In the top-floor room of the Pill Tower, an incense burner glowed, its fragrance dispelling the chill from outside.Pill Tower Master Gu He withdrew his hand from Xiao Yu's delicate wrist, his voice as steady as an ancient bell: "Her injuries have fully recovered, and upon waking, her strength will show significant improvement. However, her origin was too deeply eroded by the curse, so she will no longer be able to transfer injuries for others as you mentioned.""Thank you, Tower Master." Dongfang Mingyue rose to express her gratitude, her eyes filled with appreciation.The Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill was a seventh-grade elixir; even a seventh-rank Spiritual Energy User would find it incredibly difficult to obtain one, even at a great cost. Yet, upon hearing Xiao Yu's plight, Gu He had unhesitatingly taken out the elixir. This kindness, she secretly etched into her heart.Gu He stroked his beard and chuckled softly, a hint of calculation in his eyes. If it were anyone else seeking this elixir, he might not even have shown his face.But Dongfang Mingyue was different; her displayed alchemy talent was enough to support her path to becoming a seventh-grade alchemist in the future, and she even had the potential to reach the supreme realms of eighth and ninth grade.Exchanging a seventh-grade elixir for the future friendship of an alchemy grandmaster was a deal that could never be a loss, no matter how one calculated it."Mingyue, your current situation makes it unsuitable for you to reside outside." Gu He's tone shifted, imbued with reassuring authority. "From today until the alchemy finals, you will stay here in the Pill Tower. With me here, no one can harm you in the slightest."As the Pill Tower Master, his own strength was unfathomable, and his network of connections was even more intricate.If anyone dared to trespass and cause trouble in the Pill Tower, he would ensure they never returned.Dongfang Mingyue's heart warmed, and she bowed again in thanks. Finding refuge in the Pill Tower not only brought her peace of mind but also meant Xiao Yu and the Guards would no longer be put in danger because of her.Gu He nodded faintly, then meticulously checked Xiao Yu's aura once more. After confirming everything was well, he turned and exited the room, leaving the space to the sisters who had faced life and death together."Xiao Yu." Dongfang Mingyue gently sat by the bed, holding Xiao Yu's warm hand. Those hands were soft and delicate, no longer dry and wrinkled.The pallor on her round face had long faded, replaced by a healthy flush, and her breathing was steady and deep.Looking at the vibrant figure before her, Dongfang Mingyue suddenly felt a wave of unreality.Fate, it seemed, had truly been changed.Since she awakened her "Future Dream" ability, the tragedies she foresaw in her dreams had always come to pass, without exception.Those destined to perish, no matter how much she struggled or sought help, ultimately could not escape their predetermined end; sometimes, her intervention even led to a more tragic outcome.Time and again, her efforts were crushed, hope turned to despair, and she had long since succumbed to the shackles of destiny.The words "Fate cannot be changed" were branded into her bones like an imprint, becoming a creed she dared not transgress.But today, she had witnessed the collapse of that creed with her own eyes.Everything in the snow earlier was exactly as in her dream fragments—the same falling snow, the same words of farewell, the same aging and decay. Xiao Yu had used her once-in-a-lifetime ability, at the cost of her own life, to block the fatal curse for her.According to the dream's trajectory, Xiao Yu should have gradually grown cold in her arms, completely passing away.But now, the girl who should have died was lying alive before her, her breathing steady, her face vibrant.The gloom of fate had, astonishingly, been torn open by a crack.Dongfang Mingyue's nose tingled, and an inexplicable surge of emotion welled up in her heart—like someone who had walked in endless darkness for years, finally seeing a ray of dawn ahead.The shackles of fate that had tightly bound her silently broke at this moment.Her eyes, long closed by despair, reopened at this instant, seeing the light called "hope."And all of this was brought about by one person.Dongfang Mingyue's heart felt as if something was pushing it, beating fast and hard. The urge to break through fate transformed into a warm current, flowing through her limbs and bones. She could no longer sit still and turned to run out the door.Thin snow still covered the Pill Tower's stone steps. She hurried down, the cold snow wetting her shoe soles, yet she felt no cold at all.As she rushed out of the Pill Tower's main entrance, the biting wind and snow immediately assailed her.She looked