On the snowy peaks, atop an ice cliff. Sifigran’s palm covered her cheek, the gushing blood gradually slowing its flow. With a tremor, she released one hand. The half of her face that had been covered was now entirely crimson, an expression of ineffable horror etched on her features. Her index and middle fingers extended, the other three clenched tight in her fist, and with a sharp sweep to the side, she commanded, “Time Reversal—Stasis!”

The still air fractured as if struck by a droplet, sending out concentric ripples. The snowstorm howling around her began to rush backward at an impossible speed. The thick blood on her cheek sucked back into her eye sockets as if on rewind. Only the figure of Zero, standing behind her, seemed frozen, still locked in an expression of anxious concern—his brow, his mouth, his dark pupils, utterly unmoving.

Only after all the blood had receded from Sifigran’s face, restoring the delicate features sculpted from ice and snow, did her fingers relax. She stood up, her fingers twitching slightly, and everything around them—all the elements that had been reversing in uncanny fashion—snapped back to normal.

Zero jolted as if waking abruptly. He hurried forward, “Sister, you…” He stopped midway, stunned, realizing that Sifigran, who had been crouching on the ground moments before, was now somehow standing facing him, a captivating smile gracing her lips. He parted his mouth, taking a long moment to manage a choked, astonished reply, “Sister, this…”

Sifigran’s eyes were gentle as water. She softly stroked his smooth hair and whispered, “Don’t worry, I’m fine…”

The anxiety in Zero’s heart seemed to be soothed by her tender touch. His mind quickly quieted. He felt a warmth akin to returning to a mother’s embrace and couldn’t resist hugging Sifigran tightly around the waist, burying his head deep into the softness of her chest, inhaling a uniquely alluring, intoxicating fragrance.

Sifigran held his head, stroking gently, but her eyes were fixed on the distant, mist-like sky, flashing with an inscrutable light. “I never expected to encounter such a terrifying monster here. Thankfully, it hadn’t awakened yet; otherwise…”

Her brow furrowed slightly, and she turned her head. The swirling snow buffeted their bodies. Behind them stretched the vast horizon. “It seems… something truly formidable is approaching…”

The Snowy Realm, the Glacier Entrance.

The air warped like disturbed water, and then, a figure clad in black emerged, seemingly stepping out of a mirror. His eyes were closed, his tranquil, sleeping features indescribably handsome. His contours appeared chiseled by an artisan’s knife; his brows were sharp as blades, and his thin lips curved into a subtle arc of sinister coolness. His pale skin possessed the pallor of nobility.

He floated silently out of a sheet of transparent ripples and opened his eyes. Within his elongated pupils were irises like starlight, reflecting the world of ice and snow: “So, this is the Snowy Realm…”

Dizang Chuan gazed upon the vista before him, anticipation coloring his expression. “If I consume the corpse of the Goddess of Light, to what level will my power ascend? At that point… even the Supreme Lord will fear me, perhaps?”

He drifted forward with the speed of a fierce gale. The biting wind swept against his clothes, yet failed to freeze them even slightly; they continued to flutter softly, like supple satin.

The Snowy Realm, Wushuang City.

When the towering city, carved from ice and snow, finally appeared before Ye Chen, he truly understood the meaning of grandeur and magnificence. The city gates were held aloft by black chains as thick as a man’s arm. Before them spanned a moat a kilometer wide, within which dark, indistinct shapes swam—clearly ferocious beasts allowed to roam free.

The walls were built of thick, hewn ice and stone, rising straight and sheer, as if planed by a razor’s edge, utterly devoid of any protrusion. Given the world’s oppressive gravity and anti-flight laws, the kilometer-wide moat was an almost insurmountable chasm.

Kabacz, a Gold-Medal Hunter, led the way ahead like a servant. Ye Chen, seated atop the massive Silver Wolf, was almost looking down upon everything. As they emerged from the shadows of the dense forest and stepped onto the long bridge, Ye Chen spotted a sparse scattering of figures near the city entrance, entering and exiting. Most of these individuals wore clothing similar to Kabacz’s: thick, white fur-lined hide coats, blue eyebrows, and pale skin. The hair visible beneath their caps was also blue.

A watery blue.

These people were all bowed over, preoccupied with their tasks or lost in their own troubles; none looked toward them. Only a few, who happened to glance up unintentionally, immediately let out gasps of pure terror and shock.

The people nearby startled awake, thinking perhaps a monster siege had begun, and looked toward the sturdy wooden bridge spanning the moat. There, they saw the Moon Demon Wolf, a colossal beast six men high—a nightmare to all people of the Snow Country. Ordinary folks knew that among the higher-tier snow beasts, the Moon Demon Wolf was the most bloodthirsty and enjoyed consuming human viscera; even children were silenced from crying by the mere mention of it.

But quickly, these onlookers noticed Ye Chen atop the Moon Demon Wolf. They sucked in sharp breaths, rubbing their eyes, almost suspecting a delusion. The legendarily savage Moon Demon Wolf was actually subdued and ridden as a mount by someone? Even a powerful Purple-Medal Hunter would struggle to achieve such a feat, surely?

Even the city guards craned their necks to look, immediately spotting the difference in Ye Chen. A cascade of confused exclamations and sharp cries erupted.

