After leaving Jade Immortal Manor, Jared and Luther masked their auras and raced toward Coldabyss City in the northern region. Their speed was fierce; in only a few short days, the snow-cloaked giant city rose before them once more.
Coldabyss City looked unchanged. Black-green walls of profound ice glinted under sunlight, and the gate bristled with guards. This time, however, the two men met no inspection; Master Coldabyss had clearly issued advance orders.
They flew straight above the streets and descended toward the City Lord’s Residence. The gate guards, far from blocking the way, bowed with respectful silence—another sign of Master Coldabyss’ instructions.
Led by a servant, Jared and Luther reached a quiet chamber deep inside the residence. The room was carved from a single block of ten-thousand-year cold jade; its frozen breath sharpened thought rather than numbing flesh. Master Coldabyss waited within, still wrapped in an ice-blue robe, his gaunt face now carrying a hint of worry between the brows. On seeing the pair, he rose to greet them, his expression complicated.
“Mr. Jared, Luther… You really have returned.” Weariness roughened his voice as he gestured toward the mats. “Please, sit…”
The three of them chose seats—the city lord at the head, Jared and Luther opposite. A maid glided in, placed steaming spirit tea on low tables, then backed out without a sound. Quiet folded over the jade chamber; only the three remained. Elder Coldabyss lifted a hand. Pale runes bloomed in the air and sank into the walls, sealing the room in layered silence.
Only then did he look at Jared, brows tight. “Mr. Jared, word of what you did in the Eastern Region Divine Punishment Hall has already raced through all thirteen heavens…”
Jared did not flinch. He raised the thin jade cup, let the warmth travel through his fingers, and took an unhurried sip. Fragrant steam veiled his eyes. “So, the Grand Venerable’s Divine Punishment Warrant has reached the northern region after all.”
Elder Coldabyss let out a low breath and explained, “It did far more than reach… On the very day the warrant was issued, a celestial envoy showed up at my gates. They ordered me to cooperate fully, hunt down the criminal, and interrogate every cultivator with ties to the eastern region.” He paused, eyes sliding toward Jared. “The envoy specifically warned that the target might wield a strange gray power unknown to any current path… Mr. Jared, you have stirred the heavens too loudly.”
Luther’s back straightened. The chill in the chamber seemed to echo his mood. “City Lord Coldabyss, the celestials have ruled the thirteen heavens by crushing every clan. They ripped out souls to smelt soul crystals—sins beyond counting. What Mr. Jared did was strike for the people.”
Elder Coldabyss raised a placating hand. “I know, I know…” A sigh slipped from him, white in the cold air. “Yet their power dwarfed ours. They stood too high for most of us to even see… The Grand Venerable of the Central Region stood at Top Level High Immortal Realm Level Eight. Strong allies crowded his banner, and some whispered he was linked to an even higher plane. Oppose him and you courted certain ruin.”
Jared set the cup down. Porcelain tapped jade, soft but final. His gaze met the city lord’s without blinking. “City Lord, I am not here to pull Coldabyss City into the storm. I have come to prevent misunderstandings between you and Jade Immortal Manor…”
Elder Coldabyss straightened. “Oh? And what matter was that?”
Jared answered, “Lord Julian of Jade Immortal Manor was far from content with celestial rule. He and I had an accord,” Jared continued. “Jade Immortal Manor would secretly back actions that weakened the celestials… During the business at the Divine Punishment Hall, Julian did not fight beside me, yet he opened doors and smoothed paths.”
Elder Coldabyss’ eyebrows leapt. “That old fox Julian… He actually dared? Was he not afraid the celestials would flatten his manor?”
“Fear gnawed at him,” Jared said, “Yet he was even more weary of being the celestials’ lapdog.”
Hearing this, Elder Coldabyss fell silent, turning the thought over. He knew Julian was ambitious; subjugation choked him. The harsher the chains, the deeper the seeds of revolt. At length, he nodded. “That explains why Jade Immortal Manor has eased its pressure on other eastern factions lately. I assumed they were scheming… If what you said holds, I need not keep my guard so high against them.”
Jared went on. “More than that. Julian’s daughter, Rania, was my cultivation partner. For public and private reasons alike, I would rather see Jade Immortal Manor and Coldabyss City in harmony, ready to answer each other if need arose.”
“Cultivation partner?!” Elder Coldabyss blurted. He swept Jared up and down as though seeing him anew. “Mr. Jared, you… You even won over Julian’s cherished daughter?”
Luther supplied evenly, “The feelings between Mr. Jared and Miss Rania are deep. By then, he was half a master of Jade Immortal Manor.”
Expressions shifted across Elder Coldabyss’ face before settling into wry resignation. “Mr. Jared, every visit from you is either a gift or a scare…” He rose and paced, hands clasped behind his back. “If Jade Immortal Manor truly plans to resist the celestials, then a northern-eastern alliance would be a force the heavens must reckon with… Still, the celestial threat is vast. We must tread with utmost caution.”
He stopped and turned back. “Mr. Jared, what do you intend next? With a warrant over your head, peace is scarce anywhere in these thirteen heavens.”
“We plan to head for the Myriad Monster Mountain Range in the western region,” Jared answered.
“The Myriad Monster Mountain Range?!” Elder Coldabyss’ voice spiked; color drained from his face. “That place is a dragon’s den now. The celestials are crushing beastfolk uprisings; war blankets the entire western region!”
Luther stepped in. “City Lord, I sense Ghost Clan traces within those mountains; perhaps kin still survive there. We must investigate.”
Elder Coldabyss murmured, “Ghost Clan…” His brows knitted tight. “The western front is a maze; celestials, beastfolk, and countless outsiders tangle there. Ghost Clan signs are possible, yet…” He fixed Jared with a grave stare. “Do you two understand the level of danger waiting in the west?
The celestials stationed their Beast Quelling Hall there, led by a Beast-Quelling Venerable at Top Level High Immortal Realm Level Seven… Five Beast Kings have defected to him, and tens of thousands of troops scour the mountains for rebels. The beastfolk once rallied under King Altair, Lady Lysandra, and Lord Stoneback.
They gathered a hundred thousand fighters, yet losses mount day by day… King Altair fled, gravely wounded; Lady Lysandra is trapped; Lord Stoneback lies suppressed. What remains of the resistance now clings to life near Skyfiend Gorge.”
Elder Coldabyss walked to the cold-jade wall. A frosty finger traced lines; ice bloomed into a rudimentary map. “Here lies the mountain range; this hollow is Skyfiend Gorge. Celestial forces split into five flanks and cast the Heavenbound Beastlock Array; there is no escape.”
He turned back, his voice iron. “If you go now, you walk into the net. The western defenses are tighter than those in the east, and the warrant brands you. Discovery means certain death.”