up and saw Qin Tian standing in the center of the plaza, still wearing his blood-stained black clothes. The bloodstains on his hem had already congealed into dark red ice shards. Thin white snow clung to his dark hair and eyebrows, like a layer of frost, which only made his face appear more stern and his posture as tall and unyielding as a pine tree in the wind and snow.The Guards surrounded him, speaking in low voices. Each face bore the exhaustion of surviving a disaster, yet their brows were relaxed from having escaped safely.Dongfang Mingyue's gaze was fixed on Qin Tian, and scenes from the snowy ground replayed uncontrollably in her mind: how he, to protect everyone, had his body pierced by countless sword qi wounds, yet his steps did not falter; how, facing that colossal finger, his bones were shattered piece by piece, but his frame remained upright; the firmness in his palm as it glowed, pulling Xiao Yu back from the hands of death—These images surged like a tide—gratitude, emotion, and the joy of breaking fate—all converged at this moment into an uncontrollable impulse.Without hesitation, she walked step by step towards Qin Tian, facing the wind and snow.Snowflakes landed in her hair and on her shoulders, quickly forming a thin layer, but she was completely oblivious, her eyes seeing only the figure standing in the wind and snow.When Qin Tian saw Dongfang Mingyue walking towards him, his usually stern gaze softened instantly."Miss Mingyue, how is Xiao Yu—"Before he could finish speaking, a soft, delicate body embraced him, tightly hugging his waist.Qin Tian was completely stunned, his raised hand suspended in mid-air, a ripple of emotion in his deep eyes.Dongfang Mingyue pressed her face against Qin Tian's blood-stained but still warm chest, clearly feeling his steady heartbeat. That heartbeat was like a drum, dispelling all her anxieties. Tears welled up again, but they were no longer tears of despair, but of gratitude and relief, soaking Qin Tian's black clothes."Thank you," she choked out, her voice soft but clear. "Truly—thank you."This "thank you" was not only for Qin Tian's desperate efforts to protect everyone and save Xiao Yu, but also for him being like a ray of light, cleaving open the cage of fate that had entangled her for years, allowing her to finally believe that destiny was not unchangeable.Upon hearing this tearful thank you, Qin Tian's suspended hand finally lowered slowly, gently resting on Dongfang Mingyue's back, as if comforting her, and also as if responding.The wind and snow continued to fall, yet they seemed to be imbued with warmth by the embracing figures.The Guards nearby watched the young man and woman clinging to each other, stopping their conversations, exchanging glances, their eyes revealing a strange mix of amusement and knowing smiles."Miss, Miss?"Xiao Yu's soft call rang in her ears, and only then did Dongfang Mingyue suddenly snap back to reality. She looked up and met Xiao Yu's eyes, which were full of confusion. Her cheeks, already flushed from the earlier memories, instantly reddened even more, even the tips of her ears turning a faint pink. Her gaze subconsciously drifted towards the window, not daring to meet Xiao Yu's eyes."Miss, what were you just spacing out thinking about?" Xiao Yu propped herself up and sat, looking at Dongfang Mingyue's evasive manner. She suddenly raised an eyebrow, a flicker of mischievousness in her eyes, and a knowing smile played on her lips. "I know! You must be thinking about Qin—Mmph!"Before she could finish the latter half of her sentence, Xiao Yu's mouth was covered by Dongfang Mingyue's hastily outstretched hand. The warm palm pressed against her lips, allowing her to only emit muffled grunts."You, you mustn't talk nonsense!" Dongfang Mingyue's voice carried a hint of imperceptible panic, her cheeks reddening even more, like a ripe apple. "I was just thinking, Qin Tian saved all of us this time and pulled you back from the brink of death, so how should we properly repay him—"Although she said this, her mind uncontrollably replayed the scene outside the Pill Tower—in the wind and snow, Qin Tian's blood-stained black clothes, his snow-dusted eyebrows, and the steady heartbeat she felt when she rushed into his arms.There had been similar embracing scenes in her dreams, but the tactile sensation in reality was far clearer than in dreams, and made her heart beat even faster. Especially when she later recalled the Guards' knowing, winking glances, her cheeks felt even hotter, and her ears burned, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.Xiao Yu shook her head vigorously, finally freeing her mouth from Dongfang Mingyue's hand. Rubbing her stiff cheek, she mumbled softly, "I hadn't even finished saying anything, and your covering my mouth like that just gave it away!""You