Chapter 190: Vow

"Ning Changjiu, don't ever believe this woman's nonsense. Others might mix seven truths with three lies to deceive, but this woman's every word is a lie, relying solely on her beautiful face to trick people! If you fall for her tricks, I won't feel any sense of accomplishment when I take over your body later!" The Sword Scripture spirit indignantly warned him from within.

The blizzard in the gorge intensified, making Si Ming's silhouette appear even stiller.

Her slender fingers slipped between her sash and waist, and her flowing black dress seemed to slow its dance.

With a gentle hook and slow lift of her fingers, the tight sash loosened, draped over her digits, loosely encircling her waist. Without the belt's constraint, her black dress looked as if it could fall away at any moment.

A paradoxical blend of aloofness and allure manifested in her. Barefoot, she stepped through the snow, her jade-like feet the same color as the ice. With her steps and the strong winds sweeping through the gorge, her loose skirt seemed on the verge of being blown away.

Ning Changjiu knew he shouldn't look at her, yet the moment she hooked her sash with her finger, a pure charm bloomed amidst the sanctity, like an alluring black poppy, briefly capturing his gaze.

His gaze then became like a fish hooked, rising and falling with her movements, clinging to her, unable to break free.

Unbeknownst to them, their battle had already begun.

Ning Changjiu's mind was enthralled; he couldn't even close his eyes. Si Ming's skirt, like a surging wave, rose higher and higher in his vision from a distance, pressing down upon him.

"Caw!"

At that critical moment, a bird's cry suddenly pierced the sky.

The cry, like a blade slicing through the sky, caused a momentary break in Si Ming's smooth, soul-capturing movements.

Ning Changjiu seized this brief opening. He immediately tore his gaze away, and just as the "wave" struck, he withdrew a step and drew his sword. Its light blazed on the blade as he thrust it towards the alluring phantom that Si Ming was projecting.

Si Ming glanced at the sky.

The Bloodfeather Lord was perched on the rock face; the cry had come from it.

"Seeking death," Si Ming uttered coldly. She spread her five fingers, and spiritual power, like needle-sharp rays, shot towards the Bloodfeather Lord. With several sharp clinks, dust and stone fragments flew from the rock wall. The Bloodfeather Lord shrieked, dodging, but was still pierced in the wing by a needle and pinned to the wall. Simultaneously, Ning Changjiu's sword had reached her.

Ning Changjiu leaned forward, one leg bent in front, the other extended behind. With a twist of his wrist, he thrust his sword forward, its light extending several yards.

Si Ming had already withdrawn her hand, her slender fingers unfurling like a blooming flower. She reached out towards Ning Changjiu's sword. A strange phenomenon occurred: his sword seemed to be controlled by her fingers, continuously retreating.

"This is the Law of Time!" the Sword Scripture exclaimed.

He wasn't retracting his sword; rather, he was moving backward in time, returning to two breaths ago.

However, only his actions were reversed, not his memory.

Behind him, Shao Xiaoli seemed completely unaware of the changes occurring.

As Ning Changjiu's sword retreated, his sword intent also diminished, returning to its origin. This ebb and flow resulted in Si Ming's approaching strike, filled with increasingly potent killing intent. With a resounding thud, Ning Changjiu was sent flying backward.

Only then did Shao Xiaoli finally react.

From her perspective, everything that had just happened was simply her boss charging forward and being instantly struck back by an incredibly swift palm before even drawing his sword.

The time for onlookers was also reversed, and with it, their memories of the reversed events vanished.

In their confrontation, only the two combatants remained aware.

"Boss!" Shao Xiaoli gasped, quickly drawing her sword. She surged forward, her left hand supporting Ning Changjiu's retreating form, while her sword-wielding right hand extended from his side, its tip pointing directly at Si Ming.

Si Ming looked at the young girl and smiled faintly, "Put down your sword now and kneel before me as your master, and I will spare your life."

Shao Xiaoli didn't believe her words. She whispered to Ning Changjiu, "Boss, let's go."

Ning Changjiu wasn't seriously injured, but the opponent's mystical authority left him with lingering fear.

Si Ming stood motionless, her skirt still fluttering around her taut thighs as if on the verge of falling, seemingly ready to be torn away by the strong winds of the gorge.

A faint smile played on her face as she pointed a finger into the void.

