Ice Empress

The boy before her still looked young, yet he held such a trump card, able to command two Soul Beasts of such formidable strength.

Even at her peak, she would have been wary of the power those two strange beasts possessed.

An enormous question rose in her heart. She was intensely curious: what was this boy's background?

Qian Lingye walked forward slowly until he stood before the Titan Snow Demon King, who had been pinned to the ground. He looked down at him calmly.

He raised his hand, preparing to signal Golza to press down harder and finish his opponent.

"Wait. Could you... spare his life?" the Snow Empress said.

"The Far North is bitterly cold, and cultivation is already difficult for Soul Beasts. For him to cultivate for nearly three hundred thousand years and endure countless calamities on the ice plains was no easy feat. He has always had a loose tongue, but his crimes do not merit death."

The Titan Snow Demon King hurriedly begged for mercy as well. "My lord, I had eyes but failed to see. Please forgive me, forgive me!"

Qian Lingye fell silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his heart.

Killing the Titan Snow Demon King would be simple, but keeping him alive was more valuable.

The Titan Snow Demon King had established himself in the Far North for ten thousand years. His fearsome reputation was renowned, and he kept countless beasts in awe.

With him as their guide, the journey to the Ice and Snow Divine Temple would avoid a great deal of trouble and save them considerable time scouting.

Qian Lingye looked at the Titan Snow Demon King on the ice and spoke slowly.

"I can spare your life."

"But although you'll be spared death, your punishment won't be canceled. From now on, you'll be my guide and servant, and lead us to the Ice and Snow Divine Temple. On the way, guide us honestly. Don't try any tricks."

"If I detect the slightest hint of disloyalty, I'll kill you on the spot. You won't get a second chance."

The crushing pressure on his back remained. Golza's giant foot was still planted against his spine, and the threat of death hung over his head.

The Titan Snow Demon King no longer had the slightest thought of resisting.

He turned his head with difficulty and looked up at Qian Lingye, suppressing all the unwillingness in his heart.

"I, I understand. Thank you for sparing my life, my lord. I'll lead the way!"

With the Titan Snow Demon King guiding them, they met no further obstacles along the way.

The various Soul Beasts inhabiting the route through the Far North sensed the Snow Demon King's presence and fled in panic, none daring to show themselves.

Before long, the Ice and Snow Divine Temple came into view, standing in the deepest reaches of the Far North, its ice and snow unmelted for ages.

The temple was built entirely of ten-thousand-year-old cold crystal. Its chill pierced to the bone, and its oppressive pressure weighed heavily.

Just as they were about to approach the temple's mountain gate, a furious shout suddenly rang out!

"Titan Snow Demon King! How dare you! You brought humans to the Ice and Snow Divine Temple!"

The voice was icy enough to pierce bone, filled with utter rage.

The next moment, a girl in a green dress swooped down from the sky. Her figure was slender, but the terrifying pressure spreading from her body firmly surpassed that of the Titan Snow Demon King, overbearing to the extreme!

Qian Lingye's gaze sharpened slightly.

Of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North, aside from the Titan Snow Demon King and the Snow Empress, only one remained.

The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion—the Ice Empress!

Her cultivation was nearly four hundred thousand years!

"Bing'er, don't be rude."

The Snow Empress spoke softly.

The Ice Empress's face had been full of killing intent, her eyes wide with anger, but the instant she recognized the Snow Empress, all the hostility in her vanished like smoke.

She froze, then hurried forward, her eyes instantly reddening.

"Sister!"

After a long separation, the two women met again.

The Ice Empress threw her arms around the Snow Empress, her voice choking with intense self-reproach. "It's my fault! I couldn't protect you, sister, and let you suffer such a disaster!"

The Snow Empress patted her back gently, her expression calm. "It's all right. Calamity was destined for me; no one else is to blame."

After their brief embrace, the Ice Empress abruptly turned and fixed her sharp, icy gaze on Qian Lingye, killing intent flaring.

