Ice Snow Crown, Young Master of the Extreme North

Over the past five years, she had grown accustomed to Xue Nianbing's presence.

Leave?

Not a chance!

What was so good about the Human World? Wasn't it better to stay here with her and Snow Empress?

"Sister Bing, I can't stay in the Far North forever. Sooner or later, I have to experience the outside world. Only then can I grow stronger as quickly as possible," Xue Nianbing said.

"Hmph, your constitution is so miraculous that you'd grow stronger even if you did nothing."

Ice Empress gave a coquettish snort, and her Emerald Scorpion Tail coiled even tighter.

"My constitution may be miraculous, but it's also full of uncertainty."

"What if this miracle disappears one day? Wouldn't I still have to grow stronger like other Soul Masters? By then, though, I'd have wasted a great deal of time."

"I can't gamble everything on the words 'miraculous constitution.' I need to leave myself a way out."

Xue Nianbing explained.

Precisely because he knew nothing about that thing in his Sea of Consciousness, he could not stake everything on it.

With such a miraculous constitution, he should work even harder and strive to maximize its value, rather than slack off and lie flat.

Of course, there was one even more important reason.

He had already transmigrated, and his Martial Soul talent was not weak either. If he still had no grand ambitions, he would truly be letting down this enormous stroke of fortune.

"Hmph!"

Ice Empress still gave a coquettish snort and refused to let go no matter what—rather, refused to loosen her tail.

Seeing this, Xue Nianbing smiled helplessly. "Sister Bing, you don't need to be so reluctant. I'm not leaving right now."

"Who's reluctant!"

Ice Empress said haughtily, but the Scorpion Tail wrapped around Xue Nianbing's waist did loosen a little.

"Don't worry. Even if I leave, it doesn't mean I won't come back." Xue Nianbing continued smiling, comforting Ice Empress like a big brother.

Ice Empress's voice immediately rose. "If you dare not come back, I'll go to the Human World to find you... and sting you to death."

"I definitely wouldn't dare."

Xue Nianbing smiled and went along with Ice Empress.

Only then did Ice Empress release her Emerald Scorpion Tail, though her eyes remained fixed on Xue Nianbing, as if afraid he would suddenly run away.

"You've decided?"

Although Snow Empress was also reluctant, she was nowhere near as exaggerated as Ice Empress.

"Mm, I have to go. There are some things I need to prepare for early. Otherwise, in the future, I'll only be able to watch helplessly as the Far North suffers calamity." Xue Nianbing nodded.

He had not forgotten the "tragic state" the Far North had suffered in the original story.

After all, he had lived in the Far North for ten years. To him, this place was like a home, and he had family here as well.

What he needed to do was make himself stronger and protect this home properly.

"The Far North will suffer calamity?" Snow Empress's eyes flickered as she caught the key information.

Xue Nianbing did not deny it. Instead, he found an excuse. "I have a feeling about it."

"What could possibly happen to the Far North? With Snow Empress and me here, even if Beast God Ditian came, we could still fight it." Ice Empress was brimming with confidence.

"Beast God Ditian is very strong, but humans also have beings capable of challenging it. There are even terrifying Soul Tools that can injure it."

Xue Nianbing mercilessly shattered Ice Empress's confidence.

Ice Empress froze at once.

Snow Empress was also somewhat surprised and even doubted it for a moment. "Are Soul Tools really that terrifying?"

"Mm, far more terrifying than you can imagine."

"If things continue without unforeseen changes, even those lofty gods will fall beneath Soul Tools."

"With weapons this terrifying, I need to understand them in advance—learn how to use them, and perhaps even bring a few back if I get the chance."

Xue Nianbing's words were filled with admiration for Soul Tools.

And he had no choice but to admire them. Take a Level Nine Soul Tool Cannonball, for example: one blast was enough to leave even a Limit Douluo in a terrible state.

Not to mention that above them were Level Ten Soul Tools.

"I never expected you humans to have developed to this extent without us noticing." Snow Empress could not help but sigh.

After ten years of raising him, she understood Xue Nianbing's personality, so she believed his words to some extent.

"Are they really that powerful?" Ice Empress muttered, still doubtful.

"Very powerful."

"Sister Bing, whether you believe me or not, you must be more cautious. The power of Soul Tools is absolutely revolutionary."

Xue Nianbing's expression was solemn, and his tone was serious.

Seeing this, Ice Empress put away some of her disdain and became more vigilant inwardly.

After all, Nianbing would never harm her.

"Since Soul Tools are so formidable, you must be careful when you go to the Human World," Snow Empress reminded him.

"Mm, I will."

"Don't forget, I still need to keep my life so I can offer myself to you."

Xue Nianbing smiled, teasing again.

"Hmph." Ice Empress snorted coldly from beside him and flicked Xue Nianbing with her Scorpion Tail.

Snow Empress did not react this time. Instead, she revealed a charming, faint smile and teased, "Then you'd better keep yourself alive. Don't accidentally lose it."

"Absolutely."

Xue Nianbing said with a grin.

"Alright, there are two more matters."

"You're no longer the little brat you were back then. It's time for you to take up this responsibility, become the Young Master of the Extreme North, and protect the Far North."

Snow Empress said.

Xue Nianbing had been raised by her own hand and had lived in the Far North for ten years, so he naturally counted as a member of the Far North.

But as her person, he certainly could not hold an ordinary status.

Young Master of the Extreme North was very fitting.

"Young Master of the Extreme North? Doesn't that mean I'll have a lot of authority?" Xue Nianbing's eyes lit up with anticipation.

Snow Empress nodded. "Strictly speaking, other than me, every living being in the Far North must obey your orders."

"However, among Soul Beasts, strength is revered. No matter how high your status is, without corresponding strength, you won't earn their true respect."

Status was ultimately only decoration. Strength was the foundation of respect.

"Understood."

Xue Nianbing smiled.

"It's good that you understand." Snow Empress nodded slightly, then raised her fair, delicate hand. Endless ice elements began gathering there.

Gradually, the ice elements condensed into an Ice Blue crown of ice. It descended onto Xue Nianbing's head, merged into it, and vanished.

"The Ice Snow Crown, a symbol of your identity."

"Any living being in the Far North can sense it. They will not harm you, and you may command them, though whether they obey will depend on the gap in strength between you and them."

Snow Empress explained.

The Ice Snow Crown actually had another function: when Xue Nianbing encountered a life-or-death crisis, it could trigger Ice Snow Guardian.

Even a Super Douluo would need some time to break it.

And once it was triggered, she would sense it immediately and be able to track him through his aura to rescue him.

But she would not tell Xue Nianbing about these functions, lest he develop a sense of dependence.

"Mm."

Xue Nianbing nodded with a smile, then changed the subject and asked, "Sister Xue, you said there were two matters. What's the other one?"

"One more matter... Come with me."

Snow Empress took Xue Nianbing's hand and flew toward her cave dwelling.

Xue Nianbing: "???"

Th-This... couldn't be what he was thinking, could it?

In broad daylight, with Ice Empress still here, wasn't that a little inappropriate?