Chapter 675 553: Shang Miaoyan's Way to Break the Stalemate, Part 2

The Cold Palace Sword Mansion! We're finally here!

She joyfully pulled Pei Yuhang along as they landed on a hill blanketed in pure white snow, their boots making soft crunching sounds.

The ice and snow here hadn't melted in ten thousand years. As far as the eye could see, it was a vast, white expanse. Only a single, dilapidated estate stood amidst it all, looking exceptionally desolate.

'This place was even more rundown and crude than the Cold Palace Sword Mansion in Shang Miaoyan's memory. Perhaps the Cold Palace Sword Mansion of later years was only expanded after Pei Yuhang became Dao Companions with Ye Liyuan.'

"Xiaohan, have you remembered anything?"

Shang Miaoyan asked excitedly, pulling Pei Yuhang by the hand as they walked into the estate.

Pei Yuhang looked around, closed his eyes, and thought long and hard before finally saying helplessly, "I'm sorry, Holy Daughter. I still don't remember anything."

"You really have no memory of this place at all? You lived here for decades!"

Pei Yuhang rubbed his nose helplessly. "Holy Daughter, my bone age is only a little over twenty years. I really don't know what to make of those extra decades you remember..."

"..."

Shang Miaoyan's gaze fell, and her joyful mood instantly evaporated.

'Even the Cold Palace Sword Mansion can't restore Xiaohan's memories? But then again, the one possessing him is a being capable of suppressing even Ji Shenyun and twisting the entire Cultivation Realm around his finger. How could he possibly leave such an obvious weakness?'

'So, where should I take Xiaohan next...'

For the first time, Shang Miaoyan felt a sense of powerlessness. Xiaohan could only rely on her now, yet there was nothing she could do.

"Holy Daughter, why don't we stay here for a few more days? Perhaps my memories will come back in time."

Unable to bear seeing Shang Miaoyan's dejected expression, Pei Yuhang spoke softly, suggesting they wait a few more days.

With no better ideas, Shang Miaoyan could only nod in agreement.

And so, the two from the Yin Yang Sacred Land took up residence there.

To avoid attracting attention, Shang Miaoyan led Pei Yuhang to the underground cavern that housed the Cold Spring.

Pei Yuhang never expected that such a rundown place would hide such a marvel underground; he was instantly full of praise.

"Holy Daughter, how did you know there was a Cold Spring down here with such pure Ice Attribute Spiritual Energy?"

"Because I come here often, of course I know."

Having walked with Pei Yuhang all day, Shang Miaoyan's feet were sore and aching.

Now by the side of the Cold Spring, she paid no mind to Pei Yuhang's presence, simply kicking off her black leather boots and dipping her fair, delicate feet into the frigid water.

Seeing this, Pei Yuhang quite naturally waded into the water to massage her toes.

As he kneaded her smooth, pearl-like toes, he asked curiously:

"Holy Daughter, do you always come here looking for me?"

"That's right... It was you who wouldn't listen to me. You insisted on leaving me, running off to this place by yourself, and even becoming someone's Dao Companion..."

Shang Miaoyan watched the current Pei Yuhang so earnestly massaging her feet, then thought of how the real Xiaohan would never be this docile. Her voice suddenly turned plaintive, and she began to kick restlessly, splashing water all over Pei Yuhang's face.

Pei Yuhang wiped the splashes from his face and suddenly asked:

"Then, Holy Daughter, since I won't leave you this time, why are you still so unhappy? Why do you keep yearning for the past me, the one who was so cold and heartless to you?"

"Because the you right now isn't the real you! This world is fake... Forget it, you wouldn't understand anyway. What's the point in me explaining?"

Shang Miaoyan kicked Pei Yuhang's hands away and lay down on the bank, feeling listless and dejected.

Pei Yuhang watched her back, sensing a profound loneliness radiating from her.

A loneliness that shut out the entire world.

'How contradictory,' he thought. 'The "me" she speaks of clearly detested her, yet here she is, willing to sacrifice everything to save that very "Pei Yuhang" who hated her.'

Just as silence descended between Pei Yuhang and Shang Miaoyan, the buzzing of a Transmission Token shattered the peace.

Shang Miaoyan activated the Transmission Token, and Fan Ya's voice came through:

[This is bad, Holy Daughter! The Saint Master found out that you escaped the Yin Yang Sacred Land with Pei Yuhang!]

"So what if he knows? What's he going to do about it?"

Shang Miaoyan said disdainfully.

'According to my deduction, the Yin Yang Sacred Land is probably the place most influenced by Yuan Tianming's will. Meanwhile, the Xuanyuan Dao Sect, being the place that left the deepest impression on Pei Yuhang, must be his 'domain.''