She also glared with disgust at the Titan Snow Demon King, who was trembling beside her and did not dare raise his head.

"Not one human is any good! And you, you fool! How dare you lead outsiders into the temple? You're courting death!"

The Titan Snow Demon King was caught in the crossfire despite his innocence. Angry but afraid to speak, he could only scratch his head silently.

The Snow Empress hurriedly explained, "Bing'er, you've misunderstood. He's different from those greedy, vicious humans. He protected me all the way home."

"Protected you?" The Ice Empress's face was full of disbelief. She gave a cold snort. "Humans are greedy and cunning by nature, with evil intentions in their hearts. I'll never believe it. I'll strike right now..."

"Hey, hey, hey." Qian Lingye picked at his ear. He was already growing a little impatient with this woman's words, so he interrupted her directly. "Xue'er, you can make the decisions here, right? It's time to honor our agreement."

"Agreement?" The Ice Empress froze.

The Snow Empress spoke frankly. "I promised to take him to the Tears of the Sky."

At those words, the Ice Empress's expression changed drastically, and she flew into a rage.

"Sister! Absolutely not!"

"The Tears of the Sky is the foremost sacred treasure of the Far North, passed down from the ancient Ice and Snow Goddess. It is sacred beyond compare! How can a human be allowed to lay eyes on it?"

The cold around her surged as she glared fixedly at Qian Lingye, killing intent chilling the air. "I'll kill you right now and end this threat once and for all!"

"Oh?" Qian Lingye stood with his hands behind his back, an indifferent smile curling his lips.

Kill him?

How ridiculous.

He was utterly certain in his heart.

The Ice Empress had less than four hundred thousand years of cultivation. Golza and Gagi could easily subdue her.

He had traveled ten thousand miles to the Far North for the Tears of the Sky.

He was determined to have it.

"Bing'er."

With that quiet word and a glance, the Snow Empress stopped the furious Ice Empress.

The Ice Empress was unwilling, but she did not dare defy the Snow Empress. She could only stare fixedly at Qian Lingye, her whole body on guard, her killing intent undiminished.

"I will never go back on my promise to you. Follow me." The Snow Empress looked at Qian Lingye.

"My Xiao Xue'er is the obedient one after all." Qian Lingye nodded in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away, in the main hall of Spirit Hall.

The atmosphere was stifling in the extreme.

Bibi Dong sat upright in the seat of honor, anger in her brow and an icy presence about her.

"You've searched for seven days and still can't find him?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed his head, trembling and hardly daring to breathe. "Your Highness, the young master pretended to enter seclusion and quietly left Spirit Hall seven days ago."

"Fortunately, the young master's Soul Jade Life Tablet is still bright, without the slightest dimming. His life is not in danger; he probably just went out to play."

"Went out to play?"

Bibi Dong's chest heaved. She was both furious and helpless.

"That little brat is getting more and more lawless! Even you two Titled Douluo couldn't keep an eye on a nine-year-old child!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo lowered their heads and eyes, murmuring meekly, not daring to argue.

After her anger had subsided somewhat, Bibi Dong changed the subject and asked coldly, "How is the alliance progressing?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo hurriedly replied, "Everything is going smoothly. Heaven Dou, the Upper Three Sects, and Spirit Hall have formed an offensive and defensive alliance. Ultimate Killing Formations and the Demon-Slaying Corps have been deployed throughout the territory, sealing off any movements of darkness. The Evil God has made no further moves recently and has vanished without a trace."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

"Leave the alliance entirely to the great elder to lead. You only need to assist him on my behalf; there is no need for me to appear."

She looked at Ghost Douluo. "The Advanced Soul Master Tournament is approaching. You will be responsible for the entire selection process and all preparations."

"Your subordinate accepts the order!" Ghost Douluo bowed.

The two withdrew, leaving Bibi Dong alone in the hall.

She rubbed the space between her brows. "Where on earth has that little brat secretly run off to make trouble?"

"But ever since he left, the Evil God hasn't appeared again. Is it a coincidence..."