XIX

"It can't be…" Jasmine muttered under her breath in disbelief.

"Who… is she?" Cang Yue inquired in bewilderment. "And how did she get here?"

Xia Qingyue observed silently, intrigued by the sudden edition of Rokas' Inner World.

'The Goddess… Qianye Ying'er has golden eyes and one side of her hair is shorter than the other. The only other being worthy of the title 'Goddess' would be… Li Suo? After all, the Ancestral Goddess tends to be called Ancestral God more often than not.'

Rokas thought to himself, observing the unconscious Goddess. She seemed so awfully frail that he felt a need to take care of her. That and the uncontrollable infatuation in his heart…

Jasmine stared at Rokas, her suspicions rising. First, it was the Energy Weapon, then the endless source of food, then the Inner World, Clothes Beam, Blue Dragon Complete Inheritance and now this… things were seemingly appearing out of thin air. For Li Suo to appear like this… how was such a thing even possible?

Knowing that he wouldn't give an answer at the moment, Jasmine kept these questions to herself.

…

Not long after, Rokas went shopping in the capital's Black Moon Merchant Guild branch. He got a lucrative bed, a bunch of medical resources, several manuals and even profound arts for use of the bow. You know how shopping is… you come for one thing and you end up picking up several more things you never intended to.

After his small shopping spree, he carried up the Goddess and comfortably placed her under the sheets of the lucrative bed. Then he applied some of the medicine, hoping that she'd get better. This kind of treatment… did make someone feel some type of way.

"Do you have any idea who this woman is?" Jasmine inquired, furrowing her brows.

"... Nope."

"A Creation God of a bygone age like the Heretic God where much of your power comes from. Except, unlike the Heretic God, she is very much alive before you. Awfully weak… but alive nonetheless. Beyond your pointless infatuation, it should be your absolute priority to see her get well. I'm sure you can understand why."

"Pointless?"

"If you believe that the Number One Sacred Fairy of the God Race would see you as more than a child, you are dreaming too much."

"... Right."

'She doessss kinda have a point. Ni Xuan, a guy who banged and married the Heaven Smiting Devil Emperor herself, chased her for a million years to no avail. She cruelly rejected him each time… a guy like me really has no chance. Still, knowing this… I just can't lay my eyes off her.'

Xia Qingyue observed Rokas sitting beside the recovering Li Suo with a strange feeling in her heart. His golden eyes looked upon the Goddess with such care and infatuation, each of his movements were so gentle and there was no doubt that he had fallen in love at the very first sight. Was it… that she, too, desired such treatment?

Deep down, Rokas realised that he was so into her that it was becoming detrimental. He could stare at her perfect face for hours with the excuse of 'taking care' of her… so, he eventually turned away and thought of solutions. The regret of wasting time doing nothing other than staring at a face, no matter how heavenly it was, really did guilt-trip him at the end of the day. Especially with the Sigma Male Grindset's 'spirits' constantly chatting shit to him calling him a loser.

'… Should I put a bag over her head or something? Actually, that would be far too disrespectful. Maybe a mask like Ying'er? Hmm… this should work.'

Rokas pointed his finger at Li Suo, using the Clothes Beam and materialising a golden mask to hide her face. The golden mask had a humorous tone to it, in truth. He had based it on the masks that the hacker group 'Anonymous' would use.

'That's… way better.' Rokas took a deep breath. 'I should be chilling now.'

"To recognise one's detrimental habits and actively seek ways to overcome them… it does require some strong mental strength," Jasmine remarked, smiling slightly. "Although that awful design… it is rather unfitting of such a fairy."

"Awful? It's wonderful. Every time I'll think of taking it off, I'll just find myself chuckling away. At least… I hope." Rokas smiled.

"Hmm… I wonder what she would think of that."

With the mask and sheets covering most of Li Suo's overly alluring figure, Rokas found the focus to do other things. Mainly, he wanted to learn the Frozen End Divine Arts and later Ice Flame. With the Ice Flame in hand, given enough prep-time, he'd be invincible against everyone not named peak Xuanyuan Wentian. And peak Xuanyuan Wentian wouldn't exist since Fen Juechen wouldn't get his random powerup.

So, Rokas took flight towards the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace.

