The northern border of Winterfell.
Snowflakes drifted down in thick clusters, the cold wind whipping through the icy landscape, carrying the accumulated snow and tearing through the air like a mournful wail.
Lin Ran carried the unconscious Yin Ling on his back, step by step, moving toward the dense Domain Fields in the north.
The polar night of the northern region had only just passed its halfway point. In this land where daylight was fleeting and darkness stretched endlessly, temperatures could plummet to as low as negative 40 degrees Celsius during the coldest hours.
Lin Ran's strength lay in his spells, not in his physical endurance.
After prolonged exposure to the frigid air, his cheeks were bright red from the cold, and frost had formed on his eyelashes, turning them into delicate ice crystals.
He had no idea how long he had been walking, but Yin Ling had yet to wake up.
Looking ahead, the world was a desolate wasteland, devoid of any signs of life. Everything in sight was shrouded in a pale white haze, buried beneath endless layers of falling snow.
Perhaps beneath the thick ice, there were krill and other creatures, but the surface was a lifeless zone, an absolute death trap.
Raising his head, he gazed at the sky filled with countless stars, their light serving as the only illumination in this perpetual night.
Without the interference of light pollution, the sky seemed more vivid than ever. Wisps of faint green mist floated like ethereal ribbons, half-real, half-illusory—so close, yet impossibly distant.
Despite the breathtaking beauty of the frozen wilderness, Lin Ran had no time to admire it.
He was shivering violently, his teeth clattering from the cold, his legs heavy as lead, each step a struggle against exhaustion.
Suddenly, his foot sank into a hidden dip in the snow, and his body pitched forward, crashing face-first onto the frozen ground.
Lin Ran immediately scrambled up, turning to check on Yin Ling.
She remained motionless, her eyes tightly shut, lying in the snow as still and delicate as a princess from a fairy tale, her ethereal beauty untouched even in this harsh land.
Two days had passed since Feng Qi's attack.
Yin Ling had been asleep the entire time.
While Lin Ran felt pangs of guilt, he also understood—this was a necessary part of the mission.
It was also his best chance to gather critical intelligence from her.
For now, his only task was to keep moving north, heading toward the Domain Fields.
This was the only escape route Yin Ling had mentioned before losing consciousness—her only hope of survival.
Gritting his teeth, Lin Ran forced himself upright once more, hoisting Yin Ling onto his back again, his body swaying under her weight as he pressed forward.
Soon, their figures vanished into the swirling blizzard.
Lin Ran had no idea how much time had passed.
His legs finally gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud.
Lying flat on his back, he sucked in a deep breath, then grabbed a handful of snow, shoving it into his mouth.
The melting ice trickled down his throat, soothing his parched body, though it provided only a fleeting relief.
At the same time, a deep hunger gnawed at his stomach.
He hadn't eaten for two days.
With the energy he had already burned while traveling, he had no idea how much longer he could last.
He pulled Yin Ling into his arms, holding her tightly against him as he tried to regulate his breathing.
Lifting his trembling hand, he formed a seal, conjuring a thin barrier of spiritual energy to shield them from the icy winds.
But his body was already nearing its limit.
The energy barrier flickered, struggling to maintain its form.
It shifted between being solid and ethereal, as if on the verge of shattering at any moment.
The overwhelming fatigue finally overtook him.
Lin Ran fought to stay awake, but his eyelids grew too heavy, and he succumbed to exhaustion, drifting into unconsciousness.
The spiritual barrier crumbled instantly.
Snowflakes began falling upon them, covering their bodies bit by bit.
Lin Ran's life force was slowly fading.
One hour later, the snow had fully buried them both, leaving behind nothing but a smooth, undisturbed surface.
At that moment, Yin Ling's eyes fluttered open.
She lifted her head slightly, and the snow covering her body slid off.
She quickly took in her surroundings, only to realize that she was lying in Lin Ran's arms.
His face was deathly pale, and his breathing was dangerously weak.
Understanding the situation instantly, Yin Ling felt a sharp pain in her chest.
It was obvious that after the blood demon had reverted to skeletal form and left, Lin Ran had carried her on foot for miles.
