“By the way, why did it turn into this Martial Soul?”
Skydream, still bruised and swollen, looked at Huo Yuhao, who was busy experimenting with his new abilities, and could not help asking.
“I don’t know.
But this Martial Soul can also use the Ice Empress’s techniques.”
“Ice Empress’ Pincer, Ice Empress’ Armor!”
With a thought, ice armor condensed around Huo Yuhao’s body, while both of his hands instantly crystallized.
Their shape was almost identical to the Ice Empress’s scorpion pincers.
“Not only that, I can control the ice element however I want.”
He gathered Soul Power in his palm and aimed forward.
Just as he intended, the Soul Power transformed directly into ice and snow, sweeping across the area ahead.
“Judging from what you’ve shown so far, this is an incredibly powerful Martial Soul!
So, Yuhao, what are you going to call it?”
“For now, I’ll call it ‘Heart of Ice and Snow.'”
…
“This ‘Imitation’ Soul Skill is pretty interesting.”
Huo Yuhao tried out the Second Soul Skill Sister Skydream had prepared for him.
With this ability, he would not have to worry about exposing his true Soul Rings too early.
Though honestly, even if he openly revealed a 100,000-Year Soul Ring right now, would anyone actually believe it?
If he could scare his opponents into surrendering every time he fought just by showing it, that alone would qualify as a divine skill.
Of course, if someone stubborn enough insisted on testing whether it was real, they would quickly discover that Huo Yuhao’s 100,000-Year Soul Ring was, in fact, genuine.
…
Just as Huo Yuhao was preparing to leave the core region of the Extreme North, the entire world suddenly fell silent.
A white figure walked through the wind and snow and appeared directly in front of him.
“Huo Yuhao, this is bad!
The one standing in front of you is the Snow Empress!”
“What?”
Were the odds of encountering the ruler of the Extreme North around here a little too high?
The Snow Empress had long, silvery-white hair, each strand carrying the soft luster of ice and snow.
Her narrow eyes and brows gave her a cold, distant look, while her pale complexion and lofty bearing made it seem as though she naturally looked down upon all living beings.
“I can sense Bing’er and Skydream Ice Worm on you.”
The Ice Empress had naturally sensed what was happening outside as well.
“Yuhao, let me take over your body.”
The Snow Empress had originally only intended to visit the Ice Empress and ask her for a favor while she was there.
Knowing that she would be unable to survive her next Heavenly Tribulation, the Snow Empress had found a 100,000-year-old Snow Lotus without consciousness.
She planned to use it to directly undergo Human Transformation and begin cultivating again from the beginning.
That process would leave her at her weakest, so she had intended to ask the Ice Empress to stand guard nearby.
Given their relationship, such a request would naturally have been no problem.
But on her way there, she had suddenly sensed the auras of Skydream Ice Worm from ten thousand years ago and the Ice Empress appear at the same time, only for both to disappear just as quickly.
Afraid that something had happened to the Ice Empress, the Snow Empress had searched everywhere, eventually coming across Huo Yuhao while he was still testing his abilities.
In the next instant, Huo Yuhao’s eyes turned emerald green, and his entire demeanor became cold and aloof.
“Xue’er, this was my choice…”
…
“So that’s what happened.
You chose a different path too?”
For some reason, the Snow Empress let out a long sigh.
The environment of the Extreme North might seem exceptionally favorable to the Soul Beasts native to it, but because of their attributes, surviving Heavenly Tribulations was extremely difficult.
She herself had chosen to start over through Human Transformation, while the Ice Devil Titan King would most likely never make it past the 300,000-year mark.
And now, the Ice Empress had actually chosen to stake everything she had on a human.
Looking at the somewhat dejected Snow Empress, the Ice Empress suddenly wanted to bring her along as well.
But she knew that the Snow Empress possessed her own pride.
If she suggested it now, it would sound more like pity than an invitation.
