Snow Empress: Should I Call You Master?

A low growl echoed beside Jiang Mian's ears. He did not even dare look back. He briskly pulled up his pants and swung a Sky Rend Claw behind him.

That Sky Rend Claw was only a test. He had used less than a tenth of his usual Soul Power, but even so, it was not something an ordinary creature could withstand.

The Sky Rend Claw struck the creature's hard jaw behind him. Sparks flew everywhere, yet it had not even broken through its defenses.

"Crystal Emperor Lion?" Jiang Mian used the recoil to return to Kloss's side. He viciously kicked Kloss's body and snapped, "Wake up! We're under attack from a Crystal Emperor Lion!"

"Hm?" Kloss blinked sleepily and glanced around at random, only to meet the Emperor Lion's eyes. "Damn, what a huge tabby cat?"

"Its defense is incredibly high." Jiang Mian frowned slightly. "Even my Sky Rend Claw couldn't move it."

"Interesting." Kloss suddenly dropped to all fours. His limbs exploded with force, and with a whoosh, he shot toward the Crystal Emperor Lion like a cannonball.

Jiang Mian stared in shock. What kind of resilient body did that take, to be used like that?

The Crystal Emperor Lion's defense had already reached a level comparable to a Soul Douluo, and one specialized in defense at that.

A deep, bell-like boom resounded through heaven and earth. Kloss's body was as hard as steel, and when he collided with the Crystal Emperor Lion, neither gained the upper hand.

"If we ignore his methods, Kloss has the strength of a Soul Douluo too." Jiang Mian could not help thinking of the Strength Clan's techniques, which were remarkably similar to Kloss's.

The Strength Clan pursued power to the utmost. They would absorb only soul rings from the same type of soul beast in order to maximize their effects. Kloss had a bit of that same approach.

"Emperor Palm, Great Cold Without Snow!"

Seeing Kloss locked in a stalemate with the Crystal Emperor Lion, Jiang Mian's hands instantly radiated extreme cold.

He rushed forward and struck the Crystal Emperor Lion with both palms. In an instant, its entire body froze. This Emperor Palm was Snow Empress's signature technique. At its peak, it could kill a Limit Douluo with a single blow.

Even the Beast God Di Tian had once suffered serious injuries beneath this Emperor Palm!

The moment that palm struck, the Crystal Emperor Lion's internal organs were shattered by ice and snow. Jiang Mian could not unleash Snow Empress's true strength, but how could the damage amplified by one hundred-thousand-year soul ring and four fierce beast soul rings be something a mere Emperor Lion could resist?

Besides, the Emperor Lion was only hard on the outside. Its internal organs were extremely fragile, and it possessed no protective means. Being killed by Jiang Mian's palm was only natural.

Ten thousand miles away, Snow Empress abruptly opened her eyes. She had sensed Jiang Mian's presence. After all, he had just used her signature technique; the sensation could not have been more familiar.

Snow Empress gently exhaled. Dark clouds immediately filled the sky, and a blizzard descended without warning. Her figure slowly vanished within it.

"Jiang Mian, just who are you?" Kloss looked at the lifeless Emperor Lion, then stiffly turned his neck toward Jiang Mian. Dumbfounded, he said, "You killed a Diamond Rank creature with one slap?"

"That palm took quite a lot out of me too." Jiang Mian plopped down on the ground and pretended to pant. He did not want to reveal his trump cards too early.

"That was incredible." Kloss swallowed, his face full of admiration. "If you can kill a Diamond Rank creature with one palm, you'll definitely win the Hero Competition."

"I hope so." Jiang Mian was not interested in becoming champion. He only wanted to find Snow Empress as soon as possible and leave this place. Entering the Hero Competition was merely convenient.

"Shouldn't we carry this Crystal Emperor Lion to the Adventurer's Guild and exchange it for a higher rank?" Jiang Mian asked.

"No need." Kloss pulled out a dagger and cut off the Crystal Emperor Lion's teeth and claws. "These will do. They can identify them."

"That is convenient." Jiang Mian laughed. With such a terrifying creature no longer guarding the Desolate Beast Wasteland, it would probably soon regain its former vitality.

Jiang Mian had not expected the Crystal Emperor Lion to come to him on its own. With his current strength, so what if a Titled Douluo appeared?

He could attack at any range, possessed defense and healing, and lacked neither magic nor mental attacks. He was a well-rounded fighter in every way.

Kloss and Jiang Mian guarded the Crystal Emperor Lion's corpse until dawn. Without wasting time, they got up and headed for the Adventurer's Guild.