Though her wounds were still unhealed, she ignored the pain, leaning forward to place her palm gently against Lin Ran's forehead.
A warm flow of spiritual energy seeped into his body, beginning to dispel the cold that had invaded his core.
As she looked at him—pale, weak, and nearly frozen to death—a deep sense of sorrow filled her heart.
This man, once a rising star of humanity, a prodigy carrying the expectations of an entire civilization, had fallen to this state… all because of her.
In a way, she had ruined him.
Turning her gaze toward the trail they had come from, she found that the falling snow had already erased Lin Ran's footprints.
Yet, it was clear—they were far from their last resting place.
Lin Ran had walked an unimaginable distance, carrying her all the way.
A mix of gratitude and guilt welled up in her chest.
With Lin Ran's body temperature finally stabilizing, Yin Ling withdrew her hand.
She gently traced a mark on her forehead, activating a spatial imprint.
Immediately, a dark vortex of space opened beside her.
Reaching into the dimensional rift, she retrieved a small vial of brown liquid.
Uncapping the bottle, a rich medicinal fragrance spread through the air, curling like ethereal mist.
Dipping her fingertip into the vapor, she guided the medicinal essence into Lin Ran's nose and mouth.
As the mist seeped into his body, it stimulated his dormant organs, awakening his nearly lifeless systems.
It was like a parched land drinking in its first rain.
His faint heartbeat gradually grew stronger.
Discarding the empty vial, Yin Ling began checking Lin Ran's vitals, carefully assessing his condition.
After confirming that he was steadily recovering, she let out a breath of relief.
Raising her head, she studied the endless white landscape, then tilted her gaze toward the star-filled sky, using the constellations to determine their direction.
She had no way of knowing if they had truly escaped the blood demon's pursuit.
What she did know was that they couldn't stay here any longer.
Their only hope for survival lay in the Domain Fields to the north.
If they could reach those territories, perhaps even the blood demon would hesitate to follow.
After all, Domain Fields belonged to other forces—forces that even Feng Qi might not wish to provoke.
But heading there also came with risks.
Still, it was better than waiting for death here.
As she planned their next move, Yin Ling retrieved a rare medicinal herb from her personal storage space, crushing it into a glowing green liquid, and drinking it down to heal herself.
Hours later, Yin Ling stood up.
She checked Lin Ran's condition once more, then brushed the snow off his body, bent down, and lifted him onto her back.
With slow, determined steps, she headed north—toward the unknown.
Amid the swirling snow, their figures gradually faded into the distance.
The relentless pursuit of the blood demon loomed over them like an executioner's blade. As she pressed forward, Yin Ling constantly glanced back, wary of any sign of danger.
In the perpetual darkness of the polar night, with no sun to guide her, she had no way of knowing how long she had been carrying Lin Ran—until, at last, a barrier shimmering in deep blue appeared at the edge of her vision.
This Domain Field barrier extended into the sky, merging with the stars above, so high that its end was impossible to see.
Yin Ling quickened her pace.
Compared to Lin Ran, her movements were far more cautious. Each step she took was deliberately light, leaving no footprints in the snow, ensuring that not even the faintest trace of her passage remained.
This was a necessary precaution—if the blood demon tracked them through footprints or residual aura, their escape would be completely meaningless.
Finally, she reached the edge of the blue barrier.
Standing before it, she came to a halt.
Crossing into the Domain Field meant stepping into the unknown.
There were no roads leading inside, no signal towers, no recognition plaques—this was clearly an untamed, unexplored Domain Field.
Once they entered, they might encounter powerful entities native to this domain.
No Domain Force would welcome intruders with kindness—their fate would be grim, if not outright fatal.
Yet, after a brief moment of hesitation, Yin Ling gritted her teeth and stepped through the shimmering blue barrier.
The sensation was like walking through water—a slight resistance followed by a sudden feeling of weightlessness.
And then, the world before her transformed.
The blizzard vanished in an instant.
The barren, ice-covered wasteland was replaced with rolling green fields, teeming with lush grass and vibrant flowers.
