Chapter 1743: Nirvana Mystic Sound

A slender hand, as if formed from snow and sculpted from jade, gently covered Mu Bingyun's icy face. From her lips came a voice so soft that perhaps no one else would ever hear it in their lifetime: "Bingyun, if you're tired, rest for a while."

The turmoil within the sect, the immense pressure on the Snow Song Realm, the designation of "Sin Realm," their greatly diminished status in the star realms, and the covetous gazes from other realms—

For all these years, everything, absolutely everything, had weighed down on Mu Bingyun alone.

And today, it was she again, risking her own life to secure peace for the Ice Phoenix Divine Sect.

Over the years, every confession, every tear she shed, had been heard and felt by her.

As she whispered, her slender fingers gently stroked from Mu Bingyun's cheek, to her lips, then to her snow-white neck. A faint blue icy aura slowly seeped from her snowy skin, silently enveloping Mu Bingyun's heart and soul.

Mu Bingyun offered no resistance. Her eyelashes stopped fluttering, and her breathing gradually became calm. In a tranquility and peace she hadn't known for a long time, she fell asleep like a docile and content cat.

Tears at the corners of her eyes resembled twinkling pearls, while a beautiful, faint smile graced her lips.

From a very young age, she had loved falling asleep with her head on her elder sister Xuewo's chest. That had always been her most secure and cherished moment; no matter how great the trauma or setback she had just experienced, she would peacefully forget it in the most serene sleep.

Later, when her sister became the Snow Song Realm King, she could no longer fully display her vulnerability before her.

With a gentle wave of her snowy hand, a bed of ice solidified. She gently placed the peacefully sleeping Mu Bingyun onto the ice bed, then slowly turned towards Chi Wuyao.

She possessed eyes of ultimate coldness and a face that could dim the splendor of a ten-thousand-mile snowfield. Her long hair cascaded to her waist, every icy-blue strand seeming to condense the purest essence of the world's ice and snow.

Chi Wuyao had already been certain in her heart, but when the woman's face fully came into view, ripples of intense emotion still stirred in Chi Wuyao's eyes for a long time.

Mu... Xuan... Yin!

The Snow Princess Sword glowed with icy light, brilliant as aurora borealis, seemingly quivering with excited elation.

Four years ago, outside the destroyed Blue Pole Star, she had been struck dead by the Dragon Monarch's palm and personally submerged into the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake by Yun Che. Yet now she stood alive and unharmed before Mu Bingyun and Chi Wuyao.

It was no illusion, nor a disguise. No matter how unbelievable it seemed, Chi Wuyao was utterly convinced from the very first moment that this was indeed the true Mu Xuanyin, who had long been dead.

Because in this world, she was the person who understood Mu Xuanyin the most. Having coexisted for ten thousand years, she was intimately familiar with every inch of her skin, every wisp of her soul, every breath. She could never be mistaken.

"Mu Xuanyin," Chi Wuyao said with a smile, meeting her icy gaze. The mere three words carried too many complex emotions and feelings: "As expected, the Ice Phoenix, sharing the same origin and lineage as the Phoenix, also possesses the power of 'Nirvana'."

"Indeed, the gift the Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit bestowed upon you before its demise was its 'Nirvana' divine power."

She smiled, for herself, for Yun Che. She could barely imagine how thrilled and joyful Yun Che would be to see her reappear in his life.

Four years ago, Mu Xuanyin had indeed died, her life extinguished, her existence dissolved like ice and jade.

The Ice Phoenix and the Phoenix, in contemporary understanding, were two entities with opposing attributes, presumed to be mutually exclusive and hostile.

But in reality, in the distant ancient era, they originated from the same lineage. It was only later, for reasons now unknown, that they split into two seemingly opposing clans.

In the current God Realm, there are many legends of ancient Phoenixes being reborn from flames after their first death, emerging even stronger.

However, records of ancient Ice Phoenixes also undergoing Nirvana in icy aura after their first death had long been lost.

Back then, before the Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit beneath the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake dissipated, out of guilt for having interfered with Mu Xuanyin's will for so long, it bestowed a wisp of special icy aura upon Mu Xuanyin as compensation.

This special icy aura was precisely the Ice Phoenix Divine Spirit's Nirvana divine aura.

The wisp of Nirvana power Yun Che had inherited back then came from a remnant Phoenix spirit; it was extremely weak. When Yun Che died, it barely managed to preserve his life force, while his power and divine body had completely perished.

