“So Xinuo’s backing towers like a mountain.”

The moment FrostyLily Dream finished, a sigh slipped out of me like wind through pines. I knew Xinuo was strong, but I hadn’t pictured birthright invincibility, a sky no blade could scar.

“Of course.”

FrostyLily Dream lifted her chin like frost catching sun, proud and glittering. “Scour the whole world, and you won’t find anyone who can rival Sister Xinuo—no, even every top fighter together couldn’t topple her.”

“That’s too much, isn’t it?” Lingxiao’s disbelief flickered like a startled bird. “Just the Elven Kind, Dragon Kin, the god clans, and the demon clans—those four pillars together might match Xinuo.”

“As long as you’re still inside this world’s frame, you can’t stand against Sister Xinuo.” FrostyLily Dream smiled like a cat in the snow, praising herself by proxy. “Don’t forget, Sister Xinuo holds a portion of the world’s Primordial Source, which means a portion of its governing rules. With that tide behind her, who could resist her, here in this sky and soil?”

“Mm, that tracks.” Lingsaki’s eyes settled like calm water. “In a sense, Sir Xino is the world’s will. To fight the strength of the world itself isn’t something the four races can manage.”

“No wonder the Mizumi Clan has stood a thousand years like a cedar on a cliff,” Lixue said, her voice cool as shade. “With such a guardian, unless they tear themselves apart, keeping a supreme seat forever isn’t impossible.”

I nodded, the agreement rising like warm mist. “Yeah. The Mizumi Clan’s peace probably rests, for the most part, on Xinuo’s sheer deterrence.”

“Obviously!” FrostyLily Dream snorted, a spark in the snow. “Without Sister Xinuo, the Mizumi Clan would’ve been toppled long ago. A family of only a few hundred hogging the largest, richest continent—how many wolves are licking their chops?”

She shot me a look like, good, you get it, then waved it away like drifting flakes. “Enough. We can talk Sister Xinuo after you clear the Nine Cold Labyrinth. Start the ninth trial.”

“Right,” Lixue cut in, her voice like a bell in winter air. “I’ll lay out the Palace of Ice Crystal’s condition—my teacher said our strength is about the same. One-on-one against me. Beat me, and you pass. How’s that?”

“No objections.”

Heat surged before motion, my battle intent rising like a storm front. Ever since I learned Lixue was a Sword Wielder, I’d wanted a clean duel under an open sky.

“Ah—take your time and trade blows,” FrostyLily Dream yawned, lazy as a cat in sun. “You two little girls, with this lady. Come on.”

She whisked Lingxiao and Lingsaki toward the palace like wind tugging fallen leaves, and the wide courtyard fell quiet, holding only me and Lixue under a pale sky.

“Ready?”

No sooner had FrostyLily Dream gone than Lixue drew Ice Illusion Moon from her waist, both hands steady as ice on a lake. Her aura flipped in an instant—cold as rime, sharp as a blizzard tearing canvas.

A chill bloomed from Ice Illusion Moon, ice-blue and breathing like aurora. It wrapped Lixue in a shimmering ring, a defensive halo the color of winter dawn.

“Mm.”

I let Shattered Light return to blade form, its weight settling like starlight in my grip, and answered softly, the word hanging like frost.

……