The skies over the Guang Han Domain grew colder, much like the endless icy blood of dead cultivators.

The world was vast and desolate, and the snow continued to fall outside Snow City in the Cold Ice Abyss, whispering as it landed.

This sound was like the soft weeping of a homeless wanderer.

Yet amidst the wailing of the wind, a voice emerged in a contented laugh, as if savoring a rare happiness.

"Haha, there's finally news from Master. These years of bitter cultivation have been worthwhile. Will I soon be battling alongside Master outside the realm?"

Hou Chen exclaimed in anticipation after slaying the final, formidable Crystal Giant Bone Spider.

In days of hardship, having hope, having dreams, is indeed a kind of happiness.

"We have to wait for the results. Before the outcome, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment."

An untimely voice interrupted Hou Chen's beautiful dreams.

However, the voice bore no sarcasm or contempt, merely stating matters of fact.

"Can you stop your crow's mouth? Can't you be more optimistic?"

Hou Chen replied with some annoyance.

He shot a fierce glare at Liu Haoxin.

"Optimistic? I've always been optimistic, but the hopes of the past were so great, they led to endless disappointment, which is why I have feelings about it. Of course, I hope to be with Master. After all, everything I am today is due to Master's nurturing."

Liu Haoxin said with a slight, bitter smile.

"Forget it, let's not talk about these disheartening things. All the Crystal Giant Bone Spiders in the Cold Ice Abyss have been slain, and our Immortal Divine has finally transformed into Immortal Soul Liquid after all these years. The Emperor Blood has transformed over thirty times, which is about right. After countless trials of life and death, we have surpassed the tasks set by Commandery Princess Yan Yan. Soon, I will be able to see my junior sister. Commandery Princess Yan Yan also said that when we return, she will arrange for us to meet with Master."

Hou Chen said.

Liu Haoxin, as if hearing nothing, looked skyward, watching the goose-down snowflakes dance, seemingly lost in thought.

"Did you hear what I said?"

Hou Chen shook Liu Haoxin's shoulder, trying to snap him out of his daze.

"Commandery Princess Yan Yan is here."

Without responding to Hou Chen, Liu Haoxin gazed towards the void.

Indeed, in the distance, a striking young girl in a red king robe appeared in the void.

Her appearance was mysterious, her face obscured by a jade-like lotus rune mask, her figure enveloped by the robe, showing no appealing curves and instead appearing quite ordinary.

Yet, no matter how ordinary the attire, that red garment with its unique, alluring aura and presence made heaven and earth pale in comparison, causing hearts to flutter irresistibly.

Neither Hou Chen nor Liu Haoxin was meeting Yan Yan for the first time, yet in that instant, both were speechless and momentarily stupefied.

After a while, they eventually collected themselves, but their hearts still fluttered with unease, requiring the suppression of their bloodline power to calm their minds and face Yan Yan.

Even so, Hou Chen and Liu Haoxin found themselves at a loss, their hearts still racing uncontrollably with a desire to please Yan Yan.

Both originally carefree, they were now bewildered after endless trials, not knowing what expression or mindset to adopt in facing Yan Yan.

But Yan Yan was as cold and indifferent as always, as calm and detached as ever.

Even in facing Hou Chen and Liu Haoxin, her attitude was no different from towards others, neither particularly caring nor particularly distant.

"I set the prohibition power here, ultimately to cultivate you. Whether you accept it or not, whether you like it or not, the results so far are satisfactory."

Yan Yan spoke with a slightly gentle tone.

Hou Chen and Liu Haoxin immediately nodded, and Liu Haoxin then shook his head, saying, "We understand you; naturally, we are full of gratitude."

"Yes, Master always says that hardship is the best tempering for a genius. And when one considers oneself a genius, they have often already become mediocre."

Hou Chen added.

Yan Yan was silent for a moment before saying, "Father King, after three reincarnations, indeed had his points of transcendence in many paths. But you have your own path, so remember not to live in Father King's shadow."

"This time, I ventured into the new Sword Burial Domain. Do you know what happened?"

Yan Yan started with this sentence before suddenly asking Hou Chen and Liu Haoxin.

Hou Chen was momentarily taken aback, unsure how to respond.

And Liu Haoxin, even more bewildered, had been counting on Yan Yan to provide answers, and now Yan Yan was asking him.

How should he answer?

"Usually, you talk a lot, quite eloquently. Why are you suddenly silent?"

Yan Yan inquired.

Hou Chen said, "I... I don't know."

"Me too... I don't know."

Liu Haoxin, somewhat puzzled, echoed Hou Chen.

"Actually, I don't know either. The promise I gave you can ultimately not be fulfilled. But I know it's chaotic there, with unknown changes, so temporarily, I plan to send you into the Land of Calamity, to go out on a campaign with Uncle Hua Qiudao."

"Before that, Hou Chen, I have bad news for you. Your younger sister Sisi, she might have someone else she likes."

Yan Yan shared some news.

This news, for Liu Haoxin, isn't much, but for Hou Chen, it is instead a great shock.

"Princess Yan Yan, are you sure about what you said? My feelings for Sisi have accumulated for so long, how could Sisi..."

Hou Chen was stunned, astonished, and in disbelief.

"In this world, many things are merely scenery; you just need to reach your destination, the process is not as important as you think,"

Yanyan said.

