Chapter 199 The snow stopped.

Their figures shifted and changed in the night sky. Just as Si Liuhua had said, she had indeed come to kill her, and had actually chased after her.

They only stopped when they reached a secluded spot. Yan Xueya scrutinized the white-clad youth before her, her expression cold.

Having reached the half-step Void Refinement stage, one is already on the verge of ascending to immortality.

However, she still couldn't fathom the strength of the person before her. Even if they possessed a magical artifact to conceal their cultivation level, there was no need to use it at this stage.

Therefore, only one possibility remains.

She is stronger than me.

However, those at the Refining Void Realm who haven't been to the Upper Realm for too long will suffer a backlash from the laws of the Earth Realm. The pain from this backlash is unbearable for ordinary people, and it only intensifies over time. Even alcohol or any painkiller cannot alleviate this feeling.

When Si Changxi broke through to the Refining Void Realm and suppressed his urge to ascend to immortality, he did not leave his house for three days, leaving himself covered in wounds.

At a higher level, one's soul will be utterly destroyed.

Yan Xueya quickly concluded that this Liuhua Sword Master should also be stuck at the Refining Void Realm, either in the early or middle stage.

Which cultivator at the Refinement of Void Realm doesn't possess overwhelming power, enough to raze a capital city to the ground, making them extremely difficult to deal with? The higher one goes, the more disparate the strength becomes between each minor realm.

The cold longsword in her hand sent shivers down her spine. Whether it was the stench of blood buried under the snow that stimulated her senses, or the loss of awareness of danger due to the fierce battle, Yan Xueya raised her sword. The frost and snow in the sky changed direction, closely matching her every move and breath. Like the eyes of countless snow wolves that suddenly turned around at the sound of the alpha wolf's howl, they approached with a cold and sharp gaze.

We can fight.

She felt she could fight. But even if she couldn't, there was no turning back now.

Because Si Liuhua alone is enough to withstand the entire demon army. This is a long-planned scheme, starting with a spy infiltrating the sect, establishing connections with other teachers and students, and gaining entry into the inner sect to sabotage the conflict. All of the Garan people's documents were destroyed, therefore Si Changxi must set off to find the truth...

Then Luo You appeared and trapped them, and all the interfering factors were swept away, leaving only silence in the surrounding area.

They've been tricked.

"What is your relationship with the sect leader?" Yan Xueya asked. "I suppose her continued absence is also related to you?"

A snowflake swirled and landed silently on Si Liuhua's shoulder. She raised her hand and gently brushed away the snowflake, which held a chilling killing intent.

The young man's voice remained gentle and calm: "Don't blame her."

She sighed helplessly, as if talking to herself.

"I spoiled her."

They've been spoiled.

Just now, in that illusion, when she heard the familiar voice, a voice that had flashed through Yan Xueya's mind spoke the same words as her, so she naturally recognized the tone in it. Just as she regretted letting her disciple leave alone to go to the enemy's dangerous heartland, Si Liuhua's voice did not contain the love and hate entanglements that had been passed down through the ages, but only a faint regret and affection.

She genuinely felt that Si Changxi would be better off if things went according to her plan.

After a moment of silence, Yan Xueya said again, "You must be very happy now." She didn't know anything about the tribe in the Chaos Rift, and only thought that the other party had been possessed by evil thoughts after being corrupted by demons, and was using the killing of people to relieve the pain in her body and mind.

Si Liuhua shook her head, her tone flat, as if she hadn't sensed the provocation and disgust in her words, and said, "It's just karma."

--cause and effect?

As the sword was drawn from its sheath and swung at her, flashing past like a white ribbon, their conversation was drowned out by the deafening sound of exploding snowflakes. Yan Xueya's heart tightened, her vision went completely white, and then the mist was cleaved open by a sharp, long wind, revealing Si Liuhua's figure almost within reach.

The colorless spiritual energy, pure white and gentle, now transformed into a howling wind, carrying away the dense snow curtain. Yan Xueya clearly heard the soft sounds of her robes being torn and her protective spiritual energy being shaken.

