Qilin Immortal Palace, Extreme Cold Cliff.

"Ha!"

The Moon Princess gripped the blood-red Tang Blade in both hands, disappearing like a phantom and leaving behind fragmented afterimages.

Dozens of frost-covered giant wolves hadn't even comprehended what was happening before countless crisscrossing blood-colored flashes severed their heads. Subsequently, their bodies split apart, and frost-like blood erupted from the wounds.

In just a few minutes, she had carved a bloody path with her formidable personal combat prowess.

Occasionally, fractured wolves dropped icy blue Crystal Stones from their bodies.

"Go, boss, you're the best! Keep pushing forward!"

The Butcher cheered her on from behind, enthusiastically collecting materials along the way. Within less than ten minutes, he'd already filled six baskets, resembling a farmer returning with a full harvest, simple-minded and honest.

It didn't matter if it was the Ether Association or the You Ying Group.

The Moon Princess's talent was astonishing to all.

First off, she possessed phenomenal innate talent.

Moreover, her sword skills were masterful, her movements nimble and agile, fully exploiting the abilities of the Ghost Slayer Path.

Most importantly, she was incredibly familiar with the Qilin Immortal Palace.

This was thanks to her mentor, who had trained her intensively in the Immortal Palace for quite some time.

Such monsters were nothing to her.

She could wipe them all out alone and didn't even need teammates.

Meanwhile, other candidates could only stand by awkwardly, glaring helplessly. Everyone was clearly of the Fourth Rank, but why was there such a vast disparity? On her side, the operation was as ferocious as a tiger, but upon checking their own score, it was zero and five.

As for her, it was mindlessly rampant slaughter, as though the living corpses opposing her were mere cabbages.

"Hmph, what's so great about her? Usually, she pretends to be aloof and doesn't bother with anyone. But now, inside the Immortal Palace, she's more enthusiastic than anyone else. Isn't it just to please the Third Master?" Judith sneered sarcastically from behind. She was a girl from North America and one of the candidates in the Dark World.

"Yeah, I used to think she was actually cold."

Zhao Enmin snorted beside her, "Didn't lots of people pursue her before? Yet that little minx always claimed she had a boyfriend and came here just to earn enough before going home to marry him. At the time, I didn't believe it. I mean, how could someone who holds their own in the Dark World have such simple ambitions? Now, look at her — wasn't that all a facade? Pretending to be above it all, acting like advancing isn't a big deal, and now look at her."

"I'm more curious whether those people chasing her were blind."

A teenage girl murmured beside them, "She always wears a mask. What if she's ugly underneath?"

"Then she'd have to go to Enmin's country for plastic surgery, hahaha."

"Wasn't she hard to find recently? Maybe she's already been, who knows."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

It's unclear why, but everyone undeniably disliked people who pretended to be idle on the surface yet secretly worked hard behind the scenes. The moment someone like that appeared, they'd immediately become a target for unanimous mockery.

"Focus! We're in a pioneering zone!"

Ning Chen frowned and sent them a cold glare.

The group instantly fell silent.

This was the Third Master's personal guardian, who typically wouldn't involve himself in their business.

But not intervening now wasn't an option.

Because the Butcher was already walking over.

The giant-like man strode forward, each step causing the ice beneath him to shiver and crack open fissures.

"My boss is way better-looking than you few sows."

He grinned chillingly, "Dare to yap off again in private, and I'll twist your heads off."

The green tea girls turned pale with fright. Despite being handpicked as candidates, they were far from mere pretty faces; each one was a venomous rose of the Dark World—ruthless and lethal.

During missions, they never hesitated to sacrifice some charm, ensnaring men driven by lust.

Then, when their usefulness ended, they'd promptly kill them.

They could even offer themselves to power-players to obtain resources.

One night they'd call them "Dad," and by the next day, after squeezing every drop of value, they'd mock them as "three centimeters."

But the Moon Princess stood apart from this crowd.

She never stooped to such dirty deeds for personal gain.

Nor did she use her beauty to obtain advantages.

This set her far apart from the majority of women within the Dark World, inevitably making her a target of exclusion.

Still, the Moon Princess's style, emerging unstained from filth, naturally attracted many admirers.

Though she wore a mask that concealed most of her face, her eyes alone refuted any possibility of her being unattractive.

What's more, given the ease of uncovering purchase records in the Dark World, it was evident.

Expensive makeup and skincare items—bought like they cost nothing.

Within the entirety of the You Ying Group, the Moon Princess was considered untouchable.

It would be odd not to attract jealous criticism.

Still, these detractors limited their insults to private murmurs.

Setting the Moon Princess herself aside.

Not even the Butcher was someone they dared provoke.

Rumor had it that both the Moon Princess and the Butcher were highly valued rising stars by the upper echelons.

The former required no discussion.

The latter, however, had recently surged ahead, achieving a record-breaking streak of 167 consecutive victories in boxing tournaments.

Opponents left pulverized beyond recognition—the scenes were staggeringly brutal.

No one understood what had led to his sudden explosive strength.

Outsiders even joked that this brute had received the Supreme's inheritance.

But that notion was laughed off.

What Supreme would entertain a brainless idiot like him?

Boom!

In less than ten minutes, the pack of mutated wolves had been entirely slaughtered.

