Her gaze drifted down to the cheek of the black-haired youth. He possessed features sharply chiseled as if carved from stone, thick black brows set low above his brow bone. His thin lips were pale from the cold, sharp as twin blades, and a chilling lack of color bleached his handsome face. She glanced once, and the soft light in her eyes immediately dimmed. A wry smile touched her lips as she inwardly questioned her own strange impulse to save this boy, before shaking her head and turning to return to her chamber.
“Si...ster…” A difficult, faint voice suddenly emerged from the black-haired boy’s mouth.
This sound acted like an invisible tether, wrenching the figure of the silver-robed woman to a halt.
The Temple of Light, the high pavilion.
Scorching sunlight streamed down, catching Ye Zhu as she stood at the doorway, lending a sheen to her dark hair. Yet, her gaze was locked intently upon the colossal stone carving dominating the grand hall. This statue towered nearly eight zhang high, clad in a sacred, gauze-like white robe, crowned with a white princess diadem studded with gems that glittered like shards of ice. Her long, flowing blue hair billowed behind her, and her slender form exuded an elegant beauty.
However, what Ye Zhu truly scrutinized was the statue’s face.
It was a delicate, exquisite face, and it was the exact likeness of her own.
She stared for a long time before realizing she wasn't mistaken. Shock and bewilderment warred within her. She stepped inside, approaching the statue to examine it closely. She noticed a lintel beam above the statue’s head, inscribed with several characters: Goddess of Light!
“Goddess of Light? Does that mean me?” Ye Zhu felt confused. Although the fragmented memories she gained upon awakening spoke of her being the Tenth Emissary of the Goddess of Light—one of only ten—she ranked last. During the last Great Holy War, her low ranking ironically saved her from relentless pursuit by the enemy, allowing her to narrowly escape and pass through the Gate of Reincarnation to be reborn.
“How… how can I look exactly like this Goddess of Light?” Ye Zhu was perplexed. Deep down, she knew she was the Tenth Emissary of Light, having once fought alongside many others, carving out vast territories for the Goddess.
Yet, the Goddess of Light in those memories had been a vague silhouette. She never imagined that the reality was looking exactly like her!
“Goddess of Light.” A soft voice suddenly sounded from behind her.
Ye Zhu turned to see the Mistress of the Light Hall standing leaning against the doorway, backlit by the sun. Her exquisitely sculpted cheeks were graced with expressions of reverence, piety, and joy. She lowered her head respectfully and spoke, “The Ninth Generation Mistress of the Light Hall pays respects to the Goddess.” As she finished, she slowly knelt, bowed deeply, pressing her forehead to the ground without manifesting any energy. Dust settled on her smooth forehead, making the pure and elegant woman appear momentarily endearing.
Ye Zhu showed no surprise, as if she had known the Mistress was standing there all along. She waved a hand and said, “Rise. I am not the Goddess of Light; I am merely an Emissary of Light.”
The Mistress of the Light Hall was gently lifted to her feet by a soft energy, and it felt as if a gentle hand had brushed the dust from her forehead, leaving it clean.
“You are not the Goddess?” The Mistress’s pupils constricted in astonishment. “But, but…”
Ye Zhu stated calmly, “I know. I bear a striking resemblance to the Goddess of Light, but only in appearance. I am not the Goddess, and I would never dare impersonate Her. Therefore, from now on, you are forbidden from calling me ‘Goddess,’ or else…” Her fingers twitched, and the Mistress of the Light Hall felt an icy grip around her neck, as if seized by a hand. She trembled slightly, a maelstrom churning in her heart. She nodded quickly, “I understand, Emissary. This junior was unfilial; I ignorantly offended the Goddess’s majesty just now. Emissary, please mete out punishment.”
“Forget it,” Ye Zhu waved her hand dismissively.
The Mistress felt as if a great amnesty had been granted. She cautiously raised her eyes to glance at Ye Zhu and said deferentially, “This junior overheard the Elders saying they saw a manifestation of the Goddess of Light. We knew if the Goddess truly returned, she would surely come here for a visit, so I dismissed the servants and guards. And indeed, I have met the Emissary here.”
“How did you know I would come here?” Ye Zhu looked at her coolly.
The Mistress of the Light Hall replied respectfully, “According to the records of the first generation Master of the Light Temple, the ancient scrolls state that the Goddess of Light’s longsword lies sealed beneath this very pavilion. If you were the Goddess of Light, you would surely be summoned by the Divine Sword of Light and drawn here.”
Ye Zhu paused. “The Goddess of Light’s sword is here?”
