Snow Empress's Dilemma, Vina's Presumption

Seeing Ice Empress again after six years,

Zi Yao was still quite excited. After all, ever since Snow Empress and Ice Empress had entered seclusion, there had been no word from them.

The current Ice Empress was even more terrifying as a Beast. Her skin was fair as jade, her emerald-green hair gleamed brilliantly, and a golden crown rested atop her head. Only her figure was still as flat as a board.

Ice Empress also sensed that something felt strange between the two of them.

Zi Yao was now eleven or twelve years old. Enhanced by Soul Power and Soul Rings, he had become a youth over 1.7 meters tall, with white hair falling to his shoulders and handsome brows and eyes.

Meanwhile, her childlike body made her seem more like his sister in front of him.

Soul Beasts could freely shape their forms when transforming, but it was difficult to alter them afterward.

Most Soul Beasts chose to use their own bloodlines to shape their appearances. The bloodlines capable of producing a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast were mostly top-tier, so their facial features would not turn out badly.

When she had transformed back then, she had been injured at the source by the Heavenly Tribulation, which had left her transformation with such a meager figure.

Logically speaking,

once a Soul Beast became a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, it was already an intelligent lifeform. When taking human form, it did not need to be limited by its former species. Even if it had not been a mammal, it should not have ended up flat as an airfield.

Ah Yin had been a blade of grass before transforming, yet after transforming, she still had a curvaceous figure.

"Ah, if I'd known, I would've transformed later back then."

She spoke helplessly.

Now that she had transformed, there was no changing this ridiculous, childlike body.

"No need. You look just fine now."

Zi Yao spoke honestly.

There were many beautiful women with great figures on the continent now. Even Vina and Mu Xue, whom he had just met, had slender waists, full hips, and long legs.

But a lawful loli like Ice Empress, who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, was something one could only encounter by chance.

"Hehe, then it doesn't matter. As long as Xiao Yao doesn't mind."

Ice Empress said magnanimously.

She was not a naturally born being like Snow Empress, born with a human appearance.

As a Soul Beast transformed into a human, she did not care overly much about appearance. She simply felt that her current image truly did not suit her temperament.

But since Zi Yao did not mind, she had nothing to be dissatisfied about.

"Where's Snow Sister? Hasn't she exited seclusion yet?"

Zi Yao continued asking.

Ice Empress shook her head. "Not yet. I merely passed the Four Hundred Thousand Years threshold. Her situation is far more dangerous than mine. A Second Soul Core isn't so easily condensed. She already failed once before, but fortunately, the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow healed her old injuries."

"When I came out, she was still attempting it. But I don't think her chances of success are high. Across the entire continent, only the two Peerless Fierce Beasts ranked above her have managed Yin Yang Dual Soul Cores. Compared to them, she lacks far too much experience."

"Soul Beasts only have two places where Soul Cores can be cultivated. That means they can only choose Yin Yang complementarity. Xue'er cultivates only Ice and Snow Power, unlike Di Tian's true dragon body or Evil Emperor's heaven-defying spiritual power. It will be very difficult for her to condense a Second Soul Core."

Zi Yao felt somewhat worried upon hearing that.

"But you don't need to worry too much about her. With the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow assisting her, even if she truly fails and damages her source, it can be replenished immediately."

Ice Empress added with a faint smile.

As the most precious treasure of the Extreme North, the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow was immeasurably valuable. Even a useless Soul Beast could be fed into becoming a Beast with it.

Zi Yao relaxed considerably upon hearing this.

That was right. He had already broken the plot of the original story.

Snow Empress was safely cultivating in seclusion within the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Cave. Even if something went wrong, the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow could replenish her source. It was impossible for her to still be taken away by the Platform of Gods or Huo Yuhao.

Unless Buddha Ancestor Tang pulled some new trick.

After all, in the original story, a Seven Hundred Thousand Years embryo had happened to be discovered by humans, and they had happened to possess a Level Nine Soul Tool that could restrain it. The whole thing was an outrageously absurd coincidence.

Douluo Continent was Tang San's place of ascension.

Destructive Life understood this continent far less than he did. The two could only keep watch to ensure Tang San did not pull stunts like Sea God's Descent or renaming Sun Moon.

