"Xue'er, you… It worked."
Outside the hideout, the Ice Empress was the first to sense the wholly different, divine aura. She instantly appeared before the Snow Empress, her turquoise eyes brimming with excitement and disbelief. The mighty Ice Bear King Xiao Bai and the imposing Snow Demon King both followed, feeling a warm, compelling call from blood and soul alike.
"Well done," the Snow Empress said as she slowly rose. Her dress of ice and snow flowed without wind. She gazed fondly at her closest friends and loyal subordinates, a warm smile blooming on her beautiful face—a sight radiant enough to melt glaciers.
"A divine will, a divine body, divine power, and now my own divine status… I am no longer a soul beast, but the Goddess of Ice and Snow."
Her words were light, yet carried immense weight. The threat of catastrophe removed, freed from the shackles of fate, she now possessed both eternal life and the power to protect her kin—things she had never even dreamed of. And the one who brought about this transformation was an outwardly gentle, yet unfathomable man—Lu Jingming.
At the thought of him, the icy light in the Snow Empress's eyes softened, like a spring welling up, gratitude and a hint of indescribable tenderness shining through.
"Wonderful! Mother has become a god—this is amazing!" The Ice Bear King Xiao Bai thumped the ice in excitement, mountains trembling as joy filled his honest face.
"Goddess of Ice and Snow… At last, here in the Extreme North, we have our own deity to protect us," the Snow Demon King's voice rang out, filled with pride and elation.
The Ice Empress swiftly flew to the Snow Empress, gripping her hand tightly, a faint mist of tears shimmering in her blue eyes. "Xue'er… congratulations. You've finally made it. I've waited for this day for so long."
The Snow Empress returned the grip, her eyes sweeping over the Ice Empress, Xiao Bai, and Ah Tai. Her voice was gentle yet firm. "Not just for me—one day, all of you in the Extreme North will have your chance too."
She paused, then continued, "Beside Xiao Ming stands a genius no lesser than Herta, and Ruan Mei is even more skilled in the mysteries of life. Once this matter is settled, I'll seek her out directly and ask her to find a way to avoid or break your curses."
Upon hearing this, the Ice Empress and the others' eyes shone with newfound hope. They all knew how ingenious Herta's methods were, and any genius of her caliber would surely possess incredible abilities. Even if they couldn't defy the heavens like the core rulers, perhaps there were other paths—bloodline transformation, soul sublimation—that might offer them a chance at godhood. This hope was born of blind faith in Lu Jingming and the deep desire to be free from the chains of fate.
"We're going to Haiyuan City? I'll come with you," the Ice Empress declared at once, unwilling to wait any longer.
"Alright, but before that…" The Snow Empress nodded lightly, shifting her focus. She received a distress message from Huo Yuhao, the Spirit King of the Eighth Seat, along with the general direction and information about the enemy.
A curious smile graced her cold, beautiful face, and the power of ice and snow that cloaked her body rippled, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet further.
"Perfect," she murmured, her eyes gleaming. "I've just gathered my divinity, and I lack a proper test for my current level of power… and now, a ready-made 'touchstone' has come knocking at my door."
She looked at the Ice Empress and said, "Bing'er, be ready. I might need you—things could get lively."
As soon as she finished, the divine power of the Ice and Snow Goddess stirred, as if the entire sky over the Extreme North's heart was condensed into an invisible, chilling torrent.
…
In the heart of Haiyuan City, a peaceful sanctuary lay bathed in soft starlight and gentle melodies. Unlike the slaughter and chaos of the outside world, the air here was warm and tranquil.
On a broad, soft sofa, Lu Jingming lounged against Robin's arm, eyes closed, savoring a rare moment of leisure. Robin held him gently, her slender fingers softly combing his hair as she hummed a soothing melody.
On the carpet nearby, a little girl—Lu Mingyin, carved of jade and pink marble—played with a dazzling toy that could both shine and sing, her laughter occasionally breaking the silence with a burst of youthful energy.
