from a height of about five hundred feet, crashing into the pool below, creating a mist that rises over a hundred feet high, within which a rainbow stretches one and a half li long. The scenery here must have been magnificent back then, right?" The scenery here must have been magnificent back then, right?

If that is the case, thank you, Sandulu Hain. By then, I will erect a tombstone for you, just like the one for Zichan. The old man nodded and calmly gazed ahead

Sang Duluha grabbed the longest bundle and turned to run wildly in the direction from which he came. He chose to obey the teacher's command, even though it would lead to the teacher's death.

That is Zhu Ti Mountain, or Saint Woman Snow Mountain. 'Zhu Ti' is a term from the language of the barbarians, meaning 'Saint Woman.' The person who named it likely intended to convey that this mountain, like a saintly woman, has stood here for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, mysterious, beautiful, and dangerous. Ordinary people only know her legends and will never see her true form, the old man sighed

The surging snow waves have arrived before us, a wall of snow several people high is moving rapidly.

"Teacher, what is there in the snow-capped mountains?" Sang Duluhayin asked with some curiosity

"Teacher." Sang Duluha knelt down, so that he was exactly the same height as the old man, facing each other.

"Avalanche! Teacher! It's an avalanche!" Sang Dulu Hayin roared, pointing at the snow-capped peak above.

Sang Duluha glanced one last time at the simple grave, the black felt strap fluttering in the fierce wind. He remained silent for a moment, picked up Baizi Chan's bundle, and placed it on his shoulder. At this time, the old man had already turned and walked ahead.

For more than ten consecutive days, they had not seen any large animals. The last time they encountered an animal was seven days ago, when they heard the sound of water near an icy stream. They broke through the ice and saw gray and white fish beneath the surface. The fresh fish provided them with a hearty meal, and they also piled up the fish bones to burn, using very little charcoal to keep a fire going for a while

In the autumn of the fourth year of Emperor Yin Cheng, in the northern region of Hanzhou

He is somewhat better than Bai Zichan; he is not afraid, for he had thought long ago that he would die this way, alone and powerless

If I die, the teacher will turn south. No human has ever survived in such a cold place; even Kuafu could not endure for long. We Kuafu also hold great reverence for the snowfields in the northern part of Hanzhou. The shamans say that in the far north, there are snow mountain gods who reside at the ends of the earth

From all directions, the rolling snow waves converged towards the old man. He let out a gentle sigh, feeling a heavy weariness deep in his heart. Now, he was all alone, with no students by his side, allowing him to confront his own hesitation and fatigue. In fact, when Sang Dulu Hain told him that he could only live for three to five days, the old man had also estimated his own condition, realizing that his strength might not last more than two days. He had once been a person of immense power, yet now he felt the painful exhaustion of that power, otherwise he could have saved Bai Zichan. In fact, when Sang Dulu Hain told him that he could only live for three to five days, the old man had also estimated his own condition, realizing that his strength might not last more than two days. He had once been a person of immense power, yet now he felt the painful exhaustion of that power, otherwise he could have saved Bai Zichan.

There is a wolf," the old man said

He stopped and slowly fell forward: "Teacher, I need to take a break"

Sang Duluha Yin sensed something unusual behind him; although he knew that stopping even for a moment could lead to his death, he still turned around.

The person on the wolf's back and the old man gazed at each other from several miles apart, neither speaking nor moving an inch. Sang Dulu Hayin could not clearly see the person on the wolf's back, yet felt as if he were being watched by a wild beast, which made him uneasy

In an instant, the snow wall was stirred up into towering white waves several zhang high by this force, yet it could no longer advance even a fraction. Millions upon millions of jun of accumulated snow were blocked from soaring into the sky, only to fall back down again, threatening to engulf the old man. Before the might of nature, the old man appeared as insignificant as an ant.

They were approaching Snow Valley. Looking up, it resembled the entrance to a giant's castle, with snow-capped peaks forming a wall-like barrier on either side, leaving a gap of less than half a mile in the middle. The road ahead was flat, and the snow seemed to be gradually diminishing.