The journey alone would take another three or four days, and according to Kloss, this Hero Competition would be held in Empress God's main city. It would take several more days to get there, so they would only barely make it in time.

Kloss had once said that among the thirteen main gods here, Father God and Empress God were the strongest. They had been born when heaven and earth first opened, while the other eleven main gods were their children.

Jiang Mian understood the creation of heaven and earth as the moment that deity's body and consciousness had formed this small space. He had been considering whether he could claim these small spaces for himself and turn them into private domains.

If he could, this small space would be immensely useful. Hu Liena and the others could cultivate within it, and it would also be convenient for storing things.

After a dusty journey, Jiang Mian and Kloss handed in the Crystal Emperor Lion bounty at the Adventurer's Guild and successfully raised their rank to Emerald Rank.

At the same time, Jiang Mian learned that above Diamond Rank was Master Rank. Some of the terrifying beings targeted by Master Rank bounties were beyond even the gods' ability to handle.

Jiang Mian felt that Master Rank bounties were at the Titled Douluo level. With his current strength, he had better not touch them. One careless move could easily turn things around on him.

If Bear Lord, Scarlet King, or the Auspicious Beast were here, Jiang Mian would dare turn this entire space upside down.

"Let's go to Empress God's main city." Calculating the time, Kloss said anxiously, "We have six days left to travel. The Hero Competition begins in six days."

"Alright." Jiang Mian nodded. He vaguely felt that Snow Empress was getting closer and closer.

The barrier in this space had likely been set up by the gods atop those Divine Mountains. He did not know their purpose, but it had truly caused Jiang Mian quite a bit of trouble.

A strange roar suddenly sounded in the distance. Before Jiang Mian could react, everyone in the Adventurer's Guild began fleeing into the distance. They moved so fast that it looked like a real-life temple escape.

"What is going on?" Jiang Mian looked at Kloss in surprise. There were no shortage of strong people in the Adventurer's Guild, including three or four Diamond Rank experts. Why had they scattered at the sound?

"Man-eating Horse Herd!" Terror showed in Kloss's eyes. He grabbed Jiang Mian's arm and shouted, "Run! We need to run!"

"Man-eating Horse Herd?" Jiang Mian scratched his head and ran after Kloss, utterly confused. "Are they Master Rank?"

"No, they're only Emerald Rank." Kloss said in horror, "You don't understand. The most terrifying thing about the Man-eating Horse Herd is that no one dares kill them."

"Why?" Jiang Mian asked in confusion.

"They are pets raised by the gods. Killing them is the same as becoming enemies with the gods." Kloss said, "My master once told me that if even one Man-eating Horse dies, Divine Punishment will descend where it died. Everything within ten miles will be reduced to dust, leaving not a blade of grass alive."

"What kind of bullshit gods are those?" Jiang Mian immediately stopped and cursed, "They raise such vile creatures and use human lives for amusement?"

"Just run." Kloss urged. "Do you really want to be eaten by the Man-eating Horses?"

"Why would I fear them?" Jiang Mian snorted. His body stood as immovable as a mountain as he quietly awaited the herd's arrival. Seeing that he could not drag Jiang Mian away, Kloss took a deep breath and stopped beside him as well.

"You aren't running either?" Jiang Mian smiled. "Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"If you're not afraid, why should I be?" Kloss clenched his fists. His legs were still trembling, but his words did not yield in the slightest. Seeing this, Jiang Mian understood a little more. The people of this world had been ruled by gods for too long, to the point that they no longer dared resist.

Gods were still flesh and blood in the end. What was there to fear? Especially when they raised Man-eating Horse Herds specifically to feed on humans. Their hearts deserved condemnation!

Jiang Mian pushed Kloss away and looked at the dozens of muscular Man-eating Horses charging toward him. He waved his hands, layering Sky Rend Claws upon one another.

The leading Man-eating Horses instantly became chunks of flesh. The others hesitated slightly, then crazily devoured their companions' meat. After eating, they charged at Jiang Mian even faster.

"Emperor's Cold Heaven, Snow Dance Shining Sun!"

Jiang Mian pressed both hands against the ground. In an instant, every Man-eating Horse was frozen. Lifelike ice sculptures of the creatures stood before them. Kloss collapsed onto the ground; deciding to stand with Jiang Mian earlier had already used up all his courage.

Jiang Mian had no mood to look after Kloss. He was deeply suspicious. Why had his technique become so powerful?

Logically, no matter how powerful Emperor's Cold Heaven, Snow Dance Shining Sun was, Jiang Mian's current raw strength should not have been enough to freeze the entire Man-eating Horse Herd at once.

