“Bastard!”
The words carved into the tree felt like invisible swords, piercing deep into Flora’s heart, fueling her rage.
Not only had that person ruined her plans, but now they were mocking her here!
“You’d better pray I don’t catch you, or I’ll make you understand the true meaning of cruelty!”
Her furious gaze swept the surroundings like a blade, sharp enough to seemingly tear through the void.
…
By the still waters of a cold pool, Leslie was waiting at the edge.
The wait didn’t last long before a figure suddenly descended from the sky, like a dazzling meteor streaking down.
Splash!
The figure plummeted into the pool, sending water splashing everywhere, icy droplets scattering in all directions.
Ysera had fallen in!
Madelyn’s face lit up with a hint of delight as she turned to Leslie and asked,
“Should we pull her out first?”
Leslie nodded. The cold emanating from the pool was extraordinary. As soon as Ysera fell in, frost had already begun to form on her body’s surface.
Without hesitation, Leslie formed a series of hand seals. An invisible force emanated from her, reaching out to the submerged Ysera.
However, the moment her energy made contact with Ysera, an icy chill surged up from the pool, instantly freezing her mana fluctuations and dispersing them without a trace.
Leslie’s expression turned grim.
The power she had just used was an extension of her mastery of the Order of Dominion, a force capable of imposing absolute control over all things.
Yet here in this pool, it was utterly ineffective!
This was the first time Leslie had encountered such a phenomenon.
She tried several more times, but each attempt ended the same way: the cold of the pool froze her powers as soon as they entered. It seemed that in this pool, any force of Order would be neutralized.
Leslie’s expression darkened. This was trouble.
She had no way to pull Ysera out!
Yet Ysera was crucial to the plan she and Owen had devised for conquering the Pure Land—her survival was non-negotiable.
Resolute, Leslie extended a hand to test the pool’s water.
The icy sensation was like needles pricking her skin.
For most, the instinctive reaction would be to pull away in discomfort.
But Leslie, having been physically altered by the Order of Ice since childhood, was unbothered by the cold. If anything, the chill invigorated her.
Without further hesitation, Leslie began wading into the pool.
Madelyn, standing nearby, was visibly shocked.
This pool emanated intense cold!
Her spiritual senses froze when they neared it, and just standing beside the pool made her shiver uncontrollably.
Yet Leslie dared to venture in!
Under Madelyn’s stunned gaze, Leslie made her way to where Ysera had fallen.
If Owen had been here, he would have noticed how vastly this situation differed from the original story.
In the original tale, Leslie had been training by this pool when Ysera accidentally fell in. Leslie saved her effortlessly, leaving Ysera infatuated.
But now, everything had changed.
Splashing sounds echoed.
Leslie reached the pool’s center, ripples spreading around her as she lifted Ysera out of the icy water.
Emerging from the pool, Leslie’s skin was wreathed in a frosty mist, her wet clothes clinging to her figure and accentuating her striking physique.
Madelyn looked at Leslie in a daze, a single thought dominating her mind:
Brother is truly too lucky!
Sensing Madelyn’s awestruck gaze, Leslie activated her dominion powers, evaporating the water from her drenched gown and restoring its pristine form.
She then turned her attention to Ysera, now pulled from the pool.
Ysera’s body was covered in frost, emitting an intense chill. Her exquisite figure shivered uncontrollably, and her consciousness seemed to fade.
Sensing the danger, Leslie extended a finger, channeling her dominion power. The force coiled around Ysera like a dragon, driving out the cold from her body.
Under Leslie’s continued efforts, the frost on Ysera began to evaporate, her pallor giving way to a faint flush. Her breathing steadied, and the shivering ceased.
Seeing this, Leslie let out a relieved sigh. Then her gaze fell on a glaring black sword wound on Ysera’s chest, deep enough to reach her ribs.
It was a scar left by Flora’s ambush with a black greatsword.
With a single glance, Leslie discerned the attack’s origins. Judging by its power, Flora’s strength was undoubtedly on par with Ysera’s.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to land such a devastating blow.
“Here’s a life potion,” Madelyn said, handing Leslie a small vial of precious healing liquid. “It’s a product of the White Tower Tech Guild, refined from the Water of Life. It’s excellent for injuries.”
Leslie firmly declined. “An injured beast is easier to tame. Let’s not waste such a valuable potion on her for now.”
Madelyn nodded thoughtfully, then glanced at the unconscious Ysera and asked,
“When will she wake up?”
Leslie focused her senses. “Soon.”
Just as she spoke, Ysera’s long frost-covered lashes quivered slightly, and she began to stir, her eyes slowly fluttering open.
Bright light greeted her, forcing her to squint her almond-shaped, phoenix-like eyes.
Then she heard a voice—rich, commanding, and tinged with an alluring maturity:
“Good, you’re awake. It seems your life is no longer in danger.”
The voice was unfamiliar yet unexpectedly pleasing to the ear. Focusing her gaze, Ysera saw Leslie standing before her.
To Ysera, Leslie exuded the elegance of a swan, utterly out of place in this environment.
Her porcelain skin, refined demeanor, and innate nobility left Ysera momentarily entranced.
Ysera had seen many stunning women, and she herself was renowned as one of the Pure Land’s great beauties.
Yet compared to Leslie, she felt almost inadequate.
Leslie’s presence, especially her flawless face, was captivating to the point that Ysera found herself unwilling to look away.
But the sudden, sharp pain from her chest wound brought Ysera back to reality, her body instinctively recoiling.
Madelyn quickly stepped forward to steady her, cautioning, “Your injuries are severe. Don’t move.”
“Stay back! Keep away from me!”
Ysera’s instincts flared, her voice sharp as she glared at Madelyn.
She had always detested physical contact, regardless of the person’s gender.
But upon recognizing Madelyn, Ysera froze, her heart sinking.
Death’s Calamity?
“Who are you people?”
Ysera’s guard went up, her body tensing as she prepared for a desperate fight.
From the moment she had regained consciousness, she realized that her fall into this pool might have been part of some grander scheme.
Meeting these two mysterious figures here could hardly be coincidence.
Leslie’s gaze turned sharp and imposing, her demeanor that of a queen addressing a subject.
“We’re your saviors.”
Ysera frowned deeply, suspicion clouding her features. She had an unshakable feeling that these two had ulterior motives for saving her.
Just then, Leslie sensed powerful auras rapidly approaching from the distance.
“It’s the Celestial God Palace!” Madelyn said, withdrawing her extended senses.
Previously, the Lord of Celestial God Palace had fallen in this direction, only to have his trajectory altered midair by Leslie’s intervention.