Suddenly, Lu Jingming received a message filled with urgency and a plea for help from Huo Yuhao, the Spirit King of the Eighth Seat.
Lu Jingming didn't open his eyes right away, but his lashes trembled slightly. In that instant, he completed an analysis and synchronization with Hatsune Miku.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were both in the lower realms; through Hatsune Miku's surveillance, he had long known of their presence. He hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to encounter and be pursued by these two. It seemed Xiao Wu's secret had been exposed—otherwise, with Huo Yuhao's identity, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't have chased him down.
Well, time for some fun.
He opened his eyes slowly, their depths calm and undisturbed, as if he had just woken from a nap. Straightening his posture from Robin's embrace, his movements were naturally smooth.
"Eh?" Robin stopped humming, gazing at him with beautiful eyes and a questioning tone.
Lu Jingming didn't answer directly. Instead, he scooped up his daughter, Lu Mingyin, who was happily playing nearby. The little one was momentarily dazed at being lifted, but soon beamed with a toothless smile, her laughter brightening as she reached out with chubby hands to grab Lu Jingming's face.
Lu Jingming's eyes softened with affection. He lowered his head, gently rubbed his daughter's soft cheek, and planted a loud kiss.
"Hehehe…" Lu Mingyin giggled, waving her tiny hands and laughing non-stop.
The warm scene made Robin's smile bloom even brighter—a glow of happiness only a wife and mother could radiate. Lu Jingming played with his daughter for a while before handing her back to Robin.
"I have something to take care of," he said, his tone as calm as if he were simply handling routine business.
"Alright," Robin cradled their daughter, nodding softly without further questions. She understood Lu Jingming and trusted him implicitly. In this vast continent and among the stars, there was almost nothing that could truly trouble him. Since he had spoken so lightly, there was no need for worry.
She adjusted her hold on their daughter for comfort and resumed her gentle melody, her gaze fondly following Lu Jingming's departing figure, her heart filled with contentment and peace.
She loved her life now—being cherished deeply, having a strong and loving family, adorable and healthy children, the chance to sing and pursue her career, and a close group of sisters who got along despite their different personalities… It all felt like a beautiful dream.
Of course, if only… If only her brother could be here as well, it would be perfect.
Sometimes, thoughts of Robin's brother would surface. Always bearing responsibility, he had cared for her strictly. She had often asked Lu Jingming if her brother could be brought into this world as well. Each time, Lu Jingming would offer a slightly helpless smile, making excuses about his "true power" not being enough for now.
But Robin's heart was as clear as a mirror. How could his "true power" be lacking? Lu Jingming now ruled planets, connected parallel worlds, and had even begun to touch other dimensions. Summoning her brother wouldn't be easy, but it was far from impossible.
The real reason… Robin understood all too well. Considering her brother's well-known as bro-con, if he learned that his little sister not only chased after a "mysterious" man, but became one of his trusted partners and even had a child with him… he'd probably explode with rage on the spot. Even if he couldn't defeat Xiao Ming, he'd surely stir up trouble and give him a real headache.
Thinking this, a sly, crystal-clear smile curved the corners of Robin's lips.
Enough—there's no rush. After all, both she and Xiao Ming have plenty of time. For now, she would simply enjoy this hard-won, peaceful life.
…
Lu Jingming left the residence. The warmth in his smile faded, replaced by his usual composure and depth. He didn't summon a grand army, nor did he alert Herta or Ruan Mei. With just a flicker of thought, his figure faded away from Haiyuan City, as quietly as ink dissolving into water.
…
Above the vast, barren wilderness, the sky was a heavy, leaden gray. Dry winds whipped up dust, howling mournfully. Far from any human habitation, only withered yellow grasses stood feebly in the wind, like an ancient battlefield forgotten by the world.
A gray streak shot across the sky like a flying bird—it was Huo Yuhao's body, now controlled by the divine consciousness of Electrolux.
