"This is... the blessing of fate. My comprehension of the laws of Heaven and Earth is increasing at an astonishing speed. So this is the power of an imperial dynasty. Indeed, by becoming part of one, although some freedom is sacrificed, the benefits are far beyond imagination. If I can enjoy this fortune and gain the power of will, then what's so bad about joining the Da Yi Dynasty?"
The Ice and Snow Queen could clearly feel an enormous force of destiny descending from the heavens. With fate augmenting her, her comprehension and control over the laws of nature surged at a rate visible to the naked eye—leaping by an entire tier in an instant.
"Thirty-six times!!"
She gasped internally. With fate blessing her, her cultivation speed had increased thirty-sixfold—an astonishing number. It meant that a single day of cultivation could equal more than a month of hard training. With such an amplification, even a pig could become a powerhouse in no time.
She was inwardly shocked.
Within such an aura of fate, even a ninth-rank official in the Da Yi Dynasty could gain fourfold cultivation acceleration. One year of cultivation would be equivalent to four. And that's not even accounting for the resources: spirit rice, pills, Eternal Coins, and more. All told, even at the lowest rank, it amounted to nearly ten years' worth of gains in a single year. At the highest rank, first-rank officials, the effect reached thirty-six times—equating to a full sixty years of cultivation in one.
This explained why Da Yi's officials were experiencing meteoric rises in cultivation. These advantages surpassed natural talent—no innate gift could bridge such a gap. And the higher one advanced, the more significant the disparity became.
Of course, talent still mattered. At high realms, further breakthroughs grew increasingly difficult. Top-tier talent made it easier to leap past those barriers.
But talent wasn't absolute.
In the world of cultivation, some could still walk their own paths, open a single divine aperture, and reach the pinnacle through sheer effort. Such paths demanded less innate ability, and more perseverance—and they still bore fruit.
To date, Huang Chengyan and other key officials had already broken through to the Law Manifestation Realm—the apex battle power within the Da Yi Dynasty. Beyond that stage, advancement was perilous, particularly the fusion of soul and spirit—a delicate and dangerous process. But with fate as a support, those risks were somewhat mitigated.
Thirty-sixfold fate enhancement.Seven thousand willpower pearls per month.
The Ice and Snow Queen suddenly felt the world had become... glorious.
"Perhaps joining the Da Yi Dynasty isn't such a bad thing after all."
This thought flashed through her mind.
Whoosh!!
At the moment her canonization was completed, the previously oppressive laws of Heaven and Earth vanished without a trace, replaced by a sense of liberation. The burden vanished completely. She had been recognized by Da Yi's fate and could now move unhindered, even thriving in this land.
It was as if she was blessed by the heavens.
This was the effect of becoming a true deity of Da Yi, one canonized by its fate. She could now draw upon the power of Heaven and Earth, greatly enhancing her abilities. However, if she left Da Yi's borders, this boost would be weakened.
From Xuanhuang City, snowflakes began to drift and spread outward across the entire Da Yi territory. In moments, the entire land was cloaked in white. The snowfall was sudden, catching many off guard.
"It's snowing."
"The Ice and Snow Queen has become a deity of Da Yi! That's incredible! Even she has joined us—Da Yi's strength is rising again!"
"Yes, she once plunged Yi Continent into a long-lasting snow disaster. Her power is unmatched. With her on our side, we gain another top-tier powerhouse. This is a day of great joy."
But within Da Yi's borders, no one was alarmed. Instead, joy lit their faces. The falling snow was a blessing, a sign of divine fortune brought by her ascension.
"This snow feels different. My fatigue is vanishing."
"Mine too! Even the wounds I got while hunting beasts are healing. This is auspicious snow!"
"I can sense Heaven and Earth energy more strongly than ever. It feels like my aptitude has improved!"
Citizens smiled with delight. Improved aptitude meant better cultivation potential. If that wasn't a divine blessing, what was?
Indeed, this was a divine gift. A deity's ascension displayed not just power, but grace upon the people.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for this canonization,"
the Ice and Snow Queen said, finally expressing her loyalty and stance.
She nodded slightly toward the palace. She knew that Yi Tianxing was currently unable to appear. With a thought, a massive ice palace emerged in the void. Stepping into it, she watched as it soared eastward like a shooting star, streaking through the sky.
Its destination was clear—the direction of Snow Continent, a land of eternal frost she had recently discovered.
That day was remembered as:
"Ice and Snow Descend Upon Snow Continent."
Snow Continent
Atop the great snow mountains stood a towering ancient crystal city. Its walls, tens of zhang high, emanated biting cold. If water touched them, it would freeze instantly.
These walls were forged from pure ice crystal. Despite looking like fragile glass, they were unbelievably sturdy. Their surface was so smooth that climbing them was nearly impossible—one would just slide off.
This city was vast.
Inside lived a large population of Ice Crystal Clan, beings over three meters tall, with bodies like living crystal. Their appearance was close to humans, but their crystal-like skin sparkled in sunlight, immediately setting them apart.
At the center of the city stood a magnificent royal palace.
Inside it, a six-meter-tall middle-aged man, robed in white and wearing a crown, stood imposingly. His crystalline eyes shimmered with wisdom and depth. His gaze alone could silence a room.
Beside him stood a four-meter-tall woman, draped in blue robes and holding a crystal staff. At the top of the staff was a hexagonal snowflake-shaped crystal, like a blossoming ice flower. Despite her size, her humanlike features held a mature, enchanting charm with an air of mystery.
These two were the highest authorities of the Crystal Royal Court: the Heavenly Crystal King, and the Grand Priestess, also known as the Great Ice Blossom Priestess.
Both were watching the sky with solemn expressions, their eyes fixed on the stream of light that had just streaked across the heavens.
"Grand Priestess, what do you make of that light just now?"the Heavenly Crystal King asked gravely.
"I saw divine radiance within it. It was the aura of a true god. Judging by the energy it emitted, this deity holds dominion over ice and snow."
The light had vanished too fast—she couldn't see the full details.
"Earlier, I used divination and foresaw a looming cataclysm for our court. If we cannot withstand it, our kingdom might face destruction. Now, this deity's descent… this is likely a bad omen."
She had come to the palace because of that ominous prophecy. Now, seeing the divine sign, her unease grew heavier. It might well be the source of the disaster.
"I intend to unify the entire continent and elevate our court into an imperial dynasty. I don't care where that deity came from. If they don't get in our way, fine. But if they do—then I'll make them fall. A god is merely another form of cultivator. They do not control the fate of the Ice Crystal Race."
The king's face turned cold and resolute.
To mortals, gods were untouchable.
But to powerful races, gods were just another path of cultivation. A weak god was no different from a weak cultivator—slaughtered like livestock. The Ice Crystal King held no reverence for divine beings.
This land already belonged to the Ice Crystal Race, and they had already begun enjoying the benefits of fate. The king could taste power—and he wanted more. He would become an emperor and claim the entire continent.
The intoxicating feeling of growing stronger had him in its grip.
"We've taken almost the entire continent already. Only a few stubborn thorns remain."
The Grand Priestess furrowed her brow.
"To the east lies the Dragon Valley, home to powerful dinosaurs. The Tyrant Dragon King is not to be trifled with.To the west lies the Abyss of Ten Thousand Blades, inhabited by the Blade Demon Clan, bloodthirsty and brutal.To the south, a group of human sects shelters some survivors behind powerful formations.But the most troublesome is the north—the Hall of Corpse Kings. Their corpse poison is extremely contagious. Any who fall will become corpse slaves, their numbers ever growing. Suppressing them will not be easy."*