Soon, a year had passed.
Qian Lingche gazed calmly at the envoy standing respectfully below him.
The envoy held a letter from Emperor Xue Ye in his hands, his tone edged with entreaty.
"Hall Master Qian, Emperor Xue Ye hopes the Eternal Night Frost Song Hall will provide support in this war. Your strength could change the course of the battle."
Qian Lingche frowned slightly, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "Please inform His Majesty that the Eternal Night Frost Song Hall will not take part in the war between the two empires."
The envoy replied unwillingly, "Hall Master Qian, this war concerns the fate of the continent. If the Eternal Night Frost Song Hall stands by and does nothing, I fear..."
Qian Lingche cut him off, his gaze turning cold. "The war between the two empires is the result of your ambition. It has nothing to do with the Eternal Night Frost Song Hall."
The envoy seemed about to say more, but when he saw Qian Lingche's stern gaze, he could only lower his head and say respectfully, "Yes, Hall Master Qian. I'll relay your words to His Majesty exactly as you said them."
Qian Lingche nodded and said distantly, "You may go."
After the envoy left, he sighed softly and turned toward his bedchamber.
Qian Lingche walked to the bed and slowly sat down, weariness in his eyes.
"This war was inevitable after all," he murmured.
The fighting between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire had spread even farther. Xue Ye had actually wanted him to join the battle as well.
But some time ago, Ji Lin had finally broken through to level 90. Unfortunately, there were no suitable Soul Beasts on the continent for him, so Brother Ling, Yi, and the Snow Empress had gone into the sea to hunt Soul Beasts for his Soul Rings.
Who knew when they would return? Still, Ling Yuan, Dugu Bo, and the Ice Empress were here, so presumably no one would come looking for trouble.
The Asura God watched Qian Lingche in the mortal realm.
A trace of scorn flashed across his eyes. "A mere mortal dares to disrupt my plans."
He had simply let his guard down for a moment. He hadn't expected Tang Hao to be killed.
The Asura God raised his hand, preparing to make a little trouble and teach Qian Lingche a lesson.
A massive ice sword suddenly shot out of the void, its bone-chilling cold aimed straight at the Asura God.
"Boom!"
A flash of surprise crossed the Asura God's eyes. He darted aside, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the ice sword still grazed his shoulder as it flew past.
"Qian Shangyi!" the Asura God roared, anger in his eyes.
"Asura, you've crossed the line." Qian Shangyi strode in with her sword and kicked open the doors of the Asura God Hall.
"As a God Realm Enforcer, you break the very laws you're supposed to uphold. You've been meddling behind the scenes on the Douluo Continent, and now you even want to go after my successor." Her voice seethed with anger; she was clearly furious at his actions.
"Qian Shangyi, what do you mean by this?" the Asura God asked coldly, a hint of wariness in his voice.
He had been so careful to hide what he was doing. He hadn't expected this madwoman to catch him anyway.
Qian Shangyi sneered, scorn in her eyes. "Playing dumb, are you? So what if you're a God King!"
Before her words had even faded, she swung her sword, sending its gleaming blade toward the Asura God.
A flash of surprise crossed the Asura God's eyes. He clearly hadn't expected Qian Shangyi to attack outright. He raised a hand and summoned the Asura Demon Sword to block her strike.
"Boom!"
The Asura God staggered back several steps and shouted angrily, "You've gone mad, Qian Shangyi! You actually dare attack me!"
Qian Shangyi looked at him coldly, her voice full of disdain. "So what if I attack you? You're a God Realm Enforcer, yet you've repeatedly broken the rules and meddled in the affairs of the Douluo Continent."
High above the Divine Realm, the Asura God and Qian Shangyi faced each other, the air between them taut with hostility.
"Qian Shangyi, are you really going to make an enemy of me?" the Asura God warned.
Qian Shangyi didn't answer. The temperature around them plunged, and countless Ice Crystals formed in the air, turning into sharp blades that swept toward the Asura God.
The Asura God snorted and swung the Asura Demon Sword. A vast crimson blade of light formed a barrier, blocking every ice blade.
"You've got some skill." A trace of unease crossed the Asura God's eyes. He hadn't realized Qian Shangyi's strength had grown so much.
Qian Shangyi blurred out of sight and appeared behind the Asura God in an instant, her sword pointed straight at his back.
The Asura God reacted swiftly, whipping the Asura Demon Sword around in a fierce slash. Their swords collided again, unleashing a terrifying surge of energy.
They fought at incredible speed, their sword lights clashing again and again in the air.
The longer the fight went on, the more shaken the Asura God became. He hadn't expected Qian Shangyi to be so powerful—in fact, she seemed to have the upper hand.
He drew a deep breath, and the Asura Demon Sword in his hand erupted with power. Crimson energy formed a massive beam that surged toward Qian Shangyi.
Qian Shangyi's gaze sharpened. Ice Crystals formed in the air, becoming an Ice Wall that blocked the crimson beam.
However, the Ice Wall gradually cracked under the force of the beam, then shattered with a crash.
Qian Shangyi staggered back several steps, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.
If they kept dragging the fight out like this, it would be hard to decide a winner.
In that case, she would stop holding back.
"Divine Skill—Angel Judgment!"
As her words rang out, a massive ice sword formed in the air, radiating an endless chill that seemed ready to freeze even space itself.
In the next instant, the ice sword came crashing down on the Asura God!
A trace of wariness crossed the Asura God's eyes. He didn't dare be careless, and the Asura Demon Sword in his hand became a massive barrier.
"Asura Domain!"
"Boom!"
A terrifying shockwave swept through the surroundings, leaving fine cracks even in the space of the Divine Realm.
The crimson barrier gradually cracked under the ice sword's assault, then shattered with a crash.
The Asura God staggered back several steps, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. His eyes widened in shock. "Qian Shangyi, you're actually fighting me for real!"
The Rakshasa God's laughter suddenly rang in Bibi Dong's ear. "Hahahaha! The Snow God and that Asura thing have actually started fighting!"
Bibi Dong looked puzzled. "Rakshasa, what are you talking about?"
The Rakshasa God gave a cold laugh, sounding rather pleased with himself. "The Asura God and the Snow God got into a fight for some reason, and they've both been wounded."
Bibi Dong furrowed her brows, baffled. "Didn't you say the Asura God was a God King and the Snow God a First-Level God? How did they manage to fight each other to a standstill?"
The Rakshasa God's lips curved into a meaningful smile. "Heh, Bibi Dong, you underestimate the Snow God."
"Although she's only a First-Level God, her strength far surpasses that of ordinary First-Level Gods. In some respects, even God Kings have to be wary of her."
Bibi Dong nodded thoughtfully. "Then what's their situation now?"
By the sound of it, this Snow God was far stronger than even the Rakshasa God she had inherited... That child really was lucky.
The Rakshasa God said gleefully, "They're still fighting. Neither can get the better of the other."