Chapter 240: Snow Enters the City, Sword Reaches Outside the City

Inside the imperial city, dazzling fireworks continued to burst forth, resembling colorful butterflies fluttering in the autumn breeze.

Outside the imperial city, the night sky arched high like a vast ocean, and the swirling wind, snow, and sword energy moved through it like fish through water.

Beneath Xueyuan's skirt, the ice and snow tattoo etched onto her skin now glowed in its full glory.

It was a beautiful bird.

The divine bird spread its wings, its entire body ice-blue, save for the feathers on its chest, which were like white snow made of fine down. Three short, dagger-like crest feathers adorned its head, and its body was interwoven with feathery ice and snow patterns. Its tail feathers were long and elegant, cascading from its waist like precious silk, reaching down to its ankles.

The smile on Xueyuan's face grew wider.

This was the Snow Kite tattoo she had awakened just a few months prior, with the white cat's help. The first time she encountered that cat, it defeated her five times in a row. It was then that she saw an illusory ice wall, and the Snow Kite seal within her body subsequently awakened.

This also made her more powerful than Shi Yu.

Although Shi Yu had carved her path out of treacherous lands, she had never known defeat in a hundred battles; her life had been too smooth.

How could one awaken the true power of the Thunder Kite without experiencing profound failure?

If this was true for Shi Yu in the Central Lands, then the Fire Phoenix from a mere corner of Southern Province must be even less formidable.

This female sword immortal in white was certainly an impressive figure, but unfortunately...

Xueyuan gazed coldly at the white-robed jade figure suspended in the air. The Snow Kite pattern on her body shone brightly, like a divine manifestation coiling behind her.

The young woman's brow furrowed slightly.

"You don't fear me?" Xueyuan asked.

Thousands of years ago, humans were mere servants to the ancient gods. As a divine bird that had existed since antiquity, Xueyuan naturally exerted a bloodline-based pressure on human cultivators. Although this pressure had diminished over generations, how could one's mind not waver upon beholding a divine bird?

Lu Jiajia looked at the snow bird beside Xueyuan, and her internal sword intent flowed out, forming a spherical domain. She stood at the center of this ice lotus sword domain, like the pistil of a flower.

She listened to the young woman's question, not quite understanding.

Though the Snow Kite divine bird was beautiful... why should one fear beauty? Otherwise, she would have to be in constant awe every time she adorned herself in front of a mirror.

Then, Xueyuan was surprised to find that not only could her bloodline not exert pressure on the opponent, but within this sword domain, the faint golden shadow flickering on the flowing sword energy also seemed to be a bird. And her own Snow Kite actually showed fear towards that golden shadow.

What exactly was that?

Despite her brief surprise, Xueyuan's fighting spirit intensified.

Southern Province should indeed hide some dragons and crouching tigers; otherwise, it would be too weak and truly uninteresting...

They exchanged glances. As their thoughts surged, snowflakes spread out in all directions like whirling willow leaf daggers.

"Who is stronger, you or Zhao Xiang'er?" Xueyuan drew a pale, smooth blade from the swirling snow. She was like an executioner asking a final question before a verdict.

Lu Jiajia also extended her hand into the snow, assimilating the sword intent, and drew forth a chilling long sword.

She did not hesitate to answer the question: "Zhao Xiang'er calls me older sister."

Xueyuan was curious and asked, "Then... what kind of person is your brother-in-law?"

"My brother-in-law is my husband..." she stated calmly, then gave a self-deprecating laugh.

The blade cut across the sky, and the surrounding snow instantly quieted.

A surge of immense killing intent rose. At the edge of the sword domain, jagged ice-blades of sword energy shot up, instantly several times longer than before, firmly encircling Xueyuan.

"This..." Xueyuan hadn't yet grasped their relational dynamic, but the murderous aura had already burst forth, scattering the snow dust.

The sweeping sword energy carried a faint hint of anger.

It was the anger Lu Jiajia had harbored, with nowhere to vent. Now that a formidable enemy had arrived, she could finally test her might.

Lu Jiajia's figure vanished from her spot.

She was a sword, and also a flake of snow, disappearing into the vast snowfall in the blink of an eye.

Then, the snowflakes in the sky, like solidified blades, rained down, showering upon Xueyuan.

As the master of ice and snow, she naturally did not fear the wind and snow.

The divine bird's ice tattoo blazed with light.

As the snow blades fell, Xueyuan ascended against the wind.

