Special Soul Beast

The golden Ranking list still hung high, but at that moment, not everyone's thoughts were entirely on it anymore.

A Human Soul Master with a Million-Year Soul Ring—his value and threat had been magnified to the extreme by the Golden Ranking's "publicity."

Because of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's appearance, the continent's balance was about to be swept into a tremendous storm.

And at the center of that storm was Huo Yuhao, who was still weak.

[Douluo Continent Soul Beast Power Ranking, Sixth Place: Snow Empress!]

The sixth line of the Golden Ranking bloomed with an ice-blue radiance so pure it seemed capable of freezing the soul.

An incomparably beautiful, aloof figure slowly emerged.

Her silver hair fell like a waterfall, her skin was fairer than snow, and her eyes were the pale blue of a ten-thousand-year glacier.

Extreme Chill lingered around her, faintly warping the space around her body.

Though she was only a phantom standing there, she seemed like the very core of the Extreme North, the embodiment of the rules of ice and snow.

[Name: Snow Empress (Heavenly Snow Woman)]

[Affiliation: Extreme North (Head of the Three Great Heavenly Kings)]

[Cultivation Years: Seven Hundred Thousand Years]

[Bloodline Level: Supreme (Nurtured by Heaven and Earth Cold Qi, controller of Extreme Ice)]

[Combat Power Assessment: A life-form condensed from the purest ice-attribute Heaven and Earth Yuan Power in the Core Circle of the Extreme North. Her mastery of Extreme Ice has reached perfection. Her Emperor Sword, Emperor Palm, and Emperor Cold Sky possess enough might to freeze a thousand li, making her the undisputed emperor of the Extreme North. Her Comprehensive Combat Power is unfathomable; her ranking at sixth place is fully deserved.]

[Reward: Extreme Ice Origin Sublimation, Soul Beast Year Increase of seventy thousand years, deepened comprehension of the Ice Law, obtained the divine ability "Absolute Zero"! Demigod Artifact: Ice God Sword!]

"Snow Empress! Seven hundred thousand years!"

"The emperor of the Extreme North! It really is her!"

"Emperor Sword, Emperor Palm, Emperor Cold Sky... freezing a thousand li! This is true power of heaven and earth!"

Snow Empress making the list was not as world-shattering as Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's "million years."

But her solid seven-hundred-thousand-year cultivation, along with the evaluations of "condensed from Heaven and Earth Yuan Power" and "freezing a thousand li," still brought a massive shock.

This was majesty built on absolute strength, forming a stark contrast with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's "special" nature.

Extreme North.

The endless ice and snow seemed to be cheering as streams of golden light descended from the Void and merged into Snow Empress's body.

Her flawless face showed neither sorrow nor joy as she quietly felt the gift from the Heavenly Rules.

The chill around her grew increasingly restrained, yet also increasingly terrifying, as if with a single thought, she could plunge a ten-thousand-li ice plain into eternal Deathly Stillness.

Titan Snow Demon King's enormous body trembled with excitement.

"Congratulations, Snow Empress! Your strength has advanced another step!"

He was sincerely happy for Snow Empress, and his resolve to follow her grew even firmer.

Snow Empress slowly opened her ice-blue eyes. Her gaze seemed to pierce through endless space, first sensing Ice Empress's condition with relief.

Then she looked south, toward that mysterious Star Dou Great Forest. "Seven hundred thousand years... With this reward, I may be able to safely pass the next heavenly tribulation."

"But to go even further and glimpse the million-year realm—difficult, difficult, difficult!"

Her gaze became deep and resolute.

It also made her make up her mind: after the Ranking list was announced, she had to personally go to Star Dou Great Forest and investigate the mystery behind the sudden surge in cultivation!

Shrek Academy.

Yan Shaozhe's tone was heavy. "Snow Empress, seven hundred thousand years. The strength of the Extreme North likewise cannot be underestimated. Fortunately, Snow Empress has always remained aloof and rarely takes the initiative to interfere in the continent's disputes."

Xuan Zi took a swig of wine and muttered, "One Star Dou Great Forest is already enough of a headache. Now the Sea Domain, the Extreme North... why are these soul beasts more abnormal than the last!"

Forces such as the Sun Moon Empire and Holy Spirit Cult were shocked by Snow Empress's strength, but at the same time, they became even more certain of their previous judgment.

That host who possessed Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Ice Empress was of immeasurable value. He had to be brought under control as soon as possible!

The light of the golden Ranking list shifted again. Fifth place was about to be revealed, and everyone's hearts rose once more.

More than half of the Top Ten had been announced.