The air was thick with the scent of plants, while strange creatures resembling butterflies and bees flitted between the blossoms.
The contrast was astonishing—it was as if she had stepped through a portal into another world.
Just beyond the barrier, a realm of deathly cold and lifeless snow.
Yet within, a paradise brimming with life.
Even knowing how unbelievable it seemed, Yin Ling remained on high alert.
She understood all too well—crisis could lurk behind any illusion of peace.
If they were discovered by the forces controlling this Domain Field, there would be no escape.
With the blood demon behind them and an unknown force ahead, their last hope for survival could be crushed at any moment.
Taking a deep breath, Yin Ling reached up and brushed her fingers across her forehead, summoning a spatial vortex.
From within the swirling darkness, she retrieved a humanoid puppet.
She left the puppet at the entrance, keeping a telepathic connection with it.
It would serve as her third eye, alerting her the moment the blood demon arrived.
Carrying Lin Ran, she pressed forward, heading deeper into the Domain Field.
Climbing a steep, grassy hill, she stopped to listen.
In the distance, a deep rumbling sound echoed through the air.
Cautiously, she lifted her head to take in the landscape beyond.
And what she saw left her speechless.
A massive mountain loomed before her, so tall that its peak was hidden within the clouds.
From the middle of the mountain, an enormous waterfall cascaded down, like a river of stars tumbling from the heavens, churning up a thick mist that filled the valley below.
Countless snow-white birds circled the waterfall, their cries echoing through the air as they darted playfully through the mist.
At the foot of the mountain, an enormous lake stretched out like a mirror, reflecting the sky and the birds above.
Occasionally, massive shapes lurked beneath the water's surface, stirring up rippling waves.
At the very peak of the mountain, hidden within the rolling clouds, a golden temple emerged from the mist.
Intricately carved stone pillars lined its entrance, adorned with fierce mythical beasts.
It was like a palace from legend, an immortal's dwelling high above the mortal world.
Yin Ling had never seen anything so breathtaking.
Yet, she could also feel it—the spiritual energy of this place was incredibly dense.
The power of the faction that ruled this Domain Field must be unimaginable.
She hesitated for only a moment.
Then, recalling that the blood demon could be closing in, she hardened her resolve and continued forward.
The path was lined with wildflowers, and small animals scurried around without fear, some even approaching her curiously.
But to Yin Ling, this peaceful paradise felt more dangerous than any battlefield.
She knew the cruel reality of the Domain World.
For a race to thrive in prosperity, countless others had to perish in misery.
The strong built their glorious civilizations atop the corpses of the weak.
Her own Silver Moon Clan was no exception.
The great cities of her people had been constructed on the blood of countless lesser species.
She had seen the ruins left behind by fallen races—shattered lands where not even a single proper structure remained.
The truth was simple—to grow stronger, a race had only one path forward:
Expansion and slaughter.
And to defend prosperity, there was only one method—
More slaughter.
The struggle between races was eternal and merciless.
She finally reached the lake at the mountain's base.
The water roared as the waterfall crashed down, its sound shaking the earth.
Looking across the expanse of the lake, she hesitated.
She had clearly seen enormous creatures moving beneath the surface.
Crossing the lake on foot was too risky.
After some thought, she decided to fly over it instead.
It would consume her spiritual energy, but at least it was safer than entering the water.
Just as she was about to take flight, the surface of the lake suddenly bulged outward.
With a massive splash, a colossal beast burst through the water's surface, jaws snapping shut around a snow-white bird in midair.
Boom!
The creature plunged back into the lake, sending waves crashing outward, its massive form vanishing into the depths.
Yin Ling stiffened, her plans to fly across instantly abandoned.
She adjusted her strategy.
Instead of crossing the lake, she would follow its edge, moving deeper into the Domain Field.
At that moment, the vision from her puppet suddenly shifted.
She saw it—
A skeleton-like figure had stepped through the barrier, entering the Domain Field.
The blood demon had arrived.
Its empty sockets locked onto her puppet, a silent confrontation through their shared vision.
Then—it moved.
The image flickered, and her connection to the puppet cut off.
