畅想听

So, just a few minutes later…

Heavy snow began to fall over Wenzhou City, the kind of snow that many young residents of Wenzhou had never seen in their lifetimes. It was the legendary kind of snow perfect for making snowballs, having snowball fights, building snowmen, and rolling around in the snow—enough to make most of Wenzhou’s residents transform into ecstatic huskies, frolicking in the snowy wonderland!

The snowfall blanketed every corner of Wenzhou City, and under the meticulous control of the Northern Emperor, it precisely settled on the lakeside lawn of Song Shuhang’s Core World. At that moment, there was a gateway connecting the Core World to the real world, allowing the Northern Emperor’s power to pass through.

The snow quickly accumulated, covering the grassy area around the lake with a thick layer. And the snowfall didn’t show any sign of letting up? it just kept coming down like money wasn’t an issue!

Under the influence of the Northern Emperor’s magic, the temperature in the area dropped dramatically, causing the lake to freeze over with a thick layer of ice.

“Snow Wolf, it’s too much, that’s enough,” called out Sixteen, Lychee Fairy, and Liu Ying, who had been playfully dipping their bare feet in the lake water.

The ice was forming so quickly that the three fairies found their feet trapped in it, unable to move—though, with their cultivation levels, they weren’t exactly bothered by the cold.

“It wasn’t me, I swear! Don’t accuse me falsely!” grumbled Snow Wolf Cave Lord, who was himself buried under a thick pile of snow.

Next to him was Master Tong Xuan, half-buried in the snow with his head, shoulders, and part of his body completely covered.

The little ones who had begged Song Shuhang for snow were now completely buried under it, with only their little heads sticking out, shivering from the cold.

They looked like they were learning to swim, slowly moving through the snow… Occasionally, they had to pop out like a whale breaching the surface, gasping for fresh air.

“It was a senior I invited who brought this snow, but he’s too proud to admit it,” Song Shuhang explained. “Even though he was tempted by my treasure to create this snow, his actions clearly show he’s holding a grudge against me.”

The snow was coming down so heavily—there was no way the Northern Emperor wasn’t doing it on purpose.

Such pride.

“Ah Song, heads up!” Suddenly, Li Yinzhu’s voice rang out— the little one who had been dozing off on Senior White’s lap earlier was now wide awake and full of energy.

Song Shuhang turned his head just in time to see a massive, two-meter-wide snowball flying straight at him.

Hold on! This isn’t playing snowball fights anymore!

With his current level as a Tribulation Transcender, Song Shuhang could easily dodge the snowball… but seeing the eager look on Li Yinzhu’s face, he could only smile and let the snowball hit him squarely in the face.

It didn’t hurt at all.

Boom!

The massive snowball smashed into Song Shuhang and shattered into pieces.

Thunk! Something hard seemed to hit Song Shuhang’s head with a dull thud.

He reached out and grabbed a small metallic figure that had been hidden inside the snowball—a mechanical girl…

The little ones had completely underestimated just how tough Tyrant Song’s skull was. The mechanical girl’s eyes were now flickering like strobe lights, and her internal circuits were close to short-circuiting.

As soon as Song Shuhang released his grip, the mechanical girl rolled into his arms, wobbling back and forth like a roly-poly toy.

“I told you sneaking up on Shuhang wouldn’t work. We’d only end up hurting ourselves. We should have hidden something nastier inside the snowball instead,” said Doudou from the snow.

Song Shuhang was speechless.

Only someone as childish as Doudou could come up with such an idea.

But provoking me was your biggest mistake this year, Doudou. Don’t start crying later!

“Chuchu!” Song Shuhang suddenly called out.

Chuchu looked up in his direction, confused. “Master?”

“Since you joined me as my disciple, I haven’t had the chance to give you a Daoist title. I’ve had seven titles in the past, and while ‘Virtuous Gentleman Saber’ was passed down to Little Cai, today I’m giving you a new title—’Seeker Scholar.’ When you decided to follow me, it was to ‘seek the Dao,’ to find an opportunity for enlightenment. This title suits you well. From today, you shall be known as Seeker Fairy. Witness this, everyone,” Song Shuhang announced solemnly.

Chuchu was caught completely off guard by her master’s sudden decision to give her a title.

But to her, it was like receiving the best New Year’s gift ever.

A Daoist title held special significance for a cultivator.

And when it was a meaningful title, it symbolized that the disciple’s fate was tied to their master’s.

“Thank you, Master, for bestowing this title upon me,” Chuchu said, bowing deeply.

As she bowed, she felt an immense wave of fortune and virtue settle upon her.

Tyrant Song, known for his boundless merit, was a figure whose virtue was unmatched across the heavens. Being his disciple, receiving a title from him meant being blessed with great fortune.

Chuchu felt a lightness in her body, and even her cultivation and Daoist heart seemed to improve!

This was the benefit of having a powerful master—being accepted as a disciple, receiving a title, and eventually graduating brought significant advantages.

“Focus on your cultivation. If you have any questions, you can use the ‘Cultivation Chat’ to ask the seniors in the ‘Nine Provinces Number One Group,’” Song Shuhang said earnestly.

Then he looked at Doudou. “Doudou, look—there’s one less Chuchu now!”

Doudou was bewildered. “Huh?”

“From today onwards, she’s Seeker Fairy!” Song Shuhang declared proudly.

As of today, the world has one less Chuchu and one more Seeker Fairy.

“You’re such a child! Woof!” Doudou barked angrily.

Song Shuhang chuckled. “I’m her master. I have the right to do this. If you’re upset, come bite me!”

Repent, Doudou.

“If you’re still upset, I’ll post an announcement on the ‘Cultivation Chat’ to recruit a hundred cultivators named ‘Chuchu’ from across the realms to become my disciples. Then, one by one, I’ll give them all new titles… and just like that, the realms will have a hundred fewer Chuchus,” Song Shuhang said mischievously.

“Woof!” Doudou growled, charging at Song Shuhang.

“Doudou, don’t fall for his taunt! If you bite him, you’ll only hurt yourself!” Poet Loli quickly grabbed Doudou and warned him.

Song Shuhang laughed heartily. “Hahaha!”

*Thwack*—a tuft of hair from Pavilion Master Chu’s clone swatted his head. “How old are you? Stop acting like a kid. You’re a Tribulation Transcender—why are you arguing with children?”

“But Senior Chu, I’m just a few minutes away from turning nineteen,” Song Shuhang said.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack* Pavilion Master Chu’s tuft of hair kept smacking him.

“I’ll give you nineteen! I’ll give you nineteen!”

“It’s starting, it’s starting! Time to count down!” Yurouzi called out.

She and Senior White stepped onto the stage together.

The old year was about to end…

“Time flies,” Song Shuhang mused as he looked at Senior White and Yurouzi, recalling their first encounter and how he’d helped Senior White after he came out of seclusion.

A new year was about to begin!