"Watch out!" Ning Changjiu shouted, pushing Shao Xiaoli away.

The air between them seemed to be pierced in an instant; space cracked open and then closed, and a white ethereal sword, as if breaking through spatial barriers, appeared before them in a flash.

Ning Changjiu swept his fingers together, similarly conjuring an ethereal sword.

On the snowy cliff, the fluttering snowflakes turned to dust the moment the ethereal swords collided.

Ning Changjiu retreated another half-step, clutching his chest, seemingly injured.

Si Ming approached gracefully, her steps light and elegant.

"Look, I'm about to kill you right at his doorstep, but where is that coward? He still dares not come out. If you've seen him, you must have seen that old machine too, right? It's comical, really. That incredibly intricate device he spent a hundred years crafting, he never once used it for himself." Si Ming scoffed, "How can a coward who doesn't even dare to calculate his own fate possibly control destiny?"

As she spoke, the swirling blizzard condensed in her palm, forming a new sword.

The snow sword lunged forward, like a boat amidst raging waves, crashing towards Ning Changjiu.

The massive boat-like sword nearly filled the gorge's narrow passage.

Ning Changjiu's broken sword also reformed with spiritual energy. He leaped, stepping sideways onto the gorge wall, and with a few pushes, he reached the top of the gorge. The large sword continued its straight trajectory, striking Shao Xiaoli.

Shao Xiaoli was startled. In that moment, all her sword arts vanished from her mind, but relying on three months of muscle memory, she unleashed a single strike.

This was the sword technique she had practiced the most.

A white rainbow emerged from the gorge, colliding with the sword-boat. The rainbow was crushed, and the sword-boat also slowed down. Seizing this brief opening, Shao Xiaoli immediately dropped to the ground. The great sword swept past her from above, its sword qi stinging her back. The furious wind seemed to rip apart and scatter her red dress.

Meanwhile, Ning Changjiu had leaped high and was now striking at Si Ming with his sword.

Si Ming moved gently, murmuring a true incantation.

Her voice remained captivatingly beautiful, yet the contained pressure was like an explosive shockwave. Ning Changjiu's long hair was abruptly blown back, and his white robe rustled loudly.

"Still trying to kill me? This young master truly lacks appreciation for beauty," Si Ming said with a smile. Her body remained still, as if offering her neck to the blade, but as Ning Changjiu approached, their figures suddenly diverged.

Ning Changjiu had never witnessed such swift movement; it was as if a segment of time had been extracted, and Si Ming appeared directly behind him.

Si Ming extended her hand, gripping his nape as if catching a cat.

From behind, another sword pierced the night.

Si Ming's eyebrow twitched slightly, as if surprised that this timid little girl from three months ago now dared to repeatedly strike at her with a sword.

Moreover, her sword was not weak.

However, her cultivation level didn't match her swordsmanship.

Shao Xiaoli's sword struck Si Ming's back, but failed to pierce the black robe and penetrate her back.

Shao Xiaoli felt a strange sensation, as if she had struck solid rock.

Si Ming's black attire rippled, and silvery lines vibrated, pushing Ning Changjiu and Shao Xiaoli apart.

"Could it be that you like this girl?" Si Ming asked with a smile, turning to look at Shao Xiaoli. "How dare you try to snatch him from me?"

Si Ming thrust her ethereal sword.

This sword was incredibly swift; even if Shao Xiaoli had managed to block it, she would likely have been gravely wounded.

Ning Changjiu had no time to intervene, so he soared directly towards the other end of the snowy gorge, heading for the valley.

This "besiege Wei to rescue Zhao" tactic forced Si Ming to withdraw her sword and pursue Ning Changjiu.

If he truly managed to cross the snowy gorge, it would be quite troublesome.

In the narrow snowy gorge, their figures rapidly approached and separated, like an antelope and a snow leopard, their movements agile, each displaying unique techniques.

Then, Ning Changjiu's body once again began to retreat uncontrollably.

Time flowed backward once more.

Si Ming, however, remained unaffected and continued to advance. With his retreat and her advance, the distance Ning Changjiu had painstakingly created was once again closed.

Even if this time reversal only lasted for two breaths, the consequences were often fatal.

