At the foot of Seagod Mountain, in front of the ring-shaped island.
Qian Renxue, dressed in black, stood silently, and she was the only one there.
As for the other figure, it had vanished at some unknown point.
Her tall, slender figure was like a statue meticulously carved by an artist—flawless, yet lifeless.
She quietly gazed at Seagod Mountain not far ahead, but her thoughts were entirely elsewhere, far from the silent, shimmering Seagod's Light.
From her earlier confrontation with Su Cheng, to when she touched his body, then noticed the residual injuries, and finally the conversation that followed...
All these scenes and words played out slowly in her mind, frame by frame...
No one is willing to share their lover.
Even she herself harbored a grudge against the existence of another soul within her, let alone outsiders like Zhu Zhuqing.
As for that Zhu Zhuqing, she was utterly laughable.
Not only laughable, but shameless!
Knowing full well about her relationship with Su Cheng, how dare she do what she did? Where does she get her confidence from?
What kind of mindset does she have to force her way between her and Su Cheng?
Unless she has some ulterior motive for getting close...
Su Cheng, you're not stupid, so why can't you see this?
Why do you have to act foolishly in matters like this?
When will you finally understand that besides me, there won't be anyone else in this world who would truly love you without expecting anything in return...
Meanwhile, not far behind Qian Renxue, Xue Di (Snow Empress) was also silently observing her, with a glimmer of surprise in her eyes.
Before today, she had never seen this version of Qian Renxue—dressed in black, with silver hair and silver eyes.
Looking at the tall figure from behind, Xue Di suddenly had a realization.
If the one who had fought her that day was Qian Renxue in this state, then neither she nor Bing'er (Ice Empress) would likely have survived.
That chilling and stern aura was simply too intense.
"You…"
Xue Di opened her mouth to speak, but after thinking for a long time, she didn't know what to say. In the end, she could only ask in a soft, dry voice, "Are you okay?"
Qian Renxue turned around when she heard the voice, lifting her gaze to look up and down at the stunning beauty in a simple white dress standing before her, her eyes thoughtful.
She naturally knew the origin of this spirit beast.
She and her first personality were two souls in one body, independent yet inseparable, so she had seen everything through those experiences.
Compared to the other soul, her personality was far more somber and ruthless.
When in a bad mood, she would easily lose control of her emotions, acting without considering the consequences, which is why she hadn't appeared until now.
She couldn't be bothered to show up.
As for Xue Di's existence, she was utterly indifferent.
For most of the past year, she had been quietly studying techniques and gradually becoming familiar with the use of solar energy.
However, after meeting Su Cheng today, although she was still in a foul mood, she was no longer as lifeless as before.
Whether her emotions were sad or angry, they were at least active again.
"…Are you asking me or her?"
After a long silence, Qian Renxue finally spoke, her voice extremely cold.
"If it's her, that woman is hiding away crying, too busy to deal with you."
"…"
Xue Di was somewhat taken aback by the response.
She couldn't quite figure it out.
Or rather, from the beginning, she hadn't understood the strange nature of Qian Renxue's existence.
A moment ago, when she saw Qian Renxue split into two identical, yet entirely different, people, she had been shocked for quite a while.
But if they were truly different people, why did they act so in sync when facing that man?
"The man just now…what is 'your' relationship with him?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't." Qian Renxue frowned, "This is none of your concern."
"…" Xue Di's expression momentarily froze. She then recalled the term "spare spirit ring" used earlier, and her anger finally became difficult to suppress, her voice growing calm and commanding.
"I follow you, not because I fear death. You should at least give me the respect I deserve. Even if your strength surpasses mine, in a life-or-death battle, it's not certain that you could definitely defeat me."
"…I understand."
Qian Renxue stared at Xue Di and slowly nodded, "The pride of a king, huh? Very well."
Upon hearing this, the corners of Xue Di's lips curled up slightly, her gaze becoming clearer and brighter.
In terms of both strength and willpower, she had never been a weakling.
For tens of thousands of years, she had endured hardship, practiced diligently to survive the heavenly tribulations, and sharpened her mindset through the monotonous life she led. In the Far North, she had once led countless spirit beasts and was respected by many powerful beings as the "Snow Empress."
The Qian Renxue before her was indeed very powerful, with strength and demeanor beyond that of ordinary people, worthy of being addressed as "Master" by her.
But she was not a servant; she was a follower, never someone to be casually humiliated.
This point needed to be made clear to the other party.
Otherwise...
The smile that had just appeared on Xue Di's face quickly froze.
Qian Renxue was now holding a broad-bladed longsword in her hand, which burned with a silent, silver flame.