"But last time I saw Sisi, didn't she tell me we were together in a past life? And she also shared past memories with me, if it's not important, if Sisi isn't important, then Master isn't important either? Is my effort meaningless?"

Hou Chen immediately became agitated.

The violent emotions inherent in his character immediately surfaced, almost questioning Yanyan.

"Past life? Hou Chen do you have a past life? Do you know your own origins?"

Yanyan's casual inquiry left Hou Chen stunned.

"Don't think I'm stopping you from being with Sisi, nor think it's to cultivate you by deliberately provoking you, or severing your emotions. You must understand, though you are excellent, there are many more better than you in this world. In the vast Domain World, the individuals more exceptional than you that I have seen are innumerable, and when my Father King could even be betrayed by many for certain plans, what's impossible about you being betrayed by the one you love the most?"

Yanyan's tone was as always, neither too cold nor close.

But such a tone made Hou Chen feel incredibly cold, chilled to the bone.

"Sisi isn't important, Master isn't important either, so you're telling me now that all my effort is wasted, right? Ha-ha, my whole life as Hou Chen, because I was raised by Master from a young age, after enduring all hardships to return to the Ancestor Land, there is what followed, hence I have a strong affection for Master akin to a biological father, with intense gratitude in my heart. I never thought about living for myself, but only to live for Master, I just want Master to see my achievements with a smile, to hear a praise like 'Hou Chen this child is truly remarkable'."

I risked my life every day to kill Crystal Giant Bone Spiders just hoping to receive Master's approval, to allow Master to have an easier future.

And among all this, perhaps the only happiness truly belonging to me is Sisi treating me with unwavering devotion.

Ha-ha, now you tell me that Sisi likes someone else, and you say none of this is important!"

Hou Chen was on the verge of madness, staring fiercely at Yanyan, seemingly desperate for a negative answer.

But, Yanyan showed no indication, instead continued: "I remember when Feng Lingqing had a child back then, that child was actually not Sisi. And that child chose to commit suicide at birth, meaning this life has actually ended. But later Sisi appeared, in a previous life belonging to the Qiankun Lineage's Elder named 'Hou Yao'. During this time, Hou Ling'er employed methods allowing Hou Yao to live into the next life, and in this process, one of the Envoys from the Netherworld Life and Death Illusion Realm named Bai Hun inadvertently participated in the reversal of fate, making her a puppet of Mu Qingyan."

"Mu Qingyan, that's my mother."

"Then, here's the question. To whom does Sisi belong as a daughter? Feng Lingqing's, Mu Qingyan's, or the unknown Soul Embryo? Puppet? Can you know?"

"If the origin isn't genuine, what else is worth caring about?"

"Over the years, the affairs of Sword Burial Domain have had their information transmitted to Guang Han Domain, your Master's affairs, you probably also know. And surely you have wondered why many outstanding individuals are all talents from Sword Burial Ancestor Star."

"Now, I am telling you, the person who took Sisi is named 'Hou Chen', a different form of your existence."

"Sisi is unwaveringly devoted to you, Hou Chen, but what if there is more than one Hou Chen?"

Yanyan said.

Hou Chen was silent.

Liu Haoxin opened his mouth, but found himself unable to speak.

The same cultivators, they had seen many already. In Guang Han Domain, they had seen Zhou Xian and Zhou Qianqian, but all these people are very powerful and they didn't even know them, completely the same person, yet with different experiences.

Now, a different Hou Chen has taken Zhou Sisi.

How ridiculous this is, yet, this paradoxically seems to be reality.

If it were someone else, maybe one could say Zhou Sisi fell for another, but such identical people, identical personalities... leaves no words to be said.

"So in this world, are there two Masters? Two Sisis? Two Princess Yan Yans?"

Hou Chen gritted his teeth and spoke.

"To know the answer, grow into a strong person qualified to know it."

Yanyan was briefly silent but did not directly answer, instead offering this statement.

"I understand then, I want to know, is Master alright now?"

Hou Chen suddenly seemed much older, shivering, yet still inquiring about Master's situation.

"You are much happier than your Master."

Yanyan sighed lightly, turned away, her gaze fixed upon the endless cold ice heaven and earth in the distance.

Watching snow fly, watching prosperity alas decline.

It seemed, concerning Zhou Yan's matters, Yanyan had no desire to bring them up anymore. It seemed she also did not wish for Hou Chen to sense even the faintest trace, for anyone to perceive her mental state and emotions at this moment.

She seemed more willing to hide this series of events entirely within her heart's deepest places never presenting them to outsiders. And only when she is alone, to take them out and endure them alone.

Whether sorrowful, bitter, painful or blissful, only she knows, she bears.

When she turns back again, she's still herself, still the indifferent, aloof Princess Yan Yan.

"Much happier? Perhaps, merely this sentence is my hope to strive for going forward. If Sisi truly followed another version of me, it only means I am not as strong as that me. Though it pains me, losing to another form of oneself is a form of irony."

Hou Chen muttered, then laughed self-deprecatingly, his mental state unbeknownst shifted.

He no longer doubted Princess Yan Yan, for Hou Chen also could not find any excuse or reason for her to deceive him - she was too strong, and he, Hou Chen, feeling insignificant like an ant.

An ant, how can it gaze up at the heavens?

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