Outside—
A soundless tension hung in the air…
Then—
BOOM!
The Tree of Frozen End exploded from its heart, releasing a blinding eruption of crystalized snow and ice. The middle of the tree cracked open like a shattered mirror, sending massive shards of glittering frost hurtling in every direction. The upper trunk—tall as a building—collapsed, crashing onto the arena with thunderous force.
The ground trembled. The sky was white with snow.
The entire arena fell into stunned silence.
From the falling storm, two figures descended like comets, crashing into the center of the ruined battlefield—onto the frozen wreckage of the once-mighty ice tree.
Smoke and frost whirled. The world stood still.
And then… it cleared.
Revealing a man and woman—Yun Che and Xia Qingyue—standing only a few paces apart. The entire stage had been obliterated. What was once a grand dueling platform was now a frozen wasteland, covered in fractured petals of crystal, ice boulders, and a stillness that chilled the soul.
Yun Che stood with his sword embedded in the ice, using it as a support. His hair fluttered gently in the cold wind. The emergence of his Hakka No Togame, had faded. His Bankai had been deactivated.
But even now, residual frost shimmered across his skin and blade—evidence of a power that had just barely been contained. He used that Bankai for only 10 seconds and it's already wreaking havoc in his body as he activated it for the first time ever. He wished he had the Seed of Water so he could use Hakka No Togame without restraining anymore.
Xia Qingyue stood with nothing but willpower. Her ribbon torn, her strength drained, and her entire body trembling from exertion.
They locked eyes.
Both gasping. Both spent. Both unwilling to fall first.
Then—
Qingyue exhaled shakily… and dropped to her knees.
The moment her knees struck ice, the arena erupted—not with more destruction, but with roaring applause. The entire crowd rose to their feet in a thunderous ovation. Not a single soul remained seated.
The arena lay in ruins. The frozen remnants of the ancient domain had collapsed like the fall of a sacred temple, and the audience could barely process what they were seeing.
From the blizzard of shards and mist, two figures descended—one wreathed in fading frost, the other clinging to consciousness through sheer force of will.
Yun Che landed with his blade plunged into the icy ground. Snow cracked beneath his feet. He deactivated it the moment victory was assured.
Because if he hadn't…
No one would be standing.
=================
Hakka no Togame.
The White Haze Punishment—the twin Bankai of his Sode No Shirayuki.
A sacrificial Bankai born of deathless stillness. Instant-cast. Absolute. Once invoked, the temperature drops not to freezing… but to zero—true absolute zero.
Within a full one-mile radius, every atom halts. All energy vanishes.
Time seems to freeze.
But it's not simply immobility—it's erasure.
Life. Soul. Flame. Thought.
Nothing survives.
If Yun Che hadn't manually filtered Xia Qingyue from its reach, she wouldn't have fallen to her knees… she'd have simply ceased to exist.
Not even ashes. Not even a ghost.
This was not a Bankai meant for tournaments.
It was a weapon of extinction, rivaling the divine wrath of Genryūsai Yamamoto's Ryūjin Jakka—but wielding ice instead of flame, cessation instead of consumption.
It was, simply, the end.
And Yun Che had dared to use it—only because the dimension created by the Tree of Frozen End could contain it. If used in the real world, even the barriers protecting the villa would've shattered.
Even now, the faint echo of its presence could be felt in the air. A chill that no fire could chase. A silence that no cheer could fully erase.
Xia Qingyue, barely conscious, remained kneeling. In her hands, the only thing that remains from the Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon, its handle. The rest? It was destroyed.
She had unleashed everything—her rage, her shame, her hope to prove herself worthy to him. She had gambled her soul on a forbidden domain… only to be met by something even more forbidden.
Her eyes flicked up at him—still panting, still proud—but with the bitter sting of helplessness etched into her expression.
Yun Che looked down at her, solemn. There was no gloating in his eyes.
The match was over.
The tournament had reached its peak.
But there was no dishonor here.
---------------------------
Chu Yueli stood frozen, her lips slightly parted, eyes wide with disbelief.
They broke it.
The Frozen End Divine Tree—a sealed domain believed to be indestructible… shattered.