However, the one beneath the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake was a true ancient Ice Phoenix. Although the Nirvana divine aura it gave Mu Xuanyin was also incomplete, it was incomparably stronger than the Nirvana divine aura Yun Che had received.

Beneath the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake, Mu Xuanyin had undergone Nirvana and recovered amidst the icy aura.

A complete body, a complete soul, and...

Ice Phoenix divine power that had subtly transformed under the catalysis of the Nirvana divine aura.

Back then, in her final moments before her life faded and her soul dispersed, Mu Xuanyin had sensed Chi Wuyao's presence. Therefore, she knew who the woman before her, dressed in black and as enchanting as a world-destroying demoness, was.

Without a word, she slowly raised the Snow Princess Sword in her hand. Suddenly, icy light flashed as she thrust it directly at Chi Wuyao.

Chi Wuyao remained motionless, not even releasing a trace of profound energy to defend herself.

With a clear, piercing sound of tearing fabric, the Snow Princess Sword mercilessly pierced Chi Wuyao's left shoulder. The sword tip emerged from behind her shoulder, glinting with cold light.

Blood beads welled up, then immediately froze under the icy aura. Reflected in the Snow Princess Sword's icy blue glow, their gazes met silently at an incredibly close distance.

They had coexisted for ten thousand years, yet this was their first true meeting.

The Snow Princess Sword was withdrawn from Chi Wuyao's body, its blade unstained by blood. Chi Wuyao's body swayed violently, but she did not glance at her wound, nor did she show the slightest trace of anger.

The sword light vanished, and Mu Xuanyin turned away, saying coldly, "Considering you came specifically to save Bingyun and treated Yun Che with genuine sincerity... with this one sword strike, the resentment between us is now settled!"

Chi Wuyao smiled faintly and said softly, "Mu Xuanyin, even after experiencing life and death, you haven't changed one bit. I often wonder, during all those years, did I influence you more, or did you influence me more?"

Mu Xuanyin said nothing.

Chi Wuyao straightened herself, ignoring the sword wound on her shoulder. She stepped to Mu Xuanyin's side, smiling as she looked at her profile. After all, having had their souls linked for ten thousand years, even though they were now separated, a special spiritual connection and emotion had invisibly formed between them.

Whether it was Chi Wuyao's feelings for Mu Xuanyin, or Mu Xuanyin's for Chi Wuyao.

"Can you tell me how long you've been awake?" Chi Wuyao asked.

"Three years," Mu Xuanyin replied.

"...So that's it," Chi Wuyao murmured softly.

"Help me send Bingyun back to the Snow Song Realm," Mu Xuanyin said, her beautiful eyes, like icy stars, holding an unreadable emotion. "Tell her not to tell anyone that I'm alive. The same goes for you."

"Not even 'him'?" Chi Wuyao's beautiful eyes subtly shifted.

"That's right," Mu Xuanyin replied without hesitation.

"Why?"

A cold wind blew, stirring Mu Xuanyin's icy hair across her ethereal, snow-white face. Even in Chi Wuyao's eyes, accustomed to unparalleled beauty, she was still breathtakingly gorgeous. She spoke faintly, "He has harbored resentment and lain dormant in the Northern Divine Region for so many years; he has finally begun his path of revenge. If I were to appear, it would distract his mind and his hatred... at least, not now."

Chi Wuyao's eyes softened slightly, and her lips glistened. "So, as a King of the Eastern Region, and the one most capable of influencing his decisions, you never once considered stopping him?"

"Stop him? Why would I stop him?" Mu Xuanyin gazed into the void, her voice cold as ice. "Hasn't this world taken enough from him already?"

"Furthermore, the current me is not the King of the Eastern Divine Region," she continued. "Nor am I anyone's puppet. I am simply myself... a Mu Xuanyin who has never been so pure."

Chi Wuyao said nothing.

"After years of turmoil and rebirth from near-death, it's time for me to live for myself."

She turned her gaze to Chi Wuyao. "If he wants revenge, let him take it to his heart's content. If he wants to vent, let him vent freely. If he wants to kill someone, let him kill them! Though I hail from the Eastern Region, I find no reason to stop him."

Chi Wuyao smiled, as scenes from the past flashed before her eyes. "No matter what he has become, even if he is now the feared Devil Master of the Northern Region, like a brutal demon god, you still indulge him and let him have his way, just as before."

