Are you the helper Snow Empress invited?

"What the hell is that?"

Jiang Mian watched the blood-red pillar of light shooting into the sky and couldn't help sneering. "Can't win, so you call for daddy? You're just like that bastard surnamed Tang—both deserve to die."

"Who dares harm my servant?"

A thunderclap suddenly split the sky. A black-clad man with a pair of bat wings sprouting from his back slowly emerged from the pillar of light. Strange runes were painted across his face, making him look utterly eerie.

"All this fanfare, and he's a Titled Douluo?" Jiang Mian muttered to himself. "Big entrance, ugly face—got taste, I guess."

Two yellow, two purple, two black, and eight red soul rings materialized beneath his feet, and the entire sky seemed to darken a few shades more.

"A Soul Douluo, and you're putting on this act?" Jiang Mian picked his nose and quickly bolted backward. The Soul Douluo's eyes locked onto him, and with a whoosh, he shot toward Jiang Mian's back like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.

"Nan Meng, don't just stand there watching!" Jiang Mian shouted for help. Truth be told, if it came down to a real fight, with his natural advantage against Evil Spirit Masters and the stat boosts from these soul beast rings, he might not necessarily lose to this Evil Spirit Douluo.

But he'd brought backup—why take the risk himself?

"Fighting's not my strong suit." Nan Meng's voice came from all directions. She laughed. "Jiang Mian, how about I cheer you on instead?"

"I'll pay up!" Jiang Mian saw the Evil Spirit Douluo's blood-red hand about to pierce his chest and quickly yelled, "If I die, who's gonna play with you?"

"Coming right up."

The sky was instantly bathed in Divine Light, the whole world blazing bright. That Evil Spirit Douluo was like a rat in a sewer, scurrying for cover with nowhere to hide.

Radiant with golden light, the colossal Emperor Auspicious Beast descended from the sky. One claw pinned the Evil Spirit Douluo to the ground. Beneath the Auspicious Beast's foot, the man sizzled as if being roasted.

The Emperor Auspicious Beast stood tall and proud, like a qilin, its attributes of ultimate light and ultimate fire making it all the more divine.

When a qilin treads on auspiciousness, all worldly woes dissolve.

How could a mere Evil Spirit Master be worthy of crossing claws with the Emperor Auspicious Beast?

"Martial Soul Blood Thunder Bat, huh?" Jiang Mian watched the Evil Spirit Douluo struggle desperately, releasing his Martial Soul Avatar in a bid to escape from under Nan Meng's foot. But a rat-like thing trying to escape under bloodline suppression? A pipe dream.

"Why'd you have to become Evil Spirit Masters?" Jiang Mian walked up to the Evil Spirit Douluo and slapped his face hard. "You're not weak—why stoop to such harmful deeds? Don't you know there's karma?"

"Spare me, senior!" The Evil Spirit Douluo had lost all his earlier arrogance, begging incessantly. "I'll turn over a new leaf, I swear I'll never harm anyone again."

"Oh." Jiang Mian kicked him square in the face, grinding his boot into it until the man's features were a bloody, mangled mess. "Nan Meng, kill him."

Squelch.

Nan Meng crushed him into pulp.

"Nan Meng, change back." Jiang Mian looked up at the Emperor Auspicious Beast and gently patted its furry, comfortable paw. "Don't scare the locals."

"Okay." Nan Meng nodded, turning into a streak of light that darted into an alley.

Jiang Mian knew full well that transforming would tear her clothes apart, so the Auspicious Beast must have shed them first...

"Thank you, benefactor!" The townsfolk seemed to emerge from nowhere. The old man from the noodle stall led the cry, and the people all knelt, thanking Jiang Mian for his immense kindness.

"Get up, all of you." Jiang Mian helped the old man to his feet. If not for him, given these Evil Spirit Masters' strength, they might have slaughtered the entire town.

"From now on, we will honor our benefactor for generations to come." The old man stood and faced the scattered crowd. "What do you all say?"

"Honor our benefactor for generations!" The people raised their arms and cheered.

"Look at this, how embarrassing." Jiang Mian scratched his head. He found these folks simple and honest. It wouldn't hurt to look out for them a bit more. When he got back from the Extreme North, he'd bring them a powerful soul beast to guard the place.

"Mian-ge." Nan Meng, dressed neatly again, bounced over to Jiang Mian's side and grinned. "So, don't I deserve a reward?"

"Here's a knuckle sandwich." Jiang Mian laughed and flicked her on the forehead. "Nan Meng, you've got everything you need, so this is all I've got."

"I hate you." Nan Meng clutched her head, pouting pitifully. "Next time, I'm not saving you."

"Alright, maybe just this once more." Jiang Mian pulled out two thousand-year Immortal Herbs and handed them to Nan Meng with a smile. "Don't be mad, okay?"

"Hmph." Nan Meng snatched the two thousand-year Immortal Herbs in a flash, pursed her lips, and said, "We'll see."

"Since you all want to honor me." Jiang Mian patted the Auspicious Beast's head, then turned serious. "Then please hear me out, alright?"

"Speak, benefactor."

"I know you've suffered. I'll help you change all that. The border of the Extreme North isn't good for development. If you're willing, when I come back, I'll take you to find a new place to settle down and live in peace. How about it?"

Jiang Mian had a plan. He intended to bring these people to Martial Soul Hall's territory and have Bibi Dong find them a place to live. These folks would come in very handy later.

After all, there was an old saying: He who wins the people's hearts wins the world!

"We are willing to follow you, benefactor!" The people knelt again in a wave. Jiang Mian had not only saved their lives but also given them a new lease on existence. Calling him a god sent by heaven to rescue them wouldn't be an exaggeration.

The east gradually showed a pale glow. After a night's journey, Jiang Mian found himself mulling over a few ideas.

"Nan Meng, let's keep moving." Jiang Mian took her hand and asked with a smile, "What do you think?"

"Whatever Mian-ge says." Nan Meng was still quite obedient. She walked over to the old noodle stall owner and smiled. "Grandpa, your noodles were delicious. When I come back, make me two bowls, okay?"

"Young lady, it's my honor that you enjoy my noodles." The old man's rough hands clasped Nan Meng's, his eyes brimming with complex emotions.

Joy, flattery, gratitude...

"There'll be plenty of time later." Jiang Mian smiled faintly and led Nan Meng into the Extreme North.

This time was different from their last visit. Back then, they'd hit the coldest season, with not a soul for ten thousand miles. Now, the weather was milder, and many merchant caravans and hunters had come as well.

"Now that I'm in the Extreme North, I can sense Snow Empress more clearly." Jiang Mian closed his eyes, focusing on his connection with her. He found that her presence felt both far away and right in front of him—utterly baffling.

"What now?" Jiang Mian sighed, unsure where to start looking. Just then, a crisp, haughty female voice rang out from afar.

"Are you the helper Snow Empress called for?"