Category: The Saintess Has A Showdown

Chapter 205: That Woman

At the entrance to the 73rd Saint Court of the Cangsheng Palace…

A group of Cangsheng Palace Spirit Masters stared at the Sea Region girls with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, beads of sweat trickling down their foreheads.

Their cultivation levels were low, all at the Dead Sea Stage except for one strangely powerful, blind girl in her Awakening Period.

But… how many Saint-rank spirit beasts did they have?!

Three? Or four…?

The Pool of Hidden Secrets Spirit Masters were all severely injured and unconscious, some perhaps even dead, only forty remaining.

But even these forty, among them, there were definitely more than two or three Saint-rank spirit beasts hidden. They could annihilate the 73rd Saint Court in an instant.

Such terrifying power… only the higher-ranking Saint Courts possessed such spirit beasts!

According to their story, they had encountered the Snow Monarch in the Ranking Battle’s secret realm and been on the verge of being completely frozen when they were suddenly released.

Even stranger, instead of returning to the Sea Region, they had been transported to the Cangsheng Palace.

“Who is your leader?” the woman in charge asked.

“…”
“…”

The Sea Region Spirit Masters exchanged glances, but no one stepped forward.

They belonged to different factions. There was no clear leader.

The woman sighed and tried a different approach. “Then which faction is the highest ranked among you?”

Everyone turned towards the Winter Floating Sky group, where a beautiful, white-haired, blind girl was looking up at the sky, seemingly oblivious to everything.

The highest-ranked faction, the Alliance leader, had sent an Awakening Period… disabled girl… to the crucial Ranking Battle!

The woman was shocked by the Winter Floating Sky higher-ups’… thought process.

Thwack!

Suddenly, someone kicked her from behind, sending her sprawling, her body bent like a shrimp.

She clutched her backside, writhing on the ground, a strange mix of pain and… pleasure… on her face, before being casually kicked aside by the girl with a ponytail who had just arrived.

“Which one of you is the strongest?”

Liu Yin, the Saintess of the 73rd Saint Court, asked impatiently. Both the Sea Region group’s dawdling and her own subordinate’s stupidity were irritating.

A few seconds later, following the others’ gazes, her eyes fell upon a blue-haired girl.

An elegant, wave-patterned robe, long, flowing water-blue hair, a beautiful, delicate face adorned with six shimmering teardrops.

The girl sat on a boulder, idly toying with the ice flower ring on her finger, seemingly unconcerned with her surroundings, lost in thought.

Liu Yin’s impatience vanished, her eyes widening, a chill running down her spine.

The Cangsheng Palace was a realm of mixed spirit energy, primarily water, fire, wind, and darkness, with traces of other, rarer attributes, though few cultivated them.

Liu Yin herself had a strong affinity for water, her contracted spirit beasts all water-type.

That was why, at this moment, she felt such a profound sense of dread.

Her very being trembled before this blue-haired, teardrop-eyed girl.

A mere ripple of the girl’s spirit energy was enough to disrupt her aura, sending it into a chaotic, uncontrolled flux, almost shattering it.

Liu Yin’s body was drenched in a cold sweat. She looked around at the other Cangsheng Palace Spirit Masters, their expressions blank and confused.

Were these fools blind?

That Dead Sea Stage, blue-haired girl… she hadn’t even registered their presence!

Such an aloof, almost divine demeanor… it was like—

A mixture of awe and fear, an almost manic fascination, consumed Liu Yin as she approached the blue-haired girl, each step bringing a fresh wave of terror, her body trembling, sweat pouring from her, soaking her clothes, droplets trickling down her legs.

“Excuse me, your… your… your name?”

Hearing the voice, the blue-haired girl looked up, her beautiful, teardrop eyes finally acknowledging Liu Yin’s presence.

At that moment, as everyone watched in confusion, tears welled up in Liu Yin’s eyes.

If it was this woman… she could definitely defeat one of the Water Element’s commanders!!!

Then, a cold voice echoed,

“Gong Lianyue, Sorrowful Saintess of the Sea Concubine Palace.”

---

Three days had passed since the Sea Region Spirit Masters arrived at the Cangsheng Palace’s 73rd Saint Court. They had been treated with the utmost hospitality.

The Spirit Masters of the 73rd Saint Court, having a strong affinity for water, were naturally friendly towards those of the same attribute.

And Liu Yin, the Saintess, had even offered to provide an escort back to the Sea Region. After all, the Wind Realm was currently in a state of high alert, the Cangsheng Palace especially tense and dangerous. It would be difficult for these Dead Sea Stage Spirit Masters to return safely on their own.

However, in exchange, they had to leave behind a few elite Spirit Masters to help her breach the legendary Water Element’s defenses.

Of course, this was just Liu Yin’s way of testing Gong Lianyue. She didn’t actually care about the others.

Strangely, upon hearing her request, the Sea Region Spirit Masters exchanged uneasy glances, then remained silent.

After all, that legendary Water Element was Gong Lianyue’s spirit beast. If the Cangsheng Palace found out and decided to… retaliate…

Gong Lianyue hadn’t responded to Liu Yin’s request yet.

Since arriving at the Cangsheng Palace, she had noticed something strange. She could no longer sense the spirit energy or auras of the other Spirit Masters, as if they were fireflies trying to compete with the moon, their light invisible.

And that shattered core… why did it feel so… restless…?

---

Chapter 206: The Mystery of Legends (2)

–Cangsheng Palace, 73rd Saint Court

Three days had passed since the Sea Region Spirit Masters arrived at the 73rd Saint Court. Most were already discussing their return.

After all, their friends and loved ones were in the Sea Region. Even if it meant facing the threat of the Snow Monarch, they had to return.

Although that was their stated reason, they probably also felt that the Cangsheng Palace, with its three legendary beings, was the greater threat.

It was said that the Wind Realm was even mobilizing a massive army. If war broke out, they would be caught in the crossfire.

Their return date was set for two days from now.

During this time, Liu Yin, the Saintess of the 73rd Court, tried to investigate the Sorrowful Saintess, but her clearance level was insufficient. Only the top ten Saint Courts had access to that information.

She could access the classified information about the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ revival, but not the Sorrowful Saintess’s profile… How absurd!

Meanwhile, the Winter Floating Sky Spirit Masters faced a different problem.

Their Desireless Saintess refused to leave.

The beautiful, white-haired girl sat elegantly on her bed, gazing out the window, her expression serene.

Despite lacking all five senses, she possessed an almost otherworldly charm.

If someone led her to the bath or the dining hall, she would follow obediently.

But if they mentioned returning home, she would simply turn away, ignoring them.

She seemed strangely drawn to the Cangsheng Palace.

The four Winter Floating Sky Spirit Masters were getting desperate. What was the point of them escaping if they couldn’t bring their Saintess back? A war was about to break out!

“The Holy Water Body…”

Standing outside the window, watching the white-haired girl, Gong Lianyue muttered softly.

After several days of observation, she was certain. This Desireless Saintess, Xue Beihan, possessed a true Holy Water Body, a world apart from her own temporary Holy Water Body activated by the black crown.

Once she broke through the Awakening Period and her spirit beast slots opened, she would be inundated with offers from water-type Saint-ranks.

And the Winter Floating Sky’s reason for suppressing her cultivation was… interesting. Such ambition, looking down even on Saint-rank spirit beasts…

If she forced Xue Beihan to break through to the Illumination Stage, what would the Winter Floating Sky’s reaction be?

“Since she doesn’t want to leave, I can watch over her. I’ll protect her.”

Hearing the cold voice behind them, the four Winter Floating Sky Spirit Masters turned around in surprise.

The blue-haired, teardrop-eyed girl approached, her clear, unwavering gaze fixed on the white-haired girl sitting on the bed.

Unbelievable. The Sorrowful Saintess… offering to take care of the Desireless Saintess?

Was this… solidarity among Saintesses?

“Wait, isn’t the Sorrowful Saintess returning to the Sea Region?” one of the younger Spirit Masters asked, surprised.

“I have some business here. I won’t be returning for now. Please inform your superiors. I’ll ensure the Desireless Saintess’s safety,” Gong Lianyue nodded.

“Don’t worry, we trust the Sorrowful Saintess completely!!”

The Winter Floating Sky Spirit Masters were relieved. They could finally return to the Sea Region without worry.

Even if something happened, the Sorrowful Saintess herself had guaranteed her safety.

And so, under their grateful gazes, Gong Lianyue took charge of the white-haired girl.

Holding Xue Beihan’s small, delicate hand, she walked through the 73rd Saint Court, drawing curious glances.

The Cangsheng Palace’s architecture favored silver. Towering silver pillars, like a sky-reaching castle.

After walking for about ten minutes, Gong Lianyue reached her assigned quarters.

She filled a basin with cold water, undressed the Desireless Saintess, and placed her inside.

Her snow-white skin, her delicate features… she was quite beautiful. If Sacred Water, Lover, were here, it might even rate her as “high-tier, below average,” the same as herself.

After all, she possessed the legendary Holy Water Body…

However, having witnessed the Snow Monarch’s beauty, she no longer felt any attraction towards humans.

From today onwards, she was responsible for Xue Beihan’s care. Although troublesome, Gong Lianyue didn’t mind spending time with a true Holy Water Body.

Xue Beihan’s soft, white hair spread out in the water as she lowered her head, blowing bubbles.

“Quite playful. This will do for now.”

Gong Lianyue nodded, satisfied, and returned to her room, retrieving a worn roll of parchment.

With some free time today, she would finish reading the list of legendary beings, hoping to find a clue about the Water Element’s true identity.

Since the Water Element was in the Cangsheng Palace, she was determined to bring it back to the Sea Region.

Preparing herself, the girl’s ice-blue eyes unfocused, her expression turning slightly vacant.

[Switch]

[Natural Form!!!] → See cover image.

In this state, Gong Lianyue could easily decipher any spirit beast language.

And this “Mystery of Legends,” written in the complex language of humanoid spirit beasts, would become as clear as day.

[The Mystery of Legends (in no particular order)]

[1. Snow Monarch (Water/Ice)]
[2. Dark Night Concubine (Darkness)]
[3. Great Demon of the White Mansion (Wind/Combat)]
[4. Blazing Heart of Purgatory (Fire)]
[5. Withered Bones Whisper (Ghost/Blood)]
[6. Nether Peach (Combat)]

“Phew~~~”

Gong Lianyue rubbed her slightly sore eyes. After being exposed to the auras of the Snow Monarch and the Jade Concubine, she seemed to have developed a tolerance for legendary beings, no longer exploding her eyeballs just from reading their names.

So far, they were mostly elemental and combat types. After all, besides combat types, ninety-nine percent of biological spirit beasts were weapon types, which couldn’t have humanoid forms.

After a short rest, she continued reading.

[7. Ice Crown Emperor (Ice)]

“Hmm…?”

Gong Lianyue paused.

Ice Crown Emperor… she immediately thought of the black crown left behind by the Water Element. Could there be a connection?

[Legendary-rank Elemental Offensive Ice-attribute – Ice Crown Emperor]
[The Ice Crown Emperor, tyrannical and unpredictable, its main color purple, does not allow…]

Seeing this, Gong Lianyue sighed. It seemed the Water Element’s true identity wasn’t recorded here.

The last three weren’t water or ice-attribute either, so they were unlikely to be related to the Water Element.

She would have to find another way…

Chapter 203: A Token of Affection

Water Heart Stage, Sea Region. Under the watchful eyes of all…

The falling snowflakes froze mid-air, the flowing spirit energy solidified, as if time itself had stopped.

This breathtakingly beautiful scene, displayed on the spirit energy crystal, would be forever etched in the history of the Sea Region.

The Snow Monarch, with a gentle touch, lifted the blue-haired girl’s hand and placed a pure white ring, carved with an ice flower pattern, on her ring finger…

Gong Lianyue, her body numb from the chilling cold, blinked, her expression dazed.

The beautiful ring had a strange, asymmetrical design, a single, icy white petal adorning it.

Wearing the ring, she felt a faint connection to the Snow Monarch.

Seeing this, You Xinchan, her body trembling, stood up abruptly, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Not just the Nether Empress, but every Spirit Master who recognized the ring felt a shiver of fear.

This was… a legendary being’s token!

Possessing a legendary being’s token granted one a single, unconditional request. But that wasn’t the most important part.

The token represented the legendary being’s favor and protection. Even across realms, other legendary beings would sense it and avoid the area, unwilling to provoke its owner.

The Snow Monarch’s aura would tell all other legendary beings: This woman…

She acknowledges!

She cherishes!

She protects!

Any transgression will be met with the destruction of ten realms.

The Snow Monarch’s token, a single ice petal, had only been given three times in tens of thousands of years.

The first, to the Illusion Sea Concubine, a titled legendary White Flower Moon-Treading Deer. Its master, a Samsara Stage Spirit Master, facing an insurmountable foe, had unleashed the Illusion Sea Concubine’s full power, her soul core shattering from the strain.

The minimum requirement for wielding Saint-rank power was the Dead Sea Stage. For legendary power, it was the Nether Traverse Stage.

After its master’s death, the Illusion Sea Concubine, its power unleashed, had slaughtered several legendary beings in the surrounding realms, then spent a century unifying those realms, earning the title of Illusion Sea Concubine and receiving a token of the Snow Monarch’s favor.

The second, to the master of the Ice Antelope Grand Concubine, a girl born with legendary potential in the Nether Snow Domain, one of the Ten Sacred Domains, bestowed with a token by the Snow Monarch at birth.

Born with legendary potential, in a Sacred Domain, and under the protection of the Snow Monarch, the girl effortlessly reached the Sun and Moon Realm, dying of old age thousands of years later, her spirit beast, the Ice Antelope Grand Concubine, reverting to its wild state and returning to the Snow Monarch.

Legendary spirit beasts didn’t die when their masters did.

The third, to the Sorrowful Saintess of the Sea Region.

The Snow Monarch, for some unknown reason, had been angered by this woman, but in her moment of near-death, she had summoned the Martial Empress, the Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake.

This talent, this courage, had earned the Snow Monarch’s respect, granting her a token of favor and the right to formally contract with the Frost Snow Woman.

“Wait, the Snow Monarch hasn’t taken anything from her yet!”

“I heard that some lose an organ, or a part of their soul core, when exchanging tokens with a legendary being. What will the Sorrowful Saintess lose?”

Legendary beings didn’t take tokens as payment, but to memorize and familiarize themselves with the recipient’s aura and essence.

As everyone held their breath, the Snow Monarch lifted the blue-haired girl’s hand and gently lifted her veil.

Gong Lianyue’s heart stopped, her breath catching in her throat.

Even her perpetually emotionless face couldn’t hide her shock.

