Immortal Martial Emperor

Hong Yu’s nerves were stretched taut.

He had now regained his senses.

Recalling everything that had happened in the Illusion Realm, he felt every experience as if he had lived through it himself.

Even now, he subconsciously protected his chest, as if he were still holding a baby in his arms.

He took a deep breath...

Staring at Bing Xuewei, he awaited the final judgment.

’I have too many unfinished tasks to attend to.’

’I can’t die at a time like this!’

Beichen Celestial Frost was still in a state of living death; he had to save her.

His parents and sister were far away in the Desert North Wilderness, waiting for him so their family could be reunited.

Moreover, the enemies who had forced his family to scatter had not yet been killed by his own hands. These were the obsessions in Hong Yu’s heart, things he absolutely had to accomplish.

’How can I die so easily before finishing all this?’

Just then, Bing Xuewei’s cold voice slowly drifted over. "Young man, congratulations. You have passed my trial!"

"Hm?"

The tension in Hong Yu’s nerves suddenly released.

In that brief moment, he realized he was drenched in a cold sweat.

Bing Xuewei continued, "You wouldn’t abandon the child even when facing death. Your choice has satisfied me greatly. Since that’s the case, I can finally entrust my child to you in peace."

"What? Your child?"

Hong Yu was startled.

Bing Xuewei had clearly fallen thousands of years ago. By his estimation, the Bing Xuewei before him was merely a Martial Arts True Soul sustained by a sliver of lingering will.

A Martial Arts True Soul could exist for an incredibly long time.

Even that Netherworld Ghost Lord had existed for a full five thousand years. Bing Xuewei was countless times stronger than the Netherworld Ghost Lord, so it wasn’t surprising that she could preserve her Martial Arts True Soul for several millennia.

But...

’She’s talking about her child?’

’Could it be that after thousands of years, her child is still alive?’

Bing Xuewei’s voice was tinged with sorrow. "You must be very surprised, aren’t you? Wondering why my child is still alive? Heh, if not for my child, I would have died long ago and gone to the Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs to be with my husband!"

"What? You mean, for these thousands of years, you’ve been carrying your child in your womb, sustained by your lingering will?" Hong Yu stared at Bing Xuewei in shock.

Since Hong Yu had passed the trial, Bing Xuewei’s attitude toward him had improved considerably.

She explained patiently, "Even though my body perished and my Dao was extinguished, my lingering will survived. My child should not die without ever seeing the light of day. Back then, when I used the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin to slaughter everyone, I had already made preparations. I used the Soul Wish Power of my entire Ice and Snow Goddess Clan to nourish my child."

"However, after thousands of years, that Soul Wish Power has grown thin and is no longer enough to sustain it."

"Besides, I’m tired."

"Thousands of years of waiting, thousands of years of watching... I really miss my husband. Now, I can’t hold on any longer, but my child cannot die."

Bing Xuewei smiled, a desolate smile. "If not for this, do you think you would have been able to find this place? I let you come here only because I wanted to find someone to whom I could entrust my child! Fortunately, young man, I have finally waited for you!"

Hong Yu fell silent, at a loss for words.

’Is Bing Xuewei a good person?’

He couldn’t agree with that.

A person who, for the sake of her child, would sacrifice her entire clan and mercilessly slaughter hundreds of millions of lives from the first to the sixth floors.

Such a person was undoubtedly a murderous fiend.

’But is she a bad person?’

Apparently not.

She did all this just to protect her child. It was a mother’s instinct. She only wanted to protect her child, that’s all.

For the sake of protecting her child, she was willing to survive for thousands of years as a lingering will, waiting for someone to appear to whom she could entrust her child.

This obsession and a mother’s love left Hong Yu speechless.

He took a deep breath, his expression turning solemn. "Elder, rest assured. I will care for your child as my own!"

"Good. I believe you!"

After that simple sentence, the ice sculpture on Bing Xuewei’s body melted, and a brilliant light enveloped her, obscuring her features.

A moment later...

"WAH! WAH! WAH!"

A series of clear, loud cries rang out.

A rosy-cheeked baby, bathed in light, flew into Hong Yu’s arms. He carefully caught her. It was a little girl.

She was as exquisite as a porcelain doll, and very cute.

She hadn’t opened her eyes yet, just instinctively kicking her arms and legs.

"Child... this is my child!"

Bing Xuewei’s weak voice came from within the light.

Hong Yu looked up and saw Bing Xuewei’s figure gradually dimming. Her stunning face became old and withered, her hair turned white, and starting from her legs, her body began to dissolve into specks of starlight.

Her eyes, bright and brilliant as a Star River, gazed at the baby in Hong Yu’s arms, full of tenderness.

She tried to reach out and touch her daughter, but her hand passed right through the baby’s body. She was on the verge of disappearing completely.

"Young man, take good care of my daughter!" Bing Xuewei said, her eyes filled with tears.

Hong Yu nodded earnestly, fighting back the lump in his throat.

’Such is the heart of a parent!’

Bing Xuewei might not have been a good person, or even a competent Divine Maiden, but she was definitely a great mother!

"Elder, please give her a name!" Hong Yu said, his mouth dry.

Bing Xuewei smiled. "Chenxi. From now on, let’s call her Chenxi. I hope her life can be as brilliant and warm as the dawn."

