Vowing

Although she had no fondness for humans, fairness in dealing with grudges and favors was her principle.

After a moment of silence, the Ice Empress finally spoke. Her voice was crisp and melodious, yet carried an unquestionable majesty.

"Human, in light of saving my clansmen, this Empress will not kill you. Leave the Far North immediately; this is no place for your kind."

Though her tone was cold, the content was already considered "merciful." Given the Ice Empress's temperament and strength, ordinary humans who dared set foot in her territory would have long been frozen into ice sculptures.

Jiang Bai felt a stirring in his heart.

He withdrew the possession states of the Earth Dragon, Wind Dragon, and Ice Dragon, retaining only the amplification of the Fire Dragon.

Then, he looked at the Ice Empress, a clear smile blooming on his face.

"Senior, I would like to make a trade with you. What do you say?"

"A trade?" The Ice Empress raised an eyebrow, a trace of disdainful sneer appearing on her exquisite face. "A mere human Soul Ancestor, what kind of trade can you make with me?"

Her tone was filled with condescending contempt. Indeed, with her cultivation of nearly four hundred thousand years, she did not even hold human Title Douluo in regard, let alone a Soul Ancestor.

Jiang Bai did not mind her attitude and continued, "If this junior dares to toy with senior, I am willing to pay any price."

He paused, lowering his voice a fraction, yet making it all the clearer, "Senior possesses an ice attribute, so you surely must be familiar with Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow?"

Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow?!

The Ice Empress's initially disdainful expression instantly froze.

Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow—that was a supreme treasure comparable to a divine artifact for ice-attribute spirit beasts and spirit masters!

The Far North of the past indeed had a Myriad-Year Profound Ice Cave, but—it had been eaten clean by a damn ice silkworm long, long ago!

For this reason, she had hunted down that ice silkworm for years, only for it to eventually escape and vanish without a trace.

If—if there truly was another Myriad-Year Profound Ice Cave—

The Ice Empress's heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.

She was already thirty-eight hundred thousand years old, and the four-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation hung like a sword suspended above her head, ready to fall at any moment.

Despite the Snow Empress's help, she still lacked great certainty regarding the four-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation.

Therefore, her cultivation speed had slowed down significantly over the years, all to find a secure method.

If she had the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow to assist—

No, not just her.

That aloof and breathtakingly beautiful figure surfaced in the Ice Empress's mind.

The Snow Empress, the Heavenly Snow Woman with cultivation approaching seven hundred thousand years, the true ruler of the Far North.

The Snow Empress's next heavenly tribulation was the seven-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation, which would be an unprecedented and terrifying heavenly might.

If there was enough Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow—

Moreover, if she could present such a precious treasure to the Snow Empress, would Xue'er—he-he—

He-he-he—

Thinking of this, the corners of the Ice Empress's mouth lifted involuntarily, and a trace of infatuation and anticipation flashed through her beautiful eyes, even causing her gaze toward Jiang Bai to grow much gentler.

"You—know where the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Cave is?" The Ice Empress's voice remained cold, but it now held less contempt and much more urgency.

"I do know." Jiang Bai nodded. The Ice Empress took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

The temptation of the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow was too great, but as a fierce beast that had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, she would not easily trust a human.

"What do you want?" she asked directly.

Jiang Bai had long since prepared his answer: "Simple. First, if there is indeed Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow in the ice cave, I need senior to—protect me for ten years."

"Protect you for ten years?" The Ice Empress frowned again. "Let us spirit beasts act as a bodyguard for a human, nurturing a human powerhouse?"

"Each takes what they need, that is all," Jiang Bai said calmly. "Senior needs the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow to get through the tribulation, and I need a powerful protector to survive. This is very fair."

The Ice Empress fell silent. Indeed, for her, ten years of time was merely the blink of an eye.

If she could trade a decade of "bodyguard" life for Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow, this deal was far too worthwhile.

"And second?"

"Second, regarding the distribution of the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow." Jiang Bai continued, "If the quantity of Profound Ice Marrow in the ice cave exceeds thirty stalks, you take thirty, and the rest belongs to me. If there are fewer than thirty, all of them belong to you.

How about it?"

Thirty stalks of Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow?

That was certainly enough for her and the Snow Empress to use.

If there was any surplus, giving a few stalks to this human wouldn't hurt, since he was the one who provided the clue.

Yet the Ice Empress did not agree immediately.

She looked at Jiang Bai, a trace of sharpness flashing in her beautiful eyes.

"Aren't you afraid that after we get the Profound Ice Marrow, we will turn our backs on you, go back on our word, and even—kill you?"

"Therefore, I require senior to swear in the name of the Ice God."

The Ice Empress's pupils constricted.

