Destiny: Protection

"If the two of us combined our powers and became a single Martial Soul..."

"That's a very daring idea. My bloodline may not be as strong as Xue'er's, but we are both children of ice."

"The pride of the Ice Jade Scorpion and Heavenly Snow Woman bloodlines goes without saying."

"They couldn't coexist harmoniously the way Bing'er and I do."

The Snow Empress and Ice Empress took turns speaking. Huo Yuhao thought the two of them were about to refuse.

"Your idea is dangerous, but it's not impossible."

"We've decided to go for it!"

"Yuhao!" ×2

Since the two Empresses had made up their minds, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had no reason to try to talk them out of it.

The three of them began discussing the finer details of shaping the Martial Soul.

Huo Yuhao spoke first. "Sister Tianmeng, Ice Empress, Snow Empress, there's a reason I came up with this somewhat crazy idea."

"I won't hide it from you. Besides the Destiny: Deprivation I used on you earlier, Ice Empress, this Eye of Destiny on my forehead has another Soul Skill!"

"Another Soul Skill!" Ice Empress perked up with interest. Huo Yuhao was choosing this moment to reveal the second Soul Skill his Eye of Destiny possessed...

"Then what is this second Soul Skill of yours?" Snow Empress asked, her gaze curious as well.

Over the past three days, while Snow Empress and Ice Empress dealt with affairs in the Far North, Snow Empress had listened as Ice Empress told her all about Huo Yuhao's Eye of Destiny.

The power to manipulate fate—and the sense of impending danger it had given Ice Empress when the 400,000-year Heavenly Tribulation descended—had made Snow Empress eager to see it for herself.

His first Soul Skill, Destiny: Deprivation, could strip away an enemy's fate. So what could this second one do...?

Huo Yuhao said four words: "Destiny: Protection!"

"Destiny: Protection?" ×3

The three of them tilted their heads in unison. Three pairs of beautiful eyes, each a different color, fixed on Huo Yuhao, their gazes full of questions.

Huo Yuhao explained what his Soul Skill did.

"Destiny: Protection is very different from my other Soul Skill, Destiny: Deprivation."

"To begin with, there's a difference in how often I can use them. I can use Destiny: Deprivation once a day."

"But after I use Destiny: Protection, I need a year to recover!"

"A year to recover? That's an awfully harsh condition," Snow Empress said.

Ice Empress pondered. "Generally speaking, the stricter the limits on a Soul Skill, the more powerful it is."

"Then, Yuhao, what exactly does your Soul Skill do?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm asked, blinking her big eyes.

Huo Yuhao explained slowly, "It subtly influences my fortune and helps me survive one otherwise fatal calamity!"

"That Soul Skill is also why I dared to try fusing the two Empresses of Ice and Snow into Sister Tianmeng's still-unformed Ice Martial Soul."

"Even if we fail, none of us will be in mortal danger. We can try another way."

"To survive a fatal calamity—that's an incredible ability!"

Snow Empress finally understood why Huo Yuhao had come up with such a bold idea. He had a way to save his own life.

No wonder Destiny: Protection came with such a harsh condition: it could only be used once a year.

No, on closer thought, for a Soul Skill this absurdly powerful to have only one limitation was practically generous.

If Snow Empress had a Soul Skill like that, she could thump her chest and declare, "I'll definitely form the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Core. Even Di Tian couldn't stop me!"

Ice Empress's eye twitched. Could heaven and earth really accept a Soul Skill that could ward off a fatal calamity once a year?

What in the world had the Plane Master done to create Huo Yuhao? He had a Soul Skill this outrageous, and he still hadn't been sealed away?

If Huo Yuhao had known what Ice Empress was thinking, he would have patted her shoulder.

Did she know what he called the Plane Master in charge of this plane? His own dear father!

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's mouth fell open wider and wider. Unfortunately, her face was so small that, judging by Huo Yuhao's estimate, even at its widest she could fit only an egg inside.

"Yuhao, you have a Soul Skill like that? Why haven't I heard about it in the past three years?"

"Have you stopped loving me?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, whose heart was as pure as a blank sheet of paper, turned red-eyed and looked ready to put on quite a show for Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao knew this fragile-hearted elder all too well. "Sister Tianmeng, wait a moment."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm obediently reined in her emotions.

Huo Yuhao explained, "It's not that I didn't want to tell you. I only figured out how to use these two Soul Skills recently."

"Today was the first time I used them, too. You've been with me for so long. You've never seen me use either one before, have you?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was easy to soothe. "Oh, is that so?"

"Yuhao, I'm sorry. I blamed you unfairly. I apologize," Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said a little bashfully.

Huo Yuhao waved his hand. "It's fine, it's fine. As long as we clear up the misunderstanding."

"Let's get back to discussing our Second Martial Soul!"

"Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Sister Tianmeng, do you have any other ideas to add?"

Snow Empress shook her head. "I don't have anything to add. There isn't much to discuss, really. It all comes down to fate."

"But there is one thing we can decide here."

"According to our plan, Soul Bone first, Soul Ring second. Yuhao, where on your body do you want Ice Empress's and my Soul Bones to form?"

Ice Empress clapped her hands. "Right! We've decided to form the Soul Bones first, but we haven't chosen where they should take shape."

"Yuhao, you're the one this is being done for. Do you have any ideas about the Soul Bones?"

"You're the ones producing the Soul Bones, and you've seen far more than I have. Can't you decide?" Huo Yuhao asked.

Snow Empress replied, "It's not that we can't decide. We want to respect your wishes."

Ice Empress said, "If you want us to make a recommendation, I'd suggest having Snow Empress form your torso bone."

"Snow Empress's true form already resembles a human's quite closely. The torso bone she produces will surely suit you."

"As for me, I suggest choosing either your left or right leg, or your left or right arm."

"Snow Empress and I are both ice attribute. Using either of us as a skull bone wouldn't be suitable, and it would be a terrible waste!"

Snow Empress looked Huo Yuhao straight in the eyes. "What Ice Empress suggested is the best arrangement we can offer."

"But as long as neither of us becomes your skull bone, it makes little difference where our Soul Bones form. Their power will be much the same!"

"If you think Ice Empress's plan will work, there's no need to discuss it further."

"We can check whether we've overlooked anything, or get started right away."

"But before we begin, I have to warn you about something, Yuhao." Snow Empress's expression turned serious.

"Because of the plan you chose, Ice Empress and I will have to pour our powers into your formless Ice Martial Soul at the same time."

"That creates a very serious problem."

"Ice Empress's and my powers are both domineering. Even with us controlling them, you'll have to endure tremendous pain."

"This time, both of us have to channel our powers into your body together."

"The pain you'll have to bear may be more than just one plus one."

"If you're mentally prepared, then let's begin!"