What remained was a war-torn battlefield of snow, fractured ice boulders, and the remnants of the once-mighty tree. The sky above was eerily still, as if even the heavens held their breath.
From amidst the devastation, two figures descended—worn, battered, but standing.
Yun Che leaned heavily on Shirayuki, his breath ragged, mist curling from his lips. He turned to face her, voice low but etched with disbelief.
"Why… did you want to face me so badly?"
His words weren't cold—just… tired. Haunted by the price she'd paid to reach him.
Xia Qingyue stood across from him, her body trembling, legs barely holding her up. Her veil was long gone, revealing her true face—radiant, flushed, streaked with exhaustion and defiance.
"I came to this Ranking Tournament… to prove to you…" she began, every word a struggle, "that this Qingyue… is qualified to be your wife…"
Yun Che's eyes widened slightly.
"Not because of some old promise… not out of obligation… but because I—" she coughed, a thin line of blood on her lip, "want to be part of your life… by my own will."
"Why…?" he asked softly, bewildered. "It was just a promise…"
"No… you know it's more than that," she choked out. "There's something in you… something this Qingyue… desperately needs…"
Her hand clenched over her chest.
Her heart… was changing. Reassembling. Not breaking—but evolving.
She could feel it.
Not just desire. Not just admiration.
But an awakening.
Her Ice Heart—the foundation of her cultivation, once detached and absolute—was burning. Not melting… but transforming, forged by the overwhelming presence that was Yun Che.
Her heart… somehow wanted him.
His power. His warmth. His soul.
Her knees buckled.
"This… Qingyue…" she whispered one last time.
And then, she collapsed.
Yun Che stepped forward instinctively—but stopped.
"Xia Qingyue of Frozen Cloud Asgard… is defeated!"
"The finalist Yun Che stands!" Ling Wugou's voice boomed across the arena, unable to hide the tremor in his tone. "The champion of the Ranking Tournament is…"
"Blue Wind Imperial Family's Yun Che!!"
As Ling Wugou announced the conclusion of the finals, a long silence followed.
Then—
The Sword Discourse Arena erupted.
The crowd, once stunned into stillness, exploded into cheers, gasps, and jubilant cries. The Ranking Tournament was over.
And what a conclusion it was.
Before today, no one—absolutely no one—had imagined this outcome. If anyone had said the victor would be someone from the Blue Wind Imperial Family, they'd have been ridiculed as a lunatic.
Once a name met with derision in the cultivation world, the Blue Wind Imperial Family had just made history.
For the first time, they were proclaimed as the overall champions of the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament.
But amid the roaring crowd and crashing celebrations… the two figures at the heart of it all heard none of it.
Yun Che's eyes remained fixed on her.
The woman who risked everything… not to win…
…but to stand beside him.
And with that final thought, his knees buckled. The overwhelming backlash from using Bankai—especially its final form—surged through his body. His grip on Shirayuki loosened as her blade floated beside him, still in its Shikai form.
Yun Che fell forward, weak from the backlash of two Bankais.
Xia Qingyue tried to remain upright, but her body swayed, the weight of everything she had poured into that battle finally overtaking her.
Then, two figures appeared beside her like wind through snow—Chu Yueli and Chu Yuechan. Her master and her friend.
"You foolish disciple... why would you risk so much just for a chance to fight back?" Chu Yueli whispered, cradling the unconscious Qingyue in her arms. Her voice trembled—not with anger, but with a blend of sorrow and pride. "You knew it was hopeless… so why?"
Tears welled at the corners of her eyes as she held the girl close. Qingyue had forcibly opened the Fourth Realm of the Frozen Cloud End Arts, risking permanent damage, just to stand her ground against Yun Che.
Chu Yueli didn't know what had happened in that battle beneath the ancient tree—what words were exchanged, or what emotions flared—but she knew one thing for certain: Yun Che had countered everything her disciple threw at him. And yet… Qingyue had never faltered.
Even as defeat loomed, even knowing she couldn't win—she fought. Not out of pride or vengeance, but to reach him. To stand beside the man she called her husband. To prove she was worthy.
A faint smile tugged at Chu Yueli's lips despite her tears.
"You're a fool.... a foolish and reckless disciple.... but I am proud of you."
