Beneath Li Zhexian's feet, six Spirit Rings bloomed in dazzling hues, like a tapestry of light and color.
Even the Snow Empress and Ice Empress, beings who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, fell silent at the sight.
They had witnessed the rise and fall of ages, watched oceans turn to mulberry fields, and met countless prodigious humans and spirit beasts—
Yet this young man in white before them…
He was, without question, the most extraordinary talent they had ever seen.
"What are the effects of your Spirit Abilities?"
The Snow Empress's icy eyes glimmered with a trace of curiosity.
The Ten-Thousand Mirage Beast was one of the rarest and most peculiar Spirit Beasts—
somewhat similar to the Nine-Heart Begonia.
Only when all Ten-Thousand Mirage Beasts on the continent had perished, would an ancient mirage, born from illusion itself, gain sentience and form a new one.
As for the Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone of a Ten-Thousand Mirage Beast…
In all her countless years, even the Snow Empress had never heard of anyone obtaining them.
Li Zhexian was perhaps the first in history.
"Senior Snow Empress, please forgive my offense."
As his words fell, the hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring beneath his feet flared with scarlet light.
Li Zhexian drew the Qinglian Sword in a smooth motion.
A mysterious, glassy arc of swordlight cut straight toward the Snow Empress.
Her expression remained calm.
Frost and snow condensed into a blue crystal shield before her—
But that swordlight passed through it as though the shield were a mere illusion, striking her directly.
For an instant—
A flicker of confusion flashed in her icy eyes.
Even the snowflakes drifting around her froze in midair.
She… had forgotten to make it snow.
"Hm?!"
The Snow Empress's eyes cleared,
and both she and the Ice Empress turned their gazes toward Li Zhexian,
a rare trace of astonishment on their faces.
"You truly obtained the Ten-Thousand Mirage Beast's ability?"
Li Zhexian nodded.
Unlike other hundred-thousand-year Spirit Rings, this one granted only a single Spirit Ability—
But its power was nothing short of terrifying.
Its name: Mirage Thought Severance.
This ability created a blade of conceptual intent—
One that no physical or energy-based defense could block.
It inflicted no physical harm, yet it could sever or greatly weaken a specific thought within the target's mind.
Cut away "battle intent," and the opponent would waver or lose courage.
Cut away "killing intent," and their strikes would falter with hesitation.
Cut away the "thought of using a particular Spirit Ability," and they would momentarily forget how to use it at all.
As for the Ten-Thousand Mirage Spirit Bone, it bestowed two abilities.
The first: Mirage Sword Reflection —
Locks onto an opponent, analyzes their next move, and mirrors it, allowing for perfect prediction and counterattack.
The second Spirit Bone ability: Ephemeral Mirage Rebirth—
Grants the power of the Mirage Beast's reincarnation; upon death, one may be reborn in nirvana.
But the cost… is the loss of something truly irreplaceable.
...
Li Zhexian was deeply satisfied with both the Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone—
Yet among the three abilities, only Ephemeral Mirage Rebirth left him uneasy.
Rebirth upon death… how powerful a Spirit Ability must that be?
And still—
Somewhere deep in his soul, he sensed that using it would come at a price too great to imagine.
...
He remained in the Extreme North for seven more days.
Once he was certain that Little Yazi would no longer faint or lose control, Li Zhexian finally took his leave.
Amidst endless snow and wind, the Ice Empress, Snow Empress, and Little Yazi came to see him off.
The little beast whimpered pitifully, trying to rush into Li Zhexian's arms.
But with a wave of Snow Empress's slender hand,
a swirl of snow lifted Little Yazi gently into her arms.
"Little one, you're still too weak."
"Absorb the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow first. When you reach ten-thousand years of cultivation, then you may leave."
"Yi Ya..."
Little Yazi drooped instantly, gazing at Li Zhexian with tearful eyes.
