Kongming wanted to say something more, but was rendered helpless by the fierce glare from the Princess, who raised her hand in a "please" gesture, chuckled twice, and stopped speaking.

On the other hand, Tiran waved his hand, and a icy blue Chi surrounded the central golden magic array of the Alchemy Hall, forming an ice fortress with radiating ice thorns pointing in all directions, completely sealing off any light and sound from the outside with a solid ice layer.

"What exactly is that Dragon Knight contract?" Xiang Ling stared at the ice palace that had just been created and casually asked.

"It's as it sounds." Kongming even considerately added another layer of sensory isolation barrier around the ice palace that Tiran had built, preparing to leave the Alchemy Hall. "Staying here any longer is useless. Let's go, Miss."

"Tsk tsk, Silvis, didn't expect you, with your bold brows and big eyes, to be so scheming." The dragon on his shoulder couldn't help but laugh, teasing.

"...You should at least consider the feelings of the parties involved, Mr. Dragon. If I were to admit that I also knew how this contract was signed, how could Prince Tiran easily act?" Kongming sighed.

"Heh, you think that little girl wouldn't kill you if she knew the truth?"

"Although she is talented, but I have lived for so long, at least I won't be surpassed by her in such a short time..."

The two voices gradually faded away, and Xiang Ling, who had stayed there for a while longer, also sensed something fishy. Was Silver War Maiden being deceived?

Meanwhile, in the ice-filled palace, though isolated from the outside, the ice crystals refracted the golden light emitted by the magic array on the ground, making the inside of the palace not dim, but rather quite bright.

Princess preferred the light inside the palace to be dimmer.

After adjusting the hem of her clothes, she sat down in front of Aya, silently scrutinizing the Aya who had just burst with dominance but now fell into silence, feeling her cheeks burning even in the extremely low temperature of the ice palace.

Aya still knelt halfway on the ground, his body firmly held by the golden handcuffs around his wrists, his golden pupils showing a disdainful aura, while the other wine-red color pupil still retained the look of the timid dragon she was familiar with.

At least for now, it seemed safe, but she didn't know how much time was left as the demon Qin Mo had mentioned.

Compared to time, the scroll in her hand was the real time bomb. The Princess vividly remembered how Aya had told her how the Dragon Knight contract was signed. She never thought she would have to use it in her entire life...

With Aya locked in a state of confusion, the eerie atmosphere around them, and being able to do as she pleased with no one around, she couldn't help but feel like she was the villain in a magical fantasy world h-book who could conjure tentacles at will.

"Is this the so-called ordained 'r-pe'!? This is despicable!" The Princess blushed and forcefully threw the scroll on the ground, covering her face with her hands before lying back like a salted fish giving up on treatment. This was too much! Especially being made to be the one to take the initiative as a girl, how vile!

This development was just unreasonable. Even her past life memories didn't have any experience in this aspect!

Having been a diligent girl studying earnestly from childhood, uninterested in romance in reality due to being immersed in paper dolls, her experience of holding hands with a boy was limited to kindergarten. She might talk like a seasoned driver, but all her experience came from various strange little books. And now, shutting herself and Aya in the ice palace and being told to 'have' the shy dragon, who in their right mind would just agree and undress?

"Just, even if I do have a little liking, I can't really do this kind of thing…"

On the other hand, the girl is taking the initiative, and the boy is not aware. In this situation, would one be judged for that?

I believe most people have had this kind of experience, that whenever confronted with pressure so great that it feels impossible to bear, suddenly, the pressure dissipates and one ends up utterly indulging in oneself. It's like the principle of a dead pig not fearing boiling water – the closer to the exam, the more carefree one feels.

As Tiran began to contemplate the legendary life of Zhang San, Aya suddenly let out a low murmur.

"Aya? Aya, are you awake?"

Tiran paused for a moment, then sat up, looking at Aya with delight, yet feeling a sudden chill in his heart.

One of Aya's eyes, maintaining its original color, had half of it dyed gold, as if ink seeping slowly into water, like fine sand in an hourglass trickling down, measuring the remaining time.

"...Miss Tiran?"

Aya's lips moved slightly, emitting an almost inaudible sound, while the light in his eyes, uniquely his, was gradually fading away.

Gurgle.

Tiran's fingers twitched, knowing there was no time left to hesitate.

"Well, no one can see, right? Damn it, I'll give it my all!"

...

"Oh, oh, oh! Little Vera, did you see that? Are you ready for a snapshot?"

"Wait, um, someone, pass me the sketch pen!"

"My name is Angelo… Mr. Yuan."

Judicator handed over the sketch pen with a slightly uncomfortable expression, after all, he, a former priest, had never witnessed such a spectacle.