Swearing in the name of the Ice God—for the spirit beasts of the Far North, this was the most solemn and unbreakable oath.

The Ice God was the shared faith of all ice-attribute spirit beasts in the Far North. An oath sworn in the name of a deity, if violated, would bring the condemnation of the entire Far North and might even summon divine punishment.

Just as the Ice Empress was weighing her options, a cold, ethereal female voice, as though formed from condensed ice and snow, rang out beside their ears without warning.

"Bing'er, what is it?"

The moment the voice sounded, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop by another fraction.

It was not a biting cold, but a pure, extreme low temperature capable of freezing the soul.

Jiang Bai looked up.

In the distance sky, a figure was slowly drifting down.

It was a woman around three meters in height, yet her proportions were as perfect as if crafted by the gods.

She wore a minimalist light blue long dress, and a head of slightly wavy light blue hair cascaded down to her waist like a flowing glacial waterfall.

Her skin was white and translucent as crystal, appearing as though sculpted from the purest snow and ice.

Most captivating were her eyes, pure ice-blue and calm without a ripple.

Her countenance was breathtakingly beautiful, carrying an aloof and sacred detachment as she looked down upon all living things.

The Heavenly Snow Woman, the Snow Empress.

The Snow Empress landed lightly, standing beside the Ice Empress.

Her gaze first fell upon the Ice Empress, a trace of imperceptible gentleness flashing in her eyes, before turning to Jiang Bai, her ice-blue pupils studying him calmly.

"Xue'er!"

Upon seeing the Snow Empress, the Ice Empress immediately sprang up with joy. The previous cold and majestic demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by a nearly worshipful, little-girl-like excitement.

She wanted to pull the Snow Empress's hand, but the height difference was too great, so she could only hug the Snow Empress's thigh instead.

Jiang Bai suppressed the fluttering in his heart, maintained his composure, and cupped his fists once more.

The Snow Empress gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

She looked at the Ice Empress, her voice remaining cold: "Bing'er, the commotion from the avalanche just now was not small. I sensed fluctuations in your aura and came to check. Who is this human?"

"Xue'er, this human says he knows where there is a Myriad-Year Profound Ice Cave! He wants to use this intelligence to trade with us!"

The Ice Empress explained at a rapid speed, tilting her small face upward.

The Snow Empress lowered her gaze to look at the Ice Empress clinging to her leg. A trace of helplessness flashed in her eyes, but it was dominated by indulgence.

She reached out and gently stroked the Ice Empress's ink-green twin tails before finally looking back at Jiang Bai.

"Myriad-Year Profound Ice Cave—are you certain?"

Jiang Bai said, "Certain!"

The Snow Empress fell silent for a moment.

Her ice-blue eyes flashed with a thoughtful light. The temptation of the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow was even greater for her than for the Ice Empress. Facing the seven-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation, she did not possess absolute certainty either. If there was enough Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow—

"What do you want?" she asked the exact same question as the Ice Empress.

Jiang Bai repeated the conditions he had just stated.

After listening, the Snow Empress did not answer immediately. She quietly watched Jiang Bai, her gaze seeming to pierce through his soul and see the innermost thoughts hidden deep within his heart.

After a long while, she finally spoke slowly.

"Very well."

Two words, calm and definitive.

The Ice Empress had not expected the Snow Empress to agree so quickly and was momentarily stunned.

A weight lifted from Jiang Bai's heart as well, but for the sake of caution, he still spoke, "Please, both seniors, swear an oath in the name of the Ice God. This junior does not distrust seniors; it is simply that this matter is of grave importance and requires the most secure guarantee."

The Snow Empress took a deep, lingering look at Jiang Bai. This human youth possessed not only extraordinary courage, but also a mind sufficiently meticulous.

Without hesitation, she raised her right hand, palm facing upward, her voice solemn and dignified.

"With the Ice God as witness, I, the Heavenly Snow Woman, hereby swear—"

Seeing this, the Ice Empress hurriedly followed suit and made her oath.

Thus, the contract was formed!

Once she finished her vow, the Ice Empress glared unhappily at Jiang Bai.

As the grand Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, she actually had to swear an oath to a human brat; just thinking about it felt somewhat aggravating. But for the sake of the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow, she would endure it.

"Alright, the oath is made. Where is the ice cave? Take us there at once!" the Ice Empress urged, her tone impatient.

Jiang Bai pointed toward the south.

"Over that way—"

The Snow Empress nodded. She extended her right hand and waved it gently.

A layer of pale blue, translucent soul power barrier materialized out of thin air, enveloping both Jiang Bai and the Ice Empress as they slowly lifted into the air.

Cutting through the void, they headed directly toward the direction Jiang Bai pointed!