So that was it. The exchange… was her heart!

Was this… a heart attack? The others thought, suddenly understanding.

However, less than a millisecond later, the Snow Monarch released the girl’s hand, her mysterious face once again hidden behind the veil.

[Do you know my true name?]

With a cold, ethereal voice echoing in the girl’s mind, the Snow Monarch turned and walked away, her white wedding dress billowing behind her.

A few seconds later, her form flickered, becoming translucent, then dissolving into snowflakes, scattering in the wind.

---

As the Snow Monarch departed, the snow within the secret realm began to melt, the frozen figures thawing.

The ice melted, the sky cleared.

Even after the chilling aura completely dissipated, Gong Lianyue remained frozen, her heart still, only her teardrop eyes, spinning rapidly, showing any sign of life.

Sacred Water, Lover, hadn’t been lying. Even just its aura hinted at the Snow Monarch’s breathtaking beauty.

Her fists… they were hard!

“Ahem!” Snapping out of her trance, the girl touched the ice flower ring on her finger (a token of affection), her expression complex.

The Snow Monarch’s parting words confused her.

[Do you know my true name?]

If “Snow Monarch” was a title, then she must have a true name or a true species, lost to time, a secret known only to herself.

How could she possibly know? Gong Lianyue was puzzled.

What had the Snow Monarch meant? She couldn’t understand.

Was it related to its earlier anger?

A moment later, the Frost Snow Woman, freed from the ice, gently nudged Gong Lianyue’s arm, tears welling up in its eyes.

Although frozen, it had sensed the severing of their contract.

Gong Lianyue quickly understood and, gently stroking the Frost Snow Woman’s hair, reformed their contract. She would also re-contract with her other spirit beasts once they were outside.

Meanwhile, on the Water Heart Stage…

Deafening cheers erupted, while You Xinchan, her head bowed, a bitter smile on her face, stood in stunned silence.

Her meticulously crafted, 170-step revenge plan had been thwarted at the first stage.

Gong Lianyue, the 100th Sorrowful Saintess of the Sea Concubine Palace!!!

This woman was far more monstrous than even she herself, Shui Yuerong of the Sea Concubine Palace, Bing Daohe of the Ice Shield Palace, or any previous Sea Region Alliance leader.

The Sea Region, now under the Snow Monarch’s protection… what would become of the Pool of Hidden Secrets?

As the Nether Empress struggled to comprehend the situation, something else happened within the secret realm.

Several Spirit Masters, realizing they could now withdraw, eagerly shouted “Withdraw!”, relieved to have survived.

With the Snow Monarch’s arrival, the outcome of the Ranking Battle was meaningless.

A few seconds later, all fifty Spirit Masters, including Gong Lianyue, vanished from the secret realm.

However, they didn’t reappear on the Water Heart Stage…

---

Chapter 204: The Calm Before the Storm

The Cangsheng Palace, originally an insignificant, little-known realm, referred to by the surrounding realms simply as the Cang Realm.

Its order was fractured, its spirit energy chaotic, its Spirit Masters weak, constantly on the verge of being conquered by its neighbors.

However, just as the Cang Realm faced annihilation, a legendary-rank spirit beast appeared, claiming the realm as its own, vowing to protect it for its beloved for ten thousand years.

Intimidated by the legendary being’s aura, the invading forces retreated in terror.

And the Cang Realm, empowered by the legendary being’s protection, expanded rapidly, tens of thousands of wild spirit beasts submitting, transforming into a powerful force in mere decades, renaming themselves the Cangsheng Palace.

But after that, the legendary being never appeared again…

Later investigations revealed the truth. The legendary being had been struck by the shockwave from the White Moon Lord’s passing, its body and soul core destroyed, only a fragment of its essence remaining, found by a mortal girl.

The kind and compassionate girl brought the dying legendary being home and cared for it.

As time passed, feelings developed, and so began a decades-long companionship.

But a mortal’s lifespan was fleeting compared to a legendary spirit beast’s. For decades, the legendary being watched as the girl grew, aged, and finally, died. Her life had been simple, never venturing beyond her village, her only companion the legendary being itself.

If it still had its power, it could have extended her life…

But at the time, it could barely even maintain its own existence, its spirit energy depleted.

So, it followed human customs, burying the girl’s body, watching as it decayed, returning to dust.

Decades later, as the Cang Realm faced another crisis, its power finally returned.

However, it no longer had the will to fight, only the desire to protect this last vestige of its beloved’s world.

It didn’t even hate the White Moon Lord. If it weren’t for the White Moon Lord, they would never have met, loved, and shared a lifetime together.

This was the love story of the Cangsheng Palace’s legendary guardian…

---

Cangsheng Palace, 73rd Saint Court

Bang!

Within the 73rd Saint Court’s palace, a sudden crash echoed.

A young woman with a ponytail furiously smashed furniture, tearing apart everything in sight, Blazing Soul Grass and Tyrant Blood Pills scattered like worthless weeds.

Liu Yin, the Saintess of the 73rd Court, was enraged.

Ever since that legendary Water Element had effortlessly conquered the First Saint Court a month ago, the balance of power within the Hundred Saint Courts of Cangsheng Palace had been shattered.

Several high-ranking Saint Courts had immediately surrendered to the legendary being, a humiliating display!

Liu Yin believed that the great Cangsheng Palace shouldn’t submit to a foreign invader. Since the Wind Realm was mobilizing a force against it, they should join the fight.

She had passionately declared her intentions during today’s meeting of the Hundred Courts, only to be ridiculed by her own faction, the neutral factions, and even the enemy.

The opposing Saint Courts, having already surrendered, naturally disagreed. They believed the Water Element would lead them to greater heights.

The neutral factions were still undecided, likely thinking that even the combined power of the Water Element and the Shadowlurking Blade couldn’t defeat the unseen legendary being protecting it.

Her own faction, unwilling to submit to a spirit beast, yet also convinced that human Spirit Masters were no match for a legendary being, considered her a fool, a liability.

“No, there must be other Saint Courts who agree with me! I have to ask them all!”

Liu Yin, biting her finger anxiously, her face flushed with anger, was determined.

It was all the fault of that bitch from the Seventh Saint Court! If she hadn’t provoked the Endless Swamp somehow, they wouldn’t be under pressure, and the Cangsheng Palace’s original delegation would have reached the Wind Realm for the Overlord’s birthday celebration. Then the Water Element wouldn’t have been able to steal the Shadowlurking Blade and act so arrogantly.

The Cangsheng Palace would never be slaves! They had to kill it, that legendary Water Element!

Unfortunately, more and more wild, water-type Saint-rank spirit beasts, having heard of its power, were now flocking to the Water Element, making a direct assault incredibly difficult.

The Water God Four Symbols, ranked 24th among water-type Saint-ranks, a Samsara Stage spirit beast, was now the Fifth Commander.

The Flowing Shadow, ranked 12th, also Samsara Stage, was the Fourth Commander.

The Variant Water Emperor, ranked 29th, also Samsara Stage, was the Third Commander.

The Libra Fighting Swallow, ranked 6th, also Samsara Stage, was the Second Commander.

The Watery Years, ranked 3rd, a Nether Traverse Stage spirit beast, was the First Commander.

The Five Commanders, each with hundreds of high-rank spirit beasts, thousands of mid-rank spirit beasts, and tens of thousands of low-rank spirit beasts under their command, controlled different territories, their presence a constant reminder of the Water Element’s power.

“I need help! I need reinforcements!”

Liu Yin was desperate. She knew that the Wind Realm forces alone weren’t enough.

Sun and Moon Realm Spirit Masters couldn’t easily travel between realms. Without their support, the remaining Spirit Masters couldn’t even breach the Five Commanders’ defenses, let alone face the legendary Water Element.

“Saintess! Saintess!”

A maid rushed in, stammering incoherently, earning a sharp glare from Liu Yin.

She kicked a nearby table, shattering it, and roared, “Don’t you know how to knock?! Speak clearly! Do you want to be recycled?!”

Seeing the Saintess’s fury, the maid’s face paled, and she stammered, waving her hands,

“No, no, Saintess, a group of Dead Sea Stage Spirit Masters have arrived at the gate. They claim to be from the Sea Region, survivors of an encounter with the Snow Monarch in a secret realm.”

“Pfft! Cough, cough, cough!

Liu Yin choked on her own saliva, bending over and coughing violently, tears streaming down her face, her expression incredulous.

What? The Snow Monarch?!

The Snow Monarch, the titled legendary being that even the White Moon Lord avoided…?

The White Moon Lord, a being of unrestrained power, had destroyed more realms than any other legendary being.

And yet, even the White Moon Lord had once been frozen by the Snow Monarch for a week as punishment, never daring to approach the Nether Snow Domain again.

What was going on with the world lately? The Wind Realm Overlord’s power stolen, the Cangsheng Palace occupied, and now the Sea Region invaded by the Snow Monarch?

Liu Yin felt a sense of bewildered disbelief.

Chapter 201: Battle of Legends

[Question: The Water Element’s true name?]

[Answer: My spirit beast.]

[…]

[…]

[Confirmed. Reward: 100 million exchange points.]

[Exchange: Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake.]

Frozen in time, Gong Lianyue’s consciousness drifted through what felt like an eternity, a single moment stretching into a lifetime.

The icy grip on her mind loosened, a warmth spreading through her, a gentle embrace, as if someone was holding her close.

Her frozen spirit energy began to flow again, color returning to the world.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

The next second, a powerful aura erupted, shattering the ice.

A woman with long black hair, her features exquisitely beautiful, sat cross-legged in the air.

Her eyes were closed, her expression serene, a terrifying aura, like a dark ocean, flowing around her.

Beneath her short robe, her long, smooth, white legs, devoid of muscle, were… distractingly alluring.

The Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake, a legendary-rank spirit beast!

A biological, combat-type spirit beast, ruler of the Waterfall Lake Wonderland, the Martial Empress, her legendary feats countless.

It was said that no one had ever seen the Jade Concubine open its eyes, a being considered the closest to a titled legendary among all spirit beasts.

And yet, at this moment, the Jade Concubine opened her eyes slightly, glancing down at the blue-haired girl before quickly closing them again.

“…”
“…”

Well, rumors were just rumors.

Meanwhile, the six teardrops on the blue-haired girl’s face shimmered, her emotions unreadable.

After the Water Element’s rampage in the Wind Realm, the Sorrowful Saintess had awakened another legendary being!

Witnessing this, the spectators on the Water Heart Stage were speechless, their gazes fixed on the scene, unable to look away.

The situation, once utterly hopeless, had turned around…

Whether the Nether Empress of the Pool of Hidden Secrets or the ordinary Spirit Masters watching, they would never forget this moment.

Within a day, not just the Wind Realm and the Cangsheng Palace near the Sea Region, but even the distant Endless Swamp, hundreds of realms even, would know the name of the Sorrowful Saintess.

Gong Lianyue, a true legend!

---

Within the White Velvet Snow Forest secret realm, the Snow Monarch and the Jade Concubine faced each other.

The Jade Concubine’s eyes were closed, and the Snow Monarch’s face was hidden behind her veil. It was unclear what they were looking at.

The Snow Monarch, an elemental, all-purpose type.

The Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake, a biological, combat type.

Boom!!!

The next second, their terrifying auras clashed, a destructive force threatening to annihilate everything within the secret realm.

Black and white energies intertwined, dividing the world into two, like heaven and hell.

Icy blizzards, dark tides.

No one had ever witnessed a battle between legendary beings and lived to tell the tale. And this battle… was being broadcast live throughout the Sea Region, millions of Spirit Masters watching, a scene that would be recorded in history.

Although their powers were suppressed to the Dead Sea Stage, this clash still defied their understanding of what a “living being” could be.

This… was beyond the realm of mortals…

Clang!

Suddenly, time stopped.

Without warning, the spirit energy in the air solidified, the world frozen, covered in frost.

Both the Jade Concubine and Gong Lianyue behind it ceased all movement, their breathing, their heartbeats, all signs of life extinguished, as if frozen in time.

Ice-cold snowflakes fell, a beautiful, snowy funeral.

A single, long, white hair drifted down from the Snow Monarch as it began to walk forward, its pace slow and steady, like a village woman going to market.

As the Snow Monarch entered the dark, watery domain, the Jade Concubine didn’t react, the black water spirit energy around it frozen solid.

No, time itself within the secret realm had been stopped…

The Snow Monarch, as if existing in a separate dimension, its body moving freely, its spirit energy flowing unimpeded, walked forward.

With each step, ice flowers bloomed beneath its delicate, white feet, lifting it slightly above the ground.

A few seconds later, the Snow Monarch reached the Jade Concubine.

The black-haired woman, a fellow legendary being, offered no resistance, as helpless as an infant.

Crack—

A chilling aura condensed, forming a sharp ice spike that pierced the Jade Concubine’s chest.

Even titled, ice-type legendary beings occasionally used basic attacks like this, but the density of this ice spike was beyond human comprehension, far denser and sharper than the ice that had trapped Gong Lianyue, perfect for piercing through a Saint-rank’s defenses.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

A deafening explosion, the earth shattering, spirit energy dissipating.

A white figure, like a meteor, was sent flying, trailing flames, crashing into the edge of the secret realm hundreds of kilometers away, leveling a mountain.

The Snow Monarch… had been sent flying…

As the dust settled, the Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake was revealed, unharmed, its long black hair whipping wildly behind it.

A dark, swirling water spirit energy erupted, a faint image of the character [Waterfall] appearing behind it.

The black-haired woman, still sitting cross-legged, shifted slightly, her delicate fingers clenching into fists.

Her expression calm, her eyes still closed, she spoke, her voice slightly strained,

“Terrifying. A single strand of hair, freezing the world. Is this the legendary ‘one hair falls, one realm is destroyed’?”

In that instant, the Jade Concubine had indeed been completely powerless.

But the moment its skin was touched, its consciousness had snapped back.

And its speed… was beyond measurement, even by the smallest unit of time in the spirit world…

The battle of legends had begun!!!

---

Chapter 202: The End of a Legend

The spectators on the Water Heart Stage couldn’t comprehend what they had just witnessed. Like a skipped frame in a video, the Snow Monarch had been sent flying.

And the Jade Concubine was enveloped in a swirling cloud of water vapor, like a miniature mushroom cloud.

Since the live broadcast was powered by spirit energy, it had also been momentarily frozen by the Snow Monarch, so no one had seen the actual exchange.

Clang!

In the blink of an eye, the Snow Monarch returned to its original position, as if teleporting.

Its wedding dress billowing, its long hair like snow, a picturesque figure.

Although her face was hidden behind her veil, she was undoubtedly glaring at the black-haired woman, her eyes filled with murderous intent.