The vast snowfall, previously stilled by Lu Jiajia, suddenly trembled.

Snowflakes collided with snowflakes, creating a low, yet clear, ringing sound in the air.

The snowflakes were no longer fragile; they were like tough steel, trembling thousands of times every second. They were sometimes snow, sometimes swords, frantically pulled and assimilated into the forms Lu Jiajia and Xueyuan desired, caught between them.

Xueyuan stood still. A gale descended from above, straightening her dress. She trod on the night, as if on a vast ocean.

Lu Jiajia descended from the sky like a sword, the swirling wind and snow akin to her wild sword robes, and her sword energy like a towering mountain submerged in the ocean.

Xueyuan was calm; she now understood that her opponent possessed "Sword-Spirit Embodiment." It was a spirit of weaponry, unable to manifest like ordinary innate spirits, but hidden within the body, resonating with a specific weapon.

While Sword-Spirit Embodiment was powerful, it consumed spiritual energy rapidly. She, however, was different; her Snow Kite was a divine bird of wind and snow, serving as attendants to the ancient Frost Dragons before the Primordial War, sharing in the authority of the Ice River lineage.

But Xueyuan realized she was mistaken again.

Her opponent's Sword-Spirit Embodiment was not what she had imagined.

This woman's power of assimilation was almost arbitrary; she could directly seize her sword energy. And anything that wasn't a sword, she could transform into one before seizing it... it was simply unreasonable!

Compared to it, her own Ice River power was suppressed and at a disadvantage.

Before long, the wind and snow scattered, and a snow sword, like a heavy blade, descended from the sky, aiming for Xueyuan's head.

Xueyuan secretly cursed, thinking, *The Fire Phoenix stole your husband, so if you're so powerful, go find her! Why vent all your anger on me?*

The clang of clashing blades echoed in the cold wind.

Countless circular sword energies surged outwards in concentric rings in the air. The surrounding solidified sword domain resembled a jagged dueling ground, constantly shattering and re-forming. Under Lu Jiajia's will, it launched a relentless, rain-like assault on Xueyuan.

If not for Xueyuan's naturally divine body, she would have long been cut into a thousand pieces by the pervasive sword energy.

But Xueyuan's strength also exceeded Lu Jiajia's imagination. Although she unleashed wave after wave of sword energy, constantly forcing Xueyuan into the brink of the sword domain, she couldn't truly defeat her. The coldness emanating from Xueyuan carried a transcendent divinity; if not for her own sword body being tempered countless times by the Golden Crow, she would have surely fallen by now.

As Lu Jiajia pressed on with her sword energy, the more she thought, the angrier she became.

*They are having their wedding night, whispering sweet nothings? And I'm here guarding the city gates, fending off external enemies for them?*

What kind of logic was this?

So her sword intent grew heavier and heavier, pressing down with immense force, like a colossal ocean plummeting from the sky, striking Xueyuan and destabilizing her form.

Xueyuan gripped snow as a blade, treading on the night, parrying the aerial assaults.

The speed of their sword clashes was too fast to discern; only faint, extremely thin streaks of light could be seen.

Each streak was hundreds of feet long, fleeting, like white fireworks streaking across the night sky.

In the imperial city of Zhao, people looked up at the distant fireworks of ice and snow, believing them to be specially crafted for the wedding banquet. They praised the Minister of Works of Zhao, commending his excellent ideas and efficient execution.

"This... this wasn't us," the Minister said, somewhat flustered.

"Your Excellency is too modest again," others laughed.

"No, really... *hiss*, could it be His Majesty's intention?"

"That doesn't seem right, why are these fireworks being set off outside the city?"

"Perhaps... perhaps it's a master among the common folk?"

Though the wedding ceremony was over, the banquet continued. Everyone watched the sky, discussing animatedly, finding it truly magnificent.

Not long ago, Ning Changjiu, in front of everyone, carried the Empress into their bridal chamber.

The Empress, usually as cold as an ice mountain, was now veiled by a red bridal head-covering, resembling a tender young bride. This contrast even made them wonder if the woman behind the veil was truly the Zhao Xiang'er they respected and revered.

And who was this Ning Changjiu?

At the birthday banquet three years ago, though he sat at the highest seat, most people dismissed him.

Only today did they realize that the engagement was actually real! And had His Majesty... truly lost to him? How could that be?

After the news spread, they discovered that this man was rumored to be the disciple of Lu Jiajia, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sect.