Chu Yueli immediately steadied her student, but it was Chu Yuechan who stole the moment with a glance not at Qingyue… but at Yun Che.
Her eyes were conflicted—not with jealousy, but with an unspoken hope. She hadn't watched her friend fight just to win. She had silently prayed… someone would reach out to catch the man who had fallen.
That prayer was answered.
Retsu, Mio, Cang Yue, and Nemu arrived at Yun Che's side, their movements fast, focused.
Moments later, Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan joined them—forming a ring of strength, warmth, and concern around the fallen champion.
"Onii-chan!"
A blur of soft pink and black shot across the icy arena.
Nezuko, freed from Xue Ling's arms, had slipped away while her clones remained behind, staying with Mei. In a heartbeat, she soared toward the shattered stage, her small feet barely making a sound as they crossed the snow-covered stone.
She landed just before him—Yun Che, still battered, supported weakly by Retsu and Mio—her crimson eyes sparkling with joy.
Nezuko beamed. "You did it!" she exclaimed, voice sweet and full of unrestrained affection. "You really did it, Onii-chan!"
Yun Che, barely able to keep his eyes open, cracked a tired grin. "Heh… I always keep my promises, right?"
Before anyone could stop her, Nezuko leaned in and gently hugged his waist, her head resting against his chest.
Even Xia Yuanba arrived, his breath heavy, eyes wide with conflicting emotions. Mai stood by his side, gently holding his arm. He looked toward his sister, torn by instinct. But even he knew—right now—he couldn't approach her.
More and more of the fabled fairies of Frozen Cloud Asgard gathered around Qingyue, a silent acknowledgment of her pride, her sacrifice, and her transformation.
She had lost the match—but in the eyes of those who saw her heart…
She had never stood taller.
"Heh... Two Bankais in one day… that's definitely a bit much."
Yun Che chuckled softly, his voice hoarse, laced with exhaustion. Pain radiated through every part of his body, yet his spirit hadn't dulled one bit.
Nearby, Xia Yuanba crouched beside him, looking half-concerned, half-awed.
"Aniki… you really did it. You beat my big sister. She's the strongest young generation in Frozen Cloud Asgard—and you actually beat her. Are you sure you're human?"
"I am not even sure myself…..Pff... I should probably stop using that joke," Yun Che replied with another grin, wincing slightly as he tried to sit up straighter. "It's gone stale anyway."
Even Jasmine, perched lightly on Retsu's shoulder in her spirit form, looked like she was holding back a fist to the gut. He could feel the judgment radiating from her glare.
Still, it had been a clean fight—swift, decisive, and above all, merciful. His gaze flicked to the side, eyes lingering on Xia Qingyue.
She lay surrounded by her sect's most powerful protectors, pale and unmoving, but alive. Her breathing was faint but steady.
"Is your sister alright?" he asked quietly.
Yuanba looked over his shoulder and nodded, though there was uncertainty in his eyes.
"She's alive… but she doesn't look fine. You really went hard on her. I didn't think she could take all that and still stand, even for a second."
Yun Che gave a weak chuckle. "That's because I didn't go all out."
"…Wait. WHAT?" Yuanba blinked, his jaw slack. "That wasn't you going all out?!?"
Yun Che smiled, eyes half-lidded with fatigue. "Nope. Just one attack. One technique. If I went full force, I wouldn't be sitting here cracking jokes. And... neither would she."
He paused, chuckling again. "Don't tell her that, though. I think her pride's already on thin ice."
Yuanba just stared at him, stunned.
Even in this broken battlefield of shattered ice and snow, with pain gnawing at his limbs and the world still ringing from their duel, Yun Che remained Yun Che—equal parts insane, terrifying… and impossible not to follow.
Chu Yueli carefully knelt beside her disciple, gently supporting Xia Qingyue's body as she teetered between consciousness and collapse. Her expression was calm, but her heart ached. Qingyue had given everything—her power, her pride, and her heart—and still, it hadn't been enough.
But the one who struggled most wasn't Qingyue.
Just a few steps away, Retsu and the others stabilize Yun Che. Chu Yuechan was with Xia Qingyue. She touched nothing, said nothing, but her eyes… her eyes never left him.