Si Ming pulled out her sash, wrapped it around her palm, and swung it like a whip towards Ning Changjiu's neck. Ning Changjiu's body reverted to two breaths earlier, bringing him very close to Si Ming. At that moment, he didn't hesitate, quietly turning around and launching a sword strike with a flick of his finger towards Si Ming's position. That strike, imbued with lightning, danced across the rock wall, veering off in mid-air and illuminating Si Ming's eyes. Simultaneously, he also spun and thrust his broken sword, his consciousness descending like a lunar eclipse, plunging everything into darkness, leaving only a pitifully small point of light.

That was Si Ming's pinpoint of light.

As this sword struck, even Si Ming felt a dangerous premonition of death. She couldn't comprehend this sword because it held no killing intent, as light and calm as the young man's white robe.

Yet, her intuition compelled her to retreat.

Sword and person moved in tandem, the black cliffs on either side receding constantly, but the distance between the sword and person remained unchanged, maintaining a delicate balance.

Behind Si Ming, Shao Xiaoli, who had fallen to the ground, wiped the corner of her mouth, smeared the blood onto her sword blade, and once again dragged her sword forward to strike.

In a flash, the battle turned, and Si Ming found herself at a disadvantage.

She paid no attention to the sword behind her.

Her gaze was fixed intently on Ning Changjiu's sword. As the blade approached, she extended her hand, swift as lightning, and precisely pinched the tip of the sword formed by spiritual energy.

The killing intent, initially condensed to a fine point at the sword tip, exploded violently upon touching Si Ming's finger. Wisps of killing intent, like spirals of dark energy, agitated the air between them.

Si Ming's jade-like finger was finally cut, a bloodied gash appearing in her palm.

But the momentum of this sword had finally been spent.

At the same time, Shao Xiaoli's sword struck her back. Si Ming's clothing was slightly pierced, and fine, resilient threads of fabric were flicked open by the sword, revealing a trace of blood.

Si Ming hadn't bled in many years.

Holding Ning Changjiu's sword tip, she swung her arm, sending him and his sword flying several yards back.

Ning Changjiu's decisive strike failed, and he suffered a significant backlash, stumbling backward. The Sword Scripture within him raged, "You useless fool! If I had delivered that strike, that woman would be dead by now!"

After pushing Ning Changjiu away, Si Ming calmly turned around and glanced at Shao Xiaoli.

An invisible force pressed against Shao Xiaoli's chest. Her body was pushed by a hurricane, her red dress swirling, as she was sent reeling backward.

Si Ming shook her hand, and as time reversed, the injury on her hand healed perfectly, leaving no trace.

She looked at her palm, as if she hadn't tasted pain in many years, and a hint of nostalgia appeared on her face. She brought her palm to her lips, her small tongue extending slightly to touch the joint of her index finger, then gently sweeping upwards over the back of her finger, pausing at the fingertip to swirl around her translucent nail, her eyes radiating a pure beauty.

Ning Changjiu clutched his chest, watching her intently, not daring to relax even slightly.

"You are indeed impressive. If it were any other young person in the city, they would have died a thousand times over by now." Si Ming praised with a smile, "So why should we be at odds? Come with me back to the city; we'll complete the sundial together. Then, I will take you away from Duanjie City to a new world, one beyond your imagination."

Ning Changjiu spoke coldly, "Stop trying to deceive me with such clumsy words."

Si Ming smiled faintly, "Do you perhaps have a wife, such that you dare not look a beautiful woman directly in the eye?"

Ning Changjiu's hand gripping the sword was stiff from the encroaching cold.

Si Ming slowly walked towards him, saying, "This place is desolate, with harsh waters, barren mountains, and freezing cold. Why fight here? The royal palace has countless jade beds and silken quilts. How about we go there and have a 'divine' battle, enjoying all the earthly pleasures?"

Her words were soft, gentle, and cool, yet they contained countless hidden images. The moment they reached Ning Changjiu's ears, scenes of intimacy with the woman before him involuntarily arose in his mind. Her figure was exceptionally striking and alluring; beneath the black dress, curves were like a warm moon, and prominent features like jade peaks, swaying delicately. Even a glance could make one dizzy and briefly lose focus.

"Ten breaths, it's ten breaths! Her time manipulation technique requires a ten-breath interval between each use!" The Sword Scripture spirit's words cut through the images in his mind.

Ning Changjiu nodded slightly, dismissing those alluring images.

Si Ming had, without him realizing, floated before him.