Frozen peaks shattered into fragments, tumbling down the cliffs.

A frost-white snow lotus emerged into view.

Cold Frost Snow Lotus—a critical material for advancing to Fifth Rank via the Ghost Slayer Path.

The Moon Princess picked up the Cold Frost Snow Lotus and stored it in her backpack, showing no hint of excitement in her eyes. She didn't even realize her prior slash could've easily destroyed it outright.

She held the blood-red Tang Blade carefully, tapping at the ice.

The shattered ice revealed a crimson piece of molten lava.

"Wonderful, I found it."

She murmured, using gloved hands to extract the molten lava and place it carefully into an alchemy stone box. Then she wrapped it in a pink gift box, secured it in her backpack.

This was Corrosive Magma—a vital material for advancing to Fourth Rank via the Divine Path.

"Achoo."

The Moon Princess sneezed adorably, pulling her white down jacket tightly around herself and retying her scarf.

The rules of the Ancient God Realm differed greatly from the real world, with highly unpredictable weather. Traveling just a few kilometers might mean drastically varied climates—one person wearing shorts while another bundles up in thick coats.

If two groups crossed paths in such conditions, they'd subconsciously glance at each other.

Then silently curse one another as idiots.

The Butcher, carrying his baskets, approached and excitedly said, "Great job, boss! The Frost Winter Stones you've collected far exceed the quota. They should earn enough points to exchange for the Time Worm. Your sword skills are highly polished; tomorrow, we could hone them further under the guidance of Bitter River Master. You've already reached Master Level!"

He gave a simple grin, "That makes you the Fifth Rank Moon Master soon enough!"

The Moon Princess simply nodded, her expression grave, showing little cheer.

"Boss, don't relax—keep at it!"

The Butcher paused, "After all, it's His will!"

Qilin Venerable.

A decree from an Ancient Supreme.

The Moon Princess felt mounting pressure, puffing her cheeks and using lip-reading to say, "Are you certain He genuinely intends to make me a Female Sacrifice? What exactly about me does He like? Can't I change it? I used to think there's reproductive isolation between Ancient Gods and humans until I learned about this Female Sacrifice thing—it's terrifying."

The Butcher scratched his head, "I'm not sure; it's just a suspicion. But considering how beautiful you are—if you bulked up to my size, maybe He'd reconsider!"

The Moon Princess gave him a look as though he were an idiot, "Then I'd rather die."

The Butcher sighed helplessly, "Who knows what He's thinking. I even tried pleading on your behalf."

The Moon Princess's gaze turned serious, "Don't do anything so dangerous next time."

"Got it! But, boss, you saved me after all."

The Butcher scratched his head, "I was terrified at the time, thought I was going to die there. But unexpectedly, He suddenly changed His mind and ordered me to protect you well. He meant that you can't keep slacking off—you must focus on advancing, not romance."

He hesitated, his expression grave, "Otherwise, He'll break up the lovebirds and drag you into being a Female Sacrifice!"

The Moon Princess froze, her single strand of hair standing upright amid the cold wind.

"I never thought that in the Extraordinary World, I'd be forced to work hard..."

Being a Female Sacrifice was out of the question.

Even if the other party was an Ancient Supreme.

This life, it was impossible.

She would die first!

The Butcher considered aloud and used lip-reading to say, "Perhaps the Supreme has His deeper reasons. We, the Divine Servants, and you—He might be cultivating us to act in the human world, doing tasks for Him."

The Moon Princess faintly replied, "I understand."

"Which isn't too bad, really. After all, the Scholar mentioned that the Supreme is learning about humanity. His reign as the Lord of the World isn't far off. To Him, we hold some value—me, the Scholar, and the Pharmacist Old Thief—if we disappoint Him, He might outright devour us."

The Butcher said, "As for you, boss, you're the only clean one among us. In His eyes, you're of significant importance. But if you keep slacking off, you might really get sent off as a Female Sacrifice."

Life wasn't easy. The Moon Princess sighed.

"I see, I won't disappoint Him."

After a moment of reflection, she asked, "By the way, where's the Third Master?"

The Butcher's expression subtly shifted, answering, "Seems like He's meeting a contact. Reportedly, Fourth Master's people near the Returning Burial Forest found an Ancient Ruin likely tied to the Wedge. The situation is tense, and preparations are happening in secret."

"The Returning Burial Forest?"

The Moon Princess's gaze flickered briefly, "Let's go there too!"

The Butcher froze, thrilled, "Now?"

He thought his boss had finally matured.

Upon hearing news of the Qilin Wedge, she was proactively heading to the scene, ready to make achievements for the Supreme.

The Moon Princess said nothing, merely turned, slung her pack, and began to walk away.

"That guy's so solitary and stubborn; hanging around the Ether Association, he's bound to face exclusion."

She paused, "Without me, he'll struggle."

·

·

Ancient God Realm, Returning Burial Forest.

At this moment, Gu Jianlin sat beside the bonfire, staring pensively into the flames.

"Here."

Tang Ling handed him a piece of roasted beef leg, tearing off a small slice with her slender, pale fingers, and held it up to his mouth, speaking lightly, "Want to eat?"

[PS: This novel first published on Qidian Reading App. Sorry for the delay in this chapter.]