still say!" Dongfang Mingyue feigned anger, her delicate eyebrows arching slightly. She reached out and pinched Xiao Yu's cheek. The soft touch on her fingertips unconsciously softened her tone. "Alright, no more teasing. Xiao Yu, it's so good that you're alive."Her voice was filled with relief. The despair of holding Xiao Yu's gradually chilling body in the snow earlier contrasted sharply with the vibrant person before her now, making her cherish this regained companionship even more.Xiao Yu naturally hugged Dongfang Mingyue's arm, resting her head gently on her shoulder: "I'm super happy too, that I can continue to stay with Miss. I want to see Miss become the most amazing alchemist, achieve her dreams, and I also want to see Miss wear a beautiful wedding dress and have adorable babies—it's just—"At this point, her voice lowered, and a hint of sadness appeared in her eyes: "It's just that I won't be able to protect Miss anymore.""Silly girl." Dongfang Mingyue gently stroked Xiao Yu's long hair, her fingertips brushing against the soft strands. "I never once thought of you protecting me, and I never once thought of you exchanging your life for mine. Xiao Yu, you are my sister, my dearest family. I only hope that in the days to come, we can both live peacefully and happily, that's enough.""Mm!" Xiao Yu nodded heavily, the sadness in her eyes replaced by brightness. She hugged Dongfang Mingyue's arm tightly, as if to firmly grasp this warmth. "I want to be with Miss forever, never to be separated!"Just then, a "buzzing" vibration suddenly broke the warm atmosphere in the room.Dongfang Mingyue's smart «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» wristband screen was lit, vibrating continuously.Xiao Yu leaned over for a glance and quickly said, "Miss, it's Young Master Haoyue calling! You should pick up quickly, he must be worried sick."Dongfang Mingyue smiled and patted Xiao Yu's head, then rose, picked up her wristband, and walked to the adjacent room.Gently closing the door, cutting off the outside noise, she took a deep breath and pressed the video call button.The screen quickly lit up, and Eastern Haoyue's handsome face immediately appeared in the frame, his brows filled with barely concealed anxiety. As soon as the call connected, he spoke rapidly: "Mingyue! Why are you only answering now? Do you know I—""Brother."Dongfang Mingyue gently interrupted him, her voice very soft, yet carrying an unprecedented firmness. She looked at her brother's anxious expression in the video, her gaze so serious it made one's heart tremble, and she said word by word:"Fate has changed.""Brother, you and I, might—not die." Hearing this, Eastern Haoyue, on the other end of the video, trembled violently. The anxiety on his face gradually faded, and his eyes, initially startled, slowly became complex, fixed intently on his sister on the screen, as if to confirm the truth of her words from her face.Snow raged on the desolate mountain peak, goose-feather snow like scattered jade flying across the sky, dyeing the world a vast white.Qin Tian's figure suddenly appeared in the snow like a ghost. The hem of his black robe flapped in the cold wind. He looked around, his gaze quickly falling on the ground not far away.There lay a body split in two, the seven-tier dark mage who had escaped earlier.Dark red blood had long solidified in the low temperature, intertwining with the white snow into striking color blocks. Thick snow almost completely buried the body, revealing only the tattered edges of the black robe, proving that a fierce battle had taken place here.Qin Tian's heart tightened—he had tracked the hunting mark here. When the mark suddenly disappeared at this spot, he had thought the other party had detected its presence and erased it with a secret art, never expecting that they had already died.To split a seven-tier mage in half with one blow, the strength of the attacker was probably far beyond his imagination."You tampered with him?"A faint voice suddenly sounded behind Qin Tian, like a snowflake falling on water, soft yet with an undeniable penetrative power.Qin Tian's pupils suddenly contracted, and all the hairs on his body instantly stood on end. Almost instinctively, he spun around—his perception had long covered a radius of dozens of miles around him. Whether it was sound, smell, heat source, or magnetic field fluctuations, no subtle anomaly could escape his notice.But this Man in White, was able to walk behind him silently, without him noticing at all!The black frost blade instantly appeared in Qin Tian's hand, its dark blade gleaming with a cold light. His body was taut like a drawn bowstring, his gaze locked onto the Man in White opposite him, Spiritual Energy rapidly circulating within him, ready to respond to any sudden situation.The Man in White stood in the wind and snow, his pristine white robe spotless. Snowflakes fell on his shoulders, as if reluctant to tarnish his extraordinary and ethereal aura.He waved his hand casually, his tone as relaxed as if he were chatting: "Don't be so nervous. If I wanted to attack you, I would have done so before you even noticed, and I wouldn't be wasting my breath talking to you."