The Jade Concubine, its eyes still closed, its beautiful face radiating an almost regal aura, like an ancient empress.

The pure white snow and the dark water, their auras clashing once more, seemingly ready for another round.

Gong Lianyue simply stood there, dazed, unable to participate, not even understanding what had just happened.

Whoosh—

The swirling snowflakes began to converge, flowing like an icy river around the Snow Monarch.

With graceful movements, it shaped the flowing ice, forming a massive snowflake pattern in the sky.

Each intricate detail of the snowflake was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, a chilling mist, like shimmering ice feathers, emanating from its base.

Enveloped by the snowflake’s aura, Gong Lianyue’s pupils constricted, a chilling premonition of death washing over her.

Although, wearing the black crown, she couldn’t sense the external auras, she knew that without the Jade Concubine’s protection, she would have been instantly killed.

This was a legendary-rank battle technique, a devastating attack only used against those of the same level.

At the same time, the Jade Concubine’s body trembled, each movement accompanied by a low hum.

Its delicate fingers twitched almost imperceptibly, a flurry of black fists, invisible to the naked eye, clashing with the snowflake’s aura.

Countless punches, yet its posture remained unchanged, still sitting cross-legged, its eyes still closed.

Although it wasn’t using a named battle technique, this must be the self-created Waterfall Lake Immortal Fist, worth 1 million exchange points.

Those below the Nether Traverse Stage watched in awe, while the Sun and Moon Realm experts observed with serious expressions.

This was the first time they had witnessed a battle between legendary beings. Perhaps they could finally understand why humans couldn’t compete.

Boom!!!

A few seconds later, a shockwave erupted.

The Snow Monarch was thrown back by a powerful gust of wind, her veil almost lifted, revealing a glimpse of her face, a small tear appearing in the delicate fabric.

The Jade Concubine’s beautiful face remained calm, though a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of its mouth, a minor injury.

Her veil still down, its eyes still closed, the two legendary beings faced each other in this strange standoff.

Then, their auras faded, the terrifying spirit energy that had filled the secret realm subsiding.

Eh? Was it over…?

Who won?

Gong Lianyue was confused, a sentiment shared by the spectators outside, who desperately wanted to know the outcome.

Silence filled the arena for several minutes, the scene frozen. If it weren’t for the Sorrowful Saintess inside the secret realm, occasionally fidgeting, blinking, and looking around, they would have thought time itself had been frozen by the Snow Monarch.

Were the two legendary spirit beasts communicating in some way they couldn’t comprehend?

After a while, the Jade Concubine suddenly sighed.

Whoosh—

A massive black vortex of water appeared behind it, pulling it inwards, as if preparing to retreat.

Ah, this… Gong Lianyue’s heart sank. Had even the Jade Concubine been defeated, forced to concede?

Although their auras and their earlier clash had seemed evenly matched, this was within the confines of the Dead Sea Stage. The Snow Monarch, a titled legendary being, surely had more powerful techniques it hadn’t used yet.

Her heart heavy, she watched as the Jade Concubine vanished, its legendary aura fading.

She was alone again…

As despair filled Gong Lianyue, the Snow Monarch, clad in her white wedding dress, descended from the sky, slowly approaching, the chilling aura intensifying, the two about to meet face to face.

A swirling blizzard, like a frozen hell, painted the world white.

At this moment, not only Gong Lianyue, but all the Spirit Masters outside, held their breath, their gazes fixed on the crystal screen.

The Snow Monarch reached the blue-haired girl, stopping less than half a meter away. As its white sleeve lifted, Gong Lianyue froze, her mind and body turning to ice, unable to move.

A terrifying chill seeped into her skin, flowing through her blood, her bones, her very core, a single thought from this being enough to annihilate her.

“So cold… I can’t…”

“I’m dying…”

Just as despair consumed the blue-haired girl, a pale, slender hand emerged from the Snow Monarch’s sleeve and gently lifted her arm.

The next second, Gong Lianyue’s mind froze, time seeming to stop.

The outside world also fell silent, everyone stunned, their hearts pounding.

The scene displayed on the spirit energy crystal, a breathtakingly beautiful image, would be forever etched in the history of the Sea Region, a legend for the ages.

Within the White Velvet Snow Forest secret realm, amidst the falling snow…

The Snow Monarch gently placed a pure white ring, carved with an ice flower pattern, on the blue-haired girl’s ring finger…

Chapter 199: The Death of Gong Lianyue

Boom, boom, boom!!!

As Gong Lianyue swallowed the Heart Severing Pill, several Saint-rank auras erupted simultaneously.

The Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower, the Tyrant Demon Seed, and the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion materialized beside her.

The Ice Soul Cold Star appeared a moment later. As her companion spirit beast, its contract couldn’t be severed. It had come to say goodbye.

Four Saint-rank spirit beasts, their combined aura terrifying, a sight that would normally evoke shock and awe.

However, the Snow Monarch didn’t even notice…

Her gaze was fixed solely on the blue-haired girl, the ice slowly creeping up her legs, only seconds away from freezing her completely.

The Tyrant Demon Seed, its contract severed, remained expressionless, while the little fox clung to Gong Lianyue’s upper body, sobbing uncontrollably.

Bang!

The scorpion woman’s tail lashed out, striking the ice on Gong Lianyue’s leg, but it didn’t even crack, a futile effort.

The scorpion woman, its face a mask of frustration, its two tails twitching, refused to give up.

[Blade Breaker]

Swish—

This time, the scorpion’s tail didn’t aim for the ice, but transformed into a beam of light, shooting towards the Snow Monarch’s head.

This sudden attack stunned both Gong Lianyue and the spectators outside.

[Death Tribulation]

Bang!

At the last moment, a purple star-shaped barrier materialized, intercepting the scorpion’s tail. The two forces collided, shattering into countless fragments, the attack neutralized.

The Ice Soul Cold Star shook its head at the distraught scorpion woman.

It could do whatever it wanted before being noticed, but directly attacking a legendary being was suicide.

A Saint-rank battle erupted right beside the Snow Monarch, yet it remained oblivious, its gaze unwavering.

This comical yet tragic scene highlighted their insignificance.

“You fool! What are you doing?! Run!”

Gong Lianyue’s tearful shout snapped her spirit beasts back to reality.

They were now wild spirit beasts. A single death meant the end.

And their contracts had been severed. They had no reason to fight for her anymore…

The scorpion woman, its expression unchanged, stubbornly glared at the Snow Monarch, refusing to back down.

The little fox, after a moment of silence, let out a series of soft cries.

“Chirp!”

“Chirp, chirp, chirp!!!”

As its cries intensified, its aura surged, converging inwards.

The little fox glared at the Snow Monarch, remembering its master’s words in the Wind Valley: You have to surpass all the Saint-ranks here!

Yes, surpass. It had to surpass this woman before it, surpass her aura, surpass everything.

That way, Gong Lianyue would live…

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

An incredible aura erupted from the little fox, a wave of pollen spreading for several kilometers.

Its spirit energy surged, reaching the peak of Saint-rank, then pushing beyond, attempting to break through, to evolve.

Its aura fluctuated wildly, surpassing Saint-rank, then falling back, chaotic and unstable.

A few seconds later, as everyone watched in disbelief, a faint, almost imperceptible, legendary aura flickered around the little fox, a fragile imitation, yet still terrifying.

At the same time, the blue scorpion woman grabbed its two tails and ripped them off, blood spraying everywhere.

[Talent: Inversion]

With its tails gone, its spirit energy surged to an unimaginable level.

The scorpion woman’s graceful body began to grow, ice crystals forming, its size increasing rapidly, transforming into a massive, beast-like figure.

The Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion had two forms: humanoid and beast.

It could switch between them using its talent.

Although its beast form couldn’t wield its scorpion tails as weapons, its size and strength increased dramatically.

Alright, you fools, there are two of us now…

As Gong Lianyue almost gave up hope, the auras of her two spirit beasts reached their peak, almost touching the Snow Monarch’s threshold.

Bang, bang!

Just then, while the two spirit beasts were focused on powering up, the silver rabbit woman, which had been playing dead, suddenly lashed out, two swift chops knocking them unconscious.

Holding the unconscious scorpion and the little fox, under Gong Lianyue’s grateful gaze, it was enveloped in a pink light.

A few seconds later, the Tyrant Demon Seed, the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower, and the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion vanished, forcibly transported out of the secret realm.

In their place, a small, pink figure, Sacred Water, Lover, trembled in the air.

Using its mysterious power, it had broken through the secret realm’s barrier and swapped places with the three spirit beasts.

Gong Lianyue had used the severed eye to communicate with it, relaying her final instructions.

She hadn’t expected Lover, not even formally contracted with her, to actually follow through, facing the Snow Monarch’s terrifying aura.

“Thank you…”

Gong Lianyue whispered. The ice had already reached her chest. Only seconds remained.

She turned to the purple elemental figure standing beside her, a hint of apology in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I can’t save you. If this last resort fails…”

The Ice Soul Cold Star was her companion spirit beast. Their contract couldn’t be broken. If her plan failed, they would be frozen together for eternity.

The Ice Soul Cold Star didn’t reply, simply shaking its head before transforming into a beam of purple light and returning to her soul core.

Sacred Water, Lover, also approached, gently kissing the girl’s cheek, leaving a heart-shaped mark, before vanishing in a flash of pink light, escaping the secret realm.

“…”
“…”

In her final moments, Gong Lianyue looked at the Snow Monarch, her gaze meeting the beautiful, legendary being’s.

A single glance, an eternity…

And then, time stopped.

Ice spread, life frozen, aura extinguished.

The chilling air, swirling and expanding, filled the secret realm, all life extinguished.

The Snow Monarch’s arrival had shattered all human hopes and dreams.

This was the terrifying power of a legendary being, a force beyond human comprehension.

The spectators outside felt a wave of chilling despair and sorrow, the Sea Concubine Palace members weeping openly.

The era of the Sorrowful Saintess had ended.

Gong Lianyue was dead.

---

Chapter 200: Legendary!!!!!!!

Within a vast, empty, white space, a blue-haired girl with six shimmering teardrops stood calmly in the center of the hall.

This was the Waterfall Lake Wonderland. She had been transported here at the very last moment, just as she was about to be completely frozen.

Gong Lianyue wasn’t dead, but being frozen indefinitely… that was arguably worse than death.

To ensure both her physical body and her consciousness remained intact, she had accepted Lover’s battle technique, [Kiss Mark], in her final moments.

A being kissed by Lover wouldn’t die within ten seconds.

And the Waterfall Lake Wonderland… this was Gong Lianyue’s final trump card, her only hope of survival…

[Mission 2: Uncover the true identity of the mysterious Water Element. Reward: 100 million exchange points.]

[Exchange: One opportunity for the Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake to act. Cost: 100 million exchange points.]

Only a legendary being could fight a legendary being. If Gong Lianyue completed this mission, she could hire the Jade Concubine.

However, simply guessing the Water Element’s true identity wasn’t enough. Even the Jade Concubine didn’t know its true name.

To complete this mission, she needed concrete proof, evidence of direct contact with the Water Element.

And this condition, for everyone else, was an impossible, insurmountable obstacle. Only Gong Lianyue, with her black crown, had a chance.

[Question: The Water Element’s true name?]

[Answer: ______________]

Never Forget Autumn Water, Lord of the Nether Spring, Sea Breath Cradle… several names of legendary water-type spirit beasts flashed through Gong Lianyue’s mind. She bit her lip nervously, her face pale, cold sweat trickling down her cheeks.

She only had one chance. If she guessed wrong, she would be trapped in ice for eternity.

As the time within the Waterfall Lake Wonderland ticked away, Gong Lianyue’s anxiety grew, her heart pounding, her mind reeling.

In her final moments, she resigned herself to fate and typed in a few characters.

---

Sea Region, Water Heart Stage

Watching the blue-haired girl freeze, the spectators felt a wave of chilling despair and sorrow, the Sea Concubine Palace members weeping openly, as if their entire families had perished.

Gong Lianyue was dead. The era of the Sorrowful Saintess had ended.

An aura of grief and despair filled the air as the human Spirit Masters once again confronted the reality of legendary power.

The Tyrant Demon Seed, the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower, and the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion, the three Saint-rank spirit beasts that had been transported out, sat slumped on the ground, staring at the frozen figure of the blue-haired girl within the spirit energy crystal.

Her serene, beautiful face, like a sleeping beauty, radiated a peaceful tranquility.

This was the woman who had once formed a contract with a legendary being, her demeanor so noble and elegant, a stark contrast to the other Spirit Masters, their faces contorted in terror as they were frozen.

As Sacred Water, Lover, flitted around the three dejected Saint-rank spirit beasts, wanting to comfort them but unsure how, only able to wait, a cold voice echoed,

“You Xinchan, the Snow Monarch will soon break free from this secret realm. What do you intend to do? Just watch as the Sea Region is destroyed?” A beautiful, blue-haired woman with an aged aura spoke.

“Heh, the exit to this secret realm isn’t in the Sea Region anymore,” the Nether Empress replied coldly, her words causing the others to gasp in surprise.

They couldn’t sense the secret realm’s aura. Just what kind of spirit artifact had the Nether Empress used?

A sinister smile spread across the Nether Empress’s lips. The second stage of her plan to slay the Snow Monarch was about to begin…

Just then, a sudden commotion in the distance drew everyone’s attention.

Hearing the surprised shouts, the Nether Empress sneered inwardly.

What were they saying?

“The ice encasing Gong Lianyue… it just trembled slightly.”

Ridiculous! How was that possible?!

She didn’t know how that Sorrowful Saintess had managed to enrage the Snow Monarch so much, but this ice was far denser and colder than the ice that had trapped the entire Pool of Hidden Secrets.

It had taken her a thousand years to break free. For a Dead Sea Stage Spirit Master, it would take a hundred million!

However, as the commotion intensified, even the Nether Empress turned to look at the crystal screen, a strange expression on her face.

---

White Velvet Snow Forest Secret Realm

Having completely frozen the blue-haired girl, the Snow Monarch gently stroked the frozen form of the Frost Snow Woman, her touch gentle and loving, like a mother caressing her daughter.

So there was a reason behind her actions!

Unfortunately, legendary beings never explained themselves. The Spirit Masters witnessing this would never know the true cause of her anger.

Just as the Snow Monarch, carrying the frozen Frost Snow Woman, was about to leave the secret realm, she suddenly turned, her gaze fixed on the blue-haired girl’s icy prison, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.

Whoosh—

The next second, the ice, which should have been unbreakable for millions of years, was effortlessly sliced open by a pair of delicate, white hands, as if it were tofu.

A wave of shocked gasps echoed from the Water Heart Stage outside. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

The Snow Monarch’s impenetrable ice… broken… in an instant…?