He shivered slightly, believing he had not misheard! That was the long howl of a wolf, intertwined with the howling wind and the low growls of wolves, not far away, definitely not far! Just when he thought he had reached a dead end, he was already close to success

He slowly closed his eyes

"God does not save anyone's soul; it merely creates and destroys." The old man continued to stroke Zichan's hair with one hand while retrieving a short dagger, half a foot in length, from the leather pouch with the other. The dagger was made of ancient silver, its surface adorned with mysterious and intricate embossed patterns covering all metallic parts.

Sang Duluha Yin dropped his backpack and grabbed the old man's shoulders, intending to carry him away to escape. Perhaps he could still save one person; he was a Kua Fu, running as fast as a steed.

Do you know what the end of the world is like

Sang Duluha followed the old man's pace, raised his head, and gazed at the distant snow-white valley, with snow-capped peaks piercing the clouds on both sides

It is not surprising that the elderly would act in such a manner towards Sang Dulu Ha Yin. They are unable to save Bai Zichan; here, no one can save another, and it is already quite difficult to survive on their own. Sang Dulu Ha Yin is a Kuafu, and Kuafu are familiar with the snowfields, where the cold can freeze blood into ice shards. Survival relies solely on the flowing warmth of blood and the courage within one's heart. Bai Zichan has lost his courage, and his blood will also slow down; there is nothing left to maintain his body temperature. Death is merely a matter of time, and it would be better to end his suffering sooner.

The will seemed to awaken like a wild beast, roaring up from the depths of the old man's heart. He felt the strength within his body burgeoning. This power was so immense that it reminded him of many years ago when he witnessed his teacher commanding the blood on the battlefield to seep into the earth with a single breath, causing the most vibrant flowers to bloom from the soil. In that moment, tears streamed down his face, for he sensed a great power within the tranquility, surging forth in all directions at the instant of his teacher's breath.

They walked at the rear of the caravan, while the others remained oblivious to it all. Everyone kept their heads down, watching their boots shuffle forward time and again, listening to the howling of the blizzard

Do you miss Shangzhou

The deer seemed to sense the intentions of the humans, and as it walked, it began to run. It stepped on the ice, producing a loud "thud, thud" sound, reminiscent of a galloping horse. The attendants quickly drew their bows and pursued, but the oil-coated sinew bowstrings had frozen stiff, and not a single bow could shoot a threatening arrow. The deer headed towards the snow valley, while several strong attendants drew their javelins from behind. The deer was not running too fast and had not yet left the sight of the people

I have never regretted following the guidance of the stars, even if in the end, no one erects a tombstone for me the old man said softly raising his hand and patting the thick back of Sangduluhayin like a bear

The old man paused and said: "But those are all false; they are concocted by people sitting at home, indulging in fanciful thoughts to amuse others"

Hurry up, we must catch up with the people ahead. The old man's indifferent voice came through the dense wind and snow

At last, the old man smiled: "The head of the 'Silence' department of the Chen Yue sect, Shan Bikun, has traveled thousands of miles and finally met the Wolf Lord"

The old man gently kissed Zichan's forehead and plunged the dagger into it.

The old man reached out to stop him: "Hurry, don't mind me. Take that longest burden with you. If you can survive and return, tell the students stationed at Qingrong Plain that I died at the foot of Zhu Ti Mountain"

And now they unexpectedly saw a deer. This deer was a species they had never encountered before, elegant and robust, its body comparable to that of an adult North Horse, covered in dense golden long fur that hung down to the ice surface like that of a yak. Its back arched into an extremely powerful bow shape, making it appear to be an animal exceptionally skilled in leaping. The large antlers on its head glimmered with an enticing light golden hue, remarkably smooth, resembling polished jade.

An avalanche can be terrifying in this narrow place; you may need to run several miles, or even over ten miles, to escape. You must run like the wind! Hurry, do not waste time. The old man pressed his hand against his head, "If you take one person with you, you will also die here."

"Do not cry, you can change this world." The young man turned to look at the old man, gently closed his eyes, and breathed slowly and deeply

The deer showed no fear towards these unfamiliar visitors, its demeanor resembling that of a powerful emperor, as this was its territory. It calmly glanced at the traveling party, which included humans and Kuafu, its chestnut eyes revealing little hostility, before slowly turning and departing.