The sound of the wind gradually receded and weakened from the outside in, ruffling the hair of the person before her and revealing the long, vivid scar, as if piercing Si Liuhua's deep, lifeless eyes. Their gazes met for less than a moment, and Yan Xueya felt herself almost sinking into it. She raised her sword to block, and clashing with it were hundreds of sword energies, each distinct from the one hidden in the wind, colliding with it and producing a resounding clang. The snow-covered landscape teetered on the brink of collapse, finally crumbling with a deafening roar as Si Liuhua sidestepped and unleashed yet another sword energy.

The moonlight fell again, and the surrounding fields were renewed. Everything within a hundred miles had been destroyed by the gale. The broken grass and trees fell down in a clatter, and the bricks and stones were either shattered into dust or suddenly scattered, raising thick clouds of dust.

Yan Xueya deflected the sword with a backhand motion, a talisman appearing in her hand, which was instantly consumed by the spiritual fire. Both of them were masters of swordsmanship; if there were no such difference in skill, the outcome would be decided solely by their swords, with everything else being mere trifles. Unfortunately, this was not a friendly exchange, but a life-or-death battle.

She was determined to win, even if it meant she herself couldn't survive, Si Liuhua had to stay here.

We cannot go any further. She will bring true destruction, and with the sect leader still not back, she is the last glimmer of hope to stop this catastrophe that is about to engulf the entire world.

The cinnabar on the talisman transformed into shimmering golden light, intertwining into four golden ring-like array patterns that rapidly rose behind her. From each array, dazzling golden chains burst forth, tightly binding the white-clad youth in the moonlight.

Every exchange between them was crucial and could not be taken lightly. Even a slight hesitation in a single movement could be exploited and lead to their demise.

Fortunately, this formation can restrain her, thus gaining a precious moment.

Without hesitation, Yan Xueya leaped forward and drew her sword almost as soon as the chains appeared. A chilling aura, like ice flowers, bloomed from the blade's edge, followed by a bright silver light that condensed, bringing once again an overwhelming pressure and a vast, desolate blizzard, dimming the moonlight. The surrounding ruins, invaded by this coldness, were almost bursting open with even finer cracks.

The snow then turned into icicles, falling in a blanket.

Golden light flashed before her eyes. Si Liuhua calmly raised her sword. Before her were fine, rain-like icicles sharp enough to slit a throat, the imminent gleam of a sword, and chains that had already tightly bound her wrists. Each element was incredibly sturdy and sharp, seemingly an unsolvable dead end.

The array patterns at the base of the chains were extremely complex, clearly the work of the most powerful array cultivator of the time, a result of painstaking effort. From the shimmering light within them, she heard a soft, ancient chanting voice, a voice that seemed to murmur from dust, mountains, and the soil that nurtured all living beings. The tranquil aura of the entire land flowed through the array patterns, making the chains indestructible.

Like the sturdiest armor, yet with the feel of snake scales, it is both soft and resilient, growing stronger the more it struggles.

Even if she broke through with brute force, it would take some time; moreover, her spiritual power and movement were restricted by the chains, and if she really wasted everything here, she would be powerless to resist Yan Xueya's offensive.

Everything moved incredibly slowly in her keen senses, yet even so, the sword was already aimed at her heart.

The sound of the chains being suddenly tightened was drowned out by the blizzard. The sword pierced through Si Liuhua's white clothes, penetrating her shoulder completely. Bound by the chains, she could only slightly dodge, allowing the sword, aimed at her heart, to move an inch or so higher.

Large patches of blood spread out, and a sharp, cold pain spread.

Cracked ice flowers covered the mangled flesh torn apart by sword energy. Si Liuhua's already pale face lost even more color, turning a deathly white more lifeless than the moon, but her smiling voice rang clearly in Yan Xueya's ears:

"Spirit Imprisonment Array".

This is an array technique that traces back to the ancient times. With the disappearance of the legend of the wise ruler who created the array, it should have sunk into the deep sea of ​​time and never seen the light of day again, because even if someone obtains it, they will not be able to decipher it, and even if they succeed in deciphering it one day, there will be no array cultivator in the world who can fully perform it.

Si Liuhua recognized this formation and could tell it wasn't complete; it clearly only displayed a portion of the might of the Wise Ruler. The massive figure of the ancient beast faintly materialized, and the long snakes coiled around its armor swam silently.

A single formation represents the culmination of a person's life's work, dedicated entirely to the path of enlightenment.

It's already a miracle.

