XX

Instead of going to the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace, Rokas used Ye Qingsheng's memories from before to locate roughly where Ye Xinghan was. He hadn't gone too far… awaiting the fall of the formation while he had some fun with his concubines. However, this time of leisure would prove to be his downfall.

…

Ye Xinghan was casually going about his night, scouting the local city for any worthy beauties. While he preferred women with special constitutions suitable for dual-cultivation, beauty had its own value to him. However, as he made his concubines search for such women… they didn't happen to find any. The Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace was truly a one-of-a-kind sect in the Blue Wind Empire…

"How unfortunate…" Ye Xinghan sighed, shaking his head. "I suppose that the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace truly is the only place worthy of my attention."

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon looked down on the young master from above. His silver long hair stood still while his scarlet eyes let out a wave of killing intent. When Ye Xinghan felt this killing intent, he turned and looked up… seeing a nine-headed true dragon flash before his eyes for a brief moment. His mind collapsed for that very second.

The Heavenly Demon dashed towards Ye Xinghan and punched him straight in the chest with such force that the young master spat out several mouthfuls of blood. His rib cage had almost shattered from that alone…

"Young master…!"

His two concubines stepped forward in shock, grabbing him by his arms. They looked at the Heavenly Demon, feeling a wave of fear rush over them. This kind of existence… they saw the blood of thousands upon thousands of mighty beasts just from his eyes alone.

"Who… are you?"

"The Heavenly Demon." 

He replied simply, creating two swords out of profound energy and penetrating straight through both of them. They both fell to the ground… dead. He looked around, observing that his actions had led to some witnesses.

Alas, he didn't care as he created a sword to wound Ye Xinghan further.

"You… think… that you can defeat me so easily!?" Ye Xinghan withdrew his Sun Moon Calamity, flashing backwards with his mouth full of blood. "Yin-Yang Evanescene… die!!!"

Two massive waves of profound energy, black and white, intersected and rushed towards the Heavenly Demon. Space itself was distorted as the black-white profound skill neared. The Demon looked down on the attack, raising his hand with the berserk attribute surging throughout his body… and slapped it to the side. 

Ye Xinghan observed with disbelief as his killing move dispersed into star-like particles. They looked quite beautiful… at least.

"I quite fancy that little fan of yours," The Demon remarked, smiling deviously. "Guess you did have something to give me."

"... Get away from me… foul demon…" Ye Xinghan's eyes widened as he began to speculate who this 'Heavenly Demon' was. Instantly, he thought of the Demon King that was sealed away. Perhaps… he had come free… and sought vengeance upon the Four Great Sacred Grounds!

"You'd have to ask more nicely than that."

The Heavenly Demon flashed towards him, stabbed his knees, shoulders and other points with a swiftness until he couldn't put up a fight anymore. Then, he snagged the Sun Moon Calamity from the ground and took it inside of his Inner World.

Grabbing Ye Xinghan by the neck, he carried him into the skies… disappearing in a flash.

…

In the wilderness, the Heavenly Demon dropped off Ye Xinghan and pondered what to do with the young master. The Sun Moon Divine Hall was a great distance away from the Blue Wind Empire, being on the other side of the continent. If he killed Ye Xinghan, his soul imprint would go off and Ye Meixie, the Heavenly Monarch would know what happened.

But… the person to kill Ye Xinghan wouldn't be Long Ke, the prince-consort. It would be this silver-haired, scarlet-eyed, heavenly demon!

"... Please… don't kill me… I… can pay you a great sum of wealth!"

"Pay me? No amount of payment can compare to the satisfaction that I will get from killing a piece of shit like you."

He focused his profound energy, crippling the young master without killing him.

…

To avoid involving the Blue Wind Empire in any way, the Heavenly Demon took Ye Xinghan to a whole different nation. Choosing the Navy Tide Nation, he dropped him off at a cold mountain peak. He stripped him of his possessions, storage ring and clothes included. Truly, he had left him buck-naked and crippled.

"Ye Meixie, the Heavenly Monarch… your actions against the Illusory Demon Realm will never be forgiven. This Heavenly Demon will make certain of it, starting with this trash son of yours. As for you and your henchmen… I will be waiting in this very navy tide nation. Will you accept my challenge, I wonder? Considering you're all a bunch of pussies who prey on the weak, I doubt it."

"... Wait… you can't leave me here…" Ye Xinghan held his hands close to his body, slowly freezing to death.

The Heavenly Demon coldly glanced at Ye Xinghan before kicking him down the mountain peak, observing him helplessly rolling down. Towards the end, he somehow managed to cling to his life. However, a profound beast had sniffed his fresh blood and leapt onto him. He was eaten away, piece by piece.

It was quite ironic how the Sun Moon Divine Hall's young master died in such a cold place…

The Heavenly Demon stood at the top of the mountain peak, his long hair swaying with the wind.

'The cunt more than deserved it.'

He thought to himself, coldly looking away as he flashed away.

"My disciple truly is growing his wings," Jasmine remarked.

