A cold current, a tempest, and with a swing of the sword, half the city was frozen solid.
This chaotic and desolate gale of icy wind swept over half the city and howled for dozens of miles across the bleak, lonely snowfield. After that, the snow-covered wasteland became an ice-covered wasteland, a frozen plain that only began to thaw ten full days later.
The look of momentary shock on her face slowly eased into calm indifference. Divine power surged from her body, and in an instant, all the ice that had frozen the Virgo Star God was shattered to pieces.
“…Truly worthy… of the power of the Mourning Snow Divine Crystal…”
Behind her, Wu Yin, who even in death had been provoking Weilin with a twisted, sneering grin that said, ‘Aren’t you mad? I have the Star God’s protection,’ had his face—and his entire body—blasted into frozen shards by that sword aura.
The greatest irony? The Virgo Star God whom Wu Yin had been so sure would protect him with everything she had—Feilin never even glanced back at him after he was turned into crushed ice…
It was as if an insignificant person had died. If she could save him, fine; if not, so be it.
In Feilin’s own words: She could glance back, but it was entirely unnecessary.
Compared to the utterly insignificant Wu Yin, Feilin’s wariness and concern regarding the Illusory Snow Queen were ten thousand times greater… To be more direct, the Federation had zero interest in the Snow Kingdom or its Illusory Snow Queen. What could make the Federation deploy a Star God was only that apex of the world’s order: the 10th-Tier Mourning Snow Divine Crystal!
“So this is the source of your immense power, Illusory Snow Quee—”
Feilin hadn’t even finished the word “Queen” when the previously silent ice surface was abruptly upheaved by a subterranean snow river, erupting like a colossal beast emerging from the deep. Simultaneously, three Crescent Snow Blades—like a shark’s fins magnified a hundredfold—burst from the shattered ice, slashing towards Feilin.
Feilin’s eyes flashed with cold intensity. She swiftly spun her long blade in a full-moon horizontal slash, accurately intercepting all three Crescent Snow Blades.
But these snow blades seemed designed not for attack. The moment they were hit, they detonated on their own, cascading down like a terrifying avalanche and burying Feilin beneath the snow.
It was obvious: Huan Xuezhi had no interest in talking to her.
Buried under the snow, Feilin was left somewhat bewildered and at a loss.
A flicker of anger rose in her usually impassive eyes—who was she? How dare the queen of some tiny, insignificant nation be so arrogant and disrespectful?
“Go back and tell your Sovereign…” Huan Xuezhi gazed distantly at the slightly angered Feilin, her voice flat, her expression as eternally cold as ice, “Even if the Federation’s Twelve Star Gods came in person to annihilate my Snow Kingdom with absolute force, I wouldn’t have the slightest bit of contempt for them. …Hah, but please, do not collude with worthless trash, only to have your schemes exposed. It wastes everyone’s time and earns you a reputation so foul you’ll become a laughingstock for all the world!”
Feilin’s chest heaved with ragged, uneven breaths. It took several seconds for her to regain her composure before she spoke with feigned sincerity:
“As you surely know, Illusory Snow Queen. Just two Star Gods could push your Snow Kingdom to the absolute brink of destruction, let alone… all twelve! Since you understand pragmatism, it would be better to simply offer the Mourning Snow Divine Crystal to the Federation here and now. The Federation, in turn, would guarantee the Snow Kingdom three thousand years of absolute peace and stability, along with generous aid and investment…”
“Get out.”
The voice wasn’t loud, yet it landed on Feilin’s face with the hot, stinging pain of a sharp slap.
Watching Huan Xuezhi disdainfully turn and walk away, the silver-haired dragon maiden’s face immediately darkened.
Currying favor with someone who met you with cold indifference was the most thankless task in the world. Worse still… to be so thoroughly humiliated by the other party when the Federation held an absolutely overwhelming advantage—the sheer frustration almost made Feilin lose control and attack Huan Xuezhi directly.
Her greatest hesitation was the Empire watching from the shadows. Unless they had a one-hundred-percent guarantee, the Federation dared not be the first to strike and risk drawing their fire.
“You will… regret this.”
Thinking she couldn’t just slink away, Feilin left a parting threat, her eyes brimming with killing intent. Without caring whether Huan Xuezhi heard her, she turned and fled the scene, her body vanishing like a winking star.
#
Flying snow swirled together, rapidly coalescing into a pure white humanoid form beside the Illusory Snow Queen.
“Your Majesty, that girl named Lega Weilin… is absolutely not from the Snow Domain. In fact, there’s no record of her in the Empire or Federation. Her origins are extremely mysterious. However, according to Miss Reki of the Cloudstride Merchant Guild, she openly admitted that her wealth is unfathomable, and… she even seems to harbor a degree of admiration for you, Your Majesty.”
