Snow Empress picked up her teacup and took a small sip.
She changed into a light silver long dress today.
Her long hair was still tied back with a silver hair clip, with a few strands falling from her shoulders and touching the snow patterns on her clothes.
Qian Chen reached out and helped her close up.
Snow Empress looked at him.
"Let's have some pastries first."
Your hair is messy.
"Then tie it up for me."
Qian Chen stood up.
He took a white jade hairpin from under the eaves and walked behind the Snow Empress.
Snow Empress did not get up.
She sat in the wicker chair, pulling her long hair back.
Qian Chen ran his fingertips through her hair, tucking away a few strands of long hair that had fallen over her shoulder.
The hair clip has already secured most of the hair.
He only needs to insert the hairpin into the hair knot to bind the rest of the hair together.
Qian Renxue looked at the two of them.
She reached out and picked up a piece of chestnut cake, but didn't eat it immediately.
"Elder brother."
"Um?"
"When you comb Snow Empress's hair, be gentle."
Qian Chen looked up at her.
"I know."
"You don't comb my hair this quickly."
Your hairstyle is more complicated.
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue immediately smiled with satisfaction.
"So my brother remembers."
Ice Empress rested her chin on Qian Chen's other shoulder.
"When Chen'er combs my hair, she can't be perfunctory either."
You don't need hairpins.
"Then use your hands."
Snow Empress looked up at her.
"Eat your pastries."
"I was just reminding Chen'er."
Ice Empress picked up a piece of chestnut cake and turned to bring it to Qian Chen's lips.
"Chen'er, you eat first."
Qian Chen lowered her head and took a bite.
Ice Empress then withdrew their hand in satisfaction.
Snow Empress looked at the position of the hairpin in the mirror.
"That's fine."
Qian Chen straightened the ends of her hair for her.
Will it break up again?
"Won't."
That's good.
He returned to the stone table.
Qian Renxue immediately moved aside to make room for him.
As soon as Qian Chen sat down, she took his hand.
"Brother, today's matter is over."
"Um."
Tang San is dead.
"Um."
No one will come looking for you because of him anymore.
Qian Chen picked up his teacup.
"And Tang Sect Hidden Weapons."
Qian Renxue looked at Ice Empress.
"Those will be handled by the Soul Tool Department."
Ice Empress nodded.
"I've already had it sent over."
"That's good."
Qian Renxue looked at Qian Chen again.
"Brother, you shouldn't always go to face the enemy alone in the future."
He only contacts me.
"But he'll also attack me."
Qian Renxue's fingers tightened.
"What if you hadn't blocked that needle?"
Qian Chen looked at her.
"It's blocked."
"I know."
She lowered her eyes.
"I just want my brother to pay more attention."
Qian Chen raised his hand and ruffled the top of her hair.
The golden hair ornament swayed slightly when he touched it.
I will be careful.
Qian Renxue raised her face.
"Then stay with me today."
"Good."
"Have dinner with me too."
"Good."
"We can't go back to the Papal Palace at night either."
"Good."
Ice Empress rested his chin on his hand and looked at the two of them.
"Where will Chen'er stay tonight?"
Qian Renxue immediately said:
Stay at my place.
Snow Empress put down her teacup.
We'll decide after dinner.
Ice Empress looked at her.
"Still need to be decided?"
He just went through a battle today.
"Then he can stay with me; I can take care of him."
Qian Renxue gripped Qian Chen's hand tightly.
"Me too."
Ice Empress hugged Qian Chen's arm.
"You've spent the whole morning with him."
"Weren't you holding your brother the whole time too?"
"These are two different things."
What's different?
"I feel more comfortable holding you."
Qian Renxue looked at Ice Empress.
"Brother, what do you say?"
Qian Chen put down his teacup.
"Let's have some pastries first."
The two of them fell silent at the same time.
Snow Empress placed a piece of chestnut cake into Qian Chen's dish.
"Finish this piece first."