It was coming.
Panic surged through Yin Ling's heart.
Without wasting another second, she tightened her grip on Lin Ran and broke into a sprint.
Meanwhile, at the Domain Field's entrance, Feng Qi stood at the edge of the hill, gazing at the same breathtaking scene.
His eyes traced the towering mountain, lingering on the hidden temple at its peak.
"Hmm?"
A flicker of recognition crossed his face.
He had seen this temple before.
Fifteen hundred years into the future.
Back then, Suction Cup had been fighting a brutal battle.
And this mysterious temple had suddenly appeared in the sky, as if its inhabitants were merely watching the spectacle.
But the moment Little Black made its move, the temple retreated, vanishing in an instant.
Feng Qi never expected that this ancient faction had already arrived in the human world, so many centuries earlier.
Yet, despite his curiosity, he didn't care much about them.
As long as the internal threats within humanity were eliminated, the next step would be the battle for supremacy between humanity and the various Domain Forces.
For now, this particular faction was not on the list of threats he needed to deal with in advance.
Crossing over the ridge, Feng Qi gazed in the direction where Lin Ran had fled.
A thick layer of flesh grew over his skeletal frame, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a towering, blood-red giant.
Without hesitation, he leaped from the hillside, his massive form slamming into the ground below, startling the small animals in the area.
As he pushed off the ground, the grass beneath his feet caved inward from the sheer force. His body shot forward, covering a massive distance before crashing down once again.
It was time to end this.
Not far ahead.
Yin Ling carried the still-unconscious Lin Ran, her feet pounding against the grassy plain as she sprinted at full speed.
At this moment, she could no longer afford to conserve her energy. The spiritual power within her surged outward, forming a propulsion force behind her, boosting her speed to the limit.
She knew all too well—if the Blood Demon caught up with them, both she and Lin Ran were as good as dead.
When she first decided to sacrifice herself in a desperate fight, she had already accepted her fate.
All she had wanted was to buy time for her people and her younger brother.
She feared death, but her desire for her people to survive was stronger.
She had thought she could face death calmly.
Yet, Lin Ran had not abandoned her.
Not only that—he had carried her unconscious body for a long, grueling journey.
This act of selflessness left a mark on her heart.
It gave her a reason to live.
She no longer wanted to die.
She couldn't let Lin Ran die either.
At this moment, all she could do was run as if her life depended on it, as if she were outrunning death itself.
Boom!
A thunderous impact rang out from behind her, the earth trembling beneath her feet.
She turned her head—and her blood ran cold.
The familiar crimson figure was charging toward her like an unstoppable force.
Every step the Blood Demon took left deep craters in the ground, and with each powerful leap, its massive body soared through the air, closing the distance between them at a terrifying speed.
She could feel the weight of despair pressing against her chest.
Despite pouring every ounce of her energy into escaping, she couldn't shake him off.
Then—a shadow loomed over her.
A massive figure landed ahead of her, its impact shaking the earth. Dirt and grass exploded into the air, and her escape route was completely blocked.
Facing the inescapable presence of the Blood Demon, Yin Ling felt bitterness rise within her.
She knew that begging for mercy, surrendering, or even offering a bargain would be meaningless.
The Blood Demon was determined to exterminate every last member of the Silver Moon Clan.
If it wasn't, it wouldn't have chased them all the way into the frozen wastelands of the Northern Winter Region.
Her path forward was cut off.
Her only chance of survival lay in the Blood Demon's two-minute power boost running out.
Two minutes.
A short time, yet an eternity in battle.
She wasn't sure if she could even last a single minute.
Taking a deep breath, she gently placed Lin Ran down on the grass, her gaze hardening with resolve.
The silver mark on her forehead glowed, unleashing a massive surge of spiritual power.
Her silver hair danced wildly in the wind, as countless silver-white energy particles gathered around her body.
She looked at Lin Ran's unconscious face, her eyes filled with sorrow.
The technique she was about to use was one few in the Silver Moon Clan had ever mastered.
The price was heavy.
She had almost used it before, back when she first tried to fight the Blood Demon—but Lin Ran had stopped her.