Boom!!!!

A powerful aura erupted, shattering the remaining ice.

A blue-haired girl with six shimmering teardrops slowly opened her eyes, awakening from her icy slumber.

Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess, revived!

However, the Snow Monarch’s gaze wasn’t on her, but on the figure floating above the blue-haired girl.

A woman in a revealing, cheongsam-like martial arts outfit, her long black hair flowing like a waterfall, her breathtakingly beautiful face captivating.

She sat cross-legged in the air, her hands clasped together in a meditative pose, the character [Waterfall] embroidered on her clothes, shimmering.

Her spirit energy surged, an aura as powerful as the Snow Monarch’s, a divine presence.

The Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake, a legendary-rank spirit beast!

The Jade Concubine and the Snow Monarch, two legendary beings, faced each other, the spirit energy in the air solidifying, time seeming to stop.

And this scene… was captured by the crystal screen on the Water Heart Stage.

A moment that would be forever etched in their memories.

An instant for the ages.

A legend to be told and retold.

And within this frozen moment, the Jade Concubine of the Waterfall Lake glanced down at the expressionless, blue-haired girl, recalling her answer.

Such an arrogant, audacious human.

[Question: The Water Element’s true name?]

…

…

…

Answer: My spirit beast.

Chapter 197: The Snow Monarch

–Battlefield Secret Realm, White Velvet Snow Forest
Although this secret realm was already covered in snow, the current snowfall was unnatural, drawing everyone’s attention.

An endless flurry of white snowflakes, not physical, but illusory, formed from overflowing spirit energy.

Whose spirit energy could possibly fill the entire secret realm…?

Hei Luelan lay on the ground, barely clinging to life, her eyes unfocused, her heart filled with despair.

There was no hope now. They would all die here. First, the White Velvet Snow Forest would be destroyed, then the Water Heart Stage, then the entire Sea Region, and even the Wind Realm and the Cangsheng Palace would be caught in the crossfire.

As despair consumed her, a pair of dazzlingly white feet, so pale they seemed almost luminous, appeared in her vision.

Delicate toes, adorned with ice-flower nail art, stepped through the snow towards her.

Hei Luelan was startled. Even in her weakened state, she should have sensed someone approaching.

She slowly raised her gaze, following the woman’s pure white wedding dress upwards.

The woman’s attire was… strange. Although a wedding dress, its style resembled a shroud.

No!!!

It wasn’t a wedding dress or a shroud, but mourning clothes, the kind worn for a ghost marriage!

The next second, Hei Luelan’s eyes widened in terror, her breath catching in her throat, her face contorted in a grimace of fear, like a victim in a horror movie.

She tried to get up and run, but her body was paralyzed, her mind frozen.

Before this being, none of her spirit beasts dared to appear.

How weak, how insignificant, how pathetic…

The woman in the white wedding dress, her bare feet treading lightly on the snow, reached Hei Luelan and gently picked up the white hair clutched in her hand.

Then, she turned and left, leaving behind a frozen statue.

The Snow Monarch, a legendary-rank spirit beast!!!

---

Meanwhile, several kilometers away, at the edge of the secret realm, Gong Lianyue felt a wave of dizziness.

She looked towards the source of the spirit energy fluctuation, her heart heavy. If what that Pool of Hidden Secrets Spirit Master had said was true, the Snow Monarch was now within the secret realm, and Hei Luelan was dead.

Although she didn’t know how, the Snow Monarch, a titled legendary being, likely possessed several spirit beasts with teleportation abilities.

This terrifying snowfall, blanketing the entire secret realm, was the result of the Snow Monarch’s overflowing spirit energy.

“I’ve sent word to the other factions. What’s your plan?”

Luo Kuxin, the green-haired woman, her voice grim, approached from behind.

The Pool of Hidden Secrets’ actions threatened not only the Spirit Masters within this secret realm, but the entire Sea Region.

But besieging a legendary being, even one suppressed to the Dead Sea Stage, within a secret realm with only a few Saint-rank spirit beasts… it seemed like a fool’s errand.

She wondered what had possessed the Nether Empress. Having already suffered at the hands of the Snow Monarch once, she was still challenging it after a thousand years.

“My plan?”

Gong Lianyue’s voice was tinged with despair. Even the usually calm and collected Sorrowful Saintess felt lost.

Compared to the sudden appearance of the Snow Monarch, the Wind Realm’s threats seemed insignificant.

What she wanted to say was this: Pool of Hidden Secrets, I’ll kill your entire clan!

How could a few Dead Sea Stage Spirit Masters possibly defeat a legendary being?

Even if it was suppressed to the Dead Sea Stage, even to the Illumination Stage, it wouldn’t matter!!!

Escaping was also pointless. Even if she fled to the Wind Realm, she wouldn’t be safe.

She would have to reach the Cangsheng Palace…

The Cangsheng Palace had three legendary beings, including her own Water Element, but first, she had to escape this sealed secret realm.

And she couldn’t just abandon the Sea Region.

“The outside world… it must be in chaos by now.”

“Yes, even the ancestors of the water lineage must have been alerted. The Nether Empress is in serious trouble~~~” Luo Kuxin sighed, seemingly anticipating the Nether Empress’s downfall, yet her tone lacked any real joy.

Perhaps today… the Sea Region… would be destroyed…

Just as Luo Kuxin predicted, the Water Heart Stage was in chaos, the Pool of Hidden Secrets members surrounded by a large number of Sea Region Spirit Masters.

Even the Nether Empress, surrounded by four or five Sun and Moon Realm auras, sat calmly in the void, her expression unchanged.

Some rogue cultivators and Spirit Masters from smaller factions had already begun to flee, but realizing that even escaping the Sea Region wouldn’t save them from a legendary being, they turned their anger and frustration on the Pool of Hidden Secrets.

Weaker than their opponents, they resorted to verbal attacks, cursing and insulting the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ ancestry.

Thud!

A beautiful, blue-haired woman with an aged aura emerged from the swirling ocean.

Leaning on a sea dragon-headed cane, she tapped the air, the resulting shockwave silencing the chaotic arena.

“You Xinchan, what are you thinking? Do you really believe these children can defeat a legendary being?”

“No, they are merely pawns, a necessary sacrifice to enrage the Snow Monarch, Teacher.”

Sensing the familiar, violent spirit energy behind her, the Nether Empress’s expression remained unchanged, a flicker of madness in her eyes.

Did those fools really think these Dead Sea Stage weaklings could defeat the Snow Monarch?

It was a joke, a deception for the gullible. And yet, her own descendants had believed it. Such naive, sheltered fools, born in hell, having never seen the world. She almost laughed out loud.

“You Xinchan, you’ve gone mad,” the blue-haired woman said, shaking her head, her expression filled with pity.

“So what?”

The Nether Empress remained defiant, unfazed by the angry auras surrounding her, unwilling to fight.

With the legendary being about to descend, the Sea Region factions wouldn’t dare to attack the Pool of Hidden Secrets now.

And to save the Sea Region, they had to follow her plan.

This meticulously crafted, 170-step plan, a thousand years in the making, was only at its first stage. She had simulated it countless times in her mind.

Once the Dead Sea Stage pawns in the secret realm were eliminated, it would be time for the second stage…

The true battle against the Snow Monarch… was still a long way off.

But no matter how long it took, she would wait.

---

Chapter 198: Contract Severance

–War Secret Realm, White Velvet Snow Forest
Victory: Impossible.

Escape: Useless.

Pleading: Unseen.

Where was hope?

Legendary beings were perfect creatures, their every inch of skin like polished jade, their beauty breathtaking.

The woman in the pure white wedding dress walked through the secret realm, the world around her frozen in a deathly silence, all hope extinguished.

This world… was dying…

Bang!

Suddenly, a group of Spirit Masters stood before the Snow Monarch, blocking her path.

The veiled, silver-haired woman, the Blissful Saintess of the Water Wish Pavilion, Gong Lianyue and Luo Kuxin’s former teammate.

A desperate plan formed in the Blissful Saintess’s mind. Since death was inevitable, she might as well try.

Her plan was to attract the Snow Monarch’s attention with a loud shout, forcing that cold, indifferent gaze upon them.

Then, the five of them would immediately prostrate themselves and beg for mercy. Surely, a legendary being, in its infinite compassion, would spare them.

Taking a deep breath, the Blissful Saintess unleashed the loudest shout she could muster.

“SNOW——！！！！！！”

The Snow Monarch, her aura calm and undisturbed, walked past five frozen statues.

She had vaguely heard something, but it had been instantly silenced by the chilling aura radiating from her.

She didn’t even bother to look. No mortal could see the microorganisms crushed beneath her feet.

However, a flicker of… something… a hint of urgency and… recognition, touched the Snow Monarch’s consciousness.

She sensed a strangely familiar spirit energy, something that shouldn’t be possible…

---

A few minutes later, most of the Spirit Masters in the secret realm were frozen, their bodies contorted in grotesque positions.

No life could approach within a kilometer of the Snow Monarch. Even the five-member team from the Cold Court had been annihilated.

Encased in ice, their auras still lingering, their bodies frozen, only their consciousness remained, trapped in a frozen hell.

The Snow Monarch’s ice had no temperature.

The cold they felt… was despair.

A chilling despair spread, and a figure appeared before the Snow Monarch.

A beautiful girl with snow-white hair, seemingly unaffected by the legendary being’s presence. Xue Beihan, the Desireless Saintess of the Winter Floating Sky.

Lacking all five senses, Xue Beihan couldn’t even sense spirit energy. She was completely immune to the Snow Monarch’s aura.

The two passed each other, neither acknowledging the other’s presence, until their shoulders bumped accidentally.

Another strange ice sculpture… added to the collection…

A few minutes later, the Winter Floating Sky, the Cold Court, the Pool of Hidden Secrets, the Jade Pot Palace, the Snow Fairy Mansion, the Azure Stream Palace, the Tide Pavilion, the Water Wish Pavilion, the Sea Concubine Palace, and the Ice Shield Palace—all frozen.

This wasn’t surprising. Their spirit beasts, too terrified to even appear, had severed their connection from miles away.

Seeing this, the spectators outside lost all hope.

This was the Snow Monarch, at the Dead Sea Stage…?

What was the point? Even fifty Sun and Moon Realm experts wouldn’t stand a chance!

Wait…

Noticing something on the spirit energy screen, everyone held their breath.

One person remained: Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess!

And at her feet lay a withered corpse, the Wrathful Saintess…

Although it was Luo Kuxin’s high-ranking 03 clone, a significant loss, she had feared that being frozen would sever even their mental connection, leaving this clone trapped in eternal isolation, so she had chosen to end its existence.

With only the Sorrowful Saintess remaining, the Nether Empress’s heart pounded with excitement.

Her plan to… slay a god… had originally consisted of over a thousand steps, but the Sorrowful Saintess’s presence had simplified it to a mere 170.

The Sorrowful Saintess’s death would shatter the secret realm, marking the end of the first stage.

The true battle… was about to begin!!!

---

Hundreds of meters apart, the Snow Monarch and the blue-haired girl faced each other.

Facing the woman in the white wedding dress, Gong Lianyue, wearing the mysterious black crown, was protected from the legendary being’s terrifying aura, preventing her from being instantly frozen.

Of course, if the Snow Monarch decided to unleash its full power, she had no chance of survival. This was a gamble.

To protect the Sea Region, she would fight with everything she had.

The next second, a chilling aura, and the Frost Snow Woman, her expression filled with excitement as she gazed at the woman in the wedding dress, materialized.

Seeing this, the outside world erupted.

Expressions of shock and excitement, a collective gasp of relief, while the Nether Empress’s face turned an even darker shade of green, her fury palpable.

Facing the Snow Monarch, the Sorrowful Saintess had actually summoned the Frost Snow Woman, reuniting mother and daughter, revealing her trump card. What an unexpected turn of events!

Perhaps… this would be the end of the Snow Monarch’s threat!

Swish!

The next second, without warning, the Frost Snow Woman turned into a statue of ice.

A wave of icy air swirled around the Snow Monarch, almost lifting her veil, revealing her soft, pink lips.

Just a glimpse of her lips and chin was enough to confirm that she was the most beautiful being in existence.

Her lower lip curled slightly in a frown.

Then, the Snow Monarch’s gaze turned, focusing on the blue-haired girl.

“?”

“???”

Seeing the frozen Frost Snow Woman, the Water Heart Stage fell silent, a wave of despair washing over the spectators.

The situation had spiraled out of control. Even with the black crown, Gong Lianyue’s spirit energy fluctuated wildly.

A legendary being’s motives were unfathomable. There was clearly something she didn’t understand.

Frozen by the Snow Monarch’s gaze, she could no longer move.

Ice slowly crept up Gong Lianyue’s body, from her feet to her ankles, its progress agonizingly slow, because the Snow Monarch’s rage was at its peak.

Each layer of ice, incredibly dense and heavy, was unbreakable, even with a million years of effort.

Facing death, the Sorrowful Saintess’s expression remained unchanged, seemingly unafraid of being frozen for eternity.

However, her heart was filled with a bitter amusement.

Before a legendary being, everything was truly insignificant.

The Frost Snow Woman probably wouldn’t die. This was likely just punishment for contracting with a human without permission?

If it was the Snow Monarch, it could probably extract her from her soul core…

With this thought, Gong Lianyue pulled out a blood-red pill from her storage space, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“Thank you for everything. This is my final command.”

“Flee. Leave this realm and never return.”

Gong Lianyue swallowed the Heart Severing Pill, dissolving all her spirit beast contracts.

Chapter 195: The Ten Sacred Domains

As Hei Luelan lifted the white hair to her lips, the battle between the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros and the blue-haired scorpion woman erupted.

The massive black rhinoceros, its horn almost piercing the clouds, stomped down, sparks flying from the force of the impact, the ground within a hundred-meter radius cracking and crumbling.

Its massive form casting a dark shadow, the scorpion woman, with nowhere to escape, calmly raised her two tails, crossing them above her head in defense.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

As the rhinoceros’s foot landed, a terrifying shockwave sent trees and debris flying, the earth shaking.

The dust settled after more than ten seconds, revealing the scene.

The blue scorpion woman, supporting the massive foot, its weight like a mountain, her seemingly fragile tails unbent, forming a crossed circle above her head, remained unmoved.

The Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros, however, was drenched in sweat, unable to push down any further.

How was this possible…?

Despite the vast difference in size and weight, even a combat-type spirit beast shouldn’t be able to withstand such force, let alone a purely offensive type like itself!

A pure, biological, offensive type should rely on its strength and size to win!

Suddenly, a terrifying realization dawned upon the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros.

This small scorpion woman, barely a meter tall… was she heavier than it, a creature whose size pierced the clouds?!

