Yun Xiao knew he could still escape if he left now. But he quickly dismissed the idea!

"If I flee now, I’ll be a fugitive. Once Feng Yao secures her departure slot, I won’t be able to leave this godforsaken place with her!"

With that thought, Yun Xiao could only grit his teeth.

"I'll just have to tough it out and try!"

So, he acted as if nothing were amiss, waiting within the Carefree Palace. He believed the Diva would never want the incident between them leaked...

Her reaction was fierce. Instead of heading to the Snow Diva Ruins with Feng Yao, she stormed toward the Carefree Palace, sparking suspicion in Xue Yuening and the others.

The two Valkyrie Queens, ten Valkyrie Princesses, and 100 Valkyries followed them. However, they were much slower than the Diva. So, it would be a while before they arrived.

"It seems that incident has been on her mind the whole time. She’s thrown caution to the wind in her search for me."

As for why this was, remembering the blood, Yun Xiao fell silent.

BOOM!

In an instant, the Carefree Palace above him collapsed into a shower of snow dust, scattering with a whoosh.

Yun Xiao stood directly on the snowy ground.

Suddenly, a pink prison fell from the sky, and serpentine columns rose from the ground like a birdcage, completely trapping Yun Xiao!

A terrifying pressure slammed down on him, causing his bones to tremble.

He suddenly looked up! He could see a snow goddess standing before him, her long white hair and dress fluttering. Her eyes fixed intently on Yun Xiao, the pink light in her eyes like twin swords piercing his face!

Yun Xiao was too recognizable!

In that cave yesterday, as her spirit soared, she had etched his divine face into her memory.

One could hardly imagine the rage she felt upon seeing Yun Xiao again...

As for Feng Yao, who was dragged over forcibly, she wore a look of utter confusion. To her, these two were worlds apart!

In this moment, poised on the brink of bloodshed, Yun Xiao held aloft a prepared projection talisman, declaring, “If I die today, within one day, the contents of this talisman will spread across the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm.”

As he spoke, the pale snake-like columns of the prison trembled wildly.

BOOM!

The Diva of the Snow Lineage crashed to the ground like a beast, causing tremors through the floor of the Carefree Palace. Feng Yao, too, hit the ground, nearly stunned by the fall.

“I’ve made many copies, not wishing to tarnish the Diva’s reputation, only to save my own life,” Yun Xiao added.

After he spoke, it was clear to see—the Diva’s face nearly split with rage, steam rising from her head, a testament to her fury.

She certainly wanted to tear Yun Xiao into shreds! She was one of the spiritual pillars of the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm, the epitome of virtue in the hearts of all its female celestials! She stood at the pinnacle of this world!

Yun Xiao was a mere insect in this realm… Yet this insect had destroyed her entire life. If this matter were to spread, she would be trampled underfoot by all in the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm, her name mired forever!

Yun Xiao himself did not fully grasp the devastating impact this would have on her.

In truth, it would be a fate worse than death, unbearable even if she died ten times over! Her spiritual foundation and her resolve would all burst like bubbles, utterly extinguished.

She wanted to kill Yun Xiao, to vanquish this inner demon. However, he had recorded it! Should she kill him and the recording spread throughout the Extreme Yin Celestial Realm, then she could only imagine the fallout...

Her heart was torn into dozens of pieces! A lofty figure like her had never been directly confronted by a

lesser being

.

For a moment, rage and tears intertwined in her eyes.

“Besides, you asked for my help yesterday, and I saved your life. At the very least, I am your savior. You needn’t kick down the ladder now, must you?” Yun Xiao said.

"I will not kill you." The Diva took a deep breath, swallowing all her rage and the destruction of her spiritual resolve, and said with a bitten lip, "Come with me, promise me you won’t reveal anything, and I'll grant you a life far better than that of a slave."

From her words, it was evident that the threat of the projection talisman was indeed substantial.

"Go with you, you mean to imprison me," Yun Xiao shook his head. "That won't do!"

The Diva replied coldly, "Even offering you a fraction of a life would be 10,000 times better than being a slave. Isn’t it liberation and wealth you seek? I can give you all that!"

"You are mistaken," Yun Xiao pointed at Feng Yao, saying, "Being her slave is the fortune of my three lifetimes. I can’t bear to leave."

His boldness to stay was first backed by the projection talisman, but even more crucial was his reliance on Feng Yao, especially now that she had become the 9-Star Boundless Immortal talent.

