Bai Shuo looked at that sweet and gentle smile _It looked exactly like Bai Yu's.
The Bai Clan was a great cultivation clan located on Snowveil Mountain.The Snowveil Mountain stretched across endless white ridges and frozen peaks, wrapped in eternal snowfall.
The mountain was both home and fortress, layered with ancient formations and spiritual energy unique to ice cultivators. Its main peak houses the Bai Ancestral Hall, icy training grounds, crystal pavilions, and spirit beast sanctuaries.
From a distance, Snowveil Mountain glowed with a pale-blue luminance under moonlight, like a slumbering beast veiled in serenity—cold, proud, and untouchable.
Its direct descendants were known across the continent for their Pure Ice Spiritual Root.
Bai Shuo, however was an exception,she had a Heavenly Spiritual Fire Root,the legendary nine inch spirit root_a rarity even across the whole Tianxu Continent.
The side branches of the Bai Clan could have other elemental cultivators but the main branch always pursue Pure Ice Spiritual Roots.
While the elders recognized her talent,they regarded her as an anomaly and even harboured doubts about her identity. Afterall Ice and Fire were never meant to coexist.
But it couldn't be helped that her aunt is the ruling matriarch of the Bai Clan, leaving the elders no option but to swallow their dissatisfaction.
Her parents were both from the direct lineage and also high rank members of the clan so the clan had no choice but to raise a fire cultivator amongst ice culitvators.
For a huge cultivation clan like the Bai Clan,it was not unusual to have concubines which can be chosen from the side branches or outside the clan.
Ultimately, her father took other concubines and Bai Yu was the daughter of one of them.
The main branch of the Bai Clan was renowned for its cool-headednes and Bai Shuo grew up not exactly loved by her clan members because of her fiery temper.
She truly despised the icy expression and cold, distant aura they unconsciously emitted.
The younger generations who mimics their parents are the most irritating and she couldn't help but beat them on the slightest provocation.
She find them so pretentious.
Being the little daredevil feared by the younger generation,it's no wonder she was touched by her "unpretentious" younger sister's warmth and care .
Feeling Tushan Lin's gentle hands ruffling her fox furs ,she couldn't help but recall her younger days.
Bai clan. Snowveil mountain.
"Shuo-jie! Wait for me!" a soft voice called out across the snowy path.
Young Bai Shuo didn't stop. She pressed ahead through the courtyard of frost-kissed pine, her wooden sword strapped to her back.
The air was cold, as always on Snowveil Mountain, but Bai Shuo didn't feel it. The chill never touched her skin_not when the fire in her meridians pulsed beneath it.
"Shuo-jie…" Bai Yu finally caught up, bundled in layers of pale lilac.
Her cheeks were red from running, a small silk pouch clutched in her gloved hands. "You forgot your lunch again. I brought it."
Bai Shuo blinked at her "You ran all the way from the west yard for that?"
Bai Yu nodded. "I… I just thought you might get hungry after sword practice."
There it was again, that wide-eyed kindness, that sweet and innocent voice.
She's so cute.
Bai Shuo thought inwardly and accepted the pouch slowly. It was warm _Inside was her favorite lotus-seed buns with chili oil.
She frowned noticing the frost bites on her hands "Thanks but don't bother next time."
Bai Yu smiled like sunshine on ice waving her hands. "Its not a bother at all."
Bai Shuo looked at the young innocent girl in front of her.
She knew she was her concubine sister and especially took notice of her a while ago because of her timid and shy look which was really rare amongst her proud and arrogant concubine sisters.
At the end of the day, her father was a high ranking member of the Bai clan so even his concubine daughters had some prestige.
Of course after her gruelling lessons,those arrogant concubine daughters don't dare to strut arrogantly in front of her,the main daughter.
She heard from her servants that the young girl awakened the lowest Spiritual Root_a one inch Ice Spiritual Root.
It's no wonder she was being bullied in the clan.
Pity aroused in her heart and she patted Bai Yu's frame which was just a bit smaller than hers and said valiantly "Don't worry,I will protect you."
The young girl's crisp voice rang out in the air "Thanks jiejie."
And from that day henceforth, Bai Yu became her little tail and no one dares to bully her.None of the younger generations can withstand the anger of the little daredevil.
Being the beloved niece of the matriarch, she had her ways of obtaining resources for the young girl.
Bai Shuo enjoyed the feeling of being an elder sister and really liked her cute younger sister.She had been ten the first time she truly saw Bai Yu for who she was.
The Bai Clan had hosted the Snow Blossom Trial_a rite of passage for young cultivators. It tested not just power, but control, judgment, and spiritual intent.
The task was simple, collect a Snow Blossom herb from the Frost Grove without disturbing the Elemental Beasts that guarded it.
The winner goes to person with the highest number of Snow Blossom herbs and the reward was quite enticing, a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Listening to the elder's briefing,she stroked the beautiful band on her wrist and her lips curled into a smile.