*Hadn't he already died...?*

Many fervent supporters of Lu Jiajia began to feel indignant on behalf of Immortal Lu.

The common people's murmurs were unheard by Zhao Xiang'er. She lay in the brightly lit bridal chamber, the bed strewn with auspicious items: candies wrapped in colorful paper, nuts symbolizing blessings and prosperity, and soft, beautifully patterned silk. Lying on the bed, she felt as if she had sunk into an ocean of goose down.

"Xiang'er, get up," Ning Changjiu gently pulled her hand.

Zhao Xiang'er's red veil was still on her head.

She reluctantly sat up from the bed and asked, "What expressions did they have when they looked at us earlier?"

"Probably..." Ning Changjiu thought for a moment, then said, "Probably expressions of satisfaction, seeing a match made in heaven finally achieve its perfect union."

Zhao Xiang'er didn't believe him for a second, silently scoffing, "I bet they all looked like... well, like watching a beautiful flower about to be crushed by a carriage wheel after falling into mud."

Ning Changjiu chuckled, "Xiang'er, why speak of yourself so disparagingly?"

Zhao Xiang'er sat on the red goose-down comforter, her hands tightly clasped and tucked between her knees. She closed her eyes, very nervous, a rosy glow from the candlelight filtering through the red veil tinging her delicate eyelids.

"Help me take it off," Zhao Xiang'er said.

"Alright."

Ning Changjiu reached out, gently took the ends of the red veil, and slowly lifted it, just as he would roll up a curtain. Only this time, behind the "bead curtain," lay the clearest and most beautiful morning light in the world.

A pointed, softly contoured chin emerged.

Then came her lips.

Her lips were so thin, their color as pale as unripe cherries, as if they might be accidentally eaten if pursed too tightly.

The red veil slowly lifted, her porcelain-white, flawless skin appearing inch by inch. Above her graceful, straight neck, the young woman's face was as soft as water.

Her eyes, too, were like water.

As the red veil moved past her delicate, upturned nose, their gazes met.

Ning Changjiu paused slightly.

"What are you waiting for? We don't have much time," Zhao Xiang'er said, a smile playing on her lips.

"There's plenty of time..." Ning Changjiu also smiled.

The authority of time enveloped them. They gazed at each other in the slow-moving river of time, and everything became tranquil.

After a long while, Zhao Xiang'er spoke, "Do you... have experience?"

"Just listen to me," Ning Changjiu understood her meaning and said softly.

Zhao Xiang'er said, "First, turn off the lights..."

"What difference does it make to us whether the lights are on or off?"

"What about the clothes?"

"Hmm?"

"And this hair ornament is also very beautiful..."

"No matter how beautiful they are, how could they compare to Xiang'er's exquisite artistry?"

"Are you... complimenting me?"

They gazed at each other.

This was their last night. Zhao Xiang'er lay on the bed, and Ning Changjiu looked at her gently. He was not in a hurry, merely talking to her, helping her ease her worries.

"What if I truly cannot return unscathed..."

"Then we'll roam the world together. We've already sworn brotherhood; we'll never abandon each other, in life or death. Besides..."

"Besides what?"

"Besides, returning unscathed might not be what you truly desire."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Perhaps a perfect union is only achieved after the jewels are joined and the jade is merged."

"Joined jewels... merged jade?" Zhao Xiang'er was stunned, then understood. She chastised, "Where do you get all these nonsensical ideas..."

They chatted for a while longer, their voices gradually softening.

The candlelight dimmed.

Zhao Xiang'er's eyes grew hazy. Lying on the bed, she felt all her pressure dissipating. Before midnight, she decided not to think about anything. If he wanted to act mischievously, she would let him.

The fiery red bridal gown was like a celestial cloud, with colorful phoenixes soaring within it.

This evening cloud slowly descended from the sky, revealing the dreamlike sky behind it. Behind the evening clouds in the sky, birds seemed to sing sweetly, their soft hum like a young maiden's sigh.

The rosy clouds drifted down slowly, sliding like water over jade, falling into a deep gorge, vanishing in a flash.

Outside the city gate, the battle that spanned the sky intensified.

Lu Jiajia's swords grew in number, densely interwoven in the air, with shifting light and shadow.

The brilliance of stars and moon was overshadowed. In the murderous sword energy, even the moon in the sky seemed more cratered, all flowing silver light transforming into steep sword intent.

Gradually, the entire world was about to be assimilated by Lu Jiajia into a vast, ancient sword.

