Star Dou Great Forest, Beibei and Tang Ya

"It won't."

"With Xue'er here, along with the home-field advantage of the Far North, your Four Hundred Thousand Year Heavenly Tribulation won't be a problem. You'll definitely get through it."

Xue Nianbing shook his head, his tone certain.

The Snow Empress was different now. She would no longer choose to take human form in pursuit of a higher limit—or at least, not for the time being.

Because he had become the Snow Empress's concern.

Before he had grown strong enough, the Snow Empress would not do anything that weakened her own strength.

Therefore, the Snow Empress could fully help the Ice Empress overcome the impending Four Hundred Thousand Year Heavenly Tribulation.

Once she passed it, Xue Nianbing would only need to plan for the Snow Empress's future 700,000 Year Heavenly Tribulation and find a way to overcome it—or evade it.

As for a solution, Xue Nianbing already had a direction.

More accurately, someone could solve it.

And that was the fundamental reason he intended to head to the Star Dou Great Forest first.

The million-year-old Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, depending on the circumstances.

The Holy Necromancer, Undead Scourge Electrolux.

Xue Nianbing was determined to pull that great being over to his side by any means possible.

Electrolux might only be at the level of a First-Class God, but his use of "divine power" surpassed that of most gods, even some God Kings.

"...I want to take human form. I want to go to the Human World too."

Seeing that even the Heavenly Tribulation could not keep Xue Nianbing here, the Ice Empress immediately changed tactics.

Since you won't stay, then I'll go with you.

"No."

"Bing'er, don't fool around."

Xue Nianbing and the Snow Empress both shook their heads, decisively rejecting the Ice Empress's idea.

"Why not?" The Ice Empress's voice carried anger, along with a trace of grievance.

Why could Xue Nianbing go to the Human World as he pleased, while she, the second Heavenly King of the Far North, had to be restrained?

The Snow Empress looked at the Ice Empress helplessly and said gently, "Bing'er, Nianbing's miraculous constitution still needs time to grow. During that time, we are his foundation. Do you understand?"

"..."

The Ice Empress fell silent, suddenly unable to think of any rebuttal.

"Bing'er, Xue'er is right."

Xue Nianbing nodded. "What I need most right now is time and a foundation, and both come from you."

"The Human World has countless powerful people. More important than talent is one's background. Without a good background, it's impossible to get anywhere."

His choice to attend Shrek Academy was not to defend any glory. He simply wanted to learn Soul Master knowledge and how to use Soul Tools.

If given the chance, he also wanted to change Shrek—to thoroughly cleanse it from top to bottom and make it a true "academy" in the real sense.

And none of that could be achieved overnight.

He had talent. What he lacked now was a background.

The Far North was their background, while the Ice and Snow Emperors were his foundation.

"Bing'er, I need you. Do you understand?" Xue Nianbing chuckled softly and looked quietly at the Ice Empress.

Need me?

Xue Nianbing needs me!

The Ice Empress heard only those words, and an inexplicable joy immediately welled up in her heart.

"Mhm, I understand."

The Ice Empress nodded briskly.

In her happiness, even the Scorpion Tail wrapped around Xue Nianbing's waist and abdomen loosened.

Seeing this, the Snow Empress beside them could not help but smile. Xue Nianbing still had his ways—his tongue was sharp, and he knew how to talk.

"Bing'er, stay well in the Far North. I'll definitely return within two years."

Xue Nianbing stroked the Ice Empress's body, then turned his gaze to the Snow Empress and smiled gently. "Xue'er, wait for me to come back."

"Mhm."

The Snow Empress said nothing more, merely nodding with a smile.

After hesitating for a moment, Xue Nianbing still stepped forward and pulled the Snow Empress into his arms, quietly taking in her scent.

The Snow Empress embraced Xue Nianbing as well, her beautiful eyes half-closed and her expression gentle.

Watching this scene, the Ice Empress felt that something was strange, yet she could not put her finger on it. So she could only silently watch the two of them.

Under the Ice Empress's gaze, the two embraced for a long time before finally separating.

"I'm leaving."

Xue Nianbing laughed heartily, then turned and departed.

Both Ice and Snow Emperors watched Xue Nianbing's retreating figure with reluctance in their eyes.

They did not see him off, because they feared that in the end, they would be unable to resist forcibly keeping him behind.

"Fifty li ahead, you will enter the Star Dou Great Forest. Soul Beasts may appear. Pay attention to your safety."

A wooden sign stood at the roadside.

Before the sign stood a frail youth of eleven or twelve, with a well-proportioned build and clean, simple gray cloth robes.

He had neat short black hair, and his young face carried a determination far beyond his age.

"So I didn't take the wrong path. This is the place."

Excitement and nervousness both appeared on the youth's face.

He touched the dagger at the back of his waist, forcibly suppressing the unease in his heart before walking forward with firm steps.

Very soon, he vanished into the patch of grass ahead.

Not long after the youth disappeared, a man arrived there as well.

The man was exceptionally handsome. His ice-blue hair added a trace of aloofness to his temperament, while his golden eyes lent that aloofness a hint of majesty.

"Not too early, not too late. Just right."

The corners of Xue Nianbing's lips rose into a smile.

Coming early was not as good as arriving at the perfect time. He had only just reached the Star Dou Great Forest when he saw Huo Yuhao enter it.

This also meant that he would witness three great "celebrities" from the original story.

First, the pseudo God Slayer—the Wind Baboon.

Second, the million-year Soul Beast—the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

Third, the Holy Necromancer, Undead Scourge, Electrolux.

"A Wind Baboon that nearly slew a god? I can't miss this famous scene." Xue Nianbing smiled, his face filled with interest.

Xue Nianbing was just about to enter the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Eh, Beibei, there's someone here too."

Suddenly, a crisp and pleasant voice came from not far behind him.

Xue Nianbing instinctively turned around and saw two people approaching from the distance.

One male and one female, both around fifteen or sixteen.

The girl wore a light-blue fitted outfit, with her long hair tied into a ponytail that fell behind her.

She had an oval face, delicate features, and fair skin tinged with rosy color, brimming with youthful vitality.

Beside her was a youth with short dark-blue hair. He was handsome and refined, appearing easygoing and approachable.

"So... so handsome!" The girl stared blankly at Xue Nianbing's face.

Xue Nianbing's temperament was somewhat aloof. Combined with the majesty and pressure unconsciously revealed by his golden eyes, he was simply a "woman killer."

Of course, this also had something to do with Xue Nianbing's build. It was well-proportioned, complementing his appearance perfectly.

While the girl was lost in thought, the youth beside her immediately stiffened slightly.

Praising another man in front of him—no one would feel good about that.

"So these are Beibei and Tang Ya."

Xue Nianbing cast them a glance, briefly sizing them up. Then he smiled and nodded in greeting before turning to disappear into the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Beibei, did you see that? He's so handsome!"

Tang Ya's eyes sparkled as she spoke with immense excitement.

She did not notice at all that Beibei's expression beside her was somewhat off.

"Mhm."

Beibei responded dully.

He knew Tang Ya's personality, so he had no intention of making an issue of it.