~

Of course, when Rokas said the Heavenly Demon would be waiting in the Navy Tide Nation, he was lying through his teeth. He returned to his home nation, discreetly changing his appearance along the way and had gone towards the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace.

"A clever ploy… the Sun Moon Divine Hall won't bother to look in the small Blue Wind Empire at all, focusing on the Navy Tide Nation." Xia Qingyue complimented as she glanced at Rokas. "For the moment, the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace is completely safe alongside the nation as a whole."

"If the Heavenly Monarch leaps onto the bait, there's plenty more damage to be done." Rokas smiled slightly. 'We do some divide and conquer tactics…'

"Oh, I see… you're fighting for your people too? The… demons from the other continent."

"Not quite… I just have a great distaste for them personally. It was Ye Xinghan who forcefully and constantly kidnapped women to be his training incubators. Meanwhile, the Sun Moon Divine Hall and his father who stood behind him the entire time and ignored what he did. These Sacred Grounds think that they're above the whole world and can do as they wish… but I'll drag them down to earth. One after the other."

"They also… tried to get their hands on someone important to me. I can't forget nor forgive that." 

That was the true reason why he got involved… it was because of her.

'Someone important…' Xia Qingyue observed his back, the free-flying honey brown hair… his peaceful and relaxed expression that was so infectious. Whenever he is confronted with opposition, he finds it within himself to be ruthless enough to sort out his problems. It's not because he wants to… it's because he has to and he knows it. It seems that no matter what fate throws at him, he always finds a way around calamity… and returns to that same peaceful expression.

It was strange… whenever she was with him, she felt reassured. Along with that, she felt as if she was nearing her dreams… the image of the mother who left her seemed to not be so far away anymore. But, the more time passed, the more she pondered this question; was it her ambitions that kept her so close to him or was it her own desire to be closer to him? Perhaps it was both…

"Xia Qingyue, if you're tired of flying, you can always chill in my Inner World. Or… well, I could carry you." Rokas glanced back, smiling a little.

"There wouldn't be a point in that." Xia Qingyue shook her head. "The Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace is not that far away."

"You do have a point."

…

Rokas let Xia Qingyue go in first, following loosely behind. Since they had left entered, Gong Yuxian's remains had been taken away and she had been presumably laid to rest.

"Xia Qingyue… you're safe." Chu Yueli walked over with a relieved expression that not even the Frozen Heart Arts could hide. "Ah, you're at the fourth level of the Sky Profound Realm already?"

"All thanks to Long Ke." Xia Qingyue nodded, glancing at him temporarily. "Regarding that, he was the one who killed the intruders and directed the Sun Moon Divine Hall's attention away. The only reason our Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace has a future is because of him."

"..." Rokas scratched his hair. 'She didn't have to put it in that way… but I mean, she is right.'

Suddenly, someone spread open the crowd and slowly walked over to Rokas. She was old and rather withered, her long hair being half-white with age. She observed the young man with keen interest.

"Grand… Palace Mistress!"

Everyone present bowed for the moment, lowering their heads… except for Rokas who stood rather nonchalantly.

"To think that the calamity would come in such a fashion… and you, who has barely any relation to this Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace, would come to prevent it. You have my, and this sect's, eternal gratitude, Long Ke."

"Speaking of gratitude… there's something that I need." Rokas stroked his chin. "I want your best profound art."

"Hmm… our best profound art?"

"He means the Frozen End Divine Art, Grand Palace Mistress." Xia Qingyue added, raising her head. "The Frozen End Divine Art would surely aid him in his fight against the Sun Moon Divine Hall, a fight that he started on the account of the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace. It would only be fair for Grand Palace Mistress to accept. Otherwise…"

"If this young man is willing to fight the Sun Moon Divine Hall on our behalf, how could our Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace reject such a request? So be it… you may have our Frozen End Divine Art alongside any other profound art you may desire. However, all I ask is that you do not spread them around."

"I understand." Rokas nodded, smiling slightly. 'The overpowered Ice Flame…'

After Feng Qianhui accepted his request, Rokas was directed toward a special hall by her where the manual for the Frozen End Divine Arts was placed. He swiftly read over it, imprinting all of the available stages within his mind. Xia Qingyue did the same… and then they had another quiet moment together.

"So… if you want, you can stay in the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace. I mean, I did steal you away for almost a year. I'm sure you miss this place."

[System: W pull-away tactics.]

'It wouldn't be for that long…'

"No… I… quite like being by your side." Xia Qingyue grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes. 

"I… see…"

As their eyes locked… they felt a similar emotion, slowly edging towards each other.

[Xia Qingyue (Hanged Man XII) Confidant Rank: 5 → 6]

Suddenly, the door creaked open and Murong Qianxue walked inside, observing the two only inches away from kissing.

"Well… what do we have here?"

"..." Rokas turned away, quite embarrassed. "Don't you fairies knock on doors first?"

Xia Qingyue, too, felt some embarrassment.