Qian Chen picked up the pastry.
He had just taken a bite when Qian Renxue pushed the teacup in front of him.
Ice Empress then moved the leaf-shaped pastries on the plate closer to him.
The three of them stopped moving almost simultaneously.
Qian Chen looked at the tea and pastries in front of her.
"I can do it myself."
Qian Renxue nodded.
"Brother eats it himself."
Ice Empress nodded as well.
"Chen'er, drink it yourself."
Snow Empress picked up the teapot and refilled it with tea for him.
Qian Chen glanced at her.
Snow Empress remained calm.
"This doesn't count as preferential treatment."
Ice Empress chuckled softly.
"Snow Sister always finds a reason."
Qian Renxue leaned against Qian Chen's shoulder.
"Anything is fine as long as my brother is willing to stay."
Sunlight filters through the treetops.
The shadow of the Moon Orchid branch was reflected on the stone table.
Qian Chen sat between the three, her hand still held by Qian Renxue.
Ice Empress leaned against his left shoulder.
Snow Empress sat opposite him and pushed the last piece of flower-shaped chestnut cake in front of him.
"I'll eat this one too."
Qian Chen nodded.
"Good."
Qian Renxue watched him finish the pastry before letting go of his fingers.
The next moment, she grabbed his sleeve again.
"Elder brother."
"What's wrong?"
"Come with me to the city tomorrow."
What are you going to do?
"Buy a new hairpin."
Qian Renxue raised her hand and touched the golden hair crown on her head.
It's always shaking today.
Ice Empress immediately said:
"I want to go too."
Snow Empress put away her teacup.
"Then let's go together."
Qian Chen looked at the Moon Orchid Tree in the courtyard.
I won't be going to the Papal Palace tomorrow.
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up.
"Did my brother agree?"
"I agreed."
Ice Empress is closer.
"Then tomorrow we'll go buy hairpins first, then go eat chestnut cake."
Snow Empress nodded.
"I also need to buy some tea."
Qian Renxue grasped Qian Chen's sleeve and rested her face against his shoulder.
"My older brother is in charge of carrying things."
Qian Chen looked at her.
How many do you want to buy?
"Not too many."
Ice Empress raised a finger.
"I'll only buy hairpins, tea, pastries, and new clothes."
Qian Chen did not answer.
Qian Renxue looked up at him.
"Brother doesn't want to?"
"Willing."
She then smiled.
"Then it's decided."
The aroma of tea still lingered in the courtyard.
Qian Chen did not mention the battle of the day again.
The three of them did not press the matter further.
The pastries on the stone table were taken away one by one.
In the end, only an empty plate remained, along with a branch of Moon Orchid swaying in the wind by the window.
The next morning.
The Papal Gardens.
When Qian Chen opened her eyes, the Moon Orchid outside the window were already covered with morning dew.
A clean robe lay on the table.
A white brocade robe, a silver-white cloak, and a gold hair crown without any jewels.
Snow Empress stood by the window.
She changed into a light silver dress, her long hair was secured with a silver hair clip, and she held a wooden comb in her hand.
"Woke up?"
"Um."
Qian Chen sat up.
Snow Empress walked to the bedside and handed him the wooden comb.
"Aren't we going into the city today?"
Let me comb your hair first.
She did not refuse.
Snow Empress sat down on the edge of the bed, her back to Qian Chen, and let her long hair fall over her shoulders.
Qian Chen picked up the wooden comb.
The comb teeth slowly descend from the top of the hair.
Her long, silvery-white hair fell smoothly, the ends brushing lightly against his wrist.
"Not wearing the Pope crown today?"
"Going to the city is unnecessary."
That's good.
Snow Empress turned her head slightly to the side.
"The golden hair crown was prepared for you by Qian Renxue."
"I know."
Qian Chen tucked the strands of hair beside her ear behind her back.
Snow Empress looked at the bronze mirror.
She cares a lot about these things.
"You care about that too?"
"I just didn't want your clothes to look messy."