The Mistress of the Light Hall bowed her head. “Yes. The ancient scrolls record that the Goddess of Light fell during the last Great Holy War, her body sealed within the Snow Domain. Her sword fell out and was recovered by the first Mistress of the Light Temple. She used immense power to seal the Divine Sword of Light here, awaiting the Goddess’s return. The first Mistress was once a handmaiden beside the Goddess, favored and gifted a small measure of power, thus rendering her utterly devoted. Before her death, she cast the Eternal Curse Seal, which binds every subsequent Mistress of the Light Hall to unconditionally obey the Goddess of Light and the ten Emissaries who followed her. Only by achieving the strength of the Epoch Realm Seventh Tier could one break this Eternal Curse Seal, as that first Mistress possessed only the pinnacle strength of the Epoch Realm.”
Ye Zhu nodded slightly, assessing the Mistress. “Relying on the Divine Sword of Light, with your strength, you should be capable of sweeping across the entire Ancient Continent and eradicating the entire Dark Great World, should it not?”
The Mistress of the Light Hall shook her head respectfully. “The Goddess of Light’s sword is not something we lesser beings can wield. Moreover, the Divine Sword of Light is encased in a colossal crystal seal; one cannot break it without the strength of the Void Heaven Realm. Even possessing a Void Heaven Artifact, without the unique power possessed by a Void Heaven Realm expert to catalyze it, the artifact’s true might cannot be unleashed. Even the Void Heaven Artifacts controlled by the Nine Great Emperors can only manifest a mere fraction of their power.”
“Indeed,” Ye Zhu looked up, fixing her gaze upon the Mistress of the Light Hall. “Where is the Snow Domain where the Goddess of Light’s body is interred?”
“The Snow Domain lies in the Ice and Snow Empire, southeast of the Ancient Continent. It is a natural spatial rift, containing the coldest ice and snow in the world. Any creature below the Divine Emperor level that approaches will instantly freeze into an ice crystal and perish. That is only the outermost region. If one delves deeper, one might encounter the Snow Beasts residing within. No one has dared venture in for exploration; even the signals from the most advanced satellites freeze solid and fail to transmit.” The Mistress spoke as if the Snow Domain were before her eyes, her voice trembling with fear. “The Snow Domain is a notorious forbidden ground across the entire Ancient Continent; no one dares trespass.”
Signals freeze? Ye Zhu’s eyes narrowed slightly. “How long do you think you could survive in there with your current strength?”
The Mistress of the Light Hall paused, then lowered her head in thought before answering, “If I lingered motionless in the outer perimeter and didn’t venture out, perhaps three days. If I moved around, I couldn't guarantee anything; one unlucky encounter with a Snow Beast, and I’d likely be instantly vaporized.”
Ye Zhu’s brow furrowed slightly, then she nodded. “I understand.”
The Mistress of the Light Hall stole a glance at her. “Emissary, are you preparing to go?”
Ye Zhu nodded naturally. “Naturally.”
The Mistress’s heart jumped, and she quickly interjected, “Emissary, the Snow Domain is exceedingly perilous. Although your power is great, you cannot rush in lightly. The periphery alone is so dangerous; who knows what lies deeper? This place has been designated a strict forbidden zone by all major powers since the earliest ages. Because it is absolutely forbidden, eventually, most people forget that such a terrifying region even exists.”
Ye Zhu waved her hand. “Enough talk. No matter what, the Goddess’s body must be recovered.”
Seeing her obstinate expression, the Mistress grew anxious, then her eyes suddenly brightened. She quickly said, “Since that is the case, Emissary, take the Sword of the Goddess of Light with you. That will greatly increase your chances.”
“No,” Ye Zhu refused, shaking her head. “The Goddess’s sword can only be worn by Her. How dare we subjects commit such insubordination and disrespect to the Goddess? It is a capital offense!”
The Mistress of the Light Hall knew she spoke the truth. Her eyes darted around before she suggested, “Emissary, although we cannot use the Goddess’s sword, given the urgency of the moment, these rules can be momentarily set aside. Furthermore, if you can use the Divine Sword of Light to locate the Goddess’s body, that itself is a monumental achievement. Moreover, when you find the sword, you can present it to the Goddess and have it buried alongside her body—that would be returning property to its rightful owner!”
Ye Zhu frowned slightly, pondering. She conceded the point was sound. “Very well. Where is the Goddess’s sword?”
Seeing that Ye Zhu agreed, the Mistress of the Light Hall rejoiced and quickly said, “Follow me. It is beneath this very pavilion.” She took the lead, activated a mechanism, and the wall behind the Goddess of Light statue opened, revealing a luminous halo resembling water ripples. She stepped into it first.
Led by the Mistress, the two descended into an underground passage. The narrow, dim corridor was lit by oil lamps hanging from the walls, casting a warm yellow glow onto the stairs.
After descending the stairs and passing through a long cloister, they turned a corner and arrived in a wide, open space. As soon as she entered, Ye Zhu saw a massive blue crystal, like a bizarre lotus growing from the earth, its surface covered in minute, shimmering protrusions that caught the light.
Frozen within this gigantic blue crystal was a streak of white radiance. This light resembled the fractured gleam of shattered ice, utterly concealing the shape of a sword, spanning two or three zhang long—like a beam of frozen white light.