"Whoa!" Ye Xiu broke out in a cold sweat, certain he couldn't evade Yun Ji's fangs at such close range. Suddenly, his palm tightened. The 'Heaven's Will,' which had vanished during the Great Earth Fissure, reappeared instantly in his hand, shimmering with a deep violet radiance. On instinct, he snatched the Heaven's Will and plunged it once more into Yun Ji's abdomen. In that moment, Yun Ji let out a piercing, upward scream, a sound potent enough to drown out the tragic collapse of the outer island's crust.

"Ah…" Yun Ji clung tightly to Ye Xiu, as if achieving a pinnacle, then lowered her head. "I knew you could still dodge it."

Ye Xiu held the blade piercing Yun Ji’s chest with one hand and plunged his sword into her stomach with the other. He had never imagined a single confrontation between them could shake the heavens, earth, and sea. It seemed incredible; this was no ordinary duel, but a confrontation set to unmake the world.

Yun Ji coughed twice and once more caressed Ye Xiu’s face, saying deeply, "Only a man like you is worthy of my trust."

"Trust?" Ye Xiu couldn't fathom what a dying monster could entrust to him. The previous lightning strike had also hit him; it turned out the illusions conjured by the demonic blade's techniques were real. The cold pain suffered by those phantoms was completely reflected back onto the true body.

At this moment, the wings on Yun Ji’s back suddenly ceased their motion. In a gust of fierce wind, those two colossal wings transformed once again into countless bats swarming toward Ye Xiu.

Yun Ji then smiled and pushed Ye Xiu away, allowing the demonic blade and the Heaven's Will to carve through her body. She fell heavily with the island's rocks into the South Sea.

Ye Xiu still wanted to combine his blade and sword to resist the red-eyed bats before him, but his movements were too slow. The two swarms of bats pierced deeply into Ye Xiu’s left and right chests like twin sharp swords. "Ah! Ah!" Ye Xiu straightened his body in mid-air, convulsing and shaking until every bat had entered his chest cavity.

A strong wind swept the spray ashore, and Ye Xiu, having lost almost all consciousness, plummeted toward the sea. At that moment, the entire outer island had been completely swallowed by the raging waves of the South Sea. Ye Xiu felt this was the end; he would die peacefully, lonely, and insignificant. But why couldn't he feel himself hitting the water? His vision blurred, and he could only see himself slowly soaring above the collapsing outer island. Directly ahead of him was another gleaming, snow-covered expanse, and in that pure place, a figure of equal, pure beauty waited for him.

Snow Maiden gasped, watching Ye Xiu soar toward her in the sky with a hint of joy. She knew the immense wings trailing his form were a trust bestowed by Yun Ji. She hadn't anticipated that Ye Xiu’s battle with Yun Ji would destroy the outer island of the Celestial Realm.

She had been waiting on the Celestial Realm’s second island, Snow Flame Isle, tightly clutching the white rose branch Ye Xiu had given her—one bloom of which was still perfect, the one she had personally nurtured. Her gaze never left the direction where Ye Xiu was slowly descending. She waited to see what figure he would complete with the roses in her hands. In that moment, she felt utterly relaxed, but as Ye Xiu descended, unconscious, before her, tears welled up. She knew the days she could spend with him were numbered, for the Sect Master had one final trial for Ye Xiu. After successfully eliminating the three great helmsmen of Light, Darkness, and Blood, Ye Xiu had to face the Phantom Whip, known as the Valley Master of the Ghost Valley Hall—Snow Maiden herself.

When Ye Xiu woke again, he was in a place biting with cold air. It was the same warm little cottage, with the same gentle Snow Maiden. His wounds had almost entirely healed.

"You saved me again," Ye Xiu smiled faintly, looking at Snow Maiden’s back. "That Yun Ji was too strong; she could actually control the lightning from the sky."

"Mmm, you are quite capable too," Snow Maiden replied without turning, standing by the door appreciating the heavy snow falling outside.

Ye Xiu got up and slowly walked to Snow Maiden, gently taking her hand. "I had found three white roses, but alas, Yun Ji sank that entire island..."

Before Ye Xiu could finish, Snow Maiden turned and placed a finger over his lips. "I know, including the previous ones, that makes nine, right? May our affection last forever."

Ye Xiu nodded, reaching out to stroke Snow Maiden’s long, silky hair. They were supposed to be enemies, yet he couldn't shake the sense of peace and purity emanating from her.

"Pity..." Snow Maiden stepped back, placing herself amidst the swirling snow—her true environment, the limit of her snowy domain, a place free of bloodshed, slaughter, and intruders daring to trespass. But today, she had to carry out the task she most dreaded in her life.

"Pity what?" Ye Xiu faintly discerned the stern expression on Snow Maiden’s face. He knew it held the aura of killing intent, but even more so, it carried adoration and regret. Ye Xiu had guessed already. "My next trial is to kill you? Xue'er?"

"Yes." Snow Maiden nodded, drawing the pure white Phantom Whip from her back. This was her weapon, as aloof and cold as her own demeanor.

Ye Xiu knew this was the answer, yet he couldn't accept it. What kind of situation was this? Wouldn't it have been better if Xue'er had been tasked to kill him from the beginning? Why make her heal him time and again, only to cultivate such delicate feelings?

"Go and fetch your blade and sword." Snow Maiden’s expression was grave. Though unwilling, this was the Sect Master's command. From the moment she could remember things, she had sworn loyalty to the Sect Master, even though she had never seen his true face and always felt she was merely a pawn. Yet, she deeply understood that the Sect Master had given her life.

Ye Xiu rubbed his head and went back inside to retrieve the demonic blade, Heaven's Will. At this moment, he possessed no will to fight. Whether it was to save Ji Jiang or to battle Xue'er, he was beginning to feel this entire situation was too cruel. Whose script was this, demanding such an impossible choice?

"Hyaa!" Seeing Ye Xiu had readied his weapon, Snow Maiden lashed out with her whip immediately. Her Phantom Whip was incredibly swift; in the entirely white environment, the whip’s trajectory was impossible to track. The only indication of its movement was the slight disruption in the rhythm of the falling snowflakes. Though this strike did not use her full strength, its power was immense. It struck Ye Xiu squarely, sending him flying sideways.

Ye Xiu spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the snow. The snow, marked by this splash of crimson, suddenly seemed exceptionally serene.

"Why didn't you dodge?" Snow Maiden stood softly amidst the snowflakes, her dazzling blue skirt swaying gently in the wind. "Do you believe I am unworthy of facing you, or can you not bring yourself to strike?"