In the hollow, massive boulders were scattered everywhere, and the Red Yang Fruit tree was no longer visible. Where the Red Yang Fruit had once grown, a large crater now gaped open, and cracks spread from it like a spiderweb.
Little Moon butterflies flew in the hollow, illuminating everything for the cultivators who walked there, inspecting the aftermath of the explosion.
After a while, the cultivators gathered various items and brought them to Hai Bing. They told her something.
Hai Bing spoke with them briefly, then led them to a high rock where Xue Lao Er stood, her hair unbound.
At this moment, Xue Lao Er was looking around.
"Mistress!" Hai Bing clasped her hands and greeted her.
Xue Lao Er noticed how many rocks and boulders lay exposed beneath the snow. Chaos reigned everywhere. Then she turned her head and cast a cold gaze upon everyone.
The group of guards immediately lowered their heads. Xue Lao Er descended from the rock and stopped before everyone.
Hai Bing stood beside Xue Lao Er and gestured for the others to show what they had found.
Two individuals brought forward fragments of Red Yang Fruit branches. The branches were completely pulverized. Another person presented a black stone with a metallic sheen. The stone was oval-shaped and unlike ordinary rocks.
"What is this?" Xue Lao Er asked in a cold tone.
Hai Bing took the stone and brought it closer to Xue Lao Er.
"Mistress, please take a look. This is most likely meteoric iron."
"Meteoric iron?" Xue Lao Er asked skeptically. She looked up at the sky.
"Mistress, the Qiyun Sect often procures such things. I have seen meteoric iron myself. From the outside, they look black and charred."
"What are you trying to say? Did meteoric iron really strike the Red Yang Fruit tree?"
Hai Bing sighed and said:
"Most likely. One could call it a coincidence. Mistress, please look..." She pointed at the meteoric iron and led her to where the Red Yang Fruit tree had grown.
Hai Bing explained with a sigh:
"A massive crater formed in this spot. Only immense pressure could create such a hole. Especially given this meteoric iron. If this wasn't the work of a heavenly lord, how else could this matter be explained?"
As she spoke, she shook her head helplessly.
She understood very well the Red Yang Fruit's significance to her mistress. Every year, her mistress would visit the old master for a period. The old master resided in the Ice Castle, where the cold was dreadful year-round. Even a supreme cultivator could not long endure there.
But her mistress would consume the Red Yang Fruit, and thanks to its miraculous effect, she could stay with the old master for an extended period. Now the fruit was gone, and it seemed her mistress would be unable to visit that place.
The old master had said that she should only use the Red Yang Fruit for herself. His reasoning was simple. Anyone who desired the Red Yang Fruit would first have to request it from the old master. Otherwise, there was no way to obtain it.
As for the snow avalanche, everyone understood that a mass of snow had descended from the high mountain.
In truth, if Yuan Gang had been in their place, he would have immediately noticed the obvious. And of course, he would have guessed that this was not the work of a heavenly lord at all. It was simply that Hai Bing and the others did not yet know about things like explosives.
Xue Lao Er: "Why such a coincidence? Why did a meteorite fall precisely on this peak? Why specifically on the Red Yang Fruit?"
Hai Bing: "It's unlikely a human did this. The Snow Demons would have immediately sensed a human and given the alarm, and then the guards wouldn't have allowed anyone to take the fruit. Perhaps this is the will of heaven, which is difficult to foresee!"
"The will of heaven?" Xue Lao Er lifted her head, looked at the sky, and muttered:
"Why does heaven act this way???"
Hai Bing remained silent. She herself didn't know what to answer.
Xue Lao Er's bewildered expression turned serious, and she turned around, beginning her descent. One group of people remained at the peak, while another headed down to escort Xue Lao Er.
On the way down, Snow Demons could be seen emerging from under the snow cover every now and then. Sometimes, Snow Demons could be seen lying motionless, having stained the snow red.
After descending the mountain, Xue Lao Er and the others headed towards the Immortal Palace.
Many people remembered this day. They had heard the explosion on the mountain and then the avalanche. But what exactly had happened on the mountain, few knew...
Three figures ascended the mountain. They stopped at the snow walls.
Seeing those who had arrived, Lei Zong Kang said with relief:
"Lord Dao!"
Having said that, he looked up and saw Yuan Gang descending from the sky, illuminated by the burning bonfire.
"..." Lei Zong Kang didn't know what to say.
"Yuan Gang can fly?"
Yuan Gang descended from the sky, ran a short distance, and stopped. Then he tore apart the Triangular Wing, broke the poles, and threw them into the bonfire.
