Ant Realm Evolution, Junior Friend Realm

Xiao Qiang raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, but not only did Snow Empress not withdraw her pressure, she intensified it slightly, nearly forcing the already unsteady Xiao Qiang to collapse face-first into the snow.

"We're finished, finished, finished! Snow Empress is angry! We're done for!" This feeling of being suppressed without the slightest ability to resist reminded Tian Meng of his days in the Star Dou Great Forest. Never one to remain calm at all times, he trembled in fear within Xiao Qiang's sea of consciousness.

"Quiet, Brother Sky Dream. Trust me, it's not a big problem." Though the pressure was nearly forcing him to the ground, Xiao Qiang felt increasingly at ease.

As long as Snow Empress did not simply slap him to death, it meant the message from the Ice Scorpion had gotten through. Whether it was the opportunity that could help her survive the 700,000 Year Heavenly Tribulation or the bond between Snow Empress and Ice Empress, both would ensure Xiao Qiang's safety.

"I heard that you fused with Ice Empress?" After using her pressure to force Xiao Qiang onto all fours before her, Snow Empress slowly spoke.

"Yes, but her consciousness remains. This is not like obtaining a spirit ring through hunting."

"Let her see me."

Xiao Qiang used Mental Share to allow Snow Empress to see Ice Empress.

"Snow Empress..."

"It's good that you're unharmed." Snow Empress spoke coldly and arrogantly. Clearly, without a threat to her life, Snow Empress retained the original persona of an untouchable Empress of Ice and Snow. This Snow Empress was not the same as the one in the original work who had been on the verge of death after the explosion.

"Snow Empress, I..." Ice Empress wanted to say something, but upon recalling the fate of the Titan Snow Demon Ape, she ultimately did not dare speak.

"Human, you say you have a method to help me break through the 700,000 Year Heavenly Tribulation?"

"Yes. My martial soul allows me to perceive certain special opportunities. After fusing with Ice Empress, I sensed a supreme opportunity meant for ice-attribute soul masters. That opportunity can guarantee that I reach at least the level of a Super Douluo. I believe it would be useful to you as well, Snow Empress."

"Hand it over." Snow Empress sat upright upon a throne created from snow, speaking with the absolute tone of one in power.

"Snow Empress... urgh!" Before Xiao Qiang could continue, a wave of pressure crashed down upon him. He swallowed a mouthful of snow and was buried in the snowfield, unable to move.

"You have no qualifications to negotiate with me. Obey or die. Those are your only two choices."

"No, that would not be a good decision. Snow Empress, your Heavenly Tribulation should be drawing near, shouldn't it?"

"So what?"

"My perception of opportunities comes from my martial soul. Some things are vague and impossible to explain; even I cannot make everything clear. If you wish to force me to tell you where the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow that may appear is located, that is simply impossible. You may try if you have a method, but that would only waste time. If you truly want to find it, I must take the initiative and sense it myself."

"So you think the Heavenly Tribulation gives you the right to threaten this Empress and make this Empress obey your every command!"

Snow Empress met Xiao Qiang's gaze. Her overwhelming presence made even Xiao Qiang, whose body did not fear the cold, feel a suffocating chill.

"I am not that oblivious to my place. I merely came to offer you a suggestion, Snow Empress. Since I have fused with Ice Empress, I can be considered a member of the Extreme North. I will use that opportunity to help you overcome the 700,000-year threshold, and in return, I hope you will acknowledge my identity as a member of the Extreme North and grant me a measure of protection. The protection need not last long—twenty years will suffice."

"During those twenty years, if I make certain requests, I hope Snow Empress will accept them. Of course, afterward, if you require anything, Snow Empress, I can pay a price that satisfies you. But sometimes there will not be time to explain. I ask that Snow Empress accept my request and act first."

After Xiao Qiang finished speaking, Snow Empress withdrew her pressure. Compared with coercion that might carry risks, the request Xiao Qiang had proposed was something she could accept.

Theoretically, what Snow Empress needed to do was much the same as being a Guardian, but this was where the art of wording came into play.

Snow Empress's status meant she could not accept becoming a human's Guardian. But if one of her people offered her a treasure, then granting them protection was not a problem. Besides, twenty years was nothing to a soul beast that lived for hundreds of thousands of years.

As for helping Xiao Qiang take action, that was not much of a problem either. If the gains from one intervention were unsatisfactory, there simply would not be a second. Moreover, it was a request, not an order, so Snow Empress could accept it psychologically.

Her dignity was preserved, and so were the practical benefits. Under such circumstances, Snow Empress had no reason to risk coercing Xiao Qiang. With Ice Empress involved, she could not truly use overly ruthless methods against him either.

"Very well. If you can help this Empress break through the 700,000-year threshold, then this Empress will acknowledge you as a citizen of the Extreme North and grant you twenty years of protection."

"Thank you, Snow Empress."

After Snow Empress agreed, Xiao Qiang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

With Snow Empress's protection, Xiao Qiang would no longer need to worry about Mu En suddenly coming to the Sun Moon Empire to wipe him out.

During the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Tournament, he would no longer need to fear Xuan Zi suddenly going mad and taking him, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen back to Shrek Academy as hostages. According to Tang Jia San Shao's as-yet-unbroken setting that soul beasts kept their word, his life could finally be considered secure.

Furthermore, if Tian Meng proved capable enough to fully develop the early Soul Spirit version known as the Wisdom Spirit Ring and truly establish the Soul Spirit system, Xiao Qiang could try to recruit Snow Empress into the God Creation Plan during these twenty years of contact.

Xiao Qiang now possessed soul bones for both hands and both arms. As long as he brought Snow Empress into the plan, the 200,000-year Ice Bear King Xiaobai would definitely become one of Xiao Qiang's leg bones.

With Snow Empress on board, Xiao Qiang could also recruit Evil Emperor. After all, Evil Emperor's cultivation of 790,000 years meant his final limit was approaching as well. As long as Snow Empress agreed to create a god, combined with the Soul Tools of the Sun Moon Empire, Evil Emperor would surely join this God Creation Plan with dignity.

If Evil Emperor did not wish to join this God Creation Plan with dignity, then with Snow Empress and Soul Tools, they could still make him join with dignity.

At that time, Snow Empress would provide the skull bone, while Evil Emperor would provide the External Soul Bone. All he would need was another 200,000-year soul beast to provide the leg bone for his other leg. With five Fierce Beast soul bones and three Fierce Beast External Soul Bones, Xiao Qiang would completely surpass Tang San in soul bones aside from the Torso Bone.

As for the Torso Bone, once he reached rank ninety-nine, he could go seek out the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.

If he truly became enemies with Tang San, then the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King would be an ally. If not, there was nothing wrong with a soul master hunting a soul beast.

As long as Tian Meng developed the Soul Spirit system and Snow Empress stood fully on his side and agreed to the God Creation Plan, then even without the powerful Fortune of Huo Yuhao, Xiao Qiang could rely on his foreknowledge and numerous advantages. With his top-tier soul bones and the Second Martial Soul spirit rings he planned to begin at 200,000 years, even if he created a god position himself, he could at least create a Rank 1 God.

Snow Empress joining also meant that Xiao Qiang's preparations had been initially assembled. With Snow Empress's Protection, Xiao Qiang had officially advanced from the Ant Realm into the Junior Friend Realm.