Ning Changjiu subtly shifted his body. After briefly rising with his sword, he stepped onto the wall, his calves propelling him in swift horizontal leaps, avoiding the three long swords of condensed wind and snow that thrust from behind him.

Si Ming's eyes narrowed slightly as she looked up.

At this moment, the Bloodfeather Lord had also broken free. As Ning Changjiu moved upward, the Bloodfeather Lord, with a strong sense of loyalty, folded its wings and dove, striking Si Ming like an arrow.

Shao Xiaoli, also considerably injured, once again unleashed her White Rainbow Piercing the Sun technique.

Si Ming sighed faintly. If this were the Star Spirit Hall, these three wouldn't stand a chance. It was regrettable that she had felt so in control while in the Star Spirit Hall, not as cautious as she was outside, allowing Ning Changjiu's crude trickery to deceive her.

Though she was now suppressed by the laws of heaven and earth, preventing her from entering the Purple Court, she had, after all, once been a divine official overseeing the sundial and an envoy of the Divine Kingdom, venturing out to slay extremely powerful great demons, shattering their physical forms and suppressing them in mortal dynasties. Even with her current diminished cultivation, her authority still lingered. What was there to fear?

Si Ming's dress suddenly began to flutter violently.

As the Bloodfeather Lord dove, time abruptly froze.

Si Ming's authority had taken effect once more.

The Bloodfeather Lord, like a ship sailing through stormy waves, suddenly struck a massive iceberg.

Si Ming snatched its neck, brutally swinging it backward. Shao Xiaoli, rushing forward with her sword, collided with the flung Bloodfeather Lord. She was forced to retract her sword and was then halted by the creature's impact, losing her balance and falling backward, landing in the snow together.

Her power of time manipulation also entered another cooldown period.

Ning Changjiu seized the opportunity, leaping down from above the snowy gorge.

"White Rainbow Piercing the Sun," "Great River Entering the Ditch," and "Ink Rain Overturning Basin"—three sword forms were unleashed in succession. The sword intent sometimes surged like a furious dragon, at other times cascaded like a mountain torrent, and then again roared like an arrow shower.

Si Ming's expression remained calm. She tilted her head, watching Ning Changjiu's formidable sword, as if witnessing a cornered beast's final struggle.

Soon, her brow furrowed slightly again.

"Sword lock?" Si Ming lowered her head, noticing that beside her bare, jade-like feet, snow rolled away like marbles, forming a chain that had, unnoticed, directly locked around her ankles like an anklet.

Si Ming's black dress swayed, and her figure flickered several times, but she couldn't immediately break free.

The sky-filling sword energy was already bearing down on her.

Si Ming stood firm, raising her arm, fingers splayed, like a goddess supporting the heavens with one arm. Within her palm, spiritual energy, like snow defying gravity, surged to meet Ning Changjiu, who descended enveloped in sword intent.

Ripples of spatial vibrations instantly permeated the entire gorge.

Accumulated snow and hail from above the gorge continuously crashed down.

Both Shao Xiaoli and the Bloodfeather Lord were swept up by the violent turbulence and carried directly out of the snowy gorge.

Shao Xiaoli crashed heavily onto the ground, her red dress filled with cold snow. Her arms and thighs were slashed by sword qi, and blood flowed down her sleeves and legs. Amidst the tearing pain, her entire dress was soaked in sticky, foul-smelling blood.

The Bloodfeather Lord also lay nearby, its wings splayed weakly on the ground. A significant number of its feathers had been sliced off by sword qi, leaving both sides of its wings bare. Its single remaining leg was covered in fine sword marks, bleeding profusely.

It cried out in pain, reflecting on its years: from Zhao Xiang'er's mother to Zhao Xiang'er, then to Lu Jiajia, and now Si Ming. It seemed that ever since leaving the mountains, it had never escaped the retribution of women, which utterly frustrated its former ambition of establishing its own domain and possessing countless beauties.

"If I, this Heavenly Lord, ever get out of here alive, I swear I'll shave my head and become a monk, a good demonic bird who abstains from meat, chants scriptures, and keeps away from women!" the Bloodfeather Lord swore, propping itself up on one wing, the other pointing accusingly at the sky.

Shao Xiaoli had no time to bicker with the red-headed bird. Her body was wracked with intense pain; she felt as though she was about to bleed to death.

