Huo Yuhao watched Xiao Xiao's back as she walked into the guest room. He felt rather displeased. What was this? Was he jealous of Lin?
Huo Yuhao didn't know that meeting Lin had been the start of his bad luck. His fate had gone off course, and he'd never be able to change that. Lin had only changed the route that Xiao Xiao's misfortune took.
There was more bad luck for Xiao Xiao, so there was more for him, too.
Less suffering for her meant less for him, too.
Huo Yuhao turned toward Ning Huang Ruoxue. He saw Lin running toward the History and Life Academy. History and Life had already started classes, and Huo Yuhao had finished his lessons and left.
The Snow Emperor was here. She must be worried about Tang San.
"Good heavens, my martial soul can actually evolve into the Ultimate Ice martial soul?"
Huo Yuhao was a little surprised. He'd thought that a martial soul capable of evolving into the Ultimate Ice martial soul was already remarkable. He never expected the Ice Empress not to be here. All he could do was settle for the next best thing.
"I don't know. It's up to you. Even if you can't, I'm not afraid. Your martial soul isn't bad, either."
The Ice Empress's words were scattered and unclear, but she'd already eaten so many snow lotus flowers that she'd gotten used to it.
Huo Yuhao could only smile helplessly. He'd take things one step at a time.
At the edge of the Great Star Dou Forest, Xiao Xiao once again came to the place where she'd agreed to meet Rui Beast.
Lin had disappeared again.
"Little Xiao, you've come to see Rui Beast again, haven't you?" The Ice Empress rested on Xiao Xiao's shoulder, smiling as she spoke.
"What are you talking about? Rui Beast and I are just friends. Why would I ditch him?"
Lin rubbed the Ice Empress's waist, prompting her to stop talking.
"Yeah, right. As if I didn't know you." The Ice Empress stretched, thoroughly enjoying herself as she lay on Lin's shoulder.
Lin had gotten used to fooling around with the Snow Empress and Igor. Even the Ice Empress had grown used to it.
Having two beautiful girls constantly clinging to him was certainly a sweet burden.
Once again, Lin had no idea where Rui Beast was. She could only wait for him here.
Lin began spreading out her divine sense. Quite a few soul beasts lived in the Great Star Dou Forest, and using the fragrance of her pill to attract them was a pretty good idea.
With that in mind, Xiao Xiao took out a pill and began to spread out her divine sense.
As Lin refined the pill again and again, its fragrance wafted outward, spreading through the air.
Ning Huang Ruoxue: With the divine sense spread through the air, I can smell that faint fragrance now.
"Xiao Xiao, it's Lin!!"
"That guy's really something."
The Ice Empress was overjoyed. Even her waist stopped hurting. "Red King, hurry and take me to her! Hurry!"
The Ice Empress was excited. She'd already eaten all the pills Lin had refined last time, and she couldn't wait to get another batch.
Red King received the order. Just as he was about to move, a dark figure appeared. "I'll go with you."
The speaker wasn't an outsider. It was the God of Destruction.
Ning Tian was dumbfounded. How could he go with them?
Soon, the fragrance of the pills drew soul beasts of every kind to Lin. The Ice Empress floated beside Xiao Xiao. Though she'd been reduced to a spirit, her aura was still imposing.
The Ice Empress's shock left the low-ranked soul beasts afraid to make a sound.
"Xiao Xiao, I'm here!!"
The Ice Empress's voice rang out, accompanied by her terrifying aura. The soul beasts around them scattered in every direction.
The Ice Empress leaped down from Red King's back and dashed straight toward Lin.
"Lin, take these! They're pills." The Ice Empress tossed them over, grabbing Lin by the shoulder.
The Ice Empress swallowed them in one bite, savoring every mouthful. "Thanks, Ice Emperor sis."
Soon, Xiao Xiao finished refining the pills she'd prepared, and the last one appeared in Lin's hand.