But the phantom was swiftly severed by a crescent-shaped sword light in the next instant, swaying weakly in the air for a few moments before disappearing quickly. Then the chains snapped one by one, with crisp sounds echoing, and the golden light shattered as if its vital point had been seized.

The fluctuation of spiritual energy forcefully shook Yan Xueya away, and the Frost Sky Sword, which was deeply embedded in flesh and blood, was also pulled out. The ice spikes on it, like winding veins, hooked out a large area of ​​cold flesh and blood, immediately revealing the grim bones.

Si Liuhua felt no pain. Her spiritual energy slowly healed her wounds. Listening to the gurgling of blood, she said softly, "No wonder she only used an ordinary killing formation earlier. It turns out she had already revealed her trump card to you. I didn't expect that even in this desperate situation, you could tell who would be the one to hold on until the end."

Yan Xueya gripped her silver sword tightly, sweeping away the bloodstains with her spiritual power, causing a string of bright red beads to splatter on the ground. Her heart gradually grew cold, because Si Liuhua's response to her attack was unlike any enemy she had ever faced before. Decisive, swift, and precise, he destroyed the snow-covered realm formed by sword intent while also seizing the core of the formation, breaking through all constraints with a single sword strike.

Even Si Changxi wouldn't disregard life and death like she did.

Because she felt no pain and never feared death, she was able to renounce all emotions and make the most advantageous choice. Freed from the constraints of ancient rules and the instinctual limitations of ordinary people, she faced not only the pressure of a cultivation level beyond her reach, but also the person himself.

Like an abyss.

Nevertheless, she could still feel the burning fighting spirit. Every inch of flowing blood seemed to be steaming hot, and a will transformed all fear into determination.

She knew it was her responsibility.

From the moment she left the snow-capped mountains, from bowing to her teacher to seek guidance, to taking up the Frost Sky Sword to receive the title of guarding Frost Blade Peak, every step she took was closely linked. She stood in the position of guardian and chose to shoulder this responsibility.

All the memories, belatedly, burned along with the letters in the illusion, emitting a violent, panting sound, scalding and intense.

The sword energies continued to clash fiercely in mid-air.

They were like snakes and tigers, both knowing that the one who rashly attacks first is only courting death, and both were trying to figure out the best time to strike.

Si Liuhua didn't quiet down, and continued, "If you had arrived a moment later, you would have only seen her die before your eyes. Are these disciples worth exchanging your best friend's life for?

“If you hadn’t poured everything into this, you could have left, and even I couldn’t have stopped you.”

When her words reached Yan Xueya's ears, they didn't sound like she was speaking to just one person.

Instead, it was directed at all the cultivators who had previously perished, whose souls were now shimmering within the star chart she held in her arms. Each Nascent Soul cultivator was capable of protecting themselves, yet they did not choose to flee, but instead remained here to the death.

After remaining silent for a while, Yan Xueya finally said, "Whether it's worth it or not, it's their choice." Her voice sounded particularly low in the quiet night.

She will respect and uphold these choices, inherit the will of the dead and wounded, and protect the remaining students.

Why are you asking this?

The woman laughed coldly, "If it were you, you could naturally remain unscathed. After all, you've long since lost your heart, abandoning your soul in pursuit of power. Since you can't appreciate the value of human emotions, why bother trying to dismantle me with words?"

Yeah.

Some figures briefly flashed through my mind.

Perhaps if she had arrived earlier that night, she might have seen her people alive and fought alongside them. She would have had the right to decide her own destiny before being forced onto the path to the Holy Land.

They died alongside them under the swords of other cultivators, resolutely facing death, sacrificing themselves to protect someone.

Perhaps then, we wouldn't have to bear these burdens anymore.

They don't have to lose anything; they can sleep alongside their vanished tribe in the place where they grew up, as if they had a dream, and soon wake up to be reborn.

but......

If that's the case, she'll lose something more important than all of this.

If she were to return to the past, Si Liuhua would still choose this path. Even if it is stained with blood, even if it has no end.

But the child she loves will survive.

Unparalleled in the world, radiant and brilliant. Therefore, she has no regrets; it was her choice.

She thought it was worth it.

“Yes,” Si Liuhua nodded gently, “I don’t understand what ‘sacrifice’ means.”