"It is as I and Chu Yueli feared…" Murong Qianxue sighed, shaking her head. "Alas, there is little that can be done. You are the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's benefactor… and we are all truly grateful for your efforts. Perhaps this 'bond' between you and Xia Qingyue was the true reason why the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace still stands…"

[Murong Qianxue (Moon XVIII) Confidant Rank: 1 → 2]

"... If I… did have feelings for Long Ke, would the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace still be against it?" Xia Qingyue suddenly spoke out. "It is as you said, he is the reason why the sect still stands."

'... That means… it is mutual.'

"Hmm… that will be for the Grand Palace Mistress to decide."

~

In the end, Feng Qianhui did not object to a potential relationship between Xia Qingyue and Rokas. After all, the whole point of preserving their yin was so that the Frozen Cloud Arts did not spread. Rokas had their most sacred art, the Frozen End Divine Arts, in his back pocket. Besides, he was both their benefactor and a force that should not be trifled with.

"Aren't you married?" Rokas asked inside of his Inner World.

Xia Qingyue ignored him for the moment, walking over to the Mirror of Samsara… the very same pendant that Yun Che once wore. Then she plainly asked;

 "Am I?"

"... Well…"

"For now, it seems that I am a widow." 

Xia Qingyue tossed the Mirror of Samsara to him. It was not surprising that a cripple without any protection or background to speak of like Yun Che would meet an early end.

'... She may or may not know. I'm leaning towards she has suspicions.'

…

The Sun Moon Divine Hall.

Ye Meixie, the Heavenly Monarch, observed his son's last moments over and over again from the Soul Imprint he left on him. First, a deep sorrow came over him. His pride, his golden son… the boy that shined so bright from the moment that he came into the world. His only son, his heir… how could someone dare to take him away?

With his wife dead, Ye Xinghan was the last thing that remained of her… and even he had met an early end. His precious baby boy was meant to be the future of the Sun Moon Divine Hall. As a matter of fact, he was well on course to be a great and mighty Heavenly Monarch himself.

But he…

A few tears fell from the Heavenly Monarch's eyes… and then he clenched his fist, smashing it straight through the wall before him. It cracked open and exploded forwards, blasting a whole different building open. His sorrow was replaced by a boiling rage… fury that would only extinguish once he, that fiendish Heavenly Demon… was burned till nothing of his existence remained!

He relaxed his fist, only to clench it once more. His heart… would not let this matter go. Even if he had to scour the entire Navy Tide Nation, he'd find that Heavenly Demon.

'The Navy Tide Nation…'

Within that same day, four out of the five Sun Moon Divine Envoys, a vast majority of its elders and the Heaven Monarch himself stormed out of the Sun Moon Divine Hall and directly towards the Navy Tide Nation.

…

Meanwhile, Rokas had swiftly learned the Frozen End Divine Arts and instantly began to try creating Ice Flames. Initially, such a thing tended to result in a backlash but he powered through it all. Within two rushed weeks, he had become decently adept at using it, progressing to the very peak of the eight level of the Emperor Profound Realm from sheer comprehension. 

Then, within ten days, he reached the Sun Moon Divine Hall as the 'Heavenly Demon'. However, before he began his campaign, he went over to see how Cang Yue was doing. It had been a little over seven months since she took his virgin dragon seed… which meant that a little dragon would surely come into the world sooner rather than later.

"Are you… really going to keep fighting against the Sun Moon Divine Hall?" Cang Yue asked with a worried expression as she rested in a bed.

"Don't worry about me… I'll be fine," Rokas reassured her, grabbing his wife's delicate hand. "I know that this is hard for you so make it easier on yourself and just rest, alright? By the time this is over, we'll be able to rest at ease together again."

"... Alright…" Cang Yue nodded, slowly closing her eyes. The wild beast in her stomach was quite restless.

Rokas glanced at Jasmine, Xia QIngyue and then the resting Li Suo before returning his soul to the real world. 

'Jasmine will have my back if anything goes terribly wrong… although, I'd rather she didn't have to get hurt for me.'

Once he returned, the sight of the Sun Moon Divine Hall returned. It was quite vast, putting up a decent contest against even the Demon Imperial City. However, the Demon Imperial City was still a bit more impressive. After all, it was the sole centre of an entire continent.

[System: I do approve of your cautious yet opportunistic methods…]

[System (The World) Confidant Rank: 5 → 6]

'Oh…?' Rokas observed as he looked down at the vast Sun Moon Divine Hall. 'What do you have for me now?'

[System: Analysis. With this, you can scan an entire region for areas of interest and the exact strength of the people within it. You can try it right now if you wish.] 

'Oh… I see…'

Rokas smiled, seeing where their treasuries were and which old man to shoot first. He faded back a bit, taking twenty minutes to form a proper Ice Flame Arrow. Then he returned to his mountain peak, aiming the arrow directly where the System had scanned the only ninth level Monarch.

'It is time for the Demon Counterattack…'

ZOOOM.

He let go of the arrow, watching it flash straight towards the Divine Envoy Star Banisher. From a distance, he saw the arrow explode beneath his feet, scorching right through his legs and rising upwards to incinerate the rest.

'It seems that I missed by a slight margin.'

Afterwards, Rokas took out his Sun Moon Calamity, descending upon the Sun Moon Divine Hall with the intent of leaving it dry of all worth.