Safe

The cold wind was biting, and the blizzard raged.

The world, originally ruled by ice and snow, suddenly saw a glimmer of golden light. The gold elements in the air, previously suppressed and barely perceptible, began to converge toward Jing Hongchen.

The first, third, and sixth Soul Rings on the twenty-meter-tall Three-Legged Golden Toad flickered. Thousands of metal spheres orbited him, and at this moment, these spheres were growing and deforming.

That's right, growing. His Martial Soul, the Three-Legged Golden Toad, possessed powerful metal-manipulation abilities. Combined with his status as a Rank Nine Soul Master, he could unleash immense power, earning him a place among the elite Rank Nine Soul Masters.

In a short span of time, the thousands of metal spheres grew into individual metal Soul Tools. Three massive ones connected in a triangular formation, each with a muzzle over two meters wide, filling the air with the chilling aura of steel.

Then, his second, fourth, and ninth Soul Rings flashed. The metal protrusions on his back began to swell, and the gold elements boiled. All the Soul Tool muzzles aimed at the strong man, golden light condensing.

The strong man, who had been fiercely attacking Zheng Zhan, paused. He glanced at the Soul Tools, especially the three massive, interconnected muzzles, and felt a sensation like needles pricking his back.

He abandoned Zheng Zhan entirely and charged toward Jing Hongchen, determined to take him down first.

Seeing this, Zheng Zhan activated his eighth soul skill. With a flicker of light, he appeared directly in front of the strong man to block his path, only to be sent flying by a single punch. Yet, the next moment, he appeared before the strong man again, sticking to him like a plaster, impossible to shake off.

The strong man finally grew enraged. White light erupted from his entire body, and a colossal figure suddenly appeared between heaven and earth. As it took a step, the entire snowy field trembled.

It was a white figure, magnified countless times to resemble a human, standing a full 120 meters tall. Its entire body was covered in white fur, and its massive pupils on an ape-like face glared furiously at Zheng Zhan.

The last of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North, the Titan Snow Demon King.

White light shone from the Titan Snow Demon King's right arm. Its massive fist slammed down toward Zheng Zhan, tearing tiny, jagged black cracks into the space around it.

Zheng Zhan's face flushed a deep red, his body feeling as if it were about to explode. The surrounding air was compressed so tightly it crackled, leaving him unable to move.

He no longer cared about the cost. All his remaining rare metals were fused into his giant shield. His ninth soul skill, a Rank Nine Soul Guidance Shield, an Invincible Shield... he activated every defensive measure he possessed.

"Boom!"

Layers of wind and snow accompanied the fist as it struck Zheng Zhan. The shield shattered instantly. The fist slammed into Zheng Zhan, sending him flying into the snow curtain behind him. The giant shield in his hands crumbled into fragments under the overwhelming force, and he was left drenched in blood.

He collapsed beside Xu Lanqing. He tried several times to get up using his hands and feet but failed, looking utterly wretched.

Xu Lanqing hurriedly reached out to support him, taking a dozen jade bottles from his storage ring and pouring pills into his mouth. Seeing him barely clinging to life, he wasn't sure if he would make it.

Just then, Jing Hongchen finished charging his attack. Taking advantage of the brief moment of vulnerability after the Titan Snow Demon King's outburst, he unleashed all his Soul Tools at once.

First came three intersecting, spiraling golden light orbs, followed by round after round of Soul Guidance beams. Five rounds in total, with nearly five thousand beams following in their wake.

This single strike exhausted all of Jing Hongchen's soul power. He had already deactivated his Martial Soul Avatar and returned to human form.

The Titan Snow Demon King crossed his arms to block the three golden orbs, a layer of ice-blue crystals forming over his white fur.

The golden orbs slammed into his arms, spinning and dismantling his defenses, while the remaining Soul Guidance beams pelted his body, the roaring sounds continuous.

His body was simply too large; the Soul Guidance beams could hardly miss. A single beam might not have meant much, but five thousand striking simultaneously tore through even the Titan Snow Demon King's thick hide. Blood flowed, only to freeze upon contact with the frigid air.

Jing Hongchen's short, thick brows furrowed. The soul beast's hide was too thick. The wounds looked bloody, but they didn't even count as minor injuries; they served no purpose other than to enrage him.

He clenched his right hand forward, and the three golden orbs suddenly plummeted. As they hit the Titan Snow Demon King's abdomen, they expanded instantly, scattering golden light everywhere.

The Titan Snow Demon King was knocked backward, his aura chaotic, his feet leaving massive craters in the ground as he retreated.

His white fur was stained gold, and a large gash had been opened on his abdomen, though it was immediately covered by ice crystals and began to heal slowly.

"Tsk, this soul beast is too monstrous. Even that didn't deal a heavy blow. Why isn't Old Ye ready yet? If this beast recovers, we're all dead."

Jing Hongchen cursed, his usual composure long gone. This was truly his unluckiest day.

The snow curtain blocked their path, the blizzard constantly draining his soul power, and there was a soul beast so powerful it felt hopeless. In such a predicament, he might really lose his life here today.

Suddenly, an orange-red light shone from behind. Where the light touched, the ice and snow melted, and warmth spread through the space. For the tortured Xu Lanqing and his companions, it felt like soaking in a hot spring amidst the frozen wasteland—nothing could be more comfortable.

Xu Lanqing turned back in joy. The snow curtain had been opened by Ye Yulin. Above his head, the orange-red Sun God Needle hovered, surrounded by thousands of shimmering white Soul Tools.

Finally safe. That was his only thought.

Ye Yulin looked at the miserable state of Jing Hongchen and Zheng Zhan, shocked. He then looked at the Titan Snow Demon King and the Ice Bear King, who were exuding terrifying auras, and dared not delay, immediately taking Xu Lanqing and the others away.

The Titan Snow Demon King watched them leave quietly, making no move. Two more Rank Nine Soul Masters had arrived, and now that they had escaped the snow curtain, it would be difficult to keep them there.

Although the snow curtain was a joint effort between him and the Ice Bear King, it could only isolate the area as it was; they could no longer expand or shrink it. In the end, their strength was insufficient. If the Ice Empress or the Ice Emperor were here, they would have killed them all long ago.

After weighing his options, he vented his anger on Nangong Wan and the other two. At the very least, he could not let these three humans who had killed his kin go.

"It's ready, it's ready!"

Ming Lei Douluo shouted excitedly.

Tianwu Douluo was swatted away once more, his entire body battered and broken. Seeing the gap in the snow curtain, he let out a sigh of relief, stopped tangling with the Ice Bear King, returned to human form, and rushed through the gap with Youming Douluo.

The hope of escape was right before them, only to be ruthlessly shattered. Ming Lei Douluo looked at the Titan Snow Demon King suddenly blocking his path, his face filled with despair.

He had stayed further back earlier to avoid being caught in the crossfire, and now he was directly intercepted by the Titan Snow Demon King.

Ming Lei Douluo glanced at the fleeing Xu Lanqing, his fingers brushing over his storage Soul Tool. A ruthless glint appeared in his eyes, and a crazed, fanatical smile spread across his face.