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--- Chapter 420 ---
Han Yuan observed the ancient ruins for a while before asking, "How long have these ruins existed?"
"As long as I can remember," Snow Empress answered calmly. "When I was born into this world, the ruins were already here."
"Additionally, this place has remained untouched by the outside world so that no life could exist besides my clan."
"After all, this place is caught in a perpetual snowstorm."
"Forever, huh?" Jade Phoenix Lord mused.
"Ah Bai, what do you think?"
White-Eyed Phoenix Lord surveyed the ancient ruins with a frown on her face and replied uncertainly, "Honestly, I am confused as well."
"The laws within this confined space are quite complete, so sustaining life shouldn't be difficult."
"It feels like something is suppressing those laws."
"Law Suppression? I see now, so that's what it is!" Han Yuan's eyes lit up in realization.
"The barrier is actually compressing the very space and time in this area, creating an illusion that is nearly impossible to comprehend, primarily because the flow of time here is different."
"It is a form of protection, keeping everything from erosion of time."
"I understand now..."
"Time Dilation! No wonder these ancient ruins are 'completely' preserved here." White-Eyed Phoenix Lord nodded in understanding. "But why?"
"Why this specific location?"
Snow Empress fell into a contemplative silence. "I think I might have an answer to that question. But first, follow me."
Everyone looked at Snow Empress's resolute expression oddly and quietly followed her deeper into the ancient ruins blanketed in white snow.
As they walked further into the monochromatic snowy world, the purity of the heaven-and-earth energy intensified. Moreover, Han Yuan sensed an echo calling him toward their destination.
It was an echo that allowed Han Yuan to perceive Di Nayuan's birth as the new Emperor Auspicious Beast and Snow Empress's hidden identity as the Extreme North's Auspicious Spirit.
The land beyond is either the land of fortune or perhaps misfortune.
Eventually, they arrived at a huge white-blue platform made of unknown materials. Several figures were meditating there, their physiques infused with the most concentrated power of heaven and energy.
"Bingqing, Xiaomei, Yuran, Zhilin, Chenxi, I am here." Snow Empress said with a calm expression.
Five stunning faces, almost equal to Snow Empress's own level, appeared before everyone. They were clearly the Heavenly Snow Women nurtured by this secluded, snowy world.
Han Yuan regarded them one by one before commenting, "Each of them is a league of their own."
"Each is a pure condensation of heaven and earth."
Snow Empress turned to face everyone with a sigh. "The truth behind the birth of the Heavenly Snow Women is actually much more somber than anyone realizes."
"It is indeed accurate to say we are the very condensation of heaven and earth, given shape and will."
"However, our souls are actually not 'newly' born."
"What do you mean?" asked Bi Ji in confusion.
Snow Empress smiled bitterly and revealed a cold truth. "Although faint—so much so that I can't remember those memories anymore—I believe I was once human myself."
"This..." Even the Ice Empress, who had known Snow Empress her entire life, didn't expect this revelation to come so unexpectedly.
Han Yuan snapped his fingers and said, "The ruins."
"It must be from an ancient human civilization that is missing from any records I have seen."
"If we trace everything back to that point—and understand why this place is so unusual—then we can indeed explain the birth of the Heavenly Snow Women."
"Answer me, Snow Empress. Have you been able to think and speak since you were born?"
"Indeed, I have." Snow Empress responded honestly.
Han Yuan nodded firmly. "Snow Empress is naturally pure and untouched, but she doesn't fit the common traits of spirit beasts. That's because her soul retains a degree of humanity."
"Although there are spirit beasts that are naturally intelligent and can speak, Snow Empress—and Heavenly Snow Women in general—are born with that capability."
"This place is not merely their birthplace, yes, it is also their homeland and very origin."
"However, this form of rebirth (reincarnation) is merely a facade."
"Although Snow Empress's appearance is most likely similar to her past self, she is a new being, a new person, with a resurrected soul."
Snow Empress gently shook her head. "That is the most logical answer I have ever heard about my birth—no, my rebirth."
"I am who I am. I don't even possess memories of my past life, merely a lingering connection to this place."
'There is something else,' Han Yuan looked at the other Heavenly Snow Women with calm eyes. They must have been beautiful women in their past lives, and he asked, "Do you five share similar feelings about this place?"
The five Heavenly Snow Women were caught off guard by Han Yuan's direct question. They were actually quite curious about this handsome human male.
One Heavenly Snow Woman answered boldly, fitting her brave aura and temperament. "Yes, while my lingering attachment is not as strong as Snow Empress's, I would do anything to protect this place."
Another Heavenly Snow Woman sighed. "Bingqing's protectiveness is admirable. Compared to her, I feel like a bit of a weakling."
"Yuran, you have done more than enough," The Third Heavenly Snow Woman comforted. "Among us five, your cultivation is the highest, being 500,000 years old."
The second Heavenly Snow Woman merely smiled, "I just wish I could have done something more."
The fourth Heavenly Snow Woman laughed softly, "The second sister is too humble."
"Mm, Sister Yuran is too humble." The fifth Heavenly Snow Woman nodded in agreement.
"About my question... Do the rest of you also feel the same?" asked Han Yuan once again.
"Yes!" The remaining Heavenly Snow Women replied firmly. "Although we were born to the Extreme North and swore to protect it our whole lives, we felt once this 'ruin' was exposed, the Extreme North would fall."
"Why is that?" Han Yuan pointed out solemnly.
"We don't know, we just feel it would be that way." Snow Empress replied this time.
"Hmm, this is a seal?" Han Yuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully, observing their expression, and then used the Master of Souls' power to analyze their soul essence, but discovered something wrong.
Deep inside every Heavenly Snow Woman's very soul, including the Snow Empress herself, there is a small seal shaped like a snowflake.
Han Yuan used the Eyes of Truth to see the secret behind this snowflake seal and made a mind-blowing discovery.
"You gotta be kidding me." He murmured in disbelief.
"It's the Ice God's seal."
"Then, this ancient city should be the city that worshiped the Ice God or at least connected to him in some sort of way."
Suddenly, the snowflake seal within the Heavenly Snow Women let out a brilliant, cold-blue light.
Swooosh!
The light not only blinded Han Yuan for a second, but everyone around him.
When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves standing on the same white-blue platform, but their surroundings were massively different.
The snow and the snowstorm are no more. All Han Yuan and others could see was a green ancient city full of vitality and life.
"Damn." Han Yuan was stunned, feeling he wasn't in an illusion or had moved away from their initial locations.
Then, Han Yuan spotted a bronze clock tower with an ancient character plaque attached to its peak, shaped like an abstract, deformed water bubble.
The character carved on the plaque is.
Glory!
"Glory..." Snow Empress gazed at the clock tower silently.
"Glory City!"