The next second, the blue scorpion woman’s tails glowed with a deep blue light.

A terrifying spirit energy, like a condensed sword beam, shot upwards.

[Battle Technique – Blade Breaker]

Crack—

Two straight beams of blue energy, like lasers, shot towards the sky, piercing through the rhinoceros’s foot and head before vanishing into the clouds.

As the woman from the First Lineage of the Nine Nethers watched in horror, the rhinoceros’s massive body was cleanly sliced into three pieces, which fell silently to the ground.

Before the impact could cause further damage, the remains were recalled to the woman’s spirit space.

Blood trickled from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, her eyes wide with despair.

Her Saint-rank spirit beast… defeated in an instant…?

Among her peers in the Pool of Hidden Secrets, she was practically invincible. Even Hei Luelan, the Saintess of Salvation, couldn’t defeat her Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros!

And yet, it had been killed without even understanding how.

Not only the Pool of Hidden Secrets Spirit Masters, but even the spectators were silent, stunned.

The Saint-rank spirit beast’s aura and power had been overwhelming, but the difference in strength was undeniable, as if the Sorrowful Saintess and her spirit beast were on a completely different level.

The Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros was considered invincible within the Pool of Hidden Secrets. That was why it hadn’t even awakened a single battle technique…

Fighting weaker opponents offered no opportunity for growth.

[Weak.] The scorpion felt a twinge of disappointment. This opponent was even weaker than the Windchaser Emperor.

With the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros’s death, the Pool of Hidden Secrets Spirit Masters were completely exposed, like prey before a predator, their faces filled with terror.

---

During the battle, Hei Luelan’s mind had drifted, her consciousness separated from her body, oblivious to her surroundings.

Her thoughts, like a runaway train, traveled across the Sea Region, the Wind Realm, the Sun-Seizing Divine Metropolis, the Cangsheng Palace, the Endless Swamp, the Azure Spirit Realm, her consciousness extending, drifting, until it reached a world of endless white, covered in snow.

A world devoid of all life except for the snow itself.

The Nether Snow Domain, one of the Ten Sacred Domains of the spirit world!

The sacred land of the Snow Monarch, the Ice Antelope Grand Concubine, the Eternal Holy Water, and the Emerald Blossom Tribulation, four legendary beings!

Hei Luelan’s gaze, as if piercing through time and space, entered the Nether Snow Domain, like a vivid dream, sensing countless Sun and Moon Realm Spirit Masters, a multitude of wild Saint-rank spirit beasts.

Sun and Moon Realm experts as common as dogs, Saint-ranks everywhere, their powerful auras overwhelming.

At the heart of the snow domain, within an icy city, hundreds of Frost Snow Women stood guard.

And within the city’s palace, on a crystal throne, sat a graceful figure in a pure white, traditional wedding dress, her face hidden.

The Snow Monarch, a legendary being…

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she looked up, their gazes meeting.

“Pwah!!!!!”

The next second, Hei Luelan spat out a mouthful of blood, her consciousness snapping back to reality.

The crimson blood stained the white hair in her hand, her face pale, her breath coming in ragged gasps, a chilling dread clinging to her.

What was that? A single glance from the Snow Monarch, across hundreds of realms, had filled her with such despair…?

But that was a being beyond even the Sun and Moon Realm. If it entered this secret realm, it would be suppressed to the Dead Sea Stage and then besieged by seven or eight Saint-rank spirit beasts. Even if the Pool of Hidden Secrets couldn’t defeat it, the Sorrowful Saintess likely could!

As Hei Luelan calmed down, she looked around at the carnage, a grim expression on her face.

All the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ spirit beasts were battered and broken, toyed with and then discarded by that scorpion woman.

Nearly a complete wipeout. Even the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros had been defeated.

Hei Luelan looked at the blue scorpion woman, her heart heavy. The Snow Monarch would surely descend soon to retrieve its hair, preventing it from being used for… nefarious purposes.

And once they sensed the Snow Monarch’s aura, they would surely stop fighting, their only hope of survival lying in a united front.

But before that, she couldn’t lose to this scorpion woman.

“Netherwater Prison, unleash!!”

Hei Luelan roared, a dark, oppressive spirit energy, like a swirling shadow, spreading outwards.

A sinister mist, a floating black cage, materialized, emitting terrifying wails.

The Netherwater Prison, a Saint-rank, elemental, mysterious-type spirit beast. It was said to be capable of permanently confiscating other Spirit Masters’ spirit beasts, severing their connection!

---

Chapter 196: Legendary Descent

The Netherwater Prison, a black cage, oozed a thick, inky mist, a dark and oppressive aura.

Mysterious-type spirit beasts were among the rarest in the spirit world, their numbers rivaling even the unusual types, which couldn’t be contracted by Spirit Masters.

Hei Luelan, her expression grim, stared at the blue scorpion woman standing on higher ground. This monster hadn’t moved a single step, its body impervious to all attacks, yet a flick of its tail could cause widespread destruction.

The strongest spirit beast she had ever encountered at the same level was the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros. Even without battle techniques, its sheer size and strength could crush any opponent.

However, this Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion defied all her preconceived notions about Saint-rank spirit beasts. Its terrifying aura, its violent spirit energy, sent chills down her spine, a primal urge to flee.

Even so, she wasn’t completely without a chance!

Meeting the scorpion woman’s gaze, its spirit energy as dense and heavy as a mountain, a sinister smile slowly spread across Hei Luelan’s face.

[Blade Breaker]

Swish!

Two blue beams of light erupted, piercing the Netherwater Prison’s body at a speed several times faster than sound.

Before Hei Luelan could even react, the Netherwater Prison was struck, its entire body convulsing violently.

It seemed like a one-sided slaughter—

However, something was amiss.

As the dust settled, the onlookers realized the blue beams weren’t long-range energy attacks!

The scorpion woman’s tails, like whips, had extended, their sharp tips piercing the Netherwater Prison, now firmly trapped.

A large portion of the scorpion’s tails, extended hundreds of meters, had vanished into the black mist, and its body, pulled forward by an unseen force, was slowly approaching the cage.

“I was right…”

A smug yet also terrified thought crossed Hei Luelan’s mind.

So those blue beams of light… were its tails. They had retracted so quickly that even a human Spirit Master’s eyes couldn’t perceive their movement.

Like being pulled into a black hole, the scorpion woman slid towards the Netherwater Prison, unable to resist.

Struggling, digging its claws into the ground, nothing worked. Its weight and strength were meaningless. Even a mountain would be crushed before this force.

This was the terrifying power of a mysterious-type spirit beast, its bizarre techniques defying logic.

As the scorpion woman drew closer, Hei Luelan’s fear intensified, and she instinctively took a few steps back.

Such a terrifying aura…

But once it was absorbed by the Netherwater Prison, its spirit energy would be sealed, rendering it completely helpless!

And perhaps, given time, she could even find a Heart Severing Pill and make it switch sides…

However, just as Hei Luelan was indulging in her fantasy, the scorpion woman stopped moving.

It stood there calmly, no longer being pulled towards the cage.

“Impossible!!”

Hei Luelan gasped. Nothing could resist the pull of the Netherwater Prison once captured. How had it escaped?

A moment later, her eyes narrowed, a drop of cold sweat trickling down her cheek.

The scorpion’s tails were still being drawn into the cage, but new segments were constantly growing from its lower back, keeping pace with the absorption rate.

It had already lost more than two hundred meters of its tail, yet there seemed to be no end…

The scorpion woman’s initially puzzled expression turned to one of amusement, as if toying with the Netherwater Prison, watching it struggle to consume its seemingly endless tail.

It had realized that its opponent… was just a toy.

---

Five minutes later, feeling a wave of nausea and dizziness from her spirit beast, Hei Luelan’s expression turned blank.

Just how long was this scorpion’s tail? It had already absorbed more than two kilometers, filling the Netherwater Prison’s entire body, yet there was still no end in sight.

Wait, didn’t this mean…

That this scorpion’s true form was an unimaginably massive creature?

That would explain why the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros’s full-powered stomp hadn’t even fazed it.

Because its true body was several times heavier than the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros!!!

She couldn’t win…

It was hopeless…

Watching the Netherwater Prison retching and trembling, Hei Luelan felt a wave of despair.

Forget the Snow Monarch, even this scorpion woman alone could annihilate their entire team.

Their perfect plan, ruined before it even began. How pathetic, how laughable!

Meanwhile, the spectators on the Water Heart Stage also watched in shock, their thoughts racing.

A single spirit beast of the Sorrowful Saintess had single-handedly decimated the Pool of Hidden Secrets team, their spirit beasts lying scattered on the ground, a completely one-sided battle.

“Wait, don’t you think it’s strange? Although the scorpion woman hasn’t attacked the Spirit Masters directly, the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ spirit beasts are almost all dead. Why haven’t they withdrawn yet?”

“I think the Nether Empress used a special spirit artifact to seal the secret realm entrance. Could that be the reason!?”

“Is the Pool of Hidden Secrets planning something…?”

Seeing that no one had withdrawn, the spectators began to murmur, their suspicions even reaching the Pool of Hidden Secrets delegation.

The Pool of Hidden Secrets Spirit Masters looked at each other, their expressions a mix of innocence, indignation, and disdain.

Even if the Nether Empress destroyed the entire Sea Region, there was no need for such petty tricks.

These Sea Region barbarians, so narrow-minded!

---

The Netherwater Prison, having attempted to consume the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion’s tail, now found itself stretched to its limit, its energy depleted, retreating to its Spirit Master’s soul core.

Hei Luelan, unwilling to give up, was about to summon her second spirit beast when the scorpion woman’s tail suddenly pierced through her abdomen, flinging her hundreds of meters away.

She landed on the cold, snowy ground, her vision blurring, despair creeping into her heart.

Their perfect plan, ruined by a single Saint-rank scorpion woman.

How could the Pool of Hidden Secrets, battered and broken, possibly face the impending arrival of the Snow Monarch?

Just then, as the scorpion woman dragged a screaming Pool of Hidden Secrets Spirit Master by its tail, seemingly preparing for… interrogation, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

Endless white snowflakes, falling at an unnatural rate, covering the world in white.

A legendary being… had arrived…

Chapter 193: The Saint-Rank Scorpion

The Winter Floating Sky’s battlefield secret realm—the White Velvet Snow Forest!

A vast space filled with frost-covered trees, a monotonous landscape of white and gray.

Unlike exploration secret realms, which held hidden treasures, or cultivation secret realms, which accelerated cultivation, or trial secret realms, which offered challenges and opportunities for growth, battlefield secret realms simply provided a space for combat.

The scoring system for the Final Battle, the third round of the Ranking Battle, was straightforward and brutal.

The first five Spirit Masters eliminated lost points, from 5 to 1, respectively. The last four earned points, from 1 to 4. And the final victor received 6 points.

According to the rules, if a participant was in danger, they could shout “Withdraw” to be instantly teleported out of the secret realm.

At this moment, a blue-haired, teardrop-eyed girl, casually strolling through the snow-covered forest with four nervous young Spirit Masters who flinched at every rustle of leaves, was the center of attention, practically half the audience watching her every move.

Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess!

Gong Lianyue’s expression remained calm as she wandered aimlessly.

If she truly wanted to dominate the Sea Region and become the Alliance leader, she could simply unleash two of her Saint-rank spirit beasts, and no one could stop them.

However, on the eve of the Ranking Battle, Shui Qinghou had secretly approached her, telling her she could win, but to carefully manage her points and avoid securing first place for the Sea Concubine Palace.

This wasn’t because the Sea Concubine Palace was lazy or unwilling to lead, but because the Pool of Hidden Secrets had ulterior motives. If they failed to secure first place, their retaliation would surely target the current Alliance leader.

The Sea Concubine Palace didn’t want a direct confrontation with the Nether Empress…

In fact, not just the Sea Concubine Palace, but all the other Sun and Moon Realm Spirit Masters had also realized this after the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ return.

Although they were all called Sun and Moon Realm experts, the Nether Empress’s power was on a completely different level.

After careful consideration, Gong Lianyue agreed with the Sea Concubine Palace higher-ups. They would concede the position of Alliance leader.

If they couldn’t win, why bother fighting?

Would they wait for the Sea Concubine Palace to be destroyed, barely escaping with their lives, only to return for revenge centuries later?

Couldn’t they just cultivate for a hundred years and then crush the Pool of Hidden Secrets?

She just didn’t know if, upon reaching the Sun and Moon Realm, she would be able to surpass the Nether Empress…

---

Meanwhile, the spectators, watching Gong Lianyue wander aimlessly, were puzzled.

Didn’t she have a Dual Soul Body? Why not unleash two Saint-rank spirit beasts and crush the competition?

A few minutes passed. After a period of uneventful wandering, the audience suddenly erupted in excitement.

A confrontation!

The Sorrowful Saintess’s team had encountered another group!

Five blue-haired girls versus five green-haired girls. It was the Ice Shield Palace team, led by Luo Kuxin, the Wrathful Saintess!

The Sea Concubine Palace members tensed, while the Ice Shield Palace members were even more apprehensive. They were the first to encounter the Sea Concubine Palace.

Although unlikely, they could be eliminated in a single round, becoming the lowest-ranked faction.

After all, the Sorrowful Saintess was rumored to have a team of Saint-ranks.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, the thin, wiry, green-haired girl suddenly waved her hand, gesturing towards a nearby grove of trees.

Gong Lianyue nodded calmly and followed Luo Kuxin into the trees.

The remaining eight Spirit Masters gulped nervously, staying put. Were the Sorrowful Saintess and the Wrathful Saintess about to duel?

Without instructions, they didn’t dare to engage. After all, the first five eliminated lost points, and there were no rewards for defeating other spirit beasts. Conserving their strength and lasting until the end was the wisest strategy.

“Don’t bother. Something’s wrong,” Luo Kuxin said the moment they entered the grove, her tone serious.

The spirit energy broadcast only transmitted images, not sound, so she could speak freely.

“I’ll be frank. Several of my clones have reached the Samsara Stage.”

“The spirit energy restrictions in this secret realm aren’t very strong. I managed to smuggle in a few of my Samsara Stage clones when we first entered.”

“But… my clones in the audience saw the Nether Empress reinforce the secret realm’s restrictions. And then I lost all contact with the outside. I can’t even sense my main body anymore.”

“If I’m not mistaken, the Nether Empress must have used an incredibly powerful spirit artifact. We can’t even withdraw from this trial now.”

“…”
“…”

Hearing Luo Kuxin’s words, Gong Lianyue remained silent for a moment, a puzzled look in her eyes.