It was a gift from Bai Yu. After not seeing the girl for some months due to her secluded cultivation, the girl showered her with different varieties of gift on her exit.
This band was exquisitely prepared for her. Her younger sister has been interested in herbs this days and this was one of her thoughtful gift, soaked in different calming herbs .
Having seen many valuable and exquisite gifts, she didn't actually think much of the wrist band but she couldn't reject her sister's good intentions.
Bai Shuo had entered the Grove with confidence, her fire cultivated to a fine point after months of secluded cultivation.
But halfway in,her senses rang with danger. She looked at the Snow Blossom herbs away from her and proceeded cautiously but her fire suddenly flickered.
The ground beneath her feet was slicker than it should've been. Her spiritual thread snapped_disrupted.
She barely dodged a Frost Panther's strike. She retreated rapidly while looking for an opportunity to advance but something strange happened.
Something was wrong.
The Elemental Beasts chased after her even when she left their territory.
This was weird.
Normally, the Elemental Beasts are territorial and won't bother you as far as you stay away from their border.
She was stunned when she saw the sheer number of Beasts rushing towards her. It was both frightening and unnatural.
The Frost Grove had different Snow Blossom herbs garden and each is guarded by a maximum of 3 Elemental Beasts but the amount of beast converged from other garden rushed towards her and targeted her as if agitated by something.
She activated her movement skills to the maximum and escaped frantically but the beasts were hot on her heels.
She threw different magic weapons towards them and in the process,her wrist band dropped off.
The shock in her heart was immeasurable when she saw the whole Elemental Beasts crowded around the wrist band as if enticed .
She staggered out of the Frost Grove, bloodied and exhausted, her mind still reeling in disbelief.
Bai Yu had already emerged,along with the other competitors ,glowing with success.
Pulling out a large quantity of Snow Blossom herbs from her Qiankun bag. The elders praised her with surprise evident in their eyes.
Bai Shuo turned her eyes mechanically to her,her eyes resting on that sweet and bright smile.
Their eyes met and her innocent eyes widened as she approached her with a worried voice, her loud crisp voice attracting other's attention .
"Sister, are you okay?"
Bai Shuo just stared at her unblinkingly. Bai Yu was clearly unsettled, she shifted uncomfortably asking cautiously "Sister??"
But Bai Shuo caught it, she saw the quick glance at her wrist and the clear relief which was covered up in an instant. Her heart sank and her hoarse voice rang out.
"What did you put in the wrist band?"
"Huh? Sister what are you talking about? Where's the wrist band?"
Bai Shuo stood up asking clear and loud. "You clearly put something on the wrist band to agitate the Elemental Spirits."
Bai Yu gasped and stumbled a bit,her expression showing hurt and disbelief. Her face turned pale and her lips trembled, tears shimmering.
"Sister,you..how can you say that.. I..I.. I will give you the Foundation Establishment Pill okay,just …just don't accuse me wrongly,the gifts were just my sincere intentions."
"Hee Bai Shuo,you are so shameless,just because you failed,you want to snatch it up " A cold sneer rang out from one of her concubine sister.
"Hey,what if Bai Shuo is right?I mean she didn't even pick any Snow Blossom herb"
"Yeah right and she's pretty straight forward,why should she lie?"
"Hmph, you guys are just clueless,she must want a reason to snatch it up from her little sister…tsk..smart"
"Yes.. She must want to bully her because she's her subordinate "
The young clan members buzzed with discussion but most of them believed that Bai Shuo must want to snatch it up.
It's not like she doesn't have a precedent of beating up and snatching up what she wants. They talked with look of schadenfreude waiting to see a show.
Her other concubine sisters who usually suffered more at her hands insisted on it even though deep down they don't really believe she will snatch up something that wasn't hers and especially from this her favourite sister but so what?
They were glad to see the house burn and actually prefer for the Foundation Establishment Pill to end up with someone else instead of her.
She was already ahead of them, reaching the Legendary Twelfth Stage of Qi Gathering realm.
Won't they be left in dust if she gets the Foundation Establishment Pill?.
Bai Shuo ignored them and turned to the elders.
"Elders,the test was manipulated,my wrist band was tainted with something that agitated the beasts."
A middle aged elder stroked his white long beard, looking at her thoughtfully.
"Where's the wrist band then?"
"It was lost in the Frost Grove."
The Elders shook their heads. How can they judge without evidence?
They all knew she was likely to be saying the truth afterall with her abilities, she's the person with the highest chance of winning but so what?
The Cultivation World has always been like that. Strength is the most important factor but not the deciding factor.
Although they find Bai Yu's actions despicable,it was still within acceptable range. Who amongst them hasn't done a few despicable things during their younger days.
Even if she's the matriarch's niece,the clan still has its own rules and this should also serve as a lesson to her.
Bai Yu was announced as the winner of the competition and was shameless enough to turn happily to share her results with her "loved" elder sister but ...
Slap.