She lightly raised her sword, and immediately saw the originally broken array beside Yan Xueya gather together again. Its color changed in an instant, and it happened to shimmer with a green luster, gentle as water and full of the vitality of spring breeze. The moment the array pattern was fixed, it poured out a warm feeling.

As the clouds rose, a phantom gradually took shape. It was a giant dragon with scales as green as a summer lake, shimmering with light, and with a pair of long horns that resembled tree branches.

Behind it, swords howled, and more shadows churned in the rolling clouds. These were not sword energies, but long dragons of various shapes. Unlike the Nine Yin, unlike any great demon existing in the world today, they were true dragons with pure bloodlines from ancient times.

The Thousand Dragons Formation.

The trees stirred with life, as if even she, who had long since abandoned her spiritual roots, could feel her desolate heart gently swaying with those illusory figures in the face of this long-lost yet familiar aura.

The Moon Goddess… the tribe's faith, a final resting place they yearn for even in death. The shattered embodiment of that star, now its fate remains unknown.

The slight agitation quickly dissipated; Si Liuhua knew she was not qualified to return to her deity's side. Nor did she need to—having abandoned even emotions, what faith could she possibly have? The god who represented life would surely not accept an empty shell like herself.

The depleted spiritual energy was rapidly recovering, and the wounds on her body were no longer restrained by Si Liuhua's spiritual energy, healing visibly. The lush greenery added a continuous flow to Yan Xueya's sword aura, like frost melting into water, the water forming rolling waves, the chill becoming denser, enveloping Si Liuhua completely.

Si Liuhua broke the formation very quickly. Judging from her name, Yan Xueya originally thought she was focused on swordsmanship, but now it was clear that she also had a good understanding of formations.

Leaving aside her skill level compared to Chi Yueying, the fact that she recognized every formation and could accurately locate its core to break it with a single strike was already quite remarkable. Yan Xueya had initially thought this talisman was a killing move, but through Yan Xueya's sharp gaze as she searched for the formation's core, she realized—

It's just consumables.

She'll break through it sooner or later.

"I've seen you before." After their swords clashed hundreds of times, Si Liuhua suddenly spoke as the two drew close once more. Yan Xueya couldn't spare the energy to respond; she used the imposing power and vitality granted by the Myriad Dragons Formation to relentlessly press Si Liuhua.

Si Liuhua continued, "You weren't like this during World War II. At your level of spiritual cultivation, your physical appearance shouldn't have aged to this extent."

She seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood tonight. This thought inappropriately popped into Yan Xueya's mind. He frowned slightly, then fiercely thrust his sword horizontally, aiming for her wrist.

Having been injured while breaking through the first formation, Si Liuhua was much more restrained. Blood soaked through half of her clothes, yet it did not affect her ability to wield the sword in the slightest. The sword shadows blurred, and suddenly a clear sound rang out, like the first rays of dawn breaking through the sky.

Then a pale piece of something rolled to the ground, leaving specks of blood.

The sharp blade grazed the edge of Si Liuhua's turned sword, narrowly severing half of her left hand's fingers. The young man lowered his eyes slightly, only glancing at her before withdrawing his gaze. His spiritual energy, as pale as paper, flickered a few times, and that part of her quickly withered away, turning to ashes as if it couldn't withstand the pressure.

Despite the seemingly tragic scene, Yan Xueya's brows furrowed slightly.

They had been locked in a stalemate for a long time, and this was the only opportunity she could find to attack under the opponent's tight defense.

The gap between them was enormous, and it was already extremely difficult for Yan Xueya to be both wary and seeking this opportunity. Of course, she lived up to her renowned reputation, managing to hold her own against the Flowing Flower Sword Lord, whom all cultivators considered a nightmare.

"But I don't remember you."

Upon hearing this, Si Liuhua couldn't help but smile: "Never mind, but I have stood shoulder to shoulder with you all before."

Side by side? This sentence finally stirred up some memories, making Yan Xueya's eyes sharpen as she recalled with some disbelief—the reputation of the person before her had only begun to spread widely after her killings became increasingly cruel and unreasonable. Revenge and revenge are not uncommon, but if Si Liuhua's motives were truly revenge, then this hatred was far too deep.

Her face gradually emerged from her hazy memory. At that time, she didn't pay much attention, and they passed each other without any interaction.