— — —His gaze slowly swept over Qin Tian, a faint smile playing on his lips, and he added: "Besides, if I had killing intent, you wouldn't be alive right now.""Who exactly are you?" Qin Tian's voice was low and solemn, his hand gripping the hilt of the blade tightening slightly.The behavior of the Man in White in front of him was too strange—he had suddenly retreated halfway through a fight, citing "not enough money"; the body of this seven-tier mage, judging by the wound marks, was clearly cut down by a sharp sword, most likely by him; yet now he stood before him with a composed demeanor, showing no hostility at all.Qin Tian couldn't fathom what this unfathomably powerful Man in White's true purpose was.The Man in White smiled faintly at his words, a hint of mystery in his brows: "Want to know my name? It's simple."His tone suddenly turned cold, "But you need to think carefully—once you know my name, you'll only have two choices left: either die, or join my organization."He looked at Qin Tian's tense expression and slowly asked: "Now, do you still want to know?"The wind and snow still howled, but the snow on the ground between the two seemed to be isolated by an invisible aura, unable to approach.Qin Tian's hand gripping the black frost blade tightened, his vigilance and doubt intertwined, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.The Man in White looked at Qin Tian's tense posture and solemn expression, a faint smile playing on his lips, his tone carrying a hint of teasing: "What, already scared? The sharpness you showed earlier, protecting Dongfang Mingyue in the snow, refusing to retreat even unto death, is not this current appearance."Qin Tian's hand gripping the black frost blade did not loosen, but his eyes darkened—he had enough confidence in his life-saving methods. Even if the Man in White's strength was unfathomable, he had a good chance if he wanted to protect himself.But the problem was, as long as this mysterious expert didn't reveal his true purpose and kept his eyes on Dongfang Mingyue,He couldn't truly rest assured.To protect Dongfang Mingyue, he first had to figure out the other party's identity and goal."Who exactly are you?" Qin Tian asked, enunciating each word.The Man in White's smile deepened at his words, but his tone remained light: "Qin Tian, male, twenty-two years old. Two years ago, he was a freshman at Xiongying Military Academy on Silver Gray Star, merely a first-tier Spiritual Energy User; in just two short years,He was promoted to a major in the military, held the imperial glory medal, and his Spiritual Energy level broke through to the sixth tier. Besides that, the Lingfeng Commercial Company you founded is now a new star with unlimited potential in the business world, and the Youth Potion you developed is a bestseller across the nine major starfields—"Qin Tian's brows suddenly furrowed. His resume was not top secret, but it wasn't something just anyone could look up, especially since only a few hours had passed since he met the Man in White, yet the other party knew his situation like the back of his hand.The only possibility was that this person in front of him had started investigating him long ago."So, you came for me?" Qin Tian's voice grew several degrees colder, Spiritual Energy quietly circulating within him, ready to respond to any sudden situation.The Man in White's tone finally became a bit more serious: "You could say that. However, Dongfang Mingyue is also one of my targets."Seeing the sharpness that flashed in Qin Tian's eyes, he added, "Don't look at me like that. I was also entrusted by someone to protect Dongfang Mingyue once. Kid, do you think the assassins sent by the Round Table are that easy to deal with? If I hadn't dealt with that seven-tier peak assassin beforehand and disguised myself as him to infiltrate, with your current ability, could you truly protect Dongfang Mingyue?"Qin Tian's heart trembled violently. Judging by this tone, the other party seemed to be on his side.If the Man in White's words were true, then Dongfang Mingyue had truly narrowly escaped death this time.Killing was inherently easier than protecting. Even with his counter-damage ability and spatial techniques, protecting an unprepared Dongfang Mingyue from a sudden attack by a seven-tier peak assassin was still incredibly difficult.Unless he directly sent Dongfang Mingyue into a different dimension and brought her back to the Imperial Star, but this