And Xueyuan fought with increasing ferocity. She could now confirm that this woman was stronger than Shi Yu at the peak of Purple Court, and her Sword-Spirit Embodiment had reached a new, world-opening realm.

But the divine bird within her also showed no fear. Though she had countless sword wounds on her body, her smile grew wider.

Since her defeat by the white cat, she had not sustained such injuries among those of the same cultivation level.

Blood brought her pleasure.

Thus, every snowflake became a blood blossom blooming in the midst of slaughter.

They both felt an unprecedented joy, venting the resentment in their hearts.

"Your realm is extraordinary, but you are somewhat foolish," Lu Jiajia said, striking Xueyuan back with a sword, then reappearing.

Xueyuan held her sword before her and asked coldly, "Why?"

Lu Jiajia replied, "Though it's difficult for us to determine a victor, if Zhao Xiang'er came, you would lose instantly!"

Xueyuan sneered, "Zhao Xiang'er? Why would she come? Isn't she entangled in affection with your husband right now?"

"Your words won't provoke me." Lu Jiajia would not indulge in excessive temper during a life-or-death duel. Such battles, though seemingly fierce, were calculated step by step; a single mistake could lead to irreversible ruin.

Xueyuan repeated her words, "Your realm is not bad either, but you are too foolish."

Their swords clashed again, igniting sword-flames that were torn away by the strong wind. The flying snow fragments were some ice, some sword, sweeping between them, picking out a single crimson drop of blood.

Lu Jiajia focused on her attacks, not replying.

Xueyuan looked at the moon in the sky.

If she could, she wished to fight this sword-bodied woman until a victor was decided.

But time would not wait for her.

Less than two hours remained until the deadline...

Her gaze towards Lu Jiajia grew colder.

The young woman's lips curved into a sneer. Suddenly, she, who had been on the defensive, rushed towards Lu Jiajia with all her spiritual power.

"I called you foolish because, despite being evenly matched with you, I'm willing to fight you to the death. You don't even consider the reason behind it, instead you mock me as foolish..."

Xueyuan sneered, the wind and snow transforming into swords, slashing towards the vast sword that spanned the sky.

The two collided.

The young woman clasped her hands in front of her body, her palms cut by sword edges, bleeding profusely.

Lu Jiajia's expression changed in surprise. She sensed an impending danger but couldn't react much.

Xueyuan didn't attack; all her strength was poured into this sword.

"Fish King!!" the young woman roared.

The lamp light flickered faintly.

Ning Changjiu looked at the jade peaks and snowy mountains, veiled by clouds and colorful phoenixes, as if gazing at a blooming snow lotus.

He thought, *司命 (Si Ming, the Goddess of Fate)* truly did not deceive me. All the goddesses related to the Divine Kingdom were indeed "flawless."

"You're not allowed to think of anything else right now," Zhao Xiang'er said, seeing him momentarily lost in thought.

Ning Changjiu righteously declared, "I wasn't thinking of anything."

Zhao Xiang'er's body tensed up considerably. Her shoulders hunched slightly, her legs slightly bent and crossed. Her hands rested one above the other, shielding her with her arms. Her delicate, beautiful face showed a hint of shyness and mischief, and she also turned her body slightly sideways.

Ning Changjiu took her hand, slowly making it relax, then moved it away.

Ning Changjiu whispered things into her ear, and Zhao Xiang'er's face grew redder and redder.

"Tonight, it's just the two of us. Whatever happens, don't mind it..." Zhao Xiang'er said, "Especially don't think of Lu Jiajia, hmm... at least for tonight."

"Tonight is just for the two of us," Ning Changjiu said.

"Yes, you must only stay with me. You're not allowed to leave, even if the world turns upside down."

"The sky and earth won't turn upside down, but the clouds and rain might."

*What more strange words...* Zhao Xiang'er was too lazy to ponder them. She nodded slightly and said, "Come on, I'm also very curious to see what my mother can do to stop me if I go my own way."

Ning Changjiu said, "Yes, Mother-in-law has written so many stories for you. Tonight, let's tell her a story about how humans can conquer fate."

"Okay," Zhao Xiang'er said.

Lip met lip, and peak touched valley.

The arrow was on the string; everything was about to come to fruition.

But in that instant, they both felt the other's body instantly stiffen.

Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er stopped. They exchanged a glance, seeing shock in each other's eyes.

"Jiajia..."