Li Zhexian could only spread his hands helplessly. "What Senior Snow Empress says is absolutely right."
"Li Zhexian…"
The Ice Empress's voice was clear as chimes of ice against jade.
"The matter of the Evildemon Forest isn't over."
"Since you have inherited the sacrifice of the former Yazi, its vengeance must also be yours to bear."
"When you are strong enough—"
"I understand, Senior."
Li Zhexian's tone turned solemn.
"Once my strength is sufficient, I will return to the Evil Forestdemon with Little Yazi and settle that debt."
Hearing this, both the Snow Empress and Ice Empress smiled faintly, their gazes softening toward him.
"Since there is nothing else…"
"Senior Snow Empress, Senior Ice Empress, and Little Yazi—until we meet again."
He cupped his hands respectfully.
White robes fluttering, Li Zhexian's figure turned into a streak of swordlight and vanished into the falling snow.
...
The Snow Empress stood holding Little Yazi for a long while before she and the Ice Empress returned to the palace.
The palace was unchanged.
Frost and snow drifted down as ever.
In the crystal garden, tiny snow beasts and little snowmen played and chased one another.
They called for Little Yazi—
But the little beast lay limp in the Snow Empress's arms, listless and quiet.
"It feels… a little colder than before," the Snow Empress murmured softly.
Even she found her own words strange.
Her icy eyes shimmered faintly as she extended a slender finger toward the garden.
One by one, fresh fruits broke through the ice and floated into the air.
"Senior Snow Empress, the snow around you—it's too plain. Should I help you add some flavor to it?"
That was what Li Zhexian had said to her one day,
after they had become more familiar.
The only response he received then
was a flick of her sleeve and a cold, powerful strike.
He never mentioned it again—
but he had left the fresh fruits behind.
The Snow Empress's red lips parted slightly.
A moment later,
an orange-gold fruit was already in her mouth.
Then, a miraculous scene occurred—
The pure white snow drifting above her head
slowly turned orange,
releasing a faintly sweet and fruity fragrance.
"Yi-ya?!"
Little Yazi's beastly eyes widened in shock.
The Ice Empress looked at the Snow Empress,
her expression subtly shifting.
Since when had the Snow Empress become… so childish?
The Snow Empress flicked Little Yazi's forehead lightly, smiling.
"Little one, if you wish to find Li Zhexian again, you must grow strong quickly."
...
From the Extreme North to Heaven Dou, From the Far North to Heaven Dou,
the journey was long and arduous.
Li Zhexian had no time to visit his friends in the northern territories.
About a month later,
he finally returned to Heaven Dou City.
The people of the city—and Li Zhexian's friends—
all breathed sighs of relief upon seeing him safe.
The city buzzed with excitement;
its liveliness increased by several degrees.
Li Zhexian, meanwhile, sat leisurely—
eating noodles, listening to a storyteller.
Amid the chatter,
he faintly overheard someone mention:
"The Spirit Hall is convening the Seven Sect Election Assembly."
His expression changed slightly.
In the next instant, his figure vanished from the noodle stall—
reappearing hundreds of meters away.
...
At the Dugu Residence,
"Zhexian was taken by the Snow Maiden to the Extreme North—it's been over a month now…"
Dugu Bo's expression was grim.
His once-white hair now shimmered faintly with streaks of green and red.
A scorching, violent aura pulsed from his thin frame.
"If it were under normal circumstances…"
"I would have already gone with Chen Xin and the others to the Far North."
"No matter how strong that Snow Maiden is, could she resist several Titled Douluo together?"
"But with the Seven Sect Assembly about to begin,
they can't leave now."
As these thoughts raced through his mind,
Dugu Bo suddenly froze.
Then, the darkness on his face melted away—
replaced by a relieved smile.
With a wave of his sleeve,
the mansion gates flew open.
Standing just outside was a white-robed youth.
"Senior Dugu's spiritual sense grows sharper by the day."