What does the true end of the world look like, the teacher must know, right? Sang Dulu Hain took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of helplessness that enveloped him. He was not flattering; in his mind, the teacher was an omniscient figure, but some knowledge was too horrifying, something that the world should not hear lightly.

A retainer removed the bow from his back; shooting this deer would provide them with an additional five to six days' worth of provisions

Sang Duluha nodded slightly, noting that having mountains was a good thing, as they might be able to find a sheltered place to rest at the foot of the mountain. In this open area, they could not stop; the wind and snow were too fierce, and those who halted would remain here forever, just like Bai Zichan.

Sang Dulu Hah nodded and said: "The shaman once said that at the northernmost point of the world, there is a gigantic snow mountain, its peak connects to the sky, and the ice and snow have not melted for a hundred thousand years. No Kua Fu can cross that mountain, nor can humanity. The god of the snow mountain resides within that mountain."

That is power, an endless and ceaseless force! The old man suddenly looked up at the sky. The invisible sword of power shattered, and in an instant, a tremendous force erupted like a volcanic explosion, surging outward in all directions, carrying enough heat to melt metal. The curtain of snow completely burst apart, scattering and falling. The snowflakes were instantly melted, transforming into fine mist, which then condensed in the air into light rain, gently falling down.

"Zichan! The river is right beneath your feet!" The old man gazed intently into the young man's eyes, shaking him vigorously, "Think about it, many people go their entire lives without seeing such a vast river, yet you have seen it. We are about to approach the mountain pass ahead, hold on a little longer, you cannot stop here, you must return to the East Land to tell your friends about this great river"

He took the long bundle from Sanduluhayin, opened it, and inside was a long staff resembling a messenger's scepter. The top of the staff was adorned with embossed pure silver, amidst countless intertwining vines, there was a silver star and a sharp crescent moon.

I miss you, but I do not regret following my teacher

He thought he might still live for another three to five days, his strength was nearly exhausted, and the God of the Snow Mountain was about to come and kiss his forehead

Sang Duluha still could not understand this answer, but he did not ask. No one in this expedition knew what they were searching for in this desolate land, nor did they need to know; they only needed to follow the teacher's footsteps forward

The wind howled around him, as if beasts and demons were roaring within it, ready to leap from the void and tear him apart. The growls were deep and hollow, reminiscent of wolves howling under the moonlight

The expedition team he was part of had crossed the snow line for forty-three days. Initially, they traveled on horseback, and then on foot. Sanduluhayin estimated that they had advanced seven hundred miles north of the snow line. From this point onward, their pace would slow down, as just yesterday, the last night horse had died. That poor creature lost control while crossing an icy river, perhaps trying to drink the water beneath the ice, or perhaps the deadly cold had become unbearable for it. Suddenly, it broke free from Sanduluhayin's grasp and leaped, madly striking its head against the solid ice. Its skull shattered, and for the first time, Sanduluhayin witnessed a horse die in such a manner, with blood staining a large area of the ice.

He wants to sit down, and he also wants to take a break, just as Bai Zichan said

They saw a deer

Only leaders like Sang Duluha, who are trusted, understand the meaning of survival and can find a way to live in the most difficult circumstances

The old man was startled and turned around to grasp the young man's shoulder

A tremendous power, capable of changing everything, capable of reversing everything ...! ... is occurring!

Sang Duluha squinted his eyes and gazed into the distance. Although his gaze was not as sharp as that of the feathered people, he could still vaguely see a rising arc in the white expanse ahead. Indeed, it was a snow-capped mountain! A majestic and grand snow mountain, even more magnificent than the snow-capped peaks to the north of Shangzhou. The mountain was vast, and the snow was pure and sacred. A ray of light fell, revealing the enchanting pink hues of the snow peaks, as if the great snow mountain were a maiden suddenly unveiling her veil, revealing a graceful smile. The snow had stopped, and for a brief moment, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds, casting a beauty so breathtaking that it was hard to behold upon this desolate land. A ray of light fell, revealing the enchanting pink hues of the snow peaks, as if the great snow mountain were a maiden suddenly unveiling her veil, revealing a graceful smile. The snow had stopped, and for a brief moment, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds, casting a beauty so breathtaking that it was hard to behold upon this desolate land

"Leibicheng, I shall be buried here, ultimately unable to return to the Eastern Continent to witness the flames of war you have ignited there," the old man thought

Dance of the Gods

There have been, and they returned alive. Otherwise, no descendants would know the name Zhu Tishan. The old man said, "In fact, this name has been passed down in the barbarian tribes for hundreds of years."