As for relying on the Snow Lotus to undergo Human Transformation, the plan seemed feasible, but this was not the natural Human Transformation a Soul Beast underwent upon reaching the 100,000-year level.
Leaving aside whether the transformation would even succeed, even if it did, the Snow Empress would probably retain less than one-tenth of her original strength.
And the Ice Empress could no longer remain by her side to protect her.
Could this really be the last time they ever saw each other?
“Xue’er, if there really is no other option when the time comes, could you let this child stay by your side?”
“If he’s willing, then of course.”
In her concern, the Ice Empress immediately voiced the thought that had just occurred to her.
“Huo Yuhao, consider this a request from me.
Of course, if you’re unwilling…”
“Of course I’ll do it.
Ice Empress, you’re my friend.
There’s no way I’d just ignore something like this.”
Huo Yuhao cut her off before she could finish.
The Ice Empress smiled, visibly relieved.
“Thank you, Yuhao.”
“All right.
In that case, we’ll make another trip to the Extreme North in a few months.”
…
Rong Nianbing’s residence lay deep within a secluded realm in the Divine Realm.
The entire secret realm was enclosed by a gentle seven-colored elemental barrier.
From the outside, it appeared to be nothing more than a floating valley suspended among the Divine Realm’s sea of clouds, with its entrance hidden amid an endless forest of pale pink peach blossoms.
Tang San and Rong Nianbing were currently strolling through the peach blossom forest.
“Nianbing, this is far enough.
The God of Destruction has been far too aggressive lately, so I really have to thank you for helping me.
You know how things are between the God of Destruction and me because of this matter.
Sigh…”
Tang San sighed softly, a faint, bitter smile appearing on his face.
“It’s fine.
Expanding the Divine Realm certainly has benefits, but there are simply too many unknowns involved.
This is something that needs to be considered carefully.”
“Exactly.
Of course I feel regret when I see talented people in the Mortal Realm unable to become gods, but the risks are simply too great…
Well, let’s leave it there for today.
We can meet again another time.”
With that, Tang San transformed into a streak of blue light and vanished.
Rong Nianbing watched Tang San disappear into the distance.
Only after he could no longer sense him did he let out a long sigh.
“What’s wrong?
Already losing your patience?”
“Ah!
Feng Nu.”
Mimicking Tang San’s voice, Feng Nu suddenly popped out from behind Rong Nianbing.
Rong Nianbing complained, “You have no idea how much I don’t want to get involved in this mess.
If I’d already found a suitable successor, why would I still be hanging around here?
Just look at how many places Xi Yun has already traveled to.”
“So what did the Sea God come to see you about?”
“What else?
He wanted me to help him again.
He used to be extremely firm about opposing the expansion, but something happened not long ago, and now he’s actually started making concessions to the God of Destruction.”
“I suspect something went wrong in the Mortal Realm he came from.
Otherwise, there’s no way he would suddenly act like this.”
After hearing Rong Nianbing’s explanation, Feng Nu also sensed that something was off.
“Going by your guess, something might happen before long?”
“Probably.
Forget it, we’ll deal with things as they come.
Instead of worrying about all this, we might as well think about what we’re having for dinner.”
“Yeah.
What should we eat?”
…
Tang San was feeling equally frustrated.
Ever since the spacetime disturbance erupted on the Douluo Continent, he had not tried contacting the Mortal Realm again.
What if he increased the strength of his interference and ended up walking straight into a trap set by the God of Destruction?
What bothered him even more was that he did not even know whether the God of Destruction was responsible in the first place.
During their recent meetings, the other man had acted as though nothing had happened at all, without revealing the slightest flaw.
Could he really be playing a game of strategy against thin air?
No.
Impossible.
He, Tang San, possessed great wisdom.
In this contest with the God of Destruction, all he needed to do was remain patient…
Even so, Tang San could not shake the growing sense of crisis that everything was slipping beyond his control.
What should he do now?
“Forget it.
I’ll make some soup for Xiao Wu first.”