Snow Empress? Or Ice Empress?

Within the Spirit Sea, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Mental Power quietly extended into the outside world, carefully sensing this familiar yet unfamiliar realm of extreme cold.

After being away for hundreds of thousands of years and returning to this old place, it felt little of the sentimentality of fearing one's hometown.

What this boundless ice field had left it with were mostly memories of long hibernation, endless hiding, and the cold terror of being coveted by predators.

As an Ice Silkworm born weak and nearly at the bottom of the soul beast food chain, the Extreme North had never been a home to it, but rather a vast and cruel arena for survival.

Here, it had no warmth, only the instinct to "survive."

At this moment, only one thing churned within it: seeing Ice Empress as soon as possible.

She was the only bond in this cold world that had ever made it feel a blazing warmth.

"Big bug!"

A voice rang out, interrupting Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's complicated thoughts.

It twisted its pearly white body and saw Xiao Yin's enormous silver eye staring at it.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm immediately grew displeased and snorted. "Is 'big bug' something you can call me? You should be calling me Brother Sky Dream!"

Xiao Yin did not dwell on the form of address. Even Lord Yuhao, whom it respected most, called him that, so there was no need for it to stubbornly argue.

But did the proud Indomitable Soul Spirit truly want to call Sky Dream Ice Silkworm "Brother"?

Even if he was a Million-year Soul Beast, that was absolutely impossible!

Xiao Yin then said directly, "By the way, since you can add an Ice Attribute martial soul to Lord Yuhao, why isn't Snow Empress your target?"

"She is acknowledged as the strongest ruler of the Extreme North. In terms of strength and cultivation, isn't she more suitable than Ice Empress?"

"Could it be... that you have some special story with Ice Empress, which is why she has to be the one?"

The question was asked casually, even with a hint of gossiping curiosity.

Yet it made Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's heart skip a beat, and its smooth pearly white body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

What it disliked most about Xiao Yin was how this Big Eye's casual guesses could sometimes inexplicably point straight at the truth.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had chosen the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion as Huo Yuhao's Second Martial Soul partly because of a selfish desire it could not reveal to others—it harbored a forbidden love for Ice Empress.

But faced with Xiao Yin's questioning, it would never admit such thoughts, even if beaten to death.

After all, it still cared about the dignity of a Million-year Soul Beast!

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm straightened its pearly white body slightly and quickly began fabricating reasons.

"Looking purely at strength and cultivation, Snow Empress is indeed the theoretically better choice."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm readily admitted this point. It was an indisputable fact, and denying it would only make it seem guilty.

"However."

It then changed its tone, its voice turning grave. "As the foremost of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Extreme North, Snow Empress's aloof temperament and proud will are far beyond those of ordinary soul beasts."

"I believe that pride ingrained in her very bones would never allow her to accept becoming a human's martial soul."

A trace of disapproval flashed through Xiao Yin's enormous single eye.

It had once been an equally proud Indomitable Soul Spirit, yet had it not now willingly become Lord Yuhao's First Soul Spirit?

In its view, when a true path toward immortality and supremacy lay before one, so-called "pride" should yield to wisdom.

Thus, it retorted, "With the path to godhood right before her, I don't believe Snow Empress would refuse."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm felt its "brain" ache. This Big Eye truly was troublesome and not easy to fool.

"We experienced the miracle of crossing ten thousand years of time and personally saw the historical records of Spirit Ice Douluo's brilliant achievements. That is why we firmly believe Yuhao can become a god."

Urgency entered its voice. "But before Snow Empress, what do we have to prove it?"

"Words alone prove nothing! With just a few sentences, you want her to believe that an as-yet ungrown human boy will surely become a god in the future, and stake everything she has on it?"

"Do you think, given Snow Empress's status and intelligence, she would accept such an almost fantastical 'promise'?"

Xiao Yin fell silent for a moment before saying, "With this unprecedented Soul Spirit System, and even more so with Elder Yi, a great power from another world."

"Are those two things not enough to demonstrate Lord Yuhao's extraordinary nature and potential?"

"Not enough, far from enough!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm shook its head decisively. "They might pique her interest, but they are nowhere near enough to make her immediately gamble everything she has and her entire future."

Seeing that Xiao Yin seemed ready to argue further, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hurriedly cut in. "Besides, there is one more crucial point: finding her will not be easy."

"Snow Empress is alone, with no racial ties binding her. Her whereabouts are elusive, and she often leaves the Extreme North to travel afar."

"Whether she even happens to be in the Extreme North right now, and when she might appear, are both unknown."

Xiao Yin's suggestion that Snow Empress become Huo Yuhao's Second Martial Soul had not merely been to argue with Tian Meng.

Ultimately, everything it did stemmed from its desire for Lord Yuhao to obtain the strongest power possible.

Now, listening to Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's increasingly detailed analysis, light shifted within its enormous silver eye as it fell into thoughtful silence.

It had to admit that this big bug had a certain point.

Seeing that Xiao Yin seemed persuaded, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hurried to press its advantage.

"Compared to that, choosing Ice Empress is far more feasible."

"She is the chief of the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan and has lived in the Core Circle of the Extreme North for years, so she should be easier to find."

"More importantly, Ice Empress and I... have some history."

"I'm confident I can persuade her to become Yuhao's Second Martial Soul!"

At last, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm brought out his "trump card" as well. "Besides, history ten thousand years from now has already proven that my choice was correct!"

After that relentless barrage, especially the irrefutable "answer of history" at the end, Xiao Yin finally gave up insisting.

It did not continue arguing over Snow Empress. Its enormous pupils slowly shifted, tacitly accepting Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's plan.

Across the ice fields, Huo Yuhao braved the biting gale and snow that rose past his calves, trudging step by step toward the ever more frigid core region.

His body endured the extreme trials of the environment, but most of his attention was actually focused on the "debate" within his Spirit Sea, one that concerned the fate of his Second Martial Soul.

He quietly listened to every exchange between Tian Meng and Xiao Yin, yet did not take part.

To him, a Second Martial Soul—whether the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion or the Heavenly Snow Woman—was a gift far beyond anything he could have imagined!

Obtaining either one would already be a blessing beyond measure. How could he dare be picky?

He had endured hardship before and tasted every coldness and warmth of human nature in the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

Those experiences had worn away any recklessness and arrogance he might have developed from "knowing the future," instead tempering into him a clarity and humility that reached his very bones.

He knew that he might bear an extraordinary destiny, but he would not become demanding and overbearing before the opportunities in front of him merely because he "might become a god in the future."

On the contrary, he had always maintained an attitude of gratitude and cherishing.

He held the utmost respect and anticipation for Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's painstaking plans, Electrolux's careful guidance, Xiao Yin's loyal protection...

And even for the Ice Attribute power that was soon to arrive.

Neither arrogant nor impatient, neither greedy nor dismissive.

He humbly accepted every possibility fate had won for him.

Then, he would devote twelvefold effort to mastering it and wielding it.

He would make it the foundation for protecting those he cherished and achieving the goals in his heart—not capital for showing off.