Her eyelids were frozen shut, difficult to open. The snow that had seeped into her body melted into icy water, making her shiver uncontrollably. Her old cold ailment seemed to have returned, chilling her to the very core.

"Boss..." she called out with difficulty, trying to crawl back to her feet.

Her words were swallowed by the wind.

Another gust of wind blew from behind, like an invisible hand, pushing her fragile body to roll a few more times on the ground.

Ning Changjiu and Si Ming's figures burst out of the snowy gorge, one following the other.

Without its sash, Si Ming's black dress finally couldn't withstand the intense clash of spiritual energy and was completely torn away.

The Bloodfeather Lord, who had just vowed to become a monk, quickly turned its gaze, then cursed furiously.

Beneath Si Ming's black dress, she was wearing a set of pristine white garments. Her upper garment was a loose, sleeveless lining, and her lower skirt was a knee-length white cotton dress. The snow-white attire added an untouchably sacred aura to her hovering figure, and the charm on her face seemed to vanish with it, replaced by a divine, ruthless indifference.

"She speaks more enticingly than anyone, but wears more than anyone! I should really become a monk; women are indeed all deceivers..." The Bloodfeather Lord sighed in despair, turning its gaze elsewhere.

Ning Changjiu, like a kite with a broken string, was struck by another palm as he flew out of the gorge, sent hurtling through the air, blood spraying wildly.

"Boss..." Shao Xiaoli, finding strength from somewhere, immediately retrieved her dropped sword from the snow, scrambled to her feet, and frantically ran towards where he had fallen.

Si Ming hovered in mid-air, her white dress swirling. Her sacred face was exquisitely carved like jade, and standing against the night sky, she resembled a celestial deity descending.

In truth, she was also considerably wounded.

This was also why she had been reluctant to attack Ning Changjiu outside the city.

"You certainly made many preparations," Si Ming remarked.

Ning Changjiu seemed to have anticipated Si Ming's moves after time reversal. Before striking, he even considered his own actions from two breaths earlier and Si Ming's attack trajectories. Despite several time reversals that he couldn't resist, he hadn't exposed any major, fatal weaknesses.

"But you are still not as powerful as I imagined," Si Ming said, her figure descending. Her hand extended softly, reaching for his neck.

Ning Changjiu, who had fallen into the snow, propped himself up with his shattered sword and stood, saying, "You're not as strong as I imagined either."

In his eyes, the sword gaze extinguished, replaced by threads of electric light that instantly illuminated his eyes with a brilliant golden hue.

Si Ming's fingers paused slightly.

Time froze.

Yet, the Golden Crow still flew out, seemingly disregarding the laws she had imposed.

A brilliant light erupted between the two.

"It's finally here."

Si Ming smiled, but instead of retreating, her hand pressed forward.

She had long known of the Golden Crow's existence, and in her estimation, Ning Changjiu's value was far less than the Golden Crow's. She had done all this, holding back her true killing moves, precisely to lure the Golden Crow out and capture it alive!

The Golden Crow evidently realized the danger, instantly piercing the night and attempting to devour all darkness within its reach.

Si Ming's sacred features were suddenly illuminated golden. Strands of her silver hair, now gilded with golden light, resembled a divine child emerging from the sun, each strand distinctly radiating light.

"Stars and destiny, ten thousand scrolls of Yin Splendor... Fleeting light for a coffin, destiny for a lock!" Si Ming spoke slowly, enunciating each word.

An indescribable domain unfolded, instantly encompassing both her and Ning Changjiu.

It was a miniature world.

The sensation within was vaster than the snowy cliff, older than the mountain rock, imbued with the vicissitudes of ages. It was like a world-enveloping blizzard, freezing everything within the domain.

Ning Changjiu felt his mind grow cold with the temperature.

The Golden Crow erupted with brilliant light, attempting to contend with it, but that light also lacked warmth.

Si Ming's face was also ashen white.

This was the highest authority she could currently wield.

The Golden Crow was imprisoned within a true time cage. Its crown feathers flared, and its wings flapped, emitting pained cries as its brilliant golden light gradually dimmed.

In Ning Changjiu's vision, a sudden illusion appeared.

Behind Si Ming, the snowy gorge seemed to collapse, then transform into a vast ocean, which gradually dried up, giving rise to towering mountains. His heart, too, felt as if it had endured countless ages, remaining as still as an ancient well, and his body seemed to age, threatening to turn to dust.