Now, there was no one to stop her.
At this moment, she had made her decision.
The Blood Demon moved.
A giant fist filled her vision, rushing straight toward her.
But before the blow could land, her body flickered—vanishing into thin air.
The air rippled where she once stood, distorted space swirling like a broken mirror.
Feng Qi's fist hit nothing but air.
Spatial ability!
His eyes narrowed.
A sharp gust of wind sliced toward him from behind.
He whirled around, throwing a punch—but hit nothing.
Yin Ling's form appeared over ten meters away, her body completely transformed.
She was no longer the same Yin Ling.
Her entire figure was now wrapped in silver-white energy particles, making her look like a futuristic warrior clad in armor.
Even Feng Qi hadn't expected this.
She had a spatial ability?
But he didn't believe she could use it without cost.
He had a similar ability—[Blink]—but it drained an immense amount of vitality each time he used it.
Which meant—Yin Ling was burning through her own life force just to fight him.
For Lin Ran?
The thought stirred something within him.
A bond like that deserved respect.
But he wouldn't hold back.
His blood surged, his heartbeat accelerating rapidly.
He charged at Yin Ling once more, the shockwaves of his power tearing through the air ahead of him.
Before he could reach her, she vanished again.
Pain exploded in his skull.
His head snapped forward as he stumbled.
Turning around, he saw Yin Ling gripping a silver-white energy sword, aiming directly at his head.
He threw a punch in defense—but she vanished again.
Standing several meters away, she stared at him coldly.
Feng Qi launched himself forward once more.
When they were only a meter apart, Yin Ling teleported again, creating distance.
But before she could stabilize herself, Feng Qi activated his own ability—[Blink].
Blood-red mist burst from his body.
As he teleported forward, he emerged right in front of Yin Ling, his sudden appearance freezing her in shock.
She instinctively tried to retreat—but it was too late.
Feng Qi's right fist swung forward, grazing her abdomen.
The impact sent a shockwave of blood energy through her body.
Boom!
Silver-white energy particles shattered, and Yin Ling's body was violently flung backward.
Feng Qi gave her no chance to recover.
He closed the distance instantly, raising his right fist again.
Crack!
A devastating punch struck Yin Ling's stomach.
She coughed up blood, along with shattered fragments of her internal organs.
Her body flew backward, slamming heavily into the ground.
"Cough… cough…"
She gasped for breath, her vision spinning.
Her body trembled, but she forced herself to stand, raising her energy sword once more.
Her eyes drifted toward Lin Ran, filled with guilt.
She knew that once she fell, Lin Ran would not survive either.
And then—something unexpected happened.
The Blood Demon's flesh began peeling away, disintegrating into crimson mist.
Carried away by the wind, it vanished.
In the blink of an eye, the four-meter-tall blood-colored monster reverted to its skeletal form.
As always, once it had returned to its skeletal state, the creature showed no interest in continuing the fight. Without hesitation, it turned around and sprinted toward the exit of the Domain Field.
Seeing this, Yin Ling froze momentarily, then slowly lowered her raised silver-white energy sword.
She forced her weakened body, now nearly devoid of life force, to walk toward the unconscious Lin Ran. Sitting down beside him, she reached out and gently brushed her fingers across his face, a soft smile appearing on her lips.
Lin Ran remained in deep sleep, oblivious to what had happened, but her vitality was continuously fading.
"I... can't die yet."
Looking at the sleeping Lin Ran, determination flickered in her eyes.
At that moment, she summoned a spatial vortex, reaching inside to retrieve a pile of spiritual herbs, which she immediately began devouring in large mouthfuls.
Using forbidden techniques had already drained her life force, and the Blood Demon's devastating punches had shattered her internal organs. The loss of her vitality was now unstoppable.
But she refused to die here.
She had to leave Lin Ran with a sliver of hope.
Lin Ran had already betrayed humanity—there was no way back for him.
His future was uncertain.
The only path left for him was to fully become a member of the Silver Moon Clan.
Only the Silver Moon Clan would accept him now.
Before her life completely faded, she wanted to leave him one final gift.