She was the key link to gaining trust!

"Hey...!" Feng Yao, confused from the beginning, interjected as the topic shifted to her, "What in the world did you two do?"

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

For a moment, no one answered her; the Carefree Palace was as silent as the grave!

Seeing this, Feng Yao, suspicion in her eyes, stepped forward briskly and demanded, "Let me see that projection talisman!"

Her curiosity was killing her!

"Nope! No way!" Yun Xiao quickly stashed it away, dodging her lunge, causing her to nearly stumble and fall.

Yun Xiao just gave her a look, too lazy to help her up. The relationship between him and Feng Yao... and the scent on Feng Yao’s breastplate and skirt...

The Diva’s mood had slightly calmed, and something different could be sensed in her demeanor.

“Diva, don’t misunderstand,” Feng Yao said as she dusted the snow from her clothes and stood up with an awkward smile. “This slave of mine has been serving me for a long time. He’s used to it.”

"Can he be trusted?" the Diva suddenly asked Feng Yao, her tone grave and serious.

Feng Yao chuckled. “Don’t worry. This kid may seem a little shameless, but he’s got a good heart. He wouldn’t even hurt an ant if he could help it. That’s why I keep him around.”

The Diva remained silent, though within her, a storm was brewing…

Just then, the Valkyrie Queens, Valkyrie Princesses, and Valkyries who had been chasing from the Celestial Snow Palace finally arrived.

“Feng Yao!” The Diva pointed at Yun Xiao. She seemed completely composed now, the rage that had once surrounded her dissipated, and the snake-like columns that had once encaged Yun Xiao had vanished. She continued, “Take him with you to the Snow Diva Ruins. Let him continue to serve you. No problem, right?”

Seeing this, Feng Yao realized Yun Xiao had won.

A wave of shock coursed through her. How in the world had this guy managed to get the Diva to back down?

She cautiously asked, “Is it really appropriate for a slave to enter the Snow Diva Ruins? That’s a sacred place of the Snow Lineage.”

“You are a 9-Star prodigy. If you insist on this, I have no choice but to grant your request," the Diva replied.

"You’re the one who wants to take him along!" Feng Yao muttered to herself, speechless. Seeing Yun Xiao had no objections, she could only say, “Very well then. Thank you for allowing such an indulgent request.”

It seemed they had cleared this hurdle. But Yun Xiao knew better. This was only a temporary reprieve.

The madness in the Diva’s eyes told him that she could never accept any of this.

“Yao Yao.”

At that moment, Xue Yuening and the others descended to join them. She was utterly astonished to see the Carefree Palace destroyed.

As for Feng Yao's slave, she only had a vague impression of him.

"What are you all doing here?" The Diva swept her gaze over her dismissively.

"Uhhh, nothing..."

The Valkyries looked at the shattered Carefree Palace, their faces clouded with confusion.

Even with their wild imaginations, they could not fathom the truth.

"Now that you're here, help me take Yao Yao to the Snow Diva Ruins," the Diva instructed the two Valkyrie Queens. "Give her the Heaven Devourer Bow, and then take her to the Harmony Divine Pool for cultivation."

"Yes, Diva!" the two Valkyrie Queens nodded.

"Everyone disperse," the Diva commanded.

"Yes...!" The crowd nodded and dispersed sparsely.

The two Valkyrie Queens, Cang Xue and Wu Shang, smiled at Feng Yao, waiting for her.

"Go ahead," Yun Xiao whispered to her silently.

"Is there a problem? What does she want to talk to you about in private?" Feng Yao asked curiously.

"No problem now, don’t worry about it," Yun Xiao replied.

"What exactly did you do wrong?" Feng Yao asked curiously.

"Just go," Yun Xiao said tersely.

"Hmph! Stop playing around with every woman you meet. You'll end up dead at one of their hands someday," Feng Yao huffed as she left.

Xue Yuening also didn’t linger and headed back to the main peak. Except for Feng Yao, no one even thought about the Diva being alone with Yun Xiao. In their eyes, he wasn't even a person.

After everyone had left, the Diva turned back to Yun Xiao and looked at him for a long while.

Suddenly, she spoke, "Let's make a deal."

"What kind of deal?" Yun Xiao asked.

She bit her lip, struggled for a long time, and finally, with all her strength and a trembling voice, said, "I forgive you, and you help me become a Boundless Immortal..."

JustLivingJL's Thoughts