"Ning Changjiu! Wake up!" The Sword Scripture spirit's loud shout pulled him back to his senses.

After regaining his composure, Ning Changjiu found that his fingers indeed had faint wrinkles.

"This woman is a true deceiver!" the Sword Scripture spirit exclaimed in horror. "This domain is her world, imbued with ten thousand years of spacetime laws. You were almost tricked by her... When you truly believe you've witnessed vast changes over eons and are about to die of old age here, your body will believe it too, and then genuinely begin to age..."

This was a truly elaborate deception.

Fortunately, Ning Changjiu broke free in time, otherwise he would have believed the fact of his aging, then rapidly grown old and died!

"Not bad," Si Ming said, gripping the Golden Crow. Her icy gaze rested on him as she praised, "To be able to break free from here on your own initiative, it seems that after a millennium, even with countless reincarnations, your spiritual power is not weak."

Ning Changjiu immediately guarded his inner self, ignoring the grand visions of changing landscapes in his eyes, and merely relied on instinct to strike at Si Ming with his sword.

After a brief struggle, their figures rapidly separated. In the blink of an eye, the Golden Crow's light, like a retreating tide, flowed entirely back into its body, and its struggles weakened.

Si Ming smiled faintly, "If you don't want to be my sun, then I'll just have to confiscate your little bird... It's fortunate this Golden Crow is young; if it were a big bird, I truly wouldn't know how to handle it."

Ning Changjiu's sword was parried directly by her backhand. He stabilized himself, and after a brief pause, continued to press towards Si Ming. He said, "Why are you pretending? Aren't you at the end of your tether now? If you're so capable, then kill me!"

"Before I kill you, I have one more question," Si Ming said, her face subtly chilling. "Earlier today, you were boasting with your painted figure, saying you wanted to... 'day'... Heh, I wonder what the rest of that sentence was?"

Ning Changjiu couldn't afford to be distracted by exchanging taunts with her. He had to break through Si Ming's domain quickly to free the Golden Crow.

He took a deep breath. As he launched his next sword strike, he reached to his waist, pulled the branch from his cloth pouch, and flung it directly at her.

Si Ming's expression flickered slightly.

She had noticed the withered branch long ago, but had only regarded it as a moderately effective magical artifact, never truly believing it to be powerful.

Now that Ning Changjiu had produced it at a life-or-death moment, Si Ming regarded it with increased importance.

She reached out directly, attempting to snatch it away.

Her jade-like finger collided with the withered branch, and Si Ming winced in pain, retracting her hand.

Killing intent surged in her icy pupils.

Her fingers could directly parry and crush blades, but against this withered branch of unknown material, they had been struck painfully.

Though Ning Changjiu's hand was numb from the impact, he held on tightly, unleashing countless afterimages as he aggressively struck at Si Ming.

Si Ming dared not block head-on. She simply extended her hand, grabbed, and with a backhand motion, pulled the heavily wounded Shao Xiaoli, who had fallen to the ground, in front of her.

Ning Changjiu was forced to withdraw his hand.

"You care about this girl, don't you?" Si Ming asked, seizing Shao Xiaoli by the neck. Shao Xiaoli struggled to breathe, her delicate cheeks bloodless, and the already vibrant red of her dress became even darker with blood.

Ning Changjiu said, "Given your status, why stoop to such shamelessness?"

Si Ming replied, "My past self would naturally disdain such actions. A goddess inquires only of heavenly secrets, not mortal affairs, much less concerning a mere young girl. But now... Heh, you surely haven't experienced the feeling of falling into the dust, losing all your cultivation, and starting everything over. If you ever do, you'll understand my pain."

Ning Changjiu shook his head gently. "Your pain has led to your degradation, but I am willing to start over, stroke by stroke. That is the difference between us."

A cold smile appeared on Si Ming's exquisite face. "Anyone can make grand statements. Let's see if you still have this spirit after you've truly fallen through countless realms."

Ning Changjiu suddenly chuckled softly.

It wasn't just falling from a realm; when he was on the verge of entering the legendary three realms and ascending, he was pierced by a sword from a master he had never met, yet admired and respected most in his heart. The feeling of shattered faith was utterly despairing.

Then, everything was torn down, and he started anew.

He could understand Si Ming's feelings, but he disdained them.