Without giving her much time to reminisce, Si Liuhua raised her hand and suddenly used a gust of wind to strike her back. The blow was a sharp blade wrapped in pale, paper-like spiritual energy, which exploded upon touching the array patterns.

The sword energy that Yan Xueya unleashed to stop her melted away like ice and snow meeting water.

The dragon's roar gradually weakened, and a chill surged forth once more.

It will be soon.

When the third formation appeared, Si Liuhua's expression finally changed.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise: "The Broken Army Formation..."

The wise ruler had a formation, which, like the musical scale, was divided into four stages, called the Four Spirits Formation.

The tiger's roar seemed to resonate with Yan Xueya's emotions, echoing through the sky. A murderous aura surged and spread, golden light radiating from the flowing array patterns. Unlike the previous earthy yellow, this was an extremely dazzling gold, pouring out a chilling and furious killing intent that filled the sky.

For a time, the entire area within a thousand miles was in an uproar over this, whether it was a broken halberd or the sword in Si Liuhua's hand.

The icicles were covered with a faint golden light, and the night was truly illuminated by this light at this moment, as the clouds began to part and a rumbling sound echoed.

The light was so bright it almost hurt one's eyes. Stars fell in dazzling splendor, and the god who commanded armies and the world's battles revealed his golden, beastly eyes at this moment, unleashing divine punishment.

The woman, dressed in white, flew about and attacked Si Liuhua with her sword amidst the dazzling golden light.

Although she doesn't possess the Golden Spiritual Root, she has a more resilient and sharper nature than ordinary Golden Spiritual Root cultivators. In the past three days, she rode her horse towards the capital, took the emperor's head, and killed numerous eunuchs; in one night, she slaughtered ten thousand demonic soldiers… Even in her youth, this fierceness was etched into her very bones. She is a child forged by wind and snow, raised by snow wolves and cavalry, and inherently possesses a chilling, ruthless aura.

Just like the finest wine in the snowfield, named Full Bow Sword, the children of the snowfield are like sharp blades that never dull despite the constant blowing of the snow.

She is, of course, a teacher.

But he was also a soldier, skilled at raising female eagles to relay messages, adept at observing the billowing smoke in the snow, and able to hear the slightest sounds.

Strict discipline and clear-headed self-control.

Offense is for striking, retreat is for concealing one's strength, but most importantly, it is for defense.

Therefore, her sword intent is most compatible with the laws mastered by Jianbingjun, and keeping the Po Jun Formation as a killing move is enough to make its power exceed the ordinary.

The tiger's roar was deep and fierce, as if acknowledging her, and the tiger, along with her sword blade that swept through the air, raced through the swirling snowflakes.

This is her way.

One person's strength can defeat a thousand troops.

The ice flowers bloomed, stained with blood, bursting from the flowing blood. Si Liuhua could barely lift her hand, and could only let the coldness strip away her senses, as if her consciousness and body had already separated, and she was now merely watching this shell struggle in agony.

The rising dust swallowed their shadows.

After a while, the smoke and dust gradually dissipated. The clashing blades sliced ​​through the other's brow and eye, revealing a deep, unfathomable eye that calmly gazed at him.

As the golden light of the Broken Army Formation gradually faded, she actually used the broken stones to dismantle the formation's core during this gap.

Doesn't she feel pain?

Si Liuhua drew her sword, slightly turned her body, and with a twist of the blade, suddenly slashed a bloody gash across Yan Xueya's arm. Her sword strike was extremely fast, instantly shattering the already precarious protective aura around her.

The damage to one's protective spiritual energy is extremely dangerous for a cultivator. It's like a soldier losing their armor, their weaknesses exposed. After the ordeal, Si Liuhua was almost covered in blood, but she seemed oblivious to the pain, swiftly swinging her sword.

“I don’t mean to reminisce with you,” Si Liuhua said in a low voice. “You are very strong, Mingji Zhenjun… your growth rate is probably second only to Chang Xi. With a friend like you, she will definitely not be lazy anymore.”

"I'm so grateful to you...you all are."

She smiled, and her eyes revealed a genuine expression of gratitude.

Just as she was about to strike with her sword, a sudden commotion arose, and the surrounding ice shards flashed and transformed into cold blue flames.

Ice and fire coexist within Yan Xueya; she possesses these two contradictory spiritual roots. Initially, this was even more acute than her metal and fire spiritual roots, and it took her a considerable amount of time and effort to find a way to temporarily balance them.