Each ragged breath he took, every flicker of frost still lingering on his skin, pierced her deeply.
Rampaging frost energy still ran wild inside his meridians, unstable and violent. She could sense it vividly, feel the chill in the very air. She knew how to calm it—she could enter his flow of energy, dispel the frost, heal him.
But she couldn't.
Not here. Not in front of everyone.
Not while Gong Yuxian, the Asgard Mistress, stood mere steps away.
And so, all she could do was watch.
How painful… seeing him like this and being unable to do anything.
Xia Qingyue, still kneeling amidst the frozen ruins of the stage, drew a shaky breath as her body began to lose strength. Her vision blurred, her thoughts spiraling.
Utter defeat.
The image of that final strike—his form in that final moment—burned itself into her soul.
That divine radiance. That absolute stillness. That overwhelming, sovereign beauty…
She would never forget it.
She had cultivated every moment of her life for this. To close the distance. To stand at his side—not as a woman of a marriage contract and promise, but as an equal. Someone who could fight beside him. Someone who deserved to.
But now… she understood.
He was beyond her.
His strength, his presence, his destiny…
They were on a level she could not yet grasp.
And perhaps never would.
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes—not from pain, but from that quiet, crushing realization that she's lost, her ultimate wish gone with it.
She fell softly into Chu Yueli's embrace, unconsciousness finally claiming her.
-------------------------
"Yuu-kun, you're much too reckless. They warned you that using two ice-based Bankai without water compatibility would damage your body," Retsu sighed, brushing clinging snowflakes off his chest with a gentle hand.
Yun Che coughed softly but managed a grin, voice raspy. "Don't worry, honey… it's stinging, but not enough to kill me… chuckle."
"Danna-sama, please refrain from joking at a time like this," Mio huffed, folding her arms. Her worry was hidden behind the puff of indignation, but not very well.
He raised a hand in surrender. "Alright, alright. No jokes. But honestly… I don't think I can make it to the prize-giving ceremony. Besides…" He looked up at the sky, letting his breath fog into the frozen air. "I didn't come for the prize."
"But the prize is a Sky Profound Realm armor!" Xia Yuanba chimed in, his voice a mix of admiration and disbelief.
Yun Che waved a dismissive hand. "You can take it. Or give it to your sister—if she wants it."
He had plans to give it to Su Ling'er in the Azure Cloud Continent, but he has something else in mind for her. Something better than that Dragonscale Armor.
He paused, brows furrowing slightly to himself. "Strange… I remember this game I played once—what was it? Skyrim? Yeah, that dragon scale armor design stuck with me. Full-scale, heavy, but elegant. Maybe I can recreate something like that for her. Fitted, light, and practical. I have… ideas."
But the exhaustion began to pull at him again, and he winced slightly as the pain surged back. "For now… I really need to rest."
=============================
[Main Mission Achievement achieved]
[All for One and One for All]
[Complete the Blue Wind Tournament Arc as a representative for the Royal Family and Defeat your wife Xia Qingyue.]
[Achievement achieved: Winner Winner Chicken Dinner – Emerge as the winner of the tournament.]
A new frame unlocked revealing chibi Yun Che holding a trophy with Cang Yue smiling behind him.]
[Ding… Congratulation for obtaining XP: 1,500,000 and SP: 70000]
[Congratulations for unlocking]
Bakudo#81 – Danku (Airtight) Hadō # 88. Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō (Flying Dragon-Striking Heaven-Shaking Thunder Cannon)
[Congratulations for obtaining: Two Wisdom cubes. Total obtained: Five]
[Ding… you have enough wisdom cubes to call upon another character.]
===============================
"Che'er… you're really a reckless one..." Cang Yue began, her voice full of fond exasperation.
But before she could launch into a proper scolding, he reached out and took her hand—warm against the cold of his skin—and gave her that familiar cheeky grin.
"I know. But I won, didn't I?"
She blinked, then let out a laugh despite herself. "You really are impossible."
Cang Yue could only smile, her heart softening as she let go of all the anger she felt for his recklessness. Standing here now, she thought back to the moment she first met Yun Che at the New Moon Profound Palace—the man who had defended her honor when Murong Yi humiliated her… the man who stood against the mighty Seven Sects and crushed them without mercy.
