Ancient records state that in the primordial era, five great divine races once existed: the Humans, the Dragons, the Phoenixes, the Heavenly Foxes, and the Elves. The Demon and Devil races only appeared much later.
Among the five great divine races, the Humans were the most numerous and reproduced with ease. Consequently, the physical constitutions and magical powers of their descendants grew increasingly weak, gradually turning them into mortals with lifespans of a mere century. However, there were always those who pursued the Heavenly Dao, persisting in their cultivation through tireless effort. The divine ancestors of the Human race, feeling compassion for their descendants, passed down cultivation techniques suitable for mortals with short lifespans, hoping they would persevere in their practice.
These practitioners called themselves "cultivators" to distinguish themselves from ordinary mortals. Depending on their techniques, realms, and ultimate goals, different paths emerged: Immortals, Devils, Demons, and Buddhists. Once they reached a certain level of cultivation according to their respective paths, they would ascend to the Immortal Realm, the Devil Realm, the Demon Realm, or the Buddhist Realm.
However, constant struggles broke out between them over heavenly treasures, spirit mountains, and spirit veins. Coupled with the various tribulations encountered during ascension, many variables arose, making the path of cultivation increasingly difficult.
For millions of years, almost no one from the Human race had successfully cultivated to the level of a Divine Being.
As for the other four divine races, because their requirements for reproduction were extremely high, their offspring were few. Yet, every member of these races was born with immense magical powers and divine abilities, and their cultivation speed was incredibly fast.
This was the so-called Law of the Heavenly Dao!
Later, with the exception of the Human race, the other four divine races faded into seclusion. Only those with great magical power could sense their existence.
***
**The Divine Realm, Heavenly Fox Clan**
Bai Haoran, the Patriarch of the Heavenly Fox Clan, had just concluded his secluded meditation and emerged from the Divine Spirit Realm. The Heavenly Fox Clan excelled in alchemy, and they were most famous for refining the Yin-Yang Creation Divine Pill. It was said that as long as a single wisp of a soul remained, this pill could restore both life and cultivation, placing it at the very top of the Divine Pill rankings.
Bai Haoran tapped the void, opening a portal from which various messages and divine senses poured out. A century of seclusion was truly nothing to a Heavenly God, but as the Patriarch of the Heavenly Fox Clan, there were always many affairs to handle.
Suddenly, a divine sense flashed by—a formal visiting request from the Snow God! The corners of Bai Haoran’s mouth curled up slightly, a peculiar expression crossing his face.
The Snow God was the first Ancient God to ascend in nearly a hundred billion eons, emerging like a dark horse out of nowhere. Within the core power circles of the five divine races, no one knew who this Snow God was; they only knew she was of the Human race, likely a reclusive practitioner.
Previously, there were nine Ancient Gods in the Divine Realm, so the limit of each eon was nine hundred billion years. The appearance of the Snow God added another hundred billion years to each eon, sending the entire Divine Realm into a fervor. It meant an extra hundred billion years to prepare for the Tribulation of Eon Succession—an incredibly exciting prospect, especially for those below the rank of Heavenly God.
Thus, the gods of every race waited expectantly for the Snow God’s divine edict. The various Heavenly Gods, in particular, were rubbing their hands in anticipation, preparing to compete for the position of High Heavenly God in her Ancient God Temple. However, after waiting for over ten million years, no edict from the Snow God arrived, leaving the gods utterly perplexed.
Bai Haoran pondered. The only reason the Snow God would visit the Heavenly Fox Clan now was for the position of High Heavenly God in her temple. Yet, he could not understand why she had waited ten million years before coming to the Heavenly Fox Clan to select one. At the level of an Ancient God, there was no such thing as an unstable foundation. Of course, to an Ancient God, ten million years was nothing—just the length of a short meditation.
Bai Haoran tapped his right index finger against the void, and the endless void appeared before him.
"The Heavenly Fox Clan welcomes the Snow God!" Bai Haoran bowed toward a certain point in the void.
Deep within the endless void, a cluster of snowflakes drifted through layers of time and space, drawing closer and closer. Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the snowflakes finally arrived in the space where the Heavenly Fox Clan resided. Flakes fell one after another, finally coalescing into a form before Bai Haoran.
A hint of curiosity flashed in Bai Haoran’s eyes. Divine beings rarely revealed their true appearance unless they were meeting important or close friends; most identified each other by their aura. The fact that the Snow God revealed her true form showed her respect for the Patriarch of the Heavenly Fox Clan.
