With a thunderous crash, the girl slammed onto the ground, her heart pierced clean through by the shard of ice. A massive gush of crimson blood sprayed out, and the searing pain was enough to make her pass out from blood loss. Yet, she gritted her teeth against the agony, forcing herself up from the dirt. She plunged both hands into her own chest cavity, brutally shoving the dislocated bones back into alignment. Then, she channeled the power of the Yin-Yang Fruit she had absorbed, desperately attempting to mend her wounds. But the agony of torn and regrowing flesh pulling against the bone was no less agonizing than the initial impact.

“Xueling, does it hurt?” Dugu Bachen didn't open his eyes, yet he seemed to perceive everything as he spoke.

“It hurts…” Xueling managed to reply through gritted teeth.

“And yet, do you still wish to continue?” Dugu Bachen’s voice followed.

“I do…” Xueling struggled to her feet once more. She snatched up another Yin-Yang Fruit, relying on its potent effects to continuously repair her injuries, even as she forced herself step by agonizing step toward the cliff face. Blood still steadily dripped from her exposed sternum.

What a stubbornly willful girl she was. Watching her resolute silhouette, Dugu Bachen let out a soft sigh, but said nothing more.

His cultivation deepened daily. Things he once couldn't comprehend, he now understood. Heaven and Earth are merciless, treating all creation as mere straw dogs. The end of this great era—this liangjie—was not far off. Perhaps a few hundred years, perhaps a few thousand. When it arrived, it would usher in the greatest conflict: a battle against Heaven and Earth itself. If they failed to break free, every single one of them would perish.

Ye Jingyu had entrusted Xueling to him, and he was bound to fulfill the duty of a master. As for Ye Jingyu’s cultivation, Dugu Bachen had no concerns; that kid encountered continuous fortuitous encounters, and his cultivation methods were monstrously effective. It was quite possible he had already surpassed Dugu Bachen by now. But this girl was different. She lacked Ye Jingyu’s stroke of luck, and she didn’t possess his freakish mental techniques. All she had was an indomitable will. With his current strength, he could easily elevate her to the Hong Level, and with a bit more effort, reaching the Zhou Level wouldn't be impossible. But what about the future?

Her state of mind had not been tempered. Even if, by some miracle, she reached the Yu Level, could she take that final step? Could she become a true asset to Ye Jingyu? The answer was no. Dugu Bachen had spent his entire existence fighting; his innate talent was not insignificant, yet even now, he had failed to make that final leap. And Xueling? By what right could she make that leap?

Dugu Bachen didn't truly know how to teach her. He could only resort to this method—clumsy, yet undeniably effective: diligence compensating for lack of innate genius. He forced her to endure more brutal trials, trials even more painful, difficult, and tragic than those he himself had faced back then.

Of course, this kind of ruthless training bordered on murder. With Xueling’s current cultivation, she shouldn't be able to withstand such regimens. But then, there were the Yin-Yang Fruits—those supreme spiritual herbs that grew only in the Northern Nether region.

Ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine Yin-Yang Fruits. One per day. In three hundred years, perhaps her cultivation would reach the peak of the Yu Level?

By then, whether she could make that final step would depend solely on her. He couldn't help her. No, he couldn't. No one could.

Unless he could become one of the highest-level chess players manipulating the board. But was he capable of that?

Dugu Bachen understood that his current level of attainment was the fortune of this lifetime. At most, he could take one more step, leaping clear of this imminent game. But to become one of the players? He simply lacked that caliber.

Perhaps his other disciple could?

Dugu Bachen sighed silently to himself, then turned his gaze toward the sky.

At the Earth Alliance, within the City Lord’s Manor in Flame-Extinguishing City, the morning sunlight was always strikingly bright. Ye Jingyu, having wrestled with Luo Ling’er throughout the night, was already awake early. He glanced at Luo Ling’er, still deep in sleep, a happy smile touching his lips. He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead before carefully climbing out of bed.

Stepping outside, he found Jiufeng had already prepared a lavish breakfast spread. At their level of attainment, eating had long ceased to be a necessity. But ever since Jiufeng joined Ye Jingyu’s side, she had insisted on cooking for him. Ye Jingyu understood this was her long-held desire, so he naturally didn't protest. Besides, sampling delicious food from time to time was certainly a pleasant indulgence; deep down, he was still just a man, after all.

This arrangement, however, greatly benefited the Monkey and the others. The Monkey, in particular, was obsessed with Jiufeng Ao’s various immortal porridges. And indeed, there he sat, gulping down a massive pot of lean elk meat porridge, showing no inclination to greet Ye Jingyu upon his entrance.

Ye Jingyu gave Jiufeng a tender kiss on the cheek before taking the bowl of lean elk porridge she offered and beginning to drink.

“How is Ling’er doing?” Jiufeng asked only after Ye Jingyu had finished the bowl.

“She has fully recovered…” Ye Jingyu nodded with a smile.

“Then I…”

“Rest assured, Ling’er won't mind. And she is my woman, and you are also my woman. Understand?” Ye Jingyu said with a touch of possessiveness.

Wasn't that the truth? Luo Ling’er had waited through thousands of years; surely she wouldn't quibble over such a small matter? Moreover, she probably understood the depth of Jiufeng’s feelings for Ye Jingyu already.

Hearing Ye Jingyu voice these words, even though Jiufeng already knew it to be true in her heart, a wave of sweetness washed over her, and she nodded with a hint of shyness.

“Heh heh, why don’t you and Xixi come over tonight as well? The four of us can sleep together!” Seeing the blush deepen on Jiufeng’s face, a thought struck Ye Jingyu. He suddenly recalled their first night sleeping together, when she had seemed just as bashful. How many years had passed in a flash? Had he failed her too much?

Upon hearing Ye Jingyu suggest they share the bed—all four of them—the flush on Jiufeng’s cheeks grew deeper, and she was about to offer a rebuttal when the Monkey, having just emptied a large bowl of the meat porridge, interjected: “Kid, enjoying the bliss of having many women is one thing, but do you understand how much time we have left!”

Ye Jingyu paused, struck by the warmth emanating from Jiufeng and recalling Ling’er’s innocence, coupled with Xiyang’s liveliness. He yearned to dismiss all weighty matters and simply live out his days in carefree freedom, letting notions of the Far Shore and destiny pass him by as irrelevant.

Since that fellow of his own household could push responsibility onto him, why couldn't he push it onto someone else? Yet, he understood clearly that at this stage, even if he wanted to push it away, he couldn't. Even if he wished for a life of ease, would the masters above him permit it?

Dugu Bachen might not have been able to clearly see the path ahead, but Ye Jingyu saw it with absolute clarity. Jianmu had at most another five hundred years to grow. When that time came, those who hadn't perished would inevitably resurface. Five hundred years—was that enough time?

(Sleepless again; it’s already five in the morning. After writing for several hours, I’ve finally hit four thousand characters. Uploading this now; the remaining two chapters will come this afternoon. Time for sleep!)