Unlike the brilliant and intense golden flames used by the previous golden-haired Qian Renxue, this silver fire, though it emitted no external heat, seemed capable of freezing thoughts and burning souls, creating an overwhelming sense of threat.
This intimidating force even made Xue Di, the embodiment of ice and snow and Empress of the Far North, feel a chill in her heart.
"Put away your pride; such things are worthless in front of me."
Qian Renxue's icy gaze held a trace of disdain.
The look in this spirit beast's eyes inexplicably reminded her of Zhu Zhuqing, that little girl.
The same cluelessness, the same baseless pride.
They didn't realize that this so-called pride was fragile and meaningless in the face of true power.
"…"
Xue Di's expression changed multiple times as she looked at Qian Renxue, who was filled with killing intent.
The hands behind her back clenched into fists, then relaxed. Her formidable aura fluctuated, and her powerful "Three Supreme Techniques of the Snow Empress" was already poised to strike...
But the next moment—
"Alright, that's enough."
As Qian Renxue's longsword disappeared, her waist-length silver hair returned to its golden color, and her eyes once again glowed with a golden hue.
Xue Di was momentarily stunned, then she also withdrew the surging energy from her body.
The familiar Qian Renxue had returned.
Although still difficult to deal with, she was far better than the one who had just drawn her sword at the slightest provocation.
It must be said, many times it's only after comparison that one learns to appreciate what's before them.
"That one just now was…"
Xue Di opened her mouth, but she still couldn't resist asking.
Although the best choice now would be to stop while she was ahead—otherwise, if she accidentally angered Qian Renxue again, and a repeat of the previous scenario occurred, there would be no room for retreat. A fight would be inevitable, and worse yet, it might even lead to death.
But the state Qian Renxue was in was too strange, too mysterious. She couldn't suppress her curiosity.
Moreover, this "Lord's" condition might significantly affect her own future prospects, so she couldn't help but be concerned.
Fortunately, Qian Renxue didn't take offense and merely said indifferently, "She is another me."
"Another... second personality?"
"Yes, you could say that, but it's actually not that simple. The two of us are equals, and we're not just mere 'personalities.' We are both complete individuals."
After saying this, she lowered her gaze and fell silent, lost in thought.
Xue Di wisely refrained from asking further and instead pondered quietly to herself.
Could Qian Renxue's immense power be related to this peculiar state? She had heard of twin martial souls and had a general understanding of split personalities, but she had never seen anyone capable of becoming two complete individuals.
Two souls, two minds, even two bodies.
Furthermore, both of them possessed immense power, terrifying talent, and completely different attributes, along with their own independent thoughts and will.
What she didn't know was whether this special dual state in Qian Renxue was innate, the result of some accident or opportunity, or perhaps due to a unique cultivation method.
After all, under normal circumstances, if a single body housed two souls, it would be akin to a mental disorder. No matter how you looked at it, such a state shouldn't be able to persist healthily.
Even if harmony could be maintained for a while, conflicts would inevitably arise over time. Moreover, both of these wills were extremely strong and had very different personalities, with no possibility of one side making endless compromises.
Even if no major conflicts occurred, it shouldn't be so stable; at the very least, there should be some level of internal strife.
One's power was pure and bright, while the other's was dark and deep. Even if they weren't opposing forces that counteracted each other, they certainly shouldn't complement each other.
Yet the powers of these two seemed to be able to convert and borrow from each other, which was rather odd.
Therefore, Xue Di speculated that the other party might possess some special technique that allowed them to maintain this stable state and even go further, perfectly showcasing both their formidable talents.
If that were the case, could she use such a method to improve herself...?
Looking at the dazed Qian Renxue in front of her, Xue Di couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
What on earth did that wretched man do to charm this person?
At the same time, she found it hard to understand why someone like Qian Renxue would fall so deeply in love with a philandering scoundrel.
Even knowing that he was unfaithful, she still couldn't let go.
It wasn't as if she didn't know that humans were emotionally complex, especially when it came to love.
But she didn't believe that such emotional problems could trouble someone like Qian Renxue.
"It seems that trying to persuade her to turn back is futile. Should I find an opportunity to deal with that scoundrel? His strength isn't a concern, but I'll need to find a way to avoid Qian Renxue's detection first..."
Xue Di harbored deep animosity toward Su Cheng.
Neither Qian Renxue nor Su Cheng himself had any inkling of this.
After all, on the surface, it seemed that there had only been some verbal sparring between Xue Di and Su Cheng, and it was Xue Di who hadn't come out on top in the subsequent battle. There was no reason for her to be so angry.