Every remaining rank was certain to represent an even more terrifying existence.

[Douluo Continent Soul Beast Power Ranking, Fifth Place: Golden Ancient Tree!]

The fifth line of the Golden Ranking bloomed with warm, sacred golden light. It was not dazzling, but it carried a peculiar power that nourished all things and soothed the soul.

The phantom of a Golden Ancient Tree so vast that its branches and leaves seemed able to cover the sky slowly emerged. Every leaf looked as if it had been forged from pure gold and jadeite.

Veins like liquid sunlight flowed through its trunk.

It exuded no aggressive pressure, yet naturally carried a boundless aura that had existed since ancient times and connected heaven and earth.

[Name: Golden Ancient Tree]

[Affiliation: Shrek Academy (Guardian of Sea God Island)]

[Cultivation Years: Special (personally planted by Sea God Tang San, nourished by Sea God Power and ten thousand years of faith; its essence has already surpassed ordinary Million-Year Soul Beasts)]

[Bloodline Level: Divine Level (contains Sea God Power and Life Origin; one of the symbols of life and order on the Douluo Continent)]

[Combat Power Assessment: It does not possess powerful direct offensive ability itself, but the vast Life Energy and Sea God Power it contains are enough to shelter a region and nourish all things. It can form a powerful Guardian Domain, resist external evils, and heal wounds. Its very existence is the foundation and heritage of Shrek Academy. With its unique divine essence, its positive significance to the continent, and its special nature, its Comprehensive Assessment places it fifth.]

[Reward: Divine Nature Origin enhanced, Life Energy greatly increased, Guardian Domain range expanded and strengthened, connection with Sea God Power made even closer!]

"The Golden Ancient Tree! It's our academy's Golden Ancient Tree!"

"It... it's actually a Soul Beast too? And it's ranked fifth!"

"Personally planted by Sea God, containing Sea God Power... no wonder!"

Inside Shrek Academy, an uproar first broke out, then erupted into earth-shaking cheers!

The Golden Ancient Tree held extraordinary meaning for Shrek. It was both the symbol of Sea God Island and the guardian of the academy's ten-thousand-year legacy.

Its appearance on the ranking list undoubtedly injected a powerful shot of confidence into Shrek under pressure.

Shrek Academy.

A long-lost, genuine smile appeared on Mu En's face. He bowed slightly toward Sea God Island. "Thank you, Golden Ancient Tree, for sheltering the academy for ten thousand years."

Yan Shaozhe said excitedly, "With the ancient tree presiding over us, Shrek is as steady as a mountain! Now that its Guardian Domain has been strengthened, let's see who dares invade!"

Xian Lin'er also let out a breath of relief. "Though it is not skilled in assault, with its divine essence and power of guardianship, it is enough to make those with ill intentions weigh the consequences."

Xuan Zi burst into loud laughter. "Good, good, good! Let's see who still dares look down on Shrek now!"

After their initial shock, powers such as the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult quickly calmed down.

Jing Hongchen's eyes flickered. "Shrek's Golden Ancient Tree is indeed extraordinary, but in the end, it is a tree of guardianship. It lacks the power to take the initiative and wage war, so its impact on the empire's plans is limited."

"The focus is still that boy with the Million-Year Soul Ring!"

Zhongli Wu said coldly, "It's only a tree that can't move. So what if it ranks highly? It can't change the overall situation."

The Body Sect, Clear Sky Sect, and other powers mostly sighed over how deep Shrek's foundation was.

The Snow Empress of the Far North, as well as the Demon Empress and Sea Princess of the Sea Domain, noticed this special existence, but they paid more attention to its symbolic meaning and its connection to the Divine Realm.

They did not regard it as a direct threat or competitor.

The Golden Ancient Tree's place on the ranking list was like raising a banner of order and guardianship amid a chaotic situation.

Though it did not possess the offensive power to sweep across all directions, its very existence was a powerful deterrent and stabilizing force.

To Shrek, its meaning was especially great.

At the same time, the consecutive appearances of the Golden Ancient Tree and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm on the ranking list also gave people a clearer understanding of the Golden Ranking's assessment standards.

It did not value combat power alone!

Special characteristics, potential, influence on the world, and other factors all carried enormous weight.

This made people's imaginations run even wilder regarding the top four that had yet to be announced.

Even a divine creation like the Golden Ancient Tree was only ranked fifth. What kind of inconceivable existences would the top four be?

Golden light flowed across the ranking list. Fourth place was about to be revealed.

The eyes of the entire continent focused once more, tension and anticipation filling the air.