The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 721: Is It Fate?

Is It Fate? . . .

"Not only you, but all of us thought the same," sighed Wenren Chuchu. Her voice carried the weight of deep understanding. "Yet none of us perceived the dramatic transformation that occurred when the fire raged atop Iron Peak."

As she recounted the events, she continued, "An extreme coldness descended upon us. The vast expanse of fire, which had extended hundreds of miles, was swiftly extinguished, and the world was plunged into an icy chill. The ground cracked under the strain of such extreme cold."

With a sense of somber realization, she explained further, "It was early autumn, and our men were attired in lightweight clothing, ill-prepared to fend off the invasive cold. Their forces, on the other hand, were clad in heavy garments, a clear sign of prior readiness for the impending cold. They had foreseen the cold and were well-prepared, giving them a significant advantage."

Wenren Chuchu's expression darkened as she continued, "Our soldiers suffered losses on multiple fronts—mentally and physically. They struggled to even grasp their weapons. And once they managed to hold them, they couldn't let go, for fear of their skin tearing. Our enemies executed a flawless strategy."

Wenren Chuchu's gloomy countenance mirrored the gravity of the situation. "It seems to be a matter of fate—of the cold," she concluded.

Meng Chuanshi, who had been listening attentively, was overwhelmed. He felt as though he was hearing a story from the pages of a book and found himself terrified by the truth. "How can this be? Is it heaven's will? Fate? Can it truly be so?" He questioned, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Extreme cold in this season? Even in the harshest days of winter, such coldness is unheard of. Why?"

Wenren Chuchu closed her eyes momentarily, reflecting on the mysteries that still shrouded these events. "There are no definitive answers," she admitted with a deep sigh. "None of us truly understand what transpired. It felt like a dream, and when we awoke, we had already lost."

Meng Chuanshi remained shocked and utterly perplexed. He muttered, "Could the Kingdom of Chen be favored by the heavens? They were losing battles in the south, but a massive mountain appeared, saving them from defeat. Then, during our joint attacks on three fronts, we were close to victory twice, only to be thwarted by unexpected rainstorms. And now, this inexplicable cold... We were on the brink of victory again, only to lose it once more."

As he shared more unsettling information, Meng Chuanshi turned pale. "There was a massive ice mountain surrounding the Kingdom of Chen that appeared suddenly."

"Before Master Bai's departure, he gifted the King of the Kingdom of Chen a sword—the Holy Providence."

His expression took on an even more haunted look as he revealed, "Feng Zhiling of Ling-Bao Hall, recognized as Master Bai's worthy rival, displayed a clear intent to support the Kingdom of Chen. He is a legend in his own right."

In growing distress, Meng Chuanshi said, "All the signs seem to point in one direction—that the Kingdom of Chen is favored by the heavens. It's as though the world is tilting in their favor... Could it be..."

Wenren Chuchu's visage darkened further, and she issued a stern warning. "General Meng, be mindful of your words."

Overcome with remorse, Meng Chuanshi immediately knelt down and implored for forgiveness. "I was consumed by worry over the war, and my words were thoughtless. I humbly request your forgiveness."

Wenren Chuchu, still reeling from the revelation, waved him away, sparing him from further chastisement.

The weight of the possibility lingered in her mind: "Is it truly fate? Is the heavens truly willing the Kingdom of Chen to triumph?" She found herself lost in a sea of uncertainty and contemplation.

Such thoughts had never crossed her mind until this very moment, and it was perfectly reasonable. As the heir of Misty Cloud Palace, Wenren Chuchu possessed a wealth of knowledge and experience that set her apart from most others. Her perspective on events differed significantly from that of the common soldiers. The inexplicable events—the gigantic mountain falling from the sky, the sudden rainstorm, the emergence of the ice mountain, and the day when both the Great Sect of the Green Leaves and the Great Sect of the Clear Moon were obliterated—she knew that Cha Eun Xiao, whom she recognized as Feng Zhiling, could not have been responsible for any of them.

She was aware that Cha Eun Xiao and Cha Xiao were one and the same, and this certainty only strengthened her belief in his incapability to perform such miraculous feats. Without witnessing the bizarre phenomenon of the extreme cold qi herself, she would never have attributed it to Cha Xiao.

Who, then, had created the colossal ice mountain outside Chen-Xing City? The answer was clear, and it pointed directly to Cha Xiao. If he could achieve these two miracles, was it possible that he had orchestrated all the unexplainable occurrences? Could Cha Xiao have orchestrated the descent of the sky-borne mountain in the southern battle and conjured the rainstorm? Was he indeed responsible for the annihilation of both great sects within a single day?

It was a peculiar aspect of human nature. If one element of a theory proved to be flawed, it cast doubt on the entire premise, no matter how fervently one wished it were true.

"Was I mistaken from the start?" she wondered. "If he is capable of these two miracles, then perhaps he orchestrated them all. After all, these miraculous events have all benefited the Kingdom of Chen."

In reality, Cha Xiao had connections to all these occurrences. He had a hand in most of them, if not all. The southern sky-borne mountain and the decimation of the great sects were intertwined with his actions as well.

Now, despite Wenren Chuchu's earlier skepticism about Cha Xiao's legendary status, her beliefs wavered. The notion that Feng Zhiling was a legend and that the Kingdom of Chen was divinely blessed had taken root in the hearts of the people.

Given the extraordinary events that had transpired, the Kingdom of Chen had become a symbol of something transcendent, casting a spell over the entire world. When people thought of the Kingdom of Chen, it evoked a sense of miraculous fate. It stood as a testament to a remarkable victory that surpassed the battle on Iron Peak.