method, unless absolutely necessary,Dongfang Mingyue would never accept."Then you just—" Qin Tian was about to ask why he had attacked so fiercely before, but he was interrupted by the Man in White."You want to ask why I tried to kill you?" The Man in White took over, a hint of playfulness in his smile, "If it weren't for your strange counter-damage ability, you'd already be a corpse right now."Qin Tian nodded silently, waiting for the other party's explanation."This involves my second task—to observe you."The Man in White's tone was calm, but combined with all the previous clues, he immediately guessed a possibility—the other party came from a mysterious organization. After seeing his "rocket-like" growth rate within two years, they wanted to test his strength through practical means before deciding whether to extend an invitation.Sure enough, the Man in White flipped his wrist, and a token flew towards Qin Tian.Qin Tian hesitated for a moment, then steadily caught it with one hand, feeling the cold metallic touch on his fingertips.He looked down. It was a golden token, with a complex pattern carved on its front—like a giant gate suspended in the starry sky, with a mysterious halo vaguely emanating from behind the gate, as if leading to an unknown world."I come from the Mythology Society, a small secret organization that only accepts the most top-tier geniuses."The Man in White's voice rarely carried a hint of solemnity, "Someone recommended you, and the Society Head appointed me as an observer to test your strength. Although your current level is not high, being able to injure me with a sixth-tier body already qualifies you to join the Mythology Society."Mythology Society—the most top-tier geniusesHe looked up at the Man in White, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry: "Are most of your Mythology Society members holy blood geniuses?""holy blood?" The Man in White heard this, a faint disdain curling his lips, as if these two words were not supreme glory in his eyes, "I admit, holy blood indeed has a natural advantage in bloodline inheritance, born with Spiritual Energy talent far exceeding ordinary people. But if you think the universe's top potential is limited to this, then you are too narrow-minded."He raised his hand to brush away the falling snow from his shoulder, his tone gradually deepening, carrying a hint of Feeling at the vastness of the universe: "Looking across the star sea, some people gain ancient inheritances in desperate situations, awakening ancient powers that have slept for tens of thousands of years; some find cosmic treasures,Transforming their physique with wondrous objects, breaking the shackles of Spiritual Energy cultivation; and others are exceptionally gifted in fields such as alchemy, artifact refining, and formations, reaching heights in their youth that others could never achieve in a lifetime. The potential of these people is no less than that of the most top-tier holy blood descendants, and in some areas even far surpasses them. And the Mythology Society recruits precisely these types of geniuses who break the norm and defy the heavens. For example, me, and for example, you.""Alright, my observation mission is complete." He changed the subject, his tone returning to its previous indifference, "As for whether to join the Mythology Society, it's entirely up to your personal will. Three days later, the Mythology Society will hold its monthly internal gathering. You only need to inject Spiritual Energy into this token to meet other members in the virtual space."He paused, as if remembering something, and added a friendly reminder: "Oh, and Mythology Society members don't like to use their real names. Everyone chooses a codename derived from ancient mythology for easy communication."Qin Tian's hand gripping the token tightened slightly, his gaze fixed on the Man in White's elegant figure as he asked: "Then what is your codename?"The Man in White heard this, and a faint, clear smile appeared on his lips.He lightly tapped the snow with his toe, and his figure rose slowly into the air without wind, his white robe flapping in the wind and snow, his dark hair intertwined with snowflakes, a faint halo seemingly surrounding him, like an exiled immortal descending in the snowy night, untouched by the mortal world."My codename—" His voice came with the cold wind, clear yet distant, as if traveling through time, "True Martial Emperor."Before his voice faded, the Man in White's figure had transformed into a white light and disappeared into the vast snow curtain, leaving only Qin Tian standing alone on the desolate mountain peak, tightly clutching the golden token in his hand, his ears still echoing the four words "True Martial Emperor" and the howling of the wind and snow.

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