The Saintess of Salvation from the Pool of Hidden Secrets wasn’t powerful enough to single-handedly defeat all the other Saintesses. The Nether Empress’s actions couldn’t possibly be aimed at simply eliminating the Sea Region participants.

What did she gain by trapping them here?

“Let’s ask the Pool of Hidden Secrets.” Gong Lianyue’s teardrop eyes narrowed, a terrifying aura emanating from her.

“Good!” Luo Kuxin readily agreed.

Boom!!!!

The next second, a violent surge of spirit energy erupted around the Sorrowful Saintess, her six teardrop beauty marks shimmering, her blue hair billowing upwards.

An incredibly dense water spirit energy, shaking the very ground for hundreds of meters around her, the swirling water forming a clear, azure vortex, distorting the air.

This awe-inspiring display of power… was merely the minimum requirement for manifesting a Saint-rank spirit beast.

Amidst the audience’s excited cheers, the first Saint-rank spirit beast appeared.

A reverse waterfall of water shot towards the sky, its terrifying aura filling the entire White Velvet Snow Forest.

The next second, a beautiful, blue-haired scorpion woman, her skin as white as jade, her long, deep blue hair seemingly solidified in the air, emerged from the massive waterspout.

Her appearance was human, but her pupils were crossed, forming an “X” shape.

Two deep blue, segmented scorpion tails swayed behind her, like floating chains, a strangely endearing sight.

As Luo Kuxin watched in shock, the scorpion woman took a step, the ground beneath her feet crumbling like tofu. Such incredible power…

[Saint-rank – ?Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion?]

---

Chapter 194: The Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion

[Saint-rank Dead Sea Stage: ?Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion?]
[Bloodline Talent: Inversion]
[Spirit Beast Battle Techniques: Nether Stone – Tyrant’s March – Blade Breaker – ∞]

Its pupils crossed, forming an “X” shape like two crossed halberds, its long, deep blue hair floating as if defying gravity.

The scorpion woman flicked its two crossed tails, its delicate feet lightly denting the ground without a sound, as if walking on soft jam.

Despite possessing the refined physique of a combat-type, the scorpion woman was classified as a biological, offensive type.

Therefore, it should have been massive, its size blotting out the sky, but its current form defied logic.

It resembled a combat-type spirit beast more than a massive, offensive type!

As the scorpion woman arrived, the air pressure dropped, and the dust on the ground swirled.

A biological, offensive type, the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion, the first Saint-rank spirit beast to appear in the Ranking Battle…

Its terrifying blue, water-type spirit energy spread like a vast, invisible ocean, creating an overwhelming pressure that made the spectators watching the live broadcast tremble, their scalps tingling, a chilling dread creeping into their hearts.

Just seeing the Saint-rank spirit beast’s form, they understood the vast gulf between it and a high-rank spirit beast.

Boom!

The next second, the scorpion woman vanished, a sonic boom ripping through the air where it had been standing.

Its master, Gong Lianyue, still stood there as it charged forward for more than ten kilometers, the resulting hurricane flattening the surrounding forest, turning it into a desolate wasteland in the blink of an eye.

Like a massive bulldozer, its path a trail of destruction.

During [Tyrant’s March], its physical strength was drastically enhanced, and the distance limit between it and its Spirit Master was removed.

Its target: the Pool of Hidden Secrets.

“Strange, why aren’t the two Saintesses fighting? And where did that spirit beast go!?”

“So that’s a Saint-rank spirit beast…”

“Something’s not right. It’s already more than ten kilometers away from its master!”

“Wait, look! It’s about to collide!!!”

As the onlookers watched in shock, the blue scorpion woman, propelled by sonic booms, transformed into a blue meteor, streaking across the sky, leaving a long trail of afterimages.

Almost simultaneously, the five members of the Pool of Hidden Secrets team turned their heads, a blinding blue light filling their vision.

Boom!!!!

The next second, the area around the five girls exploded, reduced to dust, a deafening roar echoing for dozens of kilometers.

As the dust cloud cleared, a massive crater, like a meteor impact, was revealed, the blue scorpion woman standing amidst the ruins, her arms crossed, looking down at the disheveled Pool of Hidden Secrets girls with disdain.

“A Saint-rank…!!!”

“Impossible!”

Overwhelmed by the Saint-rank spirit beast’s aura, the Pool of Hidden Secrets members panicked.

Hei Luelan’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

Their plan… had been discovered!

No, wait… was this just a random act of violence?

After a moment of silence, Hei Luelan gulped nervously and addressed her companions,

“You all realize we can’t withdraw now, right? Defeat means death.”

“To prevent any… unforeseen circumstances, I will now commence the plan. Be careful!”

“Wait! If we proceed without eliminating the other non-Saint-rank Spirit Masters, there will be massive casualties!” A young Spirit Master from the First Lineage of the Nine Nethers protested.

“We don’t have a choice. We’ve run out of time. Don’t you feel it? That’s the Sorrowful Saintess’s spirit beast,” Hei Luelan shook her head.

“…”
“…”

The Sorrowful Saintess’s spirit beast… Realization dawned, and their faces paled.

Facing such a terrifying, abyssal aura, they weren’t thinking about their plan anymore, but about survival.

Just then, the woman from the First Lineage stood up, a torrent of black water erupting from her body.

A swirling black vortex, gradually forming a vast ocean of spirit energy, powerful enough to manifest a Saint-rank.

Although impressive, it was nothing compared to the Sorrowful Saintess’s earlier display.

A few seconds later, a massive black rhinoceros emerged from the void, its single step pulverizing the ground for hundreds of meters around it.

“Roar!!!”

A furious roar echoed, a wave of destructive energy spreading outwards.

A single horn, piercing the sky, protruded from the rhinoceros’s head, its massive, pitch-black body like solidified liquid, radiating a terrifying aura.

A Saint-rank spirit beast, the Water Palace Jade Rhinoceros.

Facing—the Inverted Crystal Dual-Bladed Tyrant Scorpion!!!

The woman from the First Lineage’s face burned with a fanatical intensity. Although their plan had changed, this was her chance to defeat the Sorrowful Saintess, to become the strongest in the Sea Region!

Not just her, but the audience also erupted in excitement.

They hadn’t expected to witness a Saint-rank battle so soon. This spectacular sight would be a story they could tell for the rest of their lives.

---

“It’s a shame. If my spirit beast defeats and absorbs them, it would be the same as withdrawing. There wouldn’t have been so many casualties. This is all the Sorrowful Saintess’s fault.”

Meanwhile, Hei Luelan’s voice was low and grim.

She held a delicate, snow-white hair in her trembling hand, tears streaming down her face.

Legendary beings could sense every part of themselves, whether a drop of blood, a strand of hair, or even a drop of saliva. Losing even a single strand could invite disaster.

This was a single hair left behind by the Snow Monarch when it froze the Pool of Hidden Secrets a thousand years ago, preserved perfectly until now.

Although frozen, they were still alive. Due to their incredible talent, they had been pulled into several secret realms, allowing them to gather information about the outside world and even exchange for rare resources.

Like the spirit artifact the Nether Empress was currently using to seal the secret realm, said to be capable of suppressing even legendary beings.

Even the Snow Monarch, if it entered, would be suppressed to the Dead Sea Stage!

At this moment, Hei Luelan knew exactly what she was doing, and the consequences.

Her heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and terror, tears streaming down her face, she raised the snow-white hair and gently… licked it.

Instantly, she saw her.

The legendary being—

Chapter 191: Spirit Beast IQ

In the world of spirit beasts, speed often determined the outcome of a battle.

The legendary White Moon Lord, a single leap tearing through the skies of ten realms, her movements too fast even for fellow legendary beings to track, a power beyond human comprehension.

Countless legends and stories about her were passed down through generations.

Even a legendary spirit beast had once remarked, “The White Moon Lord is the most terrifying legendary being I’ve ever encountered.”

This indicated that even among legendary beings, the White Moon Lord stood at the apex.

The Sea Region Ranking Battle: Second Round.

First Test: Speed.

Amidst the cheers of the audience, ten spirit beasts, each carrying their Spirit Master, stood at the starting line.

Of the five tests, Intelligence and Beauty were too unpredictable. Speed, Strength, and Spirit Energy Capacity were more reliable sources of points.

For the Speed test, the Snow Fairy Mansion sent out their Pure Saintess.

Her spirit beast was a high-rank White Ice Antelope, its graceful, streamlined body like that of a holy maiden among beasts.

A mere kilometer? The White Ice Antelope could cover that distance in less than ten seconds!

Its combat abilities might be average, but its speed was unmatched!

The Pure Saintess smugly surveyed her competition, her disdainful gaze suddenly pausing at the white-haired woman’s… chest.

Those terrifying weapons… what were they…?

Bai He of the Sea Concubine Palace stood calmly, a snow-white full moon disc floating beside her, flitting about like a playful sprite.

Her appearance drew eighty percent of the gazes in the arena, everyone’s eyes widening, their mouths suddenly dry.

This woman… was simply too… endowed!

After the Ranking Battle, the Sea Concubine Palace would likely be flooded with love letters from eager young women.

This wasn’t lust, but a desire to improve their family’s bloodline, to ensure their children’s healthy development!

As the Speed test was about to begin, Bai He grasped the floating moon disc, assuming a throwing stance, her… assets… jiggling enticingly, causing many in the audience to blush.

Boom!

As the referee signaled the start of the race with a burst of spirit energy, the ten spirit beasts, confident in their speed, shot forward, creating a cloud of dust.

Almost instantly, the White Ice Antelope took the lead, leaving the other spirit beasts far behind.

Dead Sea Stage spirit beasts couldn’t stray too far from their masters, so the Spirit Masters were carried by their spirit beasts. There was only one exception.

As everyone watched in shock, Bai He stood motionless, not moving a single step.

Four seconds passed. Just as the White Ice Antelope was about to cross the finish line, a white blur, a rapidly spinning full moon disc, zipped past, overtaking it by a hair’s breadth.

Swish!

Crossing the finish line in second place, the Pure Saintess’s face darkened.

Being defeated by an unknown Spirit Master from a lower-ranked faction wasn’t uncommon, but it was still incredibly humiliating.

And what was with that… vulgar white-haired woman? How could her spirit beast be so far away from her…?

Weapon-type spirit beasts did have techniques to increase their control range, but those were usually considered useless, niche skills. And yet, it had actually been useful here!

---

[Sea Concubine Palace: 3]
[Snow Fairy Mansion: 2]
[Pool of Hidden Secrets: 1]

Under the audience’s intense scrutiny, Bai He returned to her seat beside the Sorrowful Saintess, her expression calm.

Many in the audience sighed inwardly.

Seeing… that… swaying before her every day, the Sorrowful Saintess couldn’t possibly resist. This Bai He must have already been… taken.

Who would dare touch the Sorrowful Saintess’s woman? The consequences would be dire.

The others now looked at Bai He with a mixture of envy and… something else, a look she couldn’t quite decipher.

Soon, it was time for the second test: Intelligence!

The rules were simple. Ten spirit beasts would be shown a series of numbers and then have to write them down using their spirit energy. A single mistake meant failure.

And yet, the first number, 0, was enough to eliminate all the low-rank spirit beasts from the bottom-tier factions.

The remaining spirit beasts, from the Pool of Hidden Secrets, the Sea Concubine Palace, the Cold Court, the Winter Floating Sky, and the Ice Shield Palace, continued the test.

This test, easily solved by a child, had them sweating.

After much deliberation, the Sea Concubine Palace’s mid-rank, elemental spirit beast drew a large banana on the ground, eliciting laughter from the audience.

The Cold Court’s spirit beast drew two carrots, barely passing.

The Ice Shield Palace’s spirit beast drew two cucumbers, barely passing.

The Winter Floating Sky’s spirit beast drew two eggplants, barely passing.

The Pool of Hidden Secrets’ spirit beast wrote the number 69, drawing envious and incredulous stares from the other spirit beasts.

The next round, with three-digit numbers, quickly determined the winner.

[Pool of Hidden Secrets: 3]
[Winter Floating Sky: 2]
[Cold Court: 1]

---

The third test, Strength. The Fearful Saintess of the Tide Pavilion confidently entered the arena, then proceeded to score a resounding 0.

Her supposedly powerful spirit beast’s punch against the testing artifact had no effect, while the Winter Floating Sky’s spirit beast punched a hole right through it.

The bandaged, gloomy woman stared at the Spirit Masters from the Winter Floating Sky, the Cold Court, and the Ice Shield Palace, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

So this was the power of the top factions… She had been utterly crushed.

[Winter Floating Sky: 3]
[Ice Shield Palace: 2]
[Cold Court: 1]

Even the unknown Spirit Masters from the Sea Concubine Palace and the Pool of Hidden Secrets had performed better than her, a Saintess.

Just how powerful were the Saintesses of the top factions?

The Fearful Saintess had dreamt of becoming a dark horse, rising to the top, defeating all the high-ranking Saintesses, but reality had dealt her a harsh blow.

She recalled angrily confronting her faction’s higher-ups, complaining about not being chosen for the Final Battle, denied the opportunity to gain fame and recognition.

How utterly foolish she had been…

The Spirit Masters from the lower-ranked factions felt a sense of shame and frustration.

Their Saintesses, representing their peak combat power, renowned within their own factions, were no match for even unknown Spirit Masters from other factions.

And so far, not a single Saint-rank spirit beast had appeared in the Ranking Battle…

---

Chapter 192: The Final Battle

The fourth test: Spirit Energy Capacity!

This test didn’t measure the amount of spirit energy, but the maximum amount a Spirit Master could unleash in an instant.

Even novice Spirit Masters understood the difference between potential spirit energy and manifested spirit energy.

Only through diligent daily cultivation or constant battle could one increase their burst potential. This was a straightforward test with clear results.

This was also likely the area where the gap between the higher and lower-ranked factions was most pronounced.

However, unexpectedly, the Spirit Masters from the top factions were utterly crushed.

The Hateful Saintess of the Azure Stream Palace.

Her soft, water-blue hair flowing gently, she unleashed a torrent of spirit energy that almost filled the kilometer-wide Water Heart Stage, eliciting gasps of surprise.

She far surpassed the Spirit Masters from the Sea Concubine Palace, the Ice Shield Palace, and even the Pool of Hidden Secrets.

The Azure Heart of Water, a top-tier spirit technique of the water lineage…

The amount of spirit energy she unleashed in that instant was almost equal to the combined total of the other nine factions.

The Hateful Saintess, her face pale with exhaustion, a triumphant smile on her lips, had achieved her goal.

By surprising everyone and surpassing the higher-ranked factions, she would gain more attention and followers. A little hardship in the Azure Stream Palace was a small price to pay.

She was famous!