When she reached the Nascent Soul Realm, this problem resurfaced. She had to choose between eradicating her spiritual root and breaking through the realm with a nine-out-of-ten chance of death. If she chose the latter, she would not be able to withstand the collision of the two polarities upon failure, and would be annihilated in the torment of the double pain brought by ice and fire.

However, the issue was later resolved through mediation.

From then on, apart from frost and snow, Yan Xueya had another way to use spiritual power.

That is, the strangely colored sea of ​​fire right before our eyes.

Flames surged wildly up Si Liuhua's clothes. Contrary to his appearance, the surroundings were much colder than when frost and snow had fallen earlier, making it impossible to breathe. If he didn't break through his cultivation level quickly, the person inside would suffocate to death due to the inability to circulate his spiritual energy.

These fires were chillingly cold, yet they also possessed the offensive and violent characteristics of flames, burning with all their might, sometimes in wisps, sometimes covering the sky, unstoppable.

The fire buried everything, including herself.

Amidst this sea of ​​fire, Si Liuhua softly exclaimed in admiration: "I've heard that in the underworld, only azure is most abundant, and flowers of this color are also prevalent; it is extremely rare in the human world."

"These ghostly flames are just like the legendary other shore where souls find peace."

These flames were so dazzling, like thousands upon thousands... countless tiny insects gathered together, burning wildly and recklessly, transforming into scattered points of light on the winding, cold river. They flowed down, illuminating the deep blue of the surrounding fields, as if truly leading people to the final resting place of all things, that abyss called Luochuan.

"I thought I would never be able to see it."

After speaking, as if to show respect, Si Liuhua bowed slightly. The flames spreading around her seemed to have no effect on her, even though she could no longer lift one arm, and her internal organs felt as if they were submerged in ice and snow six feet below, lifeless and on the verge of necrosis.

The whistling wind around her suddenly stopped, and the sword energy was enveloped and attacked by a blue wave of fire. Yan Xueya's gaze was fixed on the white figure in front of her. The flames engulfed her, and from a distance, it looked like a terrifying ocean, from which no one could possibly escape.

The cold light illuminated her features. A wave of weakness washed over her as her spiritual energy neared depletion; Yan Xueya barely managed to stay upright, her breathing becoming heavy.

In an instant, the flames were split open by a slit.

A flash of white light streaked past and suddenly pierced her heart.

A chill. Then came excruciating pain.

As the Frost Sky Sword slid down, Yan Xueya felt a sweet, metallic taste rise in her throat. Her eyes widened slightly, and she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. The chilling sensation finally took shape, slowly and thoroughly piercing her heart.

Thank goodness, thank goodness...

Those who were meant to leave have all left.

Yan Shen and Li Xia should be safe and sound by now.

She gasped for breath in vain, unable to stop her strength from draining away. The sword that had taken her life was now the only thing she could rely on. Yan Xueya raised her hand and grasped the blade, ignoring the blood streaming down her face, struggling to try and say something.

The surroundings quieted down, the world gradually blurred, and finally only a vast expanse of white remained.

At the same time, the vast snowfield disappeared.

Knowing that the person she cared about was still safe and sound, Yan Xueya felt an unprecedented calm. Perhaps this is how it is for those who are about to die; she was not afraid, but rather felt relieved.

It doesn't matter if she can't see them; she believes the two children will continue on their journey.

They had bright futures ahead of them, but Yan Xueya's greatest wish, until the very end, was simply for the two of them to be safe and well. This is a blessing that all elders would give to the younger generation, and even someone who is not good with words can say it well.

But that was her wish.

It's just a pity that we won't see the future they promised.

It's just a pity—

I'm sorry, I can't be with you until the end.

From the moment she left the illusion, she had already made her choice. Responsibility finally fell with the arrival of death. In the whiteness before her, like unpainted paper, a path slowly emerged. Yan Xueya walked unsteadily, her steps sometimes light and sometimes heavy.

Something was being constantly pulled away, which made her feel her body getting lighter and lighter.

A familiar figure was waiting for me on the road ahead.

The mothers I saw in the illusion looked the same as before, but their paleness had faded, replaced by bright, burning stoves.