On the top floor of the Star Tower, a place usually only Xingjian would enter, was now occupied by three Westerners, one of them loudly sketching on a board, while the girl behind her carried a heavy shoulder-mounted device, the camera lens aimed at the projection curtain used by Xingjian in front of Aya not long ago.

In the image, the silver-haired girl casually untied her hairband, her cheeks blushing with shy emotions, her sweet breath gently spraying on Aya's face.

First to be undone was the collar button. Perhaps because it was her first time doing such a thing, the action of unbuttoning was somewhat clumsy, but under time pressure, she quickly undid them one by one, revealing her alluring snow-white skin to the air.

"Oh, oh, I didn't expect Princess Tiran's undergarments to be so girly! The pink lace is superb!"

Yuan couldn't help but cheer, breaking the sketch pen in his hand.

"You're too excited, bro..."

Vera complained softly from behind, holding the camera for snapshots, then glanced at the screen showing the princess, "Clearly, there's nothing there... My bust is even bigger than that Silver War Maiden's, if you want to see, just tell me, bro."

"No, no, no, Little Vera, you should know that this kind of thing between siblings is not right."

Yuan almost choked on his saliva upon hearing this, coughed a few times, then turned around slightly panic-stricken to look at Vera, reaching out to pat her head, instructing her.

"But bro, I saw in your photo collection a person named Yuan of Fate..."

"Cough, cough, cough! That! Art, art creation is different from reality, and... um."

"Bro, didn't you say art Yuan is life?"

Why are you so sharp at this moment… Yuan sighed, covering his face, giving up on replying, and excitedly turning his gaze back to the screen.

"…Huh?"

The screen suddenly went black, cutting off the moment of a beautiful girl undressing with anticipation.

“It's not polite to pry into other people's private matters, my friend.”

Suddenly, a handsome ancient-style man in light clothing approached from behind, slowly ascending the spiral staircase and leaning on the railing as he spoke.

"Silvis VI?!" Angelo's hand slid a pair of silver daggers out of his sleeves, alertly watching him, although being cautious in the face of such a formidable opponent was pointless.

Yuan stiffened briefly, turned slowly, and after casually discarding his sketch board and broken pen, he revealed his usual playful expression, waving a greeting. “Oh, long time no see, Zhuge Qinmo... Did you really have to barge in at this moment? Finally had a chance to gather firsthand material, you know."

“Is this really what concerns you…”

After casually blocking Yuan's peeping signal, Kongming gazed at him for a long while, not hiding the surprise in his eyes. “I didn't expect you to still be alive.”

“Because besides living a little longer than the average person, I don't have any other talents.” Yuan scratched his head, displaying a proud yet bashful smile like any praised young boy.

This is not just a "little” bit, thought Kongming, feeling a storm raging in his heart.

The annihilation of life is something no living being can avoid. Even the eastern true immortals, after enduring the heavenly tribulation and shedding earthly attachments, would often live for no more than ten thousand years.

Several western deities, on the other hand, utilize the power known as “faith” to free themselves from bodily constraints, becoming guardians akin to totems for their clans. When their faith wanes, so does their divinity.

If Kongming had not existed in a spiritual form in the swamp’s seal for a long time, his lifespan would have been only a few thousand years. But the enigmatic youth Yuan in front of him had the same appearance as when Kongming, a disreputable demon king traveling around in the era before the mythological war, was just beginning.

Compared to those seemingly insignificant years, Kongming truly believed Yuan was just an interesting human- but how could an ordinary human possibly live for tens of thousands of years in their original form?

“My friend, who exactly are you?”

Kongming took a few steps towards Yuan, and the land of Kyushu unfolded beneath his feet. When they were just a step apart, the surroundings transformed from the star-engraved tower to the peaks of cloud-wreathed mountains.

In the current scarcity of Holy Ranks, having two Realms unfold consecutively at the same location within a day was truly a grand spectacle. Yet, Yuan seemed unconcerned about his safety, not answering Kongming's question but instead admiring the magnificent scenery around him with a nostalgic look.

“It's been a while since I've seen this view. I've been to places like Lingxiao Sword Sect, but it seems that seeing perilous peaks like the Five Sacred Mountains is best recreated in your Realm, Zhuge Qinmo.”

"...Recreated? As I recall, there are no similar places in the famous mountains and rivers of East Land."

When creating his Realm according to Yuan's descriptions, Kongming found it amusing. However, he always thought the origin of this magnificent vista was purely fictional.

"No, no, no, all of these are indeed real."

Yuan laughed happily, "Qinmo, didn't you ask me who I am? I can answer that. Well, I am indeed just an ordinary human being."

"Only, I do not belong to this world."