But in truth, Xue Di didn't care much about minor verbal offenses.
She could either issue a light punishment or simply let it go, depending on her mood at the time.
At first, Su Cheng's attitude had annoyed her, but not to the point of making her think otherwise.
The real issue lay with Qian Renxue.
Xue Di now placed great importance on this "Lord" of hers, almost viewing her as her future hope.
Although such a description might not be entirely appropriate.
But to the current Xue Di, Qian Renxue's existence was as significant as Tang San was to Yu Xiaogang.
"What a magnificent view."
Standing atop Seagod Mountain, Su Cheng looked around and sincerely praised the sight.
Although he had climbed this sacred mountain and personally destroyed the Seagod Temple and the Seagod Trident within it during a previous simulation, he hadn't had the leisure to admire the scenery at that time.
All he had in mind then was to complete the final task as quickly as possible.
Seeing it again now, he noticed many things he hadn't before.
Seagod Island wasn't large, and Seagod Mountain wasn't particularly high—at least, compared to the Spirit Hall mountains, it fell far short.
But it was still more than enough to overlook the small Seagod Island.
The island's layout was also quite unique.
Seven sacred pillars stood tall in various parts of the island, each topped with a statue depicting different sea soul beasts such as Sea Dragon, Sea Horse, and Sea Witch, their forms and expressions vividly lifelike.
Dense forests surrounded and protected Seagod Mountain, shrouded in a mysterious energy. From above, the mist blending with the humid air created a scene of ethereal beauty.
Beyond the island, the endless azure waves extended the vastness of the picture, making the view even more impressive than Spirit City.
There, you couldn't see such an endless expanse.
"Magnificent view?" Bo Saixi smiled faintly, but her eyes remained indifferent. She didn't feel any joy from this praise. "If you were to look at this view for decades, you might not think so."
Su Cheng was taken aback.
Bo Saixi gazed into the distance, her eyes unfocused, as if lost in memory.
Her tone carried a hint of melancholy, "I can't even remember exactly how many years it's been. I've stood here watching. Watching as old friends pass away one by one, while new generations continue to emerge. After so long, I've grown numb. Except for a few old friends, everyone else seems to have turned into mere numbers."
Su Cheng turned to look at this high priest of Seagod Island, who stood at the pinnacle of the world's power.
She still looked so young.
Her appearance was exquisitely beautiful, her skin smooth and fair.
As the mountain wind blew past, it lifted her robes, revealing a figure that remained as impressive as ever.
But in truth, she had lived for over a hundred years.
"In that case, why remain so attached? No one can force you to do anything. You have those memories of the past. You can choose your own future."
"Can I? I don't think so," Bo Saixi turned to meet Su Cheng's gaze, her eyes complicated.
"Su Cheng, do you think I'm stupid, hopeless? You've given me opportunities, and you've always had my best interests at heart, but I haven't been able to appreciate it?
"But you don't understand, some things aren't so easy to let go of.
"From the moment I awakened my martial soul, I have been striving to serve the Seagod one day.
"When I reached the peak of the eighth trial, it was the happiest and most glorious moment of my life. From that day on, I was destined to become the next high priest of Seagod Island.
"How could someone like me abandon the honor of being the Seagod's emissary? How could I deny my past?"
"..." Su Cheng's expression shifted slightly, and he shook his head with a sigh. "High Priest, you're mistaken."
"Hmm?"
Seeing Bo Saixi's confusion, he explained, "There was never any 'I'm doing this for your own good.' I never had any intention of forcing you to change. What I hate most is imposing my views on others.
"Think back, if you hadn't captured me and forced me to undergo the god trials, would I have come to Seagod Island to bother you?
"In fact, it's you who have been projecting your own ideas onto me. Maybe it's because of your caution, or perhaps your strong faith, wanting to take preemptive action. You might even think you're doing it for my sake, and chose to strike first.
"But is it reasonable to act against me for things that haven't even happened yet?"
At this point, Su Cheng took a deep breath, his expression becoming more serious.
"As for those memories, whether for you or for me, they're just dreams.
"In reality, I've never done anything harmful to Seagod Island, and I have no plans to do so for now.
"If we ever become enemies in the future, it will be because of opposing camps, and we'll have no choice but to fight. It won't be to make someone see the error of their ways. Those things are personal choices and have nothing to do with me.
"Of course, in this world, strength is what matters. Reasoning is useless. Everyone has their own reasons, but in the end, it's the strongest who are right.
"I'm not saying this to defend myself, but to clarify my position."
After hearing this, Bo Saixi fell silent, a trace of bitterness in her eyes.
She had indeed done something foolish.