In her childhood, she often leaned against one side of the kang (a heated brick bed), cross-legged, reading or polishing her sword. The day passed quickly, carefree, and in the evening she could enjoy a little tea or wine, her face flushed from the spiciness, before crawling into bed to warm herself up.

The mothers left her a small sword, brand new and gleaming, with intricate carvings. Every two years, they would give the girl a wolf tooth, patting her head and smiling, saying, "The little wolf is growing up, and so is our Xueya... This tooth was replaced by it, you must hide it well—it's a sister who grew up with you."

When she had three seeds, a tall auntie hugged her and whispered, "We've decided to send you to the Central Plains. It'll be better for you there than here..."

That was the first time Yan Xueya lost her temper. She didn't want to go. She wanted to stay in the snowfield; this was her home, with butter tea, migrating snow beasts, and bright-eyed snow owls and eagles. Why should she leave? Wasn't she the apple of their eye?

Her aunt simply held her tightly, the intense heat mingling with the bubbling sound of boiling water outside, making the girl feel slightly dizzy. She heard the woman's deep voice murmur, "I wonder what kind of destiny it took in countless lifetimes for the gods to allow us to meet..."

Rough hands wiped away her tears, replacing words.

The snow wolf's lifespan wasn't as long as hers; perhaps their fate had run its course, and it failed to cultivate into a demon beast. After receiving the letter from home on the snowy plains, Yan Xueya dared not return. Her hometown was too far away. As long as she didn't go back, perhaps her mothers were still alive and well—in that place she would never go, in some corner of the snowy plains, still singing songs and polishing their knives, forever inseparable. Their fate in this life would then have no end.

At this moment, everything flows backward. Memories become reality, but reality doesn't happen. She walks forward, her face growing younger and younger, her figure lower and lower, her snow-white hair turning black, her steps light and quick, until finally she starts running. Faster and faster, faster and faster.

They returned to their mothers' side.

Just to hear them call her name again, Xueya.

...

Something, like moonlight, slipped from the corner of the woman's eye.

She was crying.

The deeper the sword thrust, the closer Si Liuhua got to her. When she was almost touching Yan Xueya, she finally heard what the other was saying.

She is calling out...

"Mother."

Si Liuhua drew his sword, and warm blood flowed down, staining the ground red.

"Now you can go see them."

She took out the astrolabe, intending to collect Yan Xueya's soul into it, when she heard a soft sound.

A faint, cold flame flashed by, and the previously withered and dim array patterns suddenly shone brightly. A clear, melodious bird song rang out, and the crimson light mingled with the flames that roared up from the woman's body. The sounds of a hundred birds were ultimately drowned out by an exceptionally magnificent cry, which was clearly domineering, yet in the azure sky that illuminated the night, there was a touch of tragic desolation.

The final array, in a massive explosion, perished along with the woman. A chill rose in the air, condensing into dazzling ice flowers that shattered in waves, scattering countless icicles.

The icicles melted, eventually turning into a light drizzle. The fine, icy rain, like a winter's drizzle, made it hard to breathe.

"Cough, cough..."

During the brief rain, Si Liuhua's chin was soaked with blood, and his already disheveled clothes were completely covered in varying shades of red.

She wiped the blood from her lips and cast a cleansing spell.

The astrolabe was very sturdy and did not shatter under her protection. However, Si Liuhua did not expect that even though Yan Xueya was suppressed, she still left herself a last chance and chose this method of preferring to perish rather than surrender.

The Frost Sky Sword fell to the ground, losing its spiritual energy.

The True Lord Mingji, Yan Xueya, perished here.

A piercing shriek cut through the air and penetrated the sea of ​​consciousness.

A silver light pierced the night sky, pointing directly at Si Liuhua's brow!

She caught the sword tip with her raised hand, followed by a furious roar:

"Si Liuhua!!!"

at the same time.

On the distant Frostblade Peak, the barrier, like fine snow in early spring, slowly melted away.

The heavy snow that had blanketed the peak for a century finally stopped today.

-----------------------

Author's note: *Si Liuhua herself did not realize that she disliked snow.

*Teacher Yan let go in the chapter about the illusion, so her only obsession is returning home.

Because I saw Ying's Weibo update last time, I started paying attention to her usual routine. I began asking her what she wanted to eat three meals a day on time, to avoid us both having messy eating habits and skipping meals.

We're truly kindred spirits!