Jiang Mian could not make sense of it. Then, a fairy-like beauty suddenly appeared behind him. She was so pure and icy, like a snow lotus that took one's breath away.

The moment Kloss saw her, he forgot everything else in the world. Stunningly beautiful!

Her slender jade-like hand rested on Jiang Mian's shoulder. She pressed her cheek close to his ear and softly said, "And you call this range of freezing Emperor's Cold Heaven?"

"Snow Empress." Jiang Mian gently exhaled and smiled. "I finally found you."

Snow Empress gave a soft hum. She walked before Jiang Mian, lifted his chin with one hand, and said, "Should I call you Master?"

"That would be fine." Jiang Mian smiled faintly and touched Snow Empress's hand, feeling as if he were touching a piece of cold jade.

"Snow Empress, have you seen the gods here?" Jiang Mian asked curiously.

"No." Snow Empress shook her head. "I only arrived in this world a few days ago. I happened to sense you using my technique, so I followed the trail and found you."

"There are layered spaces here too?" Jiang Mian froze in disbelief. "Could this be a God Tomb?"

"More or less." Snow Empress nodded. As she walked, ice and snow spread wherever she went. Jiang Mian followed behind her and muttered, "I also notified Di Tian to come help. I wonder whether he has arrived."

"Di Tian?" Snow Empress frowned slightly. "With his strength, finding us should be easy."

He was comparable to a demigod, after all. Jiang Mian's mouth twitched slightly. No one understood Di Tian's strength better than he did. If there was anyone, the woman before him counted as one, and so did the one in the Sun Moon Forest. They had all been old rivals.

"Now that you're here, I can rest easy." Jiang Mian smiled. "I'm going to turn this place upside down!"

"Do you want to kill those gods?" Snow Empress said indifferently. "With me here, it may be very easy."

"Th-this..." Hearing their conversation, Kloss felt as though the sky were falling. He had already known Jiang Mian was no ordinary person, but he had never imagined he was this extraordinary. They spoke of killing gods as casually as that. Surely he was not bluffing?

"And this is?" Snow Empress glanced at Kloss, surprise flashing through her eyes. "Little fellow, what do you seek by following Jiang Mian?"

"He wants to enter the Hero Competition and obtain a divine fruit to save his master." Jiang Mian explained, "I thought the Hero Competition might have better information and perhaps news about you, so I agreed to enter with him."

Snow Empress nodded slightly. From her reaction, Kloss seemed far from ordinary, or perhaps his master was.

"Kloss, I have a suggestion." Jiang Mian's smile was somewhat chilling. "How about we storm the Divine Mountain and directly seize the gods' fruit?"

"You're joking, right?" Kloss felt as though the sky had collapsed. He stammered for a long time, unable to say anything.

Snow Empress smiled softly and stroked Jiang Mian's cheek, warmth in her eyes. "The troubles in the far north have already been resolved. Once this is over, I can remain by your side forever."

"I would be honored to accept." Jiang Mian clasped his hands and replied respectfully.

He truly could not have asked for more from Snow Empress's companionship. Where else could he find such a wonderful thing as a woman strong enough to rival a Limit Douluo, who could be both his wife and bodyguard?

"Something is coming." Snow Empress turned toward the sky. The heavens, which had been clear for miles, were now filled with dark clouds. A majestic voice rang down from above. "Who killed my Man-eating Horse Herd?"

"So this is a god?" Jiang Mian sensed the changes in the surrounding Soul Power and discovered that the newcomer's strength had already exceeded that of a level ninety-five Titled Douluo, perhaps by quite a margin. Otherwise, he could not have stirred such heavenly phenomena.

Of course, there was another possibility: perhaps his martial soul specialized in controlling the weather, like clouds or something. But this fellow clearly did not have that kind of martial soul.

"Your grandpa killed them." Jiang Mian remained completely calm. Pointing at the sky, he cursed, "What kind of god are you, raising a Man-eating Horse Herd until ordinary people are left crying for their fathers and mothers? Today, your grandpa will teach you, an arrogant god, a proper lesson."

"Arrogant!"

Thunder rumbled across the sky. A god clad in golden armor and holding a Thunder Spear stepped out from the clouds. He walked through the air, his expression solemn and dignified.

Resting his chin in his hand, Jiang Mian commented, "He has less presence than that Evil Spirit Master. He can't even show off properly. What a useless fool."

Seeing the god's fury, Kloss had already been frightened limp on the ground. Snow Empress remained calm and said lightly:

"My master wants to kill you, so I will need to borrow your head."