She wore white gauze with a jade belt. Her face was delicate and fair, her eyes misty and profound. On her forehead was a snowflake totem. Her bare, snowy-white feet stepped upon a few drifting flakes, and her entire body radiated the aura of an Ancient God. Wherever her gaze landed, it seemed as though she could see through layers of time and space.
Bai Haoran’s heart tightened, and with a look of respect, he bowed again. "Bai Haoran greets Your Excellency!"
The Snow God raised her right hand slightly, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I have come today to ask a favor. Please forgive the intrusion, Patriarch Bai."
"I would not dare. Please, Your Excellency, give your command!" Bai Haoran said quickly. Although he was the Patriarch of a race, the gap in their realms was immense, and he did not dare be negligent.
"The Ancient God Temple has been completed..." The Snow God deliberated on how to speak. She was a bitter cultivator who had spent countless eons in solitary practice; she rarely dealt with other gods and was not skilled in communication. She could not even remember how many eons it had been since she last spoke with another divine being. How should she put this? Thinking of this, the Snow God couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed. In truth, with her status as an Ancient God, no one would dare take offense even if she communicated only through divine sense. However, to show her sincerity, she felt she had to speak.
Bai Haoran was listening with full concentration, but after waiting for a long while without a follow-up, he looked up in confusion and blinked in surprise.
The Snow God’s face was slightly flushed. Her hands tightened nervously, and her jade-like feet rubbed against each other. Such a sight from an Ancient God was far beyond anything Bai Haoran had ever known. But he was the Patriarch of the Heavenly Fox Clan, a position he had held for dozens of eons; he was a man of great vision. After a brief moment of reflection, he understood what the Snow God meant. Seeing her so flustered and out of character, he found it somewhat amusing.
The reason this "dark horse" Ancient God was so unknown was very likely because she was simply terrible at social interaction.
"Your Excellency means that the Ancient God Temple is finished, and you require a High Heavenly God, is that correct?" Bai Haoran asked.
The Snow God’s face lit up with joy. "Exactly. I wonder if an Elder of your noble clan would be willing?" She looked at Bai Haoran with intense, expectant eyes.
Bai Haoran swallowed hard. To be stared at with such longing by an Ancient God—how could he withstand it? He was only a Heavenly God; his body’s defensive aura activated instinctively.
The Snow God immediately sensed the surge in Bai Haoran’s aura and hastily restrained her own, feeling embarrassed once again.
Only then did Bai Haoran relax. That was a close call. He looked at the Snow God with an increasingly complex gaze. This Ancient God was definitely a reclusive, world-isolated bitter cultivator.
Suddenly, Bai Haoran realized something. She said the Ancient God Temple was finished? Finished? When did this happen? He hadn't received any divine edict.
Every Ancient God, upon ascending, would issue a divine edict to use the strength of the five races to build their Ancient God Temple and then select their High Heavenly Gods. Only after the High Heavenly Gods were in place could the temple be activated, allowing the eon’s time limit to take effect. Furthermore, each Ancient God Temple served as a pillar for the Six Realms, performing specific functions.
In addition to the main hall, an Ancient God Temple had five secondary halls arranged according to the five elements. These were presided over by five High Heavenly Gods, assisted by Divine Guards.
The main hall, besides the Ancient God’s central chamber, had four side chambers presided over by Heavenly Gods from the other four divine races. For example, if the Ancient God was human, the side chambers must be presided over by Heavenly Gods from the Dragon, Phoenix, Heavenly Fox, and Elf races.
The Heavenly Gods holding these positions had their own secret identities; no one knew who they were except for the presiding Ancient God. Only when a great tribulation approached and the Ancient God Temple was fully opened would the Heavenly Gods return to their positions. Normally, the temple was guarded by the Nine Great Divine Guards.
*Could it be that the reason this Ancient God only appeared after ten million years was that she went to build the temple all by herself?* As this thought occurred to Bai Haoran, he looked at the Snow God in disbelief. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. If the gods of the various races knew about this, they would be depressed to death.
The materials for building an Ancient God Temple were all heavenly treasures, most of which were controlled by the core powers of the five divine races. While there were still many materials scattered across the realms, collecting them was incredibly difficult, as they were often located in perilous lands. Even an Ancient God was not omnipotent in the face of natural laws. To collect all the materials for an Ancient God Temple alone... the mere thought of it was daunting.