Because of him, New Moon Profound Palace not only survived—it rose to become the sole Profound Palace of its region.
Together, they journeyed through countless trials: to the Phoenix Village, where she fought beside Retsu and Little Fairy to defend innocent lives against thousands of rampaging Hollows. He stood up for her again when Fen Juecheng insulted her name with Cang Shuo. She bore witness to the execution of her unfilial brother, his sins judged by the hand of the man she loved.
She had watched him seize the lost legacy of Huan Xuyi—a destiny that, somehow, had always been meant for her. She learned the Three Sword Style, a mark of her own growth.
Side by side, they stood in the Heavenly Sanctuary, where they battled against the army of the mechanical dragon. Together, they quelled the rebellion of her brothers—securing the throne for her father and the honor of her lineage.
And now, she stood as one of the five strongest in the empire. All of it… because of Yun Che.
The man she had poured her love into.
The man who had changed everything.
The man she had sworn to stand beside—for all eternity.
"The number one sect in the Blue Wind Empire… is the Blue Wind Imperial Family!"
Ling Wugou's voice rang out across the shattered arena.
For a heartbeat, the world stood still. Then, a roar erupted—cheers, cries, applause. The sky itself felt like it trembled under the thunderous acclaim.
"Little Yue… we won…" Yun Che murmured, a tired smile tugging at his lips.
Cang Yue's breath caught. Her vision blurred as tears welled in her eyes—tears she had long denied herself. For too long, the royal family was mocked, always ranking near the bottom. Three hundredth place—a shameful number carved into memory.
But now… they stood at the summit. Champions.
Her knees nearly gave way as the weight of triumph washed over her. She clenched Yun Che's hand tighter, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. She had done it. They had done it—Yun Che, Retsu, and her—together, they carved the name of the royal family into glory.
The cheers were for them. For her people.
She remembered it all—how she once bowed, her pride set aside, begging Yun Che and Retsu to stand by her in this tournament. How she dreamed—not for power, but for redemption. For respect.
Now, standing in the center of an arena once ruled by others, her shoulders shook, and she wept.
"Thank you… Yun Che… Retsu… thank you… thank you…" she sobbed, clutching his hand as if afraid letting go would wake her from this miracle.
Mio appeared silently beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, offering quiet strength as Cang Yue buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed.
"Little Yue… don't worry…" Yun Che whispered again, his voice faint. "We did it… and you deserved it…"
With that, his body slumped—overwhelmed by fatigue and the brutal backlash of dual ice Bankai. His sword slipped from his grasp.
The cheers never stopped.
But now, the world felt quiet for Cang Yue—quiet, except for the sound of her tears and the heartbeat of a dream realized.
"Mouuu… what a reckless fiancé I have."
Retsu let out a small sigh, brushing a snowflake from Yun Che's sleeping face with the tenderness only she could offer. Her fingers lingered for a moment, as if trying to soothe the residual frost that clung to him.
"Please… have a nice rest, Yuu-kun…"
With practiced grace, she reached down and gently picked up Shirayuki, the blade reverted to its sealed form, cool and silent. She slid it into its scabbard with care before turning to lift Kuroyuki, Yun Che's second sword. Its scabbard materialize instantly.
The gesture seemed simple. But to the watching Frozen Cloud Asgard disciples—it was astonishing.
A murmur rippled through their ranks.
"Did you see that…?"
Murong Qianxue's voice trembled, eyes wide as she watched Retsu calmly walk off with both Shirayuki and Kuroyuki on her waist.
"She… touched them. Both of them," said Fen Hanyue, almost in disbelief.
"But… I thought that sword would defend herself?" her twin, Fen Hanxue, added hesitantly, her brow furrowed with confusion.
"Isn't that thing supposed to attack anyone who touches her?" Mu Lanyi asked, casting a glance at the bandage still wrapped around Xia Qingyue's palm—the one time she had tried to hold Shirayuki and was met with a flurry of spiked ice.
Even now, Jun Lianqie could only sigh, shaking her head slowly. "Even Qingyue was rejected... What kind of sword is that…?"