'Yuan Tianming can't influence the Xuanyuan Dao Sect. Even if he's guessed that I've taken the place of this Heart Demon Illusion Realm's version of Shang Miaoyan, what of it?'

However, Fan Ya's next words made Shang Miaoyan's eyes fly open, a terrible premonition rising in her heart.

[The Saint Master believes the Dao Sect has bewitched and abducted you! He has declared that the Sacred Land is going to war with the Xuanyuan Dao Sect!]

'Declaring war...'

Shang Miaoyan's brow furrowed.

'In this Heart Demon Realm, declaring war means Yuan Tianming is launching a full-scale invasion of the dominion Pei Yuhang still holds over his own Sea of Consciousness.'

'This is a very dangerous move for a possessing invader. After all, the body belongs to the original owner. Even if the possessor's Cultivation is far greater, a forced takeover like this will severely damage one's Primordial Qi, and one might even be foiled by an unexpected setback.'

'Even someone as powerful as Ji Shenyun, when she possessed Qing Yueqiu, did what Yuan Tianming is doing now—first, she made Qing Yueqiu lose all her memories, then she slowly encroached upon her Sea of Consciousness until she had replaced her completely.'

'But once Qing Yueqiu's own consciousness awakened, even though Ji Shenyun was far stronger, she was completely rejected by Qing Yueqiu's Sea of Consciousness and swiftly suppressed.'

A glint appeared in Shang Miaoyan's eyes.

'For Yuan Tianming to suddenly lose his cool, he must have realized that by taking Xiaohan away, there's a high probability that Xiaohan could regain consciousness!'

'There's a crucial clue I've overlooked... What is it?!'

Shang Miaoyan's eyes lit up, her breathing growing heavy with excitement.

Yuan Tianming's drastic move was the very thing that proved her efforts were not in vain. She was on the right path!

...

「Several days later」

The armies of the Yin Yang Sacred Land descended like a dark storm, launching a full-scale invasion of the Xuanyuan Dao Sect's border defenses.

Half a month later, terrible news struck the Dao Sect like a bolt of lightning—

The Dao Sect army had suffered a major defeat! The enemy was advancing unimpeded, driving straight into their heartland!

For a time, panic swept through the entire Dao Sect.

Within the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, candlelight flickered.

Shang Miaoyan sat alone at a table, a sheet of white paper before her filled with scrawled deductions. The chaotic ink strokes mirrored the turmoil in her mind.

She wasn't surprised by the Dao Sect's defeat. 'In this world, a Sect's strength is different from reality. The Dao Sect represents Pei Yuhang's spiritual will. After he was weakened by multiple reincarnations, the Dao Sect naturally became frail as well.'

That they had managed to hold out for half a month had already surpassed her expectations.

Pei Yuhang approached quietly with a cup of hot tea. Seeing her still hunched over her work, completely absorbed, he couldn't help but frown.

He leaned over to place the teacup on the corner of the table, his voice soft and gentle. "Holy Daughter, you haven't closed your eyes in seven whole days... Please, have some tea and rest for a while."

Shang Miaoyan acted as if she hadn't heard him. 'I don't have much time left. How could I possibly have time to rest?'

In the candlelight, Shang Miaoyan's once jade-like cheeks looked pale and haggard. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and her lips were dry and colorless from days of anxious deliberation.

Only her eyes remained bright.

"Wrong... It's still wrong!"

"Damn it, damn it! What crucial clue am I missing—!!"

Seeing her obsessive, almost crazed state, Pei Yuhang stopped trying to persuade her. He sighed softly, walked outside, and stared blankly at the heavy snow falling in the courtyard.

'After living here for so long, I actually find this rundown little estate more pleasing to the eye than the grand and luxurious Saintess Hall. Perhaps the Holy Daughter is right...'

'The one who is truly sick is me... But how can I help the Holy Daughter?'

Just as Pei Yuhang was muttering to himself, the void in the sky suddenly cracked open, and a massive warship emerged.

When Pei Yuhang saw the fluttering war banner, his pupils contracted.

The emblem painted on it... was the sigil of the Yin Yang Sacred Land!

[Shang Miaoyan! Your despicable act of betraying the Sacred Land has been exposed to all! Surrender at once!]

The mighty voice boomed from the warship, scattering the surrounding clouds.

'This is bad! I have to tell the Holy Daughter to hide!'

Just as Pei Yuhang hurriedly turned to go back inside, he heard a burst of joyous, excited laughter from the room.

"I've figured it out! I've figured it out!"

"The true variable in this Heart Demon Illusion Realm is me! I'm the only key to freeing Xiaohan from his Heart Demon!"