A look of pity suddenly appeared in Bai Haoran’s eyes as he looked at the Snow God.
The Snow God was puzzled. She could sense Bai Haoran’s pity, but she was utterly bewildered by it.
"Alas!" Bai Haoran sighed and asked, "Does Your Excellency not know that an Ancient God Temple can be built using the collective strength of the five races? That would have saved you a great deal of time and energy."
The Snow God shook her head. After she ascended, she had received the Ancient God inheritance, but the part concerning the temple only listed the required materials. As for how to build it, she assumed it was no different from refining a divine artifact. How was she to know she could borrow the strength of the five races to collect materials?
Thinking back on it now, the Snow God lamented how truly out of touch she was.
Looking at the Snow God’s slightly blushing, helpless, and somewhat adorable face, a certain string in Bai Haoran’s divine heart was suddenly plucked. He only thought about how he could help her.
"So, which Elder of the Heavenly Fox Clan can take the position in the Snow God Temple?" the Snow God asked.
Bai Haoran thought carefully. Currently, the Heavenly Fox Clan had five Elders who did not yet hold a position in an Ancient God Temple. The Third Elder was too pedantic, the Sixth Elder was too impetuous, the Twelfth Elder was too lecherous, the Sixteenth Elder was too talkative, and the Twentieth Elder was too young.
Unknowingly, Bai Haoran began nitpicking the flaws of each Elder. Looking at the Snow God before him, he only wanted to choose the very best candidate; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.
A Heavenly God... she needed a Heavenly God. Suddenly, a thought jumped into Bai Haoran’s mind. As long as the person was a Heavenly God, they could hold the position. He was a Heavenly God himself, so naturally, he was eligible. The thought of being able to see this genuine and sincere Snow God frequently filled his heart with a strange excitement.
"Do you think... I would do?" Bai Haoran looked at the Snow God with burning eyes.
"Ah!" The Snow God was very surprised. "But you are the Patriarch. You have many affairs... uh, are you willing?" The Snow God thought that having a Patriarch-level Heavenly God in charge of the Snow God Temple would be an excellent choice. She could hand over all the affairs to him and focus on her cultivation in peace.
"I am very willing to serve Your Excellency!" Bai Haoran said firmly.
The Snow God’s heart leaped with joy. She hastily reached out and tapped the air, opening a portal. She grabbed Bai Haoran and drifted into the portal as if afraid he might change his mind.
They arrived in a valley within the Ancient God Realm. Standing tall in the distance was the Ancient God Temple.
In the center, the words "Snow God Temple" were inscribed in Ancient God Seal Script. The gates were ancient and simple, covered in various complex runes and formations.
The entire Snow God Temple was empty. Likely due to a lack of materials, this Ancient God Temple artifact only possessed its most basic functions. Even for such a hollow shell, it had taken an Ancient God over ten million years to refine. One could only imagine the hardships involved.
Bai Haoran observed the entire palace as he followed the Snow God into the main hall. His respect for her grew even deeper. To build a pillar of the Six Realms by one's own strength required immense perseverance. Along with that respect, the pity in his heart deepened as well.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 五大神族 | Five Great Divine Races | Humans, Dragons, Phoenixes, Heavenly Foxes, Elves. |
| 天狐族 | Heavenly Fox Clan | One of the five divine races, experts in alchemy. |
| 阴阳造化神丹 | Yin-Yang Creation Divine Pill | A top-tier divine pill capable of restoring life and cultivation. |
| 雪神 | Snow God | The protagonist of this side story, a newly ascended Ancient God. |
| 古神 | Ancient God | Gu Shen; the highest tier of divinity. |
| 天神 | Heavenly God | Tian Shen; a high-ranking divine being below an Ancient God. |
| 纪元 | Eon | A vast unit of time (100 billion years in this context). |
| 古神殿 | Ancient God Temple | A divine structure that serves as a pillar for the Six Realms. |
| 雪神殿 | Snow God Temple | The specific Ancient God Temple belonging to the Snow God. |
| 白浩然 | Bai Haoran | Patriarch of the Heavenly Fox Clan. |
| 神卫 | Divine Guard | Guardians of the Ancient God Temples. |
| 六界 | Six Realms | The collective realms of existence. |
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