Si Ming's voice was as cold and still as frost. "Stop struggling. Surrender your Golden Crow and that branch to me, and I am willing to grant you and this girl a path to survival. I can even kill the current king and give his throne to you. Though this city is not large, ruling here is better than perishing in the underworld, especially since this place is isolated from the world and there is no concept of reincarnation."

Ning Changjiu calmly stated, "These are my bargaining chips; I cannot give them to you. If you truly intend to kill her, I have ways to destroy everything you desire."

Si Ming looked at the young man's calm face and felt he was not lying.

After a brief standoff, Ning Changjiu's sudden roar shattered the silence of the night.

"Ye Chu! How long are you going to wait?!"

A long sigh echoed from within the snowy gorge.

Si Ming's expression turned severe, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"It's nighttime now; do you truly dare to appear?" Si Ming's voice pierced through the gorge's wind and snow, making the banners before the cave flutter wildly.

Then, a sound emerged from the valley:

"Shao Xiaoli, survival."

This sentence was like a decreed seal stamped onto the ultimate fate of Shao Xiaoli.

Ning Changjiu instantly understood: this was destiny.

Ye Chu had rewritten the outcome of fate for the dying Shao Xiaoli.

Then, as if destiny was converging towards Shao Xiaoli's decreed outcome, a miracle truly occurred.

Shao Xiaoli, finding strength from an unknown source, ripped off the scabbard from her waist and then thrust her sword.

This was a sword technique from the lower half of the Heavenly Oracle Sword Scripture, one she had never successfully employed before.

This was the second time Si Ming had seen this sword today.

Even though this sword was wielded by the young girl, Si Ming still needed to avoid its edge.

This was also a sliver of survival opportunity that fate had found for her amidst infinite possibilities!

Si Ming was forced to let go, and Shao Xiaoli fell. Ning Changjiu immediately reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her to his front.

Si Ming turned to face the gorge, saying, "Do you dare to come out and face me?"

She possessed a sundial where all nighttime hours remained complete, making her a king-like presence in the darkness. This was why she dared to stir up trouble right at Ye Chu's doorstep.

She had not expected, however, that Ye Chu would actually use his strongest authority for this young man.

That was the causality of fate.

He directly assigned an outcome to fate.

No matter how unreasonable that outcome, fate would always find a possibility for it amidst countless paths!

In the wind and snow, Ye Chu truly appeared.

His face was blank, and his body resembled a broken puppet, entwined with countless silvery threads.

Normally, Si Ming would have been ecstatic, because in this state, he couldn't possibly be her opponent. But at this moment, she was also injured.

Ye Chu's appearance unsettled her.

Ning Changjiu's gaze suddenly became unfocused.

The Sword Scripture possessed him, and he unleashed the Sword of Heavenly Oracle once more.

Death, like a divine edict, pierced towards Si Ming's chest.

This moment should have truly dealt her a heavy blow, but alas, Minglan was now just a broken sword.

But even so, it was enough.

Si Ming hurriedly crushed the spiritual energy blade he had constructed with her fingers, then seized the hilt of the broken sword and completely snapped it apart. Yet, her flawless fingers were covered in blood.

She dared not reverse time to heal her injuries because Ye Chu was lurking menacingly behind her. Every use of her authority required time, and such a brief opening could be fatal in a confrontation between masters.

Ning Changjiu, whose two sword strikes had failed today, was completely exhausted and continuously retreated backward.

"Shao Xiaoli and Ning Changjiu eventually left this place."

Ye Chu spoke mechanically. With each word, his already featureless face became a little more transparent.

No sooner had he spoken than the Bloodfeather Lord, lying on the ground, sprang to life as if injected with adrenaline.

It flapped its wings, soaring abruptly, and swooped behind Ning Changjiu. Ning Changjiu fell backward, clutching Shao Xiaoli as they landed on the Bloodfeather Lord's back. The Bloodfeather Lord flapped its wings, shrieking as it flew into the endless night sky.

The night sky resembled a monster's gaping maw.

Ning Changjiu watched Si Ming, her pure white figure rapidly receding and blurring in his vision.

He suddenly spoke, his calm and weak voice sounding like both a curse and an oath:

"The latter half of that sentence is: I will make you feel humiliation, pain, and despair day and night, bring you down into the dust, make you a slave and a servant, and wish you were dead!"