Mu Xuanyin was silent for a long moment. Her voice then softened, and she slowly said, "Back then, I repeatedly chastised him for disobeying my orders, for acting willfully and recklessly, and I tried every possible way to rein in his nature."

"But this time, it's different."

"He has the right to be willful. No matter how willful he is, he has that right."

After speaking, she turned around, her snowy robes fluttering lightly, as if to depart.

"Where are you going?" Chi Wuyao asked.

"After the Eastern Divine Region, it will be the Southern Divine Region, right?" Mu Xuanyin suddenly asked.

"Yes," Chi Wuyao replied without concealment. "The Star God Realm is not a concern; the Brahma Heaven and Moon God Realms are already broken. As for the Brahma Monarch God Realm, Yun Che seems to have his own plans. When all four King Realms are broken, the Eastern Divine Region's faith will completely collapse, and my Northern Region will then gradually seize control of the Eastern Divine Region."

"Are you going to the Southern Divine Region?" she realized.

"Yes," Mu Xuanyin said. "Before you attack the Southern Divine Region, I will help you clear some obstacles."

She had been awake from the Netherfrost Heavenly Lake for three full years, yet no one had ever detected her presence.

A Divine Master at the tenth level who could perfectly conceal herself, and someone who was not even known to exist... her terror was no different from a nightmare even for powerful Divine Masters.

What she could clear away was far more than just obstacles!

Her eyes lowered slightly, as if she were talking to herself or sighing faintly. "I once detested devils to the extreme, vowing to slay them on sight, and yet one day... I would assist such tyranny."

"But you are quite willing in your heart, aren't you?" Chi Wuyao smiled gently. "Moreover, the current you is the purest you, purely following your own will, regardless of good or evil, right or wrong, responsibility, but solely from your own heart."

Mu Xuanyin said no more, floating into the air.

"Wait!" Chi Wuyao suddenly thought of something, and her gaze became peculiar. "You said something earlier about 'treating Yun Che with genuine sincerity'... how do you know if I was sincere towards him?"

"Could it be that you've been to the Northern Divine Region?"

"No," Mu Xuanyin replied indifferently. "But someone told me some things about you and him."

"...Who?" Chi Wuyao's brow slightly arched.

"You will see her soon."

As her voice faded, she soared into the air, and her icy glow vanished in an instant.

Her mastery of "concealment" had now reached a level of complete freedom.

Chi Wuyao gazed for a long time before slowly turning her head.

That person...

Mu Xuanyin would not reveal herself voluntarily. For someone to have interacted with Mu Xuanyin and told her things, it meant that person had actively detected Mu Xuanyin.

And the only one capable of seeing through Mu Xuanyin's concealment, it seemed... was "her."

She turned her gaze to Qianye Zixiao, lying on the ground unconscious. A hint of profoundness immediately touched the smile on her lips.

"To plant a decent chess piece in the Brahma Monarch God Realm should have been as difficult as ascending to heaven, but now it's incredibly easy."

She murmured softly, her palm descended, and dark light gleamed in her demonic eyes.

Mu Xuanyin's sword strike while concealed was truly astonishing, instantly shattering the body and soul of a powerful Brahma King.

This also made her vaguely realize that Mu Xuanyin's Ice Phoenix divine power seemed to have made subtle progress.

As the demonic light in her eyes shone, Qianye Zixiao slowly stood up, but his limbs hung limp, and his eyes were devoid of spirit.

"Qianye Zixiao," Chi Wuyao murmured softly, "On your way back to the Brahma Monarch God Realm with Mu Bingyun, you were ambushed by the Yama Emperor Yantian Xiao, and Mu Bingyun was taken... Do you remember?"

Qianye Zixiao's lips parted and closed, as he spoke dully, "I was bringing Mu Bingyun back to the realm... on the way... I was ambushed by the Yama Emperor Yantian Xiao, and Mu Bingyun was taken..."

"Very good!" Chi Wuyao nodded in approval. She suddenly extended her hand, and a black light shot through Qianye Zixiao's body. The dark erosion immediately devoured all the icy aura on him, leaving behind patches of shocking dark wounds.

Her figure then flew away, quickly vanishing into the vast starfield.

A dozen breaths later, Qianye Zixiao sat up abruptly in the profound ark. He clutched the dark wound on his chest, his eyes grim, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Damn that Yantian Xiao! If you ever fall into my hands, I'll... tear you to shreds!"