"This Supreme Monarch-level might just be the Tianshan light White Tiger."
Zhou Haoyu calculated inwardly. As long as he found the Tianshan light White Tiger, Qin Yu'er wouldn't be far.
After confirming the direction, Zhou Haoyu immediately teleported with Mu Ningxue.
Not long after, a towering ice peak, hundreds of meters high and made entirely of millennia-old frost, loomed before them on the endless glacier!
Looking down, a massive white tiger was resting at the side of the peak.
Clearly, this was the Sacred Spirit of Tianshan—the Tianshan light White Tiger.
The Tianshan light White Tiger, which had been dozing, suddenly sensed an incredibly terrifying aura. Its snow-white fur instantly bristled upright, like a cat whose fur was on end.
"ROAR!!!"
The Tianshan light White Tiger leapt from the ground with a thunderous bellow, eyes alert as it scanned its surroundings.
"Noisy!"
A cold gleam flickered in Zhou Haoyu's eyes, and an Emperor's might radiated outward in all directions.
Under this aura's sweep, the entire ice peak began to tremble, as though it might collapse at any moment.
Sensing this aura, the White Tiger instantly grew docile, crouching low like a harmless kitten.
"Xue'er, wait outside for a bit."
Zhou Haoyu placed Mu Ningxue down, then casually unleashed a streak of black dragon energy at the ice peak, instantly carving a two-meter-wide opening.
The next moment, a bone-piercing chill gusted outward.
The temperature of Tianshan was already frigid, but this wind was colder still, gnawing straight into the marrow.
Yet for Zhou Haoyu in his Armor Robe state, such cold was nothing more than child's play.
Upon entering the ice peak, his eyes were met with an expanse of crystalline azure.
Ice crystals covered every surface, with sharp icicles dangling from the vaulted ceiling.
Unlike the snowbound world outside, the inside of this peak resembled a castle belonging to the Princess of Ice.
As Zhou Haoyu advanced, he discovered a massive ice crystal coffin embedded in the wall.
Stepping closer, he saw that within it lay a silver-haired woman, sealed in ice.
Perhaps due to years of encasement, Qin Yu'er appeared no older than twenty.
Her angelic face framed by flowing silver locks, clad in white palace robes lined with gold trim, eyes tightly shut—she looked just like a slumbering Snow White.
[Unlock Condition: Remove Qin Yu'er's Heretical Identity.]
"Zhan Kong, the water here runs far too deep. You can't handle it. Better let me."
Zhou Haoyu's lips curled slightly. Originally, he only intended to open Zhan Kong's treasure chest, but now his plans had changed.
Zhan Kong was merely a High-level Mage, far too weak to protect Qin Yu'er.
Rather than let her fall victim to the Tribunal's relentless pursuit, it was better for her to remain by his side.
Having decided, Zhou Haoyu immediately invoked the Void White Flame to thaw Qin Yu'er.
The illusory white fire licked evenly at the coffin. Under its searing heat, the ice crystal coffin slowly began to melt.
Meanwhile, other ice formations also succumbed to the fire, dissolving before the naked eye.
Fortunately, the ice peak was solid and thick, showing no sign of collapse.
Gradually, the coffin encasing Qin Yu'er completely melted away.
But the melting ice soaked Qin Yu'er's palace attire, drenching her entirely. Droplets clung to her long lashes, her garments plastered tightly against her body, outlining her graceful curves to perfection.
A vision of wet allure!
Due to her prolonged entombment, Qin Yu'er did not awaken immediately, her stiff body collapsing forward.
Zhou Haoyu reacted with lightning speed, stepping forward and catching her directly in his arms.
He had no time to savor the softness beneath his palms—at this moment he was completely captivated by the breathtaking beauty of her face.
His very first impression of Qin Yu'er had been no different from Mu Ningxue's: silver hair cascading like silk, skin like carved jade and Ice.
Even the aloof, ethereal aura seemed cut from the same mold.
But on closer inspection of her features, the resemblance was not so exact.
Still, if Qin Yu'er stood beside Mu Ningxue, most would assume they were blood sisters.
The same silver hair, the same frostbound beauty—at first glance, even more alike than true sisters.
"Could she, like Xue'er, also be tied to the White Tiger?"
Zhou Haoyu wondered suddenly, though it was something he would need to confirm later.
Before long, Qin Yu'er's long lashes trembled faintly, her soft lips parting ever so slightly.
The next moment, her eyes slowly opened, revealing irises of icy blue.
In that instant, Zhou Haoyu felt an immense surge of Ice Element gather around her.
As expected of an Ice Calamity Bearer—her control over the element was on a level ordinary Mages could never compare with.
Her beautiful gaze held a flicker of astonishment as she looked upon Zhou Haoyu, then quickly realized her posture was somewhat inappropriate.
Qin Yu'er immediately slipped free from his arms, adjusted her soaked palace garments slightly, then turned her gaze back to him.
"Who are you? Where am I?"
Perhaps due to being sealed in ice for ten years, Qin Yu'er's memories had yet to fully realign.
"My name is Zhou Haoyu. This is Tianshan. I was the one who awakened you from the ice crystal coffin."
Zhou Haoyu explained everything honestly.
"Tianshan…"
Qin Yu'er's pupils trembled slightly as the memory of being entombed in ice a decade ago surfaced, a flash of resentment crossing her eyes.
"How did you come to Tianshan? Why would you save me?"
Now that she had pieced some memories together, Qin Yu'er finally asked.
"I stumbled upon this ice peak by chance. As for why I saved you—well, when faced with a woman as beautiful as you, who wouldn't?"
Zhou Haoyu answered with blunt candor.
The sudden praise left Qin Yu'er stunned.
Such simple, unadorned words—she had never heard anything like them. A warmth welled up within her chest.
No matter what, at least there was still someone in this world who cared about her.
That alone was enough.
"Tianshan is not a place you should be. You must leave quickly."
Qin Yu'er suddenly recalled something, her tone urgent—most likely not wishing to drag this man who had saved her into her misfortune.
After all, she was branded a Heretic. No one would ever stand at her side.
As for Zu Xingyi, ten long years had passed—surely he had long since forgotten her.
"If we leave, we leave together." Zhou Haoyu replied at once.
Since he had chosen to rescue Qin Yu'er, he would naturally bring her into his own camp.
As an Ice Calamity Bearer, if Qin Yu'er ever broke through to Forbidden Curse level, her power would far surpass that of ordinary Forbidden Curse Mages.
She might even exceed the strength of dual-Element Forbidden Curses!
"No. I cannot leave Tianshan."
Looking at the young man before her, Qin Yu'er's heart wavered slightly, but in the end she shook her head with firm resolve.
She could not drag her savior into her abyss.
Zhou Haoyu felt helpless. This wasn't how the plot was supposed to develop at all.
Shouldn't it have gone the "pledge herself in gratitude" route?
Was his face not up to standard?
Or… was it because of Zhan Kong?
...
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