[Azure Stream Palace: 3]
[Sea Concubine Palace: 2]
[Ice Shield Palace: 1]

---

Finally, the fifth and final test of the second round.

This time, it was Beauty.

Of course, this wasn’t about the Spirit Masters’ physical appearance, but their attractiveness to wild spirit beasts.

Ten graceful, voluptuous young women lined up, their beauty to be judged by a spirit beast.

A high-rank spirit beast, the Water Lotus Colored Cherry Blossom, kept by the Winter Floating Sky, was released into the arena, acting as the judge.

No one worried about it being biased towards the Winter Floating Sky. After all, it was notoriously fickle and obsessed with beauty.

In the center of the Water Heart Stage, a colorful, humanoid flower strutted back and forth before the girls, like an emperor choosing concubines.

A few seconds later, it opened its petals and spat a glob of phlegm onto the Jade Pot Palace Spirit Master’s face.

The Jade Pot Palace girl stared blankly, then her face lit up with joy. Had she been chosen?

Seeing her ecstatic expression, the audience was surprised. Another dark horse?

However, to their amusement, the Water Lotus Colored Cherry Blossom continued spitting at the girls, drenching them all.

Jade Pot Palace, 98 spits, eliminated.

Snow Fairy Mansion, 71 spits, eliminated.

Azure Stream Palace, 65 spits, eliminated.

…

…

Sea Concubine Palace, 9 spits, 1 point.

Winter Floating Sky, 8 spits, 2 points.

Pool of Hidden Secrets, 6 spits, 3 points.

The Water Lotus Colored Cherry Blossom spat at anything it found ugly or repulsive.

The fewer the spits, the higher the score.

Learning the rules, the Jade Pot Palace girl’s face fell, her spirit crushed.

She was so ugly, she disgusted everyone…

With that, the second round concluded.

[Winter Floating Sky: 8]
[Sea Concubine Palace: 7]
[Pool of Hidden Secrets: 6]
[Ice Shield Palace: 4]
[Cold Court: 3]
[Water Wish Pavilion: 3]
[Tide Pavilion: 3]
[Azure Stream Palace: 0]
[Snow Fairy Mansion: -2]
[Jade Pot Palace: -2]

Seeing the scores, the spectators were surprised.

The Water Wish Pavilion and the Tide Pavilion, which had held the lead, hadn’t scored any points in this round, falling back to their previous positions.

However, the Tide Pavilion’s loss was due to the Fearful Saintess’s… embarrassing performance, while the Blissful Saintess of the Water Wish Pavilion hadn’t even participated yet.

The second round concluded, and it was finally time for the final, decisive round of the Ranking Battle…

The true leader of the Sea Region would be decided here.

Under the watchful eyes of all, Gong Lianyue rose from her seat and walked towards the center of the Water Heart Stage.

At the same time, the Desireless Saintess of the Winter Floating Sky, the Grieving Saintess of the Cold Court, the Wrathful Saintess of the Ice Shield Palace, the Blissful Saintess of the Water Wish Pavilion, and the Saintess of Salvation from the Pool of Hidden Secrets, all emerged with their teams.

The auras of the four Spirit Masters behind the Sorrowful Saintess were incredibly weak, even less than those who had participated in the previous rounds, increasing the sense of anticipation and dread.

The Sea Concubine Palace was confident in their Sorrowful Saintess’s victory!

The Saint-rank battle… was it finally about to begin…?

The spectators, their hearts pounding with excitement, watched, their scalps tingling, their blood boiling. After all, ninety-nine percent of them had never seen a Saint-rank spirit beast before.

The final round of every Ranking Battle always featured a spectacular clash of Saint-ranks, like watching a superhero battle.

Saint-rank spirit beasts, beings from another dimension.

The Final Battle began!!!

Fifty Spirit Masters stood in the center of the Water Heart Stage as a powerful wave of spirit energy, like a swirling waterspout, enveloped them, pulling them into a secret realm.

This was the Winter Floating Sky’s battle secret realm, the White Velvet Snow Forest!!

Since Saint-rank spirit beasts would inevitably destroy the arena, even endangering the audience, the final round had to be held within a secret realm.

Of course, it would be broadcast live via spirit energy, the scene split into countless different perspectives, displayed on a massive crystal screen in the sky.

Just as all the Spirit Masters entered the secret realm, the Nether Empress, seated high above, tossed a mysterious spirit artifact.

The massive, lock-shaped artifact, like a cage, sealed the entrance to the secret realm. It was a strange artifact, obtained from an unknown source, capable of suppressing all beings within to the Dead Sea Stage.

Her suggestion had been unanimously approved by the other four Emperors. A thousand years ago, there had been a cheating scandal where a Spirit Master had smuggled in a Samsara Stage spirit beast after the secret realm had been sealed.

That Spirit Master had been from the Pool of Hidden Secrets, so the Nether Empress’s insistence on reinforcing the seal seemed fair and impartial.

“…”
“…”

After a moment of silence, a subtle smile appeared on the Nether Empress’s lips.

Beneath her beautiful facade, her heart raced, a dark, almost manic glee, as if tainted by a corrupting, black, watery spirit energy.

Her body trembled as she whispered, her voice barely audible,

“The Snow Monarch… is coming—”

 

Chapter 189: Scorpion Tail

Wen Chan, the former Saintess Candidate of the Ice Shield’s Fifth Palace.

After losing her battle against Luo Kuxin during the Saintess selection, she had been so furious she couldn’t sleep for ten days and nights. She had then stormed into the Wind Valley, engaging in a frenzied killing spree for another ten days and nights, returning battered and bruised.

Just as her anger subsided and she was about to rest, a gift box arrived at her doorstep.

Inside was a bound and gagged, beautiful woman, identical to Luo Kuxin, a letter identifying her as a clone of the Wrathful Saintess, meant for Wen Chan to… vent her frustrations.

And so, Wen Chan spent another ten days and nights torturing the clone with various implements before finally collapsing from exhaustion.

When she awoke, she found the previously battered green-haired girl dressed in a maid outfit, having prepared a delicious breakfast, acting like a doting wife.

At that moment, she fell in love.

For the Wrathful Saintess, she would do anything!

Wen Chan willingly participated in the Ranking Battle. She would make the Ice Shield Palace the ruler of the Sea Region, and then Lady Luo Kuxin would become its Empress!!!

---

“Tear her to shreds! Leave nothing behind, Ice Spider Queen!”

In the center of the Water Heart Stage, as Wen Chan’s cold voice echoed, a chilling aura filled the arena, and a beautiful, corpse-like woman in mourning clothes, her limbs twisted grotesquely, emerged from the void.

Radiating an icy aura, the humanoid spirit beast swayed unsteadily, like a hanged ghost.

As it moved, grotesque, fleshy tumors on its back split open, revealing massive, writhing spider legs.

Despite its unsettling appearance, its terrifying aura was undeniable, on a completely different level from the previous farcical displays.

This was a Spirit Master from the battle-hardened Ice Shield Palace…

Meanwhile, the black-haired woman from the Pool of Hidden Secrets, her expression calm, channeled her spirit energy.

She was a descendant of the Ninth Lineage of the Nine Nethers. She couldn’t lose to anyone from the Sea Region.

Boom!

A violent aura erupted, and a massive black beast, its hundred-meter-tall body blotting out the sky, emerged from the shadows, its heavy footsteps causing the ground to tremble.

A black-scaled crocodile, as large as a Tyrannosaurus Rex, its massive jaws capable of splitting open like a zipper, from head to toe.

The Ice Spider Queen and the Tyrant Water Crocodile, both high-rank offensive spirit beasts, their auras clashing.

Bang!!!

The next second, the two spirit beasts collided at a speed beyond human comprehension.

Nearly ten icy spider legs, like a flurry of blades, rained down on the giant crocodile, tearing through its flesh, sending black blood spraying everywhere.

Enduring the excruciating pain, the Tyrant Water Crocodile lashed out with its massive, scaled tail, a blur of black, striking the Ice Spider Queen.

Boom!!!

The Ice Spider Queen was sent flying like a cannonball, tumbling across the ground, its spider legs broken, its graceful body twisted into a mangled mess.

Unlike those pathetic Spirit Masters from the lower-ranked factions, these two were fighting to kill.

“Aaaaaaaah!!!

A few seconds of silence, then a chorus of terrified screams.

The gruesome scene before them made many Spirit Masters recoil in horror. Even the Snow Fairy Mansion Spirit Masters, lacking combat experience, let alone these ordinary Spirit Masters who had never even killed a chicken, were shocked.

How could they bear to see their spirit beasts suffer like this…?

A few seconds later, the Ice Spider Queen, its twisted body reforming, new, larger, and even more grotesque spider legs sprouting from its back, covered in thick, bristly hair, finally used a battle technique.

And the Tyrant Water Crocodile, despite its injuries, also recovered, its body now covered in sharp, black spikes, its aura surging once more.

Like donning a suit of heavy armor, the crocodile charged, not at the Ice Spider Queen, but at its Spirit Master!

To protect its master, the enemy’s attacks would surely be limited!

Seeing the massive beast charging towards her, a flicker of anger appeared in Wen Chan’s eyes.

Swish!

The Ice Spider Queen, which had been slowly recovering, instantly teleported back to its master’s side.

Dozens of powerful, icy spider legs, their tips now sharpened into blades, lashed out at the approaching crocodile.

Crack—

In a flash, the black crocodile’s four massive legs were severed, and it lost its balance, tumbling towards Wen Chan, its massive body creating a deafening roar and a cloud of dust.

With no other choice, the Ice Spider Queen moved to intercept it.

However, just as the crocodile approached, its jaw unhinged, expanding several times its normal size, and in an instant, it swallowed the Ice Spider Queen whole.

But this awkward maneuver also altered its trajectory, sending it tumbling towards another faction’s waiting area.

—

In the Sea Concubine Palace’s designated area, seeing the massive, shadowy figure hurtling towards them, everyone froze.

Even the Sorrowful Saintess, her expression calm, seemed caught off guard by this sudden development.

However, at that very moment…

Thud!!!!

Amidst the spectators’ gasps, the massive figure stopped, barely a meter away from the legendary Sorrowful Saintess, stopped by an insurmountable force.

As the dust settled, the scene was revealed.

Two deep blue scorpion tails, like chains, coiled around the Sorrowful Saintess, forming a protective cage.

These seemingly delicate, bony tails had effortlessly stopped the massive, tumbling crocodile, not even a ripple disturbing their surface.

Although only a meter away, the Tyrant Water Crocodile felt an insurmountable barrier, a chasm separating it from the blue-haired girl, a power it couldn’t possibly overcome.

From that single point of contact, it could sense the vast difference in their strength, a wave of despair washing over it.

And at the same time, Gong Lianyue, surrounded by the two swirling scorpion tails, her cold eyes narrowed.

“You… have crossed the line.”

---

Chapter 190: The Second Round

The Saint-Breaking Pill, a legendary treasure of the spirit world, said to be capable of inducing a genetic mutation in a high-rank spirit beast, evolving it into a Saint-rank.

Like a shortcut to godhood, bypassing the usual arduous cultivation process, its price was unimaginable.

Awarding it as a prize for first place in a war zone seemed… reasonable.

According to the records, if you circled a Saint-Breaking Pill around a spirit beast, an image of its evolved form would appear on the pill’s surface.

Gong Lianyue circled the purple, cloud-patterned pill around the Iron Jade Ice Scorpion, and the image of a scorpion tail with crossed blades appeared.

Then she tried it with the Nine-Colored Cloud Dream Flower, but the pill remained blank, indicating there were no Saint-rank spirit beasts of a similar lineage.

The little fox couldn’t evolve…

—

Before the viewing stands of the Water Heart Stage, two high-rank spirit beasts, locked in a fierce wrestling match, slid for hundreds of meters before being abruptly stopped.

Barely a meter away from the Sorrowful Saintess, they were blocked by two swirling scorpion tails, a cage of chains protecting the cold, blue-haired girl.

“You’ve crossed the line.”

As the Sorrowful Saintess spoke, a chilling aura, like falling into an icy abyss, washed over the two spirit beasts.

The Ice Spider Queen, its mangled body held in the Tyrant Water Crocodile’s jaws, felt its limbs go numb, its courage failing.

Sensing the crocodile’s fear, the Pool of Hidden Secrets woman anxiously tried to communicate with it, channeling her spirit energy.

However, the terrified crocodile was unresponsive, its mind a blank.

Crack, crack!

The next second, the crocodile’s body was torn apart, the spider’s sharp legs shredding its insides, its head splitting open like a blooming flower.

As its aura vanished, the Ice Spider Queen, covered in blood, its form barely recognizable, slowly emerged.

The Ice Shield Palace had won!

“Pwah!”

At the same time, the woman from the Pool of Hidden Secrets spat out a mouthful of blood, her face as pale as a ghost, glaring at the referee.

The Winter Floating Sky Spirit Master sighed and shook her head, unwilling to overturn the result.

Intimidating a spirit beast mid-battle was indeed a foul, but the Sorrowful Saintess hadn’t released any spirit energy.

With a single word, a single glance, she had broken the Tyrant Water Crocodile’s will.

Even a Sun and Moon Realm expert couldn’t achieve such a feat. This couldn’t be considered a violation.

The battle concluded. The Pool of Hidden Secrets Spirit Masters’ faces darkened, while the Ice Shield Palace members gloated, as if they had just annihilated their entire families.

The other spectators didn’t seem to notice anything unusual, assuming the crocodile had simply lost its grip. They were more impressed by the Sorrowful Saintess, who had effortlessly stopped the massive beast’s charge, than the two spirit beasts that had actually fought.

After this, the lower-ranked factions continued their cautious approach, either forfeiting or challenging weaker opponents.

After the Snow Fairy Mansion was repeatedly crushed, it was the Jade Pot Palace’s turn, then the Azure Stream Palace. The three bottom factions were humiliated and abused, a comical and rather disturbing sight.

Even the Lost Saintess of the Jade Pot Palace, despite her initial two victories, could only watch helplessly as her teammates were brutally defeated.

The Ice Shield Palace and the Pool of Hidden Secrets, on the other hand, were locked in a fierce rivalry, their battles bloody and brutal.

The Sea Concubine Palace, the Cold Court, and the Winter Floating Sky engaged in a few… friendly… matches, their wins and losses evenly distributed.

Hong Tao and Qing Yu each won one match, while the other team members had mixed results.

After nearly ten hours, the first round finally ended.

[Water Wish Pavilion: 3]
[Tide Pavilion: 3]
[Winter Floating Sky: 1]
[Sea Concubine Palace: 1]
[Cold Court: 1]
[Ice Shield Palace: 1]
[Pool of Hidden Secrets: -1]
[Jade Pot Palace: -2]
[Azure Stream Palace: -3]
[Snow Fairy Mansion: -4]

The Water Wish Pavilion and the Tide Pavilion held a significant lead, but their points had been earned by bullying the bottom three factions.

