Snow and Blossom

Du Chen followed Galas's gaze towards 'The Blade.' It was evident Galas was implying that 'The Blade' also cultivated Wind-Snow Thorns, yet he feigned ignorance and asked, "Oh? What insights do you possess, honored sir?"

Galas raised his wine cup. Only after Du Chen descended from his cloud and drained his own cup did Galas smile. "Wind-Snow Thorns originated from Seins, the Lord of Kuna City-State during the Heroic Era. It later diverged into two factions, Benevolent and Malevolent. The Benevolent Faction's cultivation method is exceedingly cruel, demanding practitioners to push themselves to the brink of death through extreme ice and cold to attain power. Survivors are one in ten thousand. The Malevolent Faction's Secret Technique, however, is utterly sinister and shunned by the world, hence few have cultivated it over the millennia. Five hundred years ago, a Malevolent Faction successor of Wind-Snow Thorns sought refuge in Thornwood Valley. Since then, this Secret Technique has been preserved within Thornwood Valley, sealed by successive Valley Masters."

Du Chen listened with a faint smile, though his heart was shaken by the mention of Thornwood Valley.

Galas continued, "However, it is said that sixty years ago, Thomas, the current second-in-command of Thornwood Valley, for reasons unknown, lost all his battle qi. He was compelled to cultivate the Malevolent Faction's Wind-Snow Thorns to regain strength. Then, two and a half years ago, the immensely mysterious Valley Master of Thornwood Valley took in an even more enigmatic closed-door disciple. This disciple originally possessed extraordinary talent; had he pursued the conventional path of a Battle God, he would have had a chance to become a Titled Battle God in this lifetime. Yet, for some unknown reason, he chose the exceedingly cruel Benevolent Faction's Wind-Snow Thorns, risking the one-in-ten-thousand chance of survival to cultivate its Secret Technique... and he actually succeeded!"

Du Chen narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing 'The Blade.'

Galas let out a hearty laugh. "That disciple later became an assassin, an interesting assassin who only kills those who deserve to die! For two years, he has never failed once, earning him the title King of Assassins, ranked only below me in the assassination Clandestine Circles! Naturally, I grew interested and challenged him to a duel on Mount Tianshan. At the same time, I had a few friends conduct a brief investigation into his origins, and the result... is everything I've just told you!"

Upon hearing this, 'The Blade' let out a cold chuckle. "You've certainly uncovered my entire background! I presume that besides being the Foremost Assassin under Heaven, you possess another identity, don't you?"

Galas merely smiled, offering no reply.

Of course, he had a second identity: a descendant of the Starry Sky Battle God, one of the legal heirs of the Five Families of Fallen Gods. While Thornwood Valley was mysterious, with the intelligence network of the Five Families of Fallen Gods, it wasn't too difficult for Galas to uncover such information.

However, Galas's words were invaluable to Du Chen. Du Chen smiled, "So, 'The Blade' is the closed-door disciple of Thornwood Valley's First Boss, and the one causing chaos on Battle God Isle is... Thomas!?"

Galas nodded slightly. "What I know, you now know completely. As for how to resolve Thomas's Ice Toxin... do not ask me, ask 'The Blade'!"

"Many thanks! Please convey to your esteemed family that Durkes City will remember the little story you shared with me tonight!"

After expressing his gratitude, Du Chen cupped his hands towards 'The Blade.' "Although you hail from Thornwood Valley, for two years you have only slain those who deserve it, and you've cultivated the benevolent Wind-Snow Thorns. I presume you are not an evil person. Might you... perhaps guide me on how to resolve the Ice Toxin?"

'The Blade' was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "If I said I didn't know, would you then seize me and subject me to torture?"

Du Chen was taken aback. He had indeed harbored such a thought, but vocalizing it would spoil the fun! Du Chen grandly declared, "I, Francis, am clear about grievances and kindness. You are not an evil person, and even if you do not speak, I will not easily coerce a rare good person from Thornwood Valley!"

'The Blade' abruptly raised his head, fixing his gaze on Du Chen, who was half a head taller than him. "Very well, then I choose not to speak!"

His implication was clear: "Hmph, I simply won't tell you. What can you do? Grand Duke of Durkes, you just explicitly stated that even if I don't speak, you won't trouble me..."

This, this almost felt like a young girl pouting!

Du Chen paused for a moment, then took a step back and smiled, "Since you are unwilling to speak, for me to press further would violate the rules of the Clandestine Circles. Please, feel free to depart!" Inwardly, he seethed, *You dare to play hard to get with me? Hmph, I'll have Dus tail you later, then ambush you with a club to the back of the head, hit you with a Brick, drag you home, and serve you the Tiger Bench and Chili Water. I refuse to believe you won't talk then!*

Du Chen was genuinely anxious. The extent of the Ice Toxin's damage was still being calculated, but based on his initial aerial view, Du Chen firmly believed that at least ten thousand people had been frozen into ice sculptures to prolong their lives. While ten thousand people performing an Act of Benevolence might not be massive, this time was different. Among these ten thousand were Du Chen's classmates, teachers, and childhood friends... Even without considering Merit, Du Chen would rack his brains to rescue them!

Neither Xue Ji nor Zigurd knew how to resolve the Ice Toxin; otherwise, they wouldn't have resorted to the inferior strategy of freezing entire city blocks to buy time. So, Du Chen was now fixated on the only clue – 'The Blade' – with countless sinister thoughts swirling in his mind.

'The Blade' listened to Du Chen's righteous declaration, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "If I don't speak, you truly won't trouble me?"

