Snow Island

Story context

Our hero finally gets the full picture of the Moon Underwater Abyss, and it’s not a pretty one. Empyrean God Xiuke, a being trapped for millions of years on a single frozen island, lays bare the brutal mechanics of this pocket realm: five islands, one log bridge, a murderous Snow Fiend, and a solitary path to freedom that only one being—Lord Buddha Jueming—has ever walked. Xiuke is a broken man running on fumes, a genius of movement technique who has survived eons by the skin of his teeth, but whose spirit is crumbling under the weight of endless solitude. The chapter builds to a quiet, tense turning point: Xiuke proposes a deal. If Ji Ning can one-shot the Snow Fiend’s avatar, Xiuke will gamble his life on following him. It’s a test of faith, a test of power, and a test of whether Ji Ning might just be the anomaly this prison has been waiting for.

Why it matters

This chapter is a masterclass in world-building through tragedy. Xiuke isn’t just a fellow prisoner—he’s a cautionary tale, a genius who honed his greatest skill to an impossible peak, only to find that peak wasn’t enough. The chapter’s emotional core is the moment he bows to Ji Ning: a proud, ancient being humbling himself to a junior, willing to trade his life on a single sword stroke. It’s a beautiful, melancholic setup for the coming confrontation. Notice how IET uses the Snow Fiend’s inner voice to slyly confirm Xiuke’s story while adding a layer of cosmic indifference—the Fiend is just following standing orders from a master long gone. There’s no malice, only automation. And that, in a way, is more frightening. Get ready for Ji Ning’s first real test in the Abyss—not just of raw power, but of whether his Dao-heart can carry the weight of another’s hope.

Quick facts

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Source novel

Desolate Era