Chapter Forty-Nine: News from Yunmeng

Along the way, everyone chatted intermittently, as if they were old friends reunited after many years. The atmosphere was harmonious, filled with laughter and cheer. After this battle, they had gained even more trust and understanding of one another.

The sun was rising higher, and under the morning light, the Yinglong gleamed brilliantly, truly resembling a divine dragon manifesting in the world. After a simple meal, everyone closed their eyes to rest. Yinglong said that it would be about two more hours before they reached Shanghai, a speed already much faster than any airplane.

After completing his routine meditation, Hua Feng couldn’t help but start missing Xiao Meng, even though it had only been a little over ten hours since they last saw each other.

“Xiao Meng, where are you?” Hua Feng wondered silently.

Northern Domain, Mysterious Realm, Snowfields.

“Miss Yunmeng, the main hall is just ahead. The Snow Lord is inside. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t go in. You can meet the Snow Lord yourself.” With these words, Chang Hao turned and in a flash had vanished several hundred meters away, his figure quickly disappearing into the depths of the snowfields.

Yunmeng stared blankly at the great hall ahead, covered in ice and snow, recalling her recent experiences: first, she had suddenly appeared in a primeval forest thousands of miles away in Australia; then she encountered the inexplicably showy Chang Hao, who insisted she meet this so-called Snow Lord, which was truly exasperating. What was she to do? Strangely, though it was sunny outside, upon entering this so-called Mysterious Realm, it suddenly turned to snow, and judging by the half-meter-thick accumulation, it had been snowing for days.

Helpless! Though she didn’t understand what was happening, she knew there was no turning back. She could only grit her teeth and press on. If it’s fate, I’ll face it; if it’s disaster, there’s no escaping it! With this thought, Yunmeng slowly climbed the high steps and entered the hall. After a few steps, she saw pillars adorned with coiling dragons, and the dome above was filled with painted snowflakes and dragons.

At the end of the hall sat a man with a head of white hair, yet with the appearance of a middle-aged man. His eyes were closed as he sat on the main seat, a robe embroidered with snowflakes giving him an ethereal, otherworldly air. He was almost perfectly still—if not for a faint ripple of energy, Yunmeng would have thought he was a statue.

“Child, you’re here? You’ve suffered much over these years,” he suddenly said, startling Yunmeng.

“Are you talking to me? Who are you? Who are you calling your child? I’ve never met you before—are you sure you’re not mistaken?” Yunmeng replied in confusion.

“No, I’m not mistaken, child. Soon you’ll understand everything. Relax, I won’t hurt you. Once I help you awaken the Snow Clan bloodline, the memories you’ve lost will return. Then, you’ll remember everything,” the Snow Lord replied, his body as motionless as a statue, the conversation seeming to echo directly in her mind.

“So you mean I’m of the Snow Clan? Or your child?” she asked.

“That’s right. It was my negligence that caused your injury this time. That boy Hua Feng is not yet capable of protecting you. I’ve instructed him to wait until he reaches Prime Emperor before seeking you out, but I won’t prevent you from keeping in contact. For now, stay here, recover, and cultivate. An apocalypse is near—a calamity that may affect even the Northern Domain’s Mysterious Realm. We must prepare in advance.”

“You mean the spatial instability predicted in more than four years?” Yunmeng asked.

“Yes. The last time the realms merged, the collapse of space took many of our strongest, but the fifty years they bought us are almost at an end.” The Snow Lord paused, unbothered by Yunmeng’s direct manner of address. After all, a thousand years had passed; much had changed. “Come closer. Let me help you awaken your bloodline.”

At his words, Yunmeng stepped forward, drawn by a deep sense of kinship. The Snow Lord rose lightly, flicked his finger, and a visible beam of white light shot into Yunmeng’s brow and vanished.

Yunmeng felt a torrent of information erupt from the depths of her mind: the reproaches of elders from her clan, outsiders coveting her unique body, the Snow Lord exhausting his power to send her through a millennium to be fostered by a family named Shangguan… Growing up, meeting Hua Feng, going to school, joining the army, searching for energy samples, the Flying Dragon Battalion—scene after scene, cascading through her mind. Suddenly, her head throbbed with pain. “Ah… it hurts, my head!”

“Relax your mind—follow my guidance,” the Snow Lord said, swiftly enveloping her in a thick aura of primordial energy. With his guidance, Yunmeng felt much better.

Ten minutes later, “Father, you’ve worked so hard all these years—thank you!” The long-lost term of endearment brought tears to the eyes of the Snow Lord, a man usually as strong as iron.

“It’s all right, child. I’m just glad you remember. Go rest now. We’ll have plenty of time to talk in the days ahead.”

“Yes, Father. As you wish.” Yunmeng, gradually adjusting to the flood of information and the sudden surge of energy within her, could already sense the faint signs of breaking through to the peak of the Yuan King level.

“Uncle Xue, take Xiao Meng to rest and recuperate,” the Snow Lord ordered. A figure appeared out of nowhere and answered, “Yes!” With that, he led Yunmeng toward the sleeping chambers in the rear hall.

As she followed Uncle Xue, Yunmeng wondered if she could ever truly settle into her identity as a member of the Snow Clan. Her emotions surged in waves, and before she knew it, they had reached an elegantly furnished chamber. The carved rosewood chairs, tables, and large bed made it look like a young woman’s boudoir.

“The Lord has always kept this room for you, Miss. He personally cleans it every time. For thousands of years, he’s ensured it was always spotless. You lived here when you were a child,” Uncle Xue explained, seeing Yunmeng nod blankly. “Rest now, Miss. If you need anything, just call for me. I’ll take my leave.”

“Thank you, Uncle Xue.” He withdrew quietly, closing the door and leaving Yunmeng alone.

Back in the room she’d lived in as a child, Yunmeng suddenly felt exhausted. She lay on the bed, wanting only to sleep. Out of habit, she pulled out her phone—and was surprised to find she had a signal. She typed a message to Hua Feng: “All is well. Don’t worry.”

Thousands of miles away, still flying over the sea, Hua Feng felt his phone vibrate. Seeing Yunmeng’s message, the unrest in his heart finally eased.