A Contract with the Ice Empress

But that also placed the Ice Empress in a perilous situation, leaving her with no choice.

When she heard that someone could save her without asking for anything in return, it was like a flame lit in the depths of winter, instantly warming her heart.

But the Ice Empress said worriedly, "This Million-Year Molted Shell isn't so easy to break through. I can't use my strength or soul skills at all, and you can't possibly break in from outside."

She glanced at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. It would never release her, so she could only rely on Lin Yu outside—but that was impossible too.

Lin Yu looked like nothing more than a Soul Grandmaster. What power could he possibly have?

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm also revealed a smug smile. It had almost forgotten about its Million-Year Molted Shell. That was the incredibly tough body it had continuously tempered while a group of Fierce Beasts imprisoned it in the Star Dou Great Forest and extracted its energy.

As long as it refused to withdraw the shell, the Ice Empress and this outsider from the train would remain helpless.

In the end, they would have no choice but to give up together, after which it could carry out its God-Making Plan.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's hopes rose again. After all that, this outsider from the train was completely powerless and unable to affect its plans.

Lin Yu said, "That's simple. Actually, I still have a way."

Simple? You still have a way to break through my shell?

The smugness vanished from the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's face, replaced by panic.

Impossible. This brat must be bluffing. Even the Ice Empress can't break through my Million-Year Molted Shell. What makes him think he could be stronger than her?

But Lin Yu's face was full of smiles, and he was extremely confident. "Of course, this won't rely on me. It will rely on my Starry Express. It possesses unfathomable powers and is even said to possess the power of a god. As long as someone is recognized as a Trailblazer by it, they will obtain the Power of Destiny Pioneering."

"Your perilous situation will be opened up into a new hope."

Lin Yu didn't merely say it. He revealed his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, and Starry Express Martial Soul to the Ice Empress.

"What? You actually possess three Martial Souls?"

The existence of three Martial Souls had never appeared before in the entire Douluo Continent.

Huo Yuhao and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm were both stunned.

The Ice Empress was equally shocked. "How can one person possibly possess three Martial Souls at the same time?"

Lin Yu smiled. "I obtained them after experiencing multiple life-and-death crises. They're pioneering powers bestowed upon me by the Starry Express to help me escape those crises."

"It was precisely because of the Starry Express's pioneering powers that I was able to return from the dead and open up a future filled with hope."

His words came from the heart. Without the Starry Express and the other Martial Souls he had obtained, Lin Yu would never have opened up his current future. He would have died in the dungeon long ago.

The Ice Empress could sense that the power within Lin Yu's Martial Souls was closely connected to the Starry Express. Clearly, they had been bestowed by it.

She couldn't help but believe him. The Starry Express truly possessed mysterious and unfathomable pioneering power, capable of helping a Trailblazer survive even in certain death.

"Then what are you going to do to save me?"

Hope rose on the Ice Empress's face as she pleaded with him.

This was an expression she had never shown before, even when the Starry Express performed its Spacetime Leap. The Ice Empress had already set aside her wariness and completely trusted Lin Yu—or rather, she trusted that the Starry Express could lead her toward a future where she would survive.

Lin Yu knew that the moment had arrived for him to formally sign a contract with the Ice Empress.

A golden contract appeared in Lin Yu's hand.

"Your exclusive contract has been generated. This time, the Starry Express will sign the contract with you. May it recognize your identity as a Trailblazer and grant you the power to pioneer."

Unlike before, this contract was no longer between Lin Yu and another contract partner. It was between the Starry Express and another contract partner.

But in reality, there was no difference. The Starry Express was Lin Yu, and the two had long since become inseparable.

However, when the Ice Empress saw the contract's contents, she no longer thought it was a Pyramid Scheme contract. The contract partner was the Starry Express, an existence reputed to possess divine power, so it seemed entirely reasonable—and suitably impressive.

The Golden Contract was also miraculous. It ignored the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Million-Year Molted Shell, passed straight through it, and landed in the Ice Empress's hand.

That alone made the Ice Empress believe that the Starry Express possessed divine power.

The Ice Empress signed her name without hesitation.

When the contract was established, Lin Yu immediately sensed that he possessed another Martial Soul.

The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul.

At the same time, the Ice Empress sensed that she had established a connection with the Starry Express. Through that connection, she could also contact Lin Yu and even the other companions who had already signed contracts.

The Ice Empress thought this was simply the normal contractual relationship established with the Starry Express. Little did she know that after going in a circle, she had ultimately formed a contract with Lin Yu.

"Now that the contract has been established, I'll bring you out," Lin Yu said with a smile.

But Lin Yu did nothing. Instead, he entered the Starry Express and activated Spacetime Leap.

Seeing this, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm burst into laughter. "Bingbing, you've been tricked! He can't do it at all. He's still going to leave you here."

The Ice Empress was also utterly stunned. Wasn't I supposed to be saved once I became a Trailblazer?

Yet for some reason, she couldn't control the feeling of trust that arose when Lin Yu left. She believed that he wasn't fleeing at the last moment, but was thinking of a way to save her.

At that moment, Lin Yu stood at the carriage door and gave the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm a disdainful smile. You have no idea how powerful the Starry Express is with its spacetime attribute.

It didn't merely possess the mysterious ability to break through the barriers of time.

It also possessed the mysterious ability to break through the barriers of space.

How could a mere Million-Year Molted Shell stop the Starry Express? It was an existence capable of passing through the World Barrier.

No matter how tough your shell is, can it really compare to the toughness of the World Barrier?

The Starry Express suddenly performed a Spacetime Leap, but this time it didn't travel through time. It broke through space instead, appearing directly inside the Million-Year Molted Shell.

The train's enormous body instantly expanded the Million-Year Molted Shell into its own shape.

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was dumbfounded. "What the hell? That works too?"

Lin Yu, standing at the carriage door, had already pulled the Ice Empress inside. He said to the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, "Big fat white worm, until we meet again. Though I doubt we'll ever get the chance, since you don't have even the slightest desire to pioneer. You're still far from qualified to board the Starry Express."

As the Starry Express was about to leap away, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm sensed that Bingbing—the one it loved—was about to leave it forever.

It burst into tears. "No, Bingbing! Don't leave me behind! Take me with you!"

The Starry Express didn't stop for the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. The Ice Empress merely watched it coldly. That insect had threatened her just moments ago, yet now it was putting on such an infatuated display.

Who exactly is it performing for?

The Starry Express disappeared and began traveling through the timelines, returning to the very first timeline in which it had arrived on the Extreme North Plains.

That happened to be when the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress were bickering.

"Snow Empress, he left you behind, yet you're still speaking up for him."

"He wouldn't do that. I believe in Lin Yu. He went to find a way."