As Kabacz led Ye Chen across the sturdy wooden bridge to the city gate, everyone felt a sense of suffocation. The innate, feral aura emanating from the towering Moon Demon Wolf kept everyone rigid, too tense even to scream. The light piercing down from the clouds was blocked by the massive body, casting everyone in shadow.

Seeing the tense and bewildered expressions of the city guards, Kabacz worried they might attack rashly and offend Ye Chen. He immediately called out quickly, “Everyone, do not panic! This is the Lord Emissary of Snow!”

Everyone froze, scrutinizing Ye Chen’s appearance, his skin tone, hair color, and eye color—they matched the legendary Lord Emissary of Snow perfectly!

Instantly, everyone fell to their knees in fervent devotion, proclaiming in perfect reverence, “We welcome the Lord Emissary of Snow!”

Even Ye Chen’s formidable composure was touched by a flicker of shame when he saw the genuine, clean excitement in their eyes. However, given the life-and-death situation, his facial expression remained unchanged, maintaining his customary indifference. He gave a slight “Hm,” and said no more. Sometimes, saying less accomplishes more.

Kabacz puffed out his chest like a nouveau riche admiring his prized possession, waving his hands and shouting, “Make way, everyone! The Lord Emissary of Snow has rarely visited our city and requires rest. No one is to disturb him.”

“Yes, absolutely correct.”

Everyone nodded respectfully and excitedly, stepping back to the sides of the city gate.

Kabacz, head held high with pride, led the way into the city. The Moon Demon Wolf followed close behind. Ye Chen’s face was as impassive as ice and snow, set against his dark hair and healthy complexion, radiating an air of ineffable nobility.

Once inside Wushuang City, pedestrians along the roads initially cried out in alarm at the sight of the Moon Demon Wolf, preparing to flee in terror. But they quickly recognized Kabacz’s voice, snapped back to awareness, and then stared at Kabacz with doubt and wonder as he spoke, turning their gaze to Ye Chen, their expressions immediately shifting to one of reverence and excitement.

Within Wushuang City, a Gold-Medal Hunter like Kabacz held considerable status, and everyone knew him well. With his enthusiastic introductions, the Moon Demon Wolf’s imposing presence, and Ye Chen’s appearance, no one harbored any suspicion.

Ye Chen frowned, feeling a familiar sting of bitterness at being gawked at. He floated down lightly, sketched a line with his finger, and a swirling aperture of obsidian darkness instantly materialized on the wide street, rapidly expanding from the size of a bean to ten men high.

With a mere thought, the Moon Demon Wolf sprang inside, and the entrance to the Rune Space slowly closed.

The surrounding passersby stared, their eyes wide, mouths agape in vacant shock. Even Kabacz beside him had his pupils constrict, his gaze toward Ye Chen growing even more fervent and bright. He stepped up to Ye Chen and lowered his voice, though an irrepressible excitement still colored his tone: “Lord Emissary of Snow, what was that…”

Ye Chen murmured, “I didn’t intend to cause such a stir. Lead me to a place to settle in first, and I will meet the City Lord later.” As he spoke, he reached out and plucked a voluminous black robe from the void, drawing it around him to conceal his form completely.

This display of mastery made Kabacz’s eyes gleam, and the surrounding crowd erupted in further shock and awe.

“I understand, Lord Emissary of Snow,” Kabacz replied breathlessly. He turned back to the onlookers, who were holding their breath on both sides, his expression returning to sternness. He waved his hand grandly, “Everyone move aside! The Lord Emissary of Snow has stated he does not wish to be disturbed.”

Everyone obediently lowered their heads and respectfully retreated to the sides, not making a sound.

Kabacz gestured for Ye Chen to proceed and led the way. Under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, the two walked forward, gradually vanishing from the crowd’s sight.

The crowd exchanged glances, then erupted into soaring cheers of excitement.

The cheers echoing behind him gave Ye Chen a strange sensation. He felt a curiosity stirring about the real Lord Emissary of Snow. He lowered his head, pulling the brim of the black hat down further.

Soon, Kabacz brought Ye Chen to the most magnificent inn in the small city. Traveling there, Ye Chen noted that the city still felt rooted in an older era; lacking advanced electronic technology, even this grand inn was constructed of wooden planks and appeared quite aged.

The portly innkeeper, a middle-aged man, brightened upon seeing Kabacz and hurried over with a welcoming, hearty laugh. “What brings you around today?”

“I’m escorting a friend; I require the finest suite available,” Kabacz replied with a light chuckle.

The fat innkeeper cast a furtive glance at Ye Chen beside him. Driven by professional instinct, he avoided any impolite questioning and immediately nodded with a smile, “No problem, leave it to me.”

He then returned to the counter, calculated briefly, and without calling for a servant, personally escorted Kabacz and Ye Chen upstairs to arrange the rooms.

The innkeeper and Kabacz appeared to be old acquaintances, exchanging pleasantries before the former headed back downstairs.

Kabacz closed the door, surveyed the exquisite room, and then looked at Ye Chen, who had removed the black robe to reveal his handsome face. He said deferentially, “Lord Emissary of Snow, please rest here for a while. I shall depart immediately to invite the City Lord to meet you.” (To be continued)