Silence settled briefly among the Asgardians as they watched Retsu, cradling the sealed blades with the ease of someone holding her own kin. It wasn't just a mystery—it was unnatural.
They had seen Shirayuki awaken. Seen the frozen rage it brought when drawn.
They had seen Kuroyuki slash entire stages in silence, humming with spiritual bloodlust.
And now they were seeing this: both blades choosing to rest in the hands of the woman who didn't speak their names, didn't call upon them… yet carried them like they were always hers.
They watched with wide eyes as Retsu—unscathed, unchallenged—walked off cradling both blades like cherished possessions.
Was it proof the swords were sentient? Had they chosen her as their mistress as well?
Or… was it something deeper?
None of them could guess that Shirayuki and Kuroyuki, like two devoted sisters, not only tolerated Retsu—they adored her. Bound not just by power or contract… but by an intimate spiritual connection shared with Yun Che.
It was a secret only a few knew. And now, it had sparked a new debate among the elite cultivators of the empire.
Suddenly, as the crowd's roar faded into murmurs, brilliant floating letters manifested in the air above the arena—glowing with profound light.
======================
First Place – Yun Che = Blue Wind Imperial Family.
Second Place – Xia Qingyue = Frozen Cloud Asgard.
Third Place – Unohana Retsu = Blue Wind Imperial Family.
Fourth Place – Xia Yuanba = Blue Wind Profound Palace.
Fifth Place - Cang Yue = Blue Wind Imperial Family.
======================
Cang Yue stood frozen, staring at the massive floating rankings that shimmered above the arena in crystalline letters. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief—there it was, plain and undeniable:
All three were listed under the Blue Wind Imperial Family.
She clutched her chest. Six months ago, she had been no more than a Middle Palace disciple of Blue Wind Profound Palace, a True Profound Realm cultivator buried in obscurity. She had no power, no future, and no voice in the empire's affairs. Now… she stood reborn with Huan Xuyi, the Moon Empress's legacy, inheritor of the Green Swordsman's legacy, and one of the top five warriors in the empire.
It was real.
The impossible had become reality.
Suddenly, loud footsteps rang out on the shattered stage. Ice crunched beneath heavy boots, and Emperor Cang Wanhe—regal robes fluttering despite the chill—arrived with an entourage of Imperial Protectors, flanked by Qin Wushang and Dongfang Xiu. He ignored the commotion, the crowd, the protocol.
His eyes were on one person.
"Yue'er…"
The moment their eyes met, Cang Yue's tears surged uncontrollably. With a sob, she dashed forward, flinging herself into her father's arms.
"Father…!"
"Yue'er… thank you…" His voice trembled. "Thank you for giving me this chance… to witness our family stand tall once more."
For too long, the Blue Wind Imperial Family had been the laughingstock of the Profound World. For years, the Ranking Tournament had been a nightmare—always last, always crushed before the first round, always met with scorn.
He had swallowed every insult. He had borne the shame in silence.
And now, the arena roared—not in mockery, but in thunderous applause. His people cheered the name of the royal family, cheered the victory, cheered his daughter, his protectors… and the one man who had made it all possible.
For the first time in decades, Cang Wanhe felt his back straighten.
His chin lift.
His heart swell with pride.
His family… had triumphed.
"Your Majesty, ten thousand congratulations." Ling Wugou bowed deeply.
Though the Heavenly Sword Villa had fallen from the top position they held for decades, Ling Wugou's demeanor remained calm and dignified.
Though Yun Che was the Ranking Tournament's final victor, he was in no condition to bask in the thunderous cheers of the crowd. Yet the Sword Discourse Arena roared on for a long time, buzzing with awe, disbelief, and electrified speculation. The atmosphere was unlike anything seen in the tournament's storied history.
Young practitioners—once proud and arrogant—now stared in silence. For the first time, they realized just how wide the chasm could be between talent… and true greatness.
Before today, they had scoffed at the Blue Wind Imperial Family, ridiculed its declining legacy, and dismissed it as a joke in the cultivation world. But now… it had produced champions. No one could deny the truth any longer.