These weren't high-grade pills. They were just ordinary ones, but they made good snacks for a spirit.
"God of Destruction!"
Lin had just been marveling at Rui Beast when Ning Tian, who'd been behind him, hurried over.
Ning Tian turned toward Lin. "You've reached the 30th Rank? Your cultivation speed is truly incredible."
"Did you only come looking for Rui Beast because you need a soul ring?"
Ning Tian's eyes were fixed on Xiao Xiao, as if she wanted to see right through her.
Lin smiled awkwardly. "Well, the main thing was to get out and stretch my legs. I hadn't been out in a while."
Lin's explanation was completely unconvincing. The God of Destruction gave her a look. Do you think I believe that?
"You can go ahead. Ice Empress, go play with Snow Emperor."
Ning Tian waved Lin over, then looked toward Rui Beast.
Lin froze, then looked at the God of Destruction in confusion. What was he asking her to do?
Lin hesitated, but in the end she decided to leave with the God of Destruction.
Rui Beast had only just arrived when he started playing with the Ice Empress.
The two of them came to a quiet place. Ning Tian raised her hand and placed Xiao Xiao in her palm.
"Xiao Xiao, how about Rui Beast following you?"
Ning Tian's offer was so sudden that Xiao Xiao froze on the spot.
Wait, what?
Lin's eyes widened, and she let out a soft gasp. She was certain it was Ning Tian. There was no way she could mistake that face.
Rui Beast was the hope of the Great Star Dou Forest. Would the God of Destruction really let him come along?
Lin asked, puzzled, "Your Majesty, are you joking with me?"
Ning Tian shook her head. "No. This is something I discussed with Red King."
Ning Tian seemed very sincere. She didn't look like she was joking.
"Why?"
"You didn't have a definite plan before. This time, I wanted to know why you'd take Rui Beast with you."
Lin looked at Ning Tian, genuinely curious. Originally, she hadn't planned to take Rui Beast along.
But now the God of Destruction had brought it up himself, and that piqued Xiao Xiao's curiosity.
Ning Tian thought for a moment, then asked, "Xiao Xiao, you're human. You must know the story of Tang San ascending to godhood, right?"
Lin smiled. "You mean Tang San?"
Ning Tian nodded. "That's right. How could you not know? Tang San was the soul beast that the soul beasts of the Star Luo Lake had watched grow up for ten thousand years."
"And in the end, that soul beast sacrificed itself to Tang San, helping him become a god."
"I'd thought he died, but a few months ago, I sensed his aura again."
"He's become a god."
Judging by what she'd said, Lin could roughly guess what Ning Tian meant.
Because of what had happened to the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, those two soul beasts had struck first.
Lin hadn't expected the Divine Heaven Sect to be involved. Still, she couldn't find out much about them.
Lin thought for a moment, then asked, "What happened after that?"
"I wondered whether Tang San becoming a god had brought them back to life, and whether it was all part of their plan to make him a god."
"I let Rui Beast stay by your side because this is also a wager—a wager on your talent, on your strength. I believe you'll become a god."
"When Rui Beast becomes a god, he won't be like those two soul beasts. You'll become a god, and it'll only take a few dozen years."
"I can afford to wait for a soul beast."
Ning Tian was persuasive, and Lin had to admit that she was determined. Rui Beast was the hope of his entire race, after all.
Even with Lin standing between them, he wasn't afraid Xiao Xiao would take advantage of Rui Beast.
"Your Majesty, aren't you afraid I'll harm Rui Beast?"
Lin gave Ning Tian an admiring glance.
Ning Tian laughed and shook her head. "I believe you won't, so I'm willing to take the risk and choose you."
"Otherwise, why would I bring him to you?"
Lin was at a loss for words. That was true. Rui Beast was incredibly charming, and had a powerful ability to attract others.
As long as Tang San didn't meddle with the fate of the soul beasts, they should be fine.
Before you continue