Listening quietly, Xuezhi’s expression remained utterly indifferent. Her departing footsteps never paused; only her brow moved, twitching subtly in near-imperceptible surprise.
?
Still frozen in ice, Lega Weilin…
Driven by a powerful desire to know exactly what level of power Huan Xuezhi had reached, Weilin had used the Eye of Truth on her.
【Huan Xuezhi】
【Race: Human】
【Lv. 80 Mage】
【Strength: 30 / Agility: 40 / Constitution: 60
Mana: 7400 / Spirit: 10600】
…It didn’t add up. Her mana’s ability to suppress Feilin might be barely explainable by the Mourning Snow Divine Crystal’s power.
But that sword aura she unleashed was clearly ‘Battle Aura,’ and Huan Xuezhi had never undergone any ‘Warrior’ training…
Weilin was full of confusion. It wasn’t until the Virgo Star God had long since departed that she belatedly snapped out of it.
Suddenly, her gaze locked onto the already distant Illusory Snow Queen. Weilin immediately released her mana, shattering the ice that bound her, and shouted from afar:
“Your Majesty, Queen! Please, wait a moment!”
Weilin immediately prepared to use Spatial Warp to go to her… Even though meeting like this was far too abrupt for both of them… still, seeing Huan Xuezhi again filled Weilin’s heart with an indescribable relief and happiness.
Even if Huan Xuezhi had no idea of any connection between them.
“You cannot go.”
A gust of wind carrying swirling snow suddenly buffeted her face. A Snow Maiden appeared, floating gently before Weilin’s path, blocking her way.
“Why not?!”
“Her Majesty said you should go back to wherever you came from. The Snow Kingdom’s affairs require no intervention from outsiders.”
“Xuezhi… she really said that?”
“…Do not address Her Majesty by name. If it happens a second time, I will not stand idly by.” The Snow Maiden frowned in warning.
A Snow Maiden was an existence akin to a guardian absolutely loyal to the Illusory Snow Queen. The Snow Maiden’s words were basically Huan Xuezhi’s will. This left Weilin, despite her unwillingness, with no choice but to swallow her resentment.
“Then…”
Weilin quickly produced a jade box, holding it before the Snow Maiden with both hands:
“Please deliver this to Her Majesty the Queen… Don’t misunderstand! I bought this with my own money. Additionally, the one million Gold Coins will also be transferred to you through the Cloudstride Merchant Guild.”
“…” The Snow Maiden was speechless. Yet, a huge wave of shock rose in her heart. To give away ten million so casually—if she hadn’t watched Huan Xuezhi grow up, the Snow Maiden would almost suspect the Queen had an older or younger sister.
“I… cannot make this decision.” After a brief silence, the Snow Maiden pushed the demi-divine artifact back.
“Then tell Huan Xuezhi this: if she agrees to see me, I… all my wealth, I can share it all with her!”
Weilin practically gritted her teeth, forcing out this incredibly resolute declaration. Fearing further questions, she added, “Don’t ask how much money I have. I honestly can’t count it all!”
“…”
The Snow Maiden was completely dumbstruck. This was even more beyond her ability to decide.
No, the real question was: where on earth had their Queen found such a wealthy, naive, and silly sweetheart? It wasn’t that Weilin lacked charm; it was simply that Huan Xuezhi’s coldness was nothing short of legendary.
This time, before the Snow Maiden could even speak, Weilin let out a disappointed sigh first.
“…Forget it. Unprovoked kindness is often perceived as ill-intentioned. I’m afraid even with this, she wouldn’t necessarily trust me.”
Weilin had figured it out.
Or rather, as Lega Weilin, the player who had dealt the number one damage output to the ‘World Boss: Illusory Snow Queen’ in the past life, she truly hadn’t decided on what… mindset to approach her with.
To seek… atonement?
No. This heaven-sent reincarnation was a rare gift. Weilin absolutely refused to meet her with a heart seeking atonement. She wanted to build… a friendship with her!!
“Sorry for the disturbance.” Weilin offered an apologetic smile, then turned with a free and easy stride and left decisively.
Snow Maiden: …
?
The Snow Maiden floated back to the Illusory Snow Queen and recounted all of Weilin’s requests.
“…She spent ten million Gold Coins to buy that demi-divine artifact from us, then wished to present it back to Your Majesty. She even said… if Your Majesty agreed to see… Weilin, she is willing to share all her wealth—wealth so vast even she can’t count it—with you.”
“…………………………………Let her come.”
“Your Majesty, that’s not what you said earlier… And she’s already left. Should I immediately—”
“No need.” For the first time ever, a flash of regret appeared in Huan Xuezhi’s eyes. Because even she could not refuse the amount of wealth Weilin possessed. Indifferently, she added, “…If she truly wishes to see me, we will meet again soon enough.”