This tournament had shattered over thirty years of expectation, shaken the pillars of the profound world, and set a new precedent that would ripple across the entire empire.
Of course, not everyone accepted the results gracefully.
The Burning Heaven Clan, in particular, fumed. They had been thoroughly humiliated. Their disciples crushed, their arrogance broken, and their Great Elder had lost composure before the eyes of thousands—shamed and silenced by Yun Che's overwhelming power.
This day would not be forgotten.
Another example would be the Heavenly Spear Thunderfire Fortress, who had also acted arrogantly toward Yun Che and his party. Though their loss wasn't as public or humiliating as that of the Burning Heaven Clan, their inner restlessness was no less intense.
Mu Tianbei, their sect master, never imagined that Yun Che's true power was so terrifying—let alone that he would become the champion of the Ranking Tournament. Not to mention, he lost the chance for both of his sons to compete.
A talent like that… was bound to ascend to the level of a Throne in the future!
In the hundreds of years since the Heavenly Spear Thunderfire Fortress was founded, not once had they produced a Throne—nor had they ever dared to invite one. It was simply too far beyond their reach.
Yet now, the Blue Wind Imperial Family not only had three rising stars—Yun Che, Retsu, and Cang Yue—but also held the allegiance of an actual Throne: the enigmatic Xue Ling.
Just the thought of it made Mu Tianbei's scalp numb. This was not just a power shift—it was a historic transformation.
Cold sweat trickled down his spine as he stared blankly at the ruined arena. His face turned green with regret.
He had underestimated Yun Che.
And now… he had made an enemy of a future Throne.
Cang Wanhe burst into hearty laughter, his voice echoing across the ice-covered arena with unrestrained jubilance. Even though Yun Che lay unconscious before him, the emperor's joy could not be suppressed.
In the decade he had sat upon the throne, never once had he laughed so freely. It was as though all the frustration, humiliation, and silent burdens he had carried as ruler of a declining dynasty had been released in one glorious, cathartic laugh.
"This—this is the glory that my Blue Wind Imperial Family deserves! This is what it truly means to look down upon the world from above!" he bellowed, eyes sparkling with pride.
He turned to Qin Wushang and his Imperial Protectors: "Send orders to all related parties! For securing fourth place in the tournament, every Profound Palace will receive increased resources for the next three years! As for the Blue Wind Profound Palace—their reward shall be proclaimed another day!"
He raised his hand dramatically. "Prepare the grandest banquet in the Main Hall! When Yun Che awakens… We shall personally receive him! As for his reward… I shall announce it in time."
"This servant hears and obeys," one of the Imperial Protectors replied, bowing deeply.
Cang Wanhe, who had long battled illness and struggled with a waning appetite, found himself invigorated—his spirit soaring, his appetite returning. In that moment of pure satisfaction, he truly believed that even if he were to die now… he would do so without regrets.
"Father…" Cang Yue whispered softly beside him, overwhelmed by emotion as she gazed at the man who had waited a lifetime to hold his head high before the empire.
"Ufuu~ I think we should bring Yuu-kun back now," Retsu said gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from Yun Che's sleeping face on her lap. "He needs proper rest."
Mio and Nemu silently moved to his side, carefully preparing to lift him.
"Ah… We were planning to present the prize he won," Cang Wanhe spoke up, clearly reluctant. His voice carried excitement—he had prepared to host a grand banquet, both to honor their new first-place ranking and to celebrate the remarkable feat of all three Royal Family representatives reaching the top five. The Dragonscale Armor, a Sky Profound Realm treasure, was to be given to the victor during this ceremony.
"The banquet's sound splendid but as for the prizes? That won't be necessary, Your Majesty," Retsu replied softly, the silk veil over her face fluttering slightly with her breath. "He's not interested in the prize."
"Not… interested?" Ling Wugou blinked, visibly shaken. "But… that's the Dragonscale Armor! Do you know how many sects would kill to claim it as a national treasure?"
Off to the side, Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan could only sigh. Compared to the wings Nemu had created for them—artifacts of precision and divinity—the armor was, at best, ornamental. They received those wings for being Cang Yue's personal guardians.