…

"Hmm-hmm-hmm…"

A beautiful young man floated towards the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace, humming rather peacefully. His brows were as sharp as swords and his eyes glistened like the stars. His face was like white jade… perhaps even more attractive than most women. However, behind that appearance was an obscene smile that he did not bother to hide.

Behind him were two of his concubines who wore beyond revealing clothing, shamelessly expressing their beauty. Each of their movements would practically reveal everything… large silky breasts and buttocks included. That young man did not seem to give a damn. If anything, he found a strange joy in watching everyone leer at things they cannot attain. More so, he liked them wearing such clothes and the opinions of ants wouldn't make him hide their beauty.

"Oh… a gate."

BANG.

His two concubines both smashed open the gate and frowned at each other.

"I was meant to destroy it… not you, stupid whore."

"What did you call me? Young master… you should discipline that useless hag."

"... Now, now, I'll have plenty of time to discipline you both after this." Ye Xinghan smiled, stepping forward. "I truly wonder what this lowly Blue Wind Empire's number one beauty looks like. My beautiful concubines, would you drag her out for me?"

"Of course…"

"Hmph… right away."

Within moments his concubines started making a mess of things. Elders and disciples alike were beaten as they tried to have someone lead them to Xia Qingyue. However, unfortunately, none of them spoke out.

"Who dares attack the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace!?" Gong Yuxian's roar of fury made Ye Xinghan smile.

"He is the mighty and beautiful Young Hall Master of the Sun Moon Divine Hall. To raise your voice like that against him… hmph, you lowly old hag, aren't you ever so daring?"

When the ice ladies heard the phrases 'Young Hall Master' and 'Sun Moon Divine Hall' together, their hearts dropped.

"Now, now… you seem quite strong for someone who cultivates in this trash nation." Ye Xinghan stroked his chin. "Would you happen to know where Xia Qingyue is? I have heard that she is the most beautiful woman in this nation… and so, as I was passing by, decided to go on a little adventure to attain here. Well, where is she?"

Gong Yuxian glanced back, leading to all of the Fairies storming deeper into the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace. All of the disciples and elders followed suit, leading to Gong Yuxian standing alone.

"... Now what's this?" One of the concubines frowned. "Where do they all think they're going?"

"Leave them… where else can they hide? It is a pointless effort." Ye Xinghan smiled, turning back to Gong Yuxian. "Are you a mute? Speak up."

"The whereabouts of Xia Qingyue are none of your concern." Gong Yuxian replied, frowning deeply. "Please do go about your way and I will forget this ever happened."

"Are the people of this dog-shit Blue Wind Empire as stupid as they are weak?" Ye Xinghan raised an eyebrow. "With one wave of my fan, I can eradicate your entire sect. Alas, I would not wish to waste so many beauties… but you do get my point, don't you? If anything, all of you should just bend over and take my seed. To have my child… well, that would just be the best thing that could ever happen to a woman."

As Gong Yuxian tried to turn back herself, one of Ye Xinghan's concubines dragged her closer, breaking her arm.

"So this is… the glory and honour of the Sun Moon Divine Hall." Gong Yuxian remarked with a look of overflowing contempt.

"Ahahaha… not only are you old and unappealing but you also have a sharp tongue. My dear ladies, take care of her for me. Set a proper example for the rest."

"As you wish!"

As Ye Xinghan tried to go deeper into the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace, he was stopped.

"What's this… a formation?" Ye Xinghan chuckled, raising his hand. He channelled the profound strength of an eighth level Overlord, punching straight into the formation. However, his fist did absolutely nothing to it.

"Huh… this place has such a formation?" Ye Xinghan's eyes widened in shock. Then he grinned, taking out his Tyrant Profound Realm weapon 'Sun Moon Calamity' and smashed it against the formation, utilising the Sun Moon Divine Hall's profound art.

"... Eh… there is no feasible way that a formation in the Blue Wind Empire can resist the power of a monarch!"

Ye Xinghan frowned deeply as he was getting irritated. He struck against the formation again and again… but to no avail.

It was, after all, the Snow Goddess' Veil. A formation left behind by the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's first ancestor.

"This formation is testing my patience…"

After a while, he turned back with a laugh.

"Fine, fine… this Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace will know what happens to those who test my patience."