"Sister Lu..."

With a loud crash, the roof of the newly built palace chamber was ripped open. Without a second thought, they hastily wrapped themselves in clothes, and one after another, flew out on their swords, heading straight for outside the imperial city.

"Fish King!"

Xueyuan's voice and mind roared simultaneously.

The void silently cracked open.

A snow-white shadow flashed by.

Lu Jiajia's sword eyes captured its figure—it was a snow-white cat.

Its name was actually Fish King!

It pounced at Lu Jiajia, its sharp claws extending from its paw pads.

Before it truly began cultivating, it had spent over a decade practicing fishing techniques in the small stream by the village entrance.

To it, the void was the shore, and the real world was a pond. The claw that tore through the void was incredibly skilled, just as it had practiced for a thousand years.

Lu Jiajia could see it, but found it difficult to react and dodge.

At the same time, Xueyuan unleashed a blizzard, sweeping towards Lu Jiajia.

A dazzling burst of fire exploded in the air.

It was the grandest fireworks display above the imperial city.

Although the white cat named Fish King had only just stepped into the Five Paths realm, the Five Paths and Purple Court were incomparable. It believed that its surprise attack would surely kill this woman.

Cats did not understand tenderness.

It retracted its claws and licked the blood from them.

Then it realized there was no blood on its claws...

The cat's pupils narrowed.

At the moment of life and death, Lu Jiajia risked dissolving her sword body in other parts of her being, concentrating all her sword embryo power into a single point.

That was precisely the point where Fish King attacked.

So not only did Fish King fail to cut through her body, but its claws felt a dull pain. Lu Jiajia herself didn't know that her sword body had once been one of dozens of divine swords forged by the ancient Solar Kingdom before the Primordial Era!

But the enormous impact still sent her plummeting like a meteor, crashing into the city wall.

Xueyuan's figure also pressed closer.

She didn't know how this woman had managed to evade that attack.

But it was fine; she could finish her off herself.

She slashed her sword at the helpless woman.

Then, she strangely noticed that her movements seemed to slow down...

This feeling...

Xueyuan's pupils constricted. She suddenly recalled the meddlesome, mysterious woman from the Central Lands a month ago!

Could she have followed them?

This thought flashed through her mind.

A crimson shadow streaked across the corner of her eye.

Because her time had slowed, everything in her perception happened extremely fast.

A blinding sword came!

In an instant, life and death reversed.

At the critical moment, a cat's meow echoed from the sky.

The temporal cage was broken, and Xueyuan let out an angry roar. The divine bird on her body folded its wings into a defensive posture, and she had no time to draw her sword from the swirling snow, for the opponent's sword had already arrived with an endless oppressive force.

The opponent's sword techniques were very simple, mostly unadorned slashes. But the speed was incredibly fast, not inferior to Lu Jiajia's earlier attacks.

With each rise and fall, Xueyuan's snow domain was completely crushed as if by a swift knife through tangled hemp. Three new, huge gashes appeared on her already profusely bleeding body.

Xueyuan steadied herself, and her mind rapidly called out, "River of Winter!"

The Milky Way in the sky instantly descended, spanning across them, interrupting their next attacks.

The River of Winter coiled around Xueyuan's body like a colorful ribbon. All her injuries instantly healed, but she paid a heavy price, her face as pale as a corpse.

Only then did she clearly see the newcomer.

The newcomer was a young man in an ill-fitting, bright red bridal gown. The gown's sash was untied, revealing his chest, his arms bulging with muscle, veins as strong as dragons. Behind him, a demonic golden manifestation shone brightly. In his hand was not a sword, but a lamp post casually pulled from the bridal chamber.

His gaze upon her was utterly chilling.

Fish King paid no attention to that side.

It would never allow a lower-realm prey to escape from its grasp, so it extended its sharp claws and slashed through the air towards Lu Jiajia.

*Screech!*

Its sharp claws struck something hard.

It was a red umbrella that instantly bloomed before it.

The red umbrella dented from the impact but was not torn.

The young woman beneath the umbrella used the force of the impact to drop beside Lu Jiajia. She pulled Lu Jiajia from the city wall, held her in her arms, and retreated back into the imperial city.

"Sister Lu, wait for me here!" Zhao Xiang'er said solemnly.

"Mmm," Lu Jiajia clutched her lower abdomen, her vision somewhat dizzy.

Before her, the young woman wore a highly unsuitable wedding dress, which seemed to be a man's.