Retsu gave a hidden smile behind her veil. Even her current clothes are considered treasures since they were created from Mio's web silk and woven by the ice sisters. Extremely durable in terms of defense. Not to mention the value of Shinigami Shihakushou that Yun Che is wearing right now. "We have items that much better than that. Compared to that… this armor is little more than less….?"
"Less?!" Ling Wugou nearly coughed up blood. The centerpiece of the entire Ranking Tournament—dismissed like it was nothing.
"Yes," Retsu said plainly. "He considers it a low-rank item. So he's decided to give it to Xia Qingyue instead."
The announcement caused a small stir for him.
"And as for my own reward," she continued, her tone still light, "the Purple Striped Dragon Heart Pellet?, or whatever that is—just give it to her too. We won't be needing it."
Ling Wugou really wanted to slap these juniors.
To him, the prizes were treasures—honors painstakingly prepared by top sects and backed by years of tradition. And yet, none of these freakishly powerful youngsters seemed to care?
"Ah, the prize for fourth place?" Xia Yuanba scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I don't think I want it. Aniki gave me these wings… They're better than any prize I could get here. So... can you just give it to my big sister?"
Cang Wanhe turned to his daughter. "What about you, Yue'er?"
Cang Yue sighed with a wry smile and sweat on her brow. "To be honest... I don't care, either. Just give my prize to her as well."
In her mind, she recalled: Three Tyrant-level swords personally crafted or chosen by Yun Che. A modifiable and nearly indestructible robe that had saved her life more than once. Cultivation pills that made high-grade sect materials look like dirt.
If the reward didn't come from him, she didn't want it. Not out of pride, but because anything he gave was already above the value of any so-called national treasure.
Nearby, the high fairies of Frozen Cloud Asgard—Murong Qianxue, Chu Yueli, and the others—were frozen in place, lips parted in disbelief.
"All the tournament's prizes… are being given to Junior Sister Qingyue?" Murong Qianxue said with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.
"She didn't even ask for them," Mu Lanyi added in a whisper. "All five top rewards? Just like that? Shouldn't it feel... better?"
"They're not giving them because she earned them," Jun Lianqie muttered, tone tinged with offense. "It's like… they're tossing them at her just because they didn't want them. It's like giving her leftovers."
"At least she's getting all the high-level treasures like they were afterthoughts," Fen Hanyue said with a sigh. Her twin beside her gave a quiet nod.
"These youngsters… People would kill to get even one of those prizes." Chu Yueli shook her head, carefully placing an ice veil over Xia Qingyue's unconscious face. "And they give them away like festival candy."
"If the tournament gave you a sword to replace Tachikaze, would you accept it?" Little Fairy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I… I guess… someone else could use it better?" Chu Yueli's voice trailed off, and a flush colored her cheeks. She looked away, her fingers tightening slightly. That sword—his sword—crafted by Mihawk himself… it wasn't something she could ever replace. Not for anything in this world.
Little Fairy sighed softly. "I suppose we can't blame them. For those who've been shaped by his gifts, inventions, and power… everything else must feel like scraps."
It wasn't arrogance. It wasn't disdain. It was simply a shift in perspective. When you'd touched the stars, why scramble for gravel on the ground?
The implication was almost too much to bear. But what stunned them more than the disregard for prizes was what it revealed: the value of Yun Che's trust—and how much these women revered him, not for his strength alone, but for loyalty, bonds, and futures he offered.
==========================
Just as all seemed well—cheers still echoing, banners still fluttering—a violent rupture of space tore open above the arena. Darkness surged like a vortex, and from within stepped a man, clad in flowing robes bearing the unmistakable crest of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the figure hovered in the air, his pressure suffocating, his eyes burning with rage. He was a middle-aged man, but his presence felt as vast as a mountain and as sharp as a blade.
"DRACULE MIHAWK!!!" he roared, his voice thundering like a divine judgment. "COME OUT HERE AND DIE!!"
All eyes turned skyward, stunned into silence. The arena below, still littered with ice and scorched debris from Yun Che's battle, now seemed like the calm before a far greater storm.
"YOU DARE KILL MY SON?!" The man's spiritual energy crackled across the sky like lightning. "COME AND FACE A FATHER'S WRATH!!"