Yin Ling frantically consumed the spiritual herbs, desperately clinging to life.
When she finished the first batch, she retrieved more from her private storage and continued stuffing them into her mouth.
The mixed medicinal effects triggered violent side effects, making her retch uncontrollably—yet she forced herself to keep eating.
"I can't die... I can't die yet..."
The full moon hung high in the night sky, its reflection shimmering on the lake's surface.
At the edge of the lake, Yin Ling quietly kept watch over Lin Ran.
His eyelids twitched slightly, then he slowly awoke from his deep slumber.
Opening his eyes, he found himself lying in Yin Ling's arms, while she smiled down at him.
"You're awake?"
"Mm."
Lin Ran sat up, glancing around, and quickly realized they were inside the Domain Field.
"We should be safe now, right?"
"Of course. I don't think that monster would dare recklessly enter another race's territory."
"How long was I unconscious?"
"Two days. But that doesn't matter. Right now, there's something more important I need to tell you."
Seeing Yin Ling's gentle, radiant smile, Lin Ran felt something was off, but he couldn't pinpoint what.
He turned to face her directly.
"What is it?"
"Since you are already a part of the Silver Moon Clan, it's time you learned our secrets."
The moment those words left her lips, Lin Ran's heart sank.
He had assumed things would follow the plan Qi-ge had orchestrated, but it seemed things had progressed faster than expected—too fast.
"Lin Ran, you have to understand... there is no place for you in human society anymore."
"The Silver Moon Clan is your only home now."
As she spoke, she extended her finger toward his forehead.
The moment her fingertip touched his skin, an overwhelming surge of information flooded into Lin Ran's mind.
The data was simple, unlike memory transference.
It contained only coordinates, cross-dimensional contact methods, and similar crucial details.
But—this was exactly the final piece of intelligence he had come here to obtain.
In just a few minutes, Lin Ran fully absorbed the information.
When he opened his eyes, he looked at Yin Ling, and an ominous feeling gripped his chest.
"Aren't we running anymore?"
"We will... but later."
She smiled, but for the first time, her eyes glistened with moisture.
"Lin Ran, play a game of Spirit Chess with me."
Before he could refuse, she waved her hand, conjuring a luminous chessboard in the air.
When she placed the first piece, Lin Ran finally understood.
It wasn't that Qi-ge's plan had moved ahead unexpectedly.
It was that—everything had already happened while he was unconscious.
He looked at Yin Ling, watching as her shoulders trembled slightly.
His chest tightened painfully.
"Hurry up." She glared at him, her eyes reddened.
Lin Ran did not hesitate. He immediately formed his own elemental chess piece and placed it on the board.
Under the moonlit sky, they played in turns—yet, with each move, Yin Ling's condition worsened.
Her breathing became labored.
Her movements slowed.
Then, suddenly, she coughed violently.
A splatter of blood trickled between her fingers, dripping onto the grass like crimson petals.
Lin Ran rushed forward, but she stopped him.
"Keep playing."
"This was my favorite game when I was little. Play until the end with me."
Suppressing his grief, Lin Ran forced his trembling hands to continue.
Piece by piece, they played on.
The melancholy of the moment flowed with the moonlight, thickening like an unspoken sorrow.
"You're terrible at this—you lost again."
Yin Ling placed her final piece, but before she could finish her words, her body gave out.
Her life force drained completely.
Her silver hair fell softly over her face.
The light in her eyes faded into the darkness of the night.
She never let Lin Ran say the words he wanted to say.
Lin Ran stared at her lifeless body.
His hands trembled.
His vision blurred.
Finally, he could no longer hold it in.
He held Yin Ling's body tightly against his chest, burying his face in her shoulder, and wept like a child.
Her final worry was not her race.
Not the future of the Silver Moon Clan.
But him.
His future.
Memories flooded his mind—
The amusement park.
The cinema.
The zoo.
The countless photographs stored in Yin Ling's private space, capturing every precious moment they had spent together.
With her, it had felt like they were truly living.
Like they were in love.
But now—
That nickname she always called him...
He would never hear it again.