Yet suddenly, this streak was blocked by a swifter, more agile black phantom that appeared midair. The phantom emerged without warning, as if it had seeped directly from a fold in space, appearing precisely before the gray streak.
The phantom took on solid form—Zhu Zhuqing's cold, beautiful face and slender figure. There was no dazzling divine light around her, only a sense of blurriness that blended into space, as if she could vanish at any moment. Yet the cold in the air was so intense that space itself seemed frozen.
"That's far enough."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the wild winds, reaching Huo Yuhao's ears.
Almost simultaneously, golden light blazed behind him, like a scorching sun falling to earth. Dai Mubai's body crashed down with a roar, landing a hundred meters behind, forming a pincer attack with Zhu Zhuqing that completely blocked all escape routes. His entire body radiated divine power, golden arrogance surging as dust was swept aside in a transparent ring. His eyes were awe-inspiring, locking firmly onto their target.
The three stood in a triangle at the center of the wilderness. The air tightened to the extreme; even the raging wind seemed to hold its breath.
Zhu Zhuqing's cold gaze pierced the gray radiance around Huo Yuhao's body, as if she could see directly into the ancient remnants of his soul. Her voice was emotionless:
"Give up your futile resistance. You can't escape. I don't know which god you used to be, but now you're just a lingering remnant, barely able to protect this child. A remnant soul is still a remnant, no matter your former status. Your foundation is incomplete, your divine power rootless. You're no match for me and Mubai together. Hand over Xiao Wu's whereabouts and avoid the pain of soul dispersion."
Her analysis was calm and precise, pointing straight at Electrolux's greatest weakness: possessing the nature and techniques of a high-level god, but lacking the continuous output of divine power and the support of a complete divine body.
Controlling Huo Yuhao, Electrolux's gray eyes flickered with helplessness and turmoil. His ancient voice echoed across the wilderness.
"Alas… The world is unpredictable, and fate loves to play tricks. My disciple is unfortunate and stubborn, always worrying me. But since he entered my house and inherited my legacy, karma was set. As his master, how could I abandon him to outsiders?"
He understood the situation between Huo Yuhao and Xiao Wu, and could only sigh at fate's capriciousness in this moment. Yet the firewood was ready, the child born—regret was meaningless now.
He knew if Huo Yuhao fell into their hands, his secrets would inevitably be exposed by divine means. Then, faced with Tang San the God King's monstrous wrath, Huo Yuhao would surely perish, and even the newborn might suffer. Whether public or personal, he had to protect Huo Yuhao.
"You're stubborn—if you won't accept toast, you'll be punished!" Dai Mubai could hold back no longer, growing angrier as he spoke.
He didn't bother with words, acting like a god of war who always broke technique with brute force. Dai Mubai roared, stamping his right foot.
Boom—!!!
Centered on his foothold, the earth within a hundred meters collapsed as if struck by an invisible hammer, cracking downward. Countless dirt and gravel were hurled skyward by the fierce divine power. Dai Mubai himself transformed into a man-shaped meteor, blazing with golden divine fire, exuding a terrifying aura that crushed everything as he charged straight at Huo Yuhao. The air was compressed and torn by his passage, emitting thunderous booms and leaving a visible, distorted vacuum trail.
This was the purest force and speed, embodying the indomitable will of the God of War.
Almost simultaneously, Zhu Zhuqing moved as well. She didn't have Dai Mubai's overwhelming momentum; instead, with just a slight shift, she seemed to vanish completely into the gaps between light and space. This wasn't a mere afterimage of high speed, but true spatial flickering and displacement.
In the next instant, she reappeared beside Huo Yuhao like a ghost, the distance between them vanishing as if it had never existed. Zhu Zhuqing's fingers were like knives, the edge of her white palm radiating extremely condensed, dark divine light—not dazzling, but sharp enough to slice souls. She slashed silently at Huo Yuhao's throat and vital points, her speed surpassing sound, the air itself hissing as it was cut.
This was a lethal strike, maximizing speed and woven into her attack, impossible to defend against given her elusive displacement.