Sang Duluha silently nodded. He could not understand, but he believed that what the teacher said concealed some deeper truth

"Sang Dulu Hayin, you can come back now, come and give me a hand," said the old man

I have also heard this legend, the old man said lightly, there is a book in the East called "Records of the Water of Su", which states that at the northernmost point of the world stands a towering snow mountain, from which all snow originates, and the snow mountain remains unchanged for millions of years. The wind and snow travel southward, transforming into water that flows into rivers. The water from the rivers enters the sea, and at the southernmost point of the sea lies a chasm known as the Star Abyss, which is endless; a person who falls in will age and die, turning into a skeleton, unable to reach the bottom. The Star Abyss is a vast waterfall several thousand miles wide, where all the water in the world cascades down, yet the Star Abyss can never be filled. The water from the rivers enters the sea, and at the southernmost point of the sea lies a chasm known as the Star Abyss, which is endless; a person who falls in will age and die, turning into a skeleton, unable to reach the bottom. The Star Abyss is a vast waterfall several thousand miles wide, where all the water in the world cascades down, yet the Star Abyss can never be filled. To the east of the world is a sea that burns like fire, where the seawater is red, and magma flows beneath the surface, perpetually shrouded in steam. The sun rises from the magma, a massive flame with a diameter of several thousand miles; when it rises each day, the entire sea is boiled, and the scalding seawater creates waves hundreds of miles high, with the seawater evaporating into large clouds. To the west, at the end of the ocean lies a deep black hole, where all light in the world is swallowed; the sun, moon, and stars are shattered there before falling. The black hole is actually the mouth of an ancient dragon at the bottom of the sea, which feeds on light, insatiably greedy, and can never be satisfied.

Sang Dulu Ha Yin assisted the old man in simply covering the Zichan with snow, and the old man took Zichan's cane, cut a strip from his own black cloak, tied it to one end of the cane, and inserted the cane into the ice and snow beneath his feet. Sang Dulu Ha Yin went to help, and the snowflakes that had not melted for countless years piled up layer by layer into ice; the two of them exerted some effort before they managed to insert the cane properly

"Teacher, I can live for three days at most five days," he said softly as he approached the old man.

Sang Duluha Yin silently observed everything from the side. At the moment the dagger pierced Zichan's skull, a muffled sound like a "pop" was heard, akin to the breaking of an egg. Perhaps the cold had rendered his skull as fragile as an eggshell. After a while, blood began to flow out, quickly coagulating. The old man gently laid the body down, wiped the dagger with a handful of snow, and returned the dagger to its leather sheath.

Sang Duluha Yin is the one who looks up, a Kuafu standing at a height of 1.5 zhang. He squints his eyes against the raging wind, gazing at that point in the sky, contemplating that it might be the end of the world, the place where all ice and snow are born. It is a gap in the firmament, where the frigid void beyond the heavens surges into this realm, sweeping across the entire world

The end of the world is a place we can never reach in our lifetime. It is the land of the gods, and it is also a realm of emptiness. The old man gazed at the distant snow valley, gently shaking his head, "Those who reach there will die first"

Sang Dulu Hainfu worships in the snow. The avalanche has ceased, and the old man stands in the center of a snow wall that is two people high. In the circle around him, with a diameter of about one zhang, there is not a trace of snow; the solid ice surface has melted into steaming water, leaving only a small patch where the old man stands intact

"Let us go," said the old man, "this is his grave, Bai Zichan, a descendant of the Bai royal family. Only the two of us know that he is buried here. Take his satchel with you"

The person speaking to Sanduruhan is an old man wrapped in a black felt cloak. He is very old, hunched over, and moves forward step by step with the aid of a long staff, leading one to suspect that a strong wind could sweep away his frail body. Yet, he is the leader of this caravan, a true leader. Since the beginning of the journey, he has calmly arranged everything, trekking on foot like everyone else, never showing a hint of fear.