Du Chen didn't care how many polite words were exchanged, as he never adhered to them himself. With a friendly smile, he retorted, "Have you not heard of Francis's reputation, honored sir?"

'The Blade' nodded, muttering, "You truly are a rare good man under Heaven..." He then sighed suddenly. "Since that's the case, I'll tell you the truth!"

Du Chen was surprised, unable to fathom 'The Blade''s thought process.

'The Blade' lowered his voice, "I have seen the Secret Scripture of the Malevolent Faction of Wind-Snow Thorns, but I haven't thoroughly studied it. I only know that to counteract the Malevolent Faction's Ice Toxin, the key lies in the word 'Reverse'!"

Reverse?

Du Chen was puzzled, but even more suspicious about one thing: could 'The Blade''s words be trusted? Regardless, Thomas was his martial uncle. Why would he tell the truth to help Du Chen, thereby betraying his martial uncle and Thornwood Valley?

Du Chen only trusted this 'Reverse' by twenty percent!

Galas once again lightly tapped the table, signaling the end of that topic. He smiled, "'The Blade,' do you remember why we came here tonight? Enough idle chatter, let's begin! Francis, I heard you recently got engaged, and your fiancée is a beauty rarely seen in this world. After this fight, I must impose upon you for a few cups of wedding wine!" With that, Galas burst into unrestrained laughter, jesting, "If you don't send me two cups of the finest wine, I will surely drag you away from your wedding again!"

Thinking of Xue Ji, Du Chen unconsciously revealed a genuine, sweet smile. However, 'The Blade' beside him inexplicably trembled fiercely. Yet, with his masked face and heavy armor, his expression remained unreadable...

Mount Tianshan, suddenly, heavy snow began to fall.

Snow in June!

Galas was still jesting with Du Chen and hadn't noticed 'The Blade' until the snow swirled. He turned his head and smiled, "Is this the snowscape created by Wind-Snow Thorns? The silver raiment of dancing snow is indeed exquisite, but... it lacks the scattered brilliance of the starry river!"

With that, Galas shook his shoulders, and thousands of starlight beams erupted from behind him, momentarily shimmering with the snowscape. But then, the starlight beams turned in mid-air, sharply attacking 'The Blade,' who seemed to still be in a daze!

The battle for the Foremost Assassin under Heaven had begun!

Du Chen ascended to the sky, treading on Green Cloud, observing the myriad starlight beams. He couldn't help but inwardly praise, *This is truly the crystallization of wisdom accumulated and researched by a great family for thousands of years, something I cannot hope to rival in a short time. However, borrowing this move to refine the Thousand Strands of Benevolent Lock would be quite effective!* Du Chen habitually 'stole' the operational trajectory of Galas's Secret Technique, his gaze following the starlight beams to 'The Blade''s head, then suddenly, he was shocked!

What was wrong with 'The Blade'? Why was he motionless, dumbfounded, or just dazed and waiting for death?

Galas also noticed 'The Blade''s strangeness and shouted, "Thirteen thousand eight hundred starlight beams, covering all your bones and joints! Be warned!" He didn't wish to kill a dazed opponent, so he offered a reminder.

'The Blade' was jolted awake by this loud shout. He looked up at the starlight beams descending above his head but remained motionless, truly appearing dumbfounded. He watched helplessly as the light drilled into his body. From afar, Du Chen felt a sense of despair...

With a thunderous boom, those dozens of light beams shattered 'The Blade' into countless ice fragments!

Was he truly seeking death!?

Wait, ice fragments, not flesh and blood splatter...

Galas's heart stirred. So, the person before him was merely a lifelike ice sculpture! Where was the real 'The Blade'? A surging killing intent assaulted him from behind. Another 'The Blade' suddenly appeared behind Galas, holding an Ice Blade in each hand, but he didn't take the opportunity to ambush Galas from behind – he had the chance!

"You are a senior in the Clandestine Circles of assassins. I yield one move to you, as a mark of respect!" 'The Blade''s voice was cold and hoarse, with a hint of... sorrow?

Du Chen felt 'The Blade''s voice sounded somewhat strange!

Galas turned around, looking at 'The Blade' with a hearty laugh. "You truly haven't disappointed me! However, to my knowledge, neither the benevolent nor malevolent factions of the Wind-Snow Thorns Secret Technique possess this move of yours! Did you create it yourself?"

'The Blade' gritted his teeth. "Precisely! This move is the one hundred and twenty-fourth form of Wind-Snow Thorns – Love Snow!"

In the air, Du Chen's eyebrow suddenly twitched!

Galas nodded. "This move is not bad, but you won't get a second chance to get behind me!" He raised his right arm, flicked his wrist, and another starlight beam attacked 'The Blade.' But this time, he had locked onto 'The Blade''s true form!

'The Blade,' however, was unhurried. The moment Galas made his move, the heavy snow fluttering in the sky suddenly paused, then the myriad snowflakes condensed in front of 'The Blade' into a hexagonal snowflake the size of a millstone, spinning rapidly. The starlight entangled the snowflake, but with each rotation of the snowflake, the starlight dimmed a bit, until it finally dissipated into nothingness!

This time, before Galas could ask, 'The Blade' said with a bitter low voice, "The one hundred and twenty-fifth form of Wind-Snow Thorns – Thoughts of Flower!"

Du Chen's eyebrow twitched again!

At this moment, Dus, subtly ensconced within the Precious Lotus Scripture, arrived at Mount Tianshan and just happened to witness 'The Blade''s first two moves. He suddenly exclaimed, "Hm? Francis, is this person your student?"