Black Peony and the others stared wide-eyed in confusion. They looked at Yuan Gang as if he were a werewolf.
The fabric from the wing burned quite quickly in the bonfire. After that, Niu You Dao collapsed the walls and said:
"Let's go!"
Duan Hu and Lei Zong Kang took Yuan Gang by the arm from the side and followed Black Peony and Niu You Dao. Under the cover of night, they descended the mountain....
The next day, the Ice and Snow Palace published news that a meteorite had fallen on the snowy mountain, causing a snow collapse.
They said nothing more, only this. In truth, they didn't need to say anything else. And to say that it was the will of heaven to destroy the Red Yang Fruit was a bad omen.
Throughout the night, discussions in the canyon did not cease. Everyone wondered what had happened. But now they all understood. Apparently, a *meteorite* had struck the snowy mountain and seemingly shattered the Red Yang Fruit?
Beizhou.
A horse-drawn carriage quickly approached Linbo Palace (Shao Ping Bo's palace).
The carriage stopped at the main entrance, and wooden steps were immediately placed against it. Shao Ping Bo stepped out of the carriage, dressed in white robes and a black cloak.
"Young Master!" The household manager Shao San Sheng looked at Shao Ping Bo with a meaningful gaze.
Shao Ping Bo understood him. Important news had obviously arrived, but he showed no sign of it. He smiled and said to Tang Yi, who stood nearby:
"Sect Head Tang, you must be tired, I presume? You should rest early."
A group of guards went to escort Tang Yi.
Shao Ping Bo had initially thought to stay with Tang Yi and speak with her. Who knew, perhaps he could yet savor that fruit. However, important matters couldn't wait.
In truth, feminine beauty did not exert such a strong influence on Shao Ping Bo. Although he wouldn't mind indulging in Tang Yi's beauty, it was not his top priority. His top priority was business.
"Very well!" Tang Yi clasped her hands.
Shao Ping Bo smiled as he watched Tang Yi depart, then he entered his residence and ordered Huang Dou and Ling Hu, along with the other guards, to leave. He himself, with Shao San Sheng, went into the inner part of the house, to the study. Shao San Sheng, helping him remove his cloak, asked:
"Young Master, are you tired?"
Shao Ping Bo walked to the table, sat down, and asked indifferently:
"Speak, what happened?"
Shao San Sheng placed the cloak over his arm and said:
"Just as Master surmised, an interesting incident occurred at the Ice and Snow Palace."
Shao Ping Bo, who had been sitting in the chair, immediately sprang up and slowly asked:
"Something about the Red Yang Fruit?"
"There's no news about the Red Yang Fruit yet. However, two reports arrived from the Ice and Snow Palace. The first report: two days ago, an avalanche descended from the snowy mountain."
Shao Ping Bo narrowed his eyes: "And the second?"
"On the second day, the Ice and Snow Palace announced that a meteorite had fallen on their snowy mountain, where the Red Yang Fruit was located."
"A meteorite?" Shao Ping Bo narrowed his eyes and chuckled:
"A meteorite also fell in Qingzhou recently. And now, at the Ice and Snow Palace as well? Even the gods are helping me!"
Shao San Sheng asked:
"I also had my doubts. Did the fruit really fall into his hands?"
Shao Ping Bo sneered:
"This isn't a small matter; it's a huge one. That scoundrel wouldn't act unless he was sure. I'm certain he has the Red Yang Fruit!"
He waved his hand and asked:
"How long does it take to travel from the Ice and Snow Palace to Qingzhou?"
Shao San Sheng replied:
"If you ride horses without stopping, it's several days. Otherwise, the journey will take about a month. But if one flies on a bird, that's another matter entirely."
Shao Ping Bo: "Good, I understand." He sat down and began reviewing documents.
He had been on inspections these past few days, and now a multitude of documents had accumulated.
Shao San Sheng looked at him and asked:
"Master, should we spread a rumor?"
Shao Ping Bo continued to examine the documents intently and said:
"Let's wait!"
A month quickly passed.
In the territory of the Zhao Kingdom, Niu You Dao and the others passed through Qingzhou, but they did not stop there.
As they passed the city, Black Peony asked Niu You Dao:
"Lord Dao, aren't we going to Qingzhou?" She privately assumed that they would give this Red Yang Fruit to Xiao Tian Cheng. If not to him, then to whom?
But Niu You Dao shook his head and said with a strained smile:
"Let's wait!"
Black Peony didn't understand: "Wait? Wait for what?"