Qian Chen put down the wooden comb and picked up the golden hair ornament.
He put the crown on his head, making his long, silvery-white hair stand out even more against the fine gold streaks.
Snow Empress raised her hand and touched the edge of her hair crown.
"It suits you very well."
"Prettier than the Purple Gold Crown?"
"Um."
The curtain was lifted from the outside.
Ice Empress peeked in with half their face visible.
"Chen'er, Snow Sister, have you already started?"
She was wearing a long, turquoise dress with a silver ribbon tied around her waist.
Her long, emerald-green hair hung down her back, with a few Moon Orchid petals still clinging to the ends.
Qian Chen reached out and removed the petal for her.
Ice Empress immediately took a step closer.
"Look, I've finished tidying up today too."
"Your belt is loose."
Qian Chen grasped her wrist and tightened the silver ribbon around her waist again.
Ice Empress looked down at his fingers.
"I can do it myself."
You've tied it wrong twice already.
That's because I was in a hurry to find you.
She lifted her face, her emerald green eyes filled with a smile.
Qian Chen smoothed out the hem of her skirt for her.
The palace doors opened again.
Qian Renxue walked into the Rear Garden.
She wore a white and gold long dress, with a golden hair crown pressing down her long hair, and the military token of the Heaven Dou Empire hanging at her waist.
She was holding a brocade box in her hand.
"Elder brother."
Qian Renxue approached Qian Chen and opened the brocade box.
There were three hairpins inside.
One was gold, one was white jade, and there was also a silver hairpin engraved with Six-Winged Angel pattern.
"This was made by someone yesterday."
She took out a golden hairpin and placed it in Qian Chen's palm.
"If you see anything you like in town today, you can buy it."
Ice Empress immediately looked at her.
"I've already prepared three, do you still want to buy more?"
"These three are for my brother."
Qian Renxue raised her face.
"I picked out the hairpins in the city myself."
Snow Empress looked at the brocade box.
You can't wear it.
"I can keep it for my brother."
Qian Renxue closed the brocade box and reached out to take Qian Chen's arm.
"From now on, brother will change to a different one every day."
Qian Chen glanced at the brocade box.
"Can."
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up.
"Let's set off now."
The Spatial Passage unfolds in the center of the Rear Garden.
The four of them walked in together.
Heaven Dou City.
People were coming and going on the long street.
Qian Renxue did not wear the imperial robes, but changed into a white and gold long dress.
She linked arms with Qian Chen, her long golden hair swaying gently with each step.
Ice Empress walked on the other side, holding a string of candies they had just bought.
Snow Empress followed behind Qian Chen, carrying the brocade box filled with hairpins for him.
"Brother, how about this one?"
Qian Renxue stopped in front of a jewelry shop.
She picked up a gold hairpin.
The hairpin is made of fine gold wire, and the top is a budding Moon Orchid.
Qian Chen took the hairpin.
"It suits you."
"Then I'll buy it."
Qian Renxue handed the hairpin to the shopkeeper.
Ice Empress also picked up a jade hairpin with a bright green color.
A tiny Ice Crystal was carved at the end of the hairpin.
"Chen'er, this suits me."
"Um."
"Just say one word."
"Suitable."
Ice Empress placed the jade hairpin in his hand.
"Then I'll buy it."
Snow Empress walked to the side.
She didn't choose any jewelry, but only looked at a white jade hairpin in the corner of the counter.
That hairpin had no extra decorations.
The hairpin head is engraved with only a single snowflake.
Qian Chen followed her gaze.
"Like?"
"Fine."
Qian Chen picked up the hairpin and placed it in front of her.
"Then I'll buy it."
Snow Empress raised her eyes.
I didn't say I wanted it.
You watched it three times.
She did not refuse again.
The shopkeeper wrapped the hairpin up and handed it to Qian Chen.
Ice Empress had already reached the confectionery shop on the street.
Chestnut cake!
She turned around.