The top-tier factions, considering them no threat, had only challenged them a couple of times, allowing them to enjoy their temporary lead.

During the intermission, the spectators began to discuss the results.

“No Saint-rank spirit beasts appeared in the first round. Rather boring…”

“The real excitement is always saved for last. The point difference isn’t significant.”

“I thought the battles between the Ice Shield Palace and the Pool of Hidden Secrets were quite entertaining. So much blood!!”

“Eww~~ That’s too violent! They’ll never find husbands.”

The Ice Shield Palace and the Pool of Hidden Secrets had clearly developed a rivalry. They had fought five times, the Ice Shield Palace winning three.

The defeated Spirit Masters had lost their main spirit beasts, their soul cores severely damaged, unable to challenge again.

Although Dead Sea Stage Spirit Masters didn’t faint from the pain of their spirit beast’s death, they still suffered, their minds and bodies exhausted.

After the results of the first round were tallied, it was time for the second round, the Tests.

Although lacking the direct confrontation of the duels, this round was more entertaining, like a school sports day.

The referee from the Winter Floating Sky drew five slips of paper:

1. Speed

2. Intelligence

3. Strength

4. Spirit Energy Capacity

5. Beauty

The second round, the Tests, was where the top and mid-tier factions could truly separate themselves from the rest.

Only the top three in each test earned points: 3, 2, and 1, respectively. The other factions received zero.

The Speed test involved a one-kilometer race around the Water Heart Stage, the Spirit Master carried by their spirit beast. The first to reach the finish line won.

The Intelligence test assessed the spirit beast’s intelligence, not the Spirit Master’s.

The Strength test involved a spirit artifact that measured the force of each faction’s spirit beast’s attack.

The Spirit Energy Capacity test measured the maximum amount of spirit energy a Spirit Master could unleash in an instant.

The Beauty test wasn’t based on human standards, but on which Spirit Master was most attractive to wild spirit beasts.

The second round consisted of five tests. Most mid-tier factions sent their Saintesses to participate in this round, hoping to secure a higher ranking…

And Bai He of the Sea Concubine Palace would also be participating in this round.

Chapter 187: The Symbol of a Legend

At the center of the Water Heart Stage, as the teardrop-eyed girl arrived, her divinely marked face, a symbol of the Water God’s favor, silenced the entire arena.

Those cold, icy eyes, like frozen tears… such a sorrowful, yet invincible, presence.

Hei Luelan stared in disbelief, a chilling dread washing over her, a shiver running down her spine.

Since birth, she had borne a black, water droplet-shaped mark on her forehead, said to be identical to the Nether Empress’s, earning her the title of the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ Saintess of Salvation.

This mark had been her source of strength, her pride, her everything.

And yet, at this moment, the face of this blue-haired girl, the Sorrowful Saintess, made her realize…

Just how insignificant, pathetic, and weak her own little water droplet was.

Standing beside this girl, she couldn’t imagine the shame, her dignity shattered.

Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess of the Sea Concubine Palace, favored by the Water God—

The woman who had formed a contract with a legendary being!

As she entered, her sea-god-blessed, water-blue hair flowed and rippled like liquid, a stream of clear, azure water trailing behind her.

Blue-haired girls were common in the Sea Region, but the Sorrowful Saintess’s hair seemed to flow and shimmer like water, constantly scattering droplets.

Watching her flawless figure disappear into the entrance tunnel, several Winter Floating Sky Spirit Masters breathed a sigh of relief, their gazes fixed on the small, pink figure hovering anxiously nearby.

The pink figure, its arms wrapped around a beautiful, ice-blue eyeball, flitted back and forth.

The commotion earlier had been caused by Sacred Water, Lover. It had been stopped by the Winter Floating Sky Spirit Masters, as wild spirit beasts weren’t allowed to participate in the Ranking Battle.

And so, before everyone’s eyes, the Sorrowful Saintess had removed one of her eyeballs and given it to Lover for safekeeping…

With the eyeball, Lover could sense her master’s spirit energy fluctuations at any time.

The next second, as everyone stared at the Sorrowful Saintess in shock, they found her empty eye socket completely healed, as if the eyeball had never been removed, a bizarre and unsettling sight.

They would definitely have nightmares tonight!

---

Tattoos, markings, patterns, beauty marks… any unusual, innate feature was considered a sign of divine favor, a blessing from the spirits.

It was said that thousands of years ago in the Sun-Seizing Divine Metropolis, a girl was born with a body temperature as hot as the sun, incinerating her mother upon birth, her skin covered in strange, fiery lotus patterns. Considered a demonic monster by the mortals around her, she later entered the Spirit Palace and awakened her companion spirit beast—the legendary-rank, elemental-type, Blazing Heart of Purgatory!

It was said that a thousand years ago, in a distant, powerful ice realm, a girl was born, her arrival freezing the land for miles around her, three snowflakes marking her eyes and forehead, even attracting the attention of the Snow Monarch, who came to offer her blessings. She later awakened her companion spirit beast—the legendary-rank, biological-type, Ice Antelope Grand Concubine!

It was said that ten thousand years ago in the Ancient Sword Domain, a girl was born, her sword energy so powerful it shattered the world around her, killing her instantly, her story becoming a cautionary tale, her companion spirit beast confirmed to be—the legendary-rank, weapon-type, World-Ending Azure Sky!

And it was said that more than ten years ago in the Sea Region, a girl was born with six teardrops on her face…

In short, almost all Lord Attendants possessed some unusual, innate marking, setting them apart from ordinary humans.

Fiery lotus patterns, snowflake marks, sword scars, teardrops…

One day, the Sorrowful Saintess would also be recorded in history, her story passed down through generations, her devoted fans firmly believing this.

Initially silent, as Gong Lianyue walked towards the center of the arena, the cheers and screams grew louder, almost deafening, practically lifting the roof.

Fans of her beauty, fans of legendary beings, fans of her power, fans of her achievements, fans of her unwavering protection of the Sea Region… Their combined number likely exceeded several million.

Witnessing this enthusiastic display, Bai He, Hong Tao, and Qing Yu, standing behind Gong Lianyue, felt a surge of anxiety, though their expressions remained calm.

The other members of the Sea Concubine Palace team, however, were completely overwhelmed, their faces a mixture of shock and awe, like country bumpkins seeing the big city for the first time.

Even the grandest Saintess selection ceremony couldn’t compare to this…!!!

Only Gong Lianyue, the Sorrowful Saintess, remained impassive, her icy eyes downcast, as if indifferent to the surrounding chaos, her aloof demeanor eliciting even more enthusiastic cheers.

In reality, not only her outward appearance, but even her inner thoughts were calm.

Compared to this, being alone, deep within enemy territory, her identity exposed during the Overlord’s birthday celebration… that had been far more nerve-wracking.

Meanwhile, the Spirit Masters from the other factions watched with grim expressions, a sense of oppressive dread weighing upon them.

They were about to face this monstrous woman in the arena?

Both her power and her popularity were… suffocating…

A short while later, each faction’s participant list was revealed.

“What a shame. I heard the Sorrowful Saintess is only participating in the final round, the Final Battle. How boring.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? The first two rounds are just for fun. The real show is the Final Battle!”

“Yeah, crushing some small fries isn’t very interesting~~~”

Unlike the casual spectators, the Spirit Masters who understood the rules of the Ranking Battle were nervous.

Sending their powerful Saintess Candidates and other renowned geniuses to the first two rounds to earn points, while the Sorrowful Saintess and four unknowns were reserved for the Final Battle…

This was the Winter Floating Sky’s strategy, the same one that had secured their position as Alliance leader for three consecutive terms!

And they were using it again, even with the Pool of Hidden Secrets’ return disrupting the balance of power. It seemed the Sea Concubine Palace was confident that the Sorrowful Saintess alone could dominate the final round…

At that moment, Gong Lianyue, the blue-haired, teardrop-eyed girl, sitting calmly in the Sea Concubine Palace’s designated area, her expression cold and regal, under the watchful eyes of millions…

As a participant in the final, decisive battle, she was merely a spectator for the first two rounds, a minor character.

Even so, no one could tear their eyes away from her.

---

Chapter 188: The Pitiful Snow Fairy Mansion

In the first round of duels, each faction had five chances to challenge any other faction.

Since they couldn’t specify a particular Spirit Master, the challenged faction chose their representative, giving the challenger a disadvantage, and the challenged faction a strategic advantage.

However, if a faction possessed a Spirit Master capable of crushing any opponent, it was a different story.

Although there were theoretically fifty possible challenges, in reality, there were usually fewer than thirty.

After all, a defeated Spirit Master, their spirit energy depleted or their main spirit beast dead, wouldn’t be able to participate in their own faction’s challenge, automatically forfeiting.

Whether challenging or being challenged, victory earned one point, defeat lost one. Therefore, strategically waiting to be challenged could also earn a high score.

Crucially, each Spirit Master within a faction could only accept one challenge. A second challenge was forbidden.

These were the rules of the first round. Each Spirit Master had one chance to challenge and one chance to be challenged. Strategic deployment was key to earning a high score.

—

On the massive Water Heart Stage, the Ranking Battle finally began.

A woman in an elegant, feathered robe from the Winter Floating Sky gracefully floated onto the stage, acting as the announcer, referee, and healer.

Her Nether Traverse Stage aura intimidated the smaller factions. Even the Snow Fairy Mansion and the Jade Pot Palace only had one Nether Traverse Stage Spirit Master each. And the Winter Floating Sky had sent one to be a mere referee. Their power and influence were far greater than most had imagined.

“First round. The Jade Pot Palace, being the lowest ranked, will choose their opponent first, then we will proceed in order.”

“You may now choose your representatives and your opponents!”

As the referee finished speaking, the five Spirit Masters from the Jade Pot Palace, led by the Lost Saintess, quickly began their discussion. They had already formulated a plan: their weakest member would forfeit their challenge to avoid being crushed by the opposing faction’s strongest Spirit Master.

Although forfeiting wasted an opportunity, it was better than losing a point.

However, unexpectedly, the Pure Saintess of the Snow Fairy Mansion was participating in the second round, the Tests. This significantly increased their chances of winning…

“I challenge the Snow Fairy Mansion!”

The Lost Saintess stepped forward confidently, eliciting gasps of surprise.

The Jade Pot Palace had sent out their Saintess in the first round! This was unprecedented, a display of confidence befitting the former top recruit.

Challenged by the Jade Pot Palace, the Snow Fairy Mansion, unsurprised, sent out a small girl with an ordinary aura.

The two girls faced each other in the center of the arena.

Would that woman notice her?

Boom!!!

The Lost Saintess, glancing towards the Sea Concubine Palace’s seating area, her body suddenly surging with spirit energy, was enveloped in a wave of blue water.

Within the swirling water, a massive, illusory shark circled the girl.

A high-rank, biological-type Hidden Skeleton Shark!!!

A ferocious shark, its sharp fins like blades, creating its own watery environment as it swam, a powerful and intimidating sight.

The Snow Fairy Mansion Spirit Master’s spirit beast was an armored panther, its upper jaw sporting two massive, walrus-like tusks.

A mid-rank, biological-type Snow Hunting Ice Leopard!!

The Ice Leopard was just over twenty meters long, while the shark was nearly a hundred. They weren’t even on the same level.

As the shark approached, the Ice Leopard, whimpering and yelping as if… violated, frantically scrambled back and forth, then retreated to its Spirit Master’s soul core, leaving the Snow Fairy Mansion girl standing there, her face flushed with embarrassment.

She had been prepared for defeat, but she hadn’t expected her spirit beast to flee without a fight.

The girl stood frozen, her body stiff. She had zero combat experience. There was nothing she could do…

An awkward silence fell upon the arena. The Snow Fairy Mansion Spirit Masters hung their heads in shame.

The Jade Pot Palace Spirit Masters, however, cheered. It had been years since they had scored any points in the Ranking Battle.

The Lost Saintess, her first victory secured, smugly recalled her spirit beast and returned to her waiting area.

[Jade Pot Palace: 1]
[Snow Fairy Mansion: -1]

The first battle concluded, and it was the Snow Fairy Mansion’s turn to choose their opponent.

Despite their negative score, they didn’t challenge the Jade Pot Palace. After all, the Jade Pot Palace had sent out their Saintess in the first round.

The Lost Saintess still had her challenge remaining. Any faction that challenged her now risked defeat.

“We forfeit our challenge.”

The Snow Fairy Mansion Spirit Masters, their faces grim, reluctantly forfeited their first challenge.

Although they knew the Pure Saintess would redeem them in the second round, how could they face the humiliation of being publicly defeated?

Next was the Azure Stream Palace. Their Hateful Saintess was also participating in the second round, leaving only… less impressive members for the duels.

Therefore, the Azure Stream Palace also chose to challenge the Snow Fairy Mansion.

The Tide Pavilion also challenged the Snow Fairy Mansion…

The Water Wish Pavilion also challenged the Snow Fairy Mansion…

[Snow Fairy Mansion: -4]

The Snow Fairy Mansion members watched, their faces burning with shame and anger, as they were repeatedly defeated, utterly helpless.

Since most of the spectators were Illumination and Dawn and Dusk Stage Spirit Masters, they couldn’t send out stronger representatives.

Taking turns bullying the Snow Fairy Mansion… It was a comical sight, even amusing the drowsy Gong Lianyue.

Judging by their performance during her visit, the Snow Fairy Mansion Spirit Masters had no real combat experience. They were easy targets.

The Snow Fairy Mansion had already used four of their five chances to be challenged, only one remaining.

If the Ice Shield Palace challenged them next, their nightmare would finally be over…

Amidst their pain, embarrassment, and anxiety, a sense of relief began to creep in.

“I challenge the Pool of Hidden Secrets!!!”

However, the green-haired woman from the Ice Shield Palace, unfazed by the previous farce, simply glared at the Pool of Hidden Secrets delegation.

Challenging the lowest-ranked faction was pointless. They weren’t worried about being overtaken by such weaklings.

The true objective for the top factions was to suppress each other, allowing their main forces to shine in the final round!

Seeing the green-haired woman, the black-haired girls from the Pool of Hidden Secrets exchanged grim looks.

Such a powerful battle intent… Were they sending such a strong fighter in the first round?

No, the Ice Shield Palace’s overall strength this time was simply… overwhelming. With all twelve former Saintess Candidates participating, they could practically sweep the entire Ranking Battle.

Strange, considering the usual animosity between Saintess Candidates, shouldn’t they be trying to sabotage the Wrathful Saintess? How had she managed to convince them to participate?