"We're leaving…?" One of his concubines inquired.

"Such formations can't last forever…" Ye Xinghan smiled, leaving through the broken gate. "It doesn't matter how much they struggle… they can't eclipse the overwhelming might of the Sun Moon Divine Hall."

After Ye Xinghan left with his concubines, he sent some of his henchmen to look over the formation and carry out his will once it did break.

~

"... What's this?" Rokas frowned as he flew beside Xia Qingyue, sensing that something was off. Why the hell were there overlords present in the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace… and at this time?

He descended onto the ice floor, flashing forwards. Inside the gate, he saw two men seemingly chilling around. To the side, he saw a woman's body parts all placed on spikes. The head, arms and legs are placed on separate ones. The torso of what woman was also impaled from bottom to top…

When Rokas saw that… his eyes widened in horror. He had never seen such a cruel thing in person and it froze him for several seconds. Xia Qingyue joined him, wondering what had frozen him. Then she saw it… what remained of Gong Yuxian.

"Eh… who the hell are you?" Ye Qingsheng frowned, grabbing his spear as he stood up. Then he observed Xia Qingyue. "Oh… now that is a beauty, hehe. Boss would love her, wouldn't he, Ziyi?"

"Yeah… he would. She's even more beautiful than all of his concubines… could it be that Xia Qingyue?"

"Oh… it really could be! Ignore the idiot, I'll beat him up. You grab the beauty."

Xia Qingyue herself froze slightly… she couldn't believe it. How did it come to this? She was only away for a few months and…

Ye Qingsheng's spear clanged against Rokas' neck, visibly doing no damage. His golden eyes focused on Ye Ziyi who attempted to touch Xia Qingyue. They turned scarlet as he exploded towards him, piercing straight through his chest with a shining red energy sword.

"...What… Ziyi… how?"

"..." Rokas' scarlet eyes looked down at Ye Qingsheng with overflowing killing intent. With the berserk attribute fueling his strength… the urge to harm others, especially his opposition, was very much present.

"Ah… wait, we can talk about this- AHHH"

Rokas broke Ye Qingsheng's arms with barely any effort, twisting them back until they were almost ripped off. Then he took out the Profound Handle, forcefully retrieving Ye Qingsheng's memories. Within several seconds… he found the truth.

'The Sun Moon Divine Hall…'

He cut through Ye Qingsheng's chest and kicked him onto the ground, his eyes turning golden once more as the berserk attribute's influence faded.

"The Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace's Mistress…" Rokas remarked, looking away from Gong Yuxian's remains. It really creeped him out. 'How… did it come to this? It's far too early, timeline-wise...'

"Gong Yuxian… it can't be." Xia Qingyue replied, taking a deep breath as she overcame her shock. "It seems that she… sacrificed herself so that the rest could be safe under the formation. But why… why the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace?"

"Because…" Rokas suddenly stopped, wondering if it was a good idea to say that she was technically the cause. "The young master of the Sun Moon Divine Hall wanted to take you for himself. That's what I got from his memories, anyway."

"..." Xia Qingyue paused as a flash of guilt crossed her eyes. "So… I brought such a calamity to the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace…"

"It's not your fault." Rokas looked her in the eyes for a long second, grabbing her hand. "It was the bastard's lust that led to this. Don't you ever blame yourself for his deeds."

Xia Qingyue looked up and into his golden eyes, feeling strangely reassured. "But… there's nothing that can be done against the Sun Moon Divine Hall, is there? They will just send someone who is even stronger than you."

Even though he didn't care for the Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace on a personal level, he couldn't avoid this matter because it was related to Xia Qingyue…

Seeing the injustice of Gong Yuxian's death first-hand and Xia Qingyue's guilty expression… Rokas felt a rush of fury ignite his heart. He stood still, thinking of how to avoid potentially bringing disaster to those around him. Then… he found a way.

"... Let them try when I have their precious young master inches away from death."

Rokas' appearance changed within seconds as he grew longer glowing white hair, his eyes turned crimson red with a deathly glow and his face sharpened. He didn't have as much of a babyface anymore… instead, he had the classic sword brows, steel-like jawline and overall hard face.

And so… the 'Heavenly Demon' had emerged for the very first time.

'Ye Xinghan… no one… will save you from me…'