"Chen'er, come quickly."
Qian Renxue also took Qian Chen's hand.
"Brother, let's buy some and make it ourselves today."
"Good."
The four of them arrived at the pastry shop.
Ice Empress picked out two boxes of chestnut cakes.
Qian Renxue then chose osmanthus cake and Snow Lotus Crisp.
Snow Empress bought a package of new tea.
Qian Chen gradually accumulated more and more items in his hands.
Qian Renxue looked at his hands.
"Can you lift it, brother?"
"I can carry it."
Ice Empress placed the pastries she was holding into his arm.
"Then take another box."
Qian Chen looked at her.
Ice Empress immediately withdrew their hand.
"The last box."
Suddenly, a bell rang out from the end of the street.
The bell tolled from the Firmament Tower in the center of Heaven Dou City.
The Nine-Color rays of light from the top of the tower shot straight into the sky.
The pedestrians stopped in their tracks.
Qian Chen looked up at the sky.
The Nine-Color light did not dissipate.
Within the light, Nine Elements emerged one after another.
Flames, water, lightning, cold air, wind blades, and the Spatial Power.
They did not collide.
Each force rotates slowly along a fixed trajectory.
Snow Empress put down the tea leaves in her hand.
"This is your power."
"I didn't release it."
Qian Chen handed the pastries to Ice Empress.
Nine-Color light emerged from his palm.
The light from the Firmament Tower immediately cascaded downwards.
Qian Renxue grasped his wrist.
"Elder brother."
"I am here."
"Your Soul Power..."
Qian Chen looked at his palm.
The Nine-Color wheel is rotating on its own.
The boundary of Level 99 has been completely solidified.
But beyond that boundary, another force awaits.
The top of the Firmament Tower has cracked.
A golden beam of light descended, covering the entire long street.
Pedestrians quickly moved to both sides.
Qian Chen stood in the center of the pillar of light.
His white brocade robe remained unmoved by the wind.
A silver-white cloak hung down her back, and the patterns on her golden hair ornament lit up one by one.
"Brother, are you about to break through?"
"It's not a breakthrough."
Qian Chen closed her eyes.
His Spiritual Power spread along the Nine-Color halo.
At this moment, Nine Elements of heaven and earth converged on him.
The flames merged into his right arm.
Water flowed into the left arm.
Wind and thunder Entangling around my shoulders.
The Spatial Power sank into his chest.
Nine-Color Dragon Mark extend from the heart.
A dragon's roar descended from the sky.
Behind Qian Chen, a Nine-Color giant dragon appeared.
A giant dragon hovered above the Firmament Tower.
The dragon lowered its head, its Nine-Color eyes fixed on Qian Chen below.
Ice Empress looked up at the giant dragon.
"Is this the power of the Dragon God?"
Snow Empress stood behind Qian Chen.
She reached out and grasped the edge of his cloak.
"Chen'er."
Qian Chen did not open his eyes.
"I heard you."
Don't go too far.
"Won't."
Qian Renxue grasped Qian Chen's other hand.
Golden Soul Power surged from her palm.
Six-Winged Angel Phantom unfolded behind her.
Two divine forces came into contact.
The Nine-Color dragon atop the Firmament Tower suddenly spread its wings.
The Soul Power arrays throughout the entire Heaven Dou City lit up simultaneously.
In the distance, above the palace, the Angel Phantom rises.
From the direction of Spirit City, a beam of purple-gold light pierced through the clouds.
Between the two cities, Nine-Color rays of light pierced the sky.
Qian Chen opened her eyes.
In the depths of his eyes, Nine Elements flowed simultaneously.
"I see."
Becoming a god is not about leaving this world.
"Instead, let your strength be recognized by heaven and earth."
He raised his right hand.
The Dragon God Spear materialized in his palm.
The Nine-Color patterns on the gun body lit up one by one.
No Soul Ring appeared.
No Soul Skill were used.
The elements of heaven and earth simultaneously converged into the spearhead.