As for minor schemes,

Buddha Ancestor Tang, who had planned for ten thousand years and possessed a deeply calculating mind, was still capable of them.

But Zi Yao was not afraid in the slightest.

As long as Tang San did not personally intervene, he was confident he could outplay that old fox.

"Xiao Yao, you're level thirty?"

Ice Empress's delighted voice reached him.

Level thirty was equivalent to the Thousand Year Level for Soul Beasts.

In only a few short years, Zi Yao's strength had risen this quickly. To Soul Beasts with their long lifespans, it was still terrifying.

"That's right. I was just about to go Soul Hunting, but I didn't expect you to exit seclusion at just the right time."

Zi Yao smiled.

Although Nan Shui Shui had already advanced to become a Titled Douluo and gained a measure of the Destruction Attribute, making her combat strength exceptional enough to crush a Sky Dream Ice Silkworm that had lost its source with ease,

that was still the Star Dou Great Forest.

If Sky Dream Ice Silkworm brought out several Beasts this time, Nan Shui Shui alone would have a hard time handling the situation.

Moreover,

this trip would involve not only Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, but also secrets such as Electrolux's remnant soul.

Compared to Nan Shui Shui,

he trusted Ice Empress and Snow Empress more. Revealing these secrets before them did not feel dangerous at all.

Soul Beasts were certainly dangerous when first encountered,

but the bonds formed with them were also more genuine.

"Then I'll accompany you Soul Hunting. I've stayed in the Ice Cave for so long—it's time to go out and stretch my limbs!" Ice Empress said excitedly.

Zi Yao nodded.

He also knew of his father's promise. Ice Empress did not need to prepare for the Four Hundred Thousand Years Heavenly Tribulation. Otherwise, even cultivation gained from the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Cave would not prevent her from being struck by lightning.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had cultivated in one breath to over nine hundred thousand years.

When it emerged, the planar laws simply could not believe that an ordinary Ice Silkworm could possess such cultivation. It was as though they suspected their own code had bugged out, and they still refused to believe that an Ice Silkworm could cultivate to over nine hundred thousand years.

Thus, the target of that lightning tribulation was never reported to Thunder God, allowing it to narrowly escape disaster.

"Hiss, I'm so hungry. I'm going to the Extreme North first to catch some Ice Silkworms to eat. I've been craving them to death all this time."

Ice Empress rubbed her flat little stomach.

"Ice Silkworms? There seemed to be quite a few at today's banquet. I'll take you to have some."

After getting dressed, Zi Yao headed toward the hall with Ice Empress.

Vina and Mu Xue had not yet left.

Vina noticed Zi Yao and Ice Empress holding hands, and her brows lifted.

But after thinking it over, she decided that someone so young could not be Zi Yao's girlfriend. Perhaps she was his sister?

With that thought,

she revealed a friendly smile and stepped forward to strike up a conversation.

"Mr. Zi Yao, is this your sister? She's so cute..."

"Oh?"

Ice Empress narrowed her left eye, believing that the person before her was provoking her.

A trace of the aura of a Four Hundred Thousand Years Beast leaked out, freezing the atmosphere of the entire hall into frost.

In an instant,

the entire hall fell silent as cicadas in winter.

Ice Empress's eyes turned icy. There was not a trace of emotion in her gaze as she looked at Vina and the others, and she said word by word,

"What did you just say? Say it again to this Empress."

Vina's gentle, beautiful face was filled with shock.

Yet she did not lose her composure. Years of Imperial Family education set her mind racing. Lifting her skirt, she curtsied elegantly.

"My apologies. I was presumptuous. Please forgive my rudeness."

Ice Empress kept a cold face and did not make another move.

"Forget it, Ice Sister. She probably didn't mean it."

Zi Yao mediated.

There was a high chance Vina had acted without ill intent. Anyone who saw Ice Empress as she was now might mistake her for his sister.

Vina's identity was also quite special.

She was the Heavenly Daughter of the Body Sect and the Princess of the Heaven Dou Empire. If something truly happened, it would be troublesome. Once news spread that Ice Empress and Snow Empress, two Peerless Fierce Beasts, had left the Extreme North, it would not be a good thing.

Especially while Snow Empress was in seclusion.