"Chenxi? Little Chenxi, open your eyes and look at your mother!" Hong Yu lowered his head.

As if she understood, Little Chenxi in her swaddling clothes struggled to open her eyes. Gazing at the slowly fading Bing Xuewei, she began to cry, reaching out her tiny, pink hands as if to embrace her.

"My child, my child..."

Bing Xuewei grew weaker and weaker, barely able to speak. As her figure faded, her face was streaked with tears, yet held a hint of release. "Hong Yu, I entrust my Chenxi to you!"

"Elder, rest assured!"

Hong Yu said solemnly, "Even if I die, I will not let Little Chenxi suffer the slightest harm!"

"Good. I believe you!"

Bing Xuewei gave Little Chenxi one last loving look, her form almost completely gone. Her faint voice echoed in Hong Yu’s ear, "Hong Yu, after I depart, you and your friend will be teleported away from here. The inheritance I’ve left for you and the things I’ve left for my daughter are all there."

"I believe that inheritance will be of great help to you."

Bing Xuewei took one last, long look at Little Chenxi, as if to burn her image deep into her mind...

"Three thousand years... I carried you for three thousand years. Little Chenxi, you must grow up healthy and strong!"

As her voice fell, Bing Xuewei’s figure instantly dissipated, transforming into swirling flakes of frost.

Amidst the frost, a crystalline Ice Tear slowly drifted forth. It flew before Little Chenxi, spun gently, and sank into her chest.

A faint, blue, tear-shaped mark was branded upon her skin.

The crying Little Chenxi blinked, her tiny hand gently touching the Ice Tear on her chest. She giggled.

"Ugh?"

A low groan sounded nearby. Xu Wudi had emerged from the Illusion Realm.

Since Hong Yu had passed the trial and Bing Xuewei had entrusted Little Chenxi to him, she naturally wouldn’t make things difficult for Xu Wudi anymore.

Xu Wudi looked around in confusion. "Hong Yu, where is Elder Bing Xuewei?"

Hong Yu’s tone was heavy. "She’s gone."

"Gone?"

Xu Wudi froze, then she saw Little Chenxi in Hong Yu’s arms. "What a cute baby... Wait, are you saying this is Elder Bing’s child? She... she’s dead?"

"Yes."

Hong Yu nodded.

He looked down at Little Chenxi in his arms, a lump in his throat rendering him speechless.

"Goo goo, ga ga!"

Little Chenxi stared with wide eyes, reaching out to touch Hong Yu’s cheek.

Hong Yu couldn’t help but smile and lowered his head. Little Chenxi’s tiny, cool palm felt soft and tender against his cheek, a very comfortable sensation.

"Little one, you’ll be with me from now on," Hong Yu said softly.

"Goo goo, ga ga!"

Little Chenxi laughed happily.

Xu Wudi felt a lump form in her throat. She could imagine the sorrow and helplessness of a woman who destroyed the clan she should have protected with her life, enduring a lonely pregnancy for thousands of years just to ensure her child could live.

"Little Chenxi, your big sister will protect you from now on, too," Xu Wudi said softly.

"Eee, ya ya!"

Little Chenxi opened her mouth and laughed.

After they had spent some time cooing over Little Chenxi, the entire Copper Coffin began to tremble with waves of energy.

A gentle power enveloped Hong Yu and Xu Wudi, and their figures suddenly vanished.

...

This was a palace, magnificent and dazzling.

The golden brick walls were made almost entirely of Gold. Even though Gold wasn’t valuable in the eyes of the truly powerful in this world, being able to build a palace on such a scale was a testament to the former glory of the Ice and Snow Goddess Clan!

Hong Yu and Xu Wudi’s figures slowly materialized inside the palace.

Surveying their surroundings, they saw three powerful figures seated cross-legged on each side. There was a thickly-furred Snow Ape, a mighty Flame Strange Beast...

These were the six strongest experts of the six clans who had died at Bing Xuewei’s hands, as depicted in the murals.

The two of them glanced past these figures, their gazes finally landing straight ahead.

Directly in front of them stood a suit of golden armor. It was clear it belonged to a towering man, but he was headless.

The helmet was empty!

"This must be Bing Xuewei’s husband, Little Chenxi’s father," Hong Yu murmured.

As they spoke, a calm and majestic voice echoed throughout the hall. "Welcome, my friends."

"Hm?"

Hong Yu started, looking toward the golden armor.

"Do not be alarmed. You carry Xuewei’s aura. It seems she is already gone."

The majestic voice held a trace of helplessness and bitterness. "The one in your arms must be my child, correct? Can you bring her over and let me see?"

"Yes."

Hong Yu hesitated for a moment before carrying Little Chenxi over.

The golden armor emitted a gentle golden glow, and a faint voice filled with helplessness and relief said, "My child, your father has failed you, and I have failed your mother..." He paused, seemingly overcome with emotion, then said to Hong Yu, "My friend, since Xuewei entrusted Little Chenxi to you, I believe you are worthy of trust."

The golden light shifted, and a towering, golden figure slowly emerged. It was a Martial Arts True Soul.

An unyielding, lingering will!

He looked at Hong Yu calmly, smiled faintly, and glanced around the hall.

"My